Portable data storage and image recording device capable of direct connection to a computer USB port

• US 20030149816A1
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: S-Com System (Singapore) PTE Limited
• Original Assignee: S-Com System (Singapore) PTE Limited
• Inventors: Kuan, Mun Kwong, Poo, Teng Pin
• Application Number:
  US10/092,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20030149816A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0062 Stand-alone interface device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for capturing image and/or audio data, processing the image and/or audio data, and storing the processed image and/or audio data. The system includes a portable device having a digital camera for capturing the image and/or audio data, an integrated circuit having a microprocessor for processing the image and/or audio data and a non-volatile memory for storing the processed image and/or audio data. As part of the processing operation in a preferred embodiment, the data is converted into a standard file format that is compatible and recognizable by the host platform to which the portable device may be coupled. After conversion into a standard file format, the data may either be stored in the non-volatile memory, or uploaded directly to the host platform.

Claims

1. A portable device capable of operation with a host platform, the portable device comprising:

a coupling device for coupling the portable device to a serial bus of the host platform;

a non-volatile memory in communication with said coupling device;

a digital camera, integrally formed with said non-volatile memory, for capturing image and/or audio information, said non-volatile memory capable of storing said image and/or audio information; and

a microprocessor for at least in part formatting said image and/or audio information in a standard image and/or audio file format compatible with the host platform.

2. A portable device as recited in claim 1, said non-volatile memory comprising flash memory.

3. A portable device as recited in claim 1, said coupling device capable of coupling to a USB port of the host platform.

4. A portable device as recited in claim 1, said standard image and/or audio file format comprising a JPEG file format.

5. A portable device as recited in claim 1, said standard image and/or audio file format comprising a GIF file format.

6. A portable device as recited in claim 1, said standard image and/or audio file format comprising a PICT II file format.

7. A portable device as recited in claim 1, said standard image and/or audio file format comprising an MPEG file format.

8. A portable device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a power supply circuit for receiving power from the host platform and providing said power to components of the portable device.

9. A portable device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a power source for providing power to components of the portable device.

10. A portable device capable of operation with a host platform, the portable device comprising:

a coupling device for coupling the portable device to a serial bus of the host platform;

a non-volatile memory in communication with said coupling device;

a digital camera for capturing image and/or audio information, said non-volatile memory capable of storing said image and/or audio information;

a flexible communications cable for coupling said digital camera to said non-volatile memory, said flexible communications cable allowing said digital camera to move with respect to said non-volatile memory.

11. A portable device as recited in claim 10, further comprising a microprocessor for at least in part formatting said image and/or audio information in a standard image and/or audio file format compatible with the host platform.

12. A method of capturing image and/or audio information and uploading the image and/or audio information to a host platform, comprising the steps of:

(a) capturing image and/or audio data;

(b) digitizing said image and/or audio data captured in said step (a);

(c) processing said image and/or audio data digitized in said step (b) into a form compatible with the host platform; and

(d) uploading said image and/or audio data to the host platform via a coupling to a serial port of the host platform.

13. A method of capturing image and/or audio information as recited in claim 12, further comprising a step (e) of storing said image and/or audio data in a volatile memory.

14. A method of authenticating an operator seeking access to information on a storage medium, comprising the steps of:

(a) capturing image and/or audio identification data via a digital camera;

(b) comparing at least portions of said image and/or audio data against a template stored in a memory; and

(c) allowing access to the information if the image and/or audio identification data matches the stored template upon comparison in said step (b).