Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090172049 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATING FILE SYSTEMS - The present invention enables a user to increase storage capacity for a host by using multiple storage devices. File systems are virtualized regardless of any difference in file system format. The invention may be embodied as a device for integrating file systems or as a method of integrating file systems. The device has one or more storage device interfaces for storage devices, a host interface, and a hub connected to the interfaces. The hub creates a virtual file system that aggregates the storage device file systems of storage devices that are connected to the storage device interfaces. The method of integrating file systems includes reading file systems, interpreting them, creating a logical structure containing data of the file systems, and generating in a memory sectors that map the logical structure into a virtual file system. | 07-02-2009 |
20100017809 | METHODS FOR ENABLING SOFTWARE IN STORAGE-CAPABLE DEVICES - Methods for enabling software from a storage-capable device including the steps of: loading, by a host system operationally connected to the storage-capable device, software from an authenticatable storage area residing in the storage-capable device; validating the software; and installing the validated software, wherein the validated software provides an interface between the host system and the storage-capable device. In some embodiments, the software is enabling software, the method further including the step of: loading, by the host system, device-functionality software from the authenticatable storage area. In some embodiments, the method further includes the steps of: validating the device-functionality software; and enabling the validated device-functionality software. In some embodiments, the method further includes the steps of: prior to the step of loading the software, executing a probe command in the host system; and returning, by the probe command, a list of device functional units residing in the storage-capable device. | 01-21-2010 |
20100036973 | Storage device for mounting to a host - A storage device comprising a non-volatile memory for storing data, and an input device that is operative to select an operating mode of the storage device prior to mounting the storage device, such that each operating mode represents a different type of storage device. A controller interfaces with the input device to establish the selected operating mode of the storage device once the storage device is mounted. | 02-11-2010 |
20100115177 | DATA STORAGE DEVICES - A data storage device includes a non-volatile memory array, a user input device, and a host interface adapted to connect the data storage device to a host device and convey data to the host device. In response to a first operation of the user input device, application configuration data is communicated from the data storage device to the host device. The application configuration data is configured to trigger execution by the host device of a configuration application that includes a listing of a plurality of applications for display by the host device allowing a user to identify a selected application. In response to selection of an application, application designation data is generated and stored in the non-volatile memory array. In response to a second operation of the user input device, the application designation data is communicated to the host device to trigger automatic execution by the host device of the selected application. | 05-06-2010 |
20100153474 | DISCARDABLE FILES - Files stored, or to be stored, in a storage device are marked either as non-discardable or as discardable in a file system structure associated with a storage device. Each discardable file has associated with it a discarding priority level. A publisher file is permitted to be stored in the storage device only if storing the publisher file does not narrow a storage usage safety margin that is reserved for user files. User files are allowed to be stored in the storage device even if storing them narrows the storage usage safety margin but, in such cases, the storage usage safety margin is restored by removing one or more discardable files from the storage device. A discardable file is removed from the storage device if its discarding priority level equals or is higher than a predetermined discarding threshold value. | 06-17-2010 |
20100161928 | MANAGING ACCESS TO AN ADDRESS RANGE IN A STORAGE DEVICE - Enhanced configuration of security and access control for data in a storage device is disclosed. A request is received to access an addressable memory location in a storage media within the storage device. A set of addressable memory locations with contiguous addresses identified by an address range is associated with first and second characteristics. The first characteristic is applied if the addressable memory location is within the set of addressable memory locations, and an entity is currently authenticated to and authorized to access the set of addressable memory locations. The second characteristic is applied if the addressable memory location is within the set of addressable memory locations, and no entity is currently authenticated to and authorized to access the set of addressable memory locations. The set of addressable memory locations can also be a logical partition, where the first and second characteristics are stored in a logical partition table. | 06-24-2010 |
20100169393 | STORAGE DEVICE PRESENTING TO HOSTS ONLY FILES COMPATIBLE WITH A DEFINED HOST CAPABILITY - A method includes defining a host capability; creating for a storage device a second directory tree from a first directory tree of the storage device that is included in a file system within the storage device; and, for a data file that is stored in the storage device and is selectable for consumption by a host through the first directory tree that is included in the storage device's file system, determining whether the data file requires for consumption a host having the defined host capability. If the data file requires a host having the defined host capability, an entry is created in the second directory tree in which the data file is not selectable for consumption by the host. Otherwise, an entry is created in the second directory tree in which the data file is selectable for consumption by the host. Subsequent to connecting the storage device to a host if the host has the defined capability the first directory tree of the storage device is used to present a view of the file system of the storage device to the host, and if the host does not have the defined capability the second directory tree is used to present a modified view of the file system to the host in which a data file not requiring the defined capability would be selectable for consumption by the host and in which a data file requiring the defined capability would not be selectable for consumption by the host. