U.S. patent application number 11/727987 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-11 for system and method of digital content manipulation.
This patent application is currently assigned to SanDisk IL Ltd.. Invention is credited to Mordechai Teicher.
Application Number | 20070237037 11/727987 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38474299 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070237037 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Teicher; Mordechai |
October 11, 2007 |
System and method of digital content manipulation
Abstract
A system for manipulating digital content includes a storage
volume having a non-volatile primary storage device and a
non-volatile secondary storage device. The two storage devices are
distinct hardware elements. The primary storage device stores the
digital content, and the secondary storage device stores user
commands. The system also includes one or more appliances, which
communicate with the storage volume. The appliances collectively
transmit a user command defining a processing request regarding the
digital content and initiate processing of the digital content
according to the processing request. A method of operating a
content appliance to interact with a storage volume includes
sending to the storage volume a user command defining a processing
request related to digital content stored in a primary storage
device and storing the user command in a secondary storage
device.
Inventors: |
Teicher; Mordechai; (Hod
Hasharon, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARK M. FRIEDMAN
C/O DISCOVEY DISPATCH , 9003 FLIRIN WAY
UPPER MARLBORO
MD
20772
US
|
Assignee: |
SanDisk IL Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
38474299 |
Appl. No.: |
11/727987 |
Filed: |
March 29, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60744277 |
Apr 5, 2006 |
|
|
|
60803135 |
May 25, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
369/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0683 20130101;
G11B 27/105 20130101; G11B 2220/41 20130101; G11B 2220/657
20130101; G11B 2220/65 20130101; G11B 27/11 20130101; G11B 27/031
20130101; G06F 3/0659 20130101; G06F 3/0604 20130101; G11B 27/329
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
369/1 |
International
Class: |
H04B 1/20 20060101
H04B001/20 |
Claims
1. A system for manipulating digital content, the system
comprising: (a) a storage volume including: (i) a non-volatile
primary storage device configured to store the digital content; and
(ii) a non-volatile secondary storage device configured to store
user commands, said primary and secondary storage devices being
distinct hardware elements; and (b) one or more appliances
configured to communicate with said storage volume, said one or
more appliances collectively configured: (i) to record, on said
secondary storage device, a user command defining a processing
request regarding the digital content; and (ii) to read, from said
secondary storage device, said user command and to initiate
processing of the digital content according to said processing
request.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said primary storage device
includes an optical disk.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said primary storage device
includes a magnetic disk.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein said primary storage device
includes a solid-state disk.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein said secondary storage device is
attached to said primary storage device.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein said storage volume further
includes: (iii) a storage shell configured to accommodate said
primary storage device, wherein said secondary storage device is
attached to said storage shell.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein said storage volume further
includes: (iii) a storage shell configured to accommodate said
primary storage device, wherein said secondary storage device is
reversibly attachable to one of said primary storage device and
said storage shell.
8. The system of claim 6 further comprising: (d) an indication unit
attached to said storage shell, said indication unit operative to
visibly change in response to a signal transmitted to said storage
volume.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein said indication unit includes a
light emitting diode display.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein said indication unit includes a
bi-stable display.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein said indication unit includes a
liquid crystal display.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein said storage volume further
includes circuitry for wireless communication for said
communication with said one or more appliances.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein said storage volume further
includes circuitry for wired communication for said communication
with said one or more appliances.
14. The system of claim 1 further comprising: (c) a rack including:
(i) a plurality of receptacles each configured to accommodate said
storage volume; and (ii) circuitry attached to each of said
plurality of receptacles, said circuitry configured to communicate
between at least one of said one or more appliances and said
storage volume.
15. The system of claim 14 further comprising: (d) a plurality of
indication units, each of said indication unit placed next to a
corresponding receptacle, said indication unit operative to visibly
change in response to a signal sent to said storage volume
accommodated in said corresponding receptacle.
16. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said one or more
appliances is further configured to create a volume catalog of the
digital content and to record said volume catalog onto said
secondary storage device.
17. The system of claim 1, wherein said secondary storage device is
configured to receive a volume catalog from one of said one or more
appliances and to store said volume catalog.
18. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more appliances are
embodied as a single appliance.
19. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more appliances are
embodied as two distinct appliances, one of said appliances
configured to record said user command on said secondary storage
device and the other of said appliances configured to read said
user command from said secondary storage device.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein said appliance configured to
record said user command is further configured to create a volume
catalog of the digital content.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein said secondary storage device
is configured to store said volume catalog.
22. The system of claim 1, wherein said secondary storage device is
embedded within an electronic chip.
23. A casing connectable to a content appliance, the casing
comprising: (a) a storage shell configured to accommodate exactly
one optical disk; (b) a non-volatile storage device attached to
said storage shell; and (c) a communication interface configured to
communicate between said storage device and the content
appliance.
24. The casing of claim 23, wherein said communication interface is
wireless.
25. The casing of claim 23, wherein said communication interface is
wired.
26. The casing of claim 23 further comprising: (d) an indication
unit attached to said storage shell, said indication unit operative
to visibly change in response to a signal received from the content
appliance.
27. The casing of claim 26, wherein said indication unit includes a
light emitting diode display.
28. The casing of claim 26, wherein said indication unit includes a
bi-stable display.
29. The casing of claim 26, wherein said indication unit includes a
liquid crystal display.
