Abstract:
A method for a memory device utility program includes (1) detecting a memory device being coupled to a host device, (2) in response to said detecting, locating files on the memory device, (3) displaying a file transfer page comprising a file transfer button for transferring the files on the memory device to the host device, and (4) in response to a user selecting the transfer button, transferring the files on the memory device to the host device.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to utility software for transferring files from a memory device to a host device.  
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0002]     A memory card (also known as a “media card”) is a removable module used for storing files in a portable device such as a digital camera or a music player. The memory card is made up of non-volatile flash memory chips in various formats such as CompactFlash, SmartMedia, and Memory Stick. Similarly, a removable storage device (e.g., Thumbdrives™) can also be used to transport files such as digital photos and music but are usually not used inside digital cameras or music players.  
         [0003]     To transfer the files to a computer, the portable device or the removable storage device is coupled by a physical connection (e.g., a USB connection by cable or by directly plugging in the device into a USB port) or through a wireless connection (e g., a WiFi, IR, or a Bluetooth connection) to the computer. Alternatively, the memory card is removed from the portable device and inserted into a memory card reader coupled to the computer.  
         [0004]     After being coupled, the computer detects the presence of the memory device and generates an appropriate icon representing the memory device (e.g., as a removable drive on the computer). The user then selects the icon, typically by clicking the icon, to see a list of directories and files on the memory device. The user then searches the list for files to be transferred to the computer. The file transfer process often involves the user selecting a source directory on the memory device, selecting one or more files in the source directory, selecting a destination directory on the computer, instructing the computer to copy the selected files from the source directory to the destination directory, and instructing the computer to delete the selected files from the memory device. The file transfer process is laboriously repeated as the user searches through multiple directories.  
         [0005]     After the file transfer, the user would typically like to rename the files to give them a more descriptive file name. For example, when a digital camera adds pictures to a media card, the files are usually named as a series of sequential numbers, which are totally cryptic and meaningless to the user. After transferring the pictures to a computer, the user would then rename the photos individually. Because this process is not easy, the user may often just create a folder with a descriptive name and leave the cryptic names for the picture files.  
         [0006]     Thus, what is needed is a method for improving the file transfer process described above. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a computer connected to a memory card reader and a portable device having a memory card in one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates a map of the windows displayed by a utility software in one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates a start window displayed by the utility software in one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrates a file transfer window displayed by the utility software in on embodiment of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates a transfer report window displayed by the utility software in one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  illustrates a photo tool window displayed by the utility software in one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0013]     FIGS.  7  to  13  illustrate pages in a tool setup window displayed by the utility software in embodiments of the invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 14  illustrates a tool report window displayed by the utility software in one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0015]     Use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical elements. 
     
    
     SUMMARY  
       [0016]     In one embodiment of the invention, a method for a memory device utility program includes (1) detecting a memory device being coupled to a host device, (2) in response to said detecting, locating files on the memory device, (3) displaying a file transfer page comprising a file transfer button for transferring the files on the memory device to the host device, and (4) in response to a user selecting the transfer button, transferring the files on the memory device to the host device.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a portable device  10  (e.g., a digital camera) having a memory card  12  coupled to a host device  14  (e.g., a computer) by a cable or a wireless connection. Memory card  12  can also be removed from digital camera  10  and inserted into a memory card reader  16  coupled to computer  14 . In one embodiment, a utility software  18  is installed on computer  14 . Alternatively, utility software  18  is stored on memory card  12  to be executed by computer  14 . Utility software  18  helps to transfer and rename files from memory card  12  to computer  14 . Utility software  18  may also help to print photos, print index pages of the photos, order prints of the photos online, email proof sheets of the photos, and create or update a screensaver with the photos.  
