Method and system for providing a modular server on USB flash storage

A system for providing a server-on-a-USB for a computing device, said system comprising:

• a bus interface logic by which to interface the system with the computing device so that the computing device communicates with the system;
• a USB local control program coupled to the bus interface logic and a flash memory for storing a server image, said USB local control program enabling the computing device to be used as a server and booting up said server, the server image being provided to the computing device by means of the USB local control program, the USB local control program providing hot swappable functionality to create different server environments, the server image includes a default field configurable and field upgradeable bitmap image of a first control logic, an active field configurable and field upgradeable bitmap image of the first control logic, the default field configurable and field upgradeable bitmap image and the active field configurable and field upgradeable bitmap image allows the server to track and utilize the first control logic, a default compressed server image, an active server image, a default flash drive boot-up image, and an active flash boot-up image;
• and
• the first control logic coupled to the bus interface logic comprising serial bus control logic, Flash memory control, interrupt logic, status and control decode, and display control.

A method for providing a server-on-a-USB for a computing device, said method comprising:

• identifying a system having a memory and bus interface logic by which to interface the system with the computing device so that the system and the computing device communicate with one another;
• storing a server image in the memory of the system;
• accessing a USB local control program from said memory, said UBS local control program being coupled to said bus interface logic;
• and
• using the USB local control program for providing the computing device with the server image from said memory and for booting up said server, the USB local control program providing hot swappable functionality to create different server environments, the server image includes a default field configurable and field upgradeable bitmap image of a first control logic, an active field configurable and field upgradeable bitmap image of the first control logic, the default field configurable and field upgradeable bitmap image allows the server to track and utilize the first control logic, a default compressed server image, an active server image, a default flash drive boot-up image, and an active flash boot-up image;
• and
• coupling a the first control logic to the bus interface logic comprising serial bus control logic, Flash memory control, interrupt logic, status and control decode, and display control.

A system for providing a server-on-a-USB for a computing device, the system comprising:

• a bus interface logic to interface the computing device with the system, the bus interface logic allowing the computing device to communicate with the system;
• a memory for storing a server image and a USB local control program, said USB local control program enabling the computing device to be used as a server and booting up said server, the server image being provided from said memory to the computing device by means of the USB local control program, the USB local control program providing hot swappable functionality to create different server environments, the server image includes a default field configurable and field upgradeable bitmap image of a first control logic, an active field configurable and field upgradeable bitmap image of the first control logic, the default field configurable and field upgradeable bitmap image and the active field configurable and field upgradeable bitmap image allows the server to track and utilize the first control logic, a default compressed server image, an active server image, a default flash drive boot-up image, and an active flash boot-up image;
• the first control logic coupled to the bus interface logic comprising serial bus control logic, Flash memory control, interrupt logic, status and control decode, and display control;
• and
• a second control logic;
• and a first button, the second control logic including a logic for a one-button init connector coupled to said first button for restoring said server to a default state in response to said first button being activated for a particular period of time;
• wherein the second control logic also includes a logic for a power-on connector coupled to the computing device, the power-on connector providing power to the computing device provided that said memory is first provided with power.

A system for providing a server-on-a-Universal Serial Bus (USB) for a computing device, the system comprising:

• a bus interface logic to interface the computing device with the system, the bus interface logic allowing the computing device to communicate with the system;
• a memory for storing a server image and a USB local control program, said USB local control program including a system initialization and testing block, a local control program run-time main program, an LCD display driver, a flash memory driver, a shut-down interrupt service routine, and an init interrupt service routine, said USB local control program enabling the computing device to be used as a server and booting up said server, the USB local control program providing hot swappable functionality to create different server environments, the server image being provided from said memory to the computing device by means of the USB local control program, the server image includes a default field configurable and field upgradeable bitmap image of a first control logic, an active field configurable and field upgradeable bitmap image of the first control logic, the default field configurable and field upgradeable bitmap image and the active field configurable and field upgradeable bitmap image allows the server to track and utilize the first control logic;
• default compressed server image, an active server image, a default flash drive boot-up image, and an active flash boot-up image;
• and
• the first control logic coupled to the bus interface logic comprising serial bus control logic, Flash memory control, interrupt logic, status and control decode, and display control.