Electronic device, method for controlling the same, information processing apparatus, and computer program

A method for controlling an electronic device capable of operating as an external device of an information processing apparatus, the electronic device including a rechargeable battery, the method comprising the steps of:

• when the electronic device is connected to an interface having a power-supply function,
• performing operating-mode management of a device that does not include a mode selection switch, said operating mode management being responsive to connection of the electronic device to the interface by selecting one of a normal operating mode in which the electronic device operates as a hard disk unit of the information processing apparatus, and a charging mode in which the electronic device stops operating as the hard disk unit of the information processing apparatus and charges the rechargeable battery;
• and
• performing command processing in accordance with the selected operating mode.

An information processing system having a peripheral device, the information processing system comprising:

• a user interface for providing a user operating environment using a display screen;
• connecting means for connecting to the peripheral device;
• operating status acquiring means for acquiring an operating status of the peripheral device by using said connecting means;
• operating status display means for displaying, on the display screen, a status icon indicating the operating status of the peripheral device acquired by said operating status acquiring means,
• said connecting means has a power-supply function;
• responsive to connection of the connecting means to the peripheral device, the peripheral device includes an operating mode managing unit which does not include an operating mode selecting switch, said operating mode managing unit selecting one of a normal operating mode for operating as a hard disk unit for the information processing system, and a charging mode for stopping the peripheral device operation and performing charging by using the power-supply function;
• and
• said operating status display means displays one of a normal-operating-mode icon and a charging-mode icon.

A computer program product having a memory with instructions in a computer-readable form that when executed on a computer system, control an electronic device including a rechargeable battery and being capable of operating as an external device of an information processing apparatus-by performing the steps comprising:

• when the electronic device is connected to an interface having a power-supply function,
• performing operating-mode management which does not include an operating mode selecting switch by selecting one of a normal operating mode in which the electronic device operates as a hard disk unit of the information processing apparatus, and a charging mode in which the electronic device stops operating as the hard disk unit of the information processing apparatus and charges the rechargeable battery;
• and
• performing command processing in accordance with the selected operating mode.

An electronic device capable of operating as a hard disk unit of an information processing apparatus, the electronic device comprising:

• a connecting unit connecting to the information processing apparatus;
• a command processor processing a command sent from the information processing apparatus through said connecting unit;
• a rechargeable battery;
• a charging controller controlling a charging operation of said rechargeable battery;
• and
• an operating mode managing unit which does not include a mode selecting switch, said operating mode managing unit selecting, responsive to said connecting unit being connected to an interface having a power-supply function, one of a normal operating mode in which the electronic device operates as the hard disk unit of the information processing apparatus, and a charging mode in which the electronic device stops operating as the hard disk unit of the information processing apparatus and charges said rechargeable battery,
• wherein said command processor processes the command in accordance with the selected operating mode.