         [0018]     When installed on computer  14 , utility software  18  includes a small spy application  19  used to detect the presence of memory card  12  on computer  14 . Once it detects the presence of memory card  12 , spy application  19  determines if there are files on memory card  12 . If there are files on memory card  12 , spy application  19  launches utility software  18 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates a map of the various windows displayed by utility software  18  in one embodiment of the invention. Once launched, utility software  18  will display a start window  30  ( FIG. 3 ) if there are photo files on memory card  12 . Photo files are files having formats including JPEG, TIFF, BMP, FPX, PCD, PCX, PNG, PSD, PSF, and TGA. Alternatively, if there are no photo files on memory card  12 , utility software  18  will display a file transfer window  40  ( FIG. 4 ).  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates start window  30  in one embodiment of the invention. Start window  30  includes a file transfer button  32  and a photo tool button  34 . Utility software  18  will display file transfer window  40  ( FIG. 4 ) if the user selects file transfer button  32 . Alternatively, utility software  18  will display an image tool window  60  ( FIG. 6 ) if the user selects photo tool button  34 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  illustrates file transfer window  40  in one embodiment of the invention. File transfer window  40  includes a destination textbox  42 , a deletion checkbox  44 , and a transfer initiation button  46 . Destination textbox  42  lists a default destination folder on computer  14  for storing the files from memory card  12 . The user may edit the destination folder or select a browse button  48  to launch a browser window to select another destination folder. Deletion checkbox  44  allows the user to instruct utility software  18  to delete the files on memory card  12  after they have been transferred to the destination folder on computer  14 . When the user selects transfer initiation button  46 , utility software  18  copies all the files on memory card  12  to the destination folder on computer  14  and optionally deletes the original files on memory card  12 . To copy and delete the files, utility software  18  uses the system API on computer  14  to manipulate files and folders.  
         [0022]     After the file transfer is completed, utility software  18  displays a transfer report window  50 .  FIG. 5  illustrates transfer report window  50  in one embodiment. Transfer report window  50  lists the number of files that were transferred versus the number of photos on memory card  12 , the destination folder on computer  14 , and the status of memory card  12  (e.g., empty) if the user has instructed utility software  18  to delete the files on memory card  12  after the transfer. Transfer report window  50  further includes a folder button  52 , an exit button  54 , and a photo tool button  55 . Utility software  18  will open an explorer window to the destination folder on computer  14  if the user clicks folder button  52 . Utility software  18  will close if the user clicks exit button  54 . After utility software  18  is closed, spy application  19  will remain to detect the presence of another memory card  12  on computer  14 . Utility software  18  will display photo tool window  60  ( FIG. 6 ) if the user selects photo tool button  55 . If there are no photos on memory card  12 , then photo tool button  55  will be unavailable.  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  illustrates photo tool window  60  in one embodiment. Photo tool window  60  includes a view button  61 , a transfer photo checkbox  62 , a print photo checkbox  63 , a print index checkbox  65 , an email proof checkbox  66 , a screensaver checkbox  67 , a tool setting button  68 , and a process button  69 . If the user wishes to select fewer than all the photos on memory card  12 , the user would click view button  61 . In response, utility software  18  will display a thumbnail window  70  ( FIG. 7 ). If the user wishes to use any of the tools, the user would check the corresponding checkboxes and then click process button  69 . In response, utility software  18  will apply the checked tools to the selected photos. To setup each tool, the user clicks tool setting button  68 . In response, utility software  18  displays a setup window  80  (FIGS.  8  to  12 ).  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  illustrates a thumbnail window  70  in one embodiment of the invention. The user selects photos by clicking checkboxes  72  (only one is labeled) below thumbnails  74  (only one is labeled) of the photos or by clicking checkbox  76  to select all the photos, and then clicking an OK button  78  to proceed. In response, utility software notes the selected photos and redisplays photo tool window  60  ( FIG. 6 ). In one embodiment, utility software  18  includes conventional imaging software for generating, if necessary, and displaying the thumbnails. Alternatively, utility software  18  instructs conventional imaging software installed on computer  14  to generate the thumbnails.  