Abstract: A storage controller comprising a first interface to exchange data with an appliance, such as a cell phone; a second interface to exchange data with a host system and receive power from the host system to provide power to the appliance; and a solid state memory to provide the appliance with storage for data.

Abstract: A device for allowing secure identification of an individual when accessing information is disclosed. The device comprises a serial port and a controller coupled to the serial port. The device further includes a storage medium coupled to the controller; the storage medium including security information which can be accessed by the controller. A device in accordance with the present invention may take a variety of physical forms. In a preferred embodiment, a USB (universal serial bus) connection is utilized for connecting the device to a computer. Such a device has a unique ID embedded in an integrated circuit inside the device. The device can optionally store in excess of 1 gigabyte of information. Information within the device can be protected by various layers of security (password layer, unique ID layer, encryption layer). The level of security can include all of these layers, as well as any subset of these layers.

Abstract: A controller chip for coupling a computer system with a flash storage system is disclosed. The controller chip comprises an interface mechanism for determining whether the Flash storage system includes a controller and an adapter for providing the appropriate interface to the computer system to allow the computer system to communicate with the Flash storage system. In a preferred embodiment, the flash storage system comprising at least a portion of a medium ID section; and a flash section, wherein the medium ID section contains specifications of the medium ID. Through the use of this system a plurality of different adapters and a flash storage system can be managed while utilizing the same hardware components.