Computer memory accessible in either power state of the computer

• US 7,788,442 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2007
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Mazzeo, Thomas S., Kritt, Barry A., Kolvick, Randolph S., Shepard, Rodney E. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Verbrugge; Kevin
• Application Number:
  US11/934,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20090119445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,032 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 711/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

A system on a computer for providing access to data stored on the computer in either power state is provided. The system can include a memory module and an external data interface connector. The system can further include a data interface controller for managing a data interface to the memory module and a data interface to the external data interface connector. The system can further include a multiplexer conductively connecting the data interface controller with the memory module when the computer is powered on, the multiplexer conductively disconnecting the data interface controller from the memory module when the computer is powered off and the multiplexer conductively connecting the external data interface connector with the memory module when the computer is powered on.

Claims

1. A system on a computer for providing access to data stored on the computer in either power state, comprising:

a memory module;

an external data interface connector;

a data interface controller for managing a data interface to the memory module and a data interface to the external data interface connector; and

a multiplexer conductively connecting the data interface controller with the memory module when the computer is powered on, the multiplexer conductively disconnecting the data interface controller from the memory module when the computer is powered off and the multiplexer conductively connecting the external data interface connector with the memory module when the computer is powered off.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory module is a flash drive.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the external data interface connector is an external serial data interface connector.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the external data interface connector is any one of a USB connector and an IEEE 1394 connector.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the data interface controller is a serial data interface controller.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the data interface controller is any one of a USB controller and an IEEE 1394 controller.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power module for providing power to the data interface controller and the memory module when the computer is powered on.

8. A system on a computer for providing access to data stored on the computer in either power state, comprising:

a memory module;

an external data interface connector;

a data interface controller for managing a data interface to the memory module and a data interface to the external data interface connector;

a power module for providing power to the data interface controller and the memory module when the computer is powered on;

a conductor for conducting power from an external power source, the conductor conductively connecting the external data interface connector and the memory module; and

a multiplexer conductively connecting the data interface controller with the memory module when the computer is powered on, the multiplexer conductively disconnecting the data interface controller from the memory module when the computer is powered off and the multiplexer conductively connecting the external data interface connector with the memory module when the computer is powered on.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory module is a flash drive.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the external data interface connector is an external serial data interface connector.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the data interface controller is a serial data interface controller.

12. A method on a computer for providing access to data stored on the computer in either power state, comprising:

providing power to a data interface controller and a memory module when the computer is powered on, wherein the data interface controller manages a data interface to the memory module;

conductively connecting, by a multiplexer, the data interface controller and the memory module when the computer is powered on;

conductively connecting, by the multiplexer, the data interface controller and an external data interface connector when the computer is powered on;

terminating power to the data interface controller and the memory module when the computer is powered off;

conductively disconnecting, by the multiplexer, the data interface controller from the memory module and the external data interface connector when the computer is powered off; and

conductively connecting, by the multiplexer, the memory module and an external data interface connector when the computer is powered off.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing power to the memory module from an external power source via the external data interface connector.