Automatic drive icon assignment by media type in single slot USB card readers

• US 20050156037A1
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wurzburg, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 7,131,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/435
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34

Abstract

In various embodiments, icons, specific to a type of memory card (e.g., a flash memory card) inserted into a card reader may be displayed. In some embodiments, the card reader may be electrically connected to the host controller each time a memory card is inserted into the card reader. In various embodiments, different device identifications may be reported as if the card reader were actually several different card readers each dedicated to a different memory card type. A registry of an operating system may be preloaded with a different icon for each of the different card reader types. An icon may be displayed on a display specific to the type of memory card inserted. When the memory card is removed, the card reader may be electrically disconnected and the displayed icon may be removed or replaced.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a display coupled to the processor;

a host controller coupled to the processor;

a card reader coupled to the host controller; and

wherein an icon is displayed on the display specific to a type of memory card inserted into the card reader.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the card reader is electrically connected to the host controller when a memory card is inserted into the card reader.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the card reader is electrically disconnected from the host controller when a memory card is removed from the card reader.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the card reader reports a device identification specific to the type of memory card inserted into the card reader.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a registry preloaded with an icon specific to the device identification reported.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein a card reader is operable to report at least two different device identifications specific to two different types of memory cards.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein at least two different icons are displayable on the display specific to at least two different memory card types.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory card comprises one of a SmartMedia™

(SM) memory card, xD Picture Cards™

(xD), a Memory Stick™

, a High Speed Memory Stick (HSMS), a Memory Stick PRO™

(MSPRO), a Secure Digital (SD) memory card, a MultiMediaMemory™

memory card (MMC), NAND Flash, Compact Flash™

(CF) or a CF form-factor Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) hard drive.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein text indicative of the memory card type is displayed proximate to the icon.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the card reader is a single slot card reader.

12. A method, comprising:

electrically connecting a card reader to a host controller when a memory card is inserted into the card reader;

reporting a device identification, to the host controller, specific to the type of memory card inserted into the card reader; and

displaying an icon on a display coupled to the host controller, wherein the icon is specific to the device identification reported.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising electrically disconnecting the card reader if the memory card is removed.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising removing an icon from the display when the card reader is electrically disconnected.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying an empty card reader icon on the display.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving an icon indication for display from a registry coupled to the processor.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the registry has at least two icon types preloaded, wherein each of the at least two icons is specific to a different type of memory card.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the memory card comprises one of a SmartMedia™

(SM) memory card, xD Picture CardS™

(xD), a Memory Stick™

, a High Speed Memory Stick (HSMS), a Memory Stick PRO™

(MSPRO), a Secure Digital (SD) memory card, a MultiMediaMemory™

memory card (MMC), NAND Flash, Compact Flash™

(CF) or a CF form-factor Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) hard drive.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the card reader is a single slot card reader.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the icon is displayed in a menu of available storage media accessible by the processor.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying text indicative of the memory card type relative to the icon.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising reporting a device identification when memory card is inserted into the card reader without having to reconnect the card reader.

23. A carrier medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable to:

electrically connect a card reader to a host controller when a memory card is inserted into the card reader;

receive a device identification, from the host controller, specific to the type of memory card inserted into the card reader; and

display an icon on a display, wherein the icon is specific to the device identification reported.

24. The carrier medium of claim 23, wherein the program instructions are further executable to electrically disconnect the card reader if the memory card is removed.

25. The carrier medium of claim 23, wherein the program instructions are further executable to receive an icon indication for display from a registry of an operating system for a processor coupled to the host controller.

26. The carrier medium of claim 23, wherein the registry has at least two icon types preloaded, wherein each of the at least two icons is specific to a different type of memory card.

27. The carrier medium of claim 23, wherein the icon is displayed in a menu of available storage media accessible by the processor.

28. The carrier medium of claim 23, wherein the program instructions are further executable to report a device identification when memory card is inserted into the card reader without having to reconnect the card reader.