US 8327051B2

Summary of US Patent 8327051B2

Title: Portable handheld memory card and methods for use therewith

Assignee: As of the latest assignment recorded on August 15, 2024, the assignee is Palisade Technologies, LLP. The original assignee was SanDisk Technologies LLC.

Inventor: Myeong Joon Kang

Filing Date: November 20, 2007

Issue Date: December 4, 2012

Abstract:
"In one embodiment, a portable handheld memory card may include a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, USB controller circuitry, an input/output (I/O) port, a memory, and decompression circuitry configured to decompress compressed data stored in the memory. The memory card includes a housing storing the memory and exposing the USB port and the I/O port. The USB port and I/O port may be positioned to allow a same card-insertion direction irrespective of whether a host device comprises a mating USB port or a mating I/O port. In another embodiment, the memory card includes decryption circuitry to decrypt encrypted data stored in the memory, a power management unit, a host interface module, and circuitry configured to control read and write operations to the memory. The I/O port may include a Secure Digital port, and the memory may include Flash memory. Other embodiments are provided, and each of the embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another."

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Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

This patent has three independent claims: 1, 9, and 16.

Claim 1: The physical design of the memory card.

This claim describes the fundamental structure of a handheld memory card. It specifies a card that has two different types of connectors (ports) on the same end: a standard USB port and a second input/output (I/O) port (like an SD card slot). This design allows the card to be inserted in the same direction into a host device, regardless of whether that device accepts a USB or the other I/O connection. The claim also requires that when one port is connected and in use, at least some of the electrical pins of the other port are not connected to the host device. This prevents electrical interference or unintended connections. The card contains memory, a housing, and the necessary controller circuits for each port.

Claim 9: A method of using the memory card for data transfer.

This claim outlines a method of operation for a memory card built according to the design in Claim 1. The method involves several actions:

• Reading compressed data (like an MP3 file) from the card's internal memory.
• Decompressing that data into a usable format (e.g., turning the MP3 into raw audio data).
• Sending this decompressed data out through the I/O port (for instance, to a simple music player that can't decompress files itself).
• Separately, being able to take the original compressed data and transmit it directly through the USB port (e.g., to a computer).

In essence, this claim covers the dual functionality of the card: it can act as a simple storage device via USB or as a smart device that processes data before sending it out through its other port.

Claim 16: A method for the memory card to decide how to transfer data.

This claim describes another method of operation for the memory card. It details a process where the card:

• First, reads data from its memory.
• Next, it determines whether the data is supposed to be sent to the host device through the USB port or the I/O port.
• Finally, it transmits the data through the port that it determined was the correct one for the situation.

This claim focuses on the card's internal logic for routing data to the appropriate physical connection based on the context of its use.

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Litigation Information

A search of court records indicates that US Patent 8327051B2 was the subject of litigation. The patent was asserted by Palisade Technologies, LLP against Micron Technology, Inc., and its subsidiaries in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (Case No. 7:24-cv-00262). The case was filed in October 2024 and was terminated on January 26, 2026.

Additionally, Micron Technology, Inc. filed an Inter Partes Review (IPR) petition (IPR2025-01008) with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) challenging the validity of several claims of the '051 patent. The litigation in the district court was reportedly resolved, with the parties reaching an agreement to end the dispute. My search of the CAFC 2026 dockets did not yield any specific results for this patent number.