Hard disk based portable device

Abstract

A portable device including a player capable of playing and recording digital data and a hard disk connected to the player for storing a relatively large capacity of digital data that can be transferred to and from the player. The hard disk is dedicated to the storage of digital data and program files for use with the player. The portable device can include a player and hard disk that are selectively detachable from one another. Alternatively, the player and hard drive can include an integrated construction wherein the player and the hard disk are incorporated into a single housing, preferably having a single circuit, such as a printed circuit board (PCB). In the integrated portable device, the typical electronics for managing the data on a hard drive are preferably integrated with the recording, playing, or displaying electronics. In addition, certain electronic components may be shared by the hard disk controller and player electronics, thus further reducing the cost and size of the portable device. This creates a more tightly integrated solution that benefits from further power consumption reduction, lower cost and smaller size. Methods of playing, recording, and downloading data are also disclosed. Digital data stored on the hard disk can be transferred to a memory of the player for playback by the player device. Data can be recorded using the player and then transferred and stored on the hard disk. The hard disk can be coupled to an external communications device and digital data can be downloaded to the hard disk for later use on the player.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.