Patent Publication Number: US-2007101027-A1

Title: Multi-interface storage device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention relates generally to storage device, and particularly to a multi-interface storage device.  
     GENERAL BACKGROUND  
      With the development of semiconductor storage technology, non-volatile storage devices (hereafter, “storage devices”) are popularly used by all kinds of data processing systems. These data processing systems include notebooks, desktop computers, digital cameras, mobile phones, multimedia players, and so forth. The storage device can be used for storing data, such as operation system data, text files, audio files, video files, etc.  
      The storage devices are mainly classified in two types: a non-removable storage device that is fastened in the data processing system, such as a hard disk of the notebook or the desktop computer or a storage unit of the media player and a mobile storage device that is connected to the data processing system via an interface of the data processing system, such as a mobile hard disk or a flash memory.  
      Conventionally, various storage devices only supports one kind of communication interface. For example, the non-removable hard disk only has a parallel interface, the mobile hard disk and the flash memory only has a serial interface. The non-removable storage device may only be used for the data processing system that supports the kind of communication interface of the storage device. If the non-removable storage device is used in the data processing system that supports other kinds of communication interfaces, an adapter or a read/write device is needed. However, it is not very convenient to use the adapter or the read/write device every time the non-removable storage device is used.  
      To solve such problem, a storage device that supports multi-interfaces is provided. The storage device includes various parallel interfaces and/or various serial interfaces, thus, the storage device can be used in the data processing systems that uses different kinds of communication interfaces. However, regardless of the kinds the communication interface the storage device belongs to, the storage device can only be used for providing the data processing system with data, the storage device does not provide other functions according to the different kinds of the communication interface. In addition, when the storage device is not connected to the data processing system via the communication interfaces, the storage device cannot process data therein, i.e., the storage device cannot be used as a standalone device.  
      Therefore, what is needed is a multi-interface storage device overcoming the above-described problem.  
     SUMMARY  
      A multi-interface storage device is provided. The storage device includes: a storage unit for storing data; a first interface and a second interface for electrically connecting to an external data processing system; a data control unit configured for conducting a connection between the first interface and the storage unit, in order that the external data processing system processes the data in the storage unit if the first interface is electrically connected to the external data processing system. The data control unit is also configured for conducting a connection between the second interface and the storage unit, in order to drive the external data processing system to perform a function of displaying a personal favorite data processing system environment if the second interface is electrically connected to the external data processing system, and a processing unit connected to an interior control interface. The data control unit is further configured for conducting a connection between the interior control interface and the storage unit, in order that the processing unit processes data in the storage unit if the storage device is independently used.  
      Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a multi-interface storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a storage unit of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart of implementing the storage of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart of implementing one step of  FIG. 3 , namely, driving the computer to perform a function of displaying a personal favorite computer environment; and  
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of implementing another step of  FIG. 3 , namely, processing data in the storage unit.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a multi-interface storage device (hereafter, “the storage device”) in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The storage device  1  may be a removable hard disk. The storage device  1  includes a storage unit  11 , an exterior interface group  12 , an interior control interface  13 , a processing unit  14 , and a data control unit  15 . The storage unit  11  stores configuration data of the storage device  1 , data of an operation system, configuration data of an external data processing system, application programs of the external data processing system (not shown), an audio file list, audio files, a video file list, video files, and so forth. The external data processing system may be a computer, or the like. For simplicity, a personal computer (PC) is adopted as an example. The exterior interface group  12  includes, but not limited to, a parallel interface  121  and a serial interface  122 . The parallel interface  121  can be further substituted with a wireless interface. In the preferred embodiment, the parallel interface  121  is adopted as an example. The parallel interface  121  can be an integrated device electronics (IDE) interface. The serial interface  122  can be a universal serial bus (USB) interface. The processing unit  14  can be a central processing unit (CPU) or a microcontroller unit (MCU). The interior control interface  13  is connected to a data interface of the processing unit  14 . The data control unit  15  includes a first data terminal  150 , a second data terminal  151 , a third data terminal  152 , and a fourth data terminal  153 . The first data terminal  150  is connected to the parallel interface  121 ; the second data terminal  151  is connected to the serial interface  122 ; the third data terminal  152  is connected to the interior control interface  13 ; the fourth data terminal  153  is connected to the storage unit  11 , and is further also selectable to connect with either the first data terminal  150 , the second data terminal  151 , or the third data terminal  152 .  
      When the storage device  1  is used independently, namely a connection between the third data terminal  152  and the fourth data terminal  153  is enabled i.e., the fourth data terminal  153  selects a connection with the third data terminal  152 , the interior control interface  13  becomes connected with the storage unit  11 , furthermore, the processing unit  14  is able to process data stored in the storage unit  11  via the interior control interface  13 . Conversely, when the storage device  1  is connected to the computer via the parallel interface  121 , namely a connection between the first data terminal  150  and the fourth data terminal  153  is enabled, i.e., the fourth data terminal  153  selects a connection with the first data terminal  150 , the parallel interface  121  becomes connected with the storage unit  11 , furthermore, the storage device  1  is adopted as an external hard disk of the computer. Similarly, when the storage device  1  is connected to the computer via the serial interface  122 , namely a connection between the second data terminal  151  and the fourth data terminal  153  is enabled, i.e., the fourth data terminal  153  selects a connection with the second data terminal  152 , the serial interface  122  becomes connected with the storage unit  11 , allowing the storage device  1  to be used for performing a function of displaying a person favorite computer environment (described in more detailed below).  
