Method for field-programming a solid-state memory device with a digital media file

Abstract

The preferred embodiments described herein provide a method for field-programming a solid-state memory device with a digital media file. In one preferred embodiment, a solid-state memory device is provided that comprises a memory array comprising a plurality of field-programmable memory cells. A digital media file is selected for storage in the memory device, and a digital media source field-programs the memory cells of the memory device with the selected digital media file. After the digital media file is stored in the memory device, the stored digital media file can be played using a digital playback device. In some embodiments, the memory array is a three-dimensional memory array, and the memory cells are write-once memory cells. Other preferred embodiments are provided, and each of the preferred embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.

1 . A method for field-programming a solid-state memory device with a digital media file, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a solid-state memory device comprising a three-dimensional memory array of vertically-stacked field-programmable memory cells, the memory device further comprising an electrical connector coupled with the memory array;   (b) connecting the electrical connector of the memory device with an electrical connector of a digital media source;   (c) selecting a digital media file for storage in the memory device;   (d) field-programming the field-programmable memory cells of the three-dimensional memory array of the memory device with the selected digital media file; and   (e) disconnecting the memory device from the digital media source.   
   
   
       2 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media source comprises a kiosk. 
   
   
       3 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media source is located in a retail store. 
   
   
       4 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media source is located on an end-user's premises. 
   
   
       5 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media source comprises a digital media playback device. 
   
   
       6 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media file comprises a digital media file selected from the group consisting of digital music, digital audio, digital video, at least one digital still image, a sequence of digital images, digital books, digital text, a digital map, digital data, games, software, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media file is manually selected. 
   
   
       8 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media file is automatically selected. 
   
   
       9 . The invention of  claim 1  further comprising retrieving the selected digital media file from a storage device internal to the digital media source. 
   
   
       10 . The invention of  claim 1  further comprising retrieving the selected digital media file from a storage device external to the digital media source. 
   
   
       11 . The invention of  claim 10 , wherein the digital media source is coupled to the external storage device via a network. 
   
   
       12 . The invention of  claim 11 , wherein the network comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       13 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the selected digital media file is generated by the digital media source. 
   
   
       14 . The invention of  claim 1  further comprising charging a user of the memory device for the digital media file field-programmed in the memory device. 
   
   
       15 . The invention of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (f) connecting the electrical connector of the memory device with an electrical connector of a digital media playback device; and   (g) with the digital media playback device, playing the digital media file field-programmed in the memory device.   
   
   
       16 . The invention of  claim 15 , wherein the digital media playback device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a digital audio player, a digital audio book, an electronic book, a digital camera, a game player, a general-purpose computer, a personal digital assistant, a portable telephone, a printer, and a projector. 
   
   
       17 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media file will only play if played from the memory device. 
   
   
       18 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the memory cells comprise write-once memory cells. 
   
   
       19 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the memory cells comprise write-many memory cells. 
   
   
       20 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the memory cells comprise a semiconductor material. 
   
   
       21 . A method for field-programming a solid-state, write-once memory device with a digital media file, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a solid-state memory device comprising a memory array comprising a plurality of write-once, field-programmable memory cells, the memory device further comprising an electrical connector coupled with the memory array;   (b) connecting the electrical connector of the memory device with an electrical connector of a digital media source;   (c) selecting a digital media file for storage in the memory device;   (d) field-programming the write-once, field-programmable memory cells of the memory array of the memory device with the selected digital media file; and   (e) disconnecting the memory device from the digital media source.   
   
   
       22 . The invention of  claim 21 , wherein the digital media source comprises a kiosk. 
   
   
       23 . The invention of  claim 21 , wherein the digital media source is located in a retail store. 
   
   
       24 . The invention of  claim 21 , wherein the digital media source is located on an end-user's premises. 
   
   
       25 . The invention of  claim 21 , wherein the digital media source comprises a digital media playback device. 
   
   
       26 . The invention of  claim 21 , wherein the digital media file comprises a digital media file selected from the group consisting of digital music, digital audio, digital video, at least one digital still image, a sequence of digital images, digital books, digital text, a digital map, digital data, games, software, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       27 . The invention of  claim 21 , wherein the digital media file is manually selected. 
   
   
       28 . The invention of  claim 21 , wherein the digital media file is automatically selected. 
   
   
       29 . The invention of  claim 21  further comprising retrieving the selected digital media file from a storage device internal to the digital media source. 
   
   
       30 . The invention of  claim 21  further comprising retrieving the selected digital media file from a storage device external to the digital media source. 
   
   
       31 . The invention of  claim 30 , wherein the digital media source is coupled to the external storage device via a network. 
   
   
       32 . The invention of  claim 31 , wherein the network comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       33 . The invention of  claim 21 , wherein the selected digital media file is generated by the digital media source. 
   
   
       34 . The invention of  claim 21  further comprising charging a user of the memory device for the digital media file field-programmed in the write-once, field-programmable memory cells of the memory array of the memory device. 
   
   
       35 . The invention of  claim 21  further comprising:
 (f) connecting the electrical connector of the memory device with an electrical connector of a digital media playback device; and   (g) with the digital media playback device, playing the digital media file field-programmed in the write-once, field-programmable memory cells of the memory array of the memory device.   
   
   
       36 . The invention of  claim 35 , wherein the digital media playback device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a digital audio player, a digital audio book, an electronic book, a digital camera, a game player, a general-purpose computer, a personal digital assistant, a portable telephone, a printer, and a projector. 
   
   
       37 . The invention of  claim 21 , wherein the digital media file will only play if played from the memory device. 
   
   
       38 . The invention of  claim 21 , wherein the memory array comprises a three-dimensional memory array. 
   
   
       39 . The invention of  claim 21 , wherein the memory array comprises a two-dimensional memory array. 
   
   
       40 . The invention of  claim 21 , wherein the memory cells comprise a semiconductor material. 
   
   
       41 . A method for field-programming a solid-state memory device with a digital media file, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a solid-state memory device comprising a three-dimensional memory array of vertically-stacked field-programmable memory cells;   (b) selecting a digital media file for storage in the memory device; and   (c) field-programming the three-dimensional memory array of vertically-stacked field-programmable memory cells with the selected digital media file.   
   
   
       42 . The invention of  claim 41  further comprising connecting an electrical connector of the memory device with an electrical connector of a digital media source, and wherein the digital media file is transferred from the digital media source to the memory device via the electrical connectors. 
   
   
       43 . The invention of  claim 41 , wherein the digital media file is transferred from a digital media source to the memory device via a wireless connection. 
   
   
       44 . A method for field-programming a solid-state, write-once memory device with a digital media file, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a solid-state memory device comprising a memory array comprising a plurality of write-once, field-programmable memory cells;   (b) selecting a digital media file for storage in the memory device; and   (c) field-programming the write-once, field-programmable memory cells of the memory array of the memory device with the selected digital media file.   
   
   
       45 . The invention of  claim 44  further comprising connecting an electrical connector of the memory device with an electrical connector of a digital media source, and wherein the digital media file is transferred from the digital media source to the memory device via the electrical connectors. 
   
   
       46 . The invention of  claim 44 , wherein the digital media file is transferred from a digital media source to the memory device via a wireless connection.