Method and storage apparatus for switching data transmission path to transmit data

Abstract

A method and a storage apparatus for switching a data transmission path to transmit data are provided. The storage apparatus comprises a storage element, an interface connector, a connector control interface connected with the storage element and the interface connector, a wireless transmission module, and an apparatus controller connected with the storage element and the wireless transmission module. In the method, the apparatus controller receives a connection request from a remote apparatus by using the wireless transmission module, and accordingly transmits an inquiry message to the remote apparatus to ask whether to establish a wireless data transmission path. When a confirmation message returned from the remote apparatus is received, the apparatus controller closes the connector control interface and establishes a wireless data transmission path to provide the remote apparatus to access the data in the storage element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for switching a data transmission path to transmit data, adapted to a storage apparatus, wherein the storage apparatus comprises a storage element, an interface connector, a connector control interface connected with the storage element and the interface connector, a wireless transmission module, and an apparatus controller connected with the storage element and the wireless transmission module, the method comprising:
 receiving a connection request from a remote apparatus by using the wireless transmission module;   the apparatus controller receiving the connection request, and sending a first inquiry message to the remote apparatus by using the wireless transmission module to ask whether to establish a wireless data transmission path; and   the apparatus controller receiving a confirmation message returned from the remote apparatus by using the wireless transmission module, and accordingly closing the connector control interface and establishing the wireless data transmission path to provide the remote apparatus to access data in the storage element.   
     
     
         2 . The method for switching the data transmission path to transmit data as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the connector control interface is an interface controller. 
     
     
         3 . The method for switching the data transmission path to transmit data as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the connector control interface is a control interface in the apparatus controller that simulates an interface controller. 
     
     
         4 . The method for switching the data transmission path to transmit data as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a method for closing the connector control interface comprises turning off a power supplied to the connector control interface. 
     
     
         5 . The method for switching the data transmission path to transmit data as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein after the step of sending the first inquiry message to the remote apparatus to ask whether to establish the wireless data transmission path, the method further comprises:
 determining whether the confirmation message is received within a predetermined time, and   cancelling the connection request for establishing the wireless data transmission path when the confirmation message is not received within the predetermined time.   
     
     
         6 . The method for switching the data transmission path to transmit data as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein after the step of sending the first inquiry message to the remote apparatus to ask whether to establish the wireless data transmission path, the method further comprises:
 receiving a cancel message returned from the remote apparatus, and accordingly cancelling the connection request for establishing the wireless data transmission path.   
     
     
         7 . The method for switching the data transmission path to transmit data as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein after the step of establishing the wireless data transmission path to provide the remote apparatus to access data in the storage element, the method further comprises:
 the apparatus controller determining whether an external apparatus is connected to the interface connector;   the apparatus controller sending a second inquiry message to the remote apparatus to ask whether to switch a data transmission path when determining that the external apparatus is connected; and   the apparatus controller activating the connector control interface when receiving the confirmation message returned from the remote apparatus, so as to establish a wired data transmission path and interrupt the wireless data transmission path.   
     
     
         8 . The method for switching the data transmission path to transmit data as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the step of interrupting the wireless data transmission path comprises:
 disconnecting a connection between the apparatus controller and the storage element to interrupt the wireless data transmission path.   
     
     
         9 . The method for switching the data transmission path to transmit data as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the step of interrupting the wireless data transmission path comprises:
 disconnecting a connection between a wireless signal control interface of the apparatus controller and the storage element to interrupt the wireless data transmission path.   
     
     
         10 . The method for switching the data transmission path to transmit data as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein after the step of sending the second inquiry message to the remote apparatus to ask whether to switch the data transmission path, the method further comprises:
 determining whether the confirmation message is received within the predetermined time; and   cancelling establishment of the wired data transmission path when the confirmation message is not received within the predetermined time.   
     
     
         11 . The method for switching the data transmission path to transmit data as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein after the step of sending the second inquiry message to the remote apparatus to ask whether to switch the data transmission path, the method further comprises:
 receiving a cancel message returned from the remote apparatus, so as to cancel establishment of the wired data transmission path.   
     
     
         12 . The method for switching the data transmission path to transmit data as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein after the step of receiving the connection request from the remote apparatus by using the wireless transmission module, the method further comprises:
 the apparatus controller receiving the connection request, and determining whether an external apparatus is connected to a wired data transmission path established by the interface connector;   the apparatus controller directly accepting the connection request, establishing the wireless data transmission path, and closing the connector control interface to close the wired path when determining that none wired data transmission path exists between the storage apparatus and the external apparatus;   the apparatus controller determining whether the wired data transmission path is in an idle state when determining that the wired data transmission path exists between the storage apparatus and the external apparatus;   the apparatus controller directly accepting the connection request, establishing the wireless data transmission path, and closing the connector control interface to close the wired path when determining that the wired data transmission path is in the idle state; and   the apparatus controller sending the first inquiry message to the remote apparatus by using the wireless transmission module, so as to ask whether to establish the wireless data transmission path when determining that the wired data transmission path is not in the idle state.   
     
