Flexible interface

Abstract

An interface device ( 10 ) provides fast data communication between a host device with input/output interfaces and a data transmit/receive device, wherein the interface device ( 10 ) comprises a processor means ( 13 ), a memory means ( 14 ), a first connecting device ( 12 ) for interfacing the host device with the interface device, and a second connecting device ( 15 ) for interfacing the interface device ( 10 ) with the data transmit/receive device. The interface device ( 10 ) is configured by the processor means ( 13 ) and the memory means ( 14 ) in such a way that, when receiving an inquiry from the host device via the first connecting device ( 12 ) as to the type of a device attached to the host device, regardless of the type of the data transmit/receive device, the interface device sends a signal to the host device via the first connecting device ( 12 ) which signals to the host device that it is communicating with an input/output device.

1 . An interface device ( 10 ) for communication between a host device, which comprises drivers for input/output devices customary in a host device and a multi-purpose interface, and a data transmit/receive device comprising the following features: 
 a processor means ( 13 ;  1300 ,  1320 );    a memory means ( 14 ;  1400 ,  1420 ,  1440 );    a first connecting device ( 12 ;  1220 ,  1240 ,  1260 ,  1280 ) for interfacing the host device with the interface device ( 10 ) via the multi-purpose interface of the host device; and    a second connecting device ( 15 ;  1505 - 1535 ) for interfacing the interface device ( 10 ) with the data transmit/receive device,    wherein the interface device ( 10 ) is configured by the processor means ( 13 ;  1300 ,  1320 ) and the memory means ( 14 ;  1400 ,  1420 ,  1440 ) in such a way that the interface device, when receiving an inquiry from the host device as to the type of a device attached to the multi-purpose interface of the host device, sends a signal, regardless of the type of the data transmit/receive device attached to the second connecting device ( 15 ;  1505 - 1535 ) of the interface device ( 10 ), to the host device which signals to the host device that it is an input/output device customary in a host device, whereupon the host device communicates with the interface device ( 10 ) by means of the driver for the input/output device customary in a host device.    
     
     
         2 . An interface device ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the drivers for input/output drivers customary in a host device comprise a hard disk driver, and the signal indicates to the host device that the host device is communicating with a hard disk.    
     
     
         3 . An interface device ( 10 ) according to  claim 1  or  2 , 
 wherein the memory means comprises a buffer ( 1420 ) to buffer data to be transferred between the data transmit/receive device and the host device.    
     
     
         4 . An interface device ( 10 ) according to one of the preceding claims, 
 wherein the multi-purpose interface of the host device is an SCSI interface and the first connecting device also comprises an SCSI interface ( 1220 ).    
     
     
         5 . An interface device ( 10 ) according to one of the preceding claims, 
 wherein the second connecting device comprises an analog input ( 1505 ) with a subsequent A/D converter ( 1530 ) in order to transfer analog data to the host device from a data transmit/receive device connectable to the analog device ( 1505 ).    
     
     
         6 . An interface device ( 10 ) according to one of the preceding claims, 
 wherein the processor means ( 13 ) is a digital signal processor ( 1300 ).    
     
     
         7 . An interface device ( 10 ) according to one of the  claims 2  to  6 , 
 wherein the data to be transferred from the data transmit/receive device to the host device in the interface device ( 10 ) is formatted in a suitable format for a hard disk present in the host device.    
     
     
         8 . An interface device ( 10 ) according to one of the  claims 2  to  7 , 
 which further comprises a root directory and virtual files which are present on the signaled hard disk drive and which can be accessed from the host device.    
     
     
         9 . An interface device ( 10 ) according to  claim 8 , 
 wherein the virtual files comprise a configuration file in text format which are stored in the memory means ( 14 ) and using which the user can configure the interface device ( 10 ) for a specific data transmit/receive device.    
     
     
         10 . An interface device ( 10 ) according to  claim 8  or  9 , 
 wherein the virtual files comprise batch files or executable files for the microprocessor means which are stored in the interface device ( 10 ) in order to perform data processing, independently of the host device, of data received via the second connecting device ( 15 ;  1505 - 1535 ).    
     
     
         11 . An interface device ( 10 ) according to  claim 8  or  9 , 
 wherein the virtual files comprise batch files or executable files for the host device which are stored in the interface device ( 10 ).    
     
     
         12 . An interface device ( 10 ) for communication between a host device, which comprises a multi-purpose interface and a specific driver for this interface, and a data transmit/receive device comprising the following features: 
 a processor means ( 13 ;  1300 ,  1320 );    a memory means ( 14 ;  1400 ,  1420 ,  1440 );    a first connecting device ( 12 ;  1220 ,  1240 ,  1260 ,  1280 ) for interfacing the host device with the interface device ( 10 ) via the multi-purpose interface of the host device; and    a second connecting device ( 15 ;  1505 - 1535 ) for interfacing the interface device ( 10 ) with the data transmit/receive device,    where the interface device ( 10 ) is configured using the processor means ( 13 ;  1300 ,  1320 ) and the memory means ( 14 ;  1400 ,  1420 ,  1440 ) in such a way that the interface device, when receiving an inquiry from the host device as to the type of a device attached at the multi-purpose interface of the host device, sends a signal, regardless of the type of the data transmit/receive device attached to the second connecting device ( 15 ;  1505 - 1535 ) of the interface device ( 10 ), to the host device which signals to the host device that it is an input/output device customary in a host device, whereupon the host device communicates with the interface device ( 10 ) by means of the specific driver for the multi-purpose interface.    
     
     
         13 . An interface device according to  claim 12 , 
 wherein, in addition to the first connecting device of the interface device, there is a further input/output device at the multi-purpose interface of the host device, and wherein the interface device can communicate directly with the hard disk via the specific driver for the multi-purpose interface.    
     
     
         14 . An interface device according to  claim 12  or  13 , 
 wherein the multi-purpose interface is an SCSI interface, and wherein the specific driver for the multi-purpose interface is an ASPI manager.    
     
     
         15 . A method of communication between a host device, which comprises drivers for input/output devices customary in a host device and a multi-purpose interface, and a data transmit/receive device via an interface device ( 10 ) comprising the following steps: 
 interfacing of the host device with a first connecting device ( 12 ;  1220 ,  1240 ,  1260 ,  1280 ) of the interface device ( 10 ) via the multi-purpose interface of the host device;    interfacing of the data transmit/receive device with a second connecting device ( 15 ;  1505 - 1535 ) of the interface device ( 10 );    inquiring by the host device at the interface device ( 10 ) as to the type of device to which the multi-purpose interface of the host device is attached;    regardless of the type of the data transmit/receive device attached to the second connecting device of the interface device ( 10 ), responding to the inquiry from the host device by the interface device ( 10 ) in such a way that it is an input/output device customary in a host device, whereupon the host device communicates with the interface device ( 10 ) by means of the usual driver for the input/output device.    
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , 
 wherein the drivers for input/output devices customary in a host device comprise a driver for a storage device and in particular for a hard disk drive.