WO2008054076A1

WO2008054076A1 - An apparatus for direct-transmitting data for portable

Info

Publication number: WO2008054076A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/005072
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hyung-Lim Ji; Jong-Hoon Kang
Original assignee: Hyung-Lim Ji; Jong-Hoon Kang
Priority date: 2006-10-31
Filing date: 2007-10-17
Publication date: 2008-05-08
Also published as: KR100829994B1; KR20080039086A

Abstract

There is provided a direct information exchange apparatus for a portable device, the apparatus including: a power supply unit supplying power to operate each unit; a first universal serial bus (USB) port for connecting to a first device in a USB interface method; a second USB port for connecting to a second device in the USB interface method; an input unit selecting the first and second devices and as source and destination devices, respectively, and selecting data that is a target of transmission, from data of the first device selected as the source device; a main controller, according to a selection of a user from the user interface, controlling data transmission between the first device and the second device and controlling screen display of state information while operating; a USB system, according to a data transmission control of the main controller, transmitting the data of the first device to be transmitted to the second device by unit data in the USB interface method; a buffer memory, according to a control of the USB system, temporarily storing a predetermined transmission amount of the unit data in the data that is a target of transmission, between the first and second devices; and a display unit displaying information according to a control of the main controller.

Description

AN APPARATUS FOR DIRECT-TRANSMITTING DATA FOR

PORTABLE

Technical Field

[I] The present invention relates to a direct data transmission apparatus employed in a portable device such as a universal serial bus (USB) memory stick, and more particularly, to a portable direct data transmission apparatus and method capable of directly relaying and controlling a data transmission between portable devices such as a USB memory stick and an MP3 player, without a help of a large host system such as a personal computer.

[2]

Background Art [3] Generally, portable devices such as a memory stick, a motion picture experts group

(MPEG) player, which are recently in the limelight, are capable of separately storing a relative large amount of data and using the data at anytime when necessary. However, to transmit data in a portable device to another portable device, a help of a large host system such as a personal computer is required. [4] [5] In the case of a conventional data transmission method in a portable device capable of storing data, basically, it is required to be connected to a personal computer or a certain network. After that, a series of processes with respect to a data transmission is performed in a host system. [6] For example, to receive and transmit data between A-device and B-device, the A- device transmits data that is a target of transmission, to a host device at a time to store the data in a storage space of the host device. The host device transmits the stored data to the B-device at a time. [7] As described above, via the large host device such as a computer, the data that is a target of transmission may be transmitted at a time from the A-device to the B-device via a data transmission control in the large host device. [8] [9] However, it is impossible to transmit the data from the A-device to the B-device without the large host device described above. [10] Accordingly, when using the conventional data transmission method, it is impossible to instantly, directly transmit data between portable devices.

[I I] Also, since the help of such large host device is always required, for example, it is required to operate the large host device, there is a limitation on a place. Also, there are defects in convenience of a transmission time and efficiency in outdoor use. Though using a portable host device, since it is required to operate the portable host device and once temporarily store entire data and transmit the entire data to a receiving terminal, there are limitations on time and space.

[12]

[13] On the other hand, to solve the problems, there is provided a USB on the go (OTG) capable of performing a data transmission between external devices without additional host system by adding a hosting function to some USB. Such USB OTG may transmit data in a portable device to another device without help of a host system such as a personal computer. However, it is still impossible to transmit data between conventional portable devices without hosting function such as a simple memory stick.

[14]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[15] An aspect of the present invention provides a portable direct data transmission apparatus and method capable of allowing data to be simply transmitted between portable devices without a help of an additional large host system, by directly relaying and controlling a data transmission between portable devices such as a universal serial bus (USB) memory stick and an MP3 player, without a help of a large host system such as a personal computer.

