Solid-state memory storage device for storing data wirelessly transmitted from a host and for wirelessly transmitting the data to the host

• US 20090150584A1
• Filed: 06/15/2005
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trek 2000 International Limited (Trek Technology Singapore PTE Limited)
• Original Assignee: Trek 2000 International Limited (Trek Technology Singapore PTE Limited)
• Inventors: Tan, Henry, Poo, Teng Pin
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/3814 Wireless link with a computer system port
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/1006 Data managing, e.g. manipulating data before writing or reading out, data bus switches or control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/16 Storage of analogue signals in digital stores using an arrangement comprising analogue/digital [A/D] converters, digital memories and digital/analogue [D/A] converters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7163 using impulse radio
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A solid-state memory storage device and method for using the device includes storing data wirelessly transmitted from a host and wirelessly transmitting the data to the host. The storage device has an RF module which demodulates an ultra-wideband write signal received wirelessly from a host and outputs a wireless protocol write signal. A wireless protocol controller has a protocol conversion layer which converts the wireless protocol write signal into a USB protocol write signal. A microcontroller has function extraction layer for extracting a write command from the USB protocol write signal and, in response to the write command, controls the writing of data extracted from the USB protocol write signal to the solid-state memory to store the data in the solid-state memory. The microcontroller also reads the data stored in the solid-state memory in response to a read command received from the host and outputs a USB protocol read signal to the wireless protocol controller. The protocol conversion layer also translates the USB protocol read signal into a wireless protocol read signal. The RF module also modulates the wireless protocol read signal and outputs an ultra-wideband signal for wireless transmission to the host.

Claims

1. A solid-state memory storage device for storing data wirelessly transmitted from a host and for wirelessly transmitting the data to the host comprising:

an RF module which demodulates an ultra-wideband write signal received wirelessly from a host and outputs a wireless protocol write signal;

a wireless protocol controller having a protocol conversion layer which converts the wireless protocol write signal into a USB protocol write signal;

a microcontroller having a function extraction layer for extracting a write command from the USB protocol write signal and, in response to the write command, controlling the writing of data extracted from the USB protocol write signal to the solid-state memory to store the data in the solid-state memory;

and wherein;

the micro controller also reads the data stored in the solid-state memory in response to a read command received from the host and outputs a USB protocol read signal to the wireless protocol controller;

the protocol conversion layer also translates the USB protocol read signal into a wireless protocol read signal;

and

the RF module also modulates the wireless protocol read signal and outputs an ultra-wideband signal for wireless transmission to the host.

2. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1, wherein the ultra-wideband signal has a frequency spectrum at least 7 GHz wide.

3. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless protocol write signal is a WUSB protocol write signal, the wireless protocol controller is a WUSB controller having a USB conversion layer which extracts a USB protocol write signal from the WUSB protocol write signal, and the wireless protocol read signal is a WUSB protocol read signal.

4. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1, further comprising an antenna, integral with the solid-state memory storage device, which wirelessly transmits and receives wireless protocol read and write signals to and from the host.

5. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1, wherein the micro controller performs memory management.

6. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 5, wherein the microcontroller decodes logical memory from the host to physical memory of the solid-state memory.

7. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1, wherein the solid-state memory has an NAND architecture.

8. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1, wherein the solid-state memory comprises at least 8 MB of non-volatile solid-state memory storing data in compressed format and the memory storage device further comprises a built-in encoder/decoder engine for compressing and decompressing the data.

9. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1 and further comprising an integral built in USB male-type connector.

10. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1 and further comprising a biometrics-based authentication module coupled to and controlled by the microcontroller, wherein access to the solid-state memory is granted to the host provided that the biometrics-based authentication module authenticates the identity of a user of the host and wherein access to the solid-state memory is denied to the host otherwise.

11. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 10, wherein the biometrics-based authentication module includes a thumbprint sensor for acquiring data from the thumbprint of the user.

12. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1, wherein the host is a personal computer.

13. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1 and further comprising:

a portable power supply; and

a power management system which monitors communications between the host and the solid-state memory storage device, the power management system providing minimum power from the portable power supply when detecting no communications between the host and the solid-state memory storage device and providing maximum power from the portable power supply when detecting communications between the host and the solid-state memory storage device.

14. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 13, wherein the power management system also manages recharging of the portable power supply.

15. A solid-state memory storage according to claim 13, wherein the portable power supply is selected from the group consisting of:

an alkaline battery, a rechargeable battery, a button cell and a fuel cell.

16. A method of using a solid-state memory storage device for storing data wirelessly transmitted from a host and for wirelessly transmitting the data to the host comprising the steps of:

receiving an ultra-wideband write signal wirelessly from a host;

demodulating the ultra-wideband write signal by a physical protocol layer of an RF module and outputting a wireless protocol write signal;

converting the wireless protocol write signal into a USB protocol write signal by a protocol conversion layer of a wireless protocol controller;

extracting a write command from the USB protocol write signal by a function extraction layer of a microcontroller and, in response to the write command, controlling the writing of data extracted from the USB protocol write signal to the solid-state memory by the microcontroller to store the data in the solid-state memory;

reading the data stored in the solid-state memory by the microcontroller in response to a read command received from the host and outputting from the microcontroller a USB protocol read signal to the wireless protocol controller;

translating the USB protocol read signal into a wireless protocol read signal by the protocol conversion layer of the wireless protocol controller;

and

modulating the wireless protocol read signal by the RF module and outputting an ultra-wideband signal for wireless transmission to the host.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the ultra-wideband signal has a frequency spectrum at least 7 GHz wide.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the wireless protocol write signal is a WUSB protocol write signal, the wireless protocol controller is a WUSB controller having a USB conversion layer which extracts a USB protocol write signal from the WUSB protocol write signal, and the wireless protocol read signal is a WUSB protocol read signal.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein the steps of receiving the write data WUSB signal wirelessly from the host and wireless transmission to the host both use an antenna which is integral with the solid-state memory storage device.

20. A method according to claim 16, further comprising a memory management step performed by the microcontroller.

21. A method according to claim 16, wherein as part of the a memory management step the microcontroller decodes logical memory from the host to physical memory of the solid-state memory.

22. A method according to claim 16, wherein the solid-state memory has an NAND architecture.

23. A method according to claim 16, wherein the solid-state memory comprises at least 8 MB of non-volatile solid-state memory and further comprising the step of storing data in compressed format reading the data in compressed format using a built-in encoder/decoder engine for compressing and decompressing the data.

24. A method according to claim 16, wherein the solid-state memory storage device further comprises an integral built in USB male-type connector.

25. A method according to claim 16, wherein the solid-state memory storage device further comprises a biometrics-based authentication module coupled to and controlled by the microcontroller, the method further comprising the steps of:

a) granting the host access to the solid-state memory when the biometrics-based authentication module authenticates the identity of a user of the host; and

b) denying the access to the solid-state memory when the biometrics-based authentication module cannot authenticate the identity of a user of the host.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the biometrics-based authentication module includes a thumbprint sensor for acquiring data from the thumbprint of the user.

27. A method according to claim 16, wherein the host is a personal computer.

28. A method according to claim 16, wherein the solid-state memory storage device further comprises a portable power supply and a power management system, the power management system further performing the steps of:

a) monitoring communications between the host and the solid-state memory storage device;

b) providing minimum power from the portable power supply when detecting no communications between the host and the solid-state memory storage device; and

c) providing maximum power from the portable power supply when detecting communications between the host and the solid-state memory storage device.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the a power management system also manages recharging of the portable power supply.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the portable power supply is selected from the group consisting of:

an alkaline battery, a rechargeable battery, a button cell and a fuel cell.