Self-labeling digital storage unit

• US 20060095647A1
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CMC Magnetics Corporation
• Original Assignee: SmartDisk Corporation
• Inventors: Fischer, Addison M., Battaglia, Michael S., Armfield, Steve, Martin, Randal J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,578,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2516 Hard disks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/61 wherein solid state memory is used for storing A/V content storing computer data in solid state memories G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/025 Portable cases
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/10 Indicating arrangements; Warning arrangements G11B15/04, G11B19/04, G11B27/34, G11B27/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/20 Initialising; Data preset; Chip identification

Abstract

Portable storage units are equipped with human readable electronic displays that contain information pertaining to the content and state of the storage units. The information displayed changes as the contents of the storage unit change. Such electronic labels can contain a variety of useful information. Some information would be static, such as owner identification, while other information will be dynamic such as the amount of free space. Still other information will be browseable such as the directory structure, file contents, storage unit total capacity, storage unit available space, storage unit directory structure, storage unit file names. storage unit file contents and device reliability statistics.

Claims

1. A portable hard drive of a size which may be held in the palm of a hand for communicating with a host device comprising:

at least one port for communicating with a host device;

a mass storage hard disk;

processing circuitry operatively coupled to said port and said hard disk; and

a display operatively coupled to said processing circuitry for automatically displaying information relating to the amount of available storage space on the hard disk.

2. A portable hard drive according to claim 1, wherein said at least one port is a USB compatible port.

3. A portable hard drive according to claim 1, wherein said at least one port is a FireWire compatible port.

4. A portable hard drive according to claim 1, wherein said display is an LCD display.

5. A portable hard drive according to claim 1, wherein said display is a persistent display which will persist when disconnected from a source of power.

6. A portable hard drive according to claim 1, wherein said processing circuitry is a microcontroller.

7. A portable hard drive according to claim 1, wherein said at least one port comprises a first port which is a USB compatible port and a second port which is a FireWire compatible port.

8. A portable hard drive according to claim 1, further including timing circuitry operatively coupled to said processing circuitry for generating a time-related signal, said processing circuitry for generating a time of access related signal based upon said time-related signal.

9. A portable hard drive according to claim 1, wherein said processing circuitry is operable to generate and couple to said display information identifying the hard drive.

10. A portable hard drive according to claim 1, further including at least one key for a user to input a user-defined message to be displayed.

11. A portable hard drive according to claim 1, further including at least one control key for controlling the display.

12. A portable hard drive of a size which may be held in the palm of a hand for communicating with a host device comprising:

at least one port for communicating with a host device;

a mass storage hard disk;

processing circuitry operatively coupled to said port and said hard disk, said processing circuitry being operable to monitor at least part of the contents of a file allocation table on the hard disk drive; and

a display operatively coupled to said processing circuitry for automatically displaying information obtained by monitoring the file allocation table.

13. A portable hard drive according to claim 12, wherein information is accessed from the file allocation table which is functionally related to the total free clusters on the hard disk.

14. A portable hard drive according to claim 12, wherein said display automatically displays information indicative of the total free space on the hard disk.

15. A portable hard drive according to claim 12, further including at least one key for a user to input a user-defined message to be displayed.

16. A portable hard drive according to claim 12, further including at least one control key for controlling the display.

17. A portable hard drive of a size which may be held in the palm of a hand for communicating with a host device comprising:

at least one port for communicating with a host device;

a mass storage hard disk;

processing circuitry operatively coupled to said at least one port and said hard disk, said processing circuitry being operable to monitor the master boot record on the hard disk drive, said processing circuitry determining the free space available on the hard disk using the contents of the master boot record; and

a display operatively coupled to said processing circuitry for automatically displaying information relating to the amount of free space on the hard drive.

18. A portable hard drive according to claim 17, wherein said processing circuitry uses information accessed from the master boot record to determine the type of hard drive file system.

19. A portable hard drive according to claim 18, wherein the file system is determined to be FAT 32.

20. A portable hard drive according to claim 17, wherein a file system identifier is accessed from the master boot record.

21. A solid state memory media of the type insertable into a host device comprising:

a port for communicating with a host device;

a non-volatile memory media;

processing circuitry operatively coupled to said port and said memory media; and

a persistent display operatively coupled to said processing circuitry for automatically displaying information which will continue to be displayed without being coupled to a power source.

22. A solid state memory media according to claim 21, wherein said display will automatically display information relating to the amount of available storage space on the memory media.

23. A solid state memory media according to claim 21, wherein said display will automatically display information relating to the identity of the media.

24. A solid state memory media according to claim 21, wherein said display will automatically displaying information relating to the memory media contents.

25. A solid state memory media according to claim 21, further including at least one key for a user to input a user-defined message to be displayed.

26. A solid state memory media according to claim 21, further including at least one control key for controlling the display.

27. A solid state memory media according to claim 21, wherein said media is a smart card.

28. A solid state memory media of the type insertable into a digital camera comprising:

a port for communicating with a host device;

a non-volatile memory media;

processing circuitry operatively coupled to said port and said memory media; and

a display operatively coupled to said processing circuitry for automatically displaying information relating to the content of the non-volatile memory media.

