System for the exchange of data between an electronic object coupled to a transfer device with distinct data bit rates, insertable object and corresponding transfer device

• US 5,338,923 A
• Filed: 04/16/1992
• Issued: 08/16/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SmartDisk Corporation
• Original Assignee: SmartDiskette GmbH
• Inventors: Grieu, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Cross, E. Rollins
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOLIS, ERICK R
• Application Number:
  US07/869,784
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 395/775, 395/275, 360/137, 235/492, 370/102
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0664 at device level, e.g. emulation of a storage device or system
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer

Abstract

A system for the exchange of data between a transfer device and an "intelligent insertable object" that comprises an electronic memory associated with an access circuit and emulates a magnetic recording support with respect to a magnetic read/write head of the transfer device, the data exchange bit rate of the transfer device being greater than that of the circuit providing access to the memory of the insertable object, the system comprising means to limit the bit rate of useful elements in the apparent bit rate of data elements entering and leaving the transfer device, so that it is compatible with the bit rate leaving and entering the circuit providing access to the memory of the insertable object. The system can be applied notably to the exchange of data elements between a microcomputer and an electronic card that can be inserted into the disk drive of the microcomputer or into a memory card reader.

Claims

1. A system for the exchange of data between at least one movable, insertable electronic object and at least one transfer device,

said insertable object comprising an electronic memory associated with an access circuit and coupling means enabling the temporary coupling of said insertable object with said transfer device;

said transfer device comprising means for the transfer of data between the memory of the insertable object and the transfer device;

said insertable object emulating a magnetic recording support with respect to a magnetic read/write head of the transfer device, the data exchange bit rate of the transfer device being greater than that of the access circuit of the memory of the insertable object, wherein said system comprises means to limit the bit rate of useful data in the apparent bit rate of data entering and leaving the transfer device, so that it is compatible with the bit rate leaving and entering the access circuit of the memory of the insertable object, said means to limit the bit rate consisting of at least one means belonging to the group including the redundant coding and the n times (n≧

2) replication of at least certain of said useful data, in the flow of data entering and leaving and the transfer device.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said means to limit the bit rate of useful data include means to insert padding information into the flow of data entering and leaving the transfer device.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein, in the channel for the exchange of data in the direction going from said transfer device towards said insertable object, said means for the replication of at least some of the useful data elements cooperating with specific coding means belonging to the group including the MFM coding means, the GCR coding means or equivalent type coding means, positioned downline from said replication means, said replication and said specific coding means being located in the transfer device.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the combination of the data processing operations by the replication means and then the said specific coding means gives, for each bit of useful information, a sequence of data within which there alternate series of ones and zeros according to a first pattern for a useful bit equal to zero, and according to a second pattern for a useful bit equal to one, wherein said insertable object comprises pattern discrimination means discriminating between the first and second patterns so as to recover each of the successive useful bits in the flow of data entering said insertable object.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said first and second patterns are periodic predetermined patterns displaying changes in state according to a first periodicity for the first pattern and according to a second periodicity, different from the first periodicity, for the second pattern, and wherein said pattern discrimination means are frequency discrimination means.

6. A system according to claim 4, wherein said frequency discrimination means directly supply the series/parallel converter associated with a processor located in said insertable object, synchronized with the frequency of periodic pattern changing in the flow of data entering said insertable object.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said useful data elements are assembled in data streams comprising delimiters (START, STOP), before the processing operations by said replication and said specific coding means, and wherein said delimiters provide for the locking of synchronization of said circuits providing access to the memory of the insertable object.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein, in the direction going from said insertable object to said transfer device, said means to limit the bit rate include means to memorize pre-prepared sequences of bits and means for the transmission of said pre-prepared sequences as a function of useful data elements to be transmitted.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said pre-prepared sequences of bits are obtained from processing operations of replication, MFM coding and CRC coding.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein the useful data elements are provided byte by byte, and wherein said means to insert padding data insert a padding sequence at the instant of each reading of a new byte of useful data elements in the electronic memory of said insertable object.

11. An insertable object used in a system for the exchange of data between said insertable object and a transfer device, comprising an electronic memory associated with an access circuit and coupling means enabling the temporary coupling of said insertable object with said transfer device, and emulating a magnetic recording support with respect to a magnetic read/write head of the transfer device, the data exchange bit rate of the transfer device being greater than that of the access circuit of the memory of the insertable object, wherein said insertable object comprises means to limit the bit rate of useful data in the apparent bit rate of data entering and leaving the transfer device, so that it is compatible with the bit rate leaving and entering the access circuit of the memory of the insertable object, said means to limit the bit rate consisting of at least one means belonging to the group including the redundant coding and the n times (n≧

2) replication of at least certain of said useful data, in the flow of data entering and leaving the transfer device.

12. A transfer device usable in a system for exchange between said transfer device and an insertable object, comprising means for the transfer of data between a memory of the insertable object and the transfer device, the data exchange bit rate of the transfer device being greater than that an access circuit of the memory of the insertable object, wherein said transfer device comprises means to limit the bit rate of useful data in the apparent bit rate of data entering and leaving the transfer device, so that it is compatible with the bit rate leaving and entering the access circuit of the memory of the insertable object, said means to limit the bit rate consisting of at least one means belonging to the group including the redundant coding and the n times (n≧

2) replication of at least certain of said useful data, in the flow of data entering and leaving the transfer device.

13. A system for the exchange of data between at least one movable, insertable electronic object and at least one transfer device,

said insertable object comprising an electronic memory associated with an access circuit and coupling means enabling the temporary coupling of said insertable object with said transfer device;

said transfer device comprising means for the transfer of data between the memory of the insertable object and the transfer device;

said insertable object emulating a magnetic recording support with respect to a magnetic read head of the transfer device, the data exchange bit rate of the transfer device being greater than that of the access circuit of the memory of the insertable object, wherein said system comprises means to limit the bit rate of useful data in the apparent bit rate of data entering and leaving the transfer device, so that it is compatible with the bit rate leaving and entering the access circuit of the memory of the insertable object, said means to limit the bit rate consisting of at least one means belonging to the group including the redundant coding and the n times (n≧

2) replication of at least certain of said useful data in the flow of data entering and leaving the transfer device.