United States Patent
`
`[191
`
`Yeh
`
`[11]
`
`Patent Number:
`
`5,666,495
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Sep. 9, 1997
`
`USOO5666495A
`
`5,224,216
`................... .. 395/200.01
`6/1993 Gordon et al.
`5,227,953
`7/1993 Lindberg et al.
`...... 361/393
`5,265,238
`11/1993 Can.ova,.Jr. et al.
`...... 395/500
`.
`Gn @Gn §°P‘$” @nn-------------- n
`5,317,691
`5/1994 Tm er et
`7
`"
`9
`,
`,
`raeger ... .........
`....... 364/550
`5,323 91
`6/1994 B 1
`al.
`......
`5 6
`.
`9/1994 Hgircfnefac al. n
`5347:4725
`...... 3656::
`5,497,464
`3/1996 Yeh .................................... 395/200.01
`
`
`
`[54] METHOD AND STRUCTURE FOR DATA
`TRANSFER BETWEEN A STANDARD PORT
`OF A HOST COMPUTER AND A CUSTOM
`PORT or A PALMTOP COMPUTER USING A
`DOCKING STATION
`.
`1“Ve“‘°“ Kemmg W- Yehv 43755 Abel“ T5‘-v
`Fremont Calm 94539
`
`[761
`
`[21] APPL N0‘: 6029405
`[22] Filed:
`Feb. 16, 1996
`
`*'
`
`Primary Examiner——Lance Leonard Barry, Esq.
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-—Skjerven, Morrill, MacPherson,
`Franklin & Fr1e1; Edward C. Kwok
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A portable information storage and transfer device for use
`with ,IC memory card.-based portable computers obviates
`many operations traditionally requmug a desktop computer.
`The pnn disk drive in the jnfonnation Storage and transfer
`device allows large amount of data and software programs
`to be made available to the IC memory card-based computer
`on floppy disks. The contents of such floppy disk can then
`be transferred for use in the portable computer on a blank IC
`memory card or the portable computer’s system memory.
`Information entered into and stored in the system memory or
`an IC memory card of the portable computer can also be
`transferred through the information storage and transfer
`device to floppy disks, to a printer, to various peripheral
`devices or to a host computer. A built-in modem for access-
`ing facsimile machines, other modems and the telephone
`system is also provided. Many types of software programs
`required to enable these functions of information storage,
`transfer, printout and communication can all be stored
`locally rather than on relatively expensive IC memory cards
`and read into the information storage and transfer device on
`demand
`'
`4
`
`16 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`[60] DiVi5i°“ °f 5.“ .N°- 9753371 NW 13/ 1992’ Pat N°-
`nEn slggf’ 1v:’1ig11l’Sa21‘)a‘::’c111(:'E1e1:1atu°n'm'PaIt of set’ No’ 786’
`6
`
`............................... n 0n 0an nn
`[5 `n
`Int. Cl.
`[52] U.S. Cl. .......................... 395/281; 395/500; 395/882;
`395/892; 364/DIG. 1; 364/229; 364/229.4;
`364/231.1; 364/231.2
`[58] Field of Search .................... 364/708.1; 395/200.01,
`395/200.03, 200.08, 200.12, 200.14, 200.2,
`281, 500, 831, 882, 885, 890, 892, 800;
`361/683, 684, 685, 686
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`US‘ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3/1983 Thompson .............................. 395/500
`4,377,352
`3/1987 Wetterau, Jr.
`..
`395/500
`4,654,818
`9/1933 LeVaJ10n 8n
`364/703
`4,769,764
`-
`4:777v590 10/1933 D“‘k°s 9‘ 31-
`395/300
`@Ln 395/650
`4’819’151
`4/1989 May """"""""
`4,903,222
`2/1990 Carter et al. .................... 364/708
`4,982,324
`1/1991 McConaughy et al.
`y 395/200.09
`5,126,954
`6/1992 Morita ............................ 364f/08
`5,157,769 10/1992 Eppley et al.
`.......................... 395/200
`
`
`
`13
`
`I
`' 15
`F ___ _ T7_______ — .16 — _
`I.
