Methods and Apparatus for Transfer of Content to a Self Contained Wireless Media Device

• US 20110131660A1
• Filed: 11/30/2009
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Henderson, James, Claessen, Albertus Maria Gerardus, Herwig, Nathaniel Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 9,483,651 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/3804 Memory card connected to a computer port directly or by means of a reader/writer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/3814 Wireless link with a computer system port
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2223 being a public access point, e.g. for downloading to or uploading from clients arrangements specially adapted to plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/10 Integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices

Abstract

Systems and techniques for transferring data to a storage device. A storage device includes storage, a processor, and a wireless transceiver, as well as a connector allowing the storage device to operate according to an appropriate standard when connected to a playback or data device. The storage device can communicate with a data transfer station to wirelessly receive data from the station. A user may select data to be transferred to a removable media device, and the station transfers the data over a wireless connection. The removable media device stores the data in memory as it is received. Once the data has been received, the data can be played or otherwise used in any playback or data device to which the storage device may be connected for use as a memory device.

Claims

1. A wireless storage device, comprising:

storage for storing data transferred to the wireless storage device

an interface connector for providing access to data stored on the device and presenting a standardized interface compatible with a mating interface connector of an external device to which the wireless storage device is connected;

a wireless transceiver for communication data between the wireless storage device and a wireless transfer station operative to transfer content to the wireless storage device in response to communications from a user associated with the wireless storage device; and

a processor operative to manage communication between the wireless storage device and the data transfer station, the processor being operative to response to commands and queries from the data transfer station and to identify data directed to the wireless storage device and store the data to the storage.

2. The wireless storage device of claim 1, wherein the processor controls the wireless transceiver to receive data using a wireless network protocol.

3. The wireless storage device of claim 1, wherein the processor controls the wireless transceiver to receive data using a short range high speed data transfer protocol.

4. The wireless storage device of claim 2, further comprising an induction coil allowing the wireless storage device to receive power from a mating induction coil of a data transfer station.

5. The wireless storage device of claim 1, wherein the storage stores encryption key information and wherein the processor is operative to use the encryption key to decrypt data received from the data transfer station.

6. The wireless storage device of claim 1, wherein the wireless storage device is a removable media device.

7. The wireless storage device of claim 1, wherein the wireless storage device is a portable hard disk drive.

8. The wireless storage device of claim 1, wherein the connector receives power from an adapter providing a mating connector to the wireless storage device.

9. A data transfer station for managing transfer of data to a wireless storage device, comprising:

a wireless transceiver for communicating data between the station and a wireless storage device;

storage for storing data to be transferred to a wireless storage device; and

a processor for managing transfer of data to the wireless storage device, the processor being operative to receive inputs from a user selecting data to be transferred and identifying a wireless storage device to which the data is to be transferred, the processor being further operative to control the wireless transceiver to transfer the data to the identified wireless storage device.

10. The data transfer station of claim 9, wherein the processor is operative to identify a wireless storage device based on stored user account information and to encrypt data for transmission to the wireless storage device based on a stored encryption key included in the stored user account information associated with the identified wireless storage device.

11. The data transfer station of claim 10, wherein the processor is operative to identify a wireless storage device based on stored user account information and to protect data to be transmitted to the wireless removable media device based on digital rights management information included in the stored user account information associated with the identified wireless storage device.

12. The data transfer station of claim 10, wherein the processor is operative to control the wireless transceiver to transfer data to the wireless removable storage device using wireless network protocols.

13. The data transfer station of claim 10, wherein the processor is operative to control the wireless transceiver to transfer data to the wireless storage device using short range high speed wireless communication protocols.

14. The data transfer station of claim 10, further comprising a remote communication interface and wherein the processor receives and responds to user inputs and selections made using a user communication device communicating with the data transfer station over the remote communication interface.

15. A method of data transfer, comprising the steps of:

receiving user selections identifying data to be transferred to a wireless storage device;

identifying a wireless storage device to which data is to be transferred; and

controlling a wireless data transceiver to transfer the identified data to the identified removable media device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of identifying the wireless storage device comprises examining stored user information for device identification information.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of identifying the wireless storage device is followed by a step of retrieving encryption data associated with the device and encrypting data to be transferred to the device using an encryption key included in the encryption data.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of identifying the wireless storage device is followed by a step of retrieving digital rights management information associated with the device and protecting data to be transferred to the wireless storage device using the digital rights management information.