User interface to facilitate exchanging files among processor-based devices
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- storing a plurality of digital media files on a host;
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 first desktop icon of the desktop;
in response to the presence of the thumbnail representation hovering over the first desktop icon, displaying a first menu to indicate a first plurality of potential media file destinations without requiring a user selection of a destination;
detecting a presence of the thumbnail representation hovering over a second desktop icon of the desktop;
in response to the presence of the thumbnail representation hovering over the second desktop icon, displaying a second menu to indicate a second plurality of potential media file destinations without requiring a user selection of a destination; and
receiving a user command to transfer the at least one digital media file, wherein the user command specifies a destination processor-based device other than the host from either the first or second menus.
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Accused Products
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.
186 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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storing a plurality of digital media files on a host; 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 first desktop icon of the desktop; in response to the presence of the thumbnail representation hovering over the first desktop icon, displaying a first menu to indicate a first plurality of potential media file destinations without requiring a user selection of a destination; detecting a presence of the thumbnail representation hovering over a second desktop icon of the desktop; in response to the presence of the thumbnail representation hovering over the second desktop icon, displaying a second menu to indicate a second plurality of potential media file destinations without requiring a user selection of a destination; and receiving a user command to transfer the at least one digital media file, wherein the user command specifies a destination processor-based device other than the host from either the first or second menus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system comprising:
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a processor; and a storage coupled to the processor to store instructions that, when executed, enable the processor to receive a user request to transfer a media file from the processor to another processor, to provide a graphical user interface to detect the presence of a thumbnail corresponding to the media file hovering over a first desktop icon of a desktop and, in response to the presence of the thumbnail, to display a first menu to indicate a first plurality of potential 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 media file destinations, and in response to receiving selection of a destination, to transfer the media file to the selected destination. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method comprising:
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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 consolidated 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. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification