Embedded protocol selection technique, related interface and computer program product

• US 7,890,666 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Gajo, Flavio, Sforza, Francesco, Stucchi, Stefania, Navoni, Loris Giuseppe, Borgatti, Michele
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, ALAN S
• Application Number:
  US11/420,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20070073893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/11
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/387 for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system

Abstract

A protocol-based communication between a host device (e.g., MP3 player, digital camera, palmtop, etc.) and an interface (e.g., flash mass storage card) is established automatically by providing protocol-supporting facilities in the interface, each facility supporting communication with the host device based on a respective protocol, by sending a query message from the host device to the interface specifying at least one protocol for use in protocol-based communication, by searching, within the plurality of protocol-supporting facilities provided in the interface one protocol-supporting facility supporting the protocol proposed in the query message, and if such protocol-supporting facility is found within the plurality of protocol-supporting facilities provided in the interface, by setting up the protocol-based communication between the host device and the interface based on the protocol proposed in the query message issued from the host device.

Claims

1. A method of automatically setting-up protocol-based communication between a host device and a dedicated external memory device, comprising:

providing, in said dedicated external memory device a plurality of protocol-supporting facilities, each said facility adapted for supporting communication with said host device based on a respective protocol;

sending from said host device towards said dedicated external memory device a message specifying at least one protocol for use in said protocol-based communication;

searching, within said plurality of protocol-supporting facilities one protocol-supporting facility supporting said at least one protocol proposed in said message; and

if such protocol-supporting facility is found in said plurality of protocol-supporting facilities, setting up said dedicated external memory device for protocol-based communication with said host based on said at least one protocol proposed in said message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring said dedicated external memory device as a storage card.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring said dedicated external memory device as a flash device.

4. The method of any claim 1, further comprising providing said protocol-supporting facilities in the form of a plurality of memory controllers.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing in said dedicated external memory device a protocol selection module sensitive to said command and configured for selectively activating said protocol-supporting facilities.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting said protocol-supporting facilities as facilities supporting SDIO, SD or MMC protocols.

7. A dedicated external memory device for automatically setting up protocol-based communication with a host device, the dedicated external memory device including:

a plurality of protocol-supporting facilities, each said facility adapted for supporting communication with said host device based on a respective protocol;

a communication link for receiving from said host device a message specifying at least one protocol for use in said protocol-based communication; and

a protocol selector for searching, within said plurality of protocol-supporting facilities one protocol-supporting facility supporting said at least one protocol proposed in said message, whereby, if such protocol-supporting facility is found in said plurality of protocol-supporting facilities, said dedicated external memory device is adapted to be set up for protocol-based communication with said host based on said at least one protocol proposed in said message.

8. The dedicated external memory device of claim 7, wherein said dedicated external memory device is configured as a storage card.

9. The dedicated external memory device of claim 7, wherein said dedicated external memory device is configured as a flash device.

10. The dedicated external memory device claim 7, wherein said protocol-supporting facilities comprise a plurality of memory controllers.

11. The dedicated external memory device of claim 7, wherein said protocol selection module includes a set of protocol configuration lines for selectively activating said protocol-supporting facilities.

12. The dedicated external memory device claim 7, wherein said protocol-supporting facilities are configured for supporting SDIO, SD or MMC protocols.

13. A computer program product, loadable in the memory of at least one computer and including software code portions for performing a method of automatically setting-up protocol-based communication between a host device and a dedicated external memory device, the method comprising:

providing, in said dedicated external memory device a plurality of protocol-supporting facilities, each said facility adapted for supporting communication with said host device based on a respective protocol;

sending from said host device towards said dedicated external memory device a message specifying at least one protocol for use in said protocol-based communication;

searching, within said plurality of protocol-supporting facilities one protocol-supporting facility supporting said at least one protocol proposed in said message; and

if such protocol-supporting facility is found in said plurality of protocol-supporting facilities, setting up said dedicated external memory device for protocol-based communication with said host based on said at least one protocol proposed in said message.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises selecting said protocol-supporting facilities as facilities supporting SDIO, SD or MMC protocols.