System and method for a host to access an internal SATA storage device within an accessible host using an external serial ATA connection

• US 20080200071A1
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Barras, Lawrence S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,650,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/660
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• 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 3/0635 by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0673 Single storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0683 Plurality of storage devices

Abstract

An accessible host includes one or more internal SATA storage devices, an external SATA connector, an internal SATA port controller, an external SATA port controller, and a switching mechanism. The switching mechanism allows the accessible host to access an external storage device when the switching mechanism is in a first configuration. When the switching mechanism is in a second configuration, a second host is able to access one or more internal SATA storage devices within the accessible host.

Claims

1. An accessible host comprising an internal SATA storage device and an external SATA connector, the host comprising:

an internal SATA port controller;

an external SATA port controller;

a switching mechanism connected to the external SATA connector and operable to connect the external SATA connector to the external SATA port controller and connect the internal SATA port controller to the internal SATA storage device when the switching mechanism is in a first configuration,

and operable to connect the external SATA connector to the internal SATA storage device when the switching mechanism is in a second configuration.

2. The accessible host of claim 1, wherein the external SATA connector comprises an external single lane SATA connector.

3. The accessible host of claim 2, wherein the internal SATA storage device comprises one of a plurality of internal SATA storage devices.

4. The accessible host of claim 3, further comprising:

a plurality of port selectors each connected to a respective internal SATA storage device; and

a port multiplier connected between the plurality of port selectors and the switching mechanism.

5. The accessible host of claim 4, wherein the internal SATA port controller comprises one of a plurality of internal SATA port controllers each connected to a respective SATA storage device.

6. The accessible host of claim 5, further comprising a mode selector connected to the switching mechanism and to each port selector.

7. The accessible host of claim 3, wherein the external SATA connector comprises an external multi-lane SATA connector.

8. The accessible host of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of port selectors each connected to a respective SATA storage device and to the switching mechansim.

9. The accessible host of claim 8, wherein the internal SATA port controller comprises one of a plurality of internal SATA port controllers each connected to a respective SATA storage device and a respective port selector.

10. The accessible host of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of port selectors each connected to a respective SATA port controller and between a respective SATA storage device and the switching mechanism.

11. The accessible host of claim 10, further comprising a mode selector connected to the switching mechanism and to each port selector.

12. An external serial ATA system, comprising:

an accessible host comprising one or more internal SATA storage devices;

a second host connected to the accessible host using an external SATA connection; and

a switching mechanism operable to allow the second host to access at least one of the one or more internal SATA storage devices within the accessible host when the switching mechanism is in a respective one of a plurality of configurations.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more internal SATA storage devices comprises a plurality of internal SATA storage devices within the accessible host.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a port multiplier connected between the switching mechanism and a plurality of port selectors, wherein each port selector is connected to a respective internal SATA storage device.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of port selectors each connected between the switching mechanism and a respective internal SATA storage device.

16. A method for a second host to access an internal SATA storage device within an accessible host using an external serial ATA connection, the method comprising:

determining whether to enter a host mode or a device mode;

setting a switching mechanism to a first configuration when entering the host mode; and

setting a switching mechanism to a second configuration when entering the device mode, wherein the device mode allows the second host to access the internal SATA storage device within the accessible host.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the internal SATA storage device comprises one of a plurality of internal SATA storage devices.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining whether to enter a selective device mode; and

setting a switching mechanism to a third configuration when entering the selective device mode, wherein the selective device mode allows the second host to access a selected internal SATA storage device within the accessible host.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising disabling unused components after entering the device mode.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising indicating the device mode.