Abstract:
An apparatus and method for transferring data from storage and input devices, such as hard drives, digital cameras, scanners, audio devices and similar accessories to other storage devices or computer systems, like hard drives, removable disk storage devices, tape drives, compact-disc burners or any computer, via direct connection or by utilizing an intermediary communication device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to electronic devices generally, and more specifically to a method and apparatus for transferring information between different types of devices.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     As the number of devices that store data, either in analog or digital formats, grows with each successive year, the process of managing the data from these devices has become increasingly complex. Two primary problems arise in managing the data, first in how to transfer the data to suitable storage devices while away from a computer, and second the compatibility of the devices with computer systems and other peripheral devices.  
         [0003]     One such class of devices, digital cameras, present a good illustration of the problems addressed by the present invention. Manufactured by several companies, they may include many different storage mediums, including, but not limited to, internal memory, hard drives, CompactFlash™ cards, SmartMedia™ cards, MultiMedia™ cards and Memory Stick™ media. In order to transfer the digital photos from the storage on the camera to a computer for processing, the user must either remove the storage card (when such a removable card is available) and insert it into a peripheral device for the computer that can read that card&#39;s format, or they need to plug the camera into the computer to transfer the pictures directly, assuming the camera has a method for connecting to the computer. When a user utilizes all the storage capacity of their camera and they are away from their computer, they need to either delete pictures taken on the camera or insert an additional storage card. Avoiding picture deletion requires either having extra storage cards, or access to a computer, when they are taking pictures. As these storage cards are in general much more expensive than disk media, it can be very expensive to keep enough cards around to store enough images. Some cameras also do not have removable storage media and once the internal storage is used up, the pictures must be removed before new pictures can be taken.  
         [0004]     Another problem that arises with digital cameras is that the camera manufacturers generally need to create drivers for each computer operating system that they want the camera to be able to connect to for data transfer. As such, many companies only target the operating systems with the largest market share, basically eliminating users of other operating systems from using the camera in conjunction with their computer.  
         [0005]     Some input devices have no storage included and rely entirely on a host computer to allow storage. One such device is a scanner. Also included in this category of devices are radios, which might not be designed to output directly to a computer, but can be recorded from by plugging the audio output from the radio into a computer or other apparatus&#39;s audio input port.  
         [0006]     Although some devices exist which mitigate the some of the above mentioned problems, namely space and convenience limitations with a storage card, driver and operating system specificity limitations, and devices that have no storage capabilities at all, none of the devices currently available on the market alleviate the issues to the extent of the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The invention is better understood with the aid of description that follows and with reference to the appended drawings.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a data transfer between a digital camera and a hard drive, constructed and operative in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a data transfer from a digital card reader to a remote storage device via a wireless modem, constructed and operative in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustration of the method of an input device connection constructed and operative in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustration of the method of an output device connection, constructed and operative in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustration of the method of a communications device connection, constructed and operative in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]     The present invention provides an apparatus that allows for the transfer of information from different types of storage and input devices to different types of storage devices and output devices, without the heed for a computer. In  FIG. 1 , to which reference is now made, the first preferred embodiment, a transfer storage device  101  is connected to an input device  110  via an input cable  108  and an output device  112  via an output cable  109 . There may also be a display screen  102 , a multiplicity of buttons  103 , a multiplicity of connection ports  104 ,  105 ,  106  and  107  on transfer device  101 , an input connection port  111  and an output connection port  113 . Input device  110  may be a digital camera and output device  112  may be a hard disk, although these devices may be of a variety of input and output devices, respectively. Other such embodiments of input devices may comprise hard drives, scanners, removable storage devices, card readers and radio tuners. Other such examples of output devices may comprise compact-disc burners, removable storage devices, card readers, printers and computers and the like.  
         [0014]     Cable  108  may be connected to input device  110  via a connector  111  and transfer storage device  101  via connector  104 . Cable  109  is connected to output device  112  via a connector port  113  and to transfer storage device  101  via a connector port  106 . Additionally shown are optional connectors  105  and  107 , which may allow transfer storage device  101  to comprise additional input or output connector types. Persons skilled in the art will recognize that the connectors pictured can be replaced by wireless connections using radio frequency, infrared or other communications methods.  
         [0015]     As shown in  FIG. 1  transfer storage device  101  may also comprise an optional display screen  102  to display the status of connections and file transfers. Display  102  may also be a series of lights or audio feedback indicating status or could be left out of the apparatus design altogether. The apparatus may be controlled using a series of buttons  103 . Buttons  103  are illustrated as three in number, but may be any number or even removed from transfer storage device  101 , which may allow the operation of transfer storage device  101  to be automated or controlled through other means such as voice.  
