SD switch box in a cellular handset

• US 9,680,972 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2014
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sherman, Itay, Bychkov, Eyal, Segalov, Yaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): BORROMEO, JUANITO C
• Application Number:
  US14/499,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20150050959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/02 Details ; arrangements for supplying electrical power along data transmission lines systems for transmitting signals via power distribution lines H04B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A cellular handset, including a base band modem that transitions between a normal mode, a sleep mode and a shutdown mode, flash memory, coupled with the base band modem, for storing code and data used for operation of the base band modem in normal mode, a memory controller, coupled with the flash memory, for accessing the flash memory, and a convergence controller, connected to the base band modem and to the memory controller, comprising a host port for connecting an external host device to the cellular handset, wherein the convergence controller enables the external host device to access the flash memory while the base band modem is in sleep or shutdown mode.

Claims

1. A cellular handset, comprising:

a base band modem that includes multiple interfaces for communicating with a convergence controller and is configured to transition among a normal mode, a sleep mode, and a shutdown mode;

flash memory, coupled with said base band modem, for storing code and data used for operation of said base band modem in normal mode;

a memory controller for accessing said flash memory; and

the convergence controller, connected to said base band modem and to said memory controller, comprising a host port for connecting an external host device to the cellular handset, the convergence controller configured to enable the external host device to access said flash memory while said base band modem is in sleep mode or shutdown mode.

2. The cellular handset of claim 1 wherein said flash memory comprises NAND flash memory, and wherein said memory controller comprises a NAND controller.

3. The cellular handset of claim 1 wherein said base band modem comprises a boot loader, wherein said flash memory stores boot code for said base band modem, and wherein said convergence controller is operative, when said base band modem is in shutdown mode, to read the boot code from said flash memory and to load the boot code into said base band modem, thereby enabling said boot loader to boot said base band modem in a peripheral mode in order for said base band modem to transition from shutdown mode to normal mode.

4. The cellular handset of claim 3 wherein said base band modem, in preparation for transitioning from normal mode to sleep mode and prior to halting its operation and disconnecting power, sets the boot code loaded by said convergence controller as the code to be executed upon resumption of power.

5. The cellular handset of claim 3 wherein said base band modem, upon resumption of power and resuming operation, executes the boot code loaded by said convergence controller to transition from sleep mode to normal mode.

6. The cellular handset of claim 1 wherein the external;

host device is a member of the group consisting of a digital camera, a personal data assistant, an MP3 music player, an MP4 movie player, a television, a laptop computer, and a GPS navigational system.

7. A cellular handset, comprising:

a base band modem that includes multiple interfaces for communicating with a convergence controller and is configured to transition among a normal mode, a sleep mode, and a shutdown mode;

flash memory, coupled with said base band modem, for storing code and data used for operation of said base band modem in normal mode; and

the convergence controller, connected to said base band modem, comprising;

a memory controller for accessing said flash memory; and

a host port for connecting an external host device to the cellular handset, the convergence controller configured to enable the external host device to access said flash memory while said base band modem is in sleep mode or shutdown mode.

8. The cellular handset of claim 7 wherein said flash memory comprises NAND flash memory, and wherein said memory controller comprises a NAND controller.

9. The cellular handset of claim 7 wherein said base band modem comprises a boot loader, wherein said flash memory stores boot code for said base band modem, and wherein said convergence controller is operative, when said base band modem is in shutdown mode, to read the boot code from said flash memory and to load the boot code into said base band modem, thereby enabling said boot loader to boot said base band modem in a peripheral mode in order for said base band modem to transition from shutdown mode to normal mode.

10. The cellular handset of claim 9 wherein said base band modem, in preparation for transitioning from normal mode to sleep mode and prior to halting its operation and disconnecting power, sets the boot code loaded by said convergence controller as the code to be executed upon resumption of power.

11. The cellular handset of claim 9 wherein said base band modem, upon resumption of power and resuming operation, executes the boot code loaded by said convergence controller to transition from sleep mode to normal mode.

12. The cellular handset of claim 7 wherein the external host device is a member of the group consisting of a digital camera, a personal data assistant, an MP3 music player, an MP4 movie player, a television, a laptop computer, and a GPS navigational system.