Multiple mode communications system

• US 6,901,457 B1
• Filed: 11/04/1998
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SanDisk Corporation (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Holtzman, Micky, Toombs, Thomas N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myers, Paul R.
• Application Number:
  US09/186,064
• Time in Patent Office: 2,400 Days
• Field of Search: 710 10- 11, 710104-105, 710301-304
• US Class Current: 710/11
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00

Abstract

An universal and detachable low cost data storage system adaptable to different communication protocols. Particularly, the storage system can be attached to hosts running different communication protocols such as MultiMediaCard and Serial Peripheral Interface. The storage system automatically selects the protocol in response to the host requirements such that the entire protocol selection process will be transparent to the host.

Claims

1. A memory card connectable to a master operating in a first communication protocol, comprising:

an interface for connection to the master for the transfer of data and commands between the host and the memory card;

a memory section for storing said data; and

an interface controller connected to the memory section and the interface, wherein the interface controller selects said first communication protocol from a plurality of protocols based solely on an initialization command received from the master upon connection to the master;

wherein the selection of the communication protocol is transparent to the master.

2. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a plurality of connection pins and wherein said initialization command comprises asserting a first signal level to a first connection pins when the host operates in the first protocol and not asserting said the first signal level to the first connection pins when the host does not operate in the first protocol.

3. The memory card of claim 2, wherein said asserting a first signal level is the assertion of a chip select signal and wherein the first protocol is a Serial Peripheral Interface protocol.

4. The memory card of claim 2, wherein the first protocol is a MultiMediaCard protocol.

5. A system comprising:

a host operating in a first communication protocol; and

a first card connectable to the host for transferring data and commands between the first card and the host, wherein based on signals from the host the first card selects the first protocol from a plurality of protocols in a way transparent to the host upon connection to the host.

10. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a second card connectable to the host simultaneously with the first card for transferring data and commands between the second card and the host, wherein the second card selects the first protocol from a plurality of protocols in a way transparent to the host upon connection to the host.

6. A system comprising:

a host that operates in a first communication protocol; and

a first card connectable to the host for transferring data and commands between the first card and the host, wherein based on signals from the host the first card selects the first protocol from a plurality of protocols in a way transparent to the host, wherein the first card selects the first protocol in response to an initialization signal from the host when the first card is connected to the host.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first card comprises an interface through which the data and commands are transferred, the interface comprising a pin, and wherein the initialization signal comprises asserting a signal to said pin that is dependent upon said first protocol.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said first protocol is a Serial Peripheral Interface protocol and said signal is a chip select signal.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said first protocol is a MultiMediaCard protocol.

11. A method comprising:

connecting a first memory card capable of communicating in a plurality of communication protocols to a first host operating in a first of said plurality of communication protocols;

in response to said connecting the first memory card to the first host, transmitting an initialization command from the first host to the first card;

receiving the initialization command in the first card; and

the first memory card selecting the first communication protocol for the transfer of data and commands between the first host and the first memory card based solely on the initialization command;

wherein the selection of the communication protocol is transparent to the host.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said initialization command comprises asserting a chip select signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first card subsequently remains in said first protocol when the chip select signal is de-asserted.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first communication protocol is a Serial Peripheral Interface protocol.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first communication protocol is a MultiMediaCard protocol.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transferring first data from the first host to the first memory card using the first communication protocol;

disconnecting the first memory card from the first host;

connecting the first memory card to a second host operating in a second of said plurality of communication protocols;

in response to said connecting the first memory card to the second host, transmitting an initialization command from the second host to the first card;

receiving the initialization command from the second host in the first card;

the first memory card selecting the second communication protocol for the transfer of data and commands between the second host and the first memory card based solely on the initialization command from the second host; and

transferring the first data from the first memory card to the second host using the second communication protocol.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

connecting a second memory card capable of communicating in the plurality of communication protocols to the first host while the first memory card is also attached to the first host;

in response to said connecting the second memory card to the first host, transmitting an initialization command from the first host to the second card;

receiving the initialization command in the second card; and

the second memory card selecting the first communication protocol for the transfer of data and commands between the first host and the second memory card based solely on the initialization command.

