User interface to facilitate exchanging files among processor-based devices

• US 9,049,177 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Bell, Cynthia S., Smith, Nathan Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bycer, Eric J
• Application Number:
  US13/333,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20120096379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/249, 715/769
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

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.

Claims

1. An article comprising a machine-accessible non-transitory medium having associated instructions, wherein the instructions, when accessed, result in a machine performing:

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;

responsive to hovering, 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;

responsive to hovering, 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.

2. The article recited in claim 1 wherein, in transferring, the digital media file is wirelessly transmitted to the intermediary processor-based device.

3. The article recited in claim 1 wherein, in transferring, the intermediary processor-based device comprises a first host.

4. The article recited in claim 3 wherein, in transferring, the digital media file is modified by the first host to satisfy performance characteristics of the one of the destination processor-based devices.

5. The article recited in claim 3 wherein, in transferring, the digital media file is transferred from the first host to a network server before being transferred to the one of the destination processor-based devices.

6. The article recited in claim 5 wherein, in transferring, the network server performs a security check, and wherein the security check comprises a comparison with a list of authorized buddies.

7. The article recited in claim 5 wherein, in transferring, the digital media file is transferred from the network server to a second host before being transferred to the one of the destination processor-based devices.

8. The article recited in claim 7 wherein, in transferring, at least one of the first host, the network server, and the second host stores information concerning characteristics of the one destination processor-based device, and wherein at least one of the first host, the network server, and the second host uses the information to modify the digital media file.

9. The article recited in claim 1 wherein, in displaying, the destination processor-based devices comprise one or more from the group consisting of a digital picture frame, an Internet appliance, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a pager, a music reproduction device, and a hand-held computer.