Method and apparatus for uploading content from a device to a remote network location

• US 7,916,322 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2002
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Senshin Capital LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Pineau, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles; Edward L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rudolph; Vincent
• Application Number:
  US10/099,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20030184793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,302 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211.2, 348/207.99, 358/1.15, 358/1.16, 710/33, 707/7
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for uploading content (such as a digital photograph) from a content upload device to a content server over a communications network, and for automatically forwarding the content from the content server to one or more remote destinations. A user of the content upload device may cause the content upload device to upload the content to the content server by initiating a single action, such as pressing a single button on the content upload device, and without providing information identifying the user to the content upload device. Upon receiving the content, the content server may add the content to a queue, referred to as a content outbox, associated with the user. The content server may automatically forward the content in the user'"'"'s content outbox to one or more remote destinations specified by preferences associated with the user'"'"'s content outbox.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a content message from a content upload device via a communications network, the content message comprising a content file and an identifier of a content upload device;

automatically identifying a user identifier associated with the identifier of the content upload device;

automatically storing the content file in a particular queue associated with the user identifier;

automatically accessing a plurality of user preferences corresponding to the user identifier, each of the plurality of user preferences comprising an association of a content file type with an external content destination;

automatically determining at least one external content destination from the plurality of user preferences based on a file type of the content file, wherein the file type of the content file is associated with the at least one external content destination in at least one of the plurality of user preferences; and

automatically transmitting the content file to the at least one external content destination;

wherein the automatically identifying, the automatically storing, the automatically accessing, the automatically determining, and the automatically transmitting are performed without user intervention.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the content upload device requires performance of only a single action to transmit the content message.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the single action comprises pressing a single button.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the content message lacks information identifying the user identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the content upload device comprises a digital camera memory reader.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the content upload device comprises a mobile printer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the content upload device comprises a cellular telephone.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to automatically transmitting the content file, selecting a transmitting method based on the file type of the content file;

wherein the content file is automatically transmitted to the at least one external content destination using the transmitting method.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmitting method comprises a method for transmitting the content file according to the HyperText Transfer Protocol.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmitting method comprises a method for transmitting the content file according to the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.

11. A content server comprising:

means for receiving a content message from a content upload device over a communications network, the content message comprising a content file and an identifier of a content upload device;

means for automatically identifying a user identifier associated with the identifier of the content upload device;

means for automatically storing the content file in a particular queue associated with the user identifier;

means for automatically accessing a plurality of user preferences corresponding to the user identifier, each of the plurality of user preferences comprising an association of a content file type with an external content destination;

means for automatically determining at least one external content destination from the plurality of user preferences based on a file type of the content file, wherein the file type of the content file is associated with the at least one external content destination in at least one of the plurality of user preferences; and

means for automatically transmitting the content file to the at least one external content destination;

wherein the means for automatically identifying, the means for automatically storing, the means for automatically accessing, the means for automatically determining, and the means for automatically transmitting are configured to operate without user intervention.

12. The content server of claim 11, wherein the content message lacks information identifying the user identifier.

13. The content server of claim 11, further comprising:

means for selecting a transmitting method based on the file type of the content file;

wherein the means for automatically transmitting the content file comprises means for automatically transmitting the content file using the transmitting method.

14. The content server of claim 13, wherein the transmitting method comprises a method for forwarding the content file according to the HyperText Transfer Protocol.

15. The content server of claim 13, wherein the transmitting method comprises a method for forwarding the content file according to the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.

16. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions tangibly embodied thereon, the instructions comprising:

instructions for receiving a content message from a content upload device via a communications network, the content message comprising a content file and an identifier of a content upload device;

instructions for automatically identifying a user identifier associated with the identifier of the content upload device;

instructions for automatically storing the content file in a particular queue associated with the user identifier;

instructions for automatically accessing a plurality of user preferences corresponding to the user identifier, each of the plurality of user preferences comprising an association of a content file type with an external content destination;

instructions for automatically determining at least one external content destination from the plurality of user preferences based on a file type of the content file, wherein the file type of the content file is associated with the at least one external content destination in at least one of the plurality of user preferences; and

instructions for automatically transmitting the content file to the at least one external content destination;

wherein the automatically identifying, the automatically storing, the automatically accessing, the automatically determining, and the automatically transmitting are performed without user intervention.