`DRAM
`FLASH MEMORY W I
`I
`13
`13
`‘I
`I
`I
`:
`11J1I
`1
`1
`I
`II
`I
`I
`13
`I
`1
`I _____ _ ._
`————— —— — —'
`
`19
`
`13
`
`CPU (MICROPROCESSOR)
`18
`INPUT/OUTPUT (I/O)
`CONTROL ER
`_ — — — — —
`
`14
`
`1‘ """"" "'
`I
`13
`TO
`I
`I PALMTOP
`I
`OMPUTR
`I
`I
`
`OTHER
`PORTS
`
`9
`
`' ""‘" _
`
`13
`RS232
`C ’
`
`I
`-77‘
`I
`13
`18
`PARALLEL :
`SERIAL
`PORT
`|
`PORT
`I
`I
`4
`5
`6
`1 i 1 — _ _ _ — _ — — n _~ __ J
`
`MAGNETI
`CARD RDR
`
`HP 1004
`
`1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 9, 1997
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`5,666,495
`
`
`uII
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`8
`
`FIG. 1
`
`2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 9, 1997'
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`5,666,495
`
`MlCROPROCESSOR-
`CONTROLLED
`ELECTRONICS
`CIRCUIT BOARD
`
`A
`
`FLOPPY DISK
`DRIVE (FDD)
`1.8", 2.5", 3.5"
`oR 5.25", etc.
`
`(AC or DC)
`
`POWER SUPPLY 3
`
`{T TTTT -7_______ -7? _____ TTETT:
`1
`DRAM
`FLASH MEMORY W 1
`1
`13
`18
`:
`'
`1
`:
`11x1]
`{
`:
`19
`0ì½n
`1
`1 MODE“
`
`1
`
`
`
`18
`
`I _ _ _ _ _ __
`
`18
`
`A
`
`CPU (MICROPROCESSOR)
`18
`INPUT/OUTPUT (I/O)
`CONTROL ER
`
`_ _____ ...
`
`11
`
`11
`
`14
`
`13
`
`1
`
`_____ .__...
`
`18
`RS232
`C
`
`6
`
`18
`SERIAL
`PORT
`
`5
`
`PARALLEL
`PORT
`
`4
`
`18
`
`18
`OTHER ,
`TO
`PORTST MAGNET|'
`
`CARD RDR
`
`8
`
`7
`
`18
`
`l 1
`
`1
`TO
`: PALMTOP
`
`COMPUTR
`
`I
`
`I
`
`9
`
`3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.9,1997
`
`%
`
`Sheet 3 of3
`
`5,666,495
`
`
`
`404
`
`403
`
`FIG. 4
`
`4
`
`

`
`5 ,666,495
`
`1
`METHOD AND STRUCTURE FOR DATA
`TRANSFER BETWEEN A STANDARD PORT
`OF A HOST COMPUTER AND A CUSTOM
`PORT OF A PALMTOP COMPUTER USING A
`DOCKING STATION
`
`CROSS—REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`10
`
`20
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`The present application is a divisional application of U.S.
`patent application (“Parent Application”), Ser. No. 07/975,
`375, filed Nov. 13, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,758,
`issued on Jun. 18, 1996, which is a continuation-in-part
`application of U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 07/786,483,
`filed on Nov. 1, 1991, now abandoned. The present appli-
`cation is also related to U.S. patent application (“Related
`Application”), Ser. No. 08/009,364, filed Jan. 26, 1993, now
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,859, issued on Nov. 12, 1996.
`
`FIELD OF INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to the field of portable and hand-
`held computers and particularly to an information storage
`and transfer device for use with integrated circuit memory
`card-based hand-held and portable computers.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Many portable computers, especially hand-held or “palm-
`top” computers, use integrated circuit memory cards (“IC
`memory cards”) as the primary media of information stor-
`age. Such IC memory card include memory storage ele-
`ments such as static random access memory (SRAM) or
`such electrical programmable and erasable non-volatile
`memory elements as “flash” memory. These IC memory
`cards are typically each the size of a customary credit card
`memory cards are used in portablecomputers in place of
`hard disk drives and floppy disk drives (HDDs, FDDs) in
`order to achieve the significant advantages of the size,
`weight, and battery lifetime attributes of the portable com-
`puter and to increase portability of the storage media.