30. A method of operating a content appliance to interact with a
storage volume, the storage volume having a primary storage device
storing digital content and a secondary storage device, the primary
and secondary storage devices being distinct hardware elements, the
method comprising: (a) sending to the storage volume a user command
defining a processing request related to the digital content stored
in the primary storage unit; and (b) storing said user command in
the secondary storage device.
31. The method of claim 30 further comprising: (c) processing the
digital content according to said processing request.
32. The method of claim 30 further comprising: (c) transmitting a
signal to visibly change an indication unit on the storage
volume.
33. The method of claim 30 further comprising: (c) creating a
volume catalog of the digital content and storing said volume
catalog in said secondary user command.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/744,277
filed Apr. 5, 2006 and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
60/803,135 filed May 25, 2006, which are incorporated by reference
in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to cataloging
digital content stored on removable storage devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] With advances in technology, more and more content is stored
today on removable storage devices. Consumers produce digital
contents such as still photos, video movies, voice recordings and
personal documents; organizations produce digital files containing
designs, software, literature, marketing materials, legal
documents, correspondence documentation, databases etc. Content
providers distribute movies, music, audio books, digital books,
reference material, software, fonts, clips art and the like on
digital media. A vast variety of digital content is available via
the Internet or cellular networks to be downloaded onto CDs and
DVDs.
[0004] Removable storage devices are not limited to digital
technologies. Many still own collections of vinyl records, audio
cassettes and VHS tapes, and such removable storage devices are
still used by both users and commercial providers.
[0005] A user interested in executing an action with respect to a
specific content piece on a content appliance, such as a computer,
a CD burner or a printer, must either engage the respective storage
device with the content appliance and manually enter the
appropriate commands, or the user must provide written instructions
to another human operator for executing the action. For example, a
user who wishes to burn the content of a memory card on a CD using
a CD burner, needs to insert the card into a card reader, a CD into
the CD burner and operate the respective personal computer to
initiate the burning operation. The burning operation will not be
applied if the user does not specifically operate the CD burner as
such.
[0006] With time, a content collection of an individual user can
number hundreds of volumes, and collections of an organization or a
professional (for example, a photographer) can exceed thousands of
volumes. Thus, to execute action regarding a content piece, the
user must first spend a non-negligible amount of time searching for
the specific content piece to find the related volume for every
action separately, and then manually execute the desired action
with respect to each content piece.
[0007] Eastman Kodak Company of Rochester, New York marketed a
KODAK DC290 Zoom Digital Camera.TM., which allows users to assign
printing instructions to pictures stored in a memory card when
cataloging their content collections. The printing instructions are
saved in the memory card with the marked pictures.
[0008] Although the Kodak camera enables a user to store printing
instructions for pictures, the instructions must be stored in the
same storage device in which the associated pictures reside. The
user does not have the option of storing the printing instructions
and the associated pictures in separate storage devices.
Furthermore, the user does not have the option of storing other
processing instructions (and not only printing instructions) for
applying other content manipulation. Such options missing from the
prior art are a constraint on use. Furthermore, such instruction
options are unavailable for other storage media, such as CDs that
already include digital content and cannot be have additional data
stored thereon.
[0009] Thus, it would be useful for a user to be able to store
processing instructions including but not limited to printing
instructions in a storage device, which is separate from the
storage device on which the associated content pieces resides.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present
invention to introduce a storage volume having a non-volatile
primary storage device for storing digital content and a
non-volatile secondary storage device for storing user commands.
The primary storage device and the secondary storage device are
distinct hardware elements. The secondary storage device may be in
form of an electronic chip.
[0011] The user commands define processing request regarding the
associated content of the storage device. The user commands refer
to information associated with how (for example action/process) to
use/manipulate selected content pieces that are stored on a storage
body of a storage volume. The terms "content" and "content piece"
reference machine-readable data coded in digital or analog
representation and recorded onto a storage device. The user
commands are to be executed with respect to the selected content
piece by a compatible content appliance.
[0012] The user commands include, for example, displaying, opening,
playing, processing, copying to disk, backing up, emailing,
printing, publishing to Web, burning to a CD, etc. Non-limiting
examples for content include still images, videos (including the
associated audio, both user- and commercially-recorded), audio and
music recordings (both user- and commercially-recorded), software,
documents, databases, and other computer files created, acquired,
downloaded or otherwise obtained by a user. Neither the list
provided for processing instructions nor the list provided for
content is limiting.
[0013] Examples for content appliance include a digital camera, a
digital voice recorder, a digital video recorder, a personal
computer with a CD/DVD reader, a personal computer with a CD/DVD
reader/writer, a personal computer with memory card reader/writer,
and a gramophone playing a vinyl record.
[0014] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
present invention is configured to create a catalog as a
representation of the digital content of a storage volume by its
respective samples. The catalog is stored on the secondary storage
device. The term "sample" references a derived data that is
representative of that content piece in a way that allows a user to
clearly identify the content piece. A "volume catalog" or "catalog"
is a representation of content pieces in a volume. Accordingly, a
"collection catalog" is a collection of volumes by the samples of
the respective content pieces, where typically each sample is
pointing at its parent content piece. A volume catalog may be
associated with software to assist browsing and searching content
pieces through their samples, and locating the parent content piece
respective to a selected sample.
