Electronic devices

A storage device, comprising:

• a memory for storing content for or generated by a host device to which the storage device is coupled;
• a device-host interface for allowing a host device to which the storage device is coupled to read data from and write data to the storage device;
• and
• a computing environment operable to execute one or more applications on the storage device;
• wherein:
• the storage device is configured to be operable to interact with a host device to allow an application running on the storage device to use input and output functions of the host device via the device-host interface;
• and wherein:
• the computing environment on the storage device comprises an application processing part comprising at least one application processor for executing the application on the storage device, and an interface processing part comprising at least one interface processor that is separate to the application processor for interfacing between the application processor and the host device, the computing environment being configured such that communication between the host device and an application that is being executed on the application processor takes place via the interface processor.

An interface processing module for use on a storage device that can be coupled to a host electronic device via an interface between the host electronic device and the storage device, and which storage device comprises a computing environment operable to execute one or more applications on the storage device, the interface processing module comprising:

• at least one interface processor that is operable to interface between a communications protocol used between the host device and the storage device, and a communications protocol required or expected by an application being executed on the application processor;
• and
• communications interfaces for coupling the interface module to the host device and to an application processing part of the computing environment on the storage device, such that communication between the host device and an application that is being executed on the application processor can take place via the interface processor;
• wherein the interface processing module is configured to provide the mass storage functionality of the storage device to the host device.

A method of operating a system comprising an electronic device and a storage device that is coupled to the electronic device, the method comprising:

• executing an application in a computing environment on the storage device;
• allowing the application to use input and output functions of the electronic device;
• and
• using an application processing part of the computing environment on the storage device comprising at least one application processor for executing the application on the storage device;
• and using an interface processing part of the computing environment on the storage device comprising at least one interface processor that is separate to the application processor for interfacing between the application processor and the host device, such that communication between the host device and an application that is being executed on the application processor takes place via the interface processor.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer software code which when executing on a processor performs a method of operating a system comprising an electronic device and a storage device that is coupled to the electronic device, the method comprising:

• executing an application in a computing environment on the storage device;
• allowing the application to use input and output functions of the electronic device;
• and
• using an application processing part of the computing environment on the storage device comprising at least one application processor for executing the application on the storage device;
• and using an interface processing part of the computing environment on the storage device comprising at least one interface processor that is separate to the application processor for interfacing between the application processor and the host device, such that communication between the host device and an application that is being executed on the application processor takes place via the interface processor.