Interface for extending functionality of memory cards

Abstract

An enhanced flash memory card, including a memory including a file management system for storing files within directories, the files and directories being identified by respective file names and directory names, and a controller that interfaces with a host device and that reports to the host device names of files and directories stored in the memory, although no files and directories having the reported names actually exist in the memory.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An enhanced flash memory card, comprising:
 a memory comprising a file management system for storing files within directories, the files and directories being identified by respective file names and directory names; and   a controller that interfaces with a host device and that reports to the host device a name of a directory stored in said memory, the reported directory name corresponding to a service provided by the enhanced flash memory card to the host device, although no directory having that reported name actually exists in said memory.   
     
     
         24 . The enhanced flash memory card of  claim 23 , wherein said controller reports to the host device a file name stored in said memory, the reported file name corresponding to a control for an application that executes on the enhanced flash memory card, although no file having that reported name actually exists in said memory. 
     
     
         25 . The enhanced flash memory card of  claim 24 , wherein said controller is operative to activate a control, in response to receiving a command from the host device to open a specific file, although no file having the name of the specific file actually exists in said memory. 
     
     
         26 . The enhanced flash memory card of  claim 23  further comprising a radio, wherein said controller reports to the host device a directory named “Radio”, although no directory having such name actually exists in said memory, and wherein said controller is operative to activate said radio, in response to receiving a command from the host device to select the “Radio” directory. 
     
     
         27 . The enhanced flash memory card of  claim 26 , wherein said controller reports to the host device that the directory named “Radio” contains a file named “Search Forward”, although no file having such name actually exists in said memory, and wherein said controller is operative to instruct said radio to skip to a next radio channel, in response to receiving a command from the host device to open the “Search Forward” file. 
     
     
         28 . The enhanced flash memory card of  claim 26 , wherein said controller reports to the host device that the directory named “Radio” contains a file named “Volume Up”, although no file having such name actually exists in said memory, and wherein said controller is operative to instruct said radio to increase its volume, in response to receiving a command from the host device to open the “Volume Up” file. 
     
     
         29 . The enhanced flash memory card of  claim 23 , further comprising a communication modem, and wherein a directory name reported by said controller to the host device corresponds to a name of a remote server accessible by said communication modem, although no directory having that reported name actually exists in said memory. 
     
     
         30 . The enhanced flash memory card of  claim 29 , wherein a file name reported by said controller to the host device corresponds to a file or a stream that is stored on the remote server, although no file having that reported name actually exists in said memory. 
     
     
         31 . The enhanced flash memory card of  claim 30 , wherein said controller is operative to access a file or stream stored on a remote server and download it to said memory, in response to receiving a command from the host device to open a specific file, although no file having the name of the specific file actually exists in said memory. 
     
     
         32 . The enhanced flash memory card of  claim 30 , wherein said controller is operative to upload a file to a remote server, in response to receiving a command from the host device to write to a designated location in said memory. 
     
     
         33 . The enhanced flash memory card of  claim 23 , wherein said controller reports to the host device a directory named “ATComm”, although no directory having such name actually exists in said memory, and wherein said controller is operative to issue an AT command to said communication modem, in response to receiving a command from the host device to write the text of the AT command to a file in the “ATComm” directory.