EP2304576A2 - Dispositif électronique, notamment un modem, pouvant être interfacé avec un ordinateur et procédé associé d'interfaçage - Google Patents

Dispositif électronique, notamment un modem, pouvant être interfacé avec un ordinateur et procédé associé d'interfaçage

Info

Publication number
EP2304576A2
EP2304576A2 EP09769655A EP09769655A EP2304576A2 EP 2304576 A2 EP2304576 A2 EP 2304576A2 EP 09769655 A EP09769655 A EP 09769655A EP 09769655 A EP09769655 A EP 09769655A EP 2304576 A2 EP2304576 A2 EP 2304576A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
computer
electronic device
software code
code portions
interface
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP09769655A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Stefano De Biasi
Paolo Lucchini
Giorgio Costacurta
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Onda Communication SpA
Original Assignee
Onda Communication SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Onda Communication SpA filed Critical Onda Communication SpA
Publication of EP2304576A2 publication Critical patent/EP2304576A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F13/00—Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units
    • G06F13/38—Information transfer, e.g. on bus
    • G06F13/382—Information transfer, e.g. on bus using universal interface adapter
    • G06F13/385—Information transfer, e.g. on bus using universal interface adapter for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electronic device interfaceable with a computer and to an associated interfacing method.
  • the present invention relates to a modem which can implement a plurality of functions normally only attainable by means of a plurality of devices.
  • the solution typically employed for getting round the growing demand for data and software mobility and portability is saving data only on external media, with the inconvenience that the software installed in the computer in use must be equivalent to or compatible with the software used for creating such files.
  • the user must own software licenses for each computer in use, and cannot therefore install such software in third-party machines.
  • USB communication standard modems, memories and several software types are known in the art.
  • USB Universal Serial Bus
  • peripherals such as mice, keyboards, solid-state and hard-disk mass memories, image scanners, digital cameras, printers, loudspeakers, microphones and more.
  • USB 1.0 supports connections up to 1.5 Mbit/s, which is an adequate speed for mice, keyboards and other slow devices.
  • the 1.1 version adds the full speed mode, which increases the speed to 12 Mbit/s.
  • the most important innovation of the USB 2.0 standard is an increased transfer speed, as high as 480 Mbit/s. Such high speed allows USB 2.0 to compete with the Firewire communication standard.
  • USB 3.0 a new standard, called USB 3.0, which further increases the transfer speed to 4.8 Gbit/s.
  • the voltage level of the VBUS i.e. the cable used for supplying power to low- consumption peripherals in a USB system
  • the USB system has an asymmetric design, and consists of a single host and multiple peripherals connected according to a tree-like structure through devices called concentrators, or hubs.
  • the USB system supports up to 127 peripherals per host, including the hubs and the host itself. Therefore, the actual total number of connectable devices is considerably smaller.
  • the cable can be 5m long at most; beyond this limit it is necessary to use one or more active hubs capable of amplifying the signal.
  • the specifications provide for consecutive connection of up to five hubs.
  • a modem is a device allowing multiple electronic systems (e.g. computers) to communicate with each other by using a common channel (e.g. telephone line, electric line, radio channel, mobile telephone network, etc). This device provides Modulation and DEModulation of the signals sent over the common channel based on the information being transferred.
  • a common channel e.g. telephone line, electric line, radio channel, mobile telephone network, etc.
  • Modems for cellular network communications are currently available with the GSM/GPRS, EDGE, UMTS and HSDPA technologies, and will soon be available with the HSUPA and HSOPA technologies as well.
  • a modem provides support to the communication of a computer or other main device.
  • HSOPA High-Speed OFDM Packet Access
  • memory refers to components capable of storing information for a certain time. Data storage and retrieval are fundamental computer functions.
  • a memory can be abstractly considered to be a finite sequence of cells, wherein each cell contains a finite sequence of bits. Bits are normally handled in eight-bit groups called bytes. Therefore, the physical memory space can be thought of as a sequence of locations, each containing one byte. Each location is identified by a specific address, typically consisting of a positive integer.
  • Software can be classified according to different characteristics: functionality (word processor, spreadsheet, database, browser, etc), degree of openness (open source or commercial), type of operating system (e.g. Linux, MacOs, Unix or Windows), installable or portable, or type of interface (alphanumerical or graphical).
  • Firmware i.e. software directly contained in the hardware and regulating the internal functions thereof
  • Application programs i.e. software used for supporting an operating system in order to provide additional options.
  • the device proposed by the present invention ensures availability in a single device of a plurality of functions which normally require a plurality of distinct devices connected to a compatible computer or system and a multitude of licenses typically associated with each installation.
  • the device according to the present invention comprises at least: - a communication module for sending and receiving data through an antenna;
  • the electronic device also comprises a slot for a non-volatile read/write memory.
  • Said memory is accessible to the computer for reading and/or writing data, and comprises at least a second software program adapted to handle functions and/or data different from those required by the device itself to operate and adapted to be transmitted to the computer via the interface.
  • the second software program may, for example, be an operating system which can be started directly, through the device according to the invention, when the computer is turned on.
  • FIG. 1 shows an electronic device 1, in particular a modem, comprising processing and control means 2, in particular a processor, adapted to handle and control:
  • a communication module 11 for sending and receiving data through an antenna 9 thereof, said communication module 11 supporting one or more of the following communication protocols: GSM/GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA and HSOPA; - an internal memory 4 comprising first software code portions allowing the electronic device 1 to be handled by a computer 8 interfaceable with the electronic device 1 through an interface 6, preferably a USB serial interface;
  • the electronic device 1 may further comprise a module 10 for local connectivity to any devices possibly present within the surrounding environment.
  • Said local connectivity module 10 can support one or more of the following communication protocols: Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiFi, S-ATA, or Firewire.
  • the electronic device 1 may further comprise a biometric recognition device 3 and/or an access control device 12. In particular, said biometric recognition device 3 can identify an individual through a peculiar characteristic thereof, e.g. a fingerprint.
  • the non-volatile read/write memory 7 is accessible to the computer 8 for reading and/or writing data, and comprises second software code portions adapted to handle functions and/or data different from those required by the electronic device 1 to operate and adapted to be transmitted to the computer 8 via the interface 6.
  • the electronic device 1 When the computer 8 is on, the electronic device 1 is connected to the computer 8 through the interface 6 of the electronic device 1 and a respective suitable interface of the computer 8.