`However, because of the limited memory density attainable
`in each IC memory card, and the high cost of IC memory
`chips, using IC memory cards in hand-held computers
`imposes limitations not encountered in less portable
`computers, which typically use more power-consuming and
`heavier hard and floppy disk drives as their primary storage
`media. Also, in order to avoid the sizes and weights of the
`necessary power supply unit and the interface adaptor,
`hand-held computers are typically not equipped with the
`standardized interfaces (e.g. RS232C) found on larger desk-
`top and laptop computers. This is because standardized
`interfaces are larger than can be conveniently provided on
`such hand-held computers and require voltages and power
`output levels impractical for such hand-held computers, if
`the requirements of size, weight and long battery lifetime are
`to be met.
`
`Using IC memory cards as the primary media of storage
`in these portable computers also creates a problem in
`software distribution. Since these portable computers find
`wide applications in the consumer, industrial and vertical
`markets, an economical way for distributing application
`software is key to the wide acceptability of these portable
`computers. Currently, because of the high cost and density
`limitations, it is neither easy nor economical to sell, distrib-
`ute or upgrade application software using IC memory cards.
`An alternative to reduce card cost, rather than using read!
`write IC memory card, software and data may be distributed
`using Read-Only Memory (ROM) cards. However, ROM
`
`,
`
`2
`
`cards require long lead times to produce and require sub-
`stantial volume to be economical. Since there is seldom
`guarantee that a given software will sell “well” in volume,
`a software manufacturer assumes significant inventory risk
`when adopting a ROM card distribution strategy.
`Because portable computers are often issued by corpora-
`tions to field personnel to provide “at their fingertips” easy
`access to a large amount of essential information, e.g.
`product and customer information, there is a need to effi-
`ciently distribute and update such information. Currently,
`such update or distribution to a portable computer user is
`performed by issuing a new IC memory card with the
`information already loaded, or by downloading the data or
`software using a modem. A special modem attachment to a
`hand-held computer capable of communicating with a fac-
`simile machine, or accessing E-mail or local area networks
`requires the use of customized software provided on an IC
`memory card Such modem attachment is expensive relative
`to the cost of the hand-held computer, so that many appli-
`cations of the hand-held computer requiring the use of a
`modem are rendered uneconornical. As can be readily appre-
`ciated from the above, the use of IC memory cards for
`distribution and update purposes is limited both by the cost
`and the relatively modest capacity of the IC memory card
`Since data transfer using a modem or an IC memory card
`limits the amount of data that can be transferred at a time,
`the problem of data distribution is by no means solved by the
`use of modems or the use of IC memory cards. Further,
`because prospective users of these portable computers are
`found in a variety of services, e.g. insurance or property
`sales, service calls, courier service, field engineering,
`surveyors, medical calls, accident or property assessors, etc.,
`the use of IC memory cards as the primary storage media in
`these portable computers is indeed severely limiting the
`wide spread acceptability in these industries.
`Another disadvantage often found in hand-held comput-
`ers using the IC memory card as the primary storage medium
`results from the portable computer’s inability to provide a
`variety of system services related to the use of a computer,
`e.g. connecting to a hard copy device, or transferring impor-
`tant data to a backup facility to prevent loss of data. This is
`because, as explained above, standardized interfaces to
`peripheral equipment are typically larger and require gen-
`erating voltage levels impractical in a hand-held computer,
`due to their size, weight and power conservation require-
`ments. Thus, each interface to a peripheral device is through
`a separate adapter which provides both the standard size
`connector and the necessary voltage level and signal repre-
`sentation conversions. At present, a number of these adapt-
`ers are required to provide the various interfaces to common
`peripheral devices. Such adapters are bulky and cannot be
`simultaneously connected to the single small IIO connector
`on the hand-held computer. In addition, each adaptor is
`connected to the hand-held computers via a customized
`cable and powered by the power supply of the hand-held
`computer. Even performing the most common applications,
`such as data backup and printing. require multiple adapters
`and each adaptor drains the precious battery power from the
`hand-held computer. To perform data backup, for example,
`a popular “PC-link cable” is used to connect a hand-held
`computer to the RS232C (serial) port of a desk top computer
`over a customized cable and a bulky attachment. The PC link
`cable provides only data transfer capability and requires
`both using the customized software and operating the desk
`top computer. To perform printing, a “printer-link cable”
`connects the hand-held computer to a printer for printing.
`Again, the connection to the printer requires another cus-
`
`5
`
`

`
`5,666,495
`
`3
`tomized cable, a bulky adaptor and uses customized soft-
`ware. Of significance also, because the PC-link and printer-
`link cables plug into the same port on the hand-held
`computer, printing and data backup cannot at present be
`performed simultaneously. Further, since the printer-link
`and PC-link cables are expensive relative to the cost of the
`handheld computer, customized cables and adapters are very
`uneconomical ways to provide common applications in the
`hand-held computer.
