Apparatus and method for storing context information on an electronic device

• US 8,356,123 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shenzhen TCL New Technology Limited (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Shenzhen TCL New Technology Limited (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Cooper, Steven L., Tenbarge, James Duane
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Chun-Kuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Franklin, Richard B
• Application Number:
  US13/126,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20110225324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 710/1, 710/8, 710/13, 710/15, 710/19, 725/37, 725/38, 725/74, 725/78, 725/80, 725 86-103, 725/105, 725/109
• US Class Current: 710/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

An electronic device includes a storage slot for storing context information for a storage device. The electronic device is configured to apply settings related to the context information to the storage device upon detecting connection of the storage device to the electronic device. A method of operating the electronic device may include acquiring context information from the storage device, storing the context information within a storage slot of the electronic device, and applying settings to the storage device. The settings may be related to the context information and may be applied upon detecting a reconnection of the storage device to the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method of operating an electronic device system, comprising:

acquiring context information from a storage device during a first connection of the storage device to the electronic device system at a first electronic device of the system;

storing the context information in a storage slot of the first electronic device;

detecting a second connection of the storage device to the electronic device system at a second electronic device of the system, wherein the first and second electronic devices are configured to independently play media and are networked together via a network;

searching the system with the second electronic device for the context information via the network;

applying settings related to the context information to the storage device via the second electronic device in response to the detecting the second connection; and

sorting a plurality of context information based on associated date data and applying the settings related to the context information because it has the most recent date.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage slot includes non-volatile storage.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising assigning the storage slot to the storage device, wherein the storage slot is selected and assigned from a plurality of storage slots.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising storing the context information in a volatile memory in response to detecting that each of the plurality of storage slots is assigned.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the acquiring occurs in response to receiving a pause command and the context information includes a playback location for a video file stored on the storage device.

6. An electronic device system, comprising:

a network connecting a plurality of electronic devices;

a media input configured to connect a first device of the plurality of electronic devices to a storage device and receive context information from the storage device;

a memory including a plurality of storage slots each configured to store context information for the storage device;

a user interface that allows a user to assign a first storage slot of the plurality of storage slots to the storage device, wherein the user interface includes a notification feature configured to provide notice that each of the plurality of storage slots has been assigned;

a processor configured to detect connection of the storage device to a second device of the plurality of electronic devices, to search the system for the context information, and to apply settings related to the context information to the storage device in response to detecting connection of the storage device to the second device of the plurality of electronic devices.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the storage device includes a portable media player.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the storage slots include flash memory chips located within the memory.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to play media from the storage device in response to detecting connection and the media is determined using the context information.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the storage device is independently capable of playing media.

11. An electronic device system, comprising:

a network connecting a plurality of electronic devices;

a media input configured to connect a first device of the plurality of electronic devices to a storage device and receive context information from the storage device;

a memory including a plurality of storage slots each configured to store context information for the storage device;

a user interface that allows a user to assign a first storage slot of the plurality of storage slots to the storage device, wherein the user interface includes a menu that allows a user to prioritize each of the plurality of storage slots;

a processor configured to detect connection of the storage device to a second device of the plurality of electronic devices, to search the system for the context information, and to apply settings related to the context information to the storage device in response to detecting connection of the storage device to the second device of the plurality of electronic devices.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the storage device includes a portable media player.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the storage slots include flash memory chips located within the memory.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to play media from the storage device in response to detecting connection and the media is determined using the context information.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the storage device is independently capable of playing media.