[0015] Additional features and advantages of the invention will
become apparent from the following drawings and description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] For a better understanding of the invention with regard to
the embodiments thereof, reference is made to the accompanying
drawing, in which like numerals designate corresponding sections or
elements throughout the present disclosure, and in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a high level representation of a system for
manipulating digital content in accordance with the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 1A illustrates an embodiment of the volume of FIG. 1 in
which the storage body does not have the volume chip;
[0019] FIG. 1B illustrates an embodiment of the volume of FIG. 1 in
which a volume chip is part of storage body;
[0020] FIG. 1C portrays two embodiments of the volume of FIG. 1 in
which the volume chip is reversibly attached to either a storage
body or to a storage shell;
[0021] FIG. 1D illustrates the content of volume chip including
circuitry for communication;
[0022] FIG. 2A illustrates exemplary volumes devised for stackable
aggregation arrangements;
[0023] FIG. 2B illustrates exemplary volumes devised for rackable
aggregation arrangements;
[0024] FIG. 3A illustrates a stackable aggregation arrangement to
accommodate a plurality of volumes of the type shown in FIG.
2A;
[0025] FIG. 3B illustrates a rackable aggregation arrangement to
accommodate a plurality of volumes of the type shown in FIG.
2B;
[0026] FIG. 3C illustrates a rackable aggregation arrangement
according to another embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of an offline cataloging procedure
in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0028] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of an offline cataloging procedure
in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;
[0029] FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of an on-the-fly cataloging
procedure in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0030] FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a system of the
present invention; and
[0031] FIG. 8 portrays optional embodiments for recording content
of a volume chip when the content stored in a storage body is
commercially-produced.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0032] The invention summarized above and defined by the claims
below will be better understood by referring to the present
detailed description of embodiments of the invention. This
description is not intended to limit the scope of claims but
instead to provide examples of the invention. The following
discussion presents exemplary embodiments, which include a system
for manipulating digital content, a storage volume connectable to a
content appliance, and a method of operating a content appliance to
interact with a storage volume.
[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which a
system 100 for manipulating digital content includes a plurality of
storage volumes 110 and a content appliance 150. Content appliance
150 may be a digital camera, a personal computer with a CD/DVD
reader, etc. Volume 110 is a stand-alone portable unit that is
reversibly connected to a content appliance 150 for reading content
therefrom, and optionally for recording content thereon.
[0034] A non-volatile primary storage device, storage body 114, is
operationally connected (for example, by insertion) to apparatuses
for recording or reading content. Non-limiting examples of storage
body 114 are optical media such as CDs or DVDs, magnetic media such
as a magnetic diskettes or magnetic tape cassettes, solid-state
disks such as flash memory disks, and vinyl records. Storage body
114 is a part of volume 110. A storage shell 122 offers protection
to storage body 114 and also provides a surface for affixing
labels. In some embodiments, storage shell 122 accommodates exactly
one optical disk, such as a CD or a DVD. A storage shell and
elements affixed thereto (except storage body 114) will be referred
to as a "casing."
[0035] A hardware element, a volume chip 118, is non-volatile
secondary storage device that is distinct from storage body 114 and
is another part of volume 110. Volume chip 118 stores user
commands, which define processing requests regarding the digital
content of storage body 114. Thus, volume 110 carries digital
content in storage body 114 and user commands regarding that
digital content in volume chip 118. Volume chip 118 may be
permanently attached to storage shell 122 or to storage body 114.
Alternatively, volume chip 118 may be reversibly attached to one of
storage shell 122 and storage body 114.
[0036] An appliance, such as content recorder 160, is adapted to
communicate with storage body 114. In the case of storage body 114
being a CD or DVD for archiving digital pictures, content recorder
160 may be a personal computer that reads camera memory cards,
accumulates the content of the memory cards on its hard disk, and
burns multiple pictures onto the CD or DVD. In the case of video
recordings, a DVD may be burnt by a content recorder 160 that is
either a personal computer, which has previously received a copy of
the recording from a video camera, or a video camera, which records
movies directly onto a DVD. In the case of storage body 114 being a
magnetic video cassette, content recorder 160 may be a video camera
that takes the video footage or a video cassette recorder that
captures broadcasted content. In the case of storage body 114 being
a flash memory disk, content recorder 160 may be a digital video or
still camera or a personal computer that has accumulated content.
Content recorder 160 may also be a dedicated CD or DVD recorder
that records broadcast audio or video content. Content recorder 160
can also be a commercial machine, which produces prerecorded CDs
and DVDs in mass production, or other machines, which produce
prerecorded VHS tapes, compact audio cassettes or vinyl
records.
[0037] User command generator 166 is an appliance adapted to
communicate with volume chip 118. User command generator 166
compiles or obtains user commands defining processing requests
regarding the digital content stored on storage body 114. User
command generator 166 records these user commands into volume chip
118. For example, a user may use user command generator 166 for
recording user commands for copying some of the content pieces on
storage body 114, printing some others, and cropping specific ones
prior to printing. Such user commands are recorded into volume chip
118 to be later executed by appropriate content appliances 150.
