System with a remote wireless mass storage which provides identification of a particular mass storage stored in a cradle to the system

• US 6,018,775 A
• Filed: 07/02/1996
• Issued: 01/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway 2000, Inc. (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vossler, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elamin, Abdelmoniem I.
• Application Number:
  US08/677,459
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 395/821, 370/461, 370/468, 375/295, 340/825.25, 710/1
• US Class Current: 710/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0655 Vertical data movement, i.e. input-output transfer; data movement between one or more hosts and one or more storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A mass storage device having a transmitter and receiver and a computer having a transmitter and receiver allows for a computer system capable of wireless transmissions of data to and from the computer. The transmitter and receiver of the computer is linked to a data and command bus which is electrically connected to the central processor or microprocessor of the computer. The transmitter and receiver of the mass storage device is electrically connected to the data channel of the mass storage device. A cache memory may also be included to meter the data before transmission or after receiving the transmission. The transmitter and receivers transmit information within a selected range within the full range of electromagnetic radiation. A cradle or nest for holding a mass storage unit and providing power to the mass storage provides stand alone capability to the mass storage unit. The cradle can also be provided with a transmitter and receiver so that drives without wireless capability can now have such capability.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a central processing unit;

a data and command bus attached to said central processing unit for passing data and commands to and from said central processing unit;

a first transceiver attached to said data and command bus;

a remote mass storage device comprising;

a cradle adapted to receive a mass storage device, wherein said cradle further includes;

a second transceiver for receiving and sending commands and information representing data directly from and directly to said first transceiver of said computer system, said first and second transceivers operating in a selected range within the full spectrum of electromagnetic radiation;

an interface for connecting said mass storage device to said second transceiver for receiving and sending commands and information representing data from said first transceiver of said computer system;

a source of power for said mass storage device independent of the computer system;

wherein the central processing unit further includes means for identifying a particular mass storage device therein; and

a link between the first transceiver and the second transceiver, said link for transmitting and receiving commands and information representative of data directly to and directly from a mass storage device, the first and second transceivers operating in a selected range of the full spectrum of electromagnetic radiation.