18. A method comprising:

connecting a memory card capable of communicating in a plurality of communication protocols to a host that can operate in at least one of said plurality of communication protocols for the transfer of data and commands between the host and the memory card;

in response to said connecting the first memory card to the first host, transmitting a first initialization command from the host to the card;

receiving the first initialization command in the card;

the card selecting the communication protocol in which the host is operating at the time of said transmitting the first initialization command based solely on the first initialization command;

during the continued operation of the host, subsequently transmitting a second initialization command from the host to the card;

receiving the second initialization command in the card; and

the card selecting the communication protocol in which the host is operating at the time of said transmitting the second initialization command based solely on the second initialization command;

wherein the selection of the communication protocol is transparent to the host.

19. The memory card of claim 18, wherein said plurality of communication protocols includes at least a first and a second protocol, wherein the card is connected to the host by an interface comprising a plurality of connection pins, wherein said initialization commands comprises the simultaneous assertion of signal levels on the connection pins, and wherein the signals levels of the initialization of the first protocol differ from the signal levels of the initialization signal of the second protocol.

20. The memory card of claim 18, wherein said plurality of communication protocols include a Serial Peripheral Interface protocol.

21. The memory card of claim 18, wherein said plurality of communication protocols include a MultiMediaCard protocol.

22. A memory card electronically connectable to a master operating in a first operating protocol from among a plurality of protocols, comprising:

an interface comprising a plurality of terminals for connection to the master for the transfer of data between the host and the memory card;

a memory section for storing said data; and

a controller connected to the memory section and the interface, wherein the controller automatically selects in a manner transparent to the master said first operating protocol based on one or more signals distributed among the plurality of terminals originating from the master at power up.

23. The memory card of claim 22, further comprising:

an interface driver, whereby said plurality of terminals are connected to the controller.

24. The memory card of claim 22, further comprising:

a memory core interface, whereby said memory section is connected to the controller.

25. The memory card of claim 22, wherein said memory section is a flash memory.

26. The memory card of claim 22, wherein said plurality of protocols includes a serial protocol.

27. The memory card of claim 22, wherein said plurality of protocols includes a protocol wherein said terminals include a bidirectional data channel between the card and the master.

28. A method of configuring a memory card capable of communicating in a plurality of protocols to operate with a host, comprising:

coupling the memory card to the host so that the host communicates with the memory card through a plurality of terminals, wherein the host is operating in a first of said plurality of protocols;

in response to said connecting the memory card to the host, powering up the memory card;

sensing in the card one or more signals originating from the host distributed among said plurality of terminals; and

the memory card automatically selecting the first protocol for the transfer of data between the host and the memory card based on said signals originating from the host, wherein the selection of the protocol is transparent to the host.

29. The memory card of claim 28, wherein said plurality of protocols includes a serial protocol.

30. The memory card of claim 28, wherein said plurality of protocols includes a protocol wherein said terminals include a bidirectional data channel between the card and the master.

31. A system comprising:

a host operating in a first operating protocol from among a plurality of operating protocols;

a memory card;

an interface comprising a plurality of terminals for the connection of the memory card to the host for the transfer of data between the host and the memory card;

a memory section embedded within the memory card for storing said data; and

a controller embedded within the memory card, wherein the controller automatically selects in a manner transparent to the master said first operating protocol based on one or more signals distributed among the plurality of terminals originating from the master at power up.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

an interface driver embedded within the memory card, whereby said plurality of terminals are connected to the controller.

33. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

a memory core interface embedded within the memory card, whereby said memory section is connected to the controller.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein said memory section is a flash memory.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein said plurality of protocols includes a serial protocol.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein said plurality of protocols includes a protocol wherein said terminals include a bidirectional data channel between the card and the master.