`Therefore, because of the limited functionalities necessi-
`tated by the size, weight and long battery lifetime require-
`ments of such portable computers, users of these IC memory
`card-based portable computers are often required to perform
`through a desk-top computer, such tasks as data backup or
`printing after the necessary data is transferred to the desk-
`top computer. The importance of such functions as infor-
`mation backup or obtaining hard copies is self-evident, once
`one appreciates that the data most often stored in such
`computers are, for example, telephone numbers, addresses,
`memoranda, past appointment schedules, spreadsheets or
`databases etc. Information backups are particularly essential
`for record keeping and for recovering from an occasional
`system malfunction.
`In addition, because the memory capacity of an IC
`memory card-based portable computer is limited, it is often
`necessary to unload the software and data of one application
`program to create space for use by another application
`program. Currently, transfer from the portable computer to
`the desk top computer is cumbersome. For example, the user
`may be required to buy both a customized connection cable
`and a special communication software, and be required to
`perform a sophisticated set of tasks, such as connecting the
`cable to a RS232C port on the backplane of a desktop
`computer, setting up files and operating the communication
`software from the desktop computer. For many people. the
`apparent level of required skill to perform these tasks form
`a psychological barrier to their ability to use the portable
`computer effectively. Further. the cost of a desktop computer
`is often not justified for people who do not otherwise need
`a desk-top computer.
`In the prior art, a number of computer system of various
`size, weight, shape, and power supply capabilities can be
`found. The computer systems described in U.S. Pat. No.
`4,330,839 to Miller et al. entitled “Programmable Calculator
`including Means for Automatically Processing Information
`Stored on a Magnetic Record Member”, filed on Jun. 29,
`1979,
`issued on May 18, 1982, and in U.S. Pat No.
`4,117,542 to Klausher et al, entitled “Electronic Pocket
`Directory”, filed on Jul. 7, 1977 and issued on Sep. 26, 1978
`are examples of such computers. While each of these patents
`discloses a computer system comprising a keyboard, a
`display, electronic circuit boards and a system memory (in
`the case of Miller et al, a removable storage medium also),
`they address neither the problem of limited capacity of an IC
`memory card nor the attendant high cost of such removable
`storage medium. Neither do these patents disclose or pro-
`pose a separate integrated peripheral device to address these
`deficiencies commonly found in a IC memory card-based
`portable computer.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4.591.974 to Dombush et al, entitled “Infor-
`mation Recording and Retrieval System”, filed on Jan. 31,
`1984 and issued on May 27, 1986, discloses a combination
`of a hand-held computer and a host computer for generating
`reports. In this system. the host computer uses data taken in
`the field by the hand-held unit, which has a keyboard, a
`display, some memory and a microprocessor. In the system
`disclosed by Dombush. essential operations, such as pro-
`
`4
`
`viding forms for data input, providing instructions, and
`providing codes of authorized users etc., are directed by the
`host computer, which acts both as an information processing
`unit and a backup unit to the hand-held computer. Dombush
`et al, however, fail to address the problem of transferring
`large amount of data and software of any type to an IC
`memory card-based hand-held computers to be stored,
`reviewed and executed, especially where the hand-held unit
`has limited capacity in its fixed and removable storage
`media. Furthermore, Dombush et al do not provide a solu-
`tion to the problems in a portable computer of providing
`information backup, communicating with other processors,
`transferring data between removable storage media and
`obtaining a hard copy of the data without using a host
`computer.
`In the prior art, there are numerous intelligent peripheral
`devices for such functions as information storage, printout,
`communication, and input/output (I/O). However, none of
`these devices integrate these functions into a single device in
`the manner achieved by the present
`invention to be
`described hereinafter.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In accordance with the present invention, a structure and
`a method are provided to achieve an information storage and
`transfer device for use with a portable or hand held com-
`puter. Such information storage and transfer device includes
`a microprocessor-based control circuit, means for recording
`data on and reading data from a removable medium, mul-
`tiple input/output ports and a power supply unit. The data
`recording and reading means, the data ports and the control
`circuit are interconnected by a common bus controlled by
`the microprocessor.
