System and method for a host to access an internal SATA storage device within an accessible host using an external serial ATA connection

• US 7,650,447 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Barras, Lawrence S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sorrell; Eron J
• Application Number:
  US11/707,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20080200071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/74
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• 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 3/0635 by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0673 Single storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0683 Plurality of storage devices

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.

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.

2. The accessible host of claim 1, wherein the external SATA connector comprises an external single lane SATA connector.

3. The accessible host of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of port selectors each connected to a respective internal SATA storage device; and

a port multiplier connected between the plurality of port selectors and the switching mechanism.

4. The accessible host of claim 3, wherein each one of the plurality of internal SATA port controllers is connected to a respective SATA storage device.

5. The accessible host of claim 4, further comprising a mode selector connected to the switching mechanism and to each port selector.

6. The accessible host of claim 3, further comprising a mode selector connected to the switching mechanism and to each port selector, wherein the mode selector is operable to activate a communication path between the selected one of the plurality of internal SATA storage devices and the respective port selector connected to the selected one of the plurality of internal SATA storage devices.

7. The accessible host of claim 1, wherein the external SATA connector comprises an external multi-lane SATA connector.

8. The accessible host of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of port selectors each connected to a respective SATA storage device and to the switching mechanism.

9. The accessible host of claim 8, wherein each one of the plurality of internal SATA port controllers is connected to a respective SATA storage device and a respective port selector.

10. The accessible host of claim 7, wherein the external SATA port controller comprises one of a plurality of external SATA port controllers.

11. The accessible host of claim 10, wherein the switching mechanism is operable to connect the external SATA connector to the plurality of external SATA port controllers when the switching mechanism is in the first configuration.

12. The accessible host of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of port selectors each connected to a respective internal SATA port controller and between a respective internal SATA storage device and the switching mechanism.

13. The accessible host of claim 12, further comprising a mode selector connected to the switching mechanism and to each port selector.

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.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a port multiplier connected between the switching mechanism and a plurality of port selectors, wherein each port selector is connected to a respective internal SATA storage device.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of port selectors each connected between the switching mechanism and a respective internal SATA storage device.

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.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising disabling unused components after entering the device mode.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising indicating the device mode.