JP3145916U - Device for integrating the storage capacities of multiple storage devices - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for integrating the storage capacities of a plurality of storage devices is provided.
The apparatus includes a plurality of memory card connectors, a memory card interface management module, a control module, and a communication interface. Each memory card connector is connected to a memory card. The memory card interface management module is connected to the plurality of memory card connectors, and the control module is connected to the memory card interface management module. The control module integrates the storage capacity of all connected memory cards as a single storage capacity, and the memory card that is about to be removed from the integrated storage capacity of all connected memory cards. The mounting / removal management process for separating the storage capacity is stored and executed. The communication interface is used to connect to a computer. Thus, it is convenient for each user that the storage capacity of the present apparatus can be changed based on different requirements.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus that integrates the storage capacities of a large number of storage devices as a single storage capacity.

  Digital electronic products such as digital storage devices are widely used. However, there are many types of storage devices that are connected to digital electronic products. For example, hard drives and removable hard drives are commonly used as storage devices for desktop personal computers. Notebook PCs are equipped with all standard-compliant memory card readers, and memory cards and removable hard drives are typically used as storage devices for notebook computers. Memory cards are also often used as storage devices for consumer electronic products such as mobile phones, digital cameras, digital video cameras, etc. that do not have a hard drive or digital media player (MP3, MP4, etc.). Also, different brands or versions of memory cards usually have different sizes and different storage capacities. Therefore, if a user owns a desktop personal computer, a notebook personal computer, and a consumer electronic product, the user can use two or more types to expand the storage capacity of the desktop personal computer, the laptop personal computer, and the consumer electronic product. Storage devices may be required. It is inconvenient for the user to manage and use different types of storage devices. Also, the physical limitations of small memory cards often result in wasting useful storage space when combined properly.

  In order to overcome the above disadvantages, the present invention provides an apparatus for integrating a storage capacity as a single storage capacity, regardless of whether it is the same type of multiple storage apparatuses, and solves the above problems. .

  The main object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for integrating the storage capacities of a plurality of storage devices as a single storage capacity.

  An apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus for integrating the storage capacities of a plurality of storage devices, and includes a plurality of memory card connectors, a memory card interface management module, a control module, and a communication interface. Each memory card connector is connected to a memory card. The memory card interface management module is connected to the plurality of memory card connectors, and the control module is connected to the memory card interface management module. The control module integrates the storage capacity of all connected memory cards as a single storage capacity, and the memory card that is about to be removed from the integrated storage capacity of all connected memory cards. The mounting / removal management process for separating the storage capacity is stored and executed. The communication interface is used to connect to a computer. Thus, it is convenient for each user that the storage capacity of the present apparatus can be changed based on different requirements.

  Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus of the present invention includes a number of memory card connectors 30, a memory card interface management module 20, a control module 10, and a communication interface 40.

  Each memory card connector 30 may be a memory card connector conforming to a single communication standard or a memory card connector conforming to all communication standards. Only memory cards of the same communication standard can be inserted into the single communication standard-compliant memory card connector. All existing communication standard memory cards can be inserted into all communication standard compliant memory card connectors. (Not published for violations of public order and morals)

  The memory card interface management module 20 is connected to the memory card connector 30 and controls the connected memory card. The management module 20 may include a plurality of memory card control units 21, an interface control unit 22, and at least one second interface connector 23 as an option.

  Each memory card control unit 21 is connected to a memory card connector 30.

  The interface control unit 22 is connected to the memory card control unit 21.

  Each second interface connector 23 is connected to the interface control unit 22 and is used to connect a memory device such as a flash memory, and may be a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector.

  The control module 10 has functions of control, calculation, and data conversion, and is connected to the memory card interface management module 20 via a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) interface, and the memory module via the memory card interface management module 20 The card connector 30 group is scanned to perform mounting / removal management processing. The control module 10 is connected to the memory card control unit 21 and the second interface connector 23 of the memory card / interface management module 20 via the interface control unit 22, and the memory card connector 30 group and the second interface connector 23 are connected to each other. You may scan. The control module 10 may be an integrated circuit (IC) whose model number is PNX1502.

  When the control module 10 detects the memory card connector 30 to which one or more newly added memory cards are connected, or the second interface connector 23 to which one or more newly added memory devices are connected, the control module 10 10 performs a mounting / removal management process, and integrates the storage capacities of all connected memory cards and memory devices as a single storage capacity. When one of the connected memory cards is about to be removed, the control module 10 performs a mounting / removal management process, and the data stored in the memory card about to be removed is transferred to another connected memory card. To the memory device and remove the memory card from the device.

  Further, the mounting / removal management processing may be executed by a logical volume management (LVM) method for managing logical volumes. A logical volume is an abstract disk partition of a disk drive. The LVM method is a disk division method that provides more efficient management of the storage capacity of a disk drive than the conventional disk division method. The LVM method can integrate the storage capacity of a newly added disk drive with the storage capacity of the existing disk drive even when the existing disk drive is in operation. This is because the LVM method ensures that data is not corrupted when the storage capacities of all connected disk drives are integrated.

  The communication interface 40 is used to connect to a computer and is connected to the control module 10. The communication interface 40 may include an interface control unit 41 and an interface connector 42. The interface control unit 41 is connected to the control module 10 via a PCI interface. The interface connector 42 is connected to the interface control unit 41 and may be a USB connector.

