Patent ID: 8402233

Claim:
A method for communicating data, the method comprising: interleaving accesses to a plurality of mass storage devices communicatively coupled to a portable media processing device, wherein at least a first portion of the plurality of mass storage devices is communicatively, coupled internally; to the portable media processing device and a second portion of the plurality of mass storage devices is communicatively coupled externally to the portable media processing device; and interleaving transfer of data corresponding to said interleaved accesses to said plurality of mass storage devices communicatively coupled to said portable media processing device, wherein: a first portion of said data from a first mass storage device is communicated to and/or from system memory via a first dedicated buffer that is external to said first mass storage device; and a second portion of said data from a second mass storage device is communicated to and/or from said system memory via a second dedicated buffer that is external to said second mass storage device.