Content-aware digital media storage device and methods of using the same

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A digital media storage device, comprising:
 a housing sized to be accommodated within a host;   a host interface for receiving digital information from the host;   included within the housing:
 a wireless communication interface; 
 a controller coupled to the host interface and to the wireless communication interface; 
 a first memory coupled to the controller for storing the digital information received from the host; and 
 a second memory coupled to the controller, said second memory storing a wireless network configuration utility for the wireless communication interface, said configuration utility including controller-executable instructions for causing said controller to store configuration information for the wireless communication interface to associate with a wireless network, and (ii) controller-executable instructions to cause the controller to proxy accesses from the host interface to the first memory before resolving said accesses to specific blocks of data in the first memory. 
   
     
     
         2 . The digital media storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the second memory further stores controller-executable instructions for causing said controller to restrict access to high resolution digital image files stored in the first memory of the media card. 
     
     
         3 . The digital media storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the second memory further stores controller-executable instructions for causing said controller to permit access to the high resolution digital image files during an authenticated network session. 
     
     
         4 . The digital media storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is sized to be compatible with one of a Secure Digital (SD) card interface, a Multi Media Card (MMC) interface, a Compact Flash (CF) card interface, a Memory Stick (MS) interface, or a Picture Card (xD) interface. 
     
     
         5 . The digital media storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the second memory further stores controller-executable instructions to cause the controller to mount the digital media storage device, obtain an inventory of files stored on the first memory, and make modifications to a file system within which said files are cataloged. 
     
     
         6 . The digital media storage device of  claim 5 , wherein said modifications include one or more of: removing files, renaming files, updating file attributes, and creating new files. 
     
     
         7 . The digital media storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the first memory is a flash memory. 
     
     
         8 . A digital media storage device, comprising a wireless transceiver, a controller and at least one memory, the wireless transceiver and the at least one memory being communicatively coupled to the controller, the wireless transceiver, the controller and the at least one memory included within a single housing sized to be compatible with one of a Secure Digital (SD) card interface, a Multi Media Card (MMC) interface, a Compact Flash (CF) card interface, a Memory Stick (MS) interface, or a Picture Card (xD) interface, wherein the at least one memory stores a wireless network configuration utility for the wireless transceiver, said configuration utility including controller-executable instructions for obtaining information concerning a wireless network, and controller-executable instructions for storing digital information received by the digital media storage device across a host interface, the controller being communicatively coupled to the host interface. 
     
     
         9 . The digital media storage device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one memory comprises a flash memory. 
     
     
         10 . The digital media storage device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one memory comprises two memories, one of which stores the wireless network configuration utility for the wireless transceiver, and the other of which is configured for storing the digital information received by the digital media storage device across the host interface. 
     
     
         11 . The digital media storage device of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the two memories is a flash memory. 
     
     
         12 . The digital media storage device of  claim 11 , wherein the flash memory comprises a NOR flash memory. 
     
     
         13 . The digital media storage device of  claim 11 , wherein the flash memory comprises a NAND flash memory. 
     
     
         14 . The digital media storage device of  claim 8 , wherein the wireless network includes a wireless transceiver of a second digital media storage device having a wireless transceiver and at least one memory coupled to a controller, the second digital media storage device characterized by a housing sized to be compatible with one of a Secure Digital (SD) card interface, a Multi Media Card (MMC) interface, a Compact Flash (CF) card interface, a Memory Stick (MS) interface, or a Picture Card (xD) interface.