System and method for a host to access an internal SATA storage device within an accessible host using an external serial ATA connection
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An accessible host comprising a plurality of internal SATA storage devices and an external SATA connector, the host comprising:
- a plurality of internal SATA port controllers;
an external SATA port controller;
a switching mechanism connected to the external SATA connector and operable to connect the external SATA connector to the external SATA port controller and connect at least one of the plurality of internal SATA port controllers to at least one of the plurality of internal SATA storage devices when the switching mechanism is in a first configuration,operable to connect the external SATA connector to the plurality of internal SATA storage devices when the switching mechanism is in a second configuration, andoperable to connect the external SATA connector to a selected one of the plurality of internal SATA storage devices when the switching mechanism is in a third configuration.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An accessible host includes one or more internal SATA storage devices, an external SATA connector, an internal SATA port controller, an external SATA port controller, and a switching mechanism. The switching mechanism allows the accessible host to access an external storage device when the switching mechanism is in a first configuration. When the switching mechanism is in a second configuration, a second host is able to access one or more internal SATA storage devices within the accessible host.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. An accessible host comprising a plurality of internal SATA storage devices and an external SATA connector, the host comprising:
-
a plurality of internal SATA port controllers; an external SATA port controller; a switching mechanism connected to the external SATA connector and operable to connect the external SATA connector to the external SATA port controller and connect at least one of the plurality of internal SATA port controllers to at least one of the plurality of internal SATA storage devices when the switching mechanism is in a first configuration, operable to connect the external SATA connector to the plurality of internal SATA storage devices when the switching mechanism is in a second configuration, and operable to connect the external SATA connector to a selected one of the plurality of internal SATA storage devices when the switching mechanism is in a third configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An external serial ATA system, comprising:
-
an accessible host comprising a plurality of internal SATA storage devices within the accessible host and at least one external SATA port controller; a second host connected to the accessible host using an external SATA connection; and a switching mechanism operable to allow the second host to access; at least one of the at least one external SATA port controller within the accessible host when the switching mechanism is in a host mode configuration; the plurality of internal SATA storage devices within the accessible host when the switching mechanism is in a device mode configuration; and at least one selected internal SATA storage device of the plurality of internal SATA storage devices within the accessible host when the switching mechanism is in a selective device mode configuration. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for a second host to access a plurality of internal SATA storage devices within an accessible host using an external serial ATA connection, the method comprising:
-
determining whether to enter a host mode or a device mode or a selective device mode; setting a switching mechanism to a first configuration when entering the host mode; setting a switching mechanism to a second configuration when entering the device mode, wherein the device mode allows the second host to access the plurality of internal SATA storage devices within the accessible host; and setting the switching mechanism to a third configuration when entering the selective device mode, wherein the selective device mode allows the second host to access a selected internal SATA storage device within the accessible host. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
Specification