         [0016]     Transfer storage device  101  may be operated by connecting it to input device  110  and to output device  112 , whereupon data contained in input device  110  may be transferred through transfer storage device  101  to output device  112 . When input device  110  is initially connected to the transfer storage device  101 , transfer storage device  101  may undertake to recognize if it supports the device. If transfer storage device  101  recognizes input device  110  and how to access the data on it, then it may indicate to the user that the device is ready to have data copied from it. If input device  110  is not recognized by transfer storage device  101  when connected, then it may indicate such to the user, allowing the user to either manually configure the device using control buttons  103  or to disconnect device  110 .  
         [0017]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 2 , which describes a transfer storage device  201 , which may be connected to an intermediary communications device  217 , such as a wireless modem or cellphone. It will be appreciated that intermediary device  217  may be any type of wireless device. Transfer storage device  201  may be connected to an input device  210  via an input cable  208 . There may also be a display screen  202 , a multiplicity of buttons  203 , a multiplicity of connection ports  204 ,  205 ,  206  and  207  on transfer device  201 , an input connection port  211  and an output connection port  213 . Intermediary device  217 , which may be connected to transfer storage device  201  via a connector cable  209  may transmit data via radio waves  214  to a wireless base station  215 , through a network cloud  216  in order to arrive at an output storage device  212 . It will be appreciated that this process may also occur over a public network, such as the Internet, or locally via a small wireless base station hooked into a local area network.  
         [0018]     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the process shown could also be done completely in a wired environment, where device  217  may be an adapter that may allow the apparatus to connect to a wired network, which may therefore connect directly to network cloud  216  and to output storage device  212 .  
         [0019]     Use of transfer storage device  201  may be initiated by connecting to it input device  210  and output device  212 . Alternately, one or both of the devices may be replaced by communications device  217  to handle connections to a remote device. In  FIG. 2  this remote device is illustrated as output device  212 , although it may be input device  210  that is remotely connected, with output device  212  being local.  
         [0020]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 3 , which illustrates the process initiated when an input device  110  ( FIG. 1 ) may be connected to transfer storage device  101  of  FIG. 1 . In block  300 , the user may connect input device  110  to transfer storage device  101 . In block  301 , transfer storage device  101  may undertake to determine the type of input device  110  to see if it may be supported. If the device is not recognized, then transfer storage device  101  may indicate to the user that device  110  is unknown  302 , and may wait  303  for the user to either manually configure device  110 , whereupon the transfer storage device  101  may return to the status of block  301 , or the user may remove input device  110 , whereupon the apparatus may then end processing  399 .  
         [0021]     If input device  110  is recognized by transfer storage device  101 , device  101  may indicate to the user that device  110  is recognized  304  and then may check  305  to see if there is an output device  112  ( FIG. 1 ) connected to the transfer storage device  101 .  
         [0022]     If there is no output device connected to the transfer storage device  101 , then the device  101  may check  306  to see if there are any user-configurable settings for input device  110 . If there are no user-configurable settings for device  110 , then transfer storage device  101  may end processing  399 . If there are user configurable settings for input device  110 , then the transfer storage device  101  may request the user to specify settings  307  and may wait for the user to enter the settings  308  after which it may end processing  399 .  
         [0023]     If there is an output device  112  connected to transfer storage device  101 , then device  101  may determine  309  if input device  110  and output device  112  are compatible. Examples of where devices might not be compatible include, but are not limited to, when the smallest piece of data on input device  110  is bigger than the total storage space on output device  112 , or when input device  110  cannot output data fast enough for output device  112  to copy it. Those skilled in the art will recognize that there are other reasons devices might not be able to work together through transfer storage device  101 .  
         [0024]     If transfer storage device  101  finds that devices  110  and  112  are compatible then transfer storage device  101  may check  306  if there are user configurable settings for input device  110 .  
         [0025]     If transfer storage device  101  finds that devices  110  and  112  are not compatible, then device  101  may indicate  310  to the user that input device  110  and output device  112  may not be used together and may then go on to check  306  if there are user configurable settings for input device  110 .  
         [0026]     If there are no user-configurable settings for input device  110 , then transfer storage device  101  may end processing  399 . If there are user configurable settings for input device  110 , then transfer storage device  101  may request the user to specify  307  settings and may wait for the user to enter  308  the settings after which it may end processing  399 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 4 , to which reference is now made, illustrates the process initiated when output device  112  ( FIG. 1 ) is connected to transfer storage device  101  ( FIG. 1 ). In block  400 , the user connects output device  112  to transfer storage device  101 . In block  401 , transfer storage device  101  may undertake to determine the device type to see if it is supported. If the device is not recognized, then transfer storage device  101  may indicate  402  to the user that device  112  is unknown, and may wait  403  for the user to either manually configure device  112 , whereupon transfer storage device  101  may return to block  401 , or may remove device, whereupon transfer storage device  101  may then end processing  499 .  
