Patent Description:
As a tool for data storage and data transmission, portable hard drives are commonly used. Users only need to insert the portable hard drive into their personal devices to store or transfer data to their personal devices. However, the data transmission described above requires human operation, making the process time-consuming and error-prone.

The subject matter of the invention is defined by each of independent claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

Accordingly, this invention provides a data transmission and a data transfer method.

According to the invention, a data transmission device includes a reversible pluggable connection port, a memory and a processor. The reversible pluggable connection port includes a plurality of upper pins and a plurality of lower pins arranged oppositely, wherein the plurality of upper pins include a first identification pin, and the plurality of lower pins include a second identification pin. The processor is connected to the reversible pluggable connection port and the memory, and is configured to output data stored in the memory through the reversible pluggable connection port when detecting a specified signal through the first identification pin, and output a data restoration request signal through the reversible pluggable connection port when detecting the specified signal through the second identification pin.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a data transfer system includes a portable hard drive and a data transmission device. The data transmission device includes a reversible pluggable connection port, a memory and a processor. The reversible pluggable connection port is configured to be connected to the portable hard drive and includes a plurality of upper pins and a plurality of lower pins arranged oppositely, wherein the plurality of upper pins include a first identification pin, and the plurality of lower pins include a second identification pin. The processor is connected to the reversible pluggable connection port and the memory, and is configured to output data stored in the memory to the portable hard drive through the reversible pluggable connection port when detecting a specified signal through the first identification pin, and output a data restoration request signal to the portable hard drive through the reversible pluggable connection port when detecting the specified signal through the second identification pin.

According to the invention, a data transfer method is applicable to a portable hard drive and a data transmission device. The data transfer method includes using the data transmission device to execute: outputting stored data to the portable hard drive through a reversible pluggable connection port when detecting a specified signal through a first identification pin of a plurality of upper pins of the reversible pluggable connection port, and outputting a data restoration request signal to the portable hard drive through the reversible pluggable connection port when detecting the specified signal through a second identification pin of a plurality of lower pins of the reversible pluggable connection port.

In view of the above description, the data transmission device, data transfer system and data transfer method perform the first function of data output or data restoration when the data transmission device detects a specified signal through the first identification pin (i.e., detects that the portable hard drive is inserted with the first side) by disposing an identification pin on the upper pins and the lower pins of the reversible pluggable connection port respectively; and perform the second function of retrieving data or data backup when the data transmission device detects the specified signal through the second identification pin (i.e., detects that the portable hard drive is inserted with the second side). In this way, additional operations required for data transfer can be reduced to optimize the process and efficiency of data transfer for saving time.

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the present invention and wherein:.

According to the description, claims and the drawings disclosed in the specification, one skilled in the art may easily understand the concepts and features of the present invention.

Please refer to <FIG> which is a block diagram of a data transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, a data transmission device <NUM> includes a reversible pluggable connection port <NUM>, a memory <NUM> and a processor <NUM>. The reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> includes a plurality of upper pins and a plurality of lower pins arranged oppositely, wherein the plurality of upper pins include a first identification pin, and the plurality of lower pins include a second identification pin. The processor <NUM> is connected to the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> and the memory <NUM>, and is configured to output data stored in the memory <NUM> through the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> when detecting a specified signal through the first identification pin, and output a data request signal through the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> when detecting the specified signal through the second identification pin.

In the present embodiment, the data transmission device <NUM> may be a personal computer. The reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> includes a plurality of pins, some of the pins are used for transmitting and receiving data, and the other pins are used for identifying connected external devices. The multiple pin positions of the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> is divided into upper pin positions and lower pin positions. The reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> may be connected to the front or back side of a connector. That is, the upper pins or the lower pins of the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> may be connected to a connector. For example, the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> may be a USB Type-C port, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The memory <NUM> may be a non-volatile memory, such as a read-only memory. The processor may be a microcontroller, a central processing unit, a programmable logic controller, etc..

