Displaying information on passive storage medium

• US 20020118165A1
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: McGowan, Steven B., Brown, Robert C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,917,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/61 wherein solid state memory is used for storing A/V content storing computer data in solid state memories G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/38 Visual features other than those contained in record tracks or represented by sprocket holes the visual signals being auxiliary signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/40 Identifying or analogous means applied to or incorporated in the record carrier and not intended for visual display simultaneously with the playing-back of the record carrier, e.g. label, leader, photograph
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/10 Indicating arrangements; Warning arrangements G11B15/04, G11B19/04, G11B27/34, G11B27/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2207/16 Solid state audio deprecated, only for historical reasons, G06F3/16, G11B
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2125 Display of information relating to the still picture recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/214 Checking or indicating the storage space
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

Abstract

A way of displaying information on a passive storage medium for an active storing device. The passive storage medium comprises a storage unit to store information. The passive storage medium further comprises a display to display status information relating to the information stored in the storage unit.

Claims

1. A passive storage medium for an active storing device, comprising:

a storage unit to store information; and

a display to display status information relating to the information stored in the storage unit.

2. The passive storage medium of claim 1, wherein the display is updateable.

3. The passive storage medium of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a bi-stable display.

4. The passive storage medium of claim 1, wherein the display comprises one or more rotating spheres responsive to electrical signals.

5. The passive storage medium of claim 1, wherein the display comprises electronic paper.

6. The passive storage medium of claim 1, wherein the display comprises rotating spheres responsive to magnetic signals.

7. The passive storage medium of claim 1, wherein the display requires substantially no power to display the status information.

8. The passive storage medium of claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores at least one of an audio or video information.

9. The passive storage medium of claim 1, wherein the display displays the status information in one of a bar graph and pie chart.

10. An article comprising one or more machine-readable storage media containing instructions that when executed enables a processor to:

determine status information based on data stored on a passive storage medium having a display; and

display the status information on the display of the passive storage medium.

11. The article of claim 10, wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to apply a preselected voltage level to the display of the passive storage medium to display the status information.

12. The article of claim 11, wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to orient one or more rotating spheres in a pre-selected manner.

13. The article of claim 12, wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to display amount of storage space available on the passive storage medium.

14. The article of claim 13, wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to display an amount of space consumed by the data on the passive storage medium.

15. The article of claim 10, wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to display the status information on an electronic paper.

16. The article of claim 10, wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to display a number of audio files stored on the display of the passive storage medium.

17. The article of claim 10, wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to display an identifier on the display of the removable storage.

19. The imaging device of claim 18, wherein the display block applies an electrical signal to a surface of the display of the flash cartridge to display the storage information.

20. The imaging device of claim 18, wherein the display block displays the amount of storage space available on the flash cartridge.

21. The imaging device of claim 18, wherein the display block displays the number of images stored on the flash cartridge.

22. The imaging device of claim 18, wherein the display block displays the percentage of space available on the flash cartridge.

23. The imaging device of claim 18, wherein the display block displays the storage information in a graphical form on the display of the flash cartridge.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein determining the storage information comprises accessing the passive storage medium to determine amount of storage space available on the passive storage medium.

26. The method of claim 24, comprising displaying the storage information on the display that requires substantially no electrical power to display the storage information.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the display block applies an electrical signal to the display of the passive storage medium to display the status information.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the display block displays the status information on an updateable display.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the display block displays the status information on the display having one or more rotating spheres responsive to electrical signals.

18. An imaging device, comprising:

an image block to receive at least one image for storage in a flash cartridge having a display; and

a display block to display storage information on the display of the flash cartridge based on the information stored on the flash cartridge.

24. A method, comprising:

determining storage information for a passive storage medium having a display; and

displaying the storage information on the display of the passive storage medium.

27. An apparatus, comprising:

a control block to access status information from a passive storage medium having a display; and

a display block to display the status information on the display of the passive storage medium.