Portable handheld memory card and methods for use therewith
View Patent ↗In one embodiment, a portable handheld memory card may include a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, USB controller circuitry, an input/output (I/O) port, a memory, and decompression circuitry configured to decompress compressed data stored in the memory. The memory card includes a housing storing the memory and exposing the USB port and the I/O port. The USB port and I/O port may be positioned to allow a same card-insertion direction irrespective of whether a host device comprises a mating USB port or a mating I/O port. In another embodiment, the memory card includes decryption circuitry to decrypt encrypted data stored in the memory, a power management unit, a host interface module, and circuitry configured to control read and write operations to the memory. The I/O port may include a Secure Digital port, and the memory may include Flash memory. Other embodiments are provided, and each of the embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.
1. A portable handheld memory card comprising:
a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port comprising a first set of pins;
USB controller circuitry electrically connected with the first set of pins of the USB port;
an input/output (I/O) port comprising a second set of pins;
I/O controller circuitry electrically connected with the second set of pins of the I/O port;
a memory in communication with the USB port and the I/O port; and
a housing storing the memory and exposing the USB port and the I/O port;
wherein the USB port and the I/O port are positioned on a same end to allow a same card-insertion direction irrespective of whether a host device comprises a mating USB port or a mating I/O port; and
wherein the USB port and the I/O port are positioned such that when the I/O port is electrically connected with the host device, at least one of the first set of pins of the USB port is not electrically connected to the host device, and when the USB port is electrically connected to the host device, at least one of the second set of pins of the I/O port is not electrically connected to the host device.
2. The portable handheld memory card of claim 1 further comprising:
decryption circuitry in communication with the memory and configured to decrypt encrypted data stored in the memory.
3. The portable handheld memory card of claim 1 further comprising:
decompression circuitry configured to decompress compressed data stored in the memory.
4. The portable handheld memory card of claim 1 further comprising:
a power management unit in communication with the USB controller circuitry.
5. The portable handheld memory card of claim 1 further comprising:
a host interface module in communication with the I/O port.
6. The portable handheld memory card of claim 1 further comprising:
circuitry configured to control read and write operations to the memory.
7. The portable handheld memory card of claim 1 , wherein the I/O port comprises a Secure Digital port.
8. The portable handheld memory card of claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises Flash memory.
9. A method comprising:
with a portable handheld card comprising a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port comprising a first set of pins; USB controller circuitry electrically connected with the first set of pins of the USB port; an input/output (I/O) port comprising a second set of pins; I/O controller circuitry electrically connected with the second set of pins of the I/O port; a memory in communication with the USB port and the I/O port; and a housing storing the memory and exposing the USB port and the I/O port, wherein the USB port and the I/O port are positioned to allow a same card-insertion direction irrespective of whether a host device comprises a mating USB port or a mating I/O port and wherein the USB port and the I/O port are positioned such that when the I/O port is electrically connected with the host device, at least one of the first set of pins of the USB port is not electrically connected to the host device, and when the USB port is electrically connected to the host device, at least one of the second set of pins of the I/O port is not electrically connected to the host device:
reading compressed data from the memory
decompressing the compressed data to decompressed data;
transmitting the decompressed data on the I/O port;
converting the compressed data to first converted data for transmission on the USB port; and
transmitting the first converted data on the USB port.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
reading encrypted data from the memory;
decrypting the encrypted data to decrypted data; and
transmitting the decrypted data on the I/O port.
11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
converting a first voltage of the USB port to a second voltage of the portable handheld memory card.
12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
converting the decompressed data to second converted data for transmission on the I/O port; and
transmitting the second converted data on the I/O port.
13. The method of claim 9 further comprising: controlling reading and writing to the memory.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the I/O port comprises a Secure Digital port.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the memory comprises Flash memory.
16. A method comprising:
with a portable handheld card comprising a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port comprising a first set of pins; USB controller circuitry electrically connected with the first set of pins of the USB port; an input/output (I/O) port comprising a second set of pins; I/O controller circuitry electrically connected with the second set of pins of the I/O port; a memory in communication with the USB port and the I/O port; and a housing storing the memory and exposing the USB port and the I/O port, wherein the USB port and the I/O port are positioned to allow a same card-insertion direction irrespective of whether a host device comprises a mating USB port or a mating I/O port and wherein the USB port and the I/O port are positioned such that when the I/O port is electrically connected with the host device, at least one of the first set of pins of the USB port is not electrically connected to the host device, and when the USB port is electrically connected to the host device, at least one of the second set of pins of the I/O port is not electrically connected to the host device:
reading data from the memory;
determining whether the data is to be transmitted via the USB port or I/O port; and
transmitting the data to the host device via the determined port.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the data is encrypted data, and wherein the method further comprises:
decrypting the encrypted data to decrypted data.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the data is compressed data, and wherein the method further comprises:
decompressing the compressed data to decompressed data.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:
converting the decompressed data to second converted data for transmission.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the I/O port comprises a Secure Digital port.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the memory comprises Flash memory.
22. The method of claim 18 further comprising:
converting the compressed data to first converted data for transmission.
23. The portable handheld memory card of claim 1 , wherein at least two pins of the USB port are parallel to at least two pins of the I/O port.
24. The portable handheld memory card of claim 1 , wherein layout for the USB port is different from layout of the I/O port.
25. The portable handheld memory card of claim 24 , wherein the I/O port is configured for mating with an external port.
26. The portable handheld memory card of claim 1 , wherein all of the first set of pins electrically connected with the USB controller circuitry is not electrically connected to the I/O controller circuitry.
27. The portable handheld memory card of claim 1 , wherein the USB port comprises multiple data lines;
wherein the first set of pins comprise multiple data pins connected to the multiple data lines; and
wherein all of the multiple data pins are not electrically connected to the I/O controller circuitry.