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169395 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FILTERING A FILE SYSTEM - A host is provided with a filtered file system based on the native file system of a local storage device and other relevant factors. A filter interfaces with the local storage device and the host, and a controller reads the native file system, establishes access criteria for the host, and creates a logical structure of sectors in a volatile memory based on the access criteria to provide the filtered file system. The filter can also use a given host to read the native file system and to create the logical structure of sectors based on access criteria established for a different host. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169595 | STORAGE BACKUP - A storage system includes a secondary data store for backing up the primary data store, a deleted data store for retention of deleted data, and a data management application for managing the backing up of stored and deleted data of the primary data store. The deleted data store may be either separate from the secondary data store or implemented within the secondary data store. The data management application may automatically free up space for backup of data newly added to or deleted from the primary data store, by selectively removing data from the deleted data store, based application of appropriate criteria. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169780 | STORAGE DEVICE MANAGING PLAYABLE CONTENT - Displaying storage device-generated menus for playback includes connecting a storage device to a host capable of playing back video content, and presenting to the host a root directory through which a content selection file allows selecting video files for playback through user-storage device interaction, and, optionally, one or more service files that provide various useful information that are also playable back through user-storage device interaction. This typically further includes displaying a Main Menu that represents these files and playing Main Menu items as regular video files/contents. While the content selection file is played back, a content selection menu is generated by the storage device and displayed by the host, and each content selection menu item is playable by transmitting a playback command to the storage device rather than to the host. A storage device is also provided, which uses such method. | 07-01-2010 |
20100205350 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF HOST REQUEST MAPPING - Systems and methods for reading data are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a data storage device includes a host interface that is adapted to couple the data storage device to a host. The host includes memory that is addressable by a host memory address space. The data storage device also includes a device address space that is independent from the host memory address space. The device address space includes a first address region and a second address region, where the second address region is distinct from the first address region. The data storage device also includes a non-volatile memory array and a controller coupled to the non-volatile memory array and further coupled to a mapped device. The controller is adapted to, in response to a first request from the host for access to the first address region of the device address space, perform a memory access operation at the non-volatile memory array. The controller is also adapted to, in response to a second request from the host for access to the second address region of the device address space, map the second request to the mapped device. | 08-12-2010 |
20100216341 | MEMORY CARD AND HOST DEVICE - A data storage device includes a memory card structure having an edge connector portion. The edge connector portion has a thickness that complies with a memory card specification. The data storage device also includes an electrical connector portion of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) compatible receptacle or of an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 1394 compatible receptacle. The electrical connector portion is attached within the edge connector portion of the memory card structure to remain stationary with respect to the memory card structure. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217910 | MEMORY CARD AND HOST DEVICE - An apparatus includes a first Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector and a card holder associated with the first USB connector. A controller including a USB host interface is coupled to the first USB connector. A housing enclosing the controller and at least partially enclosing the card holder has an opening that is dimensioned to enable insertion of a memory card into the card holder. The first USB connector is configured to connect to a second USB connector of the memory card when the memory card is inserted into the card holder. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217917 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF FINALIZING SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY - Systems and methods of finalizing a semiconductor memory are disclosed. A method includes receiving an instruction to finalize data at a data storage device that includes a controller coupled to a semiconductor memory. The data storage device also includes a status indicator to indicate a finalize status of the semiconductor memory. In response to receiving the instruction to finalize the data at the data storage device, the status indicator is set to a finalize value. Write to the semiconductor memory operations are prevented by the controller in response to the status indicator having the finalize value. | 08-26-2010 |
20100228802 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO RESPOND TO A DATA FILE DELETION INSTRUCTION - Systems and methods responsive to a data file deletion instruction are disclosed. A method includes receiving an instruction to delete a data file. The data file is stored at a plurality of persistent memory cells of a memory. The memory also stores a directory that includes a first entry corresponding to the data file. In response to receiving the instruction to delete the data file, multiple attribute bits of the first entry are programmed and also a first bit of the first entry is programmed. The first bit of the first entry is distinct from the multiple attribute bits. Programming the multiple attribute bits converts the first entry from a first entry type to a second entry type. Programming the first bit of the first entry indicates that the first entry has an unused status. | 09-09-2010 |