When an external device is connected to the data transmission device <NUM> through the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may determine whether the external device is connected to the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> through the front side or the back side. Specifically, the processor <NUM> outputs data stored in the memory <NUM> through the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> when detecting a specified signal through the first identification pin (that is, detecting that an external device is plugged in with the front side). The processor <NUM> outputs a data restoration request signal through the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> when detecting the specified signal through the second identification pin (that is, detecting that the external device is plugged in with the back side). In other words, the data in the memory <NUM> may be transferred from the external device or the data in the memory <NUM> may be backed up to the external device when the processor <NUM> detects the specified signal through the first identification pin. The processor <NUM> may send a data request signal to the external device or allow the external data of the external device to be restored into the memory <NUM> of the data transmission device <NUM> when the processor <NUM> detects the specified signal through the second identification pin.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, the data transmission device <NUM> of the present embodiment may further include a user interface <NUM> connected to the processor <NUM>, wherein the processor <NUM> may be further configured to send a confirmation message through the user interface <NUM> when a specified signal is detected through the first identification pin or the second identification pin. In the present embodiment, the user interface <NUM> may be a screen. Specifically, when the user inserts one side of the external device into the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may send a confirmation message through the user interface <NUM> based on a specified signal detected by the first identification pin or the second identification pin to ensure that the user may perform a desired function. Further, when the user inserts the external device (such as a portable hard drive) into the data transmission device <NUM> with the backup side, the user may choose to back up all data or only choose to back up specific data to the portable hard drive through setting options of the user interface <NUM>. At the same time, the user interface <NUM> may also provide the option of restoring the original factory settings, so that the user may restore the data transmission device to the original system state while selecting the backup.

Please refer to <FIG> which is a block diagram of a data transfer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, a data transfer system <NUM> includes a portable hard drive <NUM> and a data transmission device <NUM>. The data transmission device <NUM> includes a reversible pluggable connection port <NUM>, a memory <NUM> and a processor <NUM>. The reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> is configured to be connected to the portable hard drive <NUM> and includes a plurality of upper pins and a plurality of lower pins arranged oppositely, wherein the plurality of upper pins include a first identification pin, and the plurality of lower pins include a second identification pin. The processor <NUM> is connected to the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> and the memory <NUM>, and is configured to output data stored in the memory <NUM> to the portable hard drive <NUM> through the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> when detecting a specified signal through the first identification pin, and output a data request signal to the portable hard drive <NUM> through the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> when detecting the specified signal through the second identification pin.

The data transmission device <NUM> in <FIG> is basically the same as the data transmission device <NUM> in <FIG> and is not described repeatedly herein. In the present embodiment, the portable hard drive <NUM> has a connector corresponding to the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM>, specifically a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C connector. When the portable hard drive <NUM> is connected to the data transmission device <NUM> through the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may determine whether the portable hard drive <NUM> is connected to the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> through the front or back side. Specifically, the processor <NUM> outputs data stored in the memory <NUM> to the portable hard drive <NUM> through the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> when detecting a specified signal through the first identification pin (that is, detecting that the portable hard drive <NUM> is plugged in with the front side). The processor <NUM> outputs a data restoration request signal to the portable hard drive <NUM> through the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> when detecting the specified signal through the second identification pin (that is, detecting that the portable hard drive <NUM> is plugged in with the back side).

That is, the data in the memory <NUM> may be transferred from the portable hard drive <NUM> or the data in the memory <NUM> may be backed up to the portable hard drive <NUM> when the processor <NUM> detects the specified signal through the first identification pin. The processor <NUM> may send a data request signal to the portable hard drive <NUM> or allow the external data of the portable hard drive <NUM> to be restored into the memory <NUM> of the data transmission device <NUM> when the processor <NUM> detects the specified signal through the second identification pin. In this way, when the portable hard drive <NUM> is coupled to the data transmission device <NUM> with the front side, the data of the data transmission device <NUM> may be backed up; when the portable hard drive <NUM> is coupled to the data transmission device <NUM> with the back side, the backed up or stored data may be restored to the data transmission device <NUM>. The portable hard drive <NUM> may also be used to restore factory settings of multiple data transmission devices <NUM>. In one embodiment, different patterns may be provided on two opposite surfaces of the portable hard drive <NUM> for user identification.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, the data transmission device <NUM> of the present embodiment may further include a user interface <NUM> connected to the processor <NUM>, wherein the processor <NUM> may be further configured to send a confirmation message through the user interface <NUM> when a specified signal is detected through the first identification pin or the second identification pin. In the present embodiment, the user interface <NUM> may be a screen. Specifically, when the user inserts one side of the portable hard drive <NUM> into the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may send a confirmation message through the user interface <NUM> based on a specified signal detected by the first identification pin or the second identification pin to ensure that the user may perform a desired function.