      The storage device  1  further includes a power control unit  16 , a power management unit  17 , and a rechargeable battery  18 . The power control unit  16  includes a first power terminal  160 , a second power terminal  161 , a third power terminal  162 , and a fourth power terminal  163 . The first power terminal  160  is connected to the parallel interface  121 ; the second power terminal  161  is connected to the serial interface  122 ; the third power terminal  162  is connected to the interior control interface  13 ; the fourth power terminal  163  is connected to the storage unit  11  and the power management unit  17 , and is further also connected to the first power terminal  160 , the second power terminal  161 , or the third power terminal  162 .  
      The power management unit  17  is connected to the rechargeable battery  18  and a power (abbreviated as “PWR” in  FIG. 1 ) port of the processing unit  14 . When the storage device  1  is connected to the computer via the parallel interface  121  or the serial interface  122 , namely a connection between the first power terminal  160  and the fourth power terminal  163  or between the second power terminal  161  and the fourth power terminal  163  is enabled, i.e., the fourth power terminal  163  selects a connection with the first power terminal  160  or the second power terminal  161 . The power control unit  16  draws power supply from the computer to supply power to all components of the storage device  1 , and simultaneously, the power management unit  17  charges the rechargeable battery  18 . Contrary, when the storage device  1  is used independently, namely a connection between the third power terminal  162  and the fourth power terminal  163  is enabled, i.e., the fourth power terminal  163  selects a connection with the third power terminal  162 , the power management unit  17  draws power supply from the rechargeable battery  18  to supply power to other components of the storage device  1 .  
      The storage device  1  further includes a control panel  19 , a digital/analog (D/A) converter  20 , an output unit  21 , and a display unit  22 . The control panel  19  and the display unit  22  are connected to a control (abbreviated as “CTL” in  FIG. 1 ) port of the processing unit  14 , and the D/A converter  20  is connected to the data port of the processing unit  14 . The processing unit  14  obtains audio files stored in the storage unit  11  via the interior control interface  13  and the data control unit  15 , and decodes the audio files into digital audio signals. The D/A converter  20  converts the digital audio signals into analog audio signals, whereupon the output unit  21  outputs sounds corresponding to the analog audio signals.  
      The control panel  19  is used for receiving operational inputs, and generating corresponding control signals to the processing unit  14 . The control panel  19  is set a plurality of keys for operational inputs including, but not limited to, a random play key, a default play key, a pause key, a play key, an up key, a down key, a volume adjusting key, a power key, and so on. When the control signal is a random play control signal, the processing unit  14  obtains an audio file list stored in the storage unit  11 , generates a random play list according to the audio file list, and plays audio files according to the random play list; when the control signal is a default play control signal from the default play key, the processing unit  14  plays audio files according to a default play list in the storage unit  11 . In the preferred embodiment, the default play list is a favorite channel list.  
      The display unit  22  is used for displaying related information on the audio file played. The information includes contents related to the audio file currently played by the storage device  1 .  
      Additionally, the storage device  1  can perform other functions, such as, play a video file. Correspondingly, the control panel  19 , the D/A converter  20 , the output unit  21 , and the display unit  22  can be substituted for other components.  
       FIG. 2  is block diagram of the storage unit  11  of  FIG. 1 . The storage unit  11  preferably includes a private data block  110 , a public data block  111 , and a shared data block  112 . The private data block  110  is allocated for storing configuration data of the storage device  1 .  
      The public data block  11  is for storing data accessible by the computer. The public data block  111  further includes a hard disk sub-block  1110 , an office data sub-block  1111 , and a public sub-block  1112 . The hard disk sub-block  1110  is allocated for storing operation system data.  
      The office data sub-block  1111  is allocated for storing computer configuration data and application programs of the computer. The computer configuration data includes a favorite computer environment configuration data and a general applications configuration data. The favorite computer environment configuration data is for setting a personal favorite computer environment that a user of the storage device  1  is familiar. The general applications can be such as, for example, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and so on. The general applications configuration data is for setting general applications according to users&#39; personal preferences.  
      The application programs are for identifying whether a user operating the storage device  1  is a legal user, determining an operation mode of the computer according to user&#39;s choice, controlling a communication between the computer and the storage device  1  according to the operation mode. The operation mode includes a host mode and a client mode. If the operation mode of the computer is in client mode, the computer changes a configuration data pointer of the computer from pointing to the preferred computer configuration data of the storage device  1 . Simultaneously, the computer changes a disk pointer of the computer from pointing to the main storage unit (not shown) of the computer to pointing to the public data block  11  of the storage device  1 , thereby shielding the main storage unit of the computer from being accessed. Accordingly, the computer directly accesses the public data block  11  to obtain the preferred computer configuration data and “my folders” according to paths pointed by the configuration data pointer and disk pointer of the computer, thus configuring a favorite computer environment according to the favorite computer environment configuration data. Therefore, the user can operate on the computer in a familiar favorite computer environment.  
