Patent ID: 8230128

Claim:
A method of operating a memory card, the method comprising: receiving power from a host device; sending information from the memory card to the host device, wherein the memory card is useable as a storage device by the host device, and wherein the host device includes a central processing unit (CPU), a network communication interface and a power supply line to supply power to the memory card; sending an interrupt to the host device that prompts the host device to execute a requested process to determine a level of host device activity; in response to the interrupt, receiving a reply from the host device indicating the requested process has been handled by the host device; determining the level of host device activity based upon a duration of time between when the interrupt is issued and the requested process is handled by the host; and based upon the determined level of the host device activity, requesting the host device to provide a communication link via the network communication interface to communicate with a remote device different from said host device.