External connection device, host device and data communication system

• US 20060224800A1
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tashiro, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 7,360,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0634 by changing the state or mode of one or more devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0659 Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/08 from or to individual record carriers, e.g. punched card , memory card, integrated circuit [IC] card or smart card

Abstract

An external connection device is to connectable to a host device. The host device includes transmission means for transmitting, to the external connection device, a parameter and an operation control command indicating a command for performing operation control of the external connection device. The external connection device includes a parameter register operable to store the parameter, a command register operable to store the operation control command provided from the host device, and a controller operable to refer to the operation control command stored in the command register and to perform operation control specified by the operation control command. The parameter register and the command register of the external connection device are accessed from the host device based on a transfer protocol command (TPC) issued from the host device.

Claims

1. An external connection device connectable to a host device, said external connection device comprising:

a parameter register operable to store a parameter;

a command register operable to store an operation control command provided by the host device; and

a controller operable to refer to the operation control command stored in the command register and to perform operation control specified by the operation control command;

said parameter register and said command register being accessed by the host device based on a transfer protocol command (TPC) issued from the host device;

a command set of the TPC including a first register write command for requesting transmission of an arbitrary parameter from the host device to said external connection device and storage of the transmitted parameter in said parameter register, a second register write command for requesting transmission of an arbitrary operation control command from the host device to said external connection device and storage of the transmitted operation control command in said command register, and a third register write command for requesting transmission of an arbitrary operation control command and an arbitrary parameter from the host device to said external connection device, storage of the transmitted operation control command in said command register, and storage of the transmitted parameter in said parameter register.

2. The external connection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said external connection device has a card-like appearance.

3. A host device connectable to an external connection device that includes a parameter register, a command register, and a controller operable, said host device comprising:

transmission means for transmitting, to the external connection device, a parameter and an operation control command for performing operation control of said connection device,

the parameter register of the external connection device storing the parameter, the command register of the external connection device storing the operation control command provided by said host device, and the controller of the external connection device referring to the operation control command stored in the command register and performing operation control specified by the operation control command;

said transmission means issuing a transfer protocol command (TPC) to said external connection device to access the parameter register and the command register of the external connection device, wherein a command set of the TPC includes;

a first register write command for requesting transmission of an arbitrary parameter from said host device to the external connection device and storage of the transmitted parameter into the parameter register of the external connection device,

a second register write command for requesting transmission of an arbitrary operation control command from said host device to the external connection device and storage of the transmitted operation control command into the command register of the external connection device, and

a third register write command for requesting transmission of an arbitrary operation control command and an arbitrary parameter from said host device to the external connection device, storage of the transmitted operation control command into the command register of the external connection device, and storage of the transmitted parameter into the parameter register of the external connection device.

4. The host device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said host device is connectable to an external connection device having a card-like appearance.

5. A data communication system, comprising:

a host device; and

an external connection device connectable to said host device;

said host device including;

transmission means for transmitting, to the external connection device, a parameter and an operation control command indicating a command for performing operation control of the external connection device;

said external connection device including;

a parameter register operable to store the parameter,

a command register operable to store the operation control command provided from the host device, and

a controller operable to refer to the operation control command stored in the command register and to perform operation control specified by the operation control command;

said parameter register and said command register of said external connection device being accessed from said host device based on a transfer protocol command (TPC) issued from said host device;

a command set of the TPC including a first register write command for requesting transmission of an arbitrary parameter from the host device to the external connection device and storage of the transmitted parameter into the parameter register, a second register write command for requesting transmission of an arbitrary operation control command from the host device to the external connection device and storage of the transmitted operation control command into the command register, and a third register write command for requesting transmission of an arbitrary operation control command and an arbitrary parameter from the host device to the external connection device, storage of the transmitted operation control command into the command register, and storage of the transmitted parameter into the parameter register.

6. The data communication system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said external connection device has a card-like appearance.