REMOVABLE MEMORY CARD DISCRIMINATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Removable memory card discrimination systems and methods are disclosed. In particular, exemplary embodiments discriminate between secure digital (SD) cards and other removable memory cards that comply with the SD form factor, but support the Universal Flash Storage (UFS) protocol. That is, a host may have a receptacle that supports the SD card form factor and is configured to receive a device. In use, a removable memory card is inserted into the receptacle and, using an SD compliant interrogation signal, the host interrogates a common area on the card so inserted. The common area includes information related to capability descriptors of the card. An SD compliant card will respond with information such as capability descriptors about the SD protocol capabilities, while a UFS compliant card will respond with an indication that the card is UFS compliant. The host may then restart the communication with the card using the UFS protocol.