      The application programs are further used for operating the storage device in host mode. The user can save files from the computer to the storage device as “my folders” and can also backup files from the storage device to the computer. The application programs are also further used for resetting paths pointer by the configuration data pointer and the disk pointer of the computer when the connection between the computer and the storage device is disabled. The application programs automatically install into the computer once the storage device  1  is connected to the computer via the serial  121  and automatically uninstalls from the computer when the connection between the computer and the storage device  1  is disabled.  
      The public sub-block  1112  includes at least one predetermined folder, namely “my folders”. “My folders” is for storing important or frequently used data. “My folders” can be such as, for example, my favorite folder, my document folder of a windows operation system, e-mail document folder, and/or some other user-defined folder.  
      The shared data block  112  is for storing data accessible by both the storage device  1  and the computer. The data includes an audio file list, audio files, a video file list, video files, and so on.  
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart of implementing the storage device  1  of  FIG.1 . In step S 300 , the storage device  1  detects whether it is electrically connected to the computer. If so, the procedure goes to step S 301  described below. Otherwise, in step S 304 , the processing unit  14  processes the data in the storage unit  11 .  
      In step S 301 , the storage device  1  detects whether it is electrically connected to the computer via the parallel interface  121 . If so, in step S 302 , the storage device  1  can be regarded as the external hard disk of the computer. Otherwise, the storage device  1  is electrically connected to the computer via the serial interface  122 , in step S 303 , the storage device  1  can be used for driving the computer to perform a function of displaying the personal favorite computer environment.  
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart of implementing step S 303  of  FIG. 3 , namely driving the computer to perform the function of displaying the personal favorite computer environment. In step S 400 , the application programs in the storage unit  11  automatically install themselves into the computer when the storage device  1  is connected to the computer. In step S 401 , the data control unit  15  determines whether the user operating on the storage device  1  is a legal user of the storage device  1  according to a user name and a password input. If the user operating on the storage device  1  is an illegal user, the procedure is finished. Otherwise, in step S 402 , the data control unit  15  determines whether the operation mode of the computer is in a client mode according to the user&#39;s selection. If the operation mode of the computer is in a host mode, in step S 403 , the user can save files from the computer into the storage device  1  as “my folder”, and can also backup files from the storage device  1  to the computer.  
      If the operation mode of the computer is in the client mode, in step S 404 , the computer changes a configuration pointer thereof from pointing to the computer configuration data of the computer to pointing to the preferred computer configuration data of the storage device  1 , and, simultaneously, changes a disk pointer of the computer from pointing to main storage unit (not shown) of the computer to pointing to the public data block  11  of the storage device  1 , thereby shielding the main storage unit of the computer from being accessed. In step S 405 , the computer directly accesses the public data block  11  to obtain the computer configuration data and “my folders” according to a path pointer by the configuration pointer and the disk pointer of the computer, and thus to display the familiar favorite computer environment for the user according to the favorite computer environment configuration data. In step S 406 , the user can execute general operations such as reading, writing, or modifying on the computer, if necessary. In step S 407 , files generated or updated by general operations are stored to the public data block  111 . In step S 408 , when the connection between the computer and the storage device  1  is disabled, the computer changes the configuration pointer and the disk pointer of the computer to point to the path of computer configuration data and the main storage unit of the computer respectively.  
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of implementing step S 304  of  FIG. 3 , namely processing the data in the storage unit  11 . In the preferred embodiment, it is adopted as an example that the processing unit  14  plays the audio files in the storage unit  11 . In step S 500 , the control panel  19  receives an operational input, and generates a corresponding control signal. The control signal is a play mode selection signal. In step S 501 , the processing unit  14  analyzes the control signal to determine a play mode. In the S 502 , if the control signal is a random play control signal, the processing unit  14  obtains an audio file list in the storage unit  11 , and generates a random play list. In step S 504 , the processing unit  14  decodes the audio files included in the random play list to digital audio signals, and outputs the digital audio signals to the D/A converter  20 . In step S 505 , the D/A converter  20  converts the digital audio signals into analog audio signals, and outputs the analog audio signals to the output unit  21 . In step S 506 , the display unit  22  displays related information on playing the audio files. In step S 507 , the processing unit  14  detects whether to receive other control signals from the control panel  19 . If the processing unit  14  receives the other control signals, in step S 508 , the processing unit  14  processes the data in the storage unit  11  according the control signals. Otherwise, the procedure returns to step S 504  described above.  
      When the control signal is a default play control signal, in step S 503 , the processing unit  14  obtains a default play list, whereupon the procedure goes to step S 504  described above.  
      Although the present invention has been specifically described on the basis of the preferred embodiment including the preferred method, the invention is not to construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiment including the method without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.