[16]

Technical Solution

[17] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a direct information exchange apparatus for a portable device, the apparatus including: a power supply unit supplying power to operate each unit; a first universal serial bus (USB) port for connecting to a first device in a USB interface method; a second USB port for connecting to a second device in the USB interface method; an input unit selecting the first and second devices and as source and destination devices, respectively, and selecting data that is a target of transmission, from data of the first device selected as the source device; a main controller, according to a selection via an input unit of a user interface, controlling data transmission between the first device and the second device and controlling screen display of state information while operating; a USB system, according to a data transmission control of the main controller, transmitting the data of the first device to be transmitted to the second device by unit data in the USB interface method; a buffer memory, according to a control of the USB system, temporarily storing a predetermined transmission amount of the unit data in the data that is a target of transmission, between the first and second devices; and a display unit displaying in- formation according to a control of the main controller.

[18]

[19] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of directly transmitting portable data, the method including: recognizing a connection with a first device and a second device to transmit data; allowing a user interface including an input unit and a display unit to standby; selecting the first device as a source device via the user interface; displaying a data structure of the first device selected as the source device, via the user interface, and recording information of data that is a target of transmission, the data selected from data displayed in the user interface, the information including a size of the data; selecting the second device as a destination device; reading and temporarily storing the data that is a target of transmission, which is selected from the first device, by unit data of a preset transmission unit; transmitting the temporarily stored unit data to the second device; and determining whether a transmission of the data that is a target of transmission is finished, based on the information on the selected data that is a target of transmission, and performing the temporarily storing again to transmit next unit data when the transmission is not finished.

[20]

Advantageous Effects

[21] As described above, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in a direct data transmission apparatus employed in a portable device such as a universal serial bus (USB) memory stick, without a help of a large host system such as a personal computer, a data transmission between portable devices such as a USB stick and an MP3 player is directly relayed and controlled, thereby simply performing the data transmission between portable devices without an additional help of a large host system.

[22]

[23] That is, the apparatus may not only mutually exchange various kind of data stored in a terminal having a simple data storage function, such as a memory stick, but also exchange information in a data storage terminal such as a motion picture experts group (MPEG) player while moving. Also, there may be provided convenience in using a terminal in aspects of time and space and frequency of using the terminal may be increased due thereto, thereby increasing a demand for terminals and increasing a number of provided terminals according to benefits of the terminals.

[24]

[25] Accordingly, by adding a new function capable of directly exchanging information between data storage terminals such as a memory stick and an MPEG player generally used now, technical benefits are increased and such information exchange technologies are capable of being applied to various application products. Also, due to a direct data transmission between terminals, frequency of using the terminals may be increased and demands may be increased via this, thereby producing new application products and generating a new market.

[26]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[27] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a portable direct data transmission apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[28] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a USB system of FIG. 1;

[29] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a USB management unit of FIG. 2; and

[30] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of directly transmitting portable data according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[31]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[32] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may however be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the shapes and dimensions may be exaggerated for clarity, and the same reference numerals are used throughout to designate the same or similar components.

[33]

[34] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a portable direct data transmission apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[35] Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus includes a power supply unit 100 supplying power to operate each unit; a first universal serial bus (USB) port PTl for connecting to a first device DEl in a USB interface method; a second USB port PT2 for connecting to a second device DE2 in the USB interface method; an input unit 210 selecting the first and second devices DEl and DE2 as source and destination devices, respectively, and selecting data that is a target of transmission, from data of the first device DEl selected as the source device; a main controller 300, according to a selection via an input unit 210 of a user interface 200, controlling data transmission between the first device DEl and the second device DE2 and controlling screen display of state information while operating; a USB system 400, according to a data transmission control of the main controller 300, transmitting the data of the first device DEl to be transmitted to the second device DE2 by unit data in the USB interface method; a buffer memory 500, according to a control of the USB system 400, temporarily storing a predetermined transmission amount of the unit data in the data that is a target of transmission, between the first and second devices DEl and DE2; and a display unit 220 displaying information according to a control of the main controller 300.

[36]

[37] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the USB system 400 of FIG. 1.

