Application method for universal serial bus file transfer device

• US 8,250,261 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2003
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ours Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ours Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Juan, Shih-Chou
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Alan
• Application Number:
  US10/635,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,302 Days
• Field of Search: 710/33
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4045 where the bus bridge performs an extender function
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4413 Plug-and-play [PnP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4415 Self describing peripheral devices

Abstract

The present invention discloses an application method for universal serial bus (USB) file transfer device. When USB file transfer device is connected between two computers loaded with operating such systems as Window, Mac, Linux, etc., that support Mass Storage Class standard while the USB file transfer device also supports Mass Storage Class, either computer can access system information provided in the USB file transfer device. Since the application program is stored in the USB file transfer device and the USB file transfer device is simulated as an auto-run storage device, such as a floppy disc drive, a hard disc drive or a CD-ROM drive, etc., the USB file transfer device in the present invention is capable of carrying out file transfers automatically without having to install drivers and programs. To users, the application method for USB file transfer device offers plug and play capabilities as file transfers can be performed automatically between two computers without having to install drivers and programs in either computer.

Claims

1. An apparatus for data transfer between two electronic data storage apparatuses, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a cable housing;

(b) a cable extending from two points of said cable housing;

(c) a processor and storage device inside said cable housing, wherein said processor is wired to said cable;

(d) a first interface at a first end of said cable; and

(e) a second interface at a second end of said cable;

wherein, upon insertion of the first interface into a first electronic data storage apparatus and insertion of the second interface into a second electronic data storage apparatus, the apparatus automatically loads and executes drivers and additional software code stored in said storage device onto said first electronic data storage apparatus and said second electronic storage apparatus, wherein said drivers and software code facilitates the direct transfer of data from said first electronic data storage apparatus to said second electronic data storage apparatus and controls the direct transfer and storage of data from said second electronic data storage apparatus to said first electronic storage apparatus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage device is flash memory.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus emulates a peripheral storage device.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein transfer of selected data between the electronic data storage apparatuses is performed using respective existing operating systems of each electronic data storage apparatus.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first interface comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second interface comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug.

7. A controller for direct data transfer between two electronic data storage apparatuses, the controller comprising:

(a) a processor and a storage device, the storage device containing drivers and software code that automatically load and execute on a first electronic data storage apparatus and on a second electronic storage apparatus when the controller is connected to the first and second electronic data storage apparatuses, wherein said drivers and software code facilitate the direct transfer of data from storage on said first electronic data storage apparatus to storage on said second electronic data storage apparatus and facilitate the direct transfer and storage of data from said second electronic data storage apparatus to said first electronic storage apparatus; and

(b) at least two connectors coupled to said processor.

8. The controller according to claim 7, wherein at least one of said connectors comprises a high-speed data cable coupled to a cable connector.