Data sharing and transfer systems and methods

• US 20090013103A1
• Filed: 04/24/2008
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ours Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ours Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Chang, Ming-Te, Fang, Chung-Chih
• Granted Patent: US 7,921,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4295 using an embedded synchronisation

Abstract

A communication system may include one or more communication interfaces, a controller, and a storage unit. The communication interface(s) may be configured to be coupled to first and second computing devices. The controller is configured to establish a communication channel between the first and second computing devices. The first and second communication interfaces are coupled with the controller, and the controller is further configured to receive from at least one of the first and second computing devices a communication command communicated in a first format consistent with an external storage device protocol. The storage unit is coupled with the controller and contains a set of instructions recognizable and executable by the first and second computing devices for converting communication requests from at least one of the first and second computing devices to the communication command. The controller is configured to be recognizable by at least one of the first and second computing devices as a storage device controller.

Claims

1. A data communication system comprising:

a first communication interface configured to be coupled to a first computing device;

a second communication interface configured to be coupled to a second computing device;

a controller configured to establish a communication channel between the first and second computing devices, the first and second communication interfaces being coupled with the controller, the controller being configured to receive from at least one of the first and second computing devices a communication command communicated in a first format and to process the communication command in the first format for executing a communication operation; and

a storage unit coupled with the controller, the storage unit containing instructions recognizable and executable by the first and second computing devices for converting a communication request from at least one of the first and second computing devices to the communication command in the first format recognizable by the controller,

wherein the controller is configured to be recognizable by at least one of the first and second computing devices as at least one of a customized controller with customized instructions and as a storage device controller for receiving at least one of data read and write commands and perform at least one of data read and write operations.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the instructions are part of a software application recognizable and executable by the first and second computing devices.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is a multi-control unit (MCU).

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first format comprises one of a customized communication protocol and an existing communication protocol recognizable by at least one of the first and second computing devices before the instructions are executed by the first and second computing devices.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communication command comprises commands directing to at least one of a memory partition, a logical unit number, a folder, an address, and an identifier being part of the storage unit.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communication command comprises at least one of a read command, a write command, a network communication command, a protocol command, and a resource sharing command.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second communication interfaces comprises an interface compatible with at least one of Universal Serial Bus (USB), USB On-The-Go (OTG), Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA), ATA, Peripheral Control Interface (PCI), and Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) 1394 protocols.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is a built-in controller of at least one of the first and second computing devices.

9. A communication system comprising:

at least one communication interface configured to be coupled to first and second computing devices;

a controller configured to establish a communication channel between the first and second computing devices, the at least one communication interface being coupled with the controller, the controller being configured to receive from at least one of the first and second computing devices a communication command communicated in a first format consistent with an external storage device protocol; and

a storage unit coupled with the controller, the storage unit containing a set of instructions recognizable and executable by the first and second computing devices for converting communication requests from at least one of the first and second computing devices to the communication command,

wherein the controller is configured to be recognizable by at least one of the first and second computing devices as a storage device controller.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the instructions are part of a software application recognizable and executable by the first and second computing devices.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the first format is consistent with a mass storage device protocol.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the communication command comprises a command directing to at least one of a memory partition, a logical unit number, a folder, an address, and an identifier being part of the storage unit.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein the communication command comprises at least one of a read command, a write command, a network communication command, a protocol command, and a resource sharing command.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one communication interface comprises an interface compatible with at least one of Universal Serial Bus (USB), USB On-The-Go (OTG), Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA), ATA, Peripheral Control Interface (PCI), and Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) 1394 protocols.

15. A method for providing a communication channel between computing devices, the method comprising:

providing a system that includes at least one communication interface, a storage unit, and a controller coupled with the at least one communication interface and the storage unit; and

configuring the system to;

provide from the storage device the instructions recognizable and executable by at least one of the computing devices for converting a communication request from the computing devices to a communication command in the first format;

receive the communication command from at least one of the computing devices;

process the communication command in the first format for executing communication operations; and

execute a communication operation based on the communication command.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the instructions are part of a software application recognizable and executable by at least one the computing devices.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first format comprises one of a customized communication protocol and an existing communication protocol recognizable by at least one of the computing devices.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the communication command comprises a command directing to at least one of a memory partition, a logical unit number, a folder, an address, and an identifier being part of the storage unit.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the communication command comprises at least one of a read command, a write command, a network communication command, a protocol command, and a resource sharing command.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the controller communicates with at least one of the computing devices through an interface compatible with at least one of Universal Serial Bus (USB), USB On-The-Go (OTG), Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA), ATA, Peripheral Control Interface (PCI), and Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) 1394 protocols.