Host device equipped with means for starting a process in response to detecting insertion of a storage media

• US 5,795,156 A
• Filed: 11/01/1995
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TV Interactive Data Corporation
• Original Assignee: TV Interactive Data Corporation
• Inventors: Stern, Donald S., Redford, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHENG, JOE H
• Application Number:
  US08/551,686
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/307 R, 434/308, 434/323, 434/362, 434/365, 364/130, 364/138, 364/952.1, 364/DIG. 2, 364/953.3, 395/761, 395/793, 395/800, 395/306, 395/282, 395/807, 395/173, 395/326-328, 395/285, 395/431, 395/561, 395/502, 395/927, 395/681, 386/83, 365/701, 371/21.2, 235/380, 360/133, 360/135, 380/4, 380/23, 380/25, 400/61, 400/63, 400/70, 400/83, 340/825.34, 707/531
• US Class Current: 434/118
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0658 Controller construction arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0677 Optical disk device, e.g. CD-ROM, DVD
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/062 Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/102 Programmed access in sequence to addressed parts of tracks of operating record carriers access by moving the head G11B3/08, G11B5/54, G11B7/085, G11B21/022; by moving the record carrier G11B15/005, G11B17/005, by driving of both record carrier and head G11B15/1816
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2166 for mass storage, e.g. in document filing systems information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

In accordance with this invention, a remote control for an interactive media can include a printed publication and/or a storage media and/or a data button. One embodiment of a remote control includes a printed publication (such as a book, magazine or a catalog) and one or more buttons physically attached to the printed publication to allow users to remotely control use of associated electronic content by a host device. Another embodiment of a remote control has a housing capable of removably holding a storage media encoded with electronic content associated with a button of the remote control. Yet another embodiment of a remote control has at least one data button which permits the user to select the data to be displayed by the host device. An autostart driver in the host device detects insertion of a storage media into a peripheral and automatically starts an application. The application interprets button codes transmitted by the remote control and displays the results or initiates other events. An application development system allows an author to quickly create interactive media applications.

Claims

1. A host device comprising:

a peripheral having an output lead;

means for automatically loading an initialization file;

means for detecting insertion of a storage media into said peripheral, said means for detecting being operatively coupled to said output lead of said peripheral and to said means for automatically loading, wherein said means for detecting detects each insertion after automatic loading of said initialization file by said means for automatically loading;

means for checking for a file other than said initialization file, said means for checking being operatively coupled to said means for detecting, wherein said means for checking checks for said file in response to each detection by said means for detecting; and

means for starting up a process, said means for starting up being operatively coupled to said means for checking, wherein said means for starting up starts a new process in response to each time said means for checking finds the file being checked.

2. The host device of claim 1 wherein said means for starting up comprises a central processing unit.

3. The host device of claim 2 further comprising a read only memory in which has been stored a basic input output system firmware, an output of said read only memory being connected to said central processing unit.

4. The host device of claim 1 further comprising:

means for booting an operating system of the host device, wherein said means for automatically loading is formed as a portion of said means for booting.

5. A host device comprising:

a peripheral having an output lead;

means for detecting insertion of a storage media into said peripheral, said means for detecting being operatively coupled to said output lead of said peripheral;

first means for checking for a file of a first predetermined name, said first means for checking being operatively coupled to said means for detecting, said first means for checking checking for said file of said first predetermined name on detection of a storage media in said peripheral by said means for detecting;

means for comparing a key stored in said file of said first predetermined name with a hard coded key, said means for comparing being operatively coupled to said first means for checking, said means for comparing comparing on said first means for checking finding said file of said first predetermined name;

second means for checking for a file of a second predetermined name, said second means for checking being operatively coupled to said means for detecting, said second means for checking checking for said file of said second predetermined name on said means for comparing finding a match of said stored key and said hard coded key; and

means for starting up a process from said file of said second predetermined name, said means for starting up being operatively coupled to said second means for checking, said means for starting up starting up said process in response to said second means for checking finding said file of said second predetermined name.

6. The host device of claim 5 wherein said means for starting up comprises a central processor unit.

7. The host device of claim 6 further comprising a read only memory in which has been stored basic input/output system firmware, an output lead of said read only memory being connected to said central processing unit.

8. The host device of claim 5 further comprising:

means for automatically loading an initialization file;

wherein said means for detecting detects said insertion after loading of said initialization file by said means for automatically loading.

9. The host device of claim 8 further comprising:

means for booting an operating system of the host device, wherein said means for booting includes said means for automatically loading.

10. The host device of claim 5, wherein:

said means for starting up starts a new process in response to each time said second means for checking finds a match.

11. A host device comprising:

a peripheral;

first logic capable of automatically loading an initialization file;

second logic capable of detecting insertion of a storage media into said peripheral, said second logic being operatively coupled to said peripheral and to said first logic, wherein said second logic detects each insertion after automatic loading of said initialization file by said first logic;

third logic capable of checking for a file other than said initialization file, said third logic being operatively coupled to said second logic, wherein said third logic checks for said file in response to each detection by said second logic; and

fourth logic capable of starting up a process in said host device, said fourth logic being operatively coupled to said third logic, wherein said fourth logic starts a new process in response to each time said third logic finds the file being checked.

12. The host device of claim 11, wherein:

said second logic and said third logic are each hard wired logics included in a hardware of said peripheral.