MULTIFUNCTION SEMICONDUCTOR STORAGE DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR BOOTING-UP COMPUTER HOST

• US 20080109567A1
• Filed: 10/24/2007
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netac Technology Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Netac Technology Company Limited
• Inventors: Xiang, Feng, Cheng, Xiaohua, Deng, Guoshun
• Granted Patent: US 7,644,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/11
• 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 3/0632 by initialisation or re-initialisation of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0661 Format or protocol conversion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system

Abstract

A semiconductor storage device connected to the host system through the general purpose interface, including a semiconductor storage media module (1) and a controller module (2), in which the controller module (2) consists of a general purpose interface control module (21), a microprocessor and control module (22). Various device class protocols can be realized at the interface application level of the semiconductor storage device, which makes it possible to simulate and realize the storage functions of various storage disks. One or a plurality of storage spaces are opened up in the semiconductor storage media and one or a plurality of storage disks are supported by the same device; furthermore, the device supports hot plug and play and it is removable.

Claims

1. An external storage device that executes a process comprising establishing connection for hot plug-and-play with a host system through a USB/IEEE1394 interface upon plugging in said external storage device;

acquiring DC electrical power from said host system through said USB/IEEE 1394 interface;

detecting and saving the information of a storage module of the flash memory within said external storage device;

initializing the controller of said USB/IEEE1394 interface;

receiving and executing the USB/IEEE1394 control command from said host system;

determining whether the status of said external storage device is a floppy disk drive or a large capacity storage disk, wherein said external storage device

utilizes one set of device class protocol and transport protocol if the detected status is floppy disk drive; and

utilizes a different set of device class protocol and transport protocol if the detected status is large capacity storage disk.

2. The external storage device according to claim 1, wherein said device class protocol is UFI protocol, SFF8020I protocol, SFF8070I protocol, SCSI Transparent Command Set protocol, Reduced Block Commands (RBC) T10 Project 1240-D protocol, ZIP disk protocol, or MO protocol.

3. The external storage device according to claim 1, wherein said transport protocol is a CBI transport protocol or BulkOnly protocol.

4. The external storage device according to claim 2, wherein said device class protocol is a device class protocol of the CD-ROM drive, the ZIP disk, or the MO disk.

5. The external storage device according to claim 1, wherein said external storage device comprises a microprocessor and a control module having function of:

receiving control commands based on the USB/IEEE1394 interface protocol and interpreting and executing said control commands and returning the results of executions to said host system through said USB/IEEE1394 interface; and

receiving the simulated or customized storage disk device class protocol, interpreting and executing related commands and returning the results of executions to said host system through USB/IEEE1394 interface.

6. The external storage device according claim 5, wherein said commands include reading data, writing data, reading device information.

7. The storage device according claim 6, wherein said reading data includes reading data from said external storage device and the LED indicator blinking while reading data.

8. The external storage device according claim 6, wherein said writing data includes writing data into said external storage device after determining the status of a write protection switch.

9. The external storage device according claim 8, wherein said determining the status of a write protection switch further includes detecting if the status of the write protect switch is on and then refusing the writing request and informing said host system of the refusal.

10. The external storage device according claim 9, wherein said writing data includes converting the logical addresses in said storage device defined on said host system into actual storage chip number and physical addresses of the storage chip.

11. An external storage device, comprising:

means for establishing connection for hot plug-and-play with a host system through a USB/IEEE1394 interface upon plugging in an external storage device;

means for acquiring DC electrical power from said host system through said USB/IEEE1394 interface;

means for detecting and saving the information of a storage module of the flash memory within said external storage device;

means for initializing the controller of said USB/IEEE1394 interface;

means for receiving and executing the USB/IEEE1394 control command from said host system;

means for determining whether the status of said external storage device is a floppy disk drive or a large capacity storage disk,

means for utilizing one device class protocol and transport protocol if the detected status is floppy disk drive; and

means for utilizing another different device class protocol and transport protocol if the detected status is large capacity storage disk.

12. The external storage device according to claim 11, wherein said device class protocol is UFI protocol, SFF80201 protocol, SFF80701 protocol, SCSI Transparent Command Set protocol, Reduced Block Commands (RBC) T10 Project 1240-D protocol, ZIP disk protocol, or MO protocol.

13. The external storage device according to claim 11, wherein said transport protocol is a CBI transport protocol or BulkOnly protocol.

14. The external storage device according to claim 11, wherein said device class protocol is a device class protocol of the CD-ROM drive, the ZIP disk, or the MO disk.

15. The external storage device according to claim 11, wherein said device further comprises:

means for receiving control commands based on the USB/IEEE1394 interface protocol and interpreting and executing said control commands and returning the results of executions to said host system through said USB/IEEE 1394 interface; and

means for receiving the simulated or customized storage disk device class protocol, interpreting and executing related commands and returning the results of executions to said host system through USB/IEEE1394 interface.

16. The external storage device according claim 15, wherein said commands include reading data, writing data, reading device information.

17. The external storage device according claim 16, wherein said reading data includes reading data from said external storage device and the LED indicator blinking while reading data.

18. The external storage device according claim 17, wherein said writing data includes writing data into said external storage device after determining the status of a write protection switch.