Module system for permitting storage device interface with TV

• US 20080204984A1
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• 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: Dawson, Thomas Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,144,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/681
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4183 providing its own processing capabilities, e.g. external module for video decoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

In a TV system with a modular configuration that permits licensed primary modules such as disk players and personal video recorders to be removably slid into engagement with receptacles in the TV housing, an adapter primary module is provided that is formed with secondary receptacles for receiving secondary modules. The secondary modules have USB ports, Ethernet ports, and memory card slots in a configuration that can be designed by entities other than the TV manufacturer, with the secondary modules having to conform to proprietary licensed interfaces in the adaptor module to ensure a degree of control by the TV manufacturer.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a TV housing holding a TV and configured with at least first and second primary receptacles for respectively slidably receiving first and second primary modules therein;

at least a first primary module slidably engageable with the first primary receptacle, the first primary module being selected from the group consisting of personal video recorders (PVR) and video disk players;

at least a second primary module slidably engageable with the second primary receptacle, the second primary module being configured with at least one secondary receptacle; and

at least a secondary module slidably engageable with the secondary receptacle, the secondary module including at least one computer network connection port and/or at least one solid state memory element interface, the secondary module communicating with the secondary receptacle using a secondary interface, whereby the TV can display a list of content on memory devices communicating with the port and/or memory element interface without requiring individual graphical user interfaces (GUI) for the port and/or memory element interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary interface includes at least one receptacle connector in the secondary receptacle having a non-standard configuration.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary interface includes at least one connector in the secondary module complementarily configured to the receptacle connector.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary interface includes an application programming interface (API) allowing an Ethernet connection to the secondary module to be viewed on the TV only as a digital living network association (DLNA) connection such that only DLNA volumes and content associated with the secondary module can be displayed on the TV.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory element is a memory card.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the port is a universal serial bus (USB) port.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the port is an Ethernet port.

8. A method for providing a listing on a TV of content on at least one storage device, comprising:

providing a receptacle in the TV;

providing a primary module configured for removable positioning within the receptacle, the primary module including at least one secondary receptacle;

licensing an entity to provide, for use with the primary module, at least one secondary module positionable in the secondary receptacle; and

permitting the entity the discretion to configure the secondary module including arranging plural secondary receptacles selected from the group consisting of solid state memory receptacles and computer network connection ports.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the secondary module communicates with the primary module using a secondary interface that permits the TV to display a list of content on memory devices communicating with the port and/or memory receptacle without requiring individual graphical user interfaces (GUI) for the memory devices.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the secondary interface includes at least one receptacle connector in the secondary receptacle having a non-standard configuration.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the secondary interface includes at least one connector in the secondary module complementarily configured to a receptacle connector in the primary module.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the secondary interface includes an application programming interface (API) allowing an Ethernet connection to the secondary module to be viewed on the TV only as a digital living network association (DLNA) connection such that only DLNA volumes and content associated with the secondary module can be displayed on the TV.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the port is a universal serial bus (USB) port.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the port is an Ethernet port.

15. A secondary module comprising:

a housing configured for positioning within a receptacle of a primary module that in turn is configured for positioning in a receptacle of a TV; and

plural secondary receptacles on the housing and selected from the group consisting of solid state memory receptacles and computer network connection ports.

16. The module of claim 15, comprising at least one connector on the secondary module complementarily configured to a receptacle connector in the primary module and having a non-standard configuration.

17. The module of claim 15, wherein the port is a universal serial bus (USB) port.

18. The module of claim 15, wherein the port is an Ethernet port.