[38] Referring to FIG. 2, the USB system 400 includes a USB management unit 410, according to the control of the main controller 300, controlling USB data transactions such as USB data bandwidth and USB power and controlling a start and an end of a data transaction task according to the selection of the user; a host/device control unit 420, according to a control of the USB management unit 410, performing a function of one of a USB host and a USB device, controlling a transmission of the data of the first device DEl to be transmitted, to the second device DE2 by the unit data, performing a read/write transaction to a destination device by using a data structure including information such as a USB device address, a type of transfer, a direction of transfer, and a memory buffer address; and a serial interface engine (SIE) 430, according to a control of the host/device control unit 420, transmitting the unit data passing through the first USB port PTl to the second USB port PT2 in series according to a USB data protocol.

[39]

[40] In this case, the data transaction indicates transferring data packets between a source and destination via a USB. The data packets include control information having a source, a destination, a transmission type, and a length, data and information related to error detection and correction.

[41] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the USB management unit 410 of FIG. 2.

[42] Referring to FIG. 3, the USB management unit 410 includes a USB client processor 411, according to control of the user interface 200 and main controller 300, generating input/output (I/O) request packets and requesting an input/output by using the I/O request packets to perform a transaction; a USB driver 412, according to properties of a preset destination device and a communication method using a USB, receiving the I/O request packets from the USB client processor 411 and generating a transaction corresponding to a kind of data communication to be performed, to continuously perform USB data input/output by microframes or frames according to the request of the I/O request packets; and a USB controller processor 413 scheduling a transaction list where a transaction transmitted via a USB port is formed of a data structure of a linked list connected to a memory based on information on the transaction from the USB driver 412.

[43]

[44] In this case, in the USB driver 412, a set-up for the individual transaction is formed to be suitable for properties of a USB device, a USB, and the USB client processor 411, which are presently formed. Also, the transaction list is formed to be suitable for the properties of the USB system and fetched and performed by the host/device control unit 420.

[45] The power supply unit 100 may be formed of a power supply using a solar cell.

[46] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of directly transmitting portable data according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[47] Referring to FIG. 4, a connection with a first device DEl and a second device DE2 to transmit data is recognized (SlOO). A user interface including an input unit and a display unit to standby are in a standby status (S200). The first device DEl as a source device is selected via the user interface (S300). A data structure of the first device DEl selected as the source device is displayed via the user interface, and information of data that is a target of transmission, the data selected from data displayed in the user interface, the information including a size of the data is recorded (S400 and S500). The second device DE2 is selected as a destination device (S600). The data that is a target of transmission, which is selected from the first device DEl, is read and temporarily stored by unit data of a preset transmission unit (S700). The temporarily stored unit data is transmitted to the second device DE2 (S 800). It is determined whether a transmission of the data that is a target of transmission, based on the information on the selected data that is a target of transmission, and the temporarily storing is performed again to transmit next unit data when the transmission is not finished (S910). It is determined whether to return to the allowing a user interface including an input unit and a display unit to standby, by considering whether the connection with the first and second devices DEl and DE2 is finished or not (S920).

[48]

[49] Hereinafter, operations and effects of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[50] Referring to FIG.l, the apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention employs a host function of controlling, transmitting and receiving data stored in a terminal to directly transmit data between terminals such as a memory stick and an MPEG player. In addition, such technologies are applied to a portable data transmitting and receiving management system, thereby enabling transmission and reception of data between conventional device terminals where it is not impossible to use the present technologies.

[51] [52] For example, , a control function and data check function to transmit data stored in first and second devices DEl and DE2 connected to first and second USB ports, respectively, a function of displaying data stored in a terminal using a display function of a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a control function thereof, a switch for enabling the data in the terminal to be selected and a control function thereof, a power generation function of its own using a solar cell to operate a series of such functions, and direct information exchange between terminals without a host system may be embodied by installing in the terminal or an additional portable data transmitting and receiving management system.

