Computer interface system

Abstract

A user interface system includes a data receiving device and a portable data device having a memory. The portable data device may include a wireless interface configured to transmit data stored in the memory. A user may interface with the data receiving device by physically manipulating the portable data device.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a refrigeration system;   at least one door providing access to an interior of the refrigerator;   a socket configured to receive a substantially ball-shaped portable data device, the socket having circuitry configured to receive data from the substantially ball-shaped portable data device when the substantially ball-shaped portable data device is both in contact with the socket and is being rotated relative to the socket;   a user interface; and   logic in data communication with the circuitry of the socket, and the user interface.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially ball-shaped portable data device includes means for inputting data. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the logic is further configured to receive data from a data card that contains a pointer to a database. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the logic is further configured to receive data from a data card containing an embedded data file. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the logic is further configured to receive data from one of a disk, a chip, clothing, a magazine, a newspaper, a fingerprint, and a food product. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the logic is configured to receive data related to items placed in a refrigerator and items removed from a refrigerator. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the logic is configured to generate a shopping list based on the data related to items placed in the interior of the refrigerator and items removed from the interior of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the logic is configured to send the shopping list to the circuitry of the socket, and wherein the circuitry of the socket is configured to transmit the shopping list to the substantially ball-shaped portable data device. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 a substantially spherical portable data device having a memory and a wireless interface configured to transmit data stored in the memory;   a base unit having a socket configured to receive the substantially spherical portable data device, wherein the socket has a shape corresponding to the substantially spherical portable data device and is configured to wirelessly receive and transmit data to the substantially spherical portable data device when the substantially spherical portable data device is received in the socket.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the base unit further includes a joystick. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the substantially spherical portable data device includes a human interface for receiving data from a user. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the human interface includes at least one of a microphone, a scanner, a thumbprint scanner, a touch pad, a touch screen, and a button. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the base unit is a portable media player. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the base unit is a refrigerator. 
     
     
         15 . A portable data device configured to interface with a base unit having a socket, the portable data device comprising:
 a memory configured to store user data;   a wireless interface configured to transmit the user data to the base unit and further configured to receive data from the base unit,
 wherein the portable data device is configured to receive user commands through a physical manipulation of the portable data device with respect to the socket of the base unit, and 
 wherein the portable data device is substantially spherical, 
 wherein, docking the portable data device in a docking portion of the base unit and subsequently rotating the portable data device causes the portable data device to transmit the user commands to the base unit. 
   
     
     
         16 . The portable data device of  claim 15 , further comprising an input for receiving data when the portable data device is not in communication with the socket of the base unit. 
     
     
         17 . The portable data device of  claim 16 , wherein the input includes at least one of a microphone, a scanner, a thumbprint scanner, a touch pad, a touch screen, and a button. 
     
     
         18 . The portable data device of  claim 15 , wherein the memory stores user payment information and is configured to interface with a payment processing device. 
     
     
         19 . The portable data device of  claim 15 , further comprising GPS circuitry. 
     
     
         20 . The portable data device of  claim 15 , wherein the memory is configured to store data related to items stored in a refrigerator and a shopping list.