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US 7,073,013 B2Granted
Mass storage device with boot code
AssigneeH-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd.
InventorMenahem Lasser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A memory device includes a first, directly executable memory with boot code, a second memory with operating system code, and a common connector. When the device is connected to a computer that lacks a BIOS of its own, the computer boots from the first memory and downloads the operating system from the second memory. A user of a system that includes a plurality of the memory devices and a computer that lacks a BIOS selects an operating system by reversibly connecting the appropriate memory device to the computer. The memory device also serves as a security key for a computer that lacks a BIOS.
Claims31
A memory device comprising:
- (a) a first, directly executable memory for storing boot code of a computer, said boot code including code that is executed first by said computer when said computer is powered up;
- (b) a second memory;
- and
- (c) a single connector, for operationally connecting said two memories to said computer, that includes:
- (i) a first plurality of pins for supporting communication between said first memory and said computer, and
- (ii) a second plurality of pins for supporting communication between said second memory and said computer,
- said first and second pluralities of pins sharing at least one said pin;
- and
- (d) a switch for alternately connecting said first memory and said second memory to said computer via said at least one shared pin.
6 more elements
A computer peripheral device comprising:
- (a) a first component;
- (b) a second component separate from said first component;
- (c) a connector, for operationally connecting said first and second components to a computer, that includes:
- (i) a first plurality of pins for supporting communication between said first component and said computer, and
- (ii) a second plurality of pins for supporting communication between said second component and said computer,
- said first and second pluralities of pins sharing at least one said pin;
- (d) a single Universal Serial Bus (USB) controller for supporting communication only between said first component and said computer;
- and
- (e) a switch for alternately connecting said first component and said second component to said computer via said at least one shared pin.
6 more elements
A method of operating a computer, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing at least one memory device including:
- (i) a respective first, directly executable memory, and
- (ii) a respective second memory;
- (b) for each said at least one memory device, storing boot code of the computer in said respective first memory, said boot code including code that is executed first by the computer when the computer is powered up;
- (c) operationally connecting one of said at least one memory device to the computer;
- (d) executing said boot code that is stored in said respective first memory of said one memory device, by the computer and
- (e) for each said at least one memory device, storing an operating system of the computer in said respective second memory;
- wherein said executing of said boot code includes copying said operating system from said respective second memory of said one memory device to the computer;
- wherein, for each said at least one memory device, said boot code includes driver code for said respective second memory;
- and wherein said copying of said operating system from said respective second memory of said one memory device to the computer is effected by executing at least a portion of said driver code.
7 more elements
A memory device comprising:
- (a) a first, directly executable memory for storing boot code of a computer, said boot code including code that is executed first by said computer when said computer is powered up;
- (b) a second memory;
- and
- (c) a single connector, for operationally connecting said two memories to said computer, that includes:
- (i) a first plurality of pins for supporting communication between said first memory and said computer, said first plurality of pins being for a first access protocol that supports direct execution of said boot code and
- (ii) a second plurality of pins for supporting communication between said second memory and said computer, said second plurality of pins being for a second, serial access protocol.
3 more elements
A computer peripheral device comprising:
- (a) a first component;
- (b) a second component separate from said first component;
- (c) a connector, for operationally connecting said first and second components to a computer, that includes:
- (i) a first plurality of pins for supporting communication between said first component and said computer, and
- (ii) a second plurality of pins for supporting communication between said second component and said computer, said communication between said second component and said computer multiplexing said second plurality of pins;
- and
- (d) a single Universal Serial Bus (USB) controller for supporting communication only between said first component and said computer.
4 more elements
A method of operating a computer, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing at least one memory device including:
- (i) a respective first, directly executable memory, and
- (ii) a respective second memory;
- (b) for each said at least one memory device, storing boot code of the computer in said respective first memory, said boot code including code that is executed first by the computer when the computer is powered up;
- (c) operationally connecting one of said at least one memory device to the computer;
- and
- (d) executing said boot code that is stored in said respective first memory of said one memory device, by the computer, by steps including:
- (i) executing only a portion of said boot code directly from said first memory;
- (ii) copying a remainder of said boot code to a random access memory;
- and
- (iii) executing said reminder of said boot code from said random access memory.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.