System and method for uploading information from portable media and delivering it to storage across the internet

• US 20020199208A1
• Filed: 06/26/2001
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Eyer, Mark Kenneth, Candelore, Brant L., Shintani, Peter Rae, Zustak, Frederick J., Colsey, Nicholas, Proehl, Andrew M., Golden, Dayan Ivy, Krishnan, Aditya, Chang, Matthew S., Yang, David K.L.
• Application Number:
  US09/892,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20020199208A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/131
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/084 Additional components relating to data transfer and storing, e.g. error detection, self-diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00172 directly from a still digital camera or from a storage medium mounted in a still digital camera H04N1/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2223 being a public access point, e.g. for downloading to or uploading from clients arrangements specially adapted to plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A kiosk that can be placed at any convenient location for providing a user with the ability to upload information stored in portable compact memory storage media and to forward the information to a network destination thereby freeing the portable compact memory storage media for storing additional information.

Claims

1. A picture kiosk apparatus for receiving and outputting information, said apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a number of types of portable memory devices usable with and detachable from at least one of a video camera and a still-picture camera;

means for obtaining stored information from a received portable memory device;

means for determining at least one destination; and

means for outputting a data signal representative of at least a portion of the obtained information.

2. A picture kiosk apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the types of portable memory devices include at least one of a memory stick, a floppy disk, a scan medium, a hard disk, and a compact flash.

3. A picture kiosk apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information stored in the respective memory device includes video information corresponding to a number of pictures.

4. A picture kiosk apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information stored in the respective memory device includes video information corresponding to a number of moving image video clips.

5. A picture kiosk apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information stored in the respective memory device includes identification information.

6. A picture kiosk apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining the type of the received portable memory device.

7. A picture kiosk apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the obtained information includes destination information, and

the determining means determines the at least one destination based on the destination information.

8. A picture kiosk apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for receiving a destination designation, and wherein the determining means determines the at least one destination based on the received destination designation.

9. A picture kiosk apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one destination includes at least one of an email address and a URL path.

10. A picture kiosk apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for erasing at least the portion of the obtained information from the received portable memory device.

11. A picture kiosk apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for presenting the obtained information; and

means for receiving a selection on the presented information, wherein

the portion of the obtained information includes the selected information.

12. A picture kiosk apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outputting means is adapted to be coupled to a computer network for outputting the data signal representative of the at least a portion of the obtained information for supply by way of the internet to the at least one destination.

13. A picture kiosk apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the computer network is the internet.

14. A picture kiosk apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining means determines the at least one destination by querying a database containing assigned destinations.

15. A picture kiosk apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the obtained information includes at least one of a format and a description of content data.

16. A picture kiosk apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the obtained information includes identification information of a user.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the types of portable memory devices include at least one of a memory stick, a floppy disk, a scan medium, a hard disk, and a compact flash.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the content data stored in the respective memory device includes video information corresponding to a number of pictures.

20. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the content data stored in the respective memory device includes video information corresponding to a number of moving image video clips.

21. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising means for determining the type of the received portable memory device.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the type of the received portable memory device is determined based on the obtained identification data.

23. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the obtained identification data includes destination information, and wherein the determining means determines the at least one destination based on the destination information.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the destination information includes at least one of an email address and a URL path.

25. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the at least one destination includes at least one of an email address and a URL path.

26. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising means for erasing at least the portion of the obtained content data from the received portable memory device.

27. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

means for presenting the obtained content data; and

means for receiving a selection on the presented content data, wherein

the at least a portion of the obtained content data includes the selected content data.

28. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the outputting means is adapted to be coupled to a computer network for outputting the data signal representative of the at least a portion of the content data for supply by way of the internet to the at least one destination.

29. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the computer network is the internet.

30. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the determining means determines the at least one destination by querying a database containing destinations assigned to respective identification information.

31. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the qobtained identification data

32. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the obtained identification data

73. The picture kiosk apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receiving means is adapted to receive a plurality of types of portable memory devices usable with and detachable from at least one of a video camera and a still-picture camera.

74. The picture kiosk apparatus of claim 1, wherein said obtaining means automatically obtains identification information indicating the at least one destination from the received portable memory device.

75. The picture kiosk apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one destination includes an external destination.

76. The picture kiosk apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determining means includes input means for receiving an input indicating the at least one destination.

17. An apparatus for uploading information, said apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a number of types of portable memory devices;

means for obtaining stored identification data and content data from a received portable memory device;

means for determining at least one destination based on the obtained identification data; and

means for outputting a data signal representative of at least a portion of the obtained content data for supply to the at least one destination.

33. A method of receiving and outputting information at a picture kiosk apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a portable memory device, said received portable memory device being one of a number of types of portable memory devices usable with and detachable from at least one of a video camera and a still-picture camera;

obtaining stored information from a received portable memory device;

determining at least one destination; and

outputting a data signal representative of at least a portion of the obtained information.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the types of portable memory devices include at least one of a memory stick, a floppy disk, a scan medium, a hard disk, and a compact flash.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein the information stored in the respective memory device includes video information corresponding to a number of pictures.

36. A method according to claim 34, wherein the information stored in the respective memory device includes video information corresponding to a number of moving image video clips.

37. A method according to claim 34, wherein the information stored in the respective memory device includes identification information.

38. A method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of determining the type of the received portable memory device.

39. A method according to claim 33, wherein

the obtained information includes destination information, and

the at least one destination is determined based on the destination information.

40. A method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of receiving a destination designation, and wherein the at least one destination is determined based on the received destination designation.

