Adapter and memory unit
AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorKunio Fukuda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Data stored in a memory unit can be transmitted to an external apparatus such as a PC, a television or a printer without relying on operations carried out on a host apparatus, onto which the memory unit has been mounted. The memory unit includes a memory card and an adapter into which the memory card is inserted. At a request made by the external apparatus through a radio transmission line as a request for data, the data can be read out from a memory device employed in the memory card in accordance with control executed by a communication control section employed in the adapter. Thus, it is not necessary to install driver software for controlling communications in a digital camera or the like serving as the host apparatus, on which the memory unit is mounted.
Claims16
An adapter for accommodating a memory card, said adapter comprising:
- an insertion section for allowing a memory card to be inserted into said insertion section in such a state that said memory card can be mounted on said adapter and dismounted from said adapter with a high degree of freedom;
- a wire communication section joined to a host apparatus in such a state that said wire communication section can be connected to said host apparatus and disconnected from said host apparatus with a high degree of freedom;
- a radio communication section for carrying out communications with an external apparatus through a radio transmission line;
- a communication control section for controlling communications carried out by said radio communication section;
- and
- a card interface section for passing on an access made by said host apparatus connected to said wire communication section and an access made by said communication control section as accesses to said memory card, which has been inserted into said insertion section.
A memory unit including a memory card and an adapter for accommodating said memory card wherein:
- said memory card comprises:
- a memory section used for storing data;
- a memory control section for controlling accesses to said memory section;
- and
- an adapter interface section connected to said adapter;
- whereas
- said adapter has:
- an insertion section for allowing said memory card to be inserted into said insertion section in such a state that said memory card can be mounted on said adapter and dismounted from said adapter with a high degree of freedom;
- a wire communication section joined to a host apparatus in such a state that said wire communication section can be connected to said host apparatus and disconnected from said host apparatus with a high degree of freedom;
- a radio communication section for carrying out communications with an external apparatus through a radio transmission line;
- a communication control section for controlling communications carried out by said radio communication section;
- and
- a card interface section for passing on accesses made by said host apparatus connected to said wire communication section and accesses made by said communication control section to said memory card, which has been inserted into said insertion section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.