Method of monitoring host activity

Abstract

A method of using a device, including monitoring host activity in an autonomous manner, without the host reporting to the device about its activity. The method also including initiating communications from the device and using resources of the host for such communications, thereby enabling the device to function as a proactive device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of operating operation in a memory card, the method comprising:
 while the memory card is coupled to a host device, performing by the memory card: receiving power from a the host device;   sending information from the memory card to the host device wherein the memory card is utilized by the host device utilizes the memory card as a storage device and wherein the host device includes i) a CPU, ii) a network communication interface and iii) a power supply line for supplying power to the memory card;   determining a level of host device activity including a current CPU load of the host device or a current utilization of the network communication interface by the host device, wherein determining the level of the host device activity further includes one or more of determining a responsiveness of the host device, determining a polling rate of the host device, and determining a noise level of the power supply line; and   based upon the determined level of the host device activity, requesting the host device to provide the memory card a communication link via the network communication interface for the memory card to communicate with a remote device different from said host device,   wherein the determining includes monitoring radio frequency activity of the host device wherein the radio frequency activity is correlated to the current utilization of the network communication interface on the host device.   
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising regulating communication out of the memory card using the resources of the host device, according to the monitored host device activity. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the host device activity corresponds to a CPU load of the host device. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the host device activity corresponds to a network related activity of the host device. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency emission activity is an indication of cellular activity. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining includes determining a responsiveness of the host device wherein the responsiveness is correlated to the current CPU load of the CPU. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining includes determining a polling rate of the host device wherein the polling rate is correlated to the current CPU load of the CPU. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining includes determining noise level on the power supply line of the host device wherein said noise level is correlated to the current CPU load of the CPU. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising controlling operation of the host device according to the determined level of the host device activity. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the memory card comprises control circuitry including a memory controller, and wherein the determining is performed by the control circuitry. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the memory controller controls a flash memory. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising delaying the requesting when the level of the host device activity is determined to be high. 
     
     
       13. A memory card comprising:
 a memory; 
 a communication interface that allows the memory card to communicate with a host device; 
 a power supply line that allows the memory card to receive power from the host device; and 
 a controller coupled to the memory, the communication interface and the power supply line, said controller designed or configured to:
 1) send information from the memory card to a the host device via the communication interface wherein the host device utilizes the memory card as a storage device and wherein the host device includes i) a CPU and ii) a network communication interface separate from the memory card; 
 2) determine a level of host device activity including a current CPU load of the host device or a current utilization of the network communication interface by the host device, wherein determining the level of the host device activity further includes one or more of determining a responsiveness of the host device, determining a polling rate of the host device, and determining a noise level of the power supply line; and 
 3) based upon the determined level of the host device activity, request the host device to provide the memory card a communication link via the network communication interface for the memory card to communicate with a remote device different from said host device, wherein the determining includes monitoring radio frequency activity of the host device wherein the radio frequency activity is correlated to the current utilization of the network communication interface on the host device. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The memory card of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is further designed or configured to determine a responsiveness of the host device wherein the responsiveness is correlated to the current CPU load of the CPU. 
     
     
       15. The method memory card of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is further designed or configured to determine a polling rate of the host device wherein the polling rate is correlated to the current CPU load of the CPU. 
     
     
       16. The method memory card of claim  1  13, wherein the controller is further designed or configured to determine a noise level on the power supply line of the host device wherein said noise level is correlated to the current CPU load of the CPU. 
     
     
       17. A non-transient computer readable medium for storing computer code executable by a controller in a memory card configured to receive power from a host device, the non-transient computer readable medium comprising:
 computer code for sending information from the memory card to the host device wherein the memory card is utilized by the host device utilizes the memory card as a storage device and wherein the host device includes i) a CPU, ii) a network communication interface and iii) a power supply line for supplying power to the memory card; 
 computer code for determining a level of host device activity including a current CPU load on the host device or a current utilization of the network communication interface by the host device, wherein determining the level of the host device activity further includes one or more of determining a responsiveness of the host device, determining a polling rate of the host device, and determining a noise level of the power supply line; and 
 computer code for, based upon the determined level of the host device activity, requesting the host device to provide the memory card a communication link via the network communication interface for the memory card to communicate with a remote device different from said host device, 
 wherein the determining includes monitoring radio frequency activity of the host device wherein the radio frequency activity is correlated to the current utilization of the network communication interface on the host device. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory card includes a non-volatile memory having a three-dimensional (3D) memory configuration, and wherein the memory card includes a controller associated with operation of memory cells of the non-volatile memory. 
     
     
       19. The memory card of claim 13, wherein the memory includes a non-volatile memory having a three-dimensional (3D) memory configuration, and wherein the controller is associated with operation of storage elements of the non-volatile memory. 
     
     
       20. The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the memory card includes a non-volatile memory having a three-dimensional (3D) memory configuration, and wherein the controller is associated with operation of storage elements of the non-volatile memory.