IP Library Granted Patent US 8,238,972
Granted Patent B2
US 8,238,972 · App. 11/564,963 · Granted Aug 7, 2012

Device, system, and method for providing wireless data access, digital TV access, radio, and storage capability

Assignee: Newport Media, Inc.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,238,972
App. No.
11/564,963
Granted
Aug 7, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A portable memory device dimensioned and configured as any of a removable flash memory card, a USB flash drive, and a jump drive and a method of wireless communication, wherein the portable memory device comprises a single housing component; a data storage component within the single housing component; and a wireless receiver operatively connected to the data storage component and within the single housing component, wherein the wireless receiver is adapted to receive wireless signals comprising radio signals, satellite signals, TV signals, and Bluetooth™ specification signals, and wherein the wireless receiver is adapted to wirelessly communicate with a LAN. The portable memory device may further comprise an interface component adapted to connect to a host computing device. Preferably, the TV signals comprise mobile TV signals.

Claims (38)

1. A portable memory device comprising:

a single housing component;

a data storage component within said single housing component; and

a multi-mode and multi-band wireless receiver operatively connected to said data storage component and within said single housing component, wherein said wireless receiver comprises:

an antenna that captures wireless signals comprising television (TV), AM, FM, Bluetooth™ specification signals, and satellite signals, wherein said TV signals comprise mobile TV signals;

a matching network operatively connected to said antenna for providing proper impedance matching between the antenna and a radio frequency (RF) receiver chip; and

the radio frequency (RF) receiver chip operatively connected to said matching network, wherein said RF receiver chip down-converts said wireless signals from high frequency bands to lower frequency bands;

a digital demodulator operatively connected to said RF receiver chip, wherein the demodulator demodulates said wireless signals and converts said wireless signals to a pure digital format, wherein said demodulator is located separate from said antenna, and wherein said demodulator is integrated in said RF receiver chip;

an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that controls said wireless receiver and said demodulator and controls data transfer to and from said data storage component and provides all signals required to synchronize operation of said data storage component, said demodulator, and said antenna; and

an interface component adapted to interface with a television,

wherein said wireless receiver wirelessly communicates with a local area network (LAN), and wherein said portable memory device comprises any of a removable flash memory card, a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive, and a jump drive.

2. The portable memory device of claim 1 , further comprising an interface component that directly connects to a host computing device.

3. The portable memory device of claim 1 , wherein said data storage component comprises a flash memory unit comprising software code that interfaces with a host computing device and processes data on said host computing device.

4. A method comprising:

storing data in a memory device;

receiving wireless signals comprising radio signals, satellite signals, television (TV) signals, and Bluetooth™ specification signals in said memory device wherein reception of said wireless signals is performed by a multi-mode and multi-band wireless receiver configured in said memory device, wherein said TV signals comprise mobile TV signals, and wherein said wireless receiver comprises:

an antenna that captures said wireless signals; and

a matching network operatively connected to said antenna for providing proper impedance matching between the antenna and a radio frequency (RF) receiver chip;

wherein said radio frequency (RF) receiver chip is operatively connected to said matching network, wherein said RF receiver chip down-converts said wireless signals from high frequency bands to lower frequency bands;

demodulating said wireless signals in a digital demodulator that is integrated into said RF receiver chip, wherein said demodulator is located separate from said antenna, and wherein the demodulator demodulates said wireless signals and converts said wireless signals to a pure digital format;

controlling, using an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), said wireless receiver, said demodulator, and data transfer to and from said data storage component, wherein said ASIC provides all signals required to synchronize operation of said data storage component, said demodulator, and said antenna; and

wirelessly communicating with a local area network (LAN).

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising operatively connecting said memory device to a host computing device.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein data storage in said memory device is performed by a data storage component, said data storage component comprising a flash memory unit comprising software code that interfaces with a host computing device and processes data on said host computing device.

7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising configuring said memory device as any of a removable flash memory card, a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive, and a jump drive.

8. A system comprising:

a housing component;

a data storage component within said housing component; and

a multi-mode and multi-band wireless receiver operatively connected to said data storage component and within said housing component, wherein said wireless receiver comprises:

an antenna that captures wireless signals comprising television (TV), AM, FM, Bluetooth™ specification signals, and satellite signals, wherein said TV signals comprise mobile TV signals;

a matching network operatively connected to said antenna for providing proper impedance matching between the antenna and a radio frequency (RF) receiver chip; and

the radio frequency (RF) receiver chip operatively connected to said matching network, wherein said RF receiver chip down-converts said wireless signals from high frequency bands to lower frequency bands in order for said wireless signals to be amplified and filtered,

a purely digital demodulator integrated into said RF receiver chip, wherein said demodulator is located separate from said antenna, wherein the demodulator demodulates said wireless signals and converts said wireless signals to a pure digital video format;

an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that controls said wireless receiver and said demodulator and controls data transfer to and from said data storage component and provides all signals required to synchronize operation of said data storage component, said demodulator, and said antenna, and

an interface component adapted to interface with a television,

wherein said wireless receiver wirelessly communicates with a local area network (LAN).

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein said housing component is portable and is dimensioned and configured as any of a removable flash memory card, a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive, and a jump drive.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein said data storage component comprises a flash memory unit comprising software code that interfaces with a host computing device and processes data on said host computing device.

Assignments (23)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059358/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059262/0105 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059333/0222 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047103/0206 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046426/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2017
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041715/0747 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Apr 6, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ATMEL WIRELESS MCU TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038364/0615 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Apr 6, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
Reel/Frame 038364/0659 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034705/0090 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: PINNACLE VENTURES, L.L.C.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033908/0435 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: PINNACLE VENTURES, L.L.C.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033908/0379 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033908/0242 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033907/0775 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033907/0748 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: HORIZON TECHNOLOGY FINANCE CORPORATION
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033907/0702 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: BRIDGE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033907/0517 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 5, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033689/0195 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 5, 2014
From: ATMEL WIRELESS MCU TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033689/0214 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 1, 2013
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: HORIZON TECHNOLOGY FINANCE CORPORATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 029956/0891 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 15, 2013
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; NEWPORT MEDIA, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION
To: PINNACLE VENTURES, L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 029818/0138 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 31, 2012
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: BRIDGE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 029554/0118 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 31, 2012
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: PINNACLE VENTURES, L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 028299/0903 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2006
From: WANG, DEJUN; ELWAN, HASSAN; FANOUS, ADEL F
To: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
Reel/Frame 018566/0518 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 11367669 · Mar 3, 2006
Related Publication 20070228139A1 · Oct 4, 2007