Enhanced digital data collector for removable memory modules

• US 20060171683A1
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zulu 360 LLC
• Original Assignee: SmartDisk Corporation
• Inventors: Drennan, Offie L., Fischer, Addison M., Battaglia, Michael S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,983,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/224
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/141 Battery and back-up supplies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device

Abstract

A hand-held battery powered data transfer and repository device for transferring data between one or more flash memory modules and a large capacity digital storage device, which may be either external or internal to the device. The device includes one or more slots to accept a flash memory module into a housing which includes processing and logic circuitry disposed within the housing for transferring data between the flash memory module and the large capacity digital storage device. Ports are disclosed for transferring data between the repository and data transfer device to a host device, which may be a wide range of digital appliances including a digital computer, a digital camera, a camcorder or a personal digital assistant.

Claims

1. A method of operating a portable, hand-held digital camera picture image data transfer and repository device, said data transfer and repository device including within a hand-held housing which can be comfortably held in a user'"'"'s palm:

a port for coupling said portable repository device to a user'"'"'s computer, a mass storage device having a storage capacity of at least one gigabyte for storing picture image data, an input/output interface coupled to said mass storage device for use in transferring image data between said mass storage device and a user'"'"'s computer, at least one user interface key, and an LCD display, said method comprising the steps of;

receiving picture image data previously captured from a camera and stored in a camera memory;

querying a user for information identifying a directory of a plurality of files stored in said camera memory;

creating a counterpart to said directory in said mass storage device;

copying said directory and said plurality of files stored in said camera memory into said mass storage device embodied within said repository device; and

displaying picture image data on an LCD display embodied within said repository device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of displaying includes:

displaying on said LCD of said portable device data indicative of at least part of the contents of a digital camera flash memory module.

3. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of receiving a command from an external bus coupled to a further electronic device.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said repository device is coupled to a further electronic device via an external bus and further including the steps of detecting activity on said external bus and powering up the device in response to external bus activity.

5. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of reformatting a digital memory module inserted into a memory port to place said digital memory module into a state where it can be reused.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said picture image data includes moving picture image data and further including the step of displaying moving picture image data on said LCD display embodied within said display device.

7. A method according to claim 1, further including the steps of connecting said device to a host device, and reading the contents of said digital camera memory by said host device.

8. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of receiving a command from a file on said digital camera memory.

9. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of receiving a command from a user interface.

10. A method according to claim 1, further including the steps of detecting that a camera memory has been inserted into the device and powering up the device in response to memory insertion.

11. A method according to claim 1, where said device includes at least one host device port and further including the steps of receiving uncompressed digital data from said host device and transferring compressed data to said mass storage device.

12. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of connecting said device to a camcorder.

13. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of connecting said device to a personal digital assistant.

14. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of transferring picture image data from said camera memory to a user'"'"'s computer.

15. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of formatting the file system of said mass storage device so that it is compatible with a host device file system.