Methods and apparatus for transferring media across a network using a network interface device
View Patent ↗A network bridge connects a host device, such as digital media player, cell phone or camera, to content sources over a network to permit the host device to transmit or receive digital media. The network bridge includes a network interface module that identifies at least one media source as well as digital media available on the network. A host device interface module receives, from the host device, file system requests in accordance with a protocol, such as a mass storage protocol. In response to the request, a host device protocol interface module on the network bridge translates the file system request to a request for digital media. The network interface module acquires digital media from the media source, and the host device interface module transfers the digital media to the host device in accordance with the interface protocol. The network bridge may connect to one or more services that provide content to the host device. For example, the services may be accessible over the Internet. In other embodiments, the network bridge implements protocols to add functionality to the host device.
1. A method for transferring at least one digital media item across a network using a network bridge, said method comprising:
using a mass storage protocol and an Internet Protocol (IP) layer,
determining, by using a network bridge, at least one media source available on said network;
using a host device protocol,
receiving, from a host device at said network bridge, a file system request in accordance with a mass storage protocol, the mass storage protocol for storing files in a file system format of a mass storage file system of said network bridge;
translating, by using the network bridge, said file system request to a request for a transfer, by using the IP layer, of at least one digital media item, such that the request for the transfer of the at least one digital media item is generated within the network bridge without the need for knowledge by the media source of the host device protocol, the request identifying at least one file and its associated location in at least one directory of the mass storage file system, the at least one file being associated with the at least one digital media item;
loading said digital media item from said media source to said network bridge; and
transferring said digital media item from said network bridge to said host device.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a content directory based on digital media available over the network, the generating comprising:
identifying digital media;
identifying the location of the digital media;
generating a content directory that organizes said digital media available over said network, the content directory comprising a content root directory and plural content sub-directories, the digital media being organized in the plural content sub-directories; and
presenting said content directory to said host device in accordance with the file system format of the mass storage file system of said network bridge,
wherein the mass storage file system comprises a mass storage root directory and plural mass storage sub-directories, the content root directory is mapped to the mass storage root directory, and each content sub-directory is mapped to a corresponding mass storage sub-directory,
wherein the content root directory is associated with a content menu that comprises a user interface menu for selecting digital media organized in the content directory, each menu item of the user interface menu being presented to said host device as a mass storage sub-directory, and
wherein the mappings between the plural mass storage sub-directories and the plural content sub-directories are used to translate said file system request to a request for a transfer of at least one digital media item.
3. The method as set forth in claim 2 , wherein presenting said content directory to said host device comprises presenting said content directory as directory information in said file system.
4. The method as set forth in claim 2 , wherein presenting said content directory to said host device comprises presenting digital media as files in said file system.
5. The method as set forth in claim 1 , the loading to the network bridge comprising using the IP layer and a wireless network interface.
6. The method as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising emulating operation of a mass storage device.
7. The method as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising translating file system requests for data over a network.
8. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said host device comprises one or more of an audio player, a video player, a digital camera, and a cell phone.
9. The method as set forth in claim 1 , the transferring to the host device comprising a host device interface, wherein said host device interface comprises a wireless interface.
10. A network interface device comprising:
a network interface module for identifying by using an Internet Protocol (IP) layer, at least one media source available on said network,
a host device interface module for receiving, from a host device, at least one file system request in accordance with a mass storage protocol, the mass storage protocol for storing files in a file system format of a mass storage file system of said network interface device;
a host device protocol interface module for translating said file system request to a request for a transfer, by using the IP layer, of at least one digital media item, such that the request for the transfer of the at least one digital media item is generated within the network interface device without the need for knowledge by the media source of the host device protocol, the request identifying at least one file and its associated location in at least one directory of the mass storage file system, the at least one file being associated with the at least one digital media item;
the network interface device thereby configured for operation by using a host device protocol, the mass storage protocol, and the IP layer;
said network interface module for receiving said digital media item from said media source; and
said host device interface module for transferring said digital media item from said network interface device to said host device.
11. The device as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said host device interface module further configured for:
generating a content directory based on digital media available over the network, the generating comprising:
identifying digital media;
identifying the location of the digital media;
generating a content directory that organizes said digital media available over said network, the content directory comprising a content root directory and plural content sub-directories, the digital media being organized in the plural content sub-directories; and
presenting said content directory to said host device in accordance with the file system format of the mass storage file system of said network bridge,
wherein the mass storage file system comprises a mass storage root directory and plural mass storage sub-directories, the content root directory is mapped to the mass storage root directory, and each content sub-directory is mapped to a corresponding mass storage sub-directory,
wherein the content root directory is associated with a content menu that comprises a user interface menu for selecting digital media organized in the content directory, each menu item of the user interface menu being presented to said host device as a mass storage sub-directory, and
wherein the mappings between the plural mass storage sub-directories and the plural content sub-directories are used to translate said file system request to a request for a transfer of at least one digital media item.
12. The device as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said host device interface module further for presenting said content directory as directory information in said file system.
13. The device as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said host device interface module further for presenting digital media as files in said file system.
14. The device as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said network interface module comprises a wireless network interface module for operation in accordance with a WiFi standard.
15. The device as set forth in claim 10 , the network interface device configured for emulating operation of a mass storage device.
16. The device as set forth in claim 10 , the network interface device configured for translating file system requests for data over a network.
17. The device as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said host device comprises one or more of an audio player, a video player, a digital camera, and a cell phone.
18. A method for transferring at least one digital media item across a network by using a network bridge, said method comprising:
using a mass storage protocol and an Internet Protocol (IP) layer,
determining, by using the network bridge, at least one media destination device available on said network;
using a host device protocol,
receiving, from a host device at said network bridge, a file system request to write digital media in accordance with the mass storage protocol, the mass storage protocol for storing files in a file system format of a mass storage file system of said network bridge;
translating said file system request to a request to upload, by using the IP layer, at least one digital media item, such that the request to upload the digital media item is generated within the network bridge without the need for knowledge by the media source of the host device protocol, the request including a location, in a directory of the mass storage file system, to upload the at least one digital media item;
loading said digital media item from said host device to said network bridge; and
transferring said digital media item from said network bridge to said media destination device.
19. The method as set forth in claim 18 , further comprising emulating operation of a mass storage device.
20. The method as set forth in claim 18 , further comprising translating file system requests for data over a network.
21. The method as set forth in claim 18 , wherein said host device comprises one or more of an audio player, a video player, a digital camera, and a cell phone.