Carryable memory media, portable information terminal using the same and method for managing files therein

• US 20020116575A1
• Filed: 11/07/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Otsu, Kazunori, Toyomura, Yuji, Sugauchi, Toshiaki
• Application Number:
  US10/010,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20020116575A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/115
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 file transfer between terminals download of applications H04M1/72406; transfer of messages, e.g. SMS, e-mail or MMS H04M1/7243
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8047 using transform coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 the additional signal being at least another television signal

Abstract

A carryable memory media is provided with a directory for storing specific format files having a certain specific file form and a directory for storing nonspecific format files having any free form. The portable information terminal comprises the above carryable memory media detachable to and from the terminal body, and is provided with means for storing the non-specific format files in said carryable memory media and stores a file in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to the directory formed for storing non-specific format files. The portable information terminal is also provided with means for forming a directory for storing specific format files, and stores a file in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to the directory formed for storing specific format files.

Claims

1. Carryable memory media comprising

i) at least one directory for storing specific format files, which files having a certain predetermined form, and

ii) a directory for storing non-specific format files, which files having any free form.

2. The carryable memory media of claim 1, wherein

said directory for storing specific format files and said directory for storing nonspecific format files are disposed in the same layer.

3. The carryable memory media of claim 1, wherein

said directory for storing specific format files and said directory for storing nonspecific format files are disposed in a layer immediately under a root directory.

4. The carryable memory media recited in claims 1 through 3, wherein the carryable memory media are memory card.

5. The carryable memory media recited in claims 1 through 3, wherein said directory for storing non-specific format files corresponds to storing those whose file form is the same as at least one of the file forms in the directory for storing specific format files.

46. The carryable memory media of claim 5, wherein the carryable memory media are memory card.

6. A portable information terminal comprising carryable memory media detachable to and from the terminal body, comprising

means for forming a directory for storing non-specific format files and

means for storing non-specific format files in said carryable memory media, wherein

said means for forming a directory for storing non-specific format files forms a directory for storing non-specific format files in said carryable memory media, and stores non-specific format files in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files.

7. The portable information terminal of claim 6 comprising

means for forming a directory for storing specific format files and

means for writing files of specific form in said carryable memory media, wherein

said means for forming a directory for storing specific format files forms a directory for storing specific format files in said carryable memory media, and stores specific format files in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing specific format files.

11. The portable information terminal recited in claims 6 and 7 comprising

communication means and

file forming means for forming files based on data received through said communication means, wherein

said means for storing files stores said formed file in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing nonspecific format files.

12. The portable information terminal of claim 11, wherein an attached file attached to electronic mail received is stored in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing no-specific format files.

13. The portable information terminal of claim 11 comprising separation means for separating data received through said communication means into a plurality of files, wherein

i) at least one file among said plurality of files is stored in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to the directory for storing specific format files, and

ii) the remaining files are stored in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files.

14. The portable information terminal of claim 11 comprising

an operation section for operation by a user, and

separation means for separating data received through said communication means into a plurality of files, wherein

i) based on operation by a user of the operation section, at least one file among said plurality of files is stored in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to the directory for storing specific format files, and

ii) based on operation by a user of the operation section, the remaining files are stored in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files.

15. The portable information terminal of claim 11 comprising separation means for separating an e-mail with the attached file received through said communication means into the e-mail document file and the attached file, wherein

i) said e-mail document file is stored in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to the directory for storing specific format files, and

ii) said attached file is stored in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files.

16. The portable information terminal of claim 11 comprising separation means for separating e-mail with the attached file received through said communication means into the e-mail document file and the attached file, wherein

i) based on operation by a user of the operation section, the e-mail document file is stored in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to the directory for storing specific format files, and

ii) based on operation by a user of the operation section, the attached file is stored in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files.

17. The portable information terminal of claim 7 comprising file extraction means, wherein

said file extraction means extracts the file that conforms to a certain specific file form from both of the data areas of said carryable memory media;

one data area is that which corresponds to said directory for storing specific format files and the other data area is that which corresponds to said directory for storing non-specific format files.

