Digital device configuration and method

• US 20050160220A1
• Filed: 03/07/2005
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elite Gaming Tech LLC (Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC), Cornice Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Benhov GmbH, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Bruner, Curtis H., Carlson, Lance R., Mast, Jeffrey E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,162,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/112
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0626 Reducing size or complexity of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0658 Controller construction arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0676 Magnetic disk device
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2516 Hard disks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06

Abstract

An electromechanical data storage arrangement is interfaced with a host. The interface may include a conductor that carries read and write gate signals. Another conductor carries both a servo sync mark and an error signal. The storage arrangement includes an external serial interface connected to a host serial interface applying a device identification to a portion of serial control-related data that travels over the interface. A serial router in the storage arrangement uses the device identification to manage the control-related data between the interface and a number of serial devices and associated interfaces within the storage arrangement. The serial router is in selective data communication with each of the device serial interfaces, for using the device identification to direct a host-asserted command to a targeted device where each device is controlled by a different command set such that the system can be customized for different command sets of different devices.

Claims

1. In a system including a host device having a host processing arrangement for controlling the overall host device and for operational support of an electromechanical storage arrangement, which is initially provided separate from the host device, and which stores digital data on a rotatable disk, and a particular firmware configuration is used for controlling a particular version of the storage arrangement such that a first portion of the particular firmware configuration is required to allow the storage arrangement to access any digital data that is stored on the rotatable disk, and said storage arrangement may be provided in an updated version which requires an updated firmware configuration that changes at least the first portion of the updated firmware configuration, compared to the first portion of the particular firmware configuration, in a way which would at least limit access to the digital data that is stored on the rotatable disk, a method comprising the steps of:

electrically interfacing storage arrangement control means with said host processing arrangement of the host device and with the updated version of the storage arrangement, said storage arrangement control means including the particular firmware configuration for controlling the particular version of the storage arrangement;

storing a first firmware update in the host device that corresponds at least to a difference between the first portion of the particular firmware and the first portion of the updated firmware configuration in a way that is accessible to the host processing arrangement; and

transferring the first firmware update to the storage arrangement control means, using the host processing arrangement, in a way that causes the storage arrangement control means to install the first portion of the updated firmware configuration for controlling the storage arrangement.

2. The method of claim 1 including the step of storing a second firmware update on the rotatable disk, approximately at a time of manufacture of the storage arrangement, corresponding to an additional difference between a second portion of the particular firmware configuration, as compared to a second portion of the updated firmware configuration, and the step of accessing the second firmware update, using the storage arrangement control means, after installing the first portion of the updated firmware configuration to install the second portion of the updated firmware configuration.

3. In a system including a host device having a host processing arrangement for controlling the overall host device and for operational support of an electromechanical storage arrangement, which is initially provided separate from the host device, and which stores digital data on a rotatable disk, and a particular firmware configuration is used for controlling a particular version of the storage arrangement such that a first portion of the particular firmware configuration is required to allow the storage arrangement to access any digital data that is stored on the rotatable disk, and said storage arrangement may be provided in an updated version which requires an updated firmware configuration that changes at least the first portion of the updated firmware configuration, compared to the first portion of the particular firmware configuration, in a way which would at least limit access to the digital data that is stored on the rotatable disk, a firmware control arrangement, comprising:

storage arrangement control means electrically interfaced with said host processing arrangement of the host device and with the updated version of the storage arrangement, said storage arrangement control means including the particular firmware configuration for controlling the particular version of the storage arrangement;

a firmware update stored in the host device that corresponds at least to a difference between the first portion of the particular firmware and the first portion of the updated firmware configuration in a way that is accessible to the host processing arrangement; and

means for transferring the firmware update to the storage arrangement control means, using the host processing arrangement, in a way that causes the storage arrangement control means to, thereafter, execute the first portion of the updated firmware configuration in controlling the storage arrangement.

4. The firmware control arrangement of claim 3 wherein a second firmware update is stored on the rotatable disk, approximately at a time of manufacture of the storage arrangement, corresponding to an additional difference between a second portion of the particular firmware configuration, as compared to a second portion of the updated firmware configuration, and said storage arrangement control means is configured for accessing the second firmware update, using the storage arrangement control means, after installing the first portion of the updated firmware configuration to install the second portion of the updated firmware configuration.