[53]

[54] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the portable direct data transmission apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. In FIG. 1, the power supply unit 100 supplies an operating power to each unit.

[55] In this case, the power supply unit 100 may be formed of a power supply using a solar cell, which is capable of providing power used to operate the apparatus, without additional power supply.

[56] Referring to FIG. 1, when the first device DEl is connected to the first USB port

PTl and the second device DE2 is connected to the second USB port PT2, the main controller 300 recognizes connections of the first and second devices DEl and DE2 via the USB system 400 connected to the first and second USB ports PTl and PT2 and controls the user interface 200 including an input unit 210 and the display unit 220 to be in a standby status.

[57]

[58] In this case, when the first device DEl is selected as a source device and the second device DE2 is selected as a destination device by a user via the input unit 210 of the user interface 200, the main controller 300 reads a data structure of the first device DEl via the USB system 400 and displays the data structure on the display unit 220.

[59] In this case, on the display unit 220, according to a control of the main controller

300, operation state information such as a synchronous mode, a transmission state, and a transmission termination is displayed.

[60]

[61] After that, when the user selects data that is a target of transmission, by considering the data structure displayed on the display unit 220, the main controller 300 controls a transmission of the selected data. According to the control of the main controller 300, the USB system 400 reads data by a preset unit from the selected data in the first device DEl corresponding to the source device and temporarily stores the data in the buffer memory 500. [62] The USB system 400 transmits the data temporarily stored in the buffer memory

500 to the second device DE2 corresponding to the destination device.

[63] Referring to FIG. 2, the USB management unit 410 of the USB system 400, according to the control of the main controller 300, controls works related to a USB data transaction, such as a USB data bandwidth and a bus power of a USB and controls a start and end of a data transaction task according to a selection of the user.

[64]

[65] In this case, the host/device control unit 420 of the USB system 400, appropriately to application of the apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, according to a control of the USB management unit 410, performs one of US host or USB device function and controls a transmission of the data that is a target of transmission, from the first device DEl to the second device DE2, by the unit data.

[66] Also, by using the data structure including information such as a USB device address, a type of transfer, a direction of transfer, and a buffer memory address, a read/ write transaction to the destination device is performed.

[67] The SIE 430 of the USB system 400, according to a control of the host/device control 420, transmits the unit data passing through the first USB port PTl to the second USB port PT2 in series according to a USB data protocol.

[68]

[69] Referring to FIG. 3, the USB client processor 411 of the USB management unit

410, according to the control of the user interface 200 and the main controller 300, generates and transmits I/O request packets to the USB driver 412 and requests input and output of data to perform a transaction.

[70] The USB driver 412 of the USB management unit 410, according to properties of a preset destination device and a communication method using a USB, receives the I/O request packets from the client processor 411 and generates a transaction corresponding to a type of a task to be performed, such as a data communication in such a way that USB data input and output are consecutively performed by microframes or frames according to the request by the VO request packets.

[71] Also, an individual transaction set-up in the USB driver 412 is made to be corresponding to properties of a USB, the USB driver 412, and the USB client processor

411, which are presently included. [72]

[73] Also, the Usb controller processor 413 schedules a transaction list formed of a data structure of a linked list, where a transaction transmitted via a USB port is connected to a memory, based on the transaction information.

[74] The transaction list is made to be suitable for USB system properties and fetched by the host/device control unit 420 to be performed. [75] Hereinafter, the method of directly transmitting the portable data, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

[76] Referring FIG. 4, in SlOO, a connection with the first device DEl and the second device DE2 for a data transmission is recognized.

[77] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, when the first and second devices DEl and DE2 are connected to the first and second USB ports PTl and PT2 of the portable direct data transmission apparatus, the main controller 300 recognizes the connection with the first and second devices DEl and DE2 via the USB system 400 connected to the first and second USB ports PTl and PT2. In this case, the apparatus completes a preparation task required for data exchange via a basic enumeration process between the first and second devices, controls the user interface 200 including the input unit 210 and the display unit 220 to be in a standby status, and waits for an input command via the user interface 200.

