Multifunction semiconductor storage device and a method for booting-up computer host

• US 7,136,951 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2002
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netac Technology Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Netac Technology Company Limited
• Inventors: Xiang, Feng, Cheng, Xiaohua, Deng, Guoshun
• Primary Examiner(s): Myers, Paul R.
• Application Number:
  US10/075,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20030005278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,736 Days
• Field of Search: 713/2, 710301-302
• US Class Current: 710/302
• 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 3/0661 Format or protocol conversion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system

Abstract

A semiconductor storage device connected to the host system through the general purpose interface, including a semiconductor storage media module (1) and a controller module (2), in which the controller module (2) consists of a general purpose interface control module (21), a microprocessor and control module (22). Various device class protocols can be realized at the interface application level of the semiconductor storage device, which makes it possible to simulate and realize the storage functions of various storage disks. One or a plurality of storage spaces are opened up in the semiconductor storage media and one or a plurality of storage disks are supported by the same device; furthermore, the device supports hot plug and play and it is removable.

Claims

1. A multifunction semiconductor storage device capable of hot plug and play and being removable connected to the host system, comprising:

a semiconductor storage media module, wherein said semiconductor storage media module general purpose stores the boot up program of the operating system and operating system programs to be automatically loaded from said semiconductor storage media module to a host computer through a USB or IEEE 1394 connector for connecting a USB or IEEE 1394 standard bus to establish data exchange channel and boost the host computer after said multifunction semiconductor storage device being removable connected to said host computer; and

a controller module, wherein said controller module comprises a USB or IEEE 1394 interface control module, and a microprocessor and control module, wherein said USB or IEEE 1394 interface control module interprets and transmits a USB or IEEE1394 interface protocol, and wherein said microprocessor and control module determines a device class protocol of a storage disk, and informing the host the status of said storage device is the large capacity storage disk or the simulated floppy drive and the floppy diskette.

2. A multifunction semiconductor storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said semiconductor storage device can be recognized, controlled and accessed by the BIOS (Basic Input and Output System) of said host computer, while the BIOS of the host computer is powered up, the boot up program of the operating system and operating system programs are loaded from the semiconductor storage media module so as to boot said host computer.

3. A multifunction semiconductor storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driver programs of the semiconductor storage device can be stored in the semiconductor storage media module so as to realize the function of storing the driver programs.

4. A multifunction semiconductor storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said semiconductor storage media module comprises a special information area for storing the information relevant to said semiconductor storage device, the password and the digital signature of a user.

5. A multifunction semiconductor storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multifunction semiconductor storage device connecting with said host computer through said interface control module, controlling and reading/writing the multifunction semiconductor storage device based on BIOS after powered up said host computer.

6. A multifunction semiconductor storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interface protocol can be any protocol of USB interface, IEEE1394 interface, Bluetooth interface, IrDa infrared interface, HomeRE interface, IEEE802.112a interface, or IEEE802.11b interface.

7. A multifunction semiconductor storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multifunction semiconductor device further includes a write protect switch capable of offering physical protection to said semiconductor storage media module so as to prevent the contents from being overwritten or erased, said write protect switch is electrically connected to said microprocessor and control module.

8. A multifunction semiconductor storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multifunction semiconductor device further includes a LED indicator comprising one or a plurality of indicator devices which can show the working status of the semiconductor storage device, said LED power indicator (5) is electrically connected to said microprocessor and control module.

9. A multifunction semiconductor storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said storage disk can be a simulated and implemented store function of floppy disk drive and floppy diskette, a simulated and implemented store function of CD-ROM drive and a CD-ROM, a simulated and implemented store function of hard disk, a simulate and implemented store function of ZIP disk, a simulated and implemented store function of MO disk, or a customized storage disk.

10. A multifunction semiconductor storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multifunction semiconductor device further includes a storage disk selection switch for selecting at least one storage disk from all storage disks, so that the selected storage disk can be recognized, controlled and accessed by said host computer.

11. A multifunction semiconductor storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said storage disk supports said device class protocol that is anyone of UFI (USB Floppy Interface) protocol, SFF80201 protocol, SFF80701 protocol, SCSI Transparent Command Set protocol, Reduced Block Commands (RBC) T10 Project1240-D protocol, ZIP disk protocol or MO disk protocol.

12. A method of using a multifunction semiconductor storage device capable of hot plug and play and being removable connected to the host system, comprising:

a step of storing a boot up program of the operating system and operating system programs in a semiconductor storage media module, wherein said boot up program to be automatically loaded from said semiconductor storage media module to a host computer through a USB or IEEE 1394 connector for connecting a USB or IEEE 1394 standard bus to establish data exchange channel and boost the host computer after said multifunction semiconductor storage device being removable connected to said host computer;

a step of interpreting and transmitting a USB or IEEE 1394 interface protocol by a USB or IEEE 1394 interface control module; and

a step of initializing a USB or IEEE 1394 interface control module and determining a device class protocol of a storage disk by a microprocessor and control module, wherein a controller module comprises said USB or IEEE 1394 interface control module, said microprocessor and control module, and a buffer module, and informing the host the status of said storage device is the large capacity storage disk or the simulated floppy drive and the floppy diskette.

13. A method of using a multifunction semiconductor storage device as claimed in claim 12, wherein further includes a step of recognizing, controlling and accessing said semiconductor storage device by the BIOS (Basic Input and Output System) of said host computer, while the BIOS of the host computer is powered up, the boot up program of the operating system and operating system programs are loaded from said semiconductor storage media module so as to boot said host computer.

14. A method of using a multifunction semiconductor storage device as claimed in claim 12, wherein further includes a step of storing a special information area for the information relevant to said semiconductor storage device, the password and the digital signature of a user.

15. A method of using a multifunction semiconductor storage device as claimed in claim 12, wherein further includes a step of recognizing said interface protocol to be any protocol of USB interface, IEEE1394 interface, Bluetooth interface, IrDa infrared interface, HomeRE interface, IEEE802.112a interface, or IEEE802.11b interface.

16. A method of using a multifunction semiconductor storage device as claimed in claim 12, wherein further includes a step of recognizing said device class protocol to be anyone of UFI (USB Floppy Interface) protocol, SFF8020I protocol, SFF8070I protocol, SCSI Transparent Command Set protocol, Reduced Block Commands (RBC) T10 Project1240-D protocol, ZIP disk protocol, MO disk protocol or a customized device class protocol.

17. A method of using a multifunction semiconductor storage device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the function of said microprocessor and control module further includes a step of initializing said semiconductor storage media module and detecting the capacity, the manufacture, and quantity of the storage chip in said semiconductor storage media module.

18. A method of using a multifunction semiconductor storage device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the function of said microprocessor and control module further includes a step of receiving control commands based on said interface protocol, interpreting and executing the control commands, and returning the execution results to said host computer.

19. A method of using a multifunction semiconductor storage device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the function of said microprocessor and control module further includes a step of receiving said device class protocol of a simulated device disk, interpreting and executing related commands such as reading and writing data or device information, and returning the results of executions to said host computer.

20. A computer storage medium storing a program for controlling a multifunction semiconductor storage device to perform a method as claimed in claim 12.