Host configured for interoperation with coupled portable media player device

Abstract

Methods and system for transferring images between devices is disclosed. For example, differently scaled images by a host device may automatically and/or selectively be transferred to a media player for display. In turn, appropriately scaled images may be transferred automatically and/or selectively to another display device for example a TV, camera or printer. The selectivity may occur either at the host level or at the player level.

1 . A method, comprising:
 by a host computer coupled to a media player,   evaluating characteristics of the media player in relation to interoperation with the host computer;   determining if there is a more appropriate system software available for the media player based on the evaluating; and   configuring the media player using the more appropriate system software.   
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the configuring comprises:
 copying the more appropriate system software to a staging area of the media player; and   causing the media player to use the more appropriate system software stored in the staging area when interoperating with the host computer.   
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the causing the media player to use the more appropriate system software comprises:
 directing the media player to copy the more appropriate system software from the staging area to a flash memory in the media player, wherein the copying is performed during a rebooting of the portable media player.   
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the media player immediately uses the more appropriate system software during a subsequent booting operation only while the media player is interoperating with the host computer. 
   
   
       5 . A method, comprising:
 coupling a portable media player to a host computer; and   using a more appropriate system software by the media player, wherein the more appropriate system software is determined and provided by the host computer based upon the host computer evaluating characteristics of the media player when interoperating with the host computer.   
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the configuring comprises:
 receiving the more appropriate system software;   copying the more appropriate system software to a staging area of the media player; and   using the more appropriate system software stored in the staging area only when the media player is interoperating with the host computer.   
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the more appropriate system software is copied from the staging area to a flash memory in the media player during a rebooting of the media player. 
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the media player immediately uses the more appropriate system software during a subsequent booting operation only while the media player is interoperating with the host computer. 
   
   
       9 . A media player, comprising:
 a processor; and   an interface suitable for connecting the media player to a host computer, wherein after the media player is connected to the host computer, the processor causes the media player to   use a more appropriate system software, wherein the more appropriate system software is determined and provided by the host computer based upon the host computer evaluating characteristics of the media player when interoperating with the host computer.   
   
   
       10 . The media player as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the processor causes the media player to use the more appropriate system software by:
 receiving the more appropriate system software;   copying the more appropriate system software to a staging area of the media player; and   using the more appropriate system software stored in the staging area only when the media player is interoperating with the host computer.   
   
   
       11 . The media player as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the more appropriate system software is copied from the staging area to a flash memory in the media player during a rebooting of the media player. 
   
   
       12 . The media player as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the processor causes the media player to immediately use the more appropriate system software during a subsequent booting operation only while the media player is interoperating with the host computer. 
   
   
       13 . Computer readable medium for storing computer program product in tangible form executable by a processor in a media player, comprising:
 computer program code for discovering that the media player is coupled to a host computer; and   computer program code for using a more appropriate system software by the media player, wherein the more appropriate system software is determined and provided by the host computer based upon the host computer evaluating characteristics of the media player when interoperating with the host computer.   
   
   
       14 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the configuring comprises:
 computer code for receiving the more appropriate system software;   computer code for copying the more appropriate system software to a staging area of the media player; and   computer code for using the more appropriate system software stored in the staging area only when the media player is interoperating with the host computer.   
   
   
       15 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the more appropriate system software is copied from the staging area to a flash memory in the media player during a rebooting of the media player. 
   
   
       16 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the media player immediately uses the more appropriate system software during a subsequent booting operation only while the media player is interoperating with the host computer.