Content-aware digital media storage device and methods of using the same
A content-aware digital media storage device includes a host device interface for exchanging digital information with a host device, a memory array for storing digital information received from the host device via the host interface, a peripheral module configured to communicate the digital information stored in the memory array to a receiver located remote from the digital media storage device, and a controller communicatively coupled to the host device interface, the memory array and the peripheral module and configured to interpret directory information associated with the digital information stored in the memory array so as to selectively access said digital information and communicate such accessed digital information to the peripheral module for transmission to the remote receiver. Digital images stored in the memory array may be transmitted to a remote host via a wireless network access point with which the peripheral module of the storage device is associated.
1. A method, comprising:
proxying a transfer of data representing a digital image captured by a host digital camera to a storage medium of a removable media card housed within the digital camera via a firmware-controlled logical-to-physical mapping of addresses of said storage medium at which said data is to be written, the firmware being stored in the removable media card;
in conjunction with storing the data representing the digital image, storing metadata concerning the digital image in the storage medium of the removable media card, said metadata comprising any of information concerning settings of the host digital camera when the digital image was captured, a location at which the digital image was captured, an identity or comments of a user of the host digital camera, an identity of others in a vicinity near the location at which the digital image was captured, or time information, wherein the metadata concerning time and/or location is derived from any of a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, information concerning wireless networks determined to be near the removable media card when the digital image was captured, information concerning wireless networks detected by the removable media card, or combinations of any of the foregoing;
the data representing the digital image and metadata from the storage medium of the removable media card to a management layer said transferring being made via a wireless radio transceiver included in the removable media card and a wireless network access point with which the wireless radio transceiver of the removable media card is associated, and said transferring being made only after said management layer authenticates a user associated with the removable media card according to a binding between the user and the removable media card; and
transferring the data representing the digital image from the management layer to an electronic photo album following manipulation of the digital image so as to be receivable by the electronic photo album, the management layer isolating the media card from the electronic photo album.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic photo album is maintained at a computer resource other than the management layer.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein prior to transferring the data representing the digital image from the management layer to the electronic photo album, the digital image is associated with the metadata concerning the location at which the digital image was captured by the host digital camera.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the metadata concerning the location at which the digital image was captured is derived from GPS data.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the metadata concerning the location at which the digital image was captured is derived from information concerning wireless networks determined to be near the media card when the digital image was captured by the host digital camera.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the metadata concerning the location at which the digital image was captured is derived from information concerning wireless networks detected by the media card.
7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the digital image is further associated with the metadata comprising identity information concerning the user of the host digital camera.
8. The method of claim 3 , wherein the digital image is further associated with the metadata comprising identity information concerning other users in the vicinity of the location at which the digital image was captured by the host digital camera.
9. The method of claim 3 , wherein the digital image is further associated with metadata comprising a time zone referenced timestamp concerning a the location at which the digital image was captured by the host digital camera.
10. The method of claim 2 , wherein prior to transferring the data representing digital image from the management layer to the electronic photo album, the digital image is transcoded so as to be compatible with image format requirements for storage in the electronic photo album.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein upon successful transfer of the data representing the digital image from the removable media card to the management layer, the data representing the digital image is automatically deleted from the storage medium of the removable media card.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the management layer is configured to permit image retouching by the user.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the management layer is configured to ensure reliable transfer of the data representing the digital image between the removable media card and the electronic photo album.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the management layer is configured to manage interrupted or duplicate transmissions of the digital image.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the management layer is configured to notify the user of successful transfer of the digital image.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the management layer is configured to deliver copies of the digital image as attachments to a message.