Contact and contactless interface storage device with processor

• US 20050157568A1
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Digital Israel Limited (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd. (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Teicher, Mordechai
• Granted Patent: US 7,136,937 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 365/195
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07733 the record carrier containing at least one further contact interface not conform ISO-7816
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer

Abstract

An integrated storage device for transferring data between a remote base station and an appliance, includes a non-volatile storage device configured for storing the data, an antenna and a processor arrangement. The antenna is configured for wirelessly receiving electrical energy from the remote base station in order to power the non-volatile storage device. The antenna is also configured for transferring the data between the remote base station and the non-volatile storage device. The processor arrangement is permanently operationally connected to the non-volatile storage device. The processor arrangement is configured to manage data transfer between the non-volatile storage device and the appliance when the processor arrangement is electrically connected to a power supply via a wired power link.

Claims

1. An integrated storage device for transferring data between a remote base station and an appliance, comprising:

(a) a non-volatile storage device configured for storing the data;

(b) an antenna, configured for wirelessly;

(i) receiving electrical energy from the remote base station in order to power said non-volatile storage device; and

(ii) transferring the data between the remote base station and the non-volatile storage device; and

(c) a processor arrangement permanently operationally connected to said non-volatile storage device, said processor arrangement being configured to manage data transfer between said non-volatile storage device and the appliance when said processor arrangement is electrically connected to a power supply via a wired power link.

2. The integrated storage device of claim 1, wherein:

(i) said power supply is a power supply for the appliance and (ii) said processor arrangement is configured for being reversibly electrically connected through said wired power link to said power supply.

3. The integrated storage device of claim 2, wherein said processor is disconnected from said power supply by disconnecting said processor from the appliance.

4. The integrated storage device of claim 2, wherein said processor is disconnected from said power supply by disconnecting said power supply from the appliance.

5. An integrated storage device for transferring data between a remote base station and a computer system, comprising:

(a) a non-volatile storage device configured for storing the data;

(b) an antenna, configured for wirelessly;

(i) receiving electrical energy from the remote base station in order to power said non-volatile storage device; and

(ii) transferring the data between the remote base station and the non-volatile storage device; and

(c) a processor arrangement permanently operationally connected to said non-volatile storage device, said processor arrangement being configured to manage data transfer between said non-volatile storage device and the computer system when said processor arrangement is electrically connected to the computer system via a USB port.

6. The integrated storage device of claim 5, wherein said processor arrangement is configured for being reversibly electrically connected to the computer system.

7. A method for transferring data between a remote base station and an appliance using an integrated storage device having a processor and a non-volatile storage device, the processor being permanently operationally connected to the non-volatile storage device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) wirelessly receiving an electrical energy by the integrated storage device;

(b) powering the non-volatile storage device using said electrical energy;

(c) transferring the data wirelessly between the remote base station and the non-volatile storage device;

(d) electrically connecting the integrated storage device to the appliance;

(e) transferring the data between the non-volatile storage device and the processor; and

(f) transferring the data between the processor and the appliance.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of electrically connecting is performed by reversibly electrically connecting the integrated storage device to the appliance.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the appliance is a computer system and wherein said step of electrically connecting is performed via a USB port.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

(g) at least partially configuring the appliance using the data.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

(g) physically packaging the integrated storage device, wherein said steps of transferring are performed after said step of packaging.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

(g) verifying the data, wherein said step of transferring data between the non-volatile storage device and the processor is;

(i) performed by transferring data from the processor to the non-volatile storage device; and

(ii) contingent on a positive result of said verifying.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the data includes personal credentials.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the data includes access rights.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the data includes stored value.

16. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

(g) operationally connecting the integrated storage device to an appliance, the appliance being a camera.

17. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

(g) operationally connecting the integrated storage device to an appliance, the appliance being a cellular telephone.

18. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

(g) operationally connecting the integrated storage device to an appliance, the appliance being a personal processing system.