Abstract:
The present invention provides a system and method for transmitting files between electronic devices. The method includes: supplying a computer for connecting at least one electronic device to the computer and connecting the computer to a server; obtaining inputs from a user; obtaining identifier (ID) of a target electronic device and the files that are selected in the electronic device by a user, wherein the target electronic device is configured for providing space to store files; generating a request including the ID of the target electronic device; and sending the request and the files that are selected in the electronic device to the server.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to a co-pending U.S. patent application filed concurrently herewith whose Attorney Docket No is US16981 and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING FILES BETWEEN ELECTRONIC DEVICES,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The disclosure relates to an electronic device, a computer, a server and method for transmitting files between electronic devices via the computer and the server. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Electronic devices like digital photo frames have many functions which not only includes displaying images but also communicating with other electronic devices. However, because of the limitation of their input keys, many digital photo frames cannot be manipulated as easily and quickly as those for a computer, especially when one digital photo frame is used to transmit images to another digital photo frame. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a system and method for transmitting files between electronic devices via the computer and the server. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the system and the method for transmitting files between electronic devices. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a system for transmitting files between electronic devices which include a plurality of digital photo frames, a plurality of computers and one server, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of one of the digital photo frames in the system of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of one of the computers in the system of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of the server in the system of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of transmitting files between the digital photo frames implemented by the computer of  FIG. 3 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of transmitting files between digital photo frames implemented by the server of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a hardware infrastructure of a system for transmitting files between electronic devices (hereinafter, “the system”) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The system includes a plurality of electronic devices  10 , a plurality of computers  20 , and a server  30 . Each of the computers  20  is connected with a corresponding electronic device  10 , and the server  30  is connected with all the computers  20 . The connections between the computers  20  and the electronic devices  10 , as well as the connections between the server  30  and the computers  20 , can be made by hardwire, wireless, or a combination of both. 
         [0015]    The electronic devices  10  may be digital photo frames, cameras, and so on. Taking the digital photo frame as the electronic devices  10  for example in the present disclosure, the digital photo frames  10  can be hardwired to the computer  20 , through, for example a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or connection, or wirelessly connected, for example, through a wireless LAN connection. The computers  20  may be connected to the server  30  via a wireless network, cable and so on over the Internet. Each of the digital photo frames  10  has the same hardware infrastructure, but with a unique identifier (ID). Each of the digital photo frames  10  can log onto the server  30  via the corresponding computer  20 . The server  30  records the ID of the digital photo frame  10  when the digital photo frame  10  logs onto the server  30 , and regards the digital photo frame  10  as being in an online state. The server  30  further regards the digital photo frame  10  as being in an offline state when the digital photo frame  10  logs off the server  30 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a hardware infrastructure of the digital photo frame  10  of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The digital photo frame  10  includes a startup unit  110 , a storage unit  120 , a display unit  130 , an interface  140 , and an operation panel  150 . The storage unit  120  is configured for storing a preset table and a program. The preset table records a plurality of IDs of the digital photo frames  10 . When the startup unit  110  is activated, the digital photo frame  10  sends a startup signal to the computer  20  connected therewith to install the program on the computer  20 . The display unit  130  is configured for displaying files. The interface  140  is configured for connecting with an external device (e.g., the computer  20 ). The operation panel  150  is configured with a plurality of user input units for receiving the user inputs. 
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a hardware infrastructure of the computer  20  of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The computer  20  includes a processing module  210 , a storing module  220 , an inputting module  230 , a display module  240 , and an interface module  250 . The storing module  220  is configured for storing files. The display module  240  is configured for displaying files. The interface module  250  is configured for connecting the digital photo frame  10  to the computer  20  and connecting the computer  20  to the server  30 . 
         [0018]    When the startup unit  110  of the digital photo frame is activated, the computer  20  obtains the program from the storage unit  120 , and starts the program to execute the processing module  210 . In another embodiment, the processing module  210  maybe preinstalled on the storage unit  120 , not be installed from the digital photo frame. In the present disclosure, take the digital photo frame  10  that supplies files to other digital photo frames as a source digital photo frame, and the digital photo frame  10  that receives files from other digital photo frames as a target digital photo frame for example in the following disclosure. The source digital photo frame stores files and IDs of other digital photo frames, and transmits files to any one or more of the other digital photo frames. The target digital photo frame has space available to store files from the source digital photo frame. When a user wants to send files from the source digital photo frame to the target digital photo frame, the user can input instructions to activate the source digital photo frame. The inputting module  230  obtains inputs from the user and changes the input into corresponding signals. The processing module  210  obtains the ID of the target digital photo frame and files that the user selects from the source digital photo frame, generates a request including the ID of the target digital photo frame, and sends the request and the files to the server  30 . 
         [0019]    The processing module  210  includes a detecting module  1101 , a setting module  1102 , an obtaining module  1103 , a request generating module  1104 , a transmitting module  1105 , and a controlling module  1106 . The controlling module  1106  is configured for recognizing the ID of the source digital photo frame, and controlling the source digital photo frame to log on or off the server  30 . The other modules of the processing module  210  are described together with  FIG. 5 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of the server  30  of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The server  30  includes a managing unit  300 , an interface  301 , and a memory  302 . The interface  301  is configured for connecting the computers  20 . The memory  302  is configured for storing data. The managing unit  300  further includes a detecting unit  3001 , an obtaining unit  3002 , and a transmitting unit  3003 . The managing unit  300  is described together with  FIG. 6 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of transmitting files between the digital photo frames  10  implemented by the computer  20  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. In step S 500 , when the source digital photo frame is connected to the computer  20 , the controlling module  1106  recognizes the ID of the source digital photo frame, and controls the source digital photo frame to log onto the server  30  via the computer  20 . 
         [0022]    In step S 501 , the detecting module  1101  detects if the startup signal is transmitted to the computer  20  to determine the startup unit  110  is activated. 
         [0023]    In step S 502 , if the detecting module  1101  detects the startup unit  110  is activated, the setting module  1102  generates a menu for prompting the user to enter inputs. The menu may include a plurality of IDs of the digital photo frames  10 , and all the files in the source digital photo frame. 
         [0024]    In step S 503 , the obtaining module  1103  obtains the ID of the target digital photo frame according to the inputs of the user, and the request generating module  1104  generates the request including the ID of the target digital photo frame. 
         [0025]    In step S 504 , the obtaining module  1103  obtains the files which are selected from the source digital photo frame by the user. 
         [0026]    In step S 505 , the transmitting module  1105  transmits the request and the files that the user selects to the server  30 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of transmitting files between digital photo frames  10  implemented by the server  30 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. In step S 601 , the detecting unit  3001  detects if the request and the files that the user selects are transmitted to the server  30  via the interface  301  of the server  30 . 
         [0028]    In step S 602 , if the detecting unit  3001  detects the request and the files that the user selects are transmitted to the server  30 , the obtaining unit  3002  obtains the file that the user selects, and obtain the ID of the target digital photo frame from the request. 
         [0029]    In step S 603 , the detecting unit  3001  determines if the target digital photo frame logs on the server  30  according to the ID of the target digital photo frame. 
         [0030]    In step S 604 , if the detecting unit  3001  determines the target digital photo frame having logged onto the server  30 , the transmitting unit  3003  transmitted the files that the user selects to the target digital photo frame. 
         [0031]    In step S 605 , if the detecting unit  3001  determines the target digital photo frame having not logged onto the server  30 , the transmitting unit  3003  stores the files that the user selects. When the target digital photo frame logs onto the server  30 , the transmitting unit  3003  transmits the files that the user selects to the target digital photo frame. 
         [0032]    It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.