SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SIDEBAND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DEVICE AND HOST TO MINIMIZE FILE CORRUPTION

• US 20100082711A1
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fletcher, Daniel, Rogers, Matthew, Herman, Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 9,223,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/816
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers

Abstract

Communications systems and methods for minimizing file corruption when communicating between a device and a host are provided. To initiate a file transfer section, a host can transfer data to a device on a primary communications channel. The device can then temporarily store the received data in a memory circuit until a command is received indicating that the file has been completely transferred. In order to avoid interfering with the data transfer, the host can provide such a command to the device on a sideband communications channel. Upon receiving the command, the device can integrate the received data into its file system by transferring the data from the memory circuit to a more permanent storage component. If the communications interface is disconnected before such a command is received, the temporarily stored data can be considered incomplete and can be deleted.

Claims

1. A method for minimizing file corruption during a file transfer, the method comprising:

storing received file system data in a memory circuit;

storing received file data in a storage component;

receiving an end command indicating that a file transfer section is finished; and

transferring the received file system data from the memory circuit to the storage component based at least on the receiving the end command.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the received file system data includes a file allocation table.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the received file system data includes directory information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the file data includes a storage block address, and wherein the storing received file data comprises storing received file data based on the storage block address.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving file system data on a primary communications channel prior to the storing received file system data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving file data on a primary communications channel prior to the storing received file data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the end command comprises receiving the end command on a sideband communications channel.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring comprises overwriting old file system data stored on the storage component with the received file system data.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, on the sideband communications channel, a start command indicating that the file transfer section is beginning; and

based on the receiving the start command, deleting data in the memory circuit before the storing received file system data in the memory circuit.

10. A method for minimizing file corruption during a file transfer, the method comprising:

transmitting file system data on a primary communications channel;

transmitting file data on the primary communications channel; and

transmitting, on a sideband communications channel, an end command indicating that a file transfer section is finished.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the file system data includes a file allocation table.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the file system data includes directory information.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the file data includes a storage block address.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting, on the sideband communications channel, a start command indicating that a file transfer section is beginning prior to the transmitting file system data.

15. A file transfer system for minimizing file corruption during a file transfer, the system comprising:

a host operable to transmit file system data and file data on a primary communications channel and commands on a sideband communications channel; and

a device coupled to the host, the device comprising;

a storage component operable to store file data received from the host on the primary communications channel; and

a memory circuit coupled to the storage component and operable to temporarily store file system data received from the host on the primary communications channel until the device receives, on the sideband communications channel, a command indicating that a file transfer section is finished, wherein the device is operable to transfer file system data from the memory circuit to the storage component when the device receives the command.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the file system data includes a file allocation table.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the file system data includes directory information.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the host comprises:

a processor operable to generate the command;

a file system coupled to the processor and operable to generate the file system data and the file data; and

communications circuitry coupled to the processor and the file system and operable to transmit the file system data and the file data on the primary communications channel and the command on the sideband communications channel.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the device further comprises communications circuitry coupled to the memory circuitry and the storage component, the communications circuitry operable to receive file data and file system data on the primary communications channel and the command on the sideband communications channel from the host.