Memory extension apparatus and the method of data transfer applied therein

• US 20070162661A1
• Filed: 12/27/2005
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Prolific Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Prolific Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Yang, Chih-Chin, Chen, Tai-Chieh, Fu, Pei-Yuan
• Application Number:
  US11/317,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20070162661A1
• 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

Abstract

A memory extension apparatus and the method of data transfer applied therein. The memory extension apparatus comprises a first interface, a protocol converter, a processor, a file system, a memory unit, and a trigger unit. The protocol converter receives a first command from the first electronic device via the first interface for converting the same. The processor receives the converted first command from the protocol converter, and utilizes the file system to access the memory unit for files corresponding to the converted first command. The trigger unit is for triggering the processor to generate a second command, for accessing the first electronic device through a pre-defined protocol when the trigger unit is triggered. Without sacrificing size and weight of the first electronic device, the invention provides memory extension, file backup, and file sharing without the need of an external host device.

Claims

1. A memory extension apparatus, comprising:

a file system;

a first interface, for providing external electrical connections to a first electronic device;

a protocol converter, for receiving a first command from the first electronic device via the first interface for converting the first command;

a processor, for receiving the converted first command of the first electronic device from the protocol converter;

a memory unit, wherein the processor utilizes the file system to access the memory unit for files corresponding to the converted first command; and

a trigger unit, for triggering the processor to generate a second command, for accessing the first electronic device through a pre-defined protocol when the trigger unit is triggered, wherein the protocol converter converts the second command and outputs the converted request command to the first electronic device via the first interface.

2. The memory extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor utilizes the file system to upload corresponding files into the first electronic device if the request command is a upload command, wherein the corresponding files are obtained from the memory unit.

3. The memory extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the files in the first electronic device are downloaded to the memory unit of the memory extension apparatus via the first interface if the request command is a download command.

4. The memory extension apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a second interface, for providing external electrical connections to a second electronic device, wherein the memory extension apparatus serves as means for transferring files between the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

5. The memory extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first interface is a serial interface.

6. The memory extension apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the serial interface is a USB/RS232/RS485 interface.

7. The memory extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first interface is a parallel interface.

8. The memory extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first interface is a wireless interface.

9. The memory extension apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the wireless interface is a Bluetooth interface.

10. The memory extension apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the wireless interface is a WLAN interface.

11. The memory extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory unit is ATA/ATAPI devices or a NAND Flash memory.

12. The memory extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the trigger unit is a push button or a pre-define command.

13. A method of data transfer between a memory extension apparatus and a first electronic device, the memory extension apparatus comprising a first interface, a protocol converter, a processor, a file system, a memory unit, and a trigger unit, the method comprising:

generating a request command by the processor when the trigger unit is triggered and the processor is triggered by the trigger unit;

if the request command is for upload function, sending a upload command by the processor to the first electronic device through the protocol converter and the first interface, and accessing the memory unit by the processor according to the file system to obtain a first upload file for sending the obtained first upload file to the first electronic device through the first interface;

if the request command is for download function, sending a download command by the processor to the first electronic device through the protocol converter and the first interface, and receiving a first download file from the first electronic device via the first interface; and

storing the first download file by the processor in the memory unit according to the file system.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

receiving an external command by the processor from the first electronic device through the protocol converter and the first interface;

if the external command is for upload function, obtaining a second upload file by the processor from the memory unit and sending the second upload file by the processor to the first electronic device through the first interface; and

if the external command is for download function, storing a second download file contained in the external command by the processor to the memory unit.