`The data recording and reading means can, for example,
`be a floppy disk drive accepting diskettes of one or more
`data densities and formats. The microprocessor-based con-
`trol circuit includes (a) a microprocessor of 8-, 16-, or 32-bit
`or any suitable word size; (b) memory means having read-
`only memory (ROM) components for “booting-up” the
`information storage and transfer device upon power up; (c)
`flash memory components for storing in a non-volatile but
`reprogrammable manner software and data necessary for the
`microprocessor to control certain data processing or periph-
`eral interfacing tasks, some of these tasks being customized
`to the portable computer to which the information storage
`and transfer device is connected; (d) dynamic random access
`memory (DRAM) components for storing temporarily
`instructions and data during software execution; (e) I/O
`controller logic circuits for controlling various I/O functions
`at the data ports; and (f) a modem for communication with
`other modems and facsimile machines.
`
`The data ports include one or more standardized inter-
`faces to a host computer or other peripheral devices. For
`example, a parallel port for connecting to a printer, a
`RS232C serial port for connecting to the telephone system
`or other communication network, a desktop computer, or a
`magnetic-card reader, and other ports customized for con-
`necting to palm top computers, scanners, voice and other I/O
`devices.
`
`The power supply unit allows the device to connect to
`either an AC source, disposable or rechargeable batteries, or
`a car battery. A fan for cooling can also be included, if
`necessary.
`
`The housing of the information storage and transfer
`device is contoured to include on a top surface a recessed
`area for receiving securely a palm top computer during
`
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`5,666,495
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`device operation. Further, a connector located in the housing
`allows the power supply unit to be connected to the palm top
`computer so as to provide power to the palm top computer
`during file transfer into and out of the palm top computer’s
`storage devices, or when the palm top computer’s modem
`port is used. The battery in the palm top computer can also
`be recharged by the power supply unit through the connec-
`tor.
`
`In one embodiment of the present invention, a standard
`card slot for reading such industry standard IC memory card
`and a customized card slot for reading the palm top com-
`puter’s customized IC memory card are provided. The
`standard IC memory card slot can be used to receive data
`from and to transfer data to data source such as industry
`standard IC memory card customarily found in IBM PC
`compatible notebook computers. The received data can be
`transferred to any medium connected to information storage
`and transfer device, including the customized IC memory
`card slot. The customized IC memory card slot can be used
`to write IC memory card in the proprietary format of the
`palm top computer’s IC memory card. The IC memory card
`in the palm top computer’s proprietary format can then be
`used in the palm top computer’s customized IC memory
`card slot. Because of the data transfer capability between the
`standard IC memory card slot and the customized IC
`memory card slot, third party software heretofore distributed
`only in standard IC memory card format can now be made
`available for use in the palm top computer through a simple
`copy from the standard IC memory card slot to the custom-
`ized IC memory card slot. Likewise, third party software
`heretofore distributed only in the standard floppy disk can be
`made available to the palm top computer via a simple copy
`of data from the floppy disk to the customized IC memory
`of data card slot.
`
`An advantage of the present invention provides both a
`method and a convenient and cost-effective means for
`
`transferring large amount of information of any type to an IC
`memory card-based portable computer.
`Another advantage of the present invention provides both
`a method and an eflicient device for allowing, without using
`a separate desk-top computer, the IC memory card-based
`portable computer to perform such functions as information
`back11p, duplication, communication, printing and data input
`from other devices.
`
`Another advantage of the present invention provides both
`a method and an apparatus, including built-in software, to
`access regular communication networks, such as the public
`telephone switch system. A built-in modem in one embodi-
`ment of the present invention provides access to facsimile
`machines, and allows data transmitted or received over the
`built-in modem to be backed up on floppy disks.
`Another advantage of the present invention provides both
`a method and a convenient device for increasing the cost-
`effectiveness of an IC memory card-based portable com-
`puter by allowing the use of ordinary floppy disks, modems,
`printers without relying on the blank IC memory cards,
`customized peripheral devices, or a multiplicity of bulky
`adapters.
`Another advantage of the present invention provides a
`stand-alone information storage and transfer device having
`its own power supply, a microprocessor-based control
`circuit, multiple I/O ports, and one or more floppy disk
`drives.