[78]

[79] In S200, the standby status of the user interface 200 including the input unit 210 and the display unit 220 is performed.

[80] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the user interface 200 including the input unit 210 and the display unit 220 is controlled to be in the standby status and waits for an input such as a selection of a source device, a selection of a destination device, and a selection of data by the user.

[81] In S300, the first device DEl is selected as a source device via the user interface

200.

[82] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, when the user selects the first device DEl as the source device via the input unit 210 of the user interface 200, the main controller 300 recognizes a selection of the first device DEl as the source device via the USB system 400.

[83] In S400 and S500, a data structure of the first device DEl selected as the source device is displayed via the user interface 200, and information of data that is a target of transmission, the information including a size of the data that is a target of transmission, selected from the data displayed on the user interface 200, is recorded.

[84] That is, referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the main controller 300 reads the data structure of the first device DEl via the USB system 400 and displays the data structure on the display unit 220 of the user interface 200. After that, when the user selects the data that is a target of transmission, from the data in the first device DEl after checking the data structure displayed on the display unit 220, the main controller 300 records the information of the selected data. In this case, the information of the data includes a data size, a file format, and a generative date. [85] In S600, the second device DE2 is selected as a destination device.

[86]

[87] That is, referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the second device DE2 may be selected as the destination device by the user via the input unit 210 of the user interface 200. On the other hand, the second device DE2 that is another in addition to the first device DEl selected as the source device from the first and second devices DEl and DE2 may be automatically selected as the destination device.

[88]

[89] In this case, the main controller 300 of FIG. 1 controls a data selection and a data transmission direction for information transmission and reception, controls a signal required for operating each internal functional block, and controls the display unit of an LCD to visually check not only data selected when transmitting and receiving data but also data in storage units of the first and second devices DEl and DE2.

[90] In S700, the selected data that is a target of transmission is read by a unit data of a preset transmission unit from the first device DEl and temporarily stored.

[91] That is, referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, when the main controller 300 controls a transmission of the selected data, according to the control of the main controller 300, the USB system 400 reads the data of the preset unit from the selected data from the first device DEl and temporarily stores the data in the buffer memory 500.

[92]

[93] In 800, the unit data temporarily stored is transmitted to the second device DE2.

[94] That is, referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the USB system 400 transmits the data temporarily stored in the buffer memory 500 to the second device DE2 corresponding to the destination device.

[95] In S910, it is determined whether the transmission of the data that is a target of transmission is finished, based on the information of the selected data that is a target of transmission. When the transmission is not finished, S700 is performed to transmit next unit data.

[96]

[97] That is, referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, based on the information of the selected data that is a target of transmission, it is determined whether the transmission of the entire of the selected data is finished. When the transmission is not finished, S700 is performed to transmit next unit data.

[98] In S920, when the transmission of the data that is a target of transmission is finished while the connection with the first and second devices DEl and DE2 is not released, S200 is performed to wait for an input of the user. On the other hand, when the first and second devices DEl and DE2 are separated from the first and second USB ports PTl and PT2, the operations of the method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is finished.

[99]

[100] As described above, the apparatus according to the present invention may be used as a terminal in charge of only control required for data exchange between different terminals. Also, the apparatus may be applied to a mobile communication device such as a mobile phone. In addition, in a terminal receiving information, information may be received and stored according to an existing information storage mechanism, there may be no limitation on time and place, and mobility of the terminal may be more improved.

[101]

[102] Particularly, information between mobile terminals having a data storage function such as a memory stick and an MPEG player is capable of being directly exchanged by using only the terminals themselves or a simple portable data transmitting and receiving management system, without a data storage process in a system device having a host function such as a personal computer. Without conventional data storage and transmission processes via an additional system device, data stored in a terminal is capable of being directly selected or transmitted by using a simple portable data transmitting and receiving apparatus to another terminal, thereby providing great efficiency in an aspect of time and space.

