Extended secure-digital (SD) devices and hosts
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A multi-protocol host configured to communicate with a device, comprising:
- a receptacle configured to be at least mechanically compatible with at least one of an industry-standard Secure Digital (SD) plug and an industry-standard MultiMedia Card (MMC) plug;
a multi-protocol element coupled to said receptacle;
a plurality of protocol processors coupled to said multi-protocol element;
a host processor coupled to said plurality of protocol processors, whereby said multi-protocol element is configured to enable, responsive to a determination of a first protocol supported by said device, only one of said plurality of protocol processors to communicate with said host processor when said host is connected with said device, said one of said plurality of protocol processors supports said first protocol.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for communicating using various protocols through the Secured Digital (SD) physical interface are disclosed. The invention covers, among others, single-mode and multi-mode hosts, single-mode and multi-mode devices, as well as techniques for initializing these hosts and devices in order to facilitate the aforementioned communication.
149 Citations
93 Claims
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1. A multi-protocol host configured to communicate with a device, comprising:
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a receptacle configured to be at least mechanically compatible with at least one of an industry-standard Secure Digital (SD) plug and an industry-standard MultiMedia Card (MMC) plug;
a multi-protocol element coupled to said receptacle;
a plurality of protocol processors coupled to said multi-protocol element;
a host processor coupled to said plurality of protocol processors, whereby said multi-protocol element is configured to enable, responsive to a determination of a first protocol supported by said device, only one of said plurality of protocol processors to communicate with said host processor when said host is connected with said device, said one of said plurality of protocol processors supports said first protocol. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 83, 88, 89)
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2. (canceled)
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12. A multi-protocol device configured to communicate with a host, comprising:
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a plug configured to be at least mechanically compatible with at least one of an industry-standard Secure Digital (SD) receptacle and an industry-standard MultiMedia Card (MMC) receptacle;
a multi-protocol element coupled to said receptacle;
a plurality of protocol processors coupled to said multi-protocol element;
a device processor coupled to said plurality of protocol processors, whereby said multi-protocol element is configured to enable, responsive to a determination of a first protocol supported by said host, only one of said plurality of protocol processors to communicate with said device processor when said device is coupled with said host, said one of said plurality of protocol processors supports said first protocol. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 84, 90, 91)
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13. (canceled)
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23. A single-mode device configured to communicate with a host, comprising:
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a plug configured to be at least mechanically compatible with at least one of an industry-standard Secure Digital (SD) receptacle and an industry-standard MultiMedia Card (MMC) receptacle;
a protocol processor coupled to said plug, said protocol processor supporting a first protocol, said first protocol being a protocol other than one of a SD protocol and an MMC protocol; and
a device processor coupled to said protocol processor. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 85)
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33. In a multi-protocol device configured to communicate with a host using a plug that is configured to be at least mechanically compatible with at least one of an industry-standard Secure Digital (SD) receptacle and an industry-standard MultiMedia Card (MMC) receptacle, a method for initializing said device for communication with said host, comprising:
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ascertaining whether said device is a multi-protocol device;
if said device is a multi-protocol device, performing steps a) through b) as follows;
a) receiving a command from said host;
b) responding to said host with a protocol list that specifies protocols supported by said device. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 86, 92, 93)
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44. The method of claim 44 wherein one pin of said plug is employed to carry the D−
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72. In a host configured to communicate with a device using a receptacle that is configured to be at least mechanically compatible with at least one of an industry-standard Secure Digital (SD) plug and an industry-standard MultiMedia Card (MMC) plug, a method for initializing said host for communication with said host, comprising:
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a) starting a timer;
b) sending a device inquiry command from said host to said device using the highest priority protocol in a set of protocols supported by said host;
c) if said device does not respond to said device inquiry and said set of protocols has not been exhausted, considering the next highest priority protocol in said set of protocols said highest priority protocol, and returning to said step c) to send said device inquiry command;
d) if said device responds to said inquiry, interrupting a CPU associated with said host to send device status information received from said device to said CPU and loading a device driver configured to enable said host to communicate with said device using a first protocol, said first protocol representing a protocol with which said device responds to said device inquiry command. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 87)
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81. The method of claim 81 wherein one pin of said receptacle is employed to carry the D−
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82. (canceled)
Specification