Electronic library for managing data on removable storage devices
First Claim
1. An electronic library for managing a plurality of removable data storage devices, the electronic library comprising:
- a housing having a plurality of receptacles, wherein each of the receptacles is sized to connect with one or more types of removable data storage devices;
a host communication interface configured to removably connect the electronic library as a peripheral device with a host electronic device, the host electronic device being external to the housing;
memory interface circuitry configured to detect the plurality of removable data storage devices via the receptacles; and
a data access module positioned in the housing and in communication with the memory interface circuitry, the data access module configured to;
in response to the memory interface circuitry detecting one or more of the plurality of removable data storage devices, for each of the plurality of removable storage devices;
communicate with a respective removable data storage device in order to obtain directory information from the respective removable data storage device;
assign a folder name to the respective removable data storage device; and
assign the directory information within the folder name for the respective removable data storage device;
emulate to the host electronic device a single removable data storage peripheral device including the assigned folder names and the directory information, wherein each assigned folder name identifies the respective removable data storage device in order to present the single removable data storage peripheral device to the host electronic device as a single drive and to present the plurality of removable data storage devices to the host electronic device as the assigned folder names within the single drive so that plurality of removable data storage devices are consolidated into the single drive rather than separate drives; and
send, via the host communication interface, the emulation of the single removable data storage peripheral device to the host electronic device,wherein the electronic library is connected to a second electronic library in a series daisy chain;
wherein the electronic library is in communication with the host electronic device without intervening electronic libraries;
wherein the second electronic library is in communication with the host electronic device through the electronic library; and
wherein the data access module is configured to represent to the host electronic device the second electronic library as a separate folder and represent one or more data storage devices connected to the second electronic library as sub-folders to the separate folder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic library for managing data from removable data storage devices is described. The electronic library may have a stand-alone housing with a plurality of receptacles, at least two of the receptacles sized to connect with at least a first type of removable data storage device. An interface positioned on the housing permits concurrent access to removable data storage devices connected with the plurality of receptacles. A data access module in the housing may be configured to emulate a single removable data storage device containing data folders with corresponding to each removable data storage device. A refresh module in the housing may be configured to refresh each memory address of a removable data storage device in communication with one of the plurality of receptacles so that data integrity may be preserved.
22 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An electronic library for managing a plurality of removable data storage devices, the electronic library comprising:
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a housing having a plurality of receptacles, wherein each of the receptacles is sized to connect with one or more types of removable data storage devices; a host communication interface configured to removably connect the electronic library as a peripheral device with a host electronic device, the host electronic device being external to the housing; memory interface circuitry configured to detect the plurality of removable data storage devices via the receptacles; and a data access module positioned in the housing and in communication with the memory interface circuitry, the data access module configured to; in response to the memory interface circuitry detecting one or more of the plurality of removable data storage devices, for each of the plurality of removable storage devices; communicate with a respective removable data storage device in order to obtain directory information from the respective removable data storage device; assign a folder name to the respective removable data storage device; and assign the directory information within the folder name for the respective removable data storage device; emulate to the host electronic device a single removable data storage peripheral device including the assigned folder names and the directory information, wherein each assigned folder name identifies the respective removable data storage device in order to present the single removable data storage peripheral device to the host electronic device as a single drive and to present the plurality of removable data storage devices to the host electronic device as the assigned folder names within the single drive so that plurality of removable data storage devices are consolidated into the single drive rather than separate drives; and send, via the host communication interface, the emulation of the single removable data storage peripheral device to the host electronic device, wherein the electronic library is connected to a second electronic library in a series daisy chain; wherein the electronic library is in communication with the host electronic device without intervening electronic libraries; wherein the second electronic library is in communication with the host electronic device through the electronic library; and wherein the data access module is configured to represent to the host electronic device the second electronic library as a separate folder and represent one or more data storage devices connected to the second electronic library as sub-folders to the separate folder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for managing a plurality of removable data storage devices, the method comprising:
in a peripheral device; receiving via receptacles of a removable data storage device reader a plurality of removable data storage devices; detecting one or more of the plurality of removable data storage devices received via the receptacles; in response to detecting the one or more of the plurality of removable data storage devices; communicating with a respective removable data storage device in order to obtain directory information from the respective removable data storage device; assigning a folder name to the respective removable data storage device; and assigning the directory information within the folder name for the respective removable data storage device; emulating to a host electronic device a single removable data storage peripheral device including the assigned folder names and the directory information, the host electronic device being external to a housing of the removable data storage device reader; and sending, via a host communication interface, the emulation of the single removable data storage peripheral device to the host electronic device, wherein each assigned folder name identifies the respective removable data storage device in order to present the single removable data storage peripheral device to the host electronic device as a single drive and to present the plurality of removable data storage devices to the host electronic device as the assigned folder names within the single drive so that plurality of removable data storage devices are consolidated into the single drive rather than separate drives, wherein the peripheral device comprises an electronic library, wherein the electronic library is connected to a second electronic library in a series daisy chain wherein the electronic library is in communication with the host electronic device without intervening electronic libraries, wherein the second electronic library is in communication with the host electronic device through the electronic library, and wherein the second electronic library is represented to the host electronic device as a separate folder and one or more data storage devices connected to the second electronic library are represented to the host electronic device as sub-folders to the separate folder. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
Specification