Portable Data Transfer and Mass Storage Device for Removable Memory Modules

Abstract

A hand-held battery powered device for transferring data between one or more flash memory modules and a mass storage device. The device includes one or more slots to accept a flash memory module into a housing which includes fixed or removable mass storage device and logic circuitry disposed within the housing for transferring data between the flash memory module and mass storage device. Ports are disclosed for transferring data from the resident mass storage device to the user's computer.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a housing configured to be held in the palm of a user's hand and including a memory input port configured to receive a removable digital camera memory module having at least one digital data structure;   a mass storage device configured to:
 receive and store image data from the digital camera memory module, 
 have at least one gigabyte of storage, and 
 be accessible to transfer the image data to a computer; 
   a user interface configured to receive user input to initiate a copy operation, wherein the copy operation copies image data from the digital camera memory module to the mass storage device;   processing circuitry configured to:
 control the transfer of data stored in the digital camera memory module inserted into the memory input port to the mass storage device, 
 initiate the copy operation in response to the user interface receiving user input, 
 verify that the copy operation has been correctly performed, and 
 change a name associated with the at least one digital data structure; 
   a display device configured to display the image data; and   an output interface configured to
 transfer the image data stored in the mass storage device to the computer, and 
 be compatible with an interface of the computer, 
   wherein the apparatus is configured to transfer data between the removable digital camera memory module to the computer.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said processing circuitry is further configured to reformat the digital camera memory module inserted into said memory input port to place the digital camera memory module into a state where it can be reused in a digital camera for picture capture. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the output interface includes a USB interface configured to communicate with the mass storage device to transfer picture image data to the computer, further wherein the processing circuitry is configured to power down upon detecting more than a predetermined idle time. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to verify that the copy operation has been correctly performed by determining whether the image data stored in the digital camera memory module conforms with a standard format. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mass storage device is a removable hard drive. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mass storage device is a hard drive, further wherein the apparatus is configured to receive digital image data from the computer. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is a RISC-based processor operable to edit image-related data. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to delete files on the digital camera memory module. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the display device is configured to display a preview of a video image prior to transfer to the mass storage device. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mass storage device is removable. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises a single button configured to initiate the copy operation. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus comprising:
 A housing configured to be held in the palm of a user's hand and including a flash memory insertion section configured to receive a flash memory module having at least one data structure,   a mass storage device contained within the housing and configured to:
 receive and store data from the flash memory module, 
 be accessible to transfer the data to a computer, and 
 have at least one gigabyte of storage; 
   a user interface configured to change a name associated with the data structure in response to user input;   a processor contained within the housing configured to:
 control the transfer of data stored in the flash memory module to the mass storage device, and 
 change a name associated with the data structure in response to input received by the user interface; 
   a display device configured to display data relating to the contents of the flash memory module, wherein the processor is further configured to control the display of data on the display device enabling a user to preview the data in a preview mode; and   an output interface configured to
 transfer data stored in the mass storage device to the computer, 
 be compatible with an interface of the computer, 
 wherein the apparatus is configured to transfer data between the flash memory module to the computer. 
   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface is configured to associate text information with an image in response to user input. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the digital data structure is a file and the apparatus is configured to allow a user to change the name of the file. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to enter data corresponding to a creation of a directory. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to enter location information indicative of where the data is to be moved. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the display device is further configured to display video image data, further wherein the apparatus is configured to receive digital image data from the computer. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the flash memory module stores audio data. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 reformat a flash memory module inserted into the flash memory insertion section to place the flash memory module into a state where it can be reused, and   power down upon detecting more than a predetermined idle time.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface comprises a single button configured to initiate the copy operation. 
   
   
       21 . An apparatus comprising:
 a housing configured to be held in the palm of a user's hand and including a flash memory port configured to receive a removable flash memory module having at least one digital data structure;   a mass storage device configured to:
 receive and store image data from the flash memory module, 
 be accessible to transfer the data to a computer, and 
 have at least one gigabyte of storage; 
   a user interface configured to receive user input to initiate a copy operation, wherein the copy operation copies image data from the flash memory module to the mass storage device;   a display device configured to display the image data;   a processor configured to:
 control the transfer of data stored in the digital camera memory module inserted into the flash memory port to the mass storage device, 
 initiate a copy operation in response to the user interface receiving user input, 
 verify that the copy operation has been correctly performed, 
 control the display of the image data on the display device to enable previewing of the image data, and 
 change a name associated with the digital data structure in response to user input; 
   one or more LED displays, wherein the processor is further configured to energize the one or more LED displays providing indication of at least one status; and   an output interface configured to
 communicate with the mass storage device, 
 transfer image data stored in the mass storage device to the computer, 
 be compatible with an interface of the computer, 
   wherein the apparatus is configured to transfer data between the flash memory module to the computer.   
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to access information from a plurality of different types of digital camera memory modules. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the output interface includes a USB interface configured to communicate with the mass storage device, wherein the USB interface is further configured to transfer picture image data to the computer. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the flash memory port is Compact-Flash compatible, further wherein the apparatus includes an additional memory input port configured to receive flash media of a type different than Compact-Flash media. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the apparatus is configured to receive digital image data from the computer. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to power down upon detecting more than a predetermined idle time. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the processor is configured to delete files on the digital camera memory module. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the display device is configured to display a graphical image enabling a user to preview the image prior to transferring the image to the mass storage device. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the mass storage device is removable. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the user interface comprises a single button configured to initiate the copy operation. 
   
