Patent Application
20140162559
The present invention relates generally to memory modules and wireless connectivity. More specifically, it relates to memory modules for operation with a host, a remote device, and a network.
Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
The invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process, an apparatus, a system, a composition of matter, a computer readable medium such as a computer readable storage medium or a computer network wherein program instructions are sent over optical or electronic communication links In this specification, these implementations, or any other form that the invention may take, may be referred to as techniques. In general, the order of the steps of disclosed processes may be altered within the scope of the invention.
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the invention is provided below along with accompanying figures that illustrate the principles of the invention. The invention is described in connection with such embodiments, but the invention is not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims and the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents. Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. These details are provided for the purpose of example and the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily obscured.
This introduction is included only to facilitate the more rapid understanding of the Detailed Description. The invention is not limited to the concepts presented in the introduction, as the paragraphs of any introduction are necessarily an abridged view of the entire subject and are not meant to be an exhaustive or restrictive description. For example, the introduction that follows provides overview information limited by space and organization to only certain embodiments. There are in fact many other embodiments, including those to which claims will ultimately be drawn, which are discussed throughout the balance of the specification. As is discussed in more detail in the Conclusions, the invention encompasses all possible modifications and variations within the scope of the issued claims, which are appended to the very end of the issued patent.
A wireless-enabled memory module (WEMM) in accordance with the invention provides devices access to a memory via a standard memory interface and further incorporates embedded processing capability and a wireless network capability. This card can be used in any host device providing a compatible memory card controller and interface. Host devices equipped with a WEMM become wireless-memory enabled devices (WMED). WEMMs and WMEDs can communicate with any other remote device enabled for compatible wireless communications. Remote devices so enabled are referred to herein as Remote Wireless-enabled Devices (RWED).
The wireless network capability and embedded processing of the WEMM provides RWEDs (such as a mobile phone, PDA, or PC) read and write access to the contents of the memory in the WEMM via a wireless connection, such as a BlueTooth connection in an illustrative embodiment. As an implementation option, the memory of the WEMM may be embedded, may be a removable flash memory card, or both.
The RWED can use this wireless access provided by the WEMM to perform selective data transfers between the WEMM's memory and internal storage within the RWED. Additionally, by e-mail or MMS attachments sent via an additional network, the RWED may act as an intermediary to transfer data (in either direction) between the WEMM's memory and the Internet. For example, a BlueTooth-enabled mobile phone user could access a WEMM that is inserted in a digital camera host. The user could send a friend one or more photos as an e-mail message. The e-mail would result in the transfer of some or all of the stored images from the camera host over the BlueTooth connection to the remote mobile phone, and then to the Internet via the mobile phone network. Similarly, received attachments may be stored to the WEMM.
As a further implementation option, the embedded processing on the WEMM may include a media-scaling engine that can scale the contents to different sizes before transmission over the wireless connection. This enables the user to browse the memory contents in thumbnail form quickly and easily from the remote device. It also permits the user to retrieve a version of the selected content that has been scaled appropriately for the bandwidth capabilities of the BlueTooth connection or mobile network. In a preferred embodiment, the media-scaling engine is implemented using signal processing hardware. However, some or all of its functionality may be also implemented via firmware in the processor sub-system.
Table 1 identifies and expands the abbreviations used in
In the illustrative embodiment of
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the specifics of each implementation will dictate the particular requirements of the wireless interface. In an illustrative embodiment intended primarily for use with mobile phones, a low-speed, low-cost, Bluetooth interface 1500 is used. In another illustrative embodiment intended primarily for use with computing devices, such as PCs, a higher-speed, higher-cost, Bluetooth interface is used. The higher speed interface will reduce the time required to transfer a given file and will make the transfer of larger multimedia objects (e.g. higher resolution images and higher quality music) more practical. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the baseband functions of the radio may be stored in the WEMM's integral firmware and performed via the WEMM's integral processor. It will be further appreciated that different applications may call for the use of other wireless interface standards. By way of example and not limitation, instead of Bluetooth, the radio technology used could also include any of the WiFi, UWB, and Zigbee wireless standards.