[0038] Catalog maker 170 compiles a volume catalog of the content
of storage body 114 and stores it as a volume catalog 140 in the
secondary storage device, catalog chip 118 (FIG. 1D). Volume
catalog 140 includes a representation of the digital content in
storage body 114 by its respective samples. In one embodiment
(represented by the flowcharts in FIGS. 4-5), the catalog is
prepared offline from already-recorded content that resides in
storage body 114. In this embodiment, catalog maker 170 may be a
personal computer adapted to communicate with both storage body 114
and volume chip 118. In an alternative embodiment (represented by
the flowchart in FIG. 6), the catalog is compiled on-the-fly when
respective content is recorded into storage body 114. Then, catalog
maker 170 may be consolidated with content recorder 160.
Catalog-making uses techniques known in the art for extracting,
organizing and presenting samples and meta-data from content, as
well as receiving manual user entries or retrieving catalog
information from a database. An exemplary cataloging software
package known in the art for cataloging digital images is offered
by ACD Systems Ltd. of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The
catalog may include thumbnails of images, video samples, software
titles, article abstracts, etc.
[0039] If the storage body 114 is an analog type of memory, for
example, a VHS tape cassette or a vinyl record, then catalog maker
170 may include a content digitizer circuit or software to
digitally process the content pieces to produce the respective
samples.
[0040] Catalog browser 180 may be a personal computer or a
dedicated apparatus adapted to connect to the volume chip 118 of a
volume 110 or of each volume 110 of a collection of volumes.
Catalog browser 180 allows the user to browse through each of the
volume catalogs 140 stored on the respective volume chips 118 (see
FIG. 1D) and identify content pieces of interest.
[0041] Content appliance 150, which may be a personal computer,
music or video player, or a commercial photo printer, is a device
that accesses content pieces from storage body 114, preferably
according to user commands read from volume chip 118. Thus, a user
who has entered user commands into volume chip 118 can then expect
the user commands to be carried out by content appliance 150, for
example, to show, print or copy images, or to play selected audio
or video pieces. Also, in some embodiments or operations, content
appliance 150 can cooperate with catalog maker 170 to read the
content of storage body 114, to produce a volume catalog, and to
record that catalog into volume chip 118.
[0042] Volume chip 118 includes a non-volatile random-access memory
that contains user commands regarding the content of storage body
114 to be carried out by a content appliance 150. Volume chip 118
may also contain the volume catalog representing the content of
storage body 114 and previously or presently created by a catalog
maker 170.
[0043] It will be noted that content recorder 160, user command
generator 166, catalog maker 170, catalog browser 180 and content
appliance 150 are functional units that can be implemented as a
variety of devices that offer other functionalities as well. These
functional units may be embodied as two distinct appliances, such
that one of these appliances adapted to transmit user commands to
storage body 114 and the other appliance is adapted to initiate the
processing of the user commands of the content storage body 114.
These functional units may also be consolidated and embodied as a
single appliance. For example, the functional units may be
consolidated into a single personal computer adapted to communicate
with both storage body 114 and volume chip 118 for all related
operations of content recorder 160, catalog maker 170, catalog
browser 180 and content appliance 150.
[0044] Interface 134 is a typical interface selected according to
the nature of storage body 114. Accordingly, if storage body 114 is
a CD or DVD disk, interface 134 includes a CD/DVD drive,
communication bus and appropriate drivers. If storage body 114 is a
digital video cassette, then interface 134 includes a compatible
drive of a video camera or a dedicated DV cassette drive,
communication bus and appropriate drivers. If storage body 114 is a
flash memory card, then interface 134 includes a compatible card
reader, communication bus and appropriate drivers. If storage body
114 is a vinyl record, interface 134 between storage body 114 and
content appliance 150 and catalog maker 170 includes a gramophone
and wiring and analog interface for receiving electrical signals
representing music, and interface 134 between content recorder 160
and storage body 114 includes the machinery used for mastering and
pressing vinyl records.
[0045] Communication interface 130 enables communication between
volume chip 118 and user command generator 166, catalog maker 170,
catalog browser 180, content appliance 150 and an optional rack 182
(discussed below). Interface 130 is adapted to support random
access to the catalog, as well as the simultaneous connection of a
plurality of volumes to form a single collection, in a way that all
volume catalogs are accessible from one point to effectively form a
collection catalog. Interface 130 can use hard-wired buses, or a
hybrid arrangement where power is supplied via a physical
connection while communication is made wirelessly (RF such as
Bluetooth or Wireless USB, or IR), or a full wireless connection
where volume chip 118 is both energized and communicated
electromagnetically using techniques known in the art as RFID (for
example, under ISO 14443 standard).
[0046] Under usual circumstances, volumes 110 are connected
individually to content recorder 160, to user command generator
166, to catalog maker 170 and to content appliance 150, while often
the connection to catalog browser 180 is made as an aggregate form
of volumes 110, for accessing a collection catalog for example.
However, browsing with catalog browser 180 is also useful for an
individual volume 110, for example, when one wants to quickly
determine the content of a CD without inserting it to the CD
drive.
[0047] Rack 182 is one of the aggregation arrangements of the
present invention for transforming a plurality of volumes into a
collection (see FIGS. 3B-C). In accordance with one embodiment,
which is a "rackable aggregation arrangement," rack 182 includes a
plurality of receptacles (or slots), for example, receptacle R1 of
FIG. 3B, and circuitry attached to each receptacle. Each receptacle
is configured to accommodate a single storage volume 110. The
circuitry is configured to communicate between storage volume 110
and the different functional units. Thus, connecting to rack 182
from a catalog browser 180 enables access to the entire collection
catalog and to record user commands on the volume chips 118 of
storage volumes 110.