  • the electronic device 1 When the electronic device 1 is connected to the computer 8, the electronic device 1 makes available as a virtual peripheral first software code portions stored in the internal memory 4 of the electronic device 1, and starts a routine adapted to verify if those elements required by the computer 8 for properly using the device 1 , in particular a driver and an application program, are already present and installed in the operating system of the computer 8. If said elements are not present in the operating system of the computer 8, the computer 8 will transfer the first software code portions required by the computer 8 for recognizing and handling the electronic device 1 from the internal memory 4 of the electronic device 1 to a computer memory of its own.
  • the computer 8 can gain access to the non- volatile read/write memory 7 inserted in the appropriate slot 5 of the electronic device 1. In other words, the computer 8 will see the read/write memory 7 as a peripheral disk, just as if it were interfaced with a USB key.
  • the electronic device 1 When the computer 8 is off, the electronic device 1 is connected to the computer 8 through the interface 6 of the electronic device 1 and a respective suitable interface of the computer 8.
  • the device 1 When the computer 8 is turned on, the device 1 makes available as a virtual CD-Rom first software code portions stored in its internal memory 4.
  • the computer 8 can be allowed to recognise said virtual CD-Rom as a boot peripheral, thus having access to the software available in the virtual CD-Rom in order to initiate a boot procedure.
  • said boot procedure is intended for making the communication module 11 and the non-volatile read/write memory 7 available to the system; in the second place, it is also intended for allowing the system to use second software code portions stored in the nonvolatile read/write memory 7, in particular an operating system stored in the non-volatile read/write memory 7.
  • the computer 8 can run a transfer procedure for transferring one or more second software code portions from the non- volatile read/write memory 7 of the electronic device 1 to a computer memory of its own, preferably a RAM (Random Access Memory), via the interface 6.
  • the second software code portions stored in the non- volatile read/write memory 7 may comprise any type of software, in particular: operating systems, compilers, libraries, drivers, firmware, and application programs.
  • the transfer procedure may take place according to different modes: - automatically, when the transfer procedure is executed by the computer 8 without user intervention;
  • said one or more second software code portions to be transferred comprise at least one operating system
  • the transfer will preferably be started immediately by the computer 8, thus by-passing the loading of the operating system probably installed in the computer 8.
  • the transfer procedure may also be carried out through a remote server.
  • the computer 8 sends an instruction to the electronic device 1 so that the latter connects to a remote server, in particular a web server, which comprises information about which software code portions are to be transferred to the computer 8 through said transfer procedure and about whether said portions should be transferred automatically or upon user confirmation.
  • the computer 8 receives a piece of information from the biometric device 3 of the electronic device 1 and starts a predetermined customized transfer procedure based on such information.
  • predetermined second software code portions stored in the non- volatile read/write memory 7 will be transferred to the computer 8 depending on which user is using the electronic device 1.
  • the computer 8 can use the non- volatile read/write memory 7 as if it were an additional disk, in particular for reading or writing data different from the data already stored in the nonvolatile read/write memory 7.
  • a first advantage is that the electronic device according to the invention integrates a plurality of the aforementioned technologies into a single device which can be connected to a computer, thus making a variety of functions available to the user within one physical object and at the same time.
  • a second advantage is that the electronic device according to the invention, in addition to allowing data to be saved into a memory accessible to a computer, also allows application programs and even full operating systems to be transferred from said memory to said computer.
  • the invention allows the operating system to be started directly by the computer, thus by-passing the problem of any use licenses having to be installed in the computer.
  • a further advantage is that the electronic device according to the invention provides access to software, such as operating systems, applications and data, as well as to a modem device without being by any means bound to a single computer.
  • the user can thus gain access to a fully customized operating system containing data and application software of his/her choice, while at the same time using the connection to a mobile data network through the modem module without being bound to a specific computer.
  • the present invention proposes a plurality of solutions to the aforementioned problems, which attain the integration of peripheral devices and interfaces into the peripheral devices themselves.
  • composite devices are provided wherein peripheral devices are joined together through the communication interface.
  • the various peripheral devices are united together into a single assembly.
  • the apparatus will also comprise software granting access to functions personally requested by the user by using the basic components of any computer.
  • the user can thus use a plurality of peripheral devices that can be easily connected, when needed, to different computers or systems while still preserving his/her own capability of interaction with said computers or systems, his/her own remote connection capability, and his/her own range of available software, even regardless of the system installed in the computer.
  • one or more second software code portions may even be contained in the internal memory 4 of the electronic device 1, rather than in the non- volatile read/write memory 7.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Transceivers (AREA)
  • Communication Control (AREA)
  • Computer And Data Communications (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif électronique, et notamment un modem, pouvant être interfacé avec un ordinateur (8) et comprenant un module de communication (11) destiné à envoyer et recevoir des données par l'intermédiaire d'une antenne (9), une interface (6) permettant un interfaçage avec l'ordinateur (8), une mémoire interne (4) comprenant au moins des premières parties de code logiciel permettant à l'ordinateur (8) de gérer le dispositif (1), des moyens de traitement et de contrôle (2) pour le traitement et le contrôle des fonctions internes du dispositif électronique (1) et des fonctions permettant son interfaçage avec l'ordinateur (8). Le dispositif électronique (1) comprend en outre une fente (5) destinée à une mémoire de lecture/écriture non volatile (7) accessible audit ordinateur (8) en vue de la lecture et/ou de l'écriture de données, ainsi que des secondes parties de code logiciel conçues pour gérer des fonctions et/ou des données différentes de celles requises pour le fonctionnement du dispositif (1) et pouvant être transmises à l'ordinateur par l'intermédiaire de l'interface (6).
EP09769655A 2008-06-27 2009-06-26 Dispositif électronique, notamment un modem, pouvant être interfacé avec un ordinateur et procédé associé d'interfaçage Withdrawn EP2304576A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000014U ITPN20080014U1 (it) 2008-06-27 2008-06-27 Sistema modem integrato a memoria a lettura-scrittura e software per la gestione dati
PCT/IB2009/006080 WO2009156844A2 (fr) 2008-06-27 2009-06-26 Dispositif électronique, notamment un modem, pouvant être interfacé avec un ordinateur et procédé associé d'interfaçage

