Patent ID: 7007109
Filing Date: 2006-02-28
Classification: G06F,G11B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for suspending communication with a hard disk drive in order to transfer data relating to the hard disk drive, the apparatus comprising: a bus having a plurality of lines including at least one control line, said bus disposed in communication with the hard disk drive; a host for directing communications via said bus with the hard disk drive, said host controlling a state of the at least one control line such that communication with the hard disk drive is supported while the at least one control line is in a first state and communication with the hard disk drive is suspended while the at least one control line is in a second state; and an intermediate communications gateway disposed between said bus and the hard disk drive, said intermediate communications gateway being responsive to the state of the at least one control line in order to permit communication between said host and the hard disk drive while the at least one control line is in the first state and to isolate the hard disk drive from said bus while the at least one control line is in the second state, wherein said host and said intermediate communications gateway cooperate to communicate data relating to the hard disk drive via said bus while the at least one control line is in the second state and wherein the intermediate communications gateway establishes communication with the hard disk drive to retrieve the data relating to the hard disk drive for communication via said bus while the at least one control line is in the second state and while the hard disk drive is isolated from said bus.