`
`Another advantage of the present invention provides a
`simple and low-cost means for transferring information
`between palm top computer and desktop computer using
`
`6
`ordinary floppy disks, without having to permanently tie up
`a RS232C port of the desktop computer by a pc-link cable
`as in the prior art. The present invention will be better
`understood upon consideration of the following detailed
`description and the accompanying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is an outside view of the information storage and
`transfer device according to the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present
`invention including the major modules;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control circuit for the
`information storage and transfer device in accordance with
`the present invention.
`FIG. 4 is an outside view of another embodiment of the
`
`present invention, showing an information storage and trans-
`fer device 400 having standard IC memory card slot 402 and
`customized IC memory card slot 403.
`
`DEFAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`FIG. 1 shows a housing 1 of an information storage and
`transfer device 100 in accordance with the present invention.
`This information storage and transfer device 100 has formed
`a recessed base area 2 at a top-central portion of the housing
`1. The recessed base area 2 is contoured for securely
`accommodating a palm top computer (not shown). As shown
`in FIG. 1, on one side of the housing 1 is an opening 3 for
`receiving into the floppy disk drive installed in the housing
`1 a floppy disk or diskette. Also shown on a major sidewall
`of the housing 1 are input/output ports 4-8 for connection to
`host computers or peripheral devices using standardized
`communication protocols and connection cables. For
`example, parallel port 4 can be used to connect a printer;
`serial port 5, which may be a RS232C port, can be used to
`connect a communication network device, such as the tele-
`phone system; RS232C port 6 can be used to connect a host
`computer; port 7 can be used to connect a magnetic card
`reader; and I/O port 8 can be used to connect other I/O
`devices such as a hand-held or a desktop scanner, a wireless
`communication device such as a fax phone or a pager, a
`solid-state recorder, a voice input and output device, a
`mouse, a keyboard, a monitor, or a hard disk drive. The
`number and types of devices that can be connected to
`information storage and transfer device 100 are virtually
`limitless.
`
`Athird side of the housing 1 provides a port 9 (not shown)
`to connect a palm top computer. In the prior art, for the
`reason described previously regarding connector size and
`voltage levels in standardized interfaces, a palm top com-
`puter typically provides a customized cable for data transfer
`between the palm top and the desktop computers. This
`customized cable typically has a bulky attachment for con-
`necting a customized port of the palm top to a standardized
`port of a desktop computer. Signal conversion and amplifi-
`cation are achieved by the electronics in the bulky attach-
`ment of the customized cables in the prior art. Prior to data
`transfer, the user must run customized software on both the
`palm top and the desktop computers to properly set up both
`machines. In accordance with the present invention. a simple
`cable connects port 9 to the customized port of the palm top
`computer. Because the communication protocols used in the
`customized port on a palm top computer vary from one
`manufacturer to another, the information storage and trans-
`fer device is provided software capable of communicating
`with the specific palm top it connects over port 9. As will be
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`10
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`5,666,495
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`7
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`discussed in further detail, such software is provided in the
`non-volatile memory. e.g. an electrically erasable prograrn-
`mable read-only memory (EEPROM) or a flash memory.
`Along with the customized cable. the EEPROM is pur-
`chased with the information storage and transfer device.
`A fourth side of the housing 1 provides for a power cord
`10 which connects the internal power supply or battery
`compartment to an outside power source. such as a wall AC
`socket, or a car battery adapter.
`FIG. 2 illustrates the major functional blocks in the
`embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1.
`Recording module 3 comprises one or more floppy disk
`drives and the attendant controller or controllers. A floppy
`disk drive in recording module 3 can be any standardized
`format floppy disk drive. e.g. 1.8", 2.5". 3.5", 5.25", using
`the customary density diskettes of such floppy disk drives.
`Recording module 3 is controlled by a control circuit 11 over
`a bus 18. which can have a 8-. 16- or 32-bit word length.
`Control circuit 11 is a microprocessor-based control circuit,
`which is connected to the multiple input/output ports 12 by
`the bus 18. Multiple I/O ports 12 comprise various types of
`I/O ports for interfacing information storage and transfer
`device 100 with a host computer or other peripheral devices.
