US Patent 7725628 Direct secondary device interface by a host

A storage system having a storage device in communication with a host and including one or more function devices for communicating with application software modules, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Said application software modules issuing vendor specific commands to access said function devices, said function devices remaining unknown to said host and recognizing said vendor specific commands for acting thereupon, wherein said storage device causing said application software modules to access said function devices to increase the security of said storage device.