41. A method according to claim 33, wherein the at least one destination includes at least one of an email address and a URL path.

42. A method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of erasing at least the portion of the obtained information from the received portable memory device.

43. A method according to claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

presenting the obtained information; and

receiving a selection on the presented information, wherein

the at least a portion of the obtained information includes the selected information.

44. A method according to claim 33, wherein the data signal is outputted to a computer network for supplying to the at least one destination by way of the internet.

45. A method according to claim 44, wherein the computer network is the internet.

46. A method according to claim 33, wherein the at least one destination is determined at the determining step by querying a database containing assigned destinations.

47. A method according to claim 33, wherein the obtained information includes at least one of a format and a description of content data.

48. A method according to claim 33, wherein the obtained information includes identification information of a user.

50. A method according to claim 49, wherein the types of portable memory devices include at least one of a memory stick, a floppy disk, a scan medium, a hard disk, and a compact flash.

51. A method according to claim 50, wherein the content data stored in the respective memory device includes video information corresponding to a number of pictures.

52. A method according to claim 50, wherein the content data stored in the respective memory device includes video information corresponding to a number of moving image video clips.

53. A method according to claim 49, further comprising the step of determining the type of the received portable memory device.

54. A method according to claim 53, wherein the type of the received portable memory device is determined based on the obtained identification data.

55. A method according to claim 49, wherein the obtained identification data includes destination information, and wherein the at least one destination is determined at the determining step based on the destination information.

56. A method according to claim 55, wherein the destination information includes at least one of an email address and a URL path.

57. A method according to claim 49, wherein the at least one destination includes at least one of an email address and a URL path.

58. A method according to claim 49, further comprising the step of erasing at least the portion of the obtained content data from the received portable memory device.

59. A method according to claim 49, further comprising the steps of:

presenting the obtained content data; and

receiving a selection on the presented content data, wherein

the at least a portion of the obtained content data includes the selected content data.

60. A method according to claim 49, wherein the data signal is outputted to a computer network for supplying to the at least one destination by way of the internet.

61. A method according to claim 60, wherein the computer network is the internet.

62. A method according to claim 49, wherein the at least one destination is determined at the determining step by querying a database containing destinations assigned to respective identification information.

49. A method of uploading information, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a portable memory device, said received portable memory device being one of a number of types of portable memory devices;

obtaining stored identification data and content data from a received portable memory device;

determining at least one destination based on the obtained identification data; and

outputting a data signal representative of at least a portion of the obtained content data for supply to the at least one destination.

63. A picture kiosk apparatus, comprising:

a number of interfaces adapted to receive a number of respective types of portable memory devices and to obtain stored information from a received portable memory device, said types of portable memory devices being usable with and detachable from at least one of a video camera and a still-picture camera;

a processor coupled to the number of interfaces, said processor adapted to determine at least one destination; and

a network adapter coupled to the processor, said network adapter adapted to output a data signal representative of at least a portion of the obtained information for supply to the at least one destination.

64. A picture kiosk apparatus, comprising:

a number of interfaces adapted to receive a number of respective types of portable memory devices and to obtain stored identification data and content data from a received portable memory device;

a processor coupled to the number of interfaces, said processor adapted to determine at least one destination based on the obtained identification data; and

a network adapter coupled to the processor, said network adapter adapted to output a data signal representative of at least a portion of the obtained content data for supply to the at least one destination.

65. A set of computer program instructions for receiving and outputting information, comprising:

an instruction for receiving data from a portable memory device, said portable memory device being one of a number of types of portable memory devices usable with and detachable from at least one of a video camera and a still-picture camera;

an instruction for obtaining stored information from said portable memory device;

an instruction for determining at least one destination; and

an instruction for outputting a data signal representative of at least a portion of the obtained information for supply to the at least one destination.

66. A set of computer program instructions for receiving and outputting information, comprising:

an instruction for receiving data from a portable memory device, said portable memory device being one of a number of types of portable memory devices;

an instruction for obtaining stored identification data and content data from said portable memory device;

an instruction for determining at least one destination based on the obtained identification data; and

an instruction for outputting a data signal representative of at least a portion of the obtained content data for supply to the at least one destination.

72. The kiosk apparatus of claim 68, wherein said receiving means includes means for receiving said identification data and said content data by way of wired communication.

67. A portable memory device usable with and detachable from at least one of a video camera and a still-picture camera, said memory device comprising:

a data section for storing content data; and

a header section for storing identification information and at least one destination for sending said content data.

68. A kiosk apparatus for uploading information, said apparatus comprising:

means for receiving identification data and content data stored in a memory of a data device by way of wireless communication;

means for determining at least one destination based on the received identification data; and

means for outputting a data signal representative of at least a portion of the obtained content data for supply to the at least one destination.

69. A method of uploading information, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving identification data and content data stored in a memory of a data device by way of wireless communication;

determining at least one destination based on the received identification data; and

outputting a data signal representative of at least a portion of the obtained content data for supply to the at least one destination.

70. A picture kiosk apparatus, comprising:

a number of interfaces adapted to communicate with a number of types of portable devices by way of wireless communication and to receive stored identification data and content data from a portable device;

a processor coupled to the number of interfaces, said processor adapted to determine at least one destination based on the received identification data; and

a network adapter coupled to the processor, said network adapter adapted to output a data signal representative of at least a portion of the obtained content data for supply to the at least one destination.

71. A set of computer program instructions for receiving and outputting information, comprising:

an instruction for receiving identification data and content data stored in a portable device by way of wireless communication;

an instruction for determining at least one destination based on the received identification data; and

an instruction for outputting a data signal representative of at least a portion of the obtained content data for supply to the at least one destination.