This invention relates to peripheral data storage systems. More particularly, the present invention is directed to peripheral data storage systems with multi-state user display.
External peripheral data storage systems such as external disk drives and card readers are standalone units that are commonly mounted to and communicate with a host computer, generally via an external cable such as a universal serial bus (USB) cable or Firewire™ cable.
It is desirable to provide users of peripheral data storage system with some form of display which notifies the users of the status of the peripheral data storage system and provides reassurance that the peripheral data storage system is operational. More recently, these peripheral data storage systems have become more complicated due to added functions and backup options. In today's competitive market, however, complex displays can add to the overall cost of the peripheral data storage system while also being confusing to the user.
Accordingly, what is needed is a more cost-effective method for the notifying the users of the status of the peripheral data storage system.
This invention can be regarded as a method of displaying states of a peripheral data storage system comprising a data storage device, a data storage system controller, a user-actuated signaling subsystem, a user display subsystem adapted to display the states, and a peripheral data storage controller host interface adapted for communication with a host system. The method includes determining a state of the peripheral data storage system; displaying a first display state via the user display subsystem if the peripheral data storage system is in an idle state; and displaying a second display state via the user display subsystem if the peripheral data storage system is in a state corresponding to receiving a signal from the user-actuated signaling subsystem.
The method further includes displaying a third display state via the user display subsystem if the peripheral data storage system is in a dynamically active state; and displaying a fourth display state via the user display subsystem if the peripheral data storage system is in an off state.
With reference to
Next, in block 212, an acknowledgement signal is received from the host system 30 in response to the communicating of block 210. Next, in block 214, the user display subsystem 51 is switched from the first display state to the second display state in response to the received acknowledgement signal. Next, in block 216, a first signal is received from the host system 30. Next, in block 218, the user display subsystem 51 is switched from the second display state to the third display state in response to the received first signal. Next, in block 220, a second signal is received from the host system 30. Next, in block 222, the user display subsystem 51 is switched from the third display state to either the first display state or the fourth display state in response to the received second signal. For example, if the signal received in block 210 corresponded to a second user-inputted request for performing a task of enabling of a host-scheduled backup operation, then in block 222 the user display subsystem 51 is switched from the third display state to the first display state which comprises displaying a continuous displaying of emitted light on the user-visible display device 56. If the signal received in block 210 corresponded to a second user-inputted request for performing a task of disabling of a host-scheduled backup operation, then in block 222 the user display subsystem 51 is switched from the third display state to the fourth display state which comprises an absence of emitted light on the user-visible display device 56. The flow then proceeds to block 224 for returning to block 204 of
One advantage of the foregoing feature of the present invention over the prior art is that by using a single multi-state user-visible display device having four display states, the need for complex displays that can add to the overall cost of the peripheral data storage system while also being confusing to the user can be reduced.
It should be noted that the various features of the foregoing embodiment were discussed separately for clarity of description only and they can be incorporated in whole or in part into a single embodiment of the invention having all or some of these features.
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