         [0028]     If output device  112  is recognized, transfer storage device  101  may indicate  404  to the user that it is recognized and may then check  405  to see if there is an input device connected to transfer storage device  101 .  
         [0029]     If there is no input device connected to transfer storage device  101 , then transfer storage device  101  may check  406  to see if there are any user-configurable settings for output device  112 . If there are no user-configurable settings for output device  112 , then transfer storage device  101  may end processing  499 . If there are user configurable settings for output device  112 , then transfer storage device  101  may request the user to specify  407  settings and may wait for the user to enter the settings  408  after which it may end processing  499 .  
         [0030]     If there is an input device connected, then transfer storage device  101  may determine  409  if input device  110  and output device and output device  112  are compatible. Examples of where devices may not be compatible may include, but are not limited to, when the smallest piece of data on input device  110  may be bigger than the total storage space on output device  112 , or when input device  110  may not output data fast enough for the output device to copy it. Persons skilled in the art will recognize that there may be other reasons two devices might not be able to work together through transfer storage device  101 .  
         [0031]     Transfer storage device  101  may find that input device  110  and output device  112  are compatible, in which case transfer storage device  101  may check  406  to see if there are user configurable settings for output device  112 .  
         [0032]     Alternatively, transfer storage device  101  may find that the devices are not compatible, in which case transfer storage device  101  may then indicate  410  to the user that input device  110  and output device  112  may not be used together and may then check  406  if there are user configurable settings for output device  112 .  
         [0033]     If there are no user-configurable settings for output device  112 , transfer storage device  101  may then end processing  499 . If user configurable settings are available for output device  112 , transfer storage device  101  may then request  407  the user to specify settings and may wait for the user to enter the settings  408  after which it may end processing  499 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 5 , to which reference is now made, illustrates the process initiated when communication device  217  ( FIG. 2 ) is connected to the transfer storage device  201  ( FIG. 2 ). Initially, the user may connect  500  communication device  217  to transfer storage device  201 . Next, transfer storage device  201  may undertake to determine  501  the device type to see if it is supported. If communication device  217  is not recognized, transfer storage device  201  may then indicate to the user to remove  502  communication device  217 , after which transfer storage device  201  may wait for the user to remove  503  communication device  217  and may then end processing  599 .  
         [0035]     If communication device  217  is recognized, transfer storage device  201  may indicate  504  to the user that it is recognized and may then check  505  to see if there is an input device connected to transfer storage device  201 . In this example, communications device  217  has been plugged into output port  206 , but it could easily have been plugged into input port  204 , whereupon transfer storage device  201  at this point may be looking for an output device instead.  
         [0036]     If there is no input device connected to transfer storage device  201 , then transfer storage device  201  may request that the user specify settings  507  and may wait for the user to enter the settings  508  after which it may end processing  599 .  
         [0037]     If there is an input device  210  connected, then transfer storage device  101  may determine  509  if the input device  210  and output device  212  are compatible. Examples of where devices may not be compatible include, but are not limited to, if input device  210  cannot output data fast enough for communications device  217  to transmit it, or if input device  210  were to output data too fast for communication device  217  to transmit it. Those skilled in the art will recognize that there may be other reasons two devices might not be able to work together through transfer storage device  201 .  
         [0038]     Alternatively, transfer storage device  201  may find that input devices  210  and communications device  217  are compatible then transfer storage device  201  may request that the user specify settings  507  and may wait for the user to enter  508  the settings after which it may end processing  599 .  
         [0039]     If transfer storage device  201  finds that the devices are not compatible, then transfer storage device  201  may indicate  510  to the user that input device  210  and communication device  217  cannot be used together, then transfer storage device  201  may request that the user specify settings  507  for communications device  217  and may wait for the user to enter the settings  508  after which it may end processing  599 .  
         [0040]     Although the preferred embodiments of this invention include a dedicated hardware device, it is also possible for this invention to be implemented solely as software on a computer system, allowing the computer to act as transfer storage device  201  and the computer&#39;s input and output ports to act as the input and output ports for connecting devices. This would be helpful for quickly transferring data from one device to another without having to worry about getting the data on to the computer first, or to allow the user to utilize devices that are not normally compatible with their type of computer or with each other.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0041]     The goal of the described apparatus and method is to act as an intermediary device that can transfer data from different types of storage and input devices to different types of storage devices, without needing to utilize a computer.