System for powering down a disk storage device to an idle state upon trnsfer to an intermediate storage location accessible by system processor

A system adapted to increase the battery life of a portable electronic device when the portable electronic device employs a disk storage device, the system comprising:

• a disk storage device adapted to store data and to transfer data, the disk storage device capable of transferring data at a first rate;
• a portable electronic device coupled to the disk storage device, the portable electronic device having:
• a processor adapted to execute a computer program that requires data to be transferred to the processor at a second rate which is lower than the first rate;
• a cache memory adapted to receive data from the disk storage device and to transfer data to the processor;
• and
• computer program code adapted to:
• initiate a transfer of data at the first rate from the disk storage device to the cache memory;
• initiate a transfer of data at the second rate from the cache memory to the processor;
• and
• following the transfer of data from the disk storage device to the cache memory, power down the disk storage device to an idle state wherein a disk of the disk storage device is stationary while power is still applied to the disk storage device.