Method and system for providing a modular server on USB flash storage

• US 20050160213A1
• Filed: 01/21/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Super Talent Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Super Talent Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Ben Wei
• Application Number:
  US10/762,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20050160213A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44573 Execute-in-place [XIP]

Abstract

A method and system for providing a modular server-on-a-USB-flash-storage is disclosed. The server-on-a-USB-flash-storage is installed on a computing device. The method and system include providing USB interface logic, USB Local Control Program, a flash memory and a set of control button connectors, light emitting diodes (LED) connectors and a liquid crystal display (LCD) connector. The USB Local Control Program is coupled with the USB interface logic and the flash memory. The USB interface logic interacts with the computing device and allows computing device to detect the server board. The USB Local Control Program boots up the server and prepares the computing device for use as the server. The flash memory stores a server image for the server, which is provided to the computing device using the USB Local Control Program. The control button connectors allow the server to be turned on, shut down gracefully, or restored to its initial state, by a single press of buttons connected to these connectors. The LED and LCD connectors allow the system status to be displayed or shown.

Claims

1. A system for providing a server-on-a-USB on a computing device, the computing device including at least a processor and an optional mass storage device, the system comprising:

bus interface logic for interfacing between the computing device and the system, the bus interface logic allowing the computing device to detect the system; and

a memory for storing a server image for the server and a USB Local Control Program, the USB Local Control Program for booting up the server and preparing the computing device for use as the server, the server image being provided to the computing device using the USB Local Control Program.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of control button connectors;

a plurality of buttons, the plurality of control button connectors for allowing the server to be turned on, shut down gracefully, or restored to its initial state, by a single press of at least one of the plurality of buttons connected to the plurality of control button connectors; and

a plurality of LED and LCD connectors allowing the system status to be displayed or shown.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the memory is a flash memory.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

control logic.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a push button; and

wherein the control logic further includes a one-button init connector, coupled with the push button, for restoring the server to a default state in response to the push button being depressed for a particular time.

6. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a push button; and

wherein the control logic further includes a shut-down connector, coupled with the push button, the shut-down connector shutting down the server gracefully if the push button is pressed for a particular time.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the control logic further includes a power-on connector;

and wherein the control logic further includes a power-on connector connecting to the power-on connector of the system board, coupled with the shut-down push button, the power-on connector further turns the power supply on if the push button is depressed when the computing device is supplied with AC power.

8. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a light emitting diode (LED) connector; and

wherein the control logic further includes a status LED connector coupled with the LED for indicating a operating status of the system.

9. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a light emitting diode (LED) connector; and

wherein the control logic further includes a power-on LED connector coupled with the LED for indicating a power status of the system.

10. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a liquid crystal display (LCD) connector; and

wherein the control logic further includes a LCD display connector coupled with the LCD for indicating a operating status of the system.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the bus interface logic, the USB local control logic, a flash memory and a set of control button connectors, light emitting diodes (LED) connectors and a liquid crystal display (LCD) connector are incorporated into a single board.

12. A method for providing a server-on-a-USB on a computing device, the computing device including at least a processor and an optional mass storage device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a board including bus interface logic, a USB Local Control Program, a flash memory, the bus interface logic for interfacing between the computing device and the system, the bus interface logic allowing the computing device to detect the system, the USB Local Control Program coupled with the bus interface logic, the USB Local Control Program for booting up the server and preparing the computing device for use as the server, the memory for storing a server image for the server, the server image being provided to the computing device using the USB Local Control Program; and

(b) allowing a user to utilize the server access using the board.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the board further includes a plurality of control button connectors, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED) connectors and a liquid crystal display (LCD) connector, the plurality of control button connectors allowing the server to be turned on, shut down gracefully, or restored to an initial state, by a single press of buttons connected to the plurality of control button connectors, the plurality of LED connectors and the LCD connector allowing the system status to be displayed or shown.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the memory is a flash memory.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the board further includes control logic.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the board further includes a push button;

and wherein the control logic further includes a one-button init connector, coupled with the push button, for restoring the server to a default state in response to the push button being depressed for a particular time.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the board further includes a push button;

and wherein the control logic further includes a shut-down connector, coupled with the push button, the shut-down connector shutting down the server gracefully if the push button is pressed for a particular time.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the control logic further includes a power-on connector;

wherein the computing device includes a system board; and

wherein the control logic further includes a power-on connector connecting to a power-on connector of the system board for the computing device, coupled with the shut-down push button, the power-on connector further turns the power supply on if the push button is depressed when the computing device is supplied with AC power.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

providing a light emitting diode (LED) connector; and

wherein the control logic further includes a status LED connector coupled with the LED for indicating a operating status of the system.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

providing a light emitting diode (LED) connector; and

wherein the control logic further includes a power-on LED connector coupled with the LED for indicating a power status of the system.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

providing a liquid crystal display (LCD) connector; and

wherein the control logic further includes a LCD display connector coupled with the LCD for displaying a operating status of the system.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein the bus interface logic, the local USB control logic, the flash memory and a set of control button connectors, light emitting diodes (LED) connectors and a liquid crystal display (LCD) connector, are incorporated into a single board.

23. A method for providing a server-on-a-USB on a computing device, the computing device including at least a processor and an optional mass storage device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting a system for providing the server using bus interface logic in the system;

accessing a USB Local Control Program on a memory;

(b) using the USB Local Control Program for preparing the computing device for use as the server; and

(c) booting up the server, for accessing the memory in the system for storing a server image for the server, the server image being provided to the computing device using the USB Local Control Program.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the steps of:

using a plurality of control button connectors allowing the server to be turned on, shut down gracefully, or restored to its initial state, by a single press of buttons connected to the plurality of control button connectors. using the LED and LCD connectors allowing the system status to be displayed or shown.