     
         13 . The method for switching the data transmission path to transmit data as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the idle sate is a state that the wired data transmission path is not used to transmit data. 
     
     
         14 . The method for switching the data transmission path to transmit data as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the step of the apparatus controller determining whether the wired data transmission path is in the idle state further comprises:
 the apparatus controller determining whether the wired data transmission path is in the idle state over a predetermined time; and   the apparatus controller directly accepting the connection request, establishing the wireless data transmission path, and closing the connector control interface to close the wired path when a time of the idle state is greater than the predetermined time.   
     
     
         15 . The method for switching the data transmission path to transmit data as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the interface connector and the connector control interface support interface standards of universal serial bus (USB), firewire and thunderbolt. 
     
     
         16 . The method for switching the data transmission path to transmit data as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the wireless transmission module is an apparatus supporting signal transceiving of a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system, a global system for mobile communication (GSM), a personal handy-phone system (PHS), a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) system or bluetooth. 
     
     
         17 . A storage apparatus, comprising:
 a storage element;   an interface connector;   a connector control interface, connected with the storage element and the interface connector;   a wireless transmission module; and   an apparatus controller, connected with the storage element and the wireless transmission module, and configured to receive a connection request from a remote apparatus by using the wireless transmission module, and accordingly send a first inquiry message to the remote apparatus to ask whether to establish a wireless data transmission path,   wherein when the apparatus controller receives a confirmation message returned from the remote apparatus, the apparatus controller closes the connector control interface and establishes the wireless data transmission path with the remote apparatus by using the wireless transmission module, so as to provide the remote apparatus to access data in the storage element.   
     
     
         18 . The storage apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the connector control interface is an interface controller. 
     
     
         19 . The storage apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the connector control interface is a control interface in the apparatus controller that simulates an interface controller. 
     
     
         20 . The storage apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein a method for closing the connector control interface comprises turning off a power supplied to the connector control interface. 
     
     
         21 . The storage apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the apparatus controller further determines whether the confirmation message is received within a predetermined time, and cancels the connection request for establishing the wireless data transmission path when the confirmation message is not received within the predetermined time. 
     
     
         22 . The storage apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the apparatus controller further receives a cancel message returned from the remote apparatus, so as to cancel the connection request for establishing the wireless data transmission path. 
     
     
         23 . The storage apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a power switch, coupled to the power, the connector control interface and the apparatus controller, and configured to receive a control signal of the apparatus controller, so as to turn off or turn on the power supplied to the connector control interface.   
     
     
         24 . The storage apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a data switch, disposed between the connector control interface, the apparatus controller and the storage element, and configured to receive a control signal of the apparatus controller, so as to establish or switch a data connection between the storage element and the connector control interface and the apparatus controller.   
     
     
         25 . The storage apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a data switch, disposed between the apparatus controller and the storage element, and configured to establish or switch a data connection between the storage element and the connector control interface and a wireless signal control interface according to a control signal of the apparatus controller.   
     
     
         26 . The storage apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the connector control interface and the wireless signal control interface are all disposed in the apparatus controller. 
     
     
         27 . The storage apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the connector control interface detects whether an external apparatus is connected, and accordingly sends a connection signal to the apparatus controller, and the apparatus controller further sends a second inquiry message to the remote apparatus to ask whether to switch a data transmission path when receiving the connection signal, and receives the confirmation message returned from the remote apparatus to accordingly turn on the power supplied to the connector control interface, so as to establish a wired data transmission path and interrupts the wireless data transmission path. 
     
     
         28 . The storage apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the apparatus controller disconnects a connection between the apparatus controller and the storage element to interrupt the wireless data transmission path. 
     
     
         29 . The storage apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the apparatus controller disconnects a connection between a wireless signal control interface of the apparatus controller and the storage element to interrupt the wireless data transmission path. 
     
     
         30 . The storage apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the apparatus controller further determines whether the confirmation message is received within the predetermined time, and cancels establishment of the wired data transmission path when the confirmation message is not received within the predetermined time. 
     
     
         31 . The storage apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the apparatus controller further receives a cancel message returned from the remote apparatus, and accordingly cancels establishment of the wired data transmission path. 
     
     
         32 . The storage apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the interface connector and the connector control interface support interface standards of universal serial bus (USB), firewire and thunderbolt. 
     
     
         33 . The storage apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the wireless transmission module is an apparatus supporting signal transceiving of a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system, a global system for mobile communication (GSM), a personal handy-phone system (PHS), a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) system or bluetooth.