Electronic flash memory external storage method and device

Abstract

An electronic flash memory external storage method and device for data processing system, includes firmware which directly controls the access of electronic storage media and implements standard interface functions, adopts particular reading and writing formats of the external storage media, receives power via USB, externally stores date by flash memory and access control circuit 2 with the cooperation of the firmware, driver and operating system, and has write-protection so that the data can be safely transferred. The method according to present invention is highly efficient and all parts involved are assembled as a monolithic piece so that it has large-capacity with small size and high speed. The device operates in statistic state and is driven by software. It is plug-and-play and adapted to data processing system.

1 . A computer readable medium encoded with a computer readable program that executes a process for exchanging or storing data between a host data processing system and a portable external storage device, comprising: 
 initializing said portable external storage device coordinated with a device driver upon plugging said portable external storage device into said host data processing system and establishing a device symbol;    converting and packaging instructions from said host data processing system into special instructions for said portable external storage device in a format of USB or IEEE 1394 standard;    sending said special instructions to the firmware of a microprocessor of said portable external storage device;    executing said special instructions by said microprocessor to exchanging data with a flash memory storage module;    returning and displaying the result and status information to said host data processing system;    removing automatically the device symbol from said host data processing system upon pulled out said portable external storage device from said host data processing system,    wherein the initializing further comprises,    establishing a DC power supply to said portable external storage device through a USB or IEEE 1394 bus interface;    generating an interruption request by said microprocessor;    establishing connection between said portable external storage device and said host data processing system;    notifying a operating system resided in said host data processing system to assign the device symbol for said portable external storage device; and    displaying said device symbol for said portable external storage device.