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  illustrates tool setup window  80  with the transfer photo page  81  selected in one embodiment of the invention. Transfer photo page 81 includes a destination textbox  82 , a deletion checkbox  84 , a rename checkbox  85 , a prefix textbox  86 , and a save button  87 . Destination textbox  82  lists a default destination folder on computer  14  for storing the photos from memory card  12 . The user may edit the destination folder or select a browse button  88  to launch a browser window to select another destination folder. Deletion checkbox  84  allows the user to instruct utility software  18  to delete the photos on memory card  12  after they have been transferred to the destination folder on computer  14 . Rename checkbox  85  allow the user to instruct utility software  18  to rename the photos with a common prefix (e.g., “vacation”). All the photos will be saved with the common prefix and incrementing suffixes (e.g., “vacation 00 l” to “vacation 025 ”). The user may edit the common prefix in prefix textbox  86 . Transfer photo page  81  may optionally include a suffix spin box for setting a starting number for the incrementing suffixes, and a conversion checkbox and a drop-down list for converting the selected photos to a selected format after the transfer. When the user selects save button  87 , utility software  18  saves the current settings for all the tools and redisplays tool window  60  ( FIG. 6 ). The user may select the setting of another tool by clicking the corresponding tab at the top of window  80 . To copy, rename, and delete the files, utility software  18  uses the system API on computer  14  to manipulate files and folders.  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  illustrates tool setup window  80  with print photo page  91  selected in one embodiment of the invention. Print photo page  91  includes a drop-down list box  92  for selecting a printer, a drop-down list box  93  for selecting a print size, a drop-down list  94  for selecting a paper size, a spin box  95  for setting the number of print copies, a checkbox  96  for printing the dates of the photos on the prints, radio buttons  97  and  98  for selecting the orientation of the paper, and a print setup button  99  for configuring the selected printer. In one embodiment, utility software  18  includes conventional imaging software for printing the photos according to the settings provided by the user. Alternatively, utility software  18  uses the system API to instruct conventional imaging software installed on computer  14  to print the photos according to the settings provided by the user.  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  illustrates tool setup window  80  with print index page  101  selected in one embodiment of the invention. Index photo page  101  includes radio buttons  102  and  103  for selecting the number of photos to be included in one index page, a checkbox  104  for printing the dates of the photos on the index page, a checkbox  105  for printing the file names of the photos on the index page, and a print setup button  106  for configuring the selected printer. In one embodiment, utility software  18  includes conventional imaging software for printing the index pages according to the settings provided by the user. Alternatively, utility software  18  uses the system API to instruct conventional imaging software installed on computer  14  to print the index pages according to the settings provided by the user.  
         [0028]      FIG. 11  illustrates tool setup window  80  with email proof page  111  selected in one embodiment of the invention. Email proof page  111  includes a recipient textbox  112  for typing the email addresses for those receiving the proofs, a subject textbox  113 , a message textbox  114 , and a copyright textbox  115  for adding copyright warnings onto the proofs. Email proof page  111  may optionally include radio buttons for reducing the size of the selected proofs to be emailed to the recipients. In one embodiment, utility software  18  uses the system API to instruct the conventional email software installed on computer  14  to email the proofs according to the settings provided by the user.  
         [0029]      FIG. 12  illustrates tool setup window  80  with screensaver page  121  selected in one embodiment of the invention. Screensaver page  121  includes a radio button  122  for creating a new screensaver with the selected photos, a radio button  123  for inserting the selected photos in the current screensaver, a transition checkbox  124  for using a transition effect between photos, a drop-down list box  125  for selecting the transition effect, and a preview button  126  for previewing the screensaver. In one embodiment, utility software  18  uses the system API to instruct the conventional screensaver software installed on computer  14  to generate the screensaver according to the settings provided by the user.  
         [0030]     After applying the checked tools to the selected photos, utility software  18  displays a tool report window  140 .  FIG. 13  illustrates tool report window  140  in one embodiment of the invention. Tool report window  140  lists the number of photos transferred to the destination folder on computer  14 , the number of photos printed, the number of index pages printed, the number of recipients that proofs have been emailed, the status of the screensaver (e.g., updated), and the total number of files on memory card  12  versus the number of photo files on memory card  12 . The user can click a home button  142  and in response utility software  18  will redisplay start window  30  for the user to transfer the non-photo files from memory card  12  to computer  14 . Alternatively, the user can exit utility software  18  by clicking a quit button  144 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 14  illustrates tool setup window  80  with an optional order print page  131  selected in one embodiment of the invention. Order print page  131  includes a drop-down list box  132  of websites where prints can be ordered, a signup box  133  for registering with a website, a login ID textbox  134 , and a login password textbox  135 . In one embodiment, utility software  18  is conventionally configured to communicate the required login and upload the order and the photos to various websites.  
         [0032]     Various other adaptations and combinations of features of the embodiments disclosed are within the scope of the invention. Although the invention has been described above with a memory card, the invention is applicable to other memory devices including removable storage devices such Thumbdrives™. Numerous embodiments are encompassed by the following claims.