Solid-state storage device with wireless host interface

• US 7,856,519 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2005
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trek 2000 International Limited (Trek Technology Singapore PTE Limited)
• Original Assignee: Trek 2000 International Limited (Trek Technology Singapore PTE Limited)
• Inventors: Tan, Henry, Poo, Teng Pin
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart; Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh; Kim T
• Application Number:
  US11/629,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,015 Days
• Field of Search: 710/11, 710/106, 710305-306, 711/115, 713300-340, 455/66
• US Class Current: 710/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/3814 Wireless link with a computer system port
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/1006 Data managing, e.g. manipulating data before writing or reading out, data bus switches or control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/16 Storage of analogue signals in digital stores using an arrangement comprising analogue/digital [A/D] converters, digital memories and digital/analogue [D/A] converters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7163 using impulse radio
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A solid-state memory storage device and method for using the device includes storing data wirelessly transmitted from a host and wirelessly transmitting the data to the host. The storage device has an RF module which demodulates an ultra-wideband write signal received wirelessly from a host and outputs a wireless protocol write signal. A wireless protocol controller has a protocol conversion layer which converts the wireless protocol write signal into a USB protocol write signal. A microcontroller has function extraction layer for extracting a write command from the USB protocol write signal and, in response to the write command, controls the writing of data extracted from the USB protocol write signal to the solid-state memory to store the data in the solid-state memory. The microcontroller also reads the data stored in the solid-state memory in response to a read command received from the host and outputs a USB protocol read signal to the wireless protocol controller. The protocol conversion layer also translates the USB protocol read signal into a wireless protocol read signal. The RF module also modulates the wireless protocol read signal and outputs an ultra-wideband signal for wireless transmission to the host.

Claims

1. A solid-state memory storage device for storing data transmitted from a host and for transmitting the data to the host, the solid-state memory storage device comprising:

a non-volatile solid-state memory for storing the data;

an RF module operable to demodulate an ultra-wideband write signal received wirelessly from the host and outputs a wireless protocol write signal;

a wireless protocol controller having a protocol conversion layer operable to convert the wireless protocol write signal into a first USB protocol write signal;

an integral built-in USB male-type connector operable to receive a second USB protocol write signal non-wirelessly from the host;

a portable power supply and a power management system, the power management system being operable to monitor communications between the host and the solid-state memory storage device, so that the power management system provides minimum power from the portable power supply when detecting no communications between the host and the solid-state memory storage device and provides maximum power from the portable power supply when detecting communications between the host and the solid-state memory storage device; and

a microcontroller having a function extraction layer for extracting a write command from the first or second USB protocol write signal and, in response to the write command, controlling the writing of data extracted from the first or second USB protocol write signal to the non-volatile solid-state memory to store the data in the non-volatile solid-state memory,

the micro controller being operable to read the data stored in the non-volatile solid-state memory in response to a read command received from the host and outputs either a first USB protocol read signal to the wireless protocol controller or a second USB protocol read signal to the integral built-in USB male-type connector;

and if the wireless protocol controller receives the first USB protocol read signal, the protocol conversion layer is further operable to translate the first USB protocol read signal into a wireless protocol read signal; and

the RF module is further operable to modulate the wireless protocol read signal and to output an ultra-wideband read signal for wireless transmission to the host.

2. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1, wherein the ultra-wideband signal has a frequency spectrum at least 7 GHz wide.

3. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless protocol write signal is a WUSB protocol write signal, the wireless protocol controller is a WUSB controller having a USB conversion layer which is operable to extract the first USB protocol write signal from the WUSB protocol write signal, and the wireless protocol read signal is a WUSB protocol read signal.

4. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1, further comprising an antenna, integral with the solid-state memory storage device, the antenna being operable to wirelessly receive the ultra-wideband write signals from the host and to wirelessly transmit the ultra-wideband read signal to the host.

5. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1, wherein the micro controller is operable to perform memory management.

6. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 5, wherein the microcontroller is operable to decode logical memory from the host to physical memory of the non-volatile solid-state memory.

7. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1, wherein the non-volatile solid-state memory has an NAND architecture.

8. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1, wherein the non-volatile solid-state memory has at least 8 MB memory capacity for storing data in compressed format and the solid-state memory storage device further comprises a built-in encoder/decoder engine for compressing and decompressing the data.

9. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1, further comprising a biometrics-based authentication module coupled to and controlled by the microcontroller, wherein access to the non-volatile solid-state memory is granted to the host provided that the biometrics-based authentication module authenticates the identity of a user of the host and wherein access to the non-volatile solid-state memory is denied to the host otherwise.

10. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 9, wherein the biometrics-based authentication module includes a thumbprint sensor for acquiring data from the thumbprint of the user.

11. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1, wherein the host is a personal computer.

12. A solid-state memory storage device according to claim 1, wherein the power management system also manages recharging of the portable power supply.

13. A solid-state memory storage according to claim 1, wherein the portable power supply is selected from the group consisting of:

an alkaline battery, a rechargeable battery, a button cell and a fuel cell.

14. A method of using a solid-state memory storage device having a non-volatile solid-state memory, the solid-state memory storage device being for storing data transmitted from a host and for transmitting the data to the host and the solid-state memory storage device being operable to transmit data to and from the host wirelessly or non-wirelessly,

wherein if data is transmitted wirelessly between the solid-state memory storage device and the host, the method comprises either the steps of:

a) receiving an ultra-wideband write signal wirelessly from a host;

b) demodulating the ultra-wideband write signal by a physical protocol layer of an RF module and outputting a wireless protocol write signal;

c) converting the wireless protocol write signal into a first USB protocol write signal by a protocol conversion layer of a wireless protocol controller; and

d) extracting a write command from the first USB protocol write signal by a function extraction layer of a microcontroller and, in response to the write command, controlling the writing of data extracted from the first USB protocol write signal to the non-volatile solid-state memory by the microcontroller to store the data in the non-volatile solid-state memory;

or

a) reading the data stored in the non-volatile solid-state memory by the microcontroller in response to a read command received from the host and outputting from the microcontroller a first USB protocol read signal to the wireless protocol controller;

b) translating the first USB protocol read signal into a wireless protocol read signal by the protocol conversion layer of the wireless protocol controller; and

c) modulating the wireless protocol read signal by the RF module and outputting an ultra-wideband read signal for wireless transmission to the host;

and wherein if data is transmitted non-wirelessly between the solid-state memory storage device and the host, the method comprises either the step of;

a) receiving a second USB protocol write signal from the host through an integral built-in USB male-type connector, the microcontroller extracting a write command from the second USB protocol write signal and, in response to the write command, controls the writing of data extracted from the second USB protocol write signal to the non-volatile solid state memory to store the data in the non-volatile solid-state memory;

or

a) transferring a second USB protocol read signal to the host via the integral built-in USB male-type connector;

and wherein the solid-state memory storage device further comprises a portable power supply and a power management system, such that the method further comprising the steps of the power management system;

i) monitoring communications between the host and the solid-state memory storage device;

ii) providing minimum power from the portable power supply when detecting no communications between the host and the solid-state memory storage device; and

iii) providing maximum power from the portable power supply when detecting communications between the host and the solid-state memory storage device.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the ultra-wideband signal has a frequency spectrum at least 7 GHz wide.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the wireless protocol write signal is a WUSB protocol write signal, the wireless protocol controller is a WUSB controller having a USB conversion layer which extracts the first USB protocol write signal from the WUSB protocol write signal, and the wireless protocol read signal is a WUSB protocol read signal.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein the steps of receiving the ultra-wideband write signal wirelessly from the host and outputting the ultra-wideband read signal wirelessly to the host both use an antenna which is integral with the solid-state memory storage device.

18. A method according to claim 14, further comprising a memory management step performed by the microcontroller.

19. A method according to claim 14, wherein as part of the memory management step the microcontroller decodes logical memory from the host to physical memory of the non-volatile solid-state memory.

20. A method according to claim 14, wherein the non-volatile solid-state memory has an NAND architecture.

21. A method according to claim 14, wherein the non-volatile solid-state memory has at least 8 MB memory capacity the method further comprising the step of storing data in compressed format reading the data in compressed format using a built-in encoder/decoder engine for compressing and decompressing the data.

22. A method according to claim 14, wherein the solid-state memory storage device further comprises a biometrics-based authentication module coupled to and controlled by the microcontroller, the method further comprising the steps of:

a) granting the host access to the non-volatile solid-state memory when the biometrics-based authentication module authenticates the identity of a user of the host; and

b) denying the access to the non-volatile solid-state memory when the biometrics-based authentication module cannot authenticate the identity of a user of the host.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the biometrics-based authentication module includes a thumbprint sensor for acquiring data from the thumbprint of the user.

24. A method according to claim 14, wherein the host is a personal computer.

25. A method according to claim 14 , wherein the power management system also manages recharging of the portable power supply.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the portable power supply is selected from the group consisting of:

an alkaline battery, a rechargeable battery, a button cell and a fuel cell.