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

• US 20030184793A1
• Filed: 03/14/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 7,916,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 steps of:

(A) at a content upload device, transmitting a content upload message over a communications network to a content server in response to input provided by a user of the content upload device, the content upload message including content;

(B) at the content server, receiving the content upload message; and

(C) at the content server, automatically forwarding the content to at least one content destination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the input provided by the user comprises performance of only a single action performed at the content upload device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the input provided by the user comprises pressing a single button at the content upload device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the input provided by the user does not include information identifying the user.

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 step (A) comprises a step of transmitting the content upload message to the content server through a cellular telephone.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of:

(D) at the content server, storing the content in a queue associated with the user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of:

(D) at the content server, identifying the user based on information contained within the content upload message.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the information contained within the content upload message comprises an identifier of the content upload device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

(D) prior to the step (C), identifying a type of the content; and

(E) prior to the step (C), selecting the at least one content destination based on the type of the content.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

(D) prior to the step (C), identifying a type of the content; and

(E) prior to the step (C), selecting at least one forwarding method based on the type of the content; and

wherein the step (C) comprises a step of automatically forwarding the content to the at least one content destination using the at least one forwarding method.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one forwarding method comprises a method for forwarding the content according to the HyperText Transfer Protocol.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one forwarding method comprises a method for forwarding the content according to the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.

15. A computer-implemented method for use by a content server, the method comprising steps of:

(A) receiving a content upload message from a content upload device over a communications network, the content upload message including content;

(B) identifying a user of the content upload device based on an identifier of the content upload device contained within the content upload message; and

(C) automatically forwarding the content to at least one content destination.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the content upload message does not include information identifying the user.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising a step of:

(D) storing the content in a queue associated with the user.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising steps of:

(D) prior to the step (C), identifying a type of the content; and

(E) prior to the step (C), selecting the at least one content destination based on the type of the content.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising steps of:

(D) prior to the step (C), identifying a type of the content; and

(E) prior to the step (C), selecting at least one forwarding method based on the type of the content; and

wherein the step (C) comprises a step of automatically forwarding the content to the at least one content destination using the at least one forwarding method.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one forwarding method comprises a method for forwarding the content according to the HyperText Transfer Protocol.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one forwarding method comprises a method for forwarding the content according to the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.

22. A computer-implemented method for use by a content upload device, the method comprising steps of:

(A) receiving content from a user;

(B) receiving input from the user, the input not including information identifying the user; and

(C) transmitting a content upload message over a communications network to a content server in response to the input, the content upload message including the content.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the input comprises performance of only a single action performed at the content upload device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the input comprises pressing a single button at the content upload device.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the content upload device comprises a digital camera memory reader.

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

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the step (C) comprises a step of transmitting the content upload message to the content server through a cellular telephone.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the information contained within the content upload message comprises an identifier of the content upload device.

29. A system comprising a content upload device and a content server,

the content upload device comprising:

means for receiving input from a user; and

means for transmitting a content upload message over a communications network to a content server in response to the input, the content upload message including content; and

the content server comprising;

means for receiving the content upload message; and

means for automatically forwarding the content to at least one content destination.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for receiving input comprises means for receiving input representing only a single action performed by the user.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for receiving input comprises means for receiving input representing pressing of a single button by the user.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for receiving input comprises means for receiving input that does not include information identifying the user.

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

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the content upload device comprises a mobile printer.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for transmitting the content upload message comprises means for transmitting the content upload message to the content server through a cellular telephone.

36. The system of claim 29, wherein the content server further comprises:

means for storing the content in a queue associated with the user.

37. The system of claim 29, wherein the content server further comprises:

means for identifying the user based on information contained within the content upload message.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the information contained within the content upload message comprises an identifier of the content upload device.

39. The system of claim 29, wherein the content server further comprises:

means for identifying a type of the content; and

means for selecting the at least one content destination based on the type of the content.

40. The system of claim 29, wherein the content server further comprises:

means for identifying a type of the content; and

means for selecting at least one forwarding method based on the type of the content; and

wherein the means for automatically forwarding the content comprises means for automatically forwarding the content to the at least one content destination using the at least one forwarding method.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the at least one forwarding method comprises a method for forwarding the content according to the HyperText Transfer Protocol.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the at least one forwarding method comprises a method for forwarding the content according to the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.

43. A content server comprising:

means for receiving a content upload message from a content upload device over a communications network, the content upload message including content;

means for identifying a user of the content upload device based on an identifier of the content upload device contained within the content upload message; and

means for automatically forwarding the content to at least one content destination.

44. The content server of claim 43, wherein the content upload message does not include information identifying the user.

45. The content server of claim 43, further comprising:

means for storing the content in a queue associated with the user.

46. The content server of claim 43, further comprising:

means for identifying a type of the content; and

means for selecting the at least one content destination based on the type of the content.

47. The content server of claim 43, further comprising:

means for identifying a type of the content; and

means for selecting at least one forwarding method based on the type of the content; and

wherein the means for automatically forwarding the content comprises means for automatically forwarding the content to the at least one content destination using the at least one forwarding method.

48. The content server of claim 47, wherein the at least one forwarding method comprises a method for forwarding the content according to the HyperText Transfer Protocol.

49. The content server of claim 47, wherein the at least one forwarding method comprises a method for forwarding the content according to the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.

50. A content upload device comprising:

means for receiving content from a user;

means for receiving input from the user, the input not including information identifying the user;

means for transmitting a content upload message over a communications network to a content server in response to the input, the content upload message including the content.

51. The content upload device of claim 50, wherein the means for receiving input comprises means for receiving input representing performance of only a single action performed at the content upload device.

52. The content upload device of claim 51, wherein the means for receiving input comprises means for receiving input representing the pressing of a single button at the content upload device.

53. The content upload device of claim 50, wherein the content upload device comprises a digital camera memory reader.

54. The content upload device of claim 50, wherein the content upload device comprises a mobile printer.

55. The content upload device of claim 50, wherein the step means for transmitting the content upload message comprises means for transmitting the content upload message to the content server through a cellular telephone.

56. The content upload device of claim 55, wherein the information contained within the content upload message comprises an identifier of the content upload device.