[0048] An indication unit in the form of a selection flag 184 is
operative to visibly change in response to a signal transmitted to
the storage volume 110. Selection flag 184 enables the physical
identification of volumes (for example, by illumination) from a
collection during a browsing session with catalog browser 180 so
that desired storage volumes can be sighted and removed for further
utilization with a content appliance 150. The selection flag may be
turned on for each volume whose catalog chip has recorded therein
at least one user command. Selection flag 184 is attached to the
storage shell 122, to a rack slot RI (see FIG. 3B), or to storage
body 114. Selection flag 184 may instead indicate the coordinates
of a selected volume on a screen of a catalog browser 180.
Selection flag 184 may be implemented as an LED (Light Emitting
Diode), an LCD (Liquid Crystal display) or a bi-stable display (see
FIG. 3A).
[0049] In an alternate embodiment, a display 186 can be attached
either to volume 110 or to rack 182. Display 186 can be programmed
to provide a volume title recorded on volume chip 118.
[0050] Optional connector 190 serves to physically connect a
plurality of volumes 110 to each other (in a stackable aggregation
arrangement) or to a rack 182 (in a rackable aggregation
arrangement), as well as to content appliance 150, to user command
generator 166, to catalog maker 170 and to catalog browser 180. In
a hybrid embodiment, connector 190 provides electrical energy only,
while communication between the volumes 110, the rack 182 and the
host appliances is executed wirelessly. In a complete wireless
embodiment (for example RFID communication) connector 190 may still
have a physical role in attaching volumes 110 to each other in a
stackable aggregation arrangement or in a rackable aggregation
arrangement with no electrical or logical functionality.
[0051] The following describes the positioning of volume chip 118
on volume 110. As will be discussed, volume chip 118 may be
permanently attached to storage shell 122 or to storage body 114,
or it may be reversibly attached to one of storage shell 122 and
storage body 114.
[0052] FIG. 1A schematically describes an embodiment of volume 110A
in which storage body 114A has no volume chip. Instead, storage
shell 122A has volume chip 118. Storage shell 122A may be based on
conventional designs of CD/DVD jewel cases, magnetic mini-DV boxes
or vinyl-record envelopes or may be a flexible envelope or any
dedicated design for effectively protecting and handling the
storage body 114A during storage and transport. The attachment of
volume chip 118 to storage shell 122A can be effected by a variety
of techniques and design concepts known in the art and can be made
during the production of storage shell 122A or later by applying an
appropriate label containing volume chip 118. Volume chip 118 has
circuitry 142 (see FIG. 1D) for wireless or wired communication
with the functional units. Interface 130 may have physical contacts
for allowing effective and convenient connection with storage body
114A, whether it is in or out of storage shell 122A. Such contacts
are placed also to allow multiple-volume connection according to
the selected aggregation arrangement (see FIGS. 2A-3C).
[0053] FIG. 1B schematically describes an embodiment in which
volume chip 118 is part of storage body 114B. Such arrangement may
be effected by embedding a chip in the central circle of a CD or
DVD (and possibly adding the appropriate respective contacts for
interface 130 to the spinning part of the CD/DVD drive), or
upgrading the 4 KB memory found in magnetic mini-DV cassettes that
include a memory-in-cassette (MIC) memory chip to at least the
megabyte range. In this embodiment, storage shell 122B may be
eliminated when a rackable aggregation arrangement is employed to
assemble volumes of a collection. Alternatively, if interface 130
is not a completely contactless link, special holes or conductors
can be added to storage shell 122B to allow communication with
volume chip 118 when volume 110B is aggregated with other volumes
to form part of a collection.
[0054] The embodiments of FIGS. 1A and 1B may be implemented with
volume chip 118 supplied as a sticker or an electronic label. The
sticker/label is attached to the storage shell or to the storage
body.
[0055] FIG. 1C represents two embodiments where volume chip 118C is
reversibly attached to either storage body 114C or to storage shell
122C. In both embodiments, volume chip 118C is detached from
storage body 114C or from storage shell 122C and is connected to
user command generator 166 to record user commands (or optionally
to catalog maker 170 to record the catalog of storage body 114C.
Then, volume chip 118C is reattached to storage body 114C or to
storage shell 122C for storage.
[0056] Attributes of the different volume arrangements are
summarized as follows: In the embodiment of FIG. 1A, the individual
components, storage body 114A and associated recorders/readers, are
conventional, which allows cataloging and aggregating existing
volumes by replacing the shells. However, this embodiment is less
supportive of on-the-fly cataloging (see FIG. 6), because the
embodiment requires externally attaching the storage shell 122B to
content recorder 160 during content recording. The embodiment of
FIG. 1B may be better adapted for on-the-fly cataloging, but it is
not as supportive for cataloging existing volumes. This embodiment
requires upgrading the memories of MIC mini-DV cassettes and the
firmware of the respective recorders. The embodiment of FIG. 1C is
adapted for compatibility with existing apparatuses. Thus, a volume
chip 118C having a memory card interface can be inserted into a
memory card slot of a video camera for on-the-fly cataloging while
content is recorded into the DV magnetic tape cassette. Similarly,
a volume chip 118C that has a USB connector can be attached to a
personal computer for cataloging a respective CD playing in the
personal computer under either the offline or on-the-fly
embodiment.