   
       31 . An apparatus comprising:
 a housing configured to be held in the palm of a user's hand and including a plurality of flash memory input ports; wherein at least a first flash memory input port is configured to be compatible with a first type of flash memory storing at least one digital data structure, and wherein at least a second flash memory input port is configured to be compatible with a second type of flash memory storing at least one digital data structure;   a mass storage device configured to:
 communicate with a flash memory inserted into one of the flash memory input ports, 
 receive and store image data from the flash memory, 
 transfer the image data to a computer, and 
 have at least one gigabyte of storage; 
   a user interface configured to receive user input to initiate a copy operation, wherein the copy operation copies image data from the flash memory to the mass storage device;   a display device configured to display the image data;   a processor configured to:
 access information from a plurality of different types of flash memory; 
 control the transfer of data stored in the flash memory inserted into the memory input port to the mass storage device, 
 initiate a copy operation in response to the user interface receiving user input to initiate the copy operation, 
 verify that the copy operation has been correctly performed, 
 control the display of the image data on the display device to enable previewing of the image data, and 
 change a name associated with the digital data structure associated with the flash memory in response to user input; 
   one or more LED displays, wherein the processor is further configured to energize the one or more LED displays providing indication of at least one status; and   a USB interface configured to
 communicate with the mass storage device, 
   transfer image data stored in the mass storage device to the computer,   wherein the apparatus is configured to transfer data between the flash memory to the computer.   
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the first flash memory input port is Compact-Flash compatible. 
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising processing circuitry configured to delete files on the flash memory. 
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the mass storage device is removable. 
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the processor is configured to power down upon detecting more than a predetermined idle time. 
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the user interface comprises a single button configured to initiate the copy operation. 
   
   
       37 . A method comprising:
 displaying on a display within a repository device, under the control of a processor, image data enabling a user to preview the image data, wherein the image data is related to data obtained from a digital camera;   initiating, under the control of the processor, a selection of a copy operation to transfer data from a digital camera memory module to a mass storage device within the repository device;   verifying that the copy operation was performed correctly;   changing a name of a digital data structure in response to user input; and   displaying at least one status indicator identifying an operation being performed by the repository device,   wherein the repository device is embodied in a housing of a size to be held in the palm of a user's hand and connectable to both a removable memory module and a computer, wherein the mass storage device has at least one gigabyte of storage.   
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising deleting a file associated with the digital camera memory module. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising initiating a power down of the processor upon detecting more than a predetermined idle time. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising transferring image data to a computer. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising receiving data from flash media inserted into a first memory port within the repository device, wherein the flash media is not Compact-Flash media, further wherein a second memory input port within the repository device is Compact-Flash compatible. 
   
   
       42 . An apparatus comprising:
 a housing configured to be held in the palm of a user's hand and including   a flash memory insertion section configured to receive a flash memory module,   a mass storage device contained within the housing and configured to:
 receive and store data from the flash memory module, 
 be accessible to transfer the data to a computer, and 
 have at least one gigabyte of storage; 
   a processor contained within the housing configured to:
 control the transfer of data stored in the flash memory module to the mass storage device, and 
 reformat the flash memory module to place the flash memory module into a state in which it is reusable to store data; and 
   an output interface configured to
 transfer data stored in the mass storage device to the computer, 
 be compatible with an interface of the computer, 
   wherein the apparatus is configured to transfer data between the flash memory module to the computer.   
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein said output interface includes a USB interface configured to transfer data stored in the mass storage device to the computer. 
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , further including a key configured to initiate the transfer of contents of the flash memory module to the mass storage device. 
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , further including a display configured to display digital photograph related data. 
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , further including an additional flash memory insertion section to receive an additional flash memory module, the processor configured to selectively transfer contents of the flash memory module and the additional flash memory module to the mass storage device.