20100329034 | ESTIMATING VALUES RELATED TO DISCHARGE OF CHARGE-STORING MEMORY CELLS - One or more groups of charge-storing memory cells are selected from a plurality of regular charge-storing memory cells of a storage device. The selected memory cells are initialized with initial binary data, by charging them with corresponding amounts of electric charge, or the selected memory cells are simply used as is containing user data. Then, while the selected memory cells undergo a self discharge process, collective changes in the binary states of the selected memory cells are used to estimate discharge-determining conditions such as elapsed time, wear rate or wear level of the memory cells. The adverse effects of the erratic behavior of individual charge-storing memory cells on such estimations is mitigated by using a large group of charge-storing memory cells, and the effect of temperature on the aforesaid estimations is reduced by using two or more large groups of charge-storing memory cells. | 12-30-2010 |
20100332569 | STORAGE DEVICE WITH MULTIMEDIA INTERFACE CONNECTOR - Storage devices with multimedia interface connectors and methods are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a data storage device includes a controller coupled to a memory, a streaming media capture circuit coupled to the controller, and a video playback circuit coupled to the controller. A multimedia interface connector is coupled to the streaming media capture circuit and further coupled to the video playback circuit. In response to detecting streaming multimedia data incoming from an external device via the multimedia interface connector, the incoming streaming multimedia data is provided to the streaming media capture circuit to generate multimedia file format data that is stored to the memory as a multimedia file. | 12-30-2010 |
20110010497 | A STORAGE DEVICE RECEIVING COMMANDS AND DATA REGARDLESS OF A HOST - A storage device includes an input device for receiving data and commands directly from a user, without the storage device reporting to or notifying of the storage device activities that result from the received data and received commands. The user may visually-code the commands for the storage device, or s/he may transfer the commands to the storage device as voice commands or as vibration-induced commands. A command transferred by the user to the storage device specifies to the storage device a set of one or more digital contents that are (to be) stored in the storage device, and an operation that is to be performed on the set of one or more digital contents. A command may instruct the storage device to irreversibly caption a set of one or more digital photos by using a caption picture or caption data, or to associate a voice tag to these digital photos. | 01-13-2011 |
20110046889 | ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEM FOR CANINES, FELINES, OR OTHER ANIMALS - An apparatus for measuring, storing and communicating measurements of a dog, cat, other animal or inanimate object's environment. The apparatus may take the form of a collar, bridle, tag, harness or other mechanism worn by the animal or a device to be shipped with the animal or inanimate object. The apparatus may include mechanisms to initiate and terminate measurement and may include the ability to detect and report values exceeding specified limits. | 02-24-2011 |
20110208699 | DEVICE AND METHOD OF INTEGRATING FILE SYSTEMS - A device for integrating file systems includes a plurality of storage device interfaces. Each storage device interface is operatively coupleable to a corresponding storage device, and each storage device has a corresponding storage device file system. The device also includes a host interface and a hub configured for operatively connecting between the storage device interfaces and the host interface. The hub is operative to create a virtual file system that aggregates the storage device file systems. The virtual file system is configured to represent to a host, via the host interface, each file of a first group and to refrain from representing to the host each file of a second group, where the files are stored in one or more of the plurality of storage devices. Each file of the first group satisfies a first condition and each file of the second group fails to satisfy the first condition. | 08-25-2011 |
20120244750 | MEMORY CARD - A memory card structure includes a memory card body dimensioned to house a memory and a controller, and the memory card body has an edge connector portion having a thickness that complies with a memory card specification. The memory card body includes a recessed portion dimensioned to receive an external plug. The memory card structure also includes an electrical connector that is coupleable to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug and that is electrically coupled to at least one of the memory and the controller. The electrical connector extends from the recessed portion of the memory card body. | 09-27-2012 |
20120265535 | PERSONAL VOICE OPERATED REMINDER SYSTEM - A personal voice operated reminder system. In one embodiment, the system is worn as a device on the body in a form similar to a watch, bracelet or necklace. In another embodiment the system is a device normally held in a person's pocket or purse, and in another embodiment the system is a method added as an application to already existing devices such as PDAs or cellular telephones. | 10-18-2012 |
20120271859 | STORAGE DEVICE PRESENTING TO HOSTS ONLY FILES COMPATIBLE WITH A DEFINED HOST CAPABILITY - A method includes defining a host capability; creating for a storage device a second directory tree from a first directory tree of the storage device that is included in a file system within the storage device; and, for a data file that is stored in the storage device and is selectable for consumption by a host through the first directory tree that is included in the storage device's file system, determining whether the data file requires for consumption a host having the defined host capability. If the data file requires a host having the defined host capability, an entry is created in the second directory tree in which the data file is not selectable for consumption by the host. Otherwise, an entry is created in the second directory tree in which the data file is selectable for consumption by the host. | 10-25-2012 |
20120284455 | Storage Device for Mounting to a Host - A storage device comprising a non-volatile memory for storing data, and an input device that is operative to select an operating mode of the storage device prior to mounting the storage device, such that each operating mode represents a different type of storage device. A controller interfaces with the input device to establish the selected operating mode of the storage device once the storage device is mounted. | 11-08-2012 |