[0057] FIG. 1D schematically illustrates the content of volume chip
118. Volume chip 118 stores commands 144, volume catalog 140 and an
Edition ID 148. Volume chip 118 has circuitry 142 for
wireless/wired communication with the functional units. User
commands 144 are entered by a user when operating user command
generator 166 to define processing requests regarding the content
of storage body 114. The user commands are also available to an
appropriate content appliance 150 for execution. Volume catalog 140
include data representative of the content pieces stored in storage
body 114, such as data extracted from the content of storage body
114 by catalog maker 170, data entered by the user, and data
originated by the manufacturer of commercial content or obtained
from remote databases. Edition ID 148 is optionally provided by a
manufacturer of a commercial volume 110, to uniquely identify the
volume content (that is identical for many duplicates forming an
edition) for accessing the respecting entry on a remote database
(see FIG. 7 and FIG. 8).
[0058] The invention provides more that just the ability to browse
the content of a single CD, DVD or mini-DV cassette, which may be
effected by using an electronic reader instead of a mechanical
drive, and then recording commands related to that content. The
present invention enables browsing essentially immediately the
content of an ever-growing collection of volumes, and record
respective commands, through aggregation arrangements that can turn
a plurality of cataloged volumes into a cataloged collection ready
to be accessed and browsed for selecting content pieces and
defining operations therewith.
[0059] FIG. 2A schematically illustrates exemplary volumes devised
for stackable aggregation arrangements. Volume 110 may be either
volume 110A of FIG. 1A or volume 110B of FIG. 1B. In FIG. 2A,
volume 110 is equipped with connectors, in form of Lego-like
connectors--male connector 190M and female connector 190F. The male
connector 190M and female connector 190F are adapted for
mechanical, electrical and logical connection between units stacked
one on top of the other (see FIG. 3A). The connectors, four in the
illustrated example, suffice to provide both electrical energy (two
connectors) and a communication bus (the other two connectors). The
communication bus, via the male connectors 190M at the top of the
stack or the female connectors 190F at the bottom of the stack, is
usable for connecting the stack to a catalog browser 180 and user
command generator 166.
[0060] FIG. 2B schematically illustrates exemplary volumes devised
for rackable aggregation arrangements. Volume 110 can be either
volume 110A of FIG. 1A or volume 110B of FIG. 1B. In FIG. 2B, flat
connectors 190X of volume 110 are adapted for connecting with
matching connectors positioned in a rack slot (see FIG. 3B), which
also provide electrical power and communication with other catalog
browser 180 and user command generator 166.
[0061] FIG. 3A illustrates a stackable aggregation arrangement 200A
in the form of a stack of a plurality of volumes 110 from FIG. 2A.
The male connectors 190M of the top volume 110 (or the female
connectors 190F at the bottom volume 110) are used to connect
aggregation arrangement 200A to a catalog browser 180 and user
command generator 166 (FIG. 1). Additionally, FIG. 3A also shows a
selection flag 184 and display 186, which are part of the indicator
unit of volume 110. The content of display 186 may be created
during the cataloging process of each volume, for example, by the
user entering "Trip to Hawaii". The content is stored within volume
chip 118 and is displayed when aggregation arrangement 200A is
energized. Alternatively, the content in the display remains if a
bi-stable display is used for display 186. The selection flag 184
of the pertinent volumes is triggered when content from such
volumes is selected for further use while browsing through the
collection using catalog browser 180 and user command generator
166. Such triggering facilitates identification of selected volumes
for individual use with content appliance 150.
[0062] FIG. 3B illustrates a rackable aggregation arrangement 200B
that uses a rack 182B, which has a plurality of receptacles (R1)
and a communication bus to accommodate a plurality of volumes 110
of the type shown in FIG. 2B. The display 186 and selection flag
184 are as described with respect to FIG. 3A. However, in the rack
arrangement, removing a highlighted volume does not turn off other
highlighted volumes as might happen with the stacked aggregation
arrangement 200A (if bi-stable displays are not used for selection
flag 184 in the stacked aggregation arrangement of FIG. 3A). The
communication bus provides electrical contacts between the volumes
110 of rack 182C and catalog browser 180. The communication bus
forms part of rack 182B and is not shown for clarity.
[0063] FIG. 3C illustrates an aggregation arrangement 200C that is
similar to that of FIG. 3B, except that display 186 and selection
flag 184 are placed next to the receptacles of rack 182C instead of
on the volumes as in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B. Activating display 186A
and/or selection flag 184A require additional logic and wiring that
form part of rack 182C and/or volume 110. In the embodiment of FIG.
3C, the design burden relates to rack 182C and not to volume 110.
Thus commercial implementation of the invention may be easier to
effect using the embodiment of FIG. 3C.
[0064] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a
method of operating a content appliance to interact with the
storage volume 110 that includes content in a primary storage
device, includes sending to the storage volume a user command
relating to that content and storing the user command in the
secondary storage device that also forms part of the storage
volume. The user command defines a processing request that is
related to the digital content stored in the primary storage unit.
The method may further include processing the digital data
according to the processing request, transmitting a signal to
activate an indication unit on the storage volume and illuminate
the storage device. The method also includes creating a volume
catalog of the digital content.
