Patent ID: 7146437
Filing Date: 2006-12-05
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for accessing a portable computing device by a host computer over a data link, said method comprising: (a) receiving an indication, at the host computer, that the portable computing device has been attached to the host computer via the data link, the portable computing device having processing circuitry, a storage device and at least one of a display and a speaker, the storage device storing media content, and the portable computing device being capable of itself outputting the media content stored in the storage device to at least one of the display and the speaker; (b) logically connecting the portable computing device to a file system of the host computer once said receiving (a) receives the indication that the portable computing device has been attached; (c) performing, following said receiving (a) and said logically connecting (b), first processing at the host computer which accesses the portable computing device; and (d) logically disconnecting the portable computing device from the file system without detaching the portable computing device from the host computer via the data link, said logically disconnecting (d) being performed after fully completing performance of the first processing, and said logical disconnecting (d) being automatically performed without any user-initiated action either to physically detach the portable computing device from the host computer or to request disconnection or removal, wherein when the portable computing device is coupled to the host computer via the data link and logically connected to the file system, the portable computing device operates as a remote data storage device for the host computer.