  According to the above description, when the device of the present invention is connected to a computer via the communication interface 40, the computer does not use the device of the present invention as a plurality of memory cards and memory devices, but a single storage device. Detect as.

  For example, assume that the device has integrated the storage capacities of all connected memory cards and memory devices to create a volume named \ Barebone with a storage capacity of 4 gigabytes. When a memory card with a storage capacity of 1 gigabyte is newly connected to the device of the present invention, the control module 10 integrates the storage capacity of 1 gigabyte of the newly added memory card into the storage capacity of the volume \ Barebone, and the volume \ Barebone has a storage capacity of 5GB. Also, a removal request should be generated mechanically or electrically and sent to the control module 10 before removing one of the connected memory cards from the device. After receiving the removal request and notifying receipt, the control module 10 executes the LVM method and transfers the data stored in the memory card to be removed to other connected memory cards and memory devices. Thereafter, the control module 10 permits the memory card to be removed from the apparatus. Therefore, the present invention can integrate the storage capacities of a large number of memory cards and memory devices even when they have different storage capacities. Thus, it is convenient for the user that each user can change the storage capacity of the apparatus based on different requirements.

  Referring to FIG. 3, the device of the present invention may further include a display module 50 as an option, an audio module 60 as an option, and an operation module 70 for reproducing audio / video data. The control module 10 may further include a video output terminal that outputs digital video data and an audio output terminal that outputs digital audio data.

  The display module 50 is connected to the video output terminal of the control module 10 and displays video. The display module 50 may be a liquid crystal display device (LCD).

  The audio module 60 is connected to the audio output terminal of the control module 10 and reproduces audio. The audio module 60 may include a digital / analog converter (DAC) 62, an amplifier circuit 61, and a speaker 63.

  The DAC 62 is connected to an audio output terminal of the control module 10 and converts digital audio data into an analog audio signal.

  The amplifier circuit 61 includes an input terminal and an output terminal. The input terminal of the amplifier circuit 61 is connected to the DAC 62, and the amplifier circuit 61 amplifies the analog audio signal.

  The speaker 63 is connected to the output terminal of the amplifier circuit 61 and reproduces sound.

  The operation module 70 is connected to the control module 10 and allows the user to control the apparatus. The operation module 70 may be a number of push buttons or a touch panel.

  According to the above description, the device of the present invention works as a removable storage device having a variable storage capacity, or a multimedia player (MP3, MP4 player, etc.).

It is a functional block diagram of 1st Embodiment of the apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a functional block diagram of 2nd Embodiment of the apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a functional block diagram of 3rd Embodiment of the apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Control Module 20 Memory Card Interface Management Module 30 Memory Card Connector 40 Communication Interface

Claims (14)

A device for integrating a plurality of storage devices,
Allowing a memory card to be inserted, a plurality of memory card connectors connected to the memory card; and
A memory card interface management module connected to the memory card connector and controlling the connected memory card;
Connected to the memory card interface management module, integrates the storage capacity of all connected memory cards as a single storage capacity, and disconnects from the integrated storage capacity of all connected memory cards. A control module for storing and executing a mounting / removal management process that separates the storage capacity of the memory card being processed;
A communication interface connected to the control module and used to connect to a computer. The memory card interface management module
A plurality of memory card control units respectively connected to the memory card connector;
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an interface control unit connected to the plurality of memory card control units. The memory card interface management module
One or more second interface connectors;
The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second interface connector is adapted to be connected to an external memory device, and is connected to the interface control unit. The mounting / removal management process includes:
Determining whether one or more newly added memory cards are connected to the memory card connector or one or more newly added memory devices are connected to the second interface connector;
If one or more newly added memory cards are connected to the memory card connector, or if one or more newly added memory devices are connected to the second interface connector, all connected Integrating the storage capacity of the memory card and the memory device as a single storage capacity;
Determining whether one of the memory cards or the memory device is about to be removed;
If one of the memory cards or the memory device is about to be removed, transfer the data stored on the memory card or memory device about to be removed to other connected memory cards and memory devices 4. The apparatus of claim 3, comprising the step of:   5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control module scans the plurality of memory card connectors and the second interface connector before executing the mounting / removal management process.   The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second interface connector is a USB connector. The communication interface is
An interface control unit connected to the control module via a PCI interface;
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an interface connector connected to the interface control unit.   The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the interface connector is a USB connector. A display module, an audio module, and an operation module;
The control module is
A video output terminal for outputting digital video data;
It has an audio output terminal that outputs digital audio data,
The display module is connected to the video output terminal of the control module and displays a video;
The audio module is connected to the audio output terminal of the control module and reproduces audio.
The device according to claim 1, wherein the operation module is connected to the control module and enables control of the device.   The device according to claim 9, wherein the display module is a liquid crystal display device. The voice module
A digital-to-analog converter connected to the audio output terminal of the control module and converting digital audio data into an analog audio signal;
An amplifier circuit having an input terminal connected to the digital-analog converter and an output terminal for amplifying the analog audio signal;
The apparatus of Claim 9 provided with the speaker connected to this output terminal of this amplifier circuit, and reproducing | regenerating an audio | voice.   The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the operation module includes a plurality of push buttons.   The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mounting / removal management process is executed according to a logical volume management method.   14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the memory card interface management module is connected to the plurality of memory card connectors via a PCI interface.

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