Networked thin client with data/memory interface

• US 7,716,362 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2003
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lee Capital LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lee Capital LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Razza, Carl, Amir, Israel
• Primary Examiner(s): Neurauter, Jr.; George C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Murray; Daniel C
• Application Number:
  US10/647,638
• Time in Patent Office: 2,451 Days
• Field of Search: 709/230, 709/203, 709/219, 709/231, 709/232, 707/204, 725/80, 725/134
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41 Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052

Abstract

A thin client device for use in a home network includes a network port by which the device connects to the home network and a data/memory port by which a data interface such as a memory card or communications port may be connected to the device. The device is configured such that data from the data interface is transferred to a server that is coupled to the home network. The transfer may be automatic or it may be controlled by a user. Where the thin client device includes signal processing hardware, the data from the data interface may be processed by the signal processing hardware and presented to the user.

Claims

1. A thin client device integrated with a consumer electronic device for use in a network comprising:

a signal processor configured to process media content for playback by the consumer electronic device;

a network port configured to couple the thin client device to a server on the network, the server including a hard disk drive;

a data/memory port configured to selectively interface with a memory device holding data comprising media content;

a controller configured to control data transfer between the network port and the data/memory port including, in one mode, fully automatic control enabling transferring substantially unidirectionally data stored at the memory device through the data/memory port to the server through a global information network using the network port and archiving the data in a hard disk drive of the server responsive to automatically detecting the existence of the memory device through the data/memory port and substantially simultaneously with selective interfacing of the memory device with the data/memory port;

a first internal line configured to couple the data/memory port to the signal processor; and

a second internal line configured to couple the data/memory port to the network interface;

wherein the controller is configured to enable parallel data transfer of the media content using the first internal line and the second internal line such that the media content is concurrently available to the signal processor for archiving in the hard disk drive of the server and for processing responsive to automatically detecting the existence of the memory device;

wherein the data/memory port includes a memory storage interface.

2. The thin client device according to claim 1,

wherein a reader is configured to display a menu representing predetermined portions of the media content individually extractable from the data for consumer playback;

and

wherein the controller is configured to control, in an alternative mode, transferring substantially unidirectionally, based on user input using the menu, selected ones of the predetermined portions of the media content to the server via the network port.

3. The thin client device according to claim 1, wherein the reader is a card reader.

4. The thin client device according to claim 1, wherein the data/memory port comprises a data communications port.

5. The thin client device according to claim 1, wherein the thin client device is integrated with a digital versatile disc (DVD) player.

6. The thin client device according to claim 1, wherein the thin client device is integrated with a television set-top box.

7. The thin client device according to claim 1, wherein the thin client device is integrated with a television receiver.

8. The thin client device according to claim 1, wherein the thin client device is integrated with a compact disc (CD) player.

9. A method comprising:

automatically detecting a memory device selectively coupled to a data port of a thin client on a global information network, the data port including a memory storage interface;

automatically reading data stored on the memory device, the data including media content;

transferring substantially unidirectionally the data read from the memory device to a server on the global information network through the data port and a network port coupled to the server and archiving the data in a hard disk drive of the server responsive to automatically detecting the existence of the memory device through the data port and initiating transfer of the media content of the memory device substantially simultaneously with selective coupling of the memory device with the data port; and

concurrently with archiving the data, internally providing the media content to a signal processor integrated with the thin client for processing or playback.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising displaying a menu representing predetermined portions of media content individually extractable from the data for consumer playback and providing selective control of the data transfer enabling, in an alternative mode, transferring substantially unidirectionally, based on user input using the menu, selected ones of the predetermined portions of the media content through the network port to the server.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising displaying the menu with predetermined portions represented by titles based on the data stored on the memory device and, based on the titles displayed, issuing commands to the thin client based on remote user input using the menu to select the selected ones of the predetermined portions of the data for transferring substantially unidirectionally.

12. The method of claim 9 where transferring the data read from the memory device includes wireless transfer of the data read from the memory device to the server on the global information network.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

displaying the data read from the memory device as images on a display;

transferring substantially unidirectionally at least one image to the server responsive to the at least one image being selected from the images displayed; and

requesting the storing of the at least one displayed image on the server after transferring.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising requesting the transfer of the at least one image from the server to the thin client after storing the at least one image on the server.

15. A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a thin client, cause the thin client to perform a method comprising:

automatically detecting a memory device selectively coupled to a data port of a thin client on a global information network, the data port including a memory storage interface;

automatically reading data stored on the memory device coupled to the data port of the thin client on the global information network, the data including media content;

transferring substantially unidirectionally the data read from the memory device to a server on the global information network through the data port and a network port coupled to the server and archiving the data in a hard disk drive of the server responsive to automatically detecting the existence of the memory device and automatically initiating transfer of the media content of the memory device substantially simultaneously with selective coupling of the memory device with the data port; and

concurrently with archiving the data, internally providing the media content to a signal processor integrated with the thin client for processing or playback.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15 where execution of the instructions further results in requesting the data to be processed at the server.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 15 where execution of the instructions further results in requesting the data read from the memory device to be archived at a hard disk drive located in the server after transferring.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 15 where transferring the data read from the memory device includes wirelessly transferring the data read from the memory device to the server on the global information network.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 15 where execution of the instructions further results in:

displaying the data read from the memory device as images on a display;

selecting at least one image displayed on the display;

transferring the at least one image selected to the server responsive to the selecting; and

storing the at least one image on the server after transferring.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 19 where execution of the instructions further results in requesting the transfer of the at least one image from the server to the thin client after storing the at least one image on the server.

21. A thin client integrated with a consumer electronic device comprising:

means for configuring a signal processor to process media content for playback by the consumer electronic device;

means for configuring a network port to couple the thin client to a global information network;

means for detecting a memory device holding data comprising media content and selectively coupled to the thin client by a data port, the data port including a memory storage interface;

means for enabling data transfer between the data port and the network port; and

means for providing control of the data transfer including, in one mode, fully automatic control enabling transferring substantially unidirectionally data stored in the memory device coupled to the data port to the global information network via the network port and archiving the data in a hard disk drive of a server connected to the global information network responsive to automatically detecting the memory device selectively coupled to the thin client substantially simultaneously with selective coupling of the memory device with the data port

means for coupling the data port to the signal processor over a first internal line;

means for coupling the data port to the network interface over a second internal line; and

means for configuring the controller to enable parallel data transfer of the media content to the first internal line and the second internal line such that the media content is concurrently available to the signal processor for archiving in the hard disk drive of the server and for processing or playback responsive to automatically detecting the existence of the memory device.

22. The thin client of claim 21 comprising:

means for displaying a menu representing predetermined portions of the media content individually extractable from the data for consumer playback;

means for providing control enabling, in an alternative mode, transferring substantially unidirectionally, based on user input using the menu, selected ones of the predetermined portions of the media content in the memory device through the data port to the global information network via the network port for archiving in the hard disk drive of the server connected to the global information network.

23. The thin client of claim 21 comprising means for processing the data available at the data port.

24. The thin client of claim 21 where the thin client is integrated with a digital versatile disc (DVD) player.

25. The thin client of claim 21 where the thin client is integrated with a television set-top box.

26. The thin client of claim 21 where the client is integrated with a television receiver.