External memory device to provide disk device and optical functionality
AssigneeWestern Digital Technologies, Inc.
InventorCurtis E. Stevens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A memory device is attachable to a host computer system. The memory device includes an interface to couple the memory device to the host computer system. The memory device includes a controller for controlling operations in the memory device. The controller enables a first mode of operation in which the memory device communicates with the host computer system through the interface by emulating a disk device and a second mode of operation in which the memory device communicates through the interface by emulating an optical device.
Claims24
A memory device attachable to a host computer system, the memory device comprising:
- an interface to couple the memory device to the host computer system;
- and
- a controller for controlling operations in the memory device by enabling:
- a first mode of operation in which the memory device communicates with the host computer system through the interface by emulating a disk device;
- a second mode of operation in which the memory device communicates with the host computer system through the interface by emulating an optical device, wherein upon connection of the memory device to the host computer system, the controller communicates the first and second modes of operation to the host computer system such that the host computer system upon a display device displays icons associated with the disk device and the optical device for selection by a user;
- and
- a translator operable with the controller, the translator to translate optical device data and disk device data received from the host computer system into a memory format for storage in a memory and to translate data requested by the host computer system from the memory into one of an optical device format or a disk device format.
An external disk drive attachable to a host computer system, the external disk drive comprising:
- an interface to couple the external disk drive to the host computer system;
- and
- a microprocessor for controlling operations in the external disk drive, the microprocessor under the control of a program to enable:
- a first mode of operation in which the external disk drive communicates with the host computer system through the interface by emulating a disk device;
- a second mode of operation in which the external disk drive communicates with the host computer system through the interface by emulating an optical device, wherein upon connection of the external disk drive to the host computer system, the microprocessor communicates the first and second modes of operation to the host computer system such that the host computer system upon a display device displays icons associated with the disk device and the optical device for selection by a user;
- and
- a translator operable with the microprocessor, the translator to translate optical device data received from the host computer system into a disk device format for storage onto a disk and to translate data received from the disk in a disk device format into an optical device format for transmission to the host computer system.
A method for operating an external memory device, comprising:
- controlling operations in the external memory device with a microprocessor;
- interfacing with a host computer system through an interface, comprising:
- communicating with the host computer system through the interface in a first mode of operation in which the external memory device emulates a disk device;
- communicating with the host computer system through the interface in a second mode of operation in which the external memory device emulates an optical device;
- upon connection of the external disk drive to the host computer system, communicating the first and second modes of operation to the host computer system such that the host computer system upon a display device displays icons associated with the disk device and the optical device for selection by a user;
- translating optical device data received from the host computer system into a disk device format for storage onto a disk;
- and
- translating data received from the disk in a disk device format into an optical device format for transmission to the host computer system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.