Electro-optical display for a digital data storage device

A method for receiving, storing and visually displaying information indicative of data stored on a nonvolatile storage medium of a secondary data storage device, wherein the data stored on the nonvolatile storage medium is accessed only via an external data access device, said method for displaying the information when the secondary data storage device is not coupled to the external data access device, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, from the external data access device, information indicative of the data stored on the nonvolatile storage medium of the secondary data storage device;
• storing, in a memory device on the secondary data storage device, the received information and providing a digital signal representing the information;
• and
• displaying, from the memory device on the secondary data storage device, the digital signal representing the information such that information indicative of the data stored on the nonvolatile storage medium can be viewed when the secondary data storage device is not coupled to the external data access device.

A system for transmitting, storing and visually displaying information indicative of data stored on a nonvolatile storage medium of a secondary data storage device, wherein the data stored on the nonvolatile storage medium is accessed only via an external data access device, said information to be displayed when the secondary data storage device is not coupled to the external data access device, the system comprising:

• a data storage and display device including:
• receiving means, mechanically coupled to the secondary data storage device, for receiving, from the external data access device, information indicative of the data stored on the nonvolatile storage medium of the secondary data storage device;
• memory means, mechanically coupled to the secondary data storage device and coupled to the receiving means, for storing and decoding the received information and for providing a digital signal representing the information;
• and
• display means, mechanically coupled to the secondary data storage device and coupled to the memory means, for receiving and displaying the digital signal representing the information such that information indicative of the data stored on the nonvolatile storage medium can be viewed when the secondary data storage device is not coupled to the external data access device;
• and
• data transfer means including:
• access means for providing access to communications from the external data access device;
• data extraction and conversion means, coupled to the access means, for 1) detecting a communication from the external data access device which communication accesses data in a reserved directory area on the nonvolatile storage medium, 2) converting the detected communication into information indicative of the data stored on the nonvolatile storage medium and 3) communicating the information to a transmitting means;
• and
• said transmitting means, being mechanically coupled to the external data access device, for receiving the information from the data extraction and conversion means and transferring the information to the receiving means for purposes of display.

A system for transmitting information indicative of data stored on a nonvolatile storage medium of a secondary data storage device, wherein the data stored on the nonvolatile storage medium is accessed only via a disk drive means, said information to be displayed when the secondary data storage device is not coupled to the disk drive means, the system comprising;

• access means for providing access to communications occurring between a computer means and the disk drive means;
• data extraction and conversion means, coupled to the access means, for 1) detecting a communication from the computer means which communication transfers data between the computer means and a reserved directory area on the nonvolatile storage medium, 2) converting the detected communication into information indicative of the data stored on the nonvolatile storage medium and 3) communicating the information to a transmitting means;
• and
• said transmitting means, being mechanically coupled to the disk drive means, for receiving the information from the data extraction and conversion means and transferring the information to a receiving means.

A method for transmitting information indicative of data stored on a nonvolatile storage medium of a secondary data storage device, wherein the data stored on the nonvolatile storage medium is accessed only via a disk drive means, said information to be displayed when the secondary data storage device is not coupled to the disk drive means, the method comprising the steps of:

• accessing communications occurring between a computer means and the disk drive means;
• detecting a communication from the computer means to a reserved directory area on the nonvolatile storage medium,
• converting the detected communication into information indicative of the data stored on the nonvolatile storage medium;
• and
• transmitting the information to a receiving means for purposes of display.

An apparatus for visually displaying information indicative of data stored on a floppy disk, wherein the data stored on the floppy disk is accessed only via a disk drive, said apparatus for displaying the information when the floppy disk is not coupled to the disk drive, said floppy disk having a housing, the apparatus comprising:

• a terminal strip, mechanically coupled to the housing of the floppy disk, for receiving, from the disk drive, information indicative of files stored on the floppy disk;
• logic circuitry, mechanically coupled to the housing of the floppy disk and coupled to the terminal strip, for processing and storing the received information and providing a digital signal representing the information, the logic circuitry including at least one memory, decoding circuitry and addressing circuitry;
• and
• a liquid crystal device (LCD) display, mechanically coupled to the housing of the floppy disk and coupled to the logic circuitry, for receiving and displaying the digital signal representing the information such that information indicative of the data stored on the floppy disk can be viewed when the floppy disk is nor coupled to the disk drive.

An apparatus for visually displaying information indicative of data stored on a nonvolatile storage medium of a secondary data storage device, wherein the data stored on the nonvolatile storage medium is accessed only via an external data access device, said apparatus for displaying the information when the secondary data storage device is not coupled to the external data access device, the apparatus comprising:

• one of a clip means and an adhesive means;
• receiving means, mechanically coupled to the one of the clip means and the adhesive means, for receiving, from the external data access device, information indicative of the data stored on the nonvolatile storage medium of the secondary data storage device;
• memory means, mechanically coupled to the one of the clip means and the adhesive means and coupled to the receiving means, for storing the received information and for providing a digital signal representing the information;
• and
• display means, mechanically coupled to the one of the clip means and the adhesive means and coupled to the memory means, for receiving and displaying the digital signal representing the information such that information indicative of the data stored on the nonvolatile storage medium can be viewed when the secondary data storage device is not coupled to the external data access device,
• wherein said one of the clip means and the adhesive means is coupled to, and removable from, the secondary data storage device.