[103]

[104] While the present invention has been shown and described in connection with the exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

[1] A direct information exchange apparatus for a portable device, the apparatus comprising: a power supply unit 100 supplying power to operate each unit; a first universal serial bus (USB) port PTl for connecting to a first device DEl in a USB interface method; a second USB port PT2 for connecting to a second device DE2 in the USB interface method; an input unit 210 selecting the first and second devices DEl and DE2 as source and destination devices, respectively, and selecting data that is a target of transmission, from data of the first device DEl selected as the source device; a main controller 300, according to a selection of a user via the input unit 210 of a user interface 200, controlling data transmission between the first device DEl and the second device DE2 and controlling screen display of state information while operating; a USB system 400, according to a data transmission control of the main controller 300, transmitting the data of the first device DEl to be transmitted to the second device DE2 by unit data in the USB interface method; a buffer memory 500, according to a control of the USB system 400, temporarily storing a predetermined transmission amount of the unit data in the data that is a target of transmission, between the first and second devices DEl and DE2; and a display unit 220 displaying information according to a control of the main controller 300.

[2] The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the USB system 400 comprises: a USB management unit 410, according to the control of the main controller 300, controlling USB data transactions such as USB data bandwidth and USB power and controlling a start and an end of a data transaction task according to the selection of the user; a host/device control unit 420, according to a control of the USB management unit 410, performing a function of one of a USB host and a USB device, controlling a transmission of the data of the first device DEl to be transmitted, to the second device DE2 by the unit data, performing a read/write transaction to a destination device by using a data structure including information such as a USB device address, a type of transfer, a direction of transfer, and a memory buffer address; and a serial interface engine (SIE) 430, according to a control of the host/device control unit 420, transmitting the unit data passing through the first USB port PTl to the second USB port PT2 in series according to a USB data protocol.

[3] The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the USB management unit 410 comprises: a USB client processor 411, according to control of the user interface 200 and main controller 300, generating input/output (I/O) request packets and requesting an input/output by using the I/O request packets to perform a transaction; a USB driver 412, according to properties of a preset destination device and a communication method using a USB, receiving the I/O request packets from the USB client processor 411 and generating a transaction corresponding to a kind of data communication to be performed, to continuously perform USB data input/ output by microframes or frames according to the request of the VO request packets; and a USB controller processor 413 scheduling a transaction list where a transaction transmitted via a USB port is formed of a data structure of a linked list connected to a memory based on information on the transaction from the USB driver 412.

[4] The apparatus of claim 1, wherein power supply unit 100 is formed of a power supply using a solar cell.

[5] A mobile phone apparatus comprising the direct information exchange apparatus of claim 1.

[6] A method of directly transmitting portable data, the method comprising: recognizing a connection with a first device DEl and a second device DE2 to transmit data (SlOO); allowing a user interface including an input unit and a display unit to standby (S200); selecting the first device DEl as a source device via the user interface (S300); displaying a data structure of the first device DEl selected as the source device, via the user interface, and recording information of data that is a target of transmission, the data selected from data displayed in the user interface, the information including a size of the data (S400 and S500); selecting the second device DE2 as a destination device (S600); reading and temporarily storing the data that is a target of transmission, which is selected from the first device DEl, by unit data of a preset transmission unit (S700); transmitting the temporarily stored unit data to the second device DE2; and determining whether a transmission of the data that is a target of transmission is finished, based on the information on the selected data that is a target of transmission, and performing the temporarily storing again to transmit next unit data when the transmission is not finished (S910).

[7] The method of claim 6, further comprising determining whether to return to the allowing a user interface including an input unit and a display unit to standby, by considering whether the connection with the first and second devices DEl and DE2 is finished or not (S920).

[8] The method of claim 6, wherein, in the selecting the second device DE2 as a destination device (S600), between the first and second devices DEl and DE2, the second device is automatically selected as the destination device.