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2304576A2 true EP2304576A2 (fr) 2011-04-06

Family

ID=40302391

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09769655A Withdrawn EP2304576A2 (fr) 2008-06-27 2009-06-26 Dispositif électronique, notamment un modem, pouvant être interfacé avec un ordinateur et procédé associé d'interfaçage

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2304576A2 (fr)
IT (1) ITPN20080014U1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2009156844A2 (fr)

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6438638B1 (en) * 2000-07-06 2002-08-20 Onspec Electronic, Inc. Flashtoaster for reading several types of flash-memory cards with or without a PC
KR100502692B1 (ko) * 2003-03-25 2005-07-20 주식회사 텔로드 무선모뎀장치에 내장된 보조 전원장치
US20060006232A1 (en) * 2004-07-12 2006-01-12 Chi-Tung Chang Card reader
CN2911792Y (zh) * 2005-05-16 2007-06-13 欧达可电子(深圳)有限公司 一种记忆卡连usb转读写卡器
KR20080047828A (ko) * 2006-11-27 2008-05-30 삼성전자주식회사 무선 모뎀 장치를 이용한 프로그램 설치 시스템 및 방법

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2009156844A2 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2009156844A2 (fr) 2009-12-30
ITPN20080014U1 (it) 2009-12-27
WO2009156844A3 (fr) 2010-04-22

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