In the additional illustrative embodiment of
Note that the WEMMs 1000 and 1001 constitute first-level removable modules and the removable flash memory 1100 constitutes a second-level removable module. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there are a number of choices for each of these miniature-form-factor standard interfaces. Thus the WEMM 1000 is not restricted to the CF standard, the WEMM 1001 is not restricted to any of the USB standards, and the removable flash memory 1100 is not restricted to the SD standard. By way of example and not limitation, the WEMM 1000 may also be implemented as a PC Card in either 16-bit or 32-bit formats. Further by way of example and not limitation, WEMM 1001 may also be implemented to be compatible with other high performance serial interfaces, including the FireWire standards. Further by way of example and not limitation, the removable flash memory 1100 may be implanted to be compatible with any of the SmartCard, Memory Stick, MMC, and xD-Picture card standards. None of these examples is limiting, as the permutations for combining various technology choices for the WEMM (1000 or 1001) and the removable flash memory is only limited by the relationship that any removable flash memory must fit at least in part within the WEMM (1000 or 1001).
A first system application of the WEMM is the wireless transfer of digital photos between a camera and a mobile phone, for associated transfer via the mobile phone network. There is a large installed base of digital cameras that use standard removable memory cards, but do not have I/O expandability or wireless network functionality. These cameras can be augmented with a wireless-enabled memory module, in accordance with the present invention, to send photos via a mobile phone or any other compatibly enabled wireless communications device.
Table 2 identifies and expands the abbreviations used in
A general application for the invention is the illustrative system 2000 of
In many applications, the WMED 2100 and its associated user interface will be unaware of the capabilities of the WEMM 1000 and offer no means to control it. In an illustrative embodiment, the WX1AN 2300 connection enables the RWED 2200 to access the content within the memory of the WEMM 1000 through a browser-server relationship. The server functionality 1635, which has an associated implementation of the WAP-over-BlueTooth protocol, is stored in the WEMM's integral firmware 1630 and is performed via the WEMM's integral processor 1610. (WAP is the Wireless Application Protocol.).
Thus the user interface to the WEMM 1000 is accomplished via an embedded WAP/Web server 1635 within the WEMM 1000 communicating with a WAP browser on the RWED 2200. The RWED browser-based interface allows the user to:
In an alternate embodiment, the user interface makes use of the knowledge of the memory controller of the last file written to allow short cuts, such as “send the last photograph taken”.
In an alternate embodiment, the remote device implements a custom user interface created with the SmartPhone2002 or J2ME Java engines instead of the generic WAP browser.
The Dual WX1AN/WX2AN RWED 2200 is in turn connected to a WX2AN system 2500 (a wireless area network of a second type), such as the GSM Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) standard, which in turn connects through a Gateway 2600 to the Internet 2700. The RWED 2200 can then retrieve content from the memory (either/both of 1100 or/and 1200) in the WEMM 1000 via the WX1AN 2300 and send it (for example in e-mail or MMS form) via the WX2AN 2500 through a Gateway 2600 to the Internet 2700.
To accommodate the lower-speed interfaces that may be employed, either between the WEMM 1000 and the remote device 2200, or between the remote device 2200 and its WXAN 2500, the WEMM additionally includes processing functionality to scale the size of an individual media item that is sent to the remote device. When the user wishes to browse the content of the memory in the WEMM from the remote device, the WEMM 1000 would send “thumbnail” scaled versions through the BlueTooth connection 2300, for quick browsing. When a media item is selected, it can be sent to the remote device 2200 in one of a number of larger scaling levels, depending on the wireless bandwidths involved.
In an illustrative embodiment using a low-speed Bluetooth interface, camera owners will be able to send postcard versions of snapshots via a mobile phone, using cameras that do not have integral wireless network capability. The invention thus will enable and expand the market for sending and receiving snapshots over wireless networks.
In an illustrative embodiment using a high-speed Bluetooth interface, large high-resolution files may be transferred between a camera equipped with the wireless-enabled memory module and a PC. The invention thus will enable and expand the market for PC-based digital photography, including storage, backup, and archiving of digital photographs.
Other system applications of the wireless-enabled memory module enable other devices to communicate via a mobile phone or to computing devices such as PCs. An example is transfer of MP3 files between an MP3 player and a mobile phone, for associated transfer via the mobile phone network, by equipping the MP3 player with a wireless-enabled memory module having a low-speed Bluetooth implementation. Another example is transfer of large music files between an audio device (e.g. a home entertainment system) and a PC, by equipping the audio device with a wireless-enabled memory module having a high-speed Bluetooth implementation.
As an implementation option, the memory capability of the WEMM 1000 is implemented using an embedded fixed size memory 1200, a removable memory 1100 (for example a removable SD memory device), or both. In an illustrative embodiment, the removable memory is a second-level module and the wireless-enabled memory module is a first-level module, such as those disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,353,870, CLOSED CASE REMOVABLE EXPANSION CARD HAVING INTERCONNECT AND ADAPTER CIRCUITRY FOR BOTH I/O AND REMOVABLE MEMORY.
