System, apparatus and method for sharing media
View Patent ↗A digital appliance, such as a digital camera, an MP3 player or a digital voice recorder, uses a memory card to store data. The appliance and the card use USB interfaces for appliance-card communication. When the appliance is connected to a host computer directly or via a passive USB cable, a switch within the appliance automatically establishes host-card communication for reading and/or writing data. In another embodiment, the switch can also connect the host to the appliance for configuration or operation. In another embodiment, the memory card temporarily stores data to be exchanged between the host and the appliance.
1. A system for sharing a storage medium, the system comprising:
(a) a memory module which stores data in the storage medium, the memory module having a first universal serial bus interface for exchanging data;
(b) a host including a second universal serial bus interface operable for exchanging data; and
(c) an appliance including:
(i) a third universal serial bus interface for exchanging data;
(ii) a switch which operatively connects said first universal serial bus interface to said third universal serial bus interface when said host is disconnected from said appliance, and said switch operatively connects said first universal serial bus interface to said second universal serial bus interface when said host is connected to said appliance; and
wherein the system operates in at least one operative mode selected from the group consisting of:
(I) sending first data from said appliance to said host, wherein:
(i) said appliance sends said first data to said memory module while said appliance is disconnected from said host; and
(ii) said host receives said first data from said memory module when said appliance is connected to said host; and
(II) sending second data from said host to said appliance, wherein:
(i) said host sends said second data to said memory module when said appliance is connected to said host; and
(ii) said appliance receives said second data from said memory module when said appliance is disconnected from said host.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said third universal serial bus interface is a dual-role device interface for inter-operating with said memory module through said first universal serial bus interface, said dual-role device functional for operating the appliance by the host.
3. The system, according to claim 1 , wherein said appliance is selected from the group of portable devices consisting of a digital camera, a portable music player, a digital voice recorder, a handheld computer and a cellular telephone.
4. The system, according to claim 1 , wherein said appliance is a digital camera which acquires said first data.
5. The system, according to claim 1 , wherein said appliance is a digital voice recorder which acquires said first data.
6. The system, according to claim 1 , wherein said appliance is a digital music player which plays said second data.
7. A method for sharing a storage medium between a host and a computerized appliance, the storage medium included in a memory module, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing the memory module with a first universal serial bus interface, providing the host with a second universal, serial bus interface, and providing the appliance with one third universal bus interface;
(b) while the appliance is disconnected from the host, switching the memory module to connect to the appliance and exchanging data between the appliance and the memory module using said first universal serial bus interface and said third universal serial bus interface;
(c) while the appliance is connected to the host, switching the memory module to connect to the host and exchanging data between the host and the memory module using said second universal serial bus interface and said first universal serial bus interface; and
(d) while the appliance is connected to the host, switching the appliance to connect to the host and performing at least one action for controlling said appliance by said host;
wherein said switching the appliance to connect to the host is subsequent to said host instructing said memory module to switch off.