Systems and methods for mobile data storage and acquisition

• US 8,301,195 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2007
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Warren, Robert W., Haddad, Stephen N., Al-Refaee, Fadi Afa, Bahram, Nikolai K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Barry
• Application Number:
  US12/280,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20090176529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,954 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/558, 455/420
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/00 Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Various data acquisition, storage and/or distribution systems and devices are described herein. As one example, a mobile data acquisition and distribution device is described. The device includes a non-volatile storage medium, a wireless interface, and a processor. The non-volatile storage medium includes instructions executable by the processor to: receive a user data set, and to store the user data set to the non-volatile storage medium. The instructions are further executable by the processor to receive a request initiated through a remote user interface via the wireless interface. Where the request is to provide the user data set to a recipient device, the instructions are further executable by the processor to provide the user data set to the recipient device via the wireless interface.

Claims

1. A mobile data acquisition and distribution device, the device comprising:

a memory system, wherein the memory system includes;

a non-volatile storage medium;

a wireless interface;

a processor, wherein the memory system includes instructions executable by the processor to;

receive a user data set;

store the user data set to the non-volatile storage medium;

receive a request initiated through a remote user interface by a first directing device via the wireless interface to provide the user data set to a recipient device, wherein the recipient device is distinct from the directing device; and

provide the user data set to the recipient device via the wireless interface; and

wherein at least the non-volatile storage medium and the processor are enclosed in a case including a limited input/output functionality, wherein the limited input/output functionality includes three or fewer switches; and

wherein the non-volatile storage medium and the processor receive power from a power source in the case.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the three or fewer switches is a power button.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the three or fewer switches is an on/off switch for a transmitter associated with the wireless interface.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the recipient device is a mobile application device, wherein the remote user interface is a graphical user interface integrated with the mobile application device, and wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

provide a menu list to the graphical user interface.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the recipient device is a first mobile application device, wherein the remote user interface is a graphical user interface integrated with a second mobile application device, and wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor:

provide a menu list to the graphical user interface.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the recipient device is a mobile application device, and wherein the mobile application device is selected from a group consisting of:

an audio player, a video player, a combination audio and video player, and a cellular telephone.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the recipient device is a cellular telephone, wherein the cellular telephone includes a graphical user interface, and wherein the memory system includes instructions executable by the processor to utilize the graphical user interface operates as a remote graphical user interface for the mobile storage device.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless interface is a Bluetooth interface.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-volatile storage medium includes a hard disk drive.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-volatile storage medium includes a flash memory.

11. A system for maintaining and distributing reusable content objects, the system comprising:

a first mobile application device, wherein the first mobile application device includes a first processor and a graphical user interface, and wherein the first processor is operable to utilize a user data set in a particular application; and

a mobile storage device, wherein the mobile storage device is communicably coupled to the mobile application device via a wireless interface, wherein the mobile storage device includes a memory system including a non-volatile storage medium and a second processor, and wherein the memory system includes instructions executable by the second processor to;

receive a request from the first mobile application device to transfer the user data set from a second mobile application device to the non-volatile storage medium;

transfer the user data set from the second mobile application device;

store the user data set in the non-volatile storage medium;

receive a request to update the graphical display to indicate the user data set; and

provide a graphical display update to the mobile application device via the wireless interface.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the system further comprises:

a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is incorporated into the mobile application device, and wherein the graphical user interface operates as a remote graphical user interface for the mobile storage device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the memory system includes instructions further executable by the processor to:

receive the user data set from an identified source, wherein the identified source is different from the mobile data storage device and the mobile application device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the mobile application device is selected from a group consisting of:

an audio player, a video player, and a cellular telephone.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless interface is a Bluetooth interface.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the non-volatile storage medium includes a hard disk drive.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the non-volatile storage medium includes a flash memory.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the memory system further includes instructions executable by the second processor to identify the mobile application device and initiate communications with the mobile application device via the wireless network.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein initiating communications with the mobile application device includes causing a connection request to display on the graphical user interface.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the memory system further includes instructions executable by the second processor to:

provide a menu of data available on the storage medium to the graphical interface of the mobile application device via the wireless interface;

receive a request indicating an item from the menu of data available; and

provide the item to the mobile application device;

receive a control direction from the mobile application device; and

execute the control direction.

21. The mobile storage device of claim 20, wherein the control direction identifies a data set on the storage medium and a recipient of the data set, and wherein the processor is further operable to execute instructions that cause the mobile storage device to:

retrieve the identified data set from the storage medium; and

provide the identified data set to the recipient via the wireless interface.

22. The mobile data storage device of claim 21, wherein the mobile application device is a first mobile application device, and wherein the recipient is a second mobile application device.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the memory system further includes instructions executable by the second processor to:

provide a menu of operations available on the storage medium to the graphical interface of the mobile application device via the wireless interface;

receive a request indicating an item from the menu of operations available; and

execute an operation indicated by the request indicating an item from the menu of operations available.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the operation is selected from a group consisting of:

controlling a data transfer between the mobile storage device and another mobile application device, and controlling connection of the mobile storage device with another mobile application device.

25. The system of claim 11, wherein the mobile storage device is powered using a third power source that is distinct from a first power source of the first mobile application device and a second power source of the second mobile application device.