Portable video storage and playback device

• US 20050227773A1
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Priscilla M. Lu, Timothy R. White
• Original Assignee: Priscilla M. Lu, Timothy R. White
• Inventors: White, Timothy R., Lu, Priscilla M.
• Application Number:
  US10/949,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20050227773A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 472/60
• 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 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4181 for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• 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 5/91 Television signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

A portable video storage and playback device can download, store, and playback video files. In an exemplary embodiment, the files can be played-back in a number of different formats. In one embodiment, the invention includes a disk drive for storing a plurality of video files. A processor is coupled to the disk drive and configured to manage the files stored on the disk, which includes the ability to store, display and retrieve the video files. The invention includes a number of interfaces, for example, PAL/NTSC, S-Video and USB, which allows the video to be downloaded and played-back in any of these formats or protocols. The invention and includes a video encoder/decoder, which in one aspect is for MPEG. Advantages of the invention include the ability to store a number of video files in a compact portable device that can be transported and viewed at convenient locations.

Claims

1. A video storage and playback device comprising:

a storage medium configured to store a plurality of video files;

a plurality of interface ports configured to communicate video data;

a video encoder/decoder configured to encode and decode video data; and

a processor coupled to the storage medium, the plurality of interface ports and the video encoder/decoder and configured to manage the video files.

2. The video storage and playback device of claim 1, wherein:

the processor is configured to manage the video files by storing, displaying and retrieving the video files.

3. The video storage and playback device of claim 2, further comprising:

a key configured to couple to one of the interface ports, wherein the key includes information for a sever to encode video files and for the device to decode video files.

4. The video storage and playback device of claim 1, further comprising:

a kiosk configured to download video files from a server and to provide access to the video files to the device.

5. The video storage and playback device of claim 2, wherein:

the video server is configured to identify the subscriber using information associated with the key.

6. The video storage and playback device of claim 1, further comprising:

a billing server configured to account for video files downloaded by the device.

7. A video kiosk for use with a video storage and playback device, comprising:

a storage medium configured to store a plurality of video files;

an interface port configured to communicate with a central video server and to download video data from the central video server;

at least one interface ports configured to communicate video data with the video storage and playback device;

a processor coupled to the storage medium and the interface ports and configured to selectively control the storage medium and interface ports; and

a video encoder/decoder configured to encode video data based at least in part on an authorization code associated with the video storage and playback device..

8. The video kiosk of claim 7, wherein:

the processor is configured to manage the video files by storing, displaying and retrieving the video files; and

the processor is configured to authenticate a video storage and playback device by communicating data to the central server and selectively authorizing dispensation of video data to the video storage and playback device based at least in part on subscription data.

9. The kiosk of claim 8, wherein:

the video server is configured to identify the subscriber using information associated with the key.

10. The kiosk of claim 7, further comprising:

a billing server configured to account for video files downloaded by the device.

11. The kiosk of claim 8, further comprising:

a billing server configured to account for video files downloaded by the device.

12. A docking station for use with a video storage and playback device comprising:

a plurality of interface ports configured to communicate video data with the video storage and playback device and a display; and

an authentication device configured to permit decoding the video data.

13. The docking station of claim 12, wherein:

the processor is configured to manage the video files by storing, displaying and retrieving the video files.

14. The docking station of claim 12, further comprising:

a key configured to couple to one of the interface ports, wherein the key includes information for a sever to encode video files and for the device to decode video files.

15. The docking station of claim 13, wherein:

the video server is configured to identify the subscriber using information associated with the key.