[0065] FIG. 4 describes an offline cataloging procedure in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention, whereby the volume
catalog is generated and recorded onto volume chip 118 when storage
body 114 already has content recorded thereon. With reference to
step 301, content is acquired, for example, by taking pictures,
making movies, writing documents, recording broadcasts, or
downloading content pieces from the internet. In a step 309,
contents accumulate on, for example, a user's personal computer's
disk drive, to reach an appropriate amount for archiving. In step
315, content recorder 160 stores the accumulated content into
storage body 114. For example, a personal computer burns a CD to
store accumulated content. In the case of a magnetic mini-DV
recording where the user wishes to use the original cassette also
for archiving (and not burn it onto a DVD), step 315 is
unnecessary. In the case of commercial content, step 301 and step
309 are executed using professional equipment and procedures and
step 315 is executed in a mass-production facility.
[0066] In a step 317, a volume catalog of the content on storage
body 114 is created. Volume 110 is connected to catalog maker 170,
which scans the content of storage body 114, extracts samples,
optionally allows the user to enter titles or comments, and then
records the samples and user entries (if applicable), as a catalog
onto volume chip 118. For example, if storage body 114 is a CD or
DVD, a personal computer prepares the catalog of the CD/DVD content
using cataloging software. If storage body 114 is a magnetic
mini-DV cassette, a personal computer connected to a digital video
camera or player uses movie-editing software to prepare the
catalog. If the cataloging is part of a commercial production, step
317 can be implemented in a commercial mass-production facility by
storing the same volume catalog in all volume chips 118 of the
content of the mass-produced storage bodies 114. However, it will
be noted that a mass-produced volume 110 can be commercially
recorded via steps 301, 309 and 315 and then cataloged by a user
via step 317. After step 317, volume 110 may be removed from
catalog maker 170.
[0067] Optionally, the volume 110 cataloged in step 317 can be
individually connected in a step 319 to a compatible catalog
browser 180 to browse the content on volume 110. For example, the
content of a mini-DV cassette can be browsed from a personal
computer without the need to hook up the computer to a digital
video camera or player.
[0068] In step 321, the volume is added to a collection using an
aggregation arrangement such as 200A of FIG. 3A, 200B of FIG. 3B or
200C of FIG. 3C. The volume chips 118 of all volumes 110 can then
be placed in communication simultaneously with catalog browser 180
and user command generator 166.
[0069] Optionally, in step 323, a display 186 positioned on or near
each volume in the collection shows the volume title. In step 325,
the collection is connected to a catalog browser 180 and user
command generator 166 to allow a user to browse the collection
catalog by accessing the volume chips 118 of all volumes 110 of the
collection.
[0070] In step 329, the user can activate user command generator
166 to enter user commands that define a processing request related
to the content on storage body 114. Exemplary user commands may be
"view", "copy", "print 5 copies at 6.times.9 size", "crop according
to my simulated example and then print a single copy at 12.times.18
size", etc. The user commands are recorded onto the volume chips
118 of the volumes 110 containing the respective contents.
[0071] In step 333, a signal is transmitted to visibly change the
indication unit on the selected storage volumes. Logic in volume
chip 118, in rack 182C or in catalog browser 180 activates the
selection flags of the selected volumes (those that have received
in step 329 user commands regarding their content pieces) of the
collection. In step 337, the user assisted by the selection flags
removes the appropriate volumes from the aggregation arrangement
and inserts them one by one into the appropriate content appliances
150. The user may separately connect to content appliance 150 the
combination of storage body 114A and storage shell 122A or the
combination of storage body 114C and volume chip 118C. In step 341,
the appropriate content pieces are processed (for example,
accessed, viewed, copied, and/or printed) by content appliance 150
according to the processing requests defined by the user commands
recorded into volume chip 118 in step 329.
[0072] FIG. 5 describes an offline cataloging procedure in
accordance with a second embodiment, whereby the volume catalog
made and recorded into volume chip 118 is a catalog of content that
has already been stored in storage body 114. This embodiment is
similar to that of FIG. 4, but here storage volumes of the prior
art are retrofitted in accordance with the present invention.
Reference is also made to FIG. 1A.
[0073] Beginning with step 311, storage body 114A already
containing content data (for example, a conventional, user-recorded
or commercially-recorded CD, DVD, VHS tape or magnetic mini-DV
cassette) receives a new storage shell 122A that includes volume
chip 118.
[0074] The remaining steps, steps 317-341, are the same as in FIG.
4. Thus, an attribute of the configuration of FIG. 1A is that it
can lend itself for cataloging existing volumes of CDs, DVDs,
magnetic tape cassettes and vinyl records.
[0075] FIG. 6 teaches an alternate on-the-fly cataloging procedure,
wherein the volume catalog is created and recorded concurrently
with the recording of the content. Such procedure may be
implemented when a catalog maker is integrated with a content
recorder. Because the process requires simultaneous connection of a
content recorder with both a storage body and a volume chip, the
configuration of FIG. 1B is more suitable, although that of FIG. 1A
is also possible by connecting storage shell 122A to an external
interface of content recorder 160 (which can be more practical
where content recorder 160 is a personal computer and less
practical if it is a video camera).
