Patent ID: 8291164
Filing Date: 2012-10-16
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An adapter apparatus comprising: a first connector to be electrically coupled to a terminal of an external memory medium; a second connector to be electrically coupled to a host apparatus; and a processor which controls data transfer between the external memory medium and the host apparatus, the processor comprising a determination processor which determines a type of the external memory medium by communicating with the external memory medium using at least one communication speed and determining whether or not there has been a response; and a controller which causes the determination processor to perform the determination process, wherein the determination processor comprises: a communication speed setting unit which sets a communication speed for communication with the external memory medium; a sending unit which sends a preset signal to the external memory medium at the set communication speed; a response determining unit which determines whether or not there has been a response to the preset signal; a type determining unit which determines the type of the external memory medium or whether or not the external memory medium is attached in accordance with a result of determination yielded by the response determining unit, wherein the controller monitors a communication state between the external memory medium and the host apparatus, and causes the determination processor not to perform the determination process while communication is processing between the external memory medium and the host apparatus, and the controller causes the determination processor to perform the determination process repeatedly in a cycle in the absence of communication between the external memory medium and the host apparatus; and a receiving unit which receives an information send request from the host apparatus, the information regarding the external memory medium, wherein when the type determining unit detects a change in an attachment state of the external memory medium after the processor sends a result of determining the type of the external memory medium yielded at the time of receiving the information send request from the host apparatus, the processor sends a result of detecting the change to the host apparatus.