USER INTERFACE TO FACILITATE EXCHANGING FILES AMONG PROCESSOR-BASED DEVICES

• US 20080189766A1
• Filed: 04/03/2008
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cynthia S. Bell, Nathan Y. Smith
• Original Assignee: Cynthia S. Bell, Nathan Y. Smith
• Inventors: Bell, Cynthia S., Smith, Nathan Y.
• Granted Patent: US 7,814,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A first processor-based device (PBD), such as a personal computer functioning as a host and containing digital media files, may share a selected file with a second PBD. Media file-sharing may be facilitated by an automated technique including graphical user interfaces (GUIs). In one embodiment, when a device user wishes to transfer a file to another device, the user hovers the file over a particular desktop icon and drops it, causing it to be automatically transmitted to a corresponding destination. Optionally, in response to hovering, a software program automatically generates a GUI indicating potential destinations. The user then selects a destination, and the system automatically transfers the file to that destination. In another embodiment, media sharing can be initiated from a digital appliance, such as a digital picture frame, and a file can be sent to another PBD, such as another digital picture frame via an intermediary PBD.

Claims

1. An appliance comprising:

a memory to store a plurality of digital media files, and further to store program instructions;

a processor coupled to the memory to execute ones of the program instructions,

a display coupled to the processor to display one or more of the plurality of digital media files, and further to display at least one menu of potential digital media file destinations, in accordance with ones of the program instructions;

a selection element to receive a user request to transfer one of the digital media files to at least one specified processor-based device, in accordance with ones of the program instructions; and

a communications element to transmit the digital media file along with destination information to the at least one specified processor-based device,

wherein ones of the program instructions, when executed, enable the processor to receive the user request to transfer the digital media file from the processor to the at least one specified processor-based device, to provide a graphical user interface to detect the presence of a thumbnail corresponding to the digital media file hovering over a first desktop icon of a desktop of the display and, in response to the presence of the thumbnail, to display a first menu to indicate a first plurality of potential digital media file destinations without requiring a user selection of a destination, to detect the presence of the thumbnail hovering over a second desktop icon of the desktop, to display a second menu to indicate a second plurality of potential digital media file destinations, and in response to receiving selection of a destination, to transfer the digital media file to the selected destination.

2. The appliance recited in claim 1 wherein the communications element is to transmit the digital media file to the at least one specified processor-based device via an intermediary processor-based device.

3. The appliance recited in claim 2 wherein the communications element comprises a transceiver coupled to the processor to wirelessly transmit to the intermediary processor-based device, in accordance with ones of the program instructions, the digital media file.

4. The appliance recited in claim 1, wherein the display is to display the at least one menu of potential digital media file destinations in the form of a buddy list.

5. The appliance recited in claim 1 wherein the appliance comprises one of a digital picture frame, an Internet appliance, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a pager, a music reproduction device, and a hand-held computer.

6. The appliance recited in claim 1 wherein ones of the program instructions, when executed, enable the processor to determine a pathname of the digital media file corresponding to the thumbnail dragged over and dropped upon the first or second icon.

7. An article comprising a machine-accessible medium having associated instructions, wherein the instructions, when accessed, result in a machine performing:

displaying a digital media file as a thumbnail on a display of a handheld, wireless appliance;

hovering the thumbnail over a drop spot of the display;

displaying a list of destination processor-based devices without requiring a user selection of a destination processor-based device;

hovering the thumbnail over another portion of the display;

hovering the thumbnail over the drop spot again;

displaying the list of destination processor-based devices;

receiving a user command to transfer the digital media file to one of the destination processor-based devices on the list; and

transferring the digital media file through an intermediary processor-based device to the one of the destination processor-based devices.

8. The article recited in claim 7 wherein, in transferring, the digital media file is wirelessly transmitted to the intermediary processor-based device.

9. The article recited in claim 7 wherein, in transferring, the intermediary processor-based device comprises a first host.

10. The article recited in claim 9 wherein, in transferring, the digital media file is transferred from the first host to a network server before being transferred to the one of the destination processor-based devices.

11. The article recited in claim 10 and further comprising:

the network server performing a security check, wherein the security check comprises a comparison with a list of authorized buddies.

12. The article recited in claim 10 wherein, in transferring, the digital media file is transferred from the network server to a second host before being transferred to the one of the destination processor-based devices.

13. The article recited in claim 12 and further comprising:

at least one of the first host, the network server, and the second host storing information concerning characteristics of the one destination processor-based device; and

at least one of the first host, the network server, and the second host using the information to modify the digital media file.

14. The article recited in claim 7 wherein, in displaying, the destination processor-based devices comprise one or more from the group consisting of a digital picture frame, an Internet appliance, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a pager, a music reproduction device, and a hand-held computer.

15. An article comprising a machine-accessible medium having associated instructions, wherein the instructions, when accessed, result in a machine performing:

storing a plurality of digital media files on a host, wherein at least a first one of the digital media files has a first file extension type, and wherein at least a second one of the digital media files has a second file extension type;

displaying a thumbnail representation of at least one of the digital media files on a desktop of the host;

detecting a presence of the thumbnail representation hovering over a drop spot of the desktop;

receiving a user command to transfer the at least one digital media file; and

if the at least one digital media file has the first file extension type, transferring the at least one digital media file to one of a first sub-group of targets, and

if the at least one digital media file has the second file extension type, transferring the at least one digital media file to one of a second sub-group of targets.

16. The article recited in claim 15 wherein, in transferring, the at least one digital media file is transferred to a destination processor-based device, and wherein the destination processor-based device is one of a server, a second host, an appliance, and a digital picture frame.

17. The article recited in claim 16 wherein, in transferring, the at least one digital media file is transferred to a second host, and wherein the instructions, when accessed, further result in a machine performing:

transferring the at least one digital media file from the second host to one of an appliance and a digital picture frame during a synchronization event.

18. The article recited in claim 16 and further comprising:

storing information concerning characteristics of the destination processor-based device.

19. The article recited in claim 18 and further comprising:

using the information to modify the at least one digital media file prior to transferring.

20. The article recited in claim 15 wherein, in receiving, a pathname is determined for the at least one digital media file.