18. The portable information terminal of claim 17 comprising control means, wherein

said control means controls at least one process among the following processes to be performed on said extracted file for;

i) deleting the file;

ii) shifting the file to a data area of said carryable memory media, which data area corresponding to a different directory other than the original directory, and storing it in there;

iii) transmitting the file as an attached file; and

iv) exhibiting it on a display.

19. The portable information terminal of claim 17, wherein said file extraction means extracts the file that conforms to said specific file form, based on the file expansion index.

20. The portable information terminal of claim 17, wherein said file extraction means extracts the file that conforms to said specific file form, based on the file inner structure.

21. The portable information terminal of claim 17, wherein said file extraction means extracts the file that conforms to said specific file form, through a plurality of steps of extraction.

22. The portable information terminal of claim 17 comprising input means for inputting conditions for file extraction, wherein

said file extraction means extracts, among those which conform to said specific file form, the file that satisfies said conditions for file extraction.

23. The portable information terminal of claim 22 comprising control means, wherein

said control means controls at least one process among the following processes to be performed on said extracted file, for;

i) deleting the file;

ii) shifting the file to a data area of said carryable memory media, which data area corresponding to a different directory other than the original directory, and storing it in there;

iii) transmitting the file as an attached file; and

iv) exhibiting it on a display.

24. The portable information terminal of claim 17, wherein said file extraction means extracts the file that conforms to specific file form through the following process;

i) a primary extraction based on the file expansion index, and

ii) an extraction once again based on the inner structure of those extracted by said primary extraction.

25. The portable information terminal of claim 17 comprising a video processing function, said directory for storing specific format files containing a directory for storing video information form files, wherein

a video information file is extracted from both of the data areas of said carryable memory media;

one data area is that which corresponds to the directory for storing video information form files and the other data area is that which corresponds to said directory for storing non-specific format files.

26. The portable information terminal of claim 17, wherein the portable information terminal extracts the Exif format image file through either one of the following processes;

i) extracting the JPG image file from data area of said carryable memory media based on the directory for storing non-specific format files, or

ii) extracting the image file from said carryable memory media based on the JPG expansion index.jpg of the directory for storing non-specific format files;

and a process of checking the inner structure of said image file extracted.

27. The portable information terminal of claim 26, wherein the portable information terminal prints the extracted Exif format file upon an operation made by a user.

28. The portable information terminal recited in claims 6 and 7 comprising communication means, wherein

the portable information terminal transmits the attached file stored in a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files via said communication means, accompanying an e-mail.

29. The portable information terminal of claim 28 comprising file control means, wherein said file control means deletes a file which had been stored in a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files after it is transmitted via said communication means.

30. The portable information terminal of claim 28 comprising file control means, wherein said file control means shifts a file that had been stored in a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files after it was transmitted via said communication means, to a data area of said carryable memory media that corresponds to a certain directory other than said original directory for storing specific format files and said original directory for storing non-specific format files.

31. The portable information terminal of claim 28 comprising instruction means, wherein said instruction means issues one of the following instructions based on operation of the operation section by a user, after a file stored in a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files is transmitted via said communication means, regarding how the transmitted file be handled:

i) leaving the transmitted file in said directory for storing nonspecific format files;

ii) deleting the transmitted file;

iii) shifting the transmitted file to a data area of said carryable memory media that corresponds to a certain specific directory other than said original directory for storing specific format files and said original directory for storing non-specific format files.

44. The portable information terminal according to any of claims 6, 8 and 9, wherein the portable information terminal is a portable telephone unit.

47. The portable information terminal according to any of claims 6, 8, and 9, wherein the carryable memory media are memory card.

8. A portable information terminal comprising carryable memory media detachable to and from the terminal body, wherein

said carryable memory media is provided with a first directory for storing files of one file form,

i) if a file to be stored conforms to the file form of said first directory of said memory media, said portable information terminal stores the relevant file in the carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said first directory,

ii) if a file to be stored does not conform to the file form of said first directory of said memory media, said portable information terminal forms a second directory that is different from the first directory in said carryable memory media, and stores the relevant file in the carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said second directory.

10. The portable information terminal recited in claims 8 and 9, wherein the portable information terminal forms a directory as a lower branch of said second directory, and stores the relevant file that does not conform to the file form of said first directory in the carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said lower branch directory.

9. A portable information terminal comprising carryable memory media detachable to and from the terminal body, wherein

said carryable memory media is provided with a first directory for storing files of one file form,

i) if a file to be stored conforms to the file form of said first directory of said memory media, said portable information terminal stores the relevant file in the carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said first directory,

ii) if a file to be stored does not conform to the file form of said first directory of said memory media, said portable information terminal notifies the user about the non-conformity,

iii) upon operation by a user, said portable information terminal forms a second directory that is different from the first directory in said carryable memory media, and stores the relevant file in said memory media at a data area corresponding to said second directory.

32. A method for managing files in a portable information terminal comprising carryable memory media detachable to and from the terminal body, comprising the steps of:

A) forming a directory for storing non-specific format files in said carryable memory media; and

B) storing a file in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files.

33. The method for managing files in the portable information terminal recited in claim 32, comprising the steps of:

C) forming a directory for storing specific format files in said carryable memory media; and

D) storing a file in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said formed directory for storing specific format files.

34. The method for managing files in the portable information terminal recited in claims 32 and 33, comprising the steps of:

E) receiving data through communication means;

F) forming a file based on the data received at step E); and

G) storing the file formed at step F) in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files.

35. The method for managing files in the portable information terminal recited in claims 32 and 33, comprising the steps of:

E) receiving an electronic mail through communication means; and

H) storing an attached file attached to the electronic mail in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files.

36. The method for managing files in the portable information terminal recited in claims 32 and 33, comprising the steps of:

E) receiving data through communication means;

J) separating received data into a plurality of files;

K) storing at least one file among said plurality of files in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing specific format files; and

L) storing the remaining file in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files.

37. The method for managing files in the portable information terminal recited in claims 32 and 33, comprising the steps of:

E) receiving data through communication means;

J) separating received data into a plurality of files;

M) based on a first operation by a user, storing at least one file among said plurality of files in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing specific format files; and

N) based on a second operation by a user, storing the remaining file in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files.

38. The method for managing files in the portable information terminal recited in claims 32 and 33, comprising the steps of:

P) receiving an e-mail with the attached file through communication means;

Q) separating the received e-mail with the attached file into the document file and the attached file;

R) storing said document file in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing specific format files; and

S) storing said attached file in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files.

39. The method for managing files in the portable information terminal recited in claims 32 and 33, comprising the steps of:

P) receiving an e-mail with the attached file through communication means;

Q) separating the received e-mail with the attached file into the document file and the attached file;

T) based on a first operation by a user, storing said document file in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to the directory for storing specific format files; and

U) based on a second operation by a user, storing said attached file in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files.

40. The method for managing files in the portable information terminal of claim 39 comprising the step of

transmitting the attached file stored in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files as an attachment to a new e-mail.

41. The method for managing files in the portable information terminal of claim 39 comprising the steps of:

V) transmitting the file stored in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files; and

W) after said file is transmitted, deleting said transmitted file.

42. The method for managing files in the portable information terminal recited in claim 39 comprising the steps of:

V) transmitting the file stored in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said for storing non-specific format files; and

X) after said file is transmitted, shifting said transmitted file to a data area corresponding to a certain directory other than said original

directory for storing specific format files and said original

directory for storing non-specific format files in said carryable memory media.

43. The method for managing files in the portable information terminal recited in claim 39 comprising the steps of:

V) transmitting the file stored in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files;

Y) after transmitting said file, a user selecting either one of following steps based on operation;

Y-1) leaving said transmitted file in said carryable memory media at a data area corresponding to said directory for storing non-specific format files;

Y-2) deleting said transmitted file; and

Y-3) shifting said transmitted file to a data area corresponding to a certain directory other than said directory for storing specific format files and said directory for storing non-specific format files in said carryable memory media.

45. The method for managing files in the portable information terminal of claim 32, wherein the portable information terminal is a portable telephone unit.

48. The method for managing files in the portable information terminal of claim 32, wherein the carryable memory media are memory card.