Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Input/output data processing – Input/output access regulation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-22
2001-03-06
Lee, Thomas C. (Department: 2782)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Input/output data processing
Input/output access regulation
C714S724000, 37, 37, 37, 37, C709S214000, C709S250000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199122
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a serial interface technique for a computer, particularly a technique for making the conventional external memory device of the ATA standard accessible with a command of the USB standard.
A floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, etc. based on the ATA (AT Attachment) standard are known as conventional external memory devices. These memory devices pose the problem that they easily succumb to an external magnetism and the recorded data are liable to be lost. Also, these memory devices encounter the problem that they cannot be used for a portable terminal such as the PDA (Personal Data Assistance) operated by battery due to a large power consumption.
In order to solve these problems, a technique finds practical applications for recording and reproducing data by handling a memory card using a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory in the same way as the magnetic disk drive.
The conventional external memory device, which operates through a SCSI (Small Computer Serial Interface) constituting a parallel interface, has many pins for a connector. The connector is thus increased in size thereby making it difficult to secure the arrangement location of the connectors of the terminal and the external memory device.
It is considered to solve this problem by sending a command in a serial form from a computer, and processing the command by converting it into a parallel form within the external device. For example, a command based on SCSI is transmitted in a serial form and converted into a parallel form in the external memory device. However, in this case, the computer must process the command in a method different from the existing ones. The solution, therefore, is not practical.
On the other hand, a serial interface of the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard has recently been proposed. A computer having an input/output port conforming with this standard is also in practical use. By using this standard input/output, data can be stored in and read from an external memory device at high speed. Therefore, data transmission and receipt to and from these cards using USB is expected. Since the command system and the protocol are quite different between USB and SCSI, however, the problem encountered is that the external memory device conforming with the SCSI constituting the conventional hardware and software resources cannot be used.
Also, there is another problem that the supplier of the external memory device must provide two types of system including SCSI and USB.
The above problem is not limited to the external memory device, and a similar problem arises when the communication is to be established between a computer and peripheral equipment thereof.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a system and a method by which a high-speed communication is made possible between a computer and peripheral equipment while minimizing the area occupied by the terminals on the computer and using the existing resources effectively.
Another object of the invention is to provide a technique by which the peripheral equipment can be controlled by a command based on the USB standard while maintaining the compatibility with the existing resources.
Still another object of the invention is to provide multipurpose peripheral equipment.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer system comprising a computer including a computer-side serial interface for issuing a command based on the serial communication standard through the serial interface, a storage medium, a storage-side serial interface connected to the computer-side serial interface, and a converter for converting a command based on the serial communication standard supplied serially through the computer-side serial interface and the memory-side serial interface into a corresponding parallel command based on the parallel communication standard, and an external storage including an access section for controlling the access to the storage medium based on the parallel command supplied from the converter.
With this configuration, the computer establishes the communication through the serial interface. As compared with the case using a parallel interface, therefore, the terminal area can be reduced and thus the area occupied by the connector on the system can be reduced.
Also, the external storage is based on the parallel communication standard, and by converting a command based on the serial communication standard into a command based on the parallel communication command, the existing normal external storage can be directly accessed thereby maintaining the compatibility with the existing system.
The computer is not limited to the desktop computer or notebook-sized computer, but generally includes all computers for processing data by accessing the external storage of a PDA (Personal Data Assistance), a palmtop computer, a digital still camera, a portable telephone or the like.
The computer issues a command based on the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard, for example, the converter of the external storage converts a command based on the USB standard into a corresponding parallel command based on the ATA standard, for example, the access section controls the access to the storage medium based on the parallel command supplied from the converter, for example.
The USB is a protocol for carrying out a high-speed serial communication. A high-speed communication becomes possible by complying with this standard. A simple compliance with this communication standard, however, makes it impossible to access the external storage based on the existing ATA standard. In view of this, a command issued by the computer is converted into a command based on the ATA standard and the storage medium is accessed. Consequently, the existing external storage based on the ATA standard can be used.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a memory device for a computer, comprising a converter configured to be connectable to a serial communication terminal of the computer for converting a command based on a first standard supplied serially from the computer into a parallel command based on a second standard different from the first standard, and an access section for controlling the access to a storage medium according to the parallel command based on the second standard supplied from the converter.
With this configuration, communication is made possible using a serial communication terminal of the computer. As a result, it becomes possible to minimize the area occupied by the connector of the computer. Also, since the command based on the first standard supplied serially is converted into a command based on the second parallel standard, the compatibility is secured with the memory device for controlling the access to the storage medium based on the widely-used parallel command. The computer includes all the ones which access a storage medium and process the data thereof.
The first standard is the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard, for example, and the second standard is the ATA (AT Attachment), for example. The USB standard is a protocol for high-speed serial communication. By compliance with this standard, high-speed communication becomes possible. Also, substantially all the existing external storages are based on the ATA standard. By converting the command issued by the computer into a command based on the ATA standard and accessing the storage medium, therefore, the compatibility with the existing memory devices can be maintained.
The converter can include one for converting the data format supplied serially based on the first standard from the computer into the parallel data of the format based on the second standard. The access section, on the other hand, can include a write section for writing the data of the format based on the second standard into the storage medium in response to a write command based on the second standard supplied from the converter.
Also, the access section reads the data stored in the recording medium an
Lee Thomas C.
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
Perveen Rehana
Tokyo Electron Device Limited
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