`Such peripheral devices include but are not
`limited to
`magnetic card readers. scanners and printers. Finally, power
`supply 10 includes automatically switchable AC or DC
`electrical connection for using a wall AC socket, disposable
`or re-chargeable batteries, or a car battery to power record-
`ing module 3, control circuit 11 and the input/output ports
`12
`
`FIG. 3 shows the major functional blocks of the control
`circuit 11 of the present
`invention. CPU 14 can be a
`microprocessor of any word length. e.g. an 8-, 16-, or 32-bit
`microprocessor, which is connected by bus 18 of an appro-
`priate bus width to ROM 15, flash memory 16 and dynamic
`random access memory (DRAM) 17 units. ROM unit 15
`provides the permanently stored software programs and
`data, such as the software required to “boot up” the infor-
`mation storage and transfer device 100 upon power up. Flash
`memory unit 16 provides programmable storage for infre-
`quently changed software programs and data, such as the
`programs necessary to interface with a customized port of a
`specific portable computer. DRAM unit 17 provides tempo-
`rary storage area for software instructions and data being
`executed by the CPU 14. 1/0 controller unit 13 controls
`modem 19 and the various I/O ports 4-9 and is, in turn,
`controlled by CPU 14 over bus 18.
`Modem 19 is a built-in modem provided with attendant
`software to allow (1) access to the telephone system, (ii)
`access to facsimile machines for sending and receiving
`facsimile transmission, (iii) access to other communication
`networks. such as E-mail, and (iv) other modems. The
`built-in software allows the user to t:ransfer data between the
`floppy disk drive 3 and the network or host machine
`accessed by the modem 19. Because built-in modem 19 is
`powered by the power supply of the information storage and
`transfer device 100 and shares the connection to the palm top
`computer with the other functional units of information
`storage and transfer device 100, the built-in modem 19 can
`be provided at a much lower cost than the special modem
`attachment used currently by such palm top computers.
`After power up, information storage and transfer device
`100 executes an initialization sequence to set up the com-
`munication protocols necessary for data transfer over the
`multiple I/O ports 4-9. The initialization sequence includes
`loading fi'om flash memory 16 into random access memory
`
`8
`17 device driver software necessary to control multiple I/O
`ports 4-9. CPU 14 constantly polls each of the various I/0
`ports 4-9 for a connection to an external device. For
`example, if connection to a palmtop computer is detected,
`the CPU 14 receives in accordance with a predefined pro-
`tocol instructions from the palm top computer. Such instruc-
`tions include, for example, file transfer commands to and
`from the floppy disk drive of module 3. In most palm top
`computers, the user interface provides commands which the
`user can use to effectuate data transfer to and from another
`device, such as a desktop computer, over the single I/O port.
`Indeed, to use the aforementioned pc-link or printer-link
`cable in the prior art, after an application program is run on
`the desktop computer to set up the desktop computer, data
`transfer is eifectuated by issuing a command on the palm top
`computer.
`In the present embodiment, where existing protocol sup-
`ports a remote device to take control of the palm top
`computer’s input and display devices. the software in infor-
`mation storage and transfer device 100 can be invoked to
`take control of the input and display devices to provide input
`and output capability to CPU 14. Thus, no additional steps
`need to be performed in the palm top computer since the
`palm top computer already has built-in facility to support
`data transfer into and out of the palm top computer. Infor-
`mation storage and transfer device 100 uses the predefined
`protocols of the palm top computer, so that a connection to
`information storage and transfer device 100 is not different
`from a connection to a desktop computer over a pc-link
`cable.
`
`Upon verifying on the palm top computer that a connec-
`tion with the information storage and transfer device 100 is
`established, the user can then proceed to issue commands
`using the palm top computer’s input facility, e. g. the key-
`board to the information and transfer device 100. Such
`commands include fetching a file from a floppy disk, writing
`a file onto a floppy disk, connecting the palm top computer
`to an extemal computer through modem 19 or the network
`connection at port 5, and through desk-top computer port 6
`to print a file on the printer connected to parallel port 4, or
`to control the magnetic card reader connected to I/O port 7.
`Many other instructions are of course possible. Since it is
`within one of ordinary skill in the art, upon consideration of
`the above description and drawings, to provide the software
`to be run on information storage and transfer device 100 to
`carry out
`the above-discussed functions,
`the detailed
`description of such program is omitted.
`It will be appreciated from the above that the present
`invention allows transferring large amount of information,
`e.g. a software or data distribution, to a palm top computer
`using either one or more traditional floppy disks or over the
`built-in modem. Instead of using a separate IC memory card
`to store each of the programs the user routinely use. the user
`needs only one read/write IC memory