Digital device configuration and method

• US 7,689,785 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2005
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elite Gaming Tech LLC (Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: Benhov GmbH, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Fletcher, Frida E. R., Bruner, Curtis H., Fletcher, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas; Shane M
• Application Number:
  US11/100,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20050195514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 711/113, 711/154, 711/112, 360/75, 360/250
• US Class Current: 711/154
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/00 Accessing, addressing or allocating within memory systems or architectures digital input from, or digital output to record carriers, e.g. to disk storage units, G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0625 Power saving in storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0634 by changing the state or mode of one or more devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0653 Monitoring storage devices or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0659 Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0674 Disk device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0685 Hybrid storage combining heterogeneous device types, e.g. hierarchical storage, hybrid arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/042 due to external shock or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/044 by using a data buffer
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4853 Constructional details of the electrical connection between head and arm
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Systems and methods for transferring data between storage components in a device. During a user interaction, at least some of the data to be transferred is loaded from an electromechanical data storage arrangement into an electronic storage. The transfer of data may begin prior to an end of the user interaction and may be completed, when possible, during the user interaction. The transfer of data between the storage components may be avoided in times that precede and follow the user interactions. If additional data transfers are required, the additional data is transferred during subsequent user interactions to avoid situations where mechanical shock could cause damage to one of the storage components as the data is accessed and transferred.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an electronic memory;

an electromechanical data storage arrangement;

an enclosure at least partially containing the electronic memory and the electromechanical data storage arrangement, the enclosure of a size to be held in a user'"'"'s hand;

a user interface configured to receive user inputs in the form of user contact with the user interface; and

a controller configured to transfer first data from the electromechanical data storage arrangement to the electronic memory in response to the user contact, wherein the transfer of the first data begins before the user contact ends_and_to enable transfer of the first data only so long as the user contact with the user interface is occurring.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

means for determining when the device is entering a period of time when the device is less likely to be subjected to mechanical shock as compared to typical operating conditions, wherein the controller begins to transfer the first data at least partially based on such a determination.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the user contact includes a first user contact and wherein the determination by the means for determining is at least partially based on indications that the user is engaged in the first user contact with the device or a subsequent user contact with the device.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the controller begins to transfer the second data at least partially based on the determination by the means for determining, the determination at least partially based on indications that the user is engaged in a subsequent user contact with the device.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the each of the controller and means for determining comprises a processing arrangement.

6. A device comprising:

a housing configured to be hand held;

an electronic memory having a capacity;

an electromechanical data storage element;

a user interface configured to receive an initial user interaction and a subsequent user interaction, the initial user interaction defining a command requiring a set of data that is larger than the capacity of the electronic memory; and

a processor configured to;

during the initial user interaction, begin to transfer an initial portion of the set of data from the electromechanical data storage element to the electronic memory so that the initial portion is available for use;

monitor the use of any data stored in the electronic memory;

during the subsequent user interaction, begin to transfer an additional portion of the set of data from the electromechanical data storage element to the electronic memory to replace a part of the initial portion which has been used such that an unused part of the initial portion and the additional portion are concurrently stored in the electronic memory; and

immediately cancel pending data transfers if the initial user interaction is terminated before the complete transfer of the initial portion.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the processor is further configured to immediately shut the electromechanical data storage element down if the initial user interaction is terminated before the complete transfer of the initial portion.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the processor is further configured to provide the user an error if the initial user interaction is terminated before the complete transfer of the initial portion.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to unload a head of the electromechanical data storage element when a disconnect of a headphone plug from a headphone disconnect arrangement is detected.

10. The device of claim 6 wherein the initial user interaction comprises a non-play-initiation portion and a play-initiation portion and the processor is configured to delay the transfer of the set of data from the electromechanical data storage element until the play-initiation portion has begun.

11. The device of claim 6 wherein the subsequent user interaction defines an additional command requiring a transfer of an additional set of data and the processor is configured to begin to transfer the additional set of data during the subsequent user interaction.

12. The device of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to indicate the availability of the first set of data after the first set of data is transferred into the electronic memory and a head arrangement of the electromechanical data storage element is parked in a shock resistant position.

13. A method comprising:

accepting an initial user contact at a user interface of a handheld device;

transferring an initial portion of a set of data from an electromechanical data storage element to an electronic memory, the transfer beginning prior to the end of the initial user contact;

canceling pending transfers from the electromechanical data storage element immediately if the initial user contact ends before the loading of the electronic memory is complete;

monitoring the use of any data stored in the electronic memory; and

transferring an additional portion of the set of data from the electromechanical data storage element to the electronic memory to replace the part of the initial portion of the data which has been used such that an unused part of the initial portion and the additional portion are concurrently held in the electronic memory.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising identifying the set of data from the initial user interaction.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

identifying from a subsequent user contact an additional set of data for transfer located on the electromechanical data storage element; and

beginning during the subsequent user contact to transfer the additional set of data from the electromechanical data storage element into the electronic memory.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein transferring of an additional portion of the set of data begins during a second user contact.

17. A device comprising:

a housing configured to be handheld;

headphone receiver;

a hard drive comprising a disk and an actuator arm bearing a sensor head, the actuator arm being selectively positionable having the sensor head over the disk and in a parked position, the sensor head engaging a ramp adjacent the disk in the parked position; and

a processor configured to unload the sensor head by moving the sensor head to the parked position in engagement with the ramp in response to detecting a disconnect of a headphone plug from the headphone receiver.

18. A device comprising:

a housing configured to be handheld;

a headphone receiver;

a hard drive mounted within the housing and comprising a disk and an actuator arm bearing a sensor head, the actuator arm being selectively positionable having the sensor head over the disk and in a parked position, the sensor head engaging a ramp adjacent the disk in the parked position; and

a processor coupled to the actuator arm and headphone receiver and configured to cause the actuator arm to unload the sensor head by moving the sensor head to the parked position in engagement with the ramp in response to detecting a disconnect of a headphone plug from the headphone receiver.