Memory device and method for reading data stored in a portion of a memory device unreadable by a file system of a host device

• US 6,778,974 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2001
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matrix Semiconductor, Inc. (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Moore, Christopher S., Brown, Daniel T., March, Roger W.
• Primary Examiner(s): KINDRED, ALFORD W
• Application Number:
  US09/775,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20020107862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-2, 707/101, 707/205, 707/7, 711/1-4, 711/100-105, 711/111, 711/113-114, 711/129-130, 711/147, 711/202
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

The preferred embodiments described herein provide a memory device and method for reading data stored in a portion of a memory device unreadable by a file system of a host device. In one preferred embodiment, a memory device is provided comprising a first portion that is readable by a file system of a host device and a second portion that is unreadable by the file system of the host device. The first portion stores program code operative to enable the host device to read the second portion. In operation, after the memory device is connected with the host device, the program code is provided to the host device, and the host device reads the data stored in the second portion of the memory device. Other preferred embodiments are provided, and each of the preferred embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.

Claims

1. A method for reading data stored in a portion of a memory device unreadable by a file system of a host device, the method comprising:

(a) providing a memory device to a host device, wherein the host device comprises a file system installed in the host device prior to the memory device being provided to the host device the memory device comprising a first portion readable by the file system of the host device and a second portion unreadable by the file system of the host device, wherein the first portion stores program code operative to enable the host device to read the second portion;

(b) providing the program code to the host device; and

(c) with the host device, reading data stored in the second portion of the memory device.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises automatically providing the program code to the host device after the memory device is provided to the host device.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein the memory device and the host device each comprise respective exposed electrical connectors, and wherein (a) comprises connecting the exposed electrical connector of the memory device with the exposed electrical connector of the host device.

4. The invention of claim 1 further comprising removing the memory device from the host device.

5. The invention of claim 1 further comprising, before act (a), providing the program code and the data to the memory device with a data storage device.

7. The invention of claim 1 or 6, wherein the first and second portions are within a single partition of the memory device.

8. The invention of claim 1 or 6, wherein the memory device comprises first and second partitions, and wherein the first partition comprises the first portion and wherein the second partition comprises the second portion.

9. The invention of claim 1 or 6, wherein the first portion is readable by a DOS FAT file system.

10. The invention of claim 1 or 6, wherein the second portion is readable by a file system for a write-once memory device.

11. The invention of claim 1 or 6, wherein the first portion is fixed and wherein the second portion is updateable.

12. The invention of claim 1 or 6, wherein the program code is usable by the host device without rebooting the host device.

13. The invention of claim 1 or 6, wherein the program code is not usable by the host device after the host device is rebooted.

14. The invention of claim 1 or 6, wherein the program code is further operative to enable the host device to write data to the second portion.

15. The invention of claim 1 or 6, wherein the second portion is readable by a second file system and wherein the program code comprises the second file system.

16. The invention of claim 1 or 6, wherein the program code comprises a driver.

17. The invention of claim 1 or 6, wherein the program code comprises an application.

18. The invention of claim 1 or 6, wherein the program code comprises an extension to an application on the host device.

19. The invention of claim 1 or 6, wherein the memory device comprises a three-dimensional memory array.

20. The invention of claim 19, wherein the memory array comprises memory cells of a semiconductor material.

21. The invention of claim 19, wherein the memory array comprises write-once memory cells.

6. A memory device comprising:

a connector operative to connect the memory device to a host device, wherein the host device comprises a file system installed in the host device prior to the memory device being connected to the host device;

a first portion readable by the file system of a host device; and

a second portion unreadable by the file system of the host device;

wherein the first portion stores program code operative to enable the host device to read the second portion.

22. A method for reading data stored in a portion of a memory device unreadable by a file system of a host device, the method comprising:

(a) connecting an exposed electrical connector of a memory device with an exposed electrical connector of a data storage device;

(b) with the data storage device, storing program code in a first portion of the memory device and storing data in a second portion of the memory device;

(c) disconnecting the exposed electrical connector of the memory device from the exposed electrical connector of the data storage device;

(d) connecting the exposed electrical connector of the memory device with an exposed electrical connector of a host device, wherein the host device comprises a file system installed in the host device prior to the memory device being connected to the host device, wherein the first portion of the memory device is readable by the file system of the host device and wherein the second portion of the memory device is unreadable by the file system of the host device;

(e) automatically providing the host device with the program code stored in the first portion of the memory device, wherein the program code is operative to enable the host device to read the second portion; and

(f) with the host device, reading the data stored in the second portion of the memory device.