Hot unpluggable media storage device

• US 20050021880A1
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Robbin, Jeffrey L., Heller, David, Marciniak, Craig A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,146,437 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0632 by initialisation or re-initialisation of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0674 Disk device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4413 Plug-and-play [PnP]

Abstract

Improved techniques for rendering a peripheral device removable (e.g., unpluggable) are disclosed. According to one aspect of the invention, the peripheral device is rendered removable from a host computer without preparatory user actions. In effect, the peripheral device can be automatically prepared for removal in the event that its user removes (unplugs) it from its host computer. According to another aspect of the invention, the peripheral device includes a data storage device that is mounted to a file system of the other computer when the other computer desires access to the data storage device. Otherwise, the data storage device is normally unmounted so that if the peripheral device were to be removed (e.g., unplugged) no harm or damage to data stored therein would occur. These aspects of the invention can be utilized alone or in combination with one another. The invention is particularly well suited for peripheral devices that are media players which are “hot” unpluggable without detrimental consequences.

Claims

1. A method for accessing a portable computing device by a host computer over a data link, said method comprising:

(a) receiving an indication that the portable computing device has been attached to the host computer via the data link, the portable computing device having processing circuitry, a storage device and at least one of a display and a speaker, the storage device storing media content, and the portable media player being capable of itself outputting the media content stored in the storage device to at least one of the display and the speaker;

(b) logically connecting the portable computing device to a file system of the host computer;

(c) performing, following said attaching (a) and-said logically connecting (b), first processing at the host computer which accesses the portable computing device; and

(d) logically disconnecting the portable computing device from the file system without detaching the portable computing device from the host computer via the data link, said logically disconnecting being performed after performance of the first processing.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said logically connecting, said performing and said logically disconnecting are implemented operations that are automatically performed.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein following said logically disconnecting (d) of the portable computing device, the portable computing device is capable of being detached from the host computer via the data link without detrimental consequences to operation or storage of the host computer or the portable computing device.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data link is provided over a cable or a wireless link.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein when the portable computing device is coupled to the host computer via the data link, the portable computing device is a peripheral device for the host computer.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the storage device is a disk storage device, and wherein when the portable computing device is coupled to the host computer via the data link, the portable computing device operates as a remote disk storage device for the host computer.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein following said logically disconnecting (d) of the portable computing device, the portable computing device is capable of being detached from the host computer via the data link without detrimental consequences to operation or storage of the host computer or the portable computing device and without any preparatory user interactions with either the host computer or the portable computing device.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein following said logically disconnecting (d) of the portable computing device, the portable computing device is capable of being detached from the host computer via the data link without any preparatory user interactions with either the host computer or the portable computing device.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(e) subsequently determining whether subsequent processing at the host computer requires access to the portable computing device that is logically disconnected therefrom but remains attached to the host computer via the data link.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein, when said determining (e) determines that the subsequent processing at the host computer requires access to the portable computing device, said method further comprises:

(f) logically connecting the portable computing device to a file system of the host computer;

(g) performing, following said logically connecting (f), the subsequent processing at the host computer which accesses the portable computing device; and

(h) logically disconnecting the portable computing device from the file system without detaching the portable computing device from the host computer via the data link, said logically disconnecting being performed after performance of the subsequent processing.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the storage device is a disk storage device, and wherein when the portable computing device is coupled to the host computer via the data link, the portable computing device operates as a remote disk storage device for the host computer.

12. A computer-implemented method for accessing a portable computing device from a host computer, the portable computing device having at least a storage device for storing media content, the portable computing device also having processing circuitry and at least one of a display and a speaker, and the portable computing device being capable of itself outputting the media content stored in the storage device to at least one of the display and the speaker, said method comprising:

detecting presence of the portable computing device on a bus associated with the host computer;

mounting the storage device of the portable computing device with a system of the host computer;

accessing the storage device from the host computer over the bus to perform initial processing;

unmounting the storage device of the portable computing device from the system of the host computer once said accessing for the initial processing is completed;

determining, subsequent to said unmounting, whether access to the storage device is needed to perform subsequent processing;

remounting the storage device of the portable computing device with the system of the host computer when said determining determines that access to the storage device is needed;

accessing the storage device from the host computer over the bus to perform the subsequent media-based processing; and

unmounting the storage device of the portable computing device from the system of the host computer once said accessing for the subsequent processing is completed.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the portable computing device can be physically detached from the host computer at any time so long as the storage device therein is already unmounted from the system of the host computer.

14. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein so long as the storage device is already unmounted from the system of the host computer, the portable computing device can be physically detached from the host computer at any time without any preparatory user interactions with either the host computer or the portable computing device.

15. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein so long as the storage device is already unmounted from the system of the host computer, the portable computing device can be physically detached from the host computer at any time without any preparatory user interactions with either the host computer or the portable computing device and without detrimental consequences to operation or storage of the host computer or the portable computing device.

16. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the detection of the presence of the portable computing device on the bus indicates that the portable computing device has just recently been connected to the host computer through a data link.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the data link is provided by a cable or a wireless link.

18. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the bus is a peripheral bus.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the peripheral bus is a USB or IEEE 1394 bus.

20. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the storage device is a disk storage device.

21. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the portable computing device includes a media database storing player media information, and wherein the host computer includes a media database storing host media information.

22. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the portable computing device comprises an audio player, and wherein the storage device stores media content, the media content including at least audio files of songs.

23. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the portable computing device comprises a video player, and wherein the storage device stores media content, the media content including at least video files of videos.

24. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the portable computing device comprises an image viewer, and wherein the storage device stores media content, the media content including at least image files of images.

25. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the portable computing device is a hand-held device.

26. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for accessing a portable computing device from another computer, the portable computing device having at least a storage device for storing media content, the portable computing device also having processing circuitry and at least one of a display and a speaker, and the portable computing device being capable of itself outputting the media content stored in the storage device to at least one of the display and the speaker, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for detecting presence of the portable computing device on a bus associated with the other computer;

computer program code for mounting the storage device of the portable computing device with a system of the other computer;

computer program code for accessing the storage device from the other computer over the bus to perform initial processing; and

computer program code for unmounting the storage device of the portable computing device from the system of the other computer once the initial processing is completed.

27. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for determining, subsequent to being unmounted, whether access to the storage device is needed to perform subsequent processing;

computer program code for remounting the storage device of the portable computing device with the system of the other computer when it is determined that access to the storage device is needed;

computer program code for accessing the storage device from the other computer over the bus to perform the subsequent processing; and

computer program code for unmounting the storage device of the portable computing device from the system of the other computer once said accessing for the subsequent processing is completed.

28. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 27, wherein the initial processing is initial media-based processing, and wherein the subsequent processing is subsequent media-based processing.

29. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for detecting physical disconnection of the portable computing device from the bus associated with the other computer.

30. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the other computer is a host computer.

31. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the other computer is a desktop computer or a portable computing device.

32. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the portable computing device produces audio output for a user of the portable computing device from the media content stored in the storage device.

33. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 32, wherein said computer program code for unmounting operates to unmount the storage device from the system automatically without any user initiated action to request unmounting.

34. A method for accessing a portable computing device by a host computer over a data link, the portable computing device having at least a storage device for storing media data, said method comprising:

(a) receiving an indication that the portable computing device has been attached to the host computer via the data link;

(b) logically connecting the portable computing device to a file system of the host computer;

(c) performing, following said attaching (a) and said logically connecting (b), first processing at the host computer which accesses the portable computing device; and

(d) logically disconnecting the portable computing device from the file system without detaching the portable computing device from the host computer via the data link, said logically disconnecting being performed after performance of the first processing.

35. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 34, wherein the portable computing device produces audio output for a user of the portable computing device based on the media data stored in the storage device.

36. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein said logical disconnecting (d) is automatically performed following access to the storage device as needed for the first processing.

37. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein said logical disconnecting (d) is automatically performed without any user initiated action to request disconnection or request removal.

38. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein following said logically disconnecting (d) of the portable computing device, the portable computing device is capable of being detached from the host computer via the data link without any preparatory user interactions with either the host computer or the portable computing device.

39. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein said method further comprises:

(e) subsequently determining whether subsequent processing at the host computer requires access to the portable computing device that is logically disconnected therefrom but remains attached to the host computer via the data link.

40. A method as recited in claim 39, wherein, when said determining (e) determines that the subsequent processing at the host computer requires access to the portable computing device, said method further comprises:

(f) logically connecting the portable computing device to a file system of the host computer;

(g) performing, following said logically connecting (f), the subsequent processing at the host computer which accesses the portable computing device; and

(h) logically disconnecting the portable computing device from the file system without detaching the portable computing device from the host computer via the data link, said logically disconnecting being performed after performance of the subsequent processing.

41. A method as recited in claim 40, wherein the storage device is a disk storage device, and wherein when the portable computing device is coupled to the host computer via the data link, the portable computing device operates as a remote disk storage device for the host computer.