Table 3 identifies and expands the abbreviations used in
An alternative embodiment is shown in
In an illustrative embodiment, the WEMM 3000 processing capability includes the ability to rescale the media objects, including JPEG images and MP3 audio stored in the modules memory on the fly. This allows the WAP/Web interface to provide thumbnail images and highly compressed audio versions of the contents of the WEMM 3000 and to rescale media objects, including photos and audio recordings, to an appropriate size and quality for transmission over the wireless network.
Media objects (images and audio) are sent as an email message either via the phone's built in email capability or using an embedded SMTP/PPP stack over the phone's IP network connection (e.g. GPRS). In another embodiment, the images may be sent as an MMS message.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that additional ASIC embodiments directed toward other form factors or interfaces (such as CompactFlash, USB, other similar reduced-size physical configurations, and other similar expansion interfaces) are also possible.
Operation Separate from Host
Alternative embodiments, illustrated in
Table 4 identifies and expands the abbreviations used in
Although the foregoing embodiments have been described in some detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, the invention is not limited to the details provided. There are many alternative ways of implementing the invention. The disclosed embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive. It will be understood that many variations in construction, arrangement and use are possible consistent with the teachings and within the scope of the claims appended to the issued patent. For example, interconnect and function-unit bit-widths, clock speeds, and the type of technology used may generally be varied in each component block. Also, unless specifically stated to the contrary, the value ranges specified, the maximum and minimum values used, or other particular specifications, are merely those of the illustrative embodiments, can be expected to track improvements and changes in implementation technology, and should not be construed as limitations.
Functionally equivalent techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art may be employed instead of those illustrated to implement various components or sub-systems. The names given to interconnect and logic are merely illustrative, and should not be construed as limiting the concepts taught. It is also understood that many design functional aspects may be carried out in either hardware (i.e., generally dedicated circuitry) or software (i.e., via some manner of programmed controller or processor), as a function of implementation dependent design constraints and the technology trends of faster processing (which facilitates migration of functions previously in hardware into software) and higher integration density (which facilitates migration of functions previously in software into hardware). Specific variations may include, but are not limited to, variations to be expected when implementing the concepts taught herein in accordance with the unique engineering and business constraints of a particular application.
The embodiments have been illustrated with detail and environmental context well beyond that required for a minimal implementation of many of aspects of the concepts taught. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that variations may omit disclosed components without altering the basic cooperation among the remaining elements. It is thus understood that much of the details disclosed are not required to implement various aspects of the concepts taught. To the extent that the remaining elements are distinguishable from the prior art, omitted components are not limiting on the concepts taught herein.
All such variations in design comprise insubstantial changes over the teachings conveyed by the illustrative embodiments. It is also understood that the concepts taught herein have broad applicability to other applications, and are not limited to the particular application or industry of the illustrated embodiments. The invention is thus to be construed as including all possible modifications and variations encompassed within the scope of the claims appended to the issued patent.
Priority benefit claims for this application are made in the accompanying Application Data Sheet, Request, or Transmittal (as appropriate, if any). To the extent permitted by the type of the instant application, this application incorporates by reference for all purposes the following applications, all commonly owned with the instant application at the time the invention was made: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/236,351 (Docket No. SC-04-15-1), WIRELESS ENABLED MEMORY MODULE, filed Sep. 9, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,473,008;U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/939,857 (Docket No. SC.2004.15), WIRELESS ENABLED MEMORY MODULE, filed Sep. 13, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,023,998;PCT International Application No. PCT/US03/10532 (Docket No. SC.2002.15), WIRELESS ENABLED MEMORY MODULE, filed Apr. 8, 2003;U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/370,682 (Docket No. SC.2002.4), WIRELESS ENABLED MEMORY MODULE, filed Apr. 8, 2002; andU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/390,019 (Docket No. SC.2002.5), WIRELESS ENABLED MEMORY MODULE, filed Jun. 19, 2002.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60390019 | Jun 2002 | US | |
| 60370682 | Apr 2002 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13236351 | Sep 2011 | US |
| Child | 13920748 | US | |
| Parent | 10939857 | Sep 2004 | US |
| Child | 13236351 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/US2003/010532 | Apr 2003 | US |
| Child | 10939857 | US |
