US 6,799,226 B1 · Hot unpluggable media storage device

Abstract

Improved techniques for rendering a peripheral device removable (e.g., unpluggable) are disclosed. According to one aspect of the invention, the peripheral device is rendered removable from a host computer without preparatory user actions. In effect, the peripheral device can be automatically prepared for removal in the event that its user removes (unplugs) it from its host computer. According to another aspect of the invention, the peripheral device includes a data storage device that is mounted to a file system of the host computer when the host computer desires access to the data storage device. Otherwise, the data storage device is normally unmounted so that if the peripheral device were to be removed (e.g., unplugged) no harm or damage to data stored therein would occur. These aspects of the invention can be utilized alone or in combination with one another. The invention is particularly well suited for peripheral devices that are media players which are “hot” unpluggable without detrimental consequences.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A method for accessing a portable media player by a host computer over a data link, said method comprising:

(a) receiving an indication that the portable media player has been attached to the host computer via the data link, the portable media player having processing circuitry, a storage device and at least one of a display and a speaker, the storage device storing media content, and the portable media player being capable of itself outputting the media content stored in the storage device to at least one of the display and the speaker;
(b) logically connecting the portable media player to a file system of the host computer;
(c) performing, following said attaching (a) and said logically connecting (b), first media-based processing at the host computer which accesses the portable media player;
and
(d) logically disconnecting the portable media player from the file system without detaching the portable media player from the host computer via the data link, said logically disconnecting being performed after performance of the first media-based processing.

2 more elements

A computer-implemented method for accessing a portable media player from a host computer, the portable media player having at least a storage device for storing media content, the portable media player also having processing circuitry and at least one of a display and a speaker, and the portable media player being capable of itself outputting the media content stored in the storage device to at least one of the display and the speaker, said method comprising:

detecting presence of the portable media player on a bus associated with the host computer;
mounting the storage device of the portable media player with a file system of the host computer;
accessing the storage device from the host computer over the bus to perform initial media-based processing;
unmounting the storage device of the portable media player from the file system of the host computer once said accessing for the initial media-based processing is completed;
determining, subsequent to said unmounting, whether access to the storage device is needed to perform subsequent media-based processing;
remounting the storage device of the portable media player with the file system of the host computer when said determining determines that access to the storage device is needed;
accessing the storage device from the host computer over the bus to perform the subsequent media-based processing;
and
unmounting the storage device of the portable media player from the file system of the host computer once said accessing for the subsequent media-based processing is completed.

6 more elements

A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for accessing a portable media player from a host computer, the portable media player having at least a storage device for storing media content, the portable media player also having processing circuitry and at least one of a display and a speaker, and the portable media player being capable of itself outputting the media content stored in the storage device to at least one of the display and the speaker, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for detecting presence of the portable media player on a bus associated with the host computer;
computer program code for mounting the storage device of the portable media player with a file system of the host computer;
computer program code for accessing the storage device from the host computer over the bus to perform initial media-based processing;
and
computer program code for unmounting the storage device of the portable media player from the file system of the host computer once the initial media-based processing is completed.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hot unpluggable media storage device

Life of this patent

Hot unpluggable media storage device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32