Patent ID: 7631121

Claim:
A portable data storage device comprising: a universal serial bus (USB) plug integral to the portable data storage device, the portable data storage device capable of being directly connected to a USB port of a host platform via the USB plug such that there is an immediate connection between the portable data storage device and the host platform without a cable interconnection; a non-removable flash memory having a first storage capacity; a data compression engine coupled to the non-removable flash memory; a buffer coupled to the data compression engine and configured to receive data from the host platform; and a microcontroller coupled to the data compression engine and the non-removable flash memory, the microcontroller capable of sending a message to the host platform if the ability of the buffer to store data is at a threshold, the data compression engine capable of compressing data for storage in the non-removable flash memory so that a perceived capacity of the flash memory exceeds the first storage capacity.