HOT UNPLUGGABLE MEDIA STORAGE DEVICE

• US 20090292831A1
• Filed: 08/04/2009
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Robbin, Jeffrey L., Heller, David, Marciniak, Craig A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,698,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• 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 3/0674 Disk device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4413 Plug-and-play [PnP]

Abstract

Improved techniques for rendering a peripheral device removable (e.g., unpluggable) are disclosed. According to one aspect of the invention, the peripheral device is rendered removable from a host computer without preparatory user actions. In effect, the peripheral device can be automatically prepared for removal in the event that its user removes (unplugs) it from its host computer. According to another aspect of the invention, the peripheral device includes a data storage device that is mounted to a file system of the other computer when the other computer desires access to the data storage device. Otherwise, the data storage device is normally unmounted so that if the peripheral device were to be removed (e.g., unplugged) no harm or damage to data stored therein would occur. These aspects of the invention can be utilized alone or in combination with one another. The invention is particularly well suited for peripheral devices that are media players which are “hot” unpluggable without detrimental consequences.

Claims

1. A method of using a data storage device in a portable media player as a mass storage device for a host device, comprising:

mounting the data storage device to a host device file system by forming a logical connection between the data storage device and a host device file system via a data link without the portable electronic device and the host computer polling each other, and wherein the data storage device remains mounted to the host device file system until a specific unmounting request is acted upon.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein forming the logical connection is automatically performed.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an unmounting request; and

unmounting the data storage device from the host device file system in response to the unmounting request.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein following the unmounting of the data storage device, the portable media player is capable of being detached from the host device via the data link without detrimental consequences to operation or storage of the host computer or the portable media player.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data link is provided over a cable or a wireless link.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein when the portable media player is coupled to the host computer via the data link, the data storage device in the portable media player is an extension of the host device file system.

7. A portable media player, comprising:

a processor;

a docking interface; and

a data storage device, wherein the data storage device forms an extension of a host device file system of a host computing device by the processor instructing the docking interface to mount the data storage device to the host device file system and by forming a logical connection between the data storage device and the host device file system without the host computing device and the portable media player polling each other, wherein the data storage device remains mounted to the host device file system until a specific unmounting request is acted upon.

8. The portable media player as recited in claim 7, wherein forming the logical connection is automatically performed.

9. The portable media player as recited in claim 7, wherein when the processor receives an unmounting request, the processor unmounts the data storage device from the host device file system.

10. The portable media player as recited in claim 9, wherein following the unmounting of the data storage device, the portable media player is capable of being detached from the host device via the data link without detrimental consequences to operation or storage of the host computer or the portable media player.

11. The portable media player as recited in claim 7, wherein the data link is provided over a cable or a wireless link.

12. The portable media player as recited in claim 7, wherein when the portable media player is coupled to the host computer via the data link, the data storage device in the portable media player is an extension of the host device file system.

13. Computer readable storage medium for storing computer code for using a data storage device in a portable media player as a mass storage device for a host device, comprising:

computer code for mounting the data storage device to a host device file system comprising computer code for forming a logical connection between the data storage device and a host device file system via a data link without the portable electronic device and the host computer polling each other, and wherein the data storage device remains mounted to the host device file system until a specific unmounting request is acted upon.

14. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein forming the logical connection is automatically performed.

15. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

computer code for receiving an unmounting request; and

computer code for unmounting the data storage device from the host device file system in response to the unmounting request.

16. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 15, wherein following the unmounting of the data storage device, the portable media player is capable of being detached from the host device via the data link without detrimental consequences to operation or storage of the host computer or the portable media player.

17. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the data link is provided over a cable or a wireless link.

18. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein when the portable media player is coupled to the host computer via the data link, the data storage device in the portable media player is an extension of the host device file system.