System and method to configure devices for multiple users

• US 20060218325A1
• Filed: 03/25/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Hansen, Carl C.
• Application Number:
  US11/090,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20060218325A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/72
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling

Abstract

A method and system for configuring a device for multiple users. The method includes receiving identification information about a user and then configuring a device based on the received identification information. The device is capable of being used by multiple users, and once configured, is capable of providing the user with access to a block of a resource that is not accessible by any of the other multiple users.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving identification information about a user; and

configuring an application-specific device based on the received identification information, wherein the device is capable of being used by multiple users, wherein the user is one of the multiple users and wherein the device, once configured, is capable of providing the user with access to a block of a resource that is not accessible by any of the other multiple users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is further capable of providing one or more user options to the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the block of the resource is capable of storing user data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the user data may include one or more of digital pictures, digital video clips, text messages, music and user settings.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is one of a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a media center, a digital video disk (DVD) player, a set-top box, a personal video recorder (PVR) and a MP3 player.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the device comprises:

determining one or more user options;

configuring the device by the configuration module based on the one or more user options; and

determining the block of the resource to be accessible only by the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the steps of determining the one or more user options, configuring the device and determining the block of the resource are performed by a user configuration module.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the user configuration module is implemented as a silicon chip.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource is an electrical storage device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource is an electro-mechanical storage device.

11. A device comprising:

a user identification module capable of receiving identification information about a user, wherein the user identification module is further capable of utilizing the received identification information to identify the user; and

a user configuration module capable of configuring an application-specific device based on one or more user options associated with the identified user, wherein the user configuration module is further capable of providing the identified user with access to a block of a resource that is not accessible by any other user of the device.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the block of a resource is capable of storing user data.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the user data may include one or more of digital pictures, digital video clips, text messages, music and user settings.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the device is one of a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a media center, a digital video disk (DVD) player, a set-top box, a personal video recorder (PVR) and a MP3 player.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the user configuration module is implemented as a silicon chip.

16. The device of claim 11, further comprising a user selection button, wherein the user selection button is utilized by the user to enter the identification information.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the user selection button is implemented as either a hard button, a soft button or a menu item.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein the resource is an electrical storage device.

19. The device of claim 11, wherein the resource is an electro-mechanical storage device.

20. A machine-readable medium containing instructions which, when executed by a processing system, cause the processing system to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving identification information about a user; and

configuring an application-specific device based on the received identification information, wherein the device is capable of being used by multiple users, wherein the user is one of the multiple users and wherein the device, once configured, is capable of providing the user with access to a block of a resource that is not accessible by any of the other multiple users.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the device is further capable of providing one or more user options to the user.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the block of the resource is capable of storing user data.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the user data may include one or more of digital pictures, digital video clips, text messages, music and user settings.

24. The machine-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the device is one of a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a media center, a digital video disk (DVD) player, a set-top box, a personal video recorder (PVR) and a MP3 player.

25. The machine-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the resource is an electrical storage device.

26. The machine-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the resource is an electro-mechanical storage device.