Interchangeable cartridge data storage system for devices performing diverse functions

• US 20040255082A1
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GEO Worldwide LLC
• Original Assignee: GEO Worldwide LLC
• Inventors: Thomas, Fred III, Watson, Brent J., Edwards, Kim B., Krieger, George T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,947,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/115
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/0438 with mechanism for subsequent vertical movement of the disc and opening mechanism of the cartridge shutter
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10 Digital recording or reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2512 Floppy disks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2537 Optical discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/0317 Containers with interchangeable record carriers

Abstract

A system for exchanging digital data among a plurality of hand-held computer devices. Digital signals are written by a first hand-held device to a mini-cartridge that mini-cartridge is inter-operable among a class of hand-held devices, each of which is equipped with a mini-disk drive. A common digital data format is employed to further facilitate exchange of data between devices.

Claims

1. An interchangeable data storage system comprising:

a drive in one of a plurality of devices for generating signals, wherein a first of the plurality of devices is a host computer and a second of the plurality of devices is selected from the group consisting of;

electronic books, global positioning systems, personal digital systems, portable games, cellular phones and digital cameras;

a storage device having a rotatable medium capable of storing signals from each of the plurality of devices;

wherein said drive writes said signals to and reads said signals from said storage device so that said storage device can be interchangeably operated upon by said first and second of the plurality of devices.

2. The data storage system recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a caddy for accommodating said storage device, said caddy having an interface for transferring signals between said caddy and said host computer.

3. The data storage system recited in claim 1, wherein said storage device comprises flexible magnetic media.

4. The data storage system recited in claim 1, wherein said storage device comprises rigid magnetic media.

5. The data storage system recited in claim 1, wherein said storage device comprises optical media.

6. A method of exchanging information among a host computer and a plurality of devices comprising:

selecting one of the plurality of devices from a group consisting of;

electronic books, global positioning systems, personal digital systems, portable games, cellular phones and digital cameras;

generating signals representative of a function from the selected device;

writing said signals to a rotatable storage device by way of a first drive in the selected device; and

;

reading said signal from said rotatable storage device by way of a second drive communicating with the host computer.

7. A storage device capable of use between a host computer communicating with a first media drive and a device communicating with a second media drive, the device being selected from the group consisting of:

electronic books, global positioning systems, personal digital systems, portable games, cellular phones and digital cameras, the storage device comprising;

a rotatable storage medium on which signals from the device are stored by the second media drive, wherein the stored signals may be read by the first media drive communicating with the host computer.

8. The storage device recited in claim 7, wherein said rotatable storage medium comprises flexible magnetic media.

9. The storage device recited in claim 7, wherein said rotatable storage medium comprises rigid magnetic media.

10. The storage device recited in claim 7, wherein said rotatable storage medium comprises optical media.