29. A solid state memory media according to claim 28, wherein said display will automatically display information relating to the amount of available storage space on the memory media.

30. A solid state memory media according to claim 28, wherein said display will automatically display information relating to the identity of the media.

31. A solid state memory media according to claim 28, wherein said display will automatically display information relating to the time last accessed.

32. A solid state memory media according to claim 28, further including at least one key.

33. A solid state memory media according to claim 28, further including at least one control key for controlling the display.

34. A solid state memory media according to claim 28, wherein said display will display a user-defined message.

35. A solid state memory media according to claim 28, wherein said media is a smart card.

36. A solid state memory media according to claim 28, wherein said processing circuitry is operable to periodically store data in said non-volatile memory.

37. A solid state memory drive of the type which is portable and insertable into a host computer comprising:

a port for communicating with a host computer and for receiving power from said host computer;

a non-volatile memory media;

processing circuitry operatively coupled to said port and said memory media; and

a persistent display operatively coupled to said processing circuitry for automatically displaying information which will continue to be displayed after being connected from said host computer and without connection to any other source of power.

38. A solid state memory drive according to claim 37, wherein said display will automatically display information relating to the amount of available storage space on the memory media.

39. A solid state memory drive according to claim 37, wherein said display will automatically display information relating to the identity of the media.

40. A solid state memory drive according to claim 37, wherein said display will automatically display information relating to the time last accessed.

41. A solid state memory drive according to claim 37, wherein said display will automatically display a user defined message.

42. A solid state memory media according to claim 37, wherein said drive is a smart card.

43. A solid state memory media according to claim 37, wherein said processing circuitry is operable to periodically store data in said non-volatile memory media.

44. A solid state memory media according to claim 37, further including at least one key.

45. A method of displaying user defined messages comprising the steps of:

receiving user data indicative of a message to be displayed;

embedding the user data in a sequence of data having a predetermined signature;

writing the sequence including the user data into a file; and

displaying said message based upon said user data upon reading a file including said predetermined signature.

46. A method according to claim 45, wherein said predetermined signature is a sequence of random data.

47. A method according to claim 45, wherein said displaying step includes the steps of detecting said predetermined signature, waiting a predetermined period of time to receive predetermined data indicating that a user message is to be displayed, and displaying said user message if said predetermined data is received with said predetermined period of time.

48. A method according to claim 45, further including the step of periodically storing data in said non-volatile memory.

51. A method according to claim 46, wherein said accessing step includes the step of accessing a master boot record.

49. A method of operating a portable hard drive of a size which may be held in the palm of a hand, said portable hard drive including a display comprising the steps of:

providing a communication port on said portable hard drive for communicating with a host device;

accessing at least one file system control structure in a mass storage hard disk contained in said hard drive;

determining information related to the amount of free space on said mass storage hard disk based on the content of a file system control structure; and

displaying information on said display indicative of the amount of free space on said mass storage device.

50. A method according to claim 49, wherein said accessing step includes the step of accessing a file allocation table (FAT).

52. A method according to claim 49, further including the step of displaying a user defined message.

53. A method according to claim 49, further including the step of providing at least one key on said portable hard drive.

54. A method according to claim 49, further including the step of automatically updating said display over time.

55. A method according to claim 49, further including the step of displaying the time since the hard drive was last accessed.

56. A method according to claim 49, further including the step of displaying information identifying the hard drive.

57. A method according to claim 49, further including the step of displaying information identifying the owner of the hard drive.

58. A method according to claim 49, further including the step of periodically storing data in a non-volatile memory.

59. A method of operating a portable media of a size which may be held in the palm of a hand, said portable media lacking an internal power source and including a persistent display and a memory device, comprising the steps of:

providing a communication port on said portable media for communicating with a host device;

providing power to the portable media through said communication port when said portable media is communicating with said host device;

displaying information on said display indicative of the contents of said memory device; and

maintaining said display after loss of power from said host device.

60. A portable hard drive of a size which may be held in the palm of a hand for communicating with a host device comprising:

at least one port for communicating with a host device;

a mass storage hard disk;

processing circuitry operatively coupled to said port and said hard disk; and

a display operatively coupled to said processing circuitry for automatically displaying information relating to the state of the hard disk drive.

61. A portable hard drive according to claim 60, wherein said display is a persistent display which will persist when disconnected from a source of power.

62. A portable hard drive according to claim 60, wherein said display displays error information.

63. A portable hard drive according to claim 60, wherein said display displays defective sector information.

64. A portable hard drive according to claim 60, wherein said display displays fragmentation information.

65. A portable hard drive according to claim 60, wherein said display displays drive internal temperature.

66. A solid state memory media of the type insertable into a digital camera comprising:

a port for communicating with a host device;

a non-volatile memory media;

processing circuitry operatively coupled to said port and said memory media; and

a display operatively coupled to said processing circuitry for automatically displaying information relating to the state of the non-volatile memory media.

67. A solid state memory media according to claim 66, wherein said display automatically displays information relating to the amount of available storage space on the memory media.

68. A solid state memory according to claim 66. wherein said display is a persistent display which will persist when disconnected from a source of power.

69. A solid state memory according to claim 66, wherein said display displays error information.

70. A solid state memory according to claim 66, wherein said display displays defective block information.