PERIPHERAL DEVICE AND DEVICE CONNECTION SYSTEM

• US 20110087804A1
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Okaue, Takumi, Okubo, Hideaki, Tashiro, Jun, Kuno, Hiroshi, Ishimoto, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,214,540 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• 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 3/0661 Format or protocol conversion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]

Abstract

A peripheral device includes: an input/output block connected to a device subject to connection; a communication block configured to communicate with a device subject to communication; and a conversion block configured, if the device subject to communication is a storage device, to convert a storage access command output by the device subject to connection to the input/output block into a communication command that is transferred between the communication block and the device subject to communication, wherein the communication block transmits the communication command generated by the conversion block to the device subject to communication and transfers, with the device subject to communication, one of data that is written by the device subject to connection to the device subject to communication and data that is read from the device subject to communication.

Claims

1. A peripheral device comprising:

an input/output block connected to a device subject to connection;

a communication block configured to communicate with a device subject to communication; and

a conversion block configured, if said device subject to communication is a storage device, to convert a storage access command output by said device subject to connection to said input/output block into a communication command that is transferred between said communication block and said device subject to communication, wherein

said communication block transmits the communication command generated by said conversion block to said device subject to communication and

transfers, with said device subject to communication, one of data that is written by said device subject to connection to said device subject to communication and data that is read from said device subject to communication.

2. The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein

said conversion block converts a write request command that is output by said device subject to connection to write data into a transmit command for transmitting data from said communication block to said device subject to communication;

said input/output block outputs a data request signal to said device subject to connection in accordance with inputting of said write request command and takes in write data from said device subject to connection after outputting of said data request signal;

said peripheral device has a buffer memory configured to accumulate the write data entered in said input/output block; and

said communication block transmits said transmit command and the write data accumulated in said buffer memory to said device subject to communication.

3. The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein

said conversion block converts a read request command that is output by said device subject to connection to read data into a receive request command for said communication block to receive data from said device subject to communication;

said communication block receives read data from said device subject to communication after transmitting said receive request command to said device subject to communication;

said peripheral device has a buffer memory configured to accumulate the read data received by said communication block from said device subject to communication in a manner in which said received read data is readable by said device subject to connection; and

,

when said read data has been accumulated in said buffer memory, said input/output block outputs a ready signal indicative that the read data is ready for reading to said device subject to connection.

4. The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein

said peripheral device has a power supply terminal configured to receive power from said device subject to connection upon detection of connection of said peripheral device by said device subject to connection;

and

said communication block operates on the power supplied from said power supply terminal, thereby detecting said device subject to communication that is communicable with said communication block.

5. The peripheral device according to claim 4, wherein

said peripheral device has an incorporated memory configured to store data accessible by said device subject to connection;

and

a selector switch block,

said selector switch block making said device subject to communication accessible by said device subject to connection if said device subject to communication that is communicable by said communication block is detected and said incorporated memory accessible by said device subject to connection if said device subject to communication that is communicable by said communication block is not detected.

6. The peripheral device according claim 1, wherein

said communication block detects said device subject to communication that is communicable by said communication block;

and

said peripheral device has

a detection terminal configured for said device subject to connection to detect connection of said peripheral device upon connection of said peripheral device to said device subject to connection and

a terminal control block configured to control said detection terminal in a state where said device subject to connection detects connection of said peripheral device upon detection of said device subject to communication that is communicable by said communication block.

7. The peripheral device according to claim 6, wherein

said peripheral device has a buttery configured to supply power to said communication block.

8. The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein

said peripheral device has

a wireless power receive block configured to wirelessly receive power from said external storage device;

a detection terminal configured for said device subject to connection to detect connection of said peripheral device upon connection of said peripheral device to said device subject to connection; and

a terminal control block configured to control said detection terminal in a state where said device subject to connection detects connection of said peripheral device upon reception of power by said wireless power receive block.

9. The peripheral device according to claim 8, wherein

said peripheral device has

a power supply terminal configured to receive power supplied from said device subject to connection upon detection of connection of said peripheral device by said device subject to connection and

said communication block operates on the power supplied from said power supply terminal.

10. The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein

said peripheral device has

a power supply terminal configured to receive power supplied from said device subject to connection upon detection of connection of said peripheral device by said device subject to connection and

a wireless power supply block configured to operate on the power supplied from said power supply terminal, thereby supplying the power to said external storage device;

and

said communication block communicates with said external storage block to which the power is supplied from said wireless power supply block.

11. The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein

said communication block wirelessly communicates with a device subject to communication with which data is transferred in a wireless manner, and

said peripheral device is a card-type communication device that is inserted in a card slot of said device subject to connection.

12. A device connection system comprising:

a device subject to connection;

a peripheral device that is connected to said device subject to connection; and

a device subject to communication that is separate from said device subject to connection,

said peripheral device having

an input/output block that is connected to said device subject to connection,

a communication block configured to communicate with said device subject to communication, and

a conversion block configured, if said device subject to communication is a storage device, to convert a storage access command output by said device subject to connection to said input/output block into a communication command that is transferred between said communication block and said device subject to communication,

said communication block transmitting the communication command generated by said conversion block to said device subject to communication, thereby transferring, with said device subject to communication, one of data that is written by said device subject to connection to said device subject to communication and data that is read from said device subject to communication.

13. A peripheral device comprising:

input/output means connected to a device subject to connection;

communication means for communicating with a device subject to communication; and

conversion means for, if said device subject to communication is a storage device, converting a storage access command output by said device subject to connection to said input/output means into a communication command that is transferred between said communication means and said device subject to communication, wherein

said communication means transmits the communication command generated by said conversion means to said device subject to communication and

transfers, with said device subject to communication, one of data that is written by said device subject to connection to said device subject to communication and data that is read from said device subject to communication.