Please refer to <FIG> which is a schematic diagram of a reversible pluggable connection port of a data transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the first identification pin 111a of the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> is disposed at a specific sequence from left to right of the plurality of upper pins <NUM>, and the second identification pin 112a is disposed at the specific sequence from right to left of the plurality of lower pins <NUM>. Through this configuration, when the connector of the portable hard drive is connected to the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> with the front side, the data transmission device detects the specified signal through the first identification pin 111a; and when the connector of the portable hard drive is connected to the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> with the back side, the data transmission device detects the specified signal through the second identification pin 112a.

Please refer to <FIG> along with <FIG>, <FIG> is a flow chart of a data transmission method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, a data transfer method includes using the data transmission device <NUM> and the portable hard drive <NUM> to execute step S11: detecting a specified signal through the reversible pluggable connection port; step S12: determining whether the specified signal comes from the first identification pin of the upper pins or the second identification pin of the lower pins; if the specified signal comes from the first identification pin, executing step S13: outputting stored data to the portable hard drive through the reversible pluggable connection port; if the specified signal comes from the second identification pin, executing step S14: outputting a data request signal to the portable hard drive through the reversible pluggable connection port.

The execution of the above steps S11 to S14 is basically the same as the description of <FIG> and is not described repeatedly herein. In addition, the data transfer method described above may further include: sending a confirmation message through the user interface when detecting the specified signal through the first identification pin or the second identification pin. Specifically, the user interface may be a screen. When the user inserts one side of the portable hard drive into the reversible pluggable connection port, the processor may send a confirmation message through the user interface based on the specified signal detected by the first identification pin or the second identification pin.

Based on the embodiments of the data transmission device, data transfer system and data transfer method described above, optional implementation are provided below. In one embodiment, the processor of the data transmission device may be further configured to receive verification information through the reversible pluggable connection port and confirm that the verification information matches pre-stored information before outputting the data stored in the memory or the data request signal. That is, before steps S13 and S14 in <FIG>, the processor of the data transmission device may first verify the verification information of the portable hard drive (or external device). Through this verification mechanism, the data transmission device in the present embodiment may not only easily backup data to a portable hard drive or restore data from a portable hard drive, but also improve data security. Specifically, when an arbitrary and non-matching portable hard drive is inserted into the data transmission device, the data transmission device may first verify the portable hard drive to avoid backing up important data to other suspicious flash drives, and to avoid backing up important data to other suspicious portable hard drives, and also avoid obtaining harmful data, such as virus codes, etc. from suspicious portable hard drives.

In another embodiment, the processor of the data transmission device may be further configured to receive a driving program from the portable hard drive (or external device) through the reversible pluggable connection port and install the driving program. Further, the processor of the data transmission device may be configured to activate the driving program when the specified signal is detected through the first identification pin or the second identification pin. The processor may output data stored in the memory or the data request signal through the reversible pluggable connection port after activating the driving program. Specifically, the portable hard drive <NUM> in <FIG> may store a driving program in advance. When the portable hard drive <NUM> is connected to the reversible pluggable connection port <NUM> of the data transmission device <NUM>, the processor <NUM> of the data transmission device <NUM> may install the driving program to obtain software resources, and activate the driving program and the specific operating interface to perform data backup or data restoration functions.

Claim 1:
A data transmission device (<NUM>), comprising:
a reversible pluggable connection port (<NUM>) comprising a plurality of upper pins (<NUM>) and a plurality of lower pins (<NUM>) arranged oppositely, wherein the plurality of upper pins (<NUM>) comprise a first identification pin (111a), and the plurality of lower pins (<NUM>) comprise a second identification pin (112a);
a memory (<NUM>); and
a processor (<NUM>) connected to the reversible pluggable connection port (<NUM>) and the memory (<NUM>), and characterised in that the processor (<NUM>) is configured to output data stored in the memory (<NUM>) through the reversible pluggable connection port (<NUM>) when detecting a specified signal through the first identification pin (111a), and output a data restoration request signal through the reversible pluggable connection port (<NUM>) when detecting the specified signal through the second identification pin (112a).