[0076] In step 301, an amount of content is acquired by content
recorder 160, for example, a folder of digital photos is accessed
on the hard disk by a personal computer, or footage is taken by a
video camera. In step 309, the content acquired in step 301 is
copied into storage body 114, while in a substantially-concurrent
step 313, catalog maker 170 extracts from that content the
respective samples and records them as a catalog into volume chip
118. Steps 301, 309 and 313 continue until, in step 315, either the
current capacity of storage body 114 is exhausted or the user
elects to stop recording and remove volume 110 from content
recorder 160. The remaining steps (steps 315-341) are as described
above with respect to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. It will be noted that the
creation of the catalog (steps 309) and concurrent recording of the
content (step 313) are to be understood in the broadest sense,
meaning that the content is recorded into storage body 114 and the
catalog is recorded into volume chip 118 within the same work
session.
[0077] Commercial content includes mass-produced, prerecorded CDs,
DVDs, magnetic tapes, flash disks and vinyl records that store
music, movies, audio books, digital books, artwork pictures,
software, graphics, fonts etc. A user may be willing to add such
content to his or her collection or even establish a collection
composed solely of commercial content. The present invention offers
a variety of cataloging options for commercial content. The desired
cataloging option depends on the nature of the content, the
cooperation of the provider with the provisions of the present
invention, and on the preferences of the user that owns the
content. The exemplary embodiments described below cover a variety
of situations that are answered by different solutions.
[0078] FIG. 7 describes system 400 that is a variation of system
100 of FIG. 1. Storage body 114Z contains commercially prepared
content, which is similar to storage body 114 of FIG. 1, with
optionally a manufacturer-complied volume catalog prepared by the
manufacturer to be copied by a user to volume chip 118Z. Volume
chip 118Z is similar to volume chip 118 of FIG. 1, with optionally
a unique edition ID that identifies the content of a mass-produced
volume 110Z to associate it with a respective volume catalog that
is stored in a remote database accessible via a communication
network, for example the Internet or a mobile telephony data
network.
[0079] Content appliance 150Z, content recorder 160Z, user command
generator 166Z, catalog maker 170Z and catalog browser 18OZ are
similar to their counterparts of FIG. 1, with the addition of
connectivity to a database 420 via network 410. Network 410 is a
communication network, such as the Internet or mobile data network,
to any of content appliance 150Z, content recorder 160Z, user
command generator 166Z, catalog maker 170Z and catalog browser 180Z
to database 420. Database 420 contains catalog information of
commercially-produced content, provided by the manufacturers of
such content or by third parties such as user groups. An examples
of a content catalog for commercial CDs is CDDB.TM. (CD DataBase),
which is an on online music database service available from
Gracenote Corp., Emeryville, Calif.
[0080] FIG. 8 describes several alternative embodiments for
recording the content of volume chip 118Z when the content stored
in storage body 114Z is commercially-produced. The presentation is
made by describing six variations 317A-F of step 317 of FIG. 4.
[0081] Variation 317A treats the commercial content in storage body
114Z as any other previously recorded content, and employs catalog
maker 170Z to read the content of storage body 114Z, compile a
catalog therefore, and store the catalog in volume chip 118Z. Thus,
variation 317A has actually been described in the process of FIG.
4; however, often commercially-manufactured volumes contain extra
useful data for a richer catalog than their user-made counterparts.
Under variation 317B, catalog maker 170Z is located on the site of
the commercial content provider, which compiles the catalog once
for each content edition, and then stores a copy of the catalog in
volume chip 118Z. Under variation 317C, a catalog is prepared by
the provider and added to storage body 114Z; however, because
storage body 114Z is inaccessible to the respective aggregation
arrangement, the user operates a catalog maker 170Z to copy the
catalog from storage body 114Z to volume chip 118Z. In the
variation 317C, unlike the variation 317A, in most cases the
manufacturer has access to more bibliographic information than can
be extracted by a catalog maker 170Z from the content pieces stored
in storage body 114Z.
[0082] In variation 317D, the catalog of a commercial volume is
stored in a remote database 420 by the content provider or by a
third party, and is then downloaded by a user of catalog browser
180Z and stored in volume chip 118Z; the commercial volume is
identified for locating the appropriate entry in database 420 by
methods known in the art for volume identification by reviewing the
table of content of commercial storage body 114Z.
[0083] Variation 317E is to be combined with any of variations
317B-C to add user inputs to manufacturer-provided catalogs. Two
examples for such user inputs are user comments or keywords, and a
user instruction to catalog maker 170Z to add ten-second music
samples extracted from the beginning each content piece stored in
storage body 114Z, to each catalog entry stored in volume chip
118Z.
[0084] Variation 317F is aimed at using a volume chip 118Z of
minimal capacity that initially contains just the unique identity
of the edition of commercial volume 110Z. Instead of storing the
user and/or provider catalog on volume chip 118Z, variation 317F
relies upon network connectivity of content appliance 150Z and
catalog browser 180Z, thus providing the user with a similar
experience as in the case where the catalog is stored within volume
chip 118Z, while the actual catalog content is retrieved in
real-time from database 420. User instructions are recorded
in-volume chip 118Z as before.
[0085] While the invention has been described with respect to a
limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated by persons
skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by
what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather,
the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and
sub-combinations of the various features discussed, as well as
variations and modifications which would occur to persons skilled
in the art.
* * * * *