17. A computer-implemented method for use by a content upload device to send a content file to at least one external content destination, the method comprising:

receiving an input to send a content message, the content message comprising a content file; and

transmitting the content message via a communications network to a content server;

wherein the content server is configured to do the following automatically after receiving the content message;

access a plurality of user preferences corresponding to a user identifier associated with the content upload device, each of the plurality of user preferences comprising an association of a content file type with an external content destination,

determine at least one external content destination from the plurality of user preferences based on a file type of the content file, wherein the file type of the content file is associated with the at least one external content destination in at least one of the plurality of user preferences, and

transmit the content file to the at least one external content destination,

wherein the content server is configured to access the plurality of user preferences, to determine the at least one external content destination, and to transmit the content file without user intervention.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the input is inputted by performance of only a single action.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the single action comprises pressing a single button.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the input lacks the user identifier.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the content upload device comprises a digital camera memory reader.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the content upload device comprises a mobile printer.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the content upload device comprises a cellular telephone.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the content message comprises an identifier of the content upload device.

25. A content upload device for use in transmitting a content file to at least one external content destination, the device comprising:

means for receiving input to send a content message, the content message comprising a content file; and

means for transmitting the content message via a communications network to a content server;

wherein the content server is configured to do the following automatically after receiving the content message;

access a plurality of user preferences corresponding to a user identifier associated with the content upload device, each of the plurality of user preferences comprising an association of a content file type with an external content destination,

determine at least one external content destination from the plurality of user preferences based on a file type of the content file, wherein the file type of the content file is associated with the at least one external content destination in at least one of the plurality of user preferences, and

transmit the content file to the at least one external content destination,

wherein the content server is configured to access the plurality of user preferences, to determine the at least one external content destination, and to transmit the content file without user intervention.

26. The content upload device of claim 25, wherein the means for receiving input comprises means for receiving input representing only a single action.

27. The content upload device of claim 26, wherein the single action comprises pressing a single button.

28. The content upload device of claim 25, wherein the means for receiving input comprises means for receiving input that lacks the user identifier.

29. The content upload device of claim 25, wherein the content upload device comprises a digital camera memory reader.

30. The content upload device of claim 25, wherein the content upload device comprises a mobile printer.

31. The content upload device of claim 25, wherein the content upload device comprises a cellular telephone.

32. A content upload device for use in transmitting a content file to at least one external content destination, the content upload device comprising:

a content medium comprising the content file;

a media reader coupled to the content medium and configured to read the content file from the content medium;

an input mechanism configured to receive an input;

a transmitter configured to transmit a content upload message via a communications network to a content server in response to receiving the input, the content upload message comprising the content file;

wherein the content server is configured to do the following automatically after receiving the content message;

access a plurality of user preferences corresponding to a user identifier associated with the content upload device, each of the plurality of user preferences comprising an association of a content file type with an external content destination,

determine at least one external content destination from the plurality of user preferences based on a file type of the content file, wherein the file type of the content file is associated with the at least one external content destination in at least one of the plurality of user preferences, and

transmit the content file to the at least one external content destination,

wherein the content server is configured to access the plurality of user preferences, to determine the at least one external content destination, and to transmit the content file without user intervention.

33. The content upload device of claim 32, wherein the content upload device is a mobile printer, digital camera, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), cellular telephone, desktop computer, laptop computer, or any combination thereof.

34. The content upload device of claim 32, wherein the content medium is a medium selected from the group consisting of a PCMCIA card, ZIP disk, compact flash card, flash memory card medium, integrated circuit recording medium, CD, floppy disk, photographic negative, photographic print, digital camera, and combinations thereof.

35. The content upload device of claim 32, wherein the media reader is a reader selected from the group consisting of a PCMCIA interface, compact flash card reader, flash memory card reader, integrated circuit recording memory reader, CD drive, floppy disk drive, scanner, I/O port, and combinations thereof.

36. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions tangibly embodied thereon, the instructions comprising:

instructions for receiving an input to send a content message, the content message comprising a content file; and

instructions for transmitting the content message via a communications network to a content server;

wherein the content server is configured to do the following automatically after receiving the content message;

access a plurality of user preferences corresponding to a user identifier associated with the content upload device, each of the plurality of user preferences comprising an association of a content file type with an external content destination,

determine at least one external content destination from the plurality of user preferences based on a file type of the content file, wherein the file type of the content file is associated with the at least one external content destination in at least one of the plurality of user preferences, and

transmit the content file to the at least one external content destination,

wherein the content server is configured to access the plurality of user preferences, to determine the at least one external content destination, and to transmit the content file without user intervention.