Communications cable for a storage device
View Patent ↗A communications cable including a first communications interface configured to be connected to a storage device, a second communications interface configured to receive data and power, a wireless access module configured to be powered by the power received by the second communications interface and to enable wireless access of the storage device, and a cable unit including one or more cables and configured to connect the wireless access module to the first communications interface and the second communications interface, and the first communications interface to the second communications interface.
1. A communications device comprising:
a first cable connected to a first communications interface connector at a first end, the first communications interface connector being configured to be connected to a data storage device;
a second cable connected to a second communications interface connector at a first end, the second communications interface connector configured to be connected to a host device and receive data and power therefrom; and
a housing fixed to a second end of the first cable and a second end of the second cable, the housing having disposed therein a wireless access device configured to be powered by the power received by the second communications interface connector and to enable wireless access of the data storage device.
2. The communications device of claim 1 wherein the second communications interface connector is configured to be connected to a host or a power supply unit.
3. The communications cable of claim 2 wherein the wireless access device is configured to enable wireless access of the data storage device when the second communications interface connector is connected to the power supply unit.
4. The communications device of claim 2 wherein the wireless access device is configured to disable wireless access of the data storage device when the second communications interface connector is connected to the host.
5. The communications device of claim 2 wherein the second communications interface connector is configured to enable direct access of the data storage device when the second communications interface connector is connected to the host.
6. The communications device of claim 1 wherein the wireless access device comprises a bridge unit, and the wireless access device is configured to enable wireless access to the data storage device using the bridge unit.
7. The communications device of claim 1 wherein the second communications interface connector is configured to receive data from a serial bus.
8. The communications device of claim 1 wherein the second communications interface connector is configured to receive power from a power bus line.
9. The communications device of claim 1 wherein the first communications interface connector is configured to receive power from the data storage device over the first communications interface connector, and the wireless access device is configured to be powered by the power received by the first communications interface connector.
10. The communications device of claim 1 wherein the first communications interface connector, the second communications interface connector, the wireless access device, the first cable and the second cable form a single integrated cable structure.
11. A method for accessing a storage device comprising:
detecting when a first communications interface connector is connected to a storage device, the first communications interface connector being connected to a first cable at a first end of the first cable;
receiving power at a second communications interface connector, wherein the second communications interface connector is configured to receive data, and wherein the second communications interface connector is connected to a second cable at a first end of the second cable;
powering a wireless access device using power received by the second communications interface connector, wherein the wireless access device is disposed within a housing that is fixed to a second end of the first cable and a second end of the second cable; and
enabling wireless access to the storage device using the wireless access device.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
detecting when the second communications interface connector is connected to a power supply unit; and
enabling wireless access of the storage device using the wireless access device when the second communications interface connector is connected to the power supply unit.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
detecting when the second communications interface connector is connected to a host; and
disabling wireless access of the storage device using the wireless access device when the second communications interface connector is connected to the host.
14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
detecting when the second communications interface connector is connected to a host; and
enabling direct access of the storage device using the second communications interface connector when the second communications interface is connected to the host.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein the wireless access device comprises a bridge unit, and the wireless access device is configured to enable wireless access to the storage device using the bridge unit.
16. The method of claim 11 further comprising receiving data at the second communications interface connector from a serial bus.
17. The method of claim 11 further comprising receiving power at the second communications interface connector from a power bus line.
18. A storage system comprising:
a data storage device comprising at least one of a magnetic recording disk or a solid state memory; and
a communications device configured to connect to the data storage device, the communications device comprising:
a first cable connected to a first communications interface connector at a first end, the first communications interface connector being configured to be connected to the data storage device;
a second cable connected to a second communications interface connector at a first end, the second communications interface connector configured to be connected to a host device and receive data and power therefrom; and
a housing fixed to a second end of the first cable and a second end of the second cable, the housing having disposed therein a wireless access device configured to be powered by the power received by the second communications interface connector and to enable wireless access of the data storage device.
19. The storage system of claim 18 wherein the second communications interface connector is configured to be connected to a host or a power supply unit.
20. The storage system of claim 19 wherein the wireless access device is configured to enable wireless access of the storage device when the second communications interface connector is connected to the power supply unit.
21. The storage system of claim 19 wherein the wireless access device is configured to disable wireless access of the storage device when the second communications interface connector is connected to the host.
22. The storage system of claim 19 wherein the second communications interface connector is configured to enable direct access of the storage device when the second communications interface connector is connected to the host.
23. The storage system claim 18 wherein the wireless access device comprises a bridge unit, and the wireless access device is configured to enable wireless access to the storage device using the bridge unit.
24. The storage system of claim 18 wherein the second communications interface connector is configured to receive data from a serial bus.
25. The storage system of claim 18 wherein the second communications interface connector is configured to receive power from a power bus line.