User interface to facilitate exchanging files among processor-based devices

• US 7,376,696 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2002
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Bell, Cynthia S., Smith, Nathan Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung; Zarni
• Application Number:
  US10/228,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20040044723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,093 Days
• Field of Search: 709/202, 709/203, 709/226, 709/229, 345/162, 345/522, 715/700, 715/838, 715/819, 715/835
• US Class Current: 709/203
• 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. A method comprising:

storing a plurality of digital media files on a host;

displaying a thumbnail representation of at least one of the digital media files on a desktop of the host;

detecting a presence of the thumbnail representation hovering over a first desktop icon of the desktop;

in response to the presence of the thumbnail representation hovering over the first desktop icon, displaying a first menu to indicate a first plurality of potential media file destinations without requiring a user selection of a destination;

detecting a presence of the thumbnail representation hovering over a second desktop icon of the desktop;

in response to the presence of the thumbnail representation hovering over the second desktop icon, displaying a second menu to indicate a second plurality of potential media file destinations without requiring a user selection of a destination; and

receiving a user command to transfer the at least one digital media file, wherein the user command specifies a destination processor-based device other than the host from either the first or second menus.

2. The method recited in claim 1 wherein the user command includes a request to electronically mail the at least one digital media file.

3. The method recited in claim 1 and further comprising:

transferring the at least one digital media file to the specified destination processor-based device in response to the user selection of a destination from the first or second menu.

4. The method recited in claim 3 wherein, in transferring, the at least one digital media file is transferred to one of a server, a second host, an appliance, and a digital picture frame.

5. The method recited in claim 4 wherein, in transferring, the at least one digital media file is transferred to a second host, and the method further comprises:

transferring the at least one digital media file from the second host to one of an appliance and a digital picture frame during a synchronization event.

6. The method recited in claim 4 wherein, in transferring, the at least one digital media file is transferred as an email.

7. The method recited in claim 4 wherein, in transferring, the at least one digital media file is transferred through the Internet.

8. The method recited in claim 3 and further comprising:

storing information concerning characteristics of the destination processor-based device.

9. The method recited in claim 8 and further comprising:

using the information to modify the at least one digital media file prior to transferring.

10. The method recited in claim 1 and further comprising:

adding new processor-based device destinations to one or both of the first and second menus as the new processor-based device destinations are registered by the host.

11. The method recited in claim 1 wherein, in receiving, a pathname is determined for the digital media file.

12. A method comprising:

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;

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;

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.

13. The method recited in claim 12 wherein, in transferring, the digital media file is wirelessly transmitted to the intermediary processor-based device.

14. The method recited in claim 12 wherein, in transferring, the intermediary processor-based device comprises a first host.

15. The method recited in claim 14 wherein, in transferring, the digital media file is modified by the first host to satisfy performance characteristics of the one processor-based device.

16. The method recited in claim 14 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.

17. The method recited in claim 16 and further comprising:

the network server performing a security check.

18. The method recited in claim 17 wherein the security check comprises a comparison with a list of authorized buddies.

19. The method recited in claim 16 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.

20. The method recited in claim 19 and further comprising:

transferring the digital media file from the second host to the one of the destination processor-based devices during a synchronization event.

21. The method recited in claim 19 and further comprising:

transferring the digital media file from the second host to one of an appliance and a digital picture frame during a synchronization event.

22. The method recited in claim 12 and further comprising:

storing information concerning characteristics of the one of the destination processor-based devices.

23. The method recited in claim 22 and further comprising:

using the information to modify the digital media file prior to transferring.

24. The method recited in claim 12 wherein, in transferring, the digital media file is transferred to the one of the destination processor-based devices through at least one of a first host, a network server, and a second host.

25. The method recited in claim 24 and further comprising:

the at least one of a first host, a network server, and a second host storing information concerning characteristics of the one processor-based device; and

the at least one of a first host, a network server, and a second host using the information to modify the digital media file.

26. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a storage coupled to the processor to store instructions that, when executed, enable the processor to receive a user request to transfer a media file from the processor to another processor, to provide a graphical user interface to detect the presence of a thumbnail corresponding to the media file hovering over a first desktop icon of a desktop and, in response to the presence of the thumbnail, to display a first menu to indicate a first plurality of potential media file destinations without requiring a user selection of a destination, to detect the presence of the thumbnail hovering over a second desktop icon of the desktop, to display a second menu to indicate a second plurality of potential media file destinations, and in response to receiving selection of a destination, to transfer the media file to the selected destination.

27. The system recited in claim 26 wherein the storage stores instructions to enable the processor to transfer the media file to the selected destination by detecting a selection of an item in the first or second menu.

28. The system recited in claim 26 wherein the storage stores instructions to enable the processor to transfer the media file to a handheld, wireless appliance.

29. The system recited in claim 26 wherein the storage stores instructions to enable the processor to transfer the media file to a digital picture frame.

30. The system recited in claim 26 wherein the storage stores instructions to enable the processor to determine a pathname of the media file corresponding to the thumbnail dragged over and dropped upon the first or second icon.

31. The system recited in claim 26 wherein the storage stores instructions to enable the processor to transfer the media file over the Internet.

32. The system recited in claim 26 wherein the storage stores instructions to enable the processor to transfer information from the system to a handheld, wireless appliance in response to a synchronization event.

33. A method comprising:

storing a plurality of digital media files on a host, wherein at least a first one of the digital media files has a first file extension type, and wherein at least a second one of the digital media files has a second file extension type;

displaying a thumbnail representation of at least one of the digital media files on a desktop of the host;

detecting a presence of the thumbnail representation hovering over a consolidated drop spot of the desktop;

receiving a user command to transfer the at least one digital media file; and

if the at least one digital media file has the first file extension type, transferring the at least one digital media file to one of a first sub-group of targets, and

if the at least one digital media file has the second file extension type, transferring the at least one digital media file to one of a second sub-group of targets.

34. The method recited in claim 33 wherein, in transferring, the at least one digital media file is transferred to one of a server, a second host, an appliance, and a digital picture frame.

35. The method recited in claim 34 wherein, in transferring, the at least one digital media file is transferred to a second host, and the method further comprises:

transferring the at least one digital media file from the second host to one of an appliance and a digital picture frame during a synchronization event.

36. The method recited in claim 33 and further comprising:

storing information concerning characteristics of the destination processor-based device.

37. The method recited in claim 36 and further comprising:

using the information to modify the at least one digital media file prior to transferring.

38. The method recited in claim 33 wherein, in receiving, a pathname is determined for the digital media file.