Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-10
2002-08-27
Herndon, Heather R. (Department: 2176)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C709S218000, C358S403000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06442573
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of computer software. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for distributing picture mail to a frame device community.
Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND
Traditional Picture Frames
Picture frames provide a visually pleasing way to present photographs for display. People typically prefer to use picture frames, rather than digital display mechanisms (e.g. computer monitors), because of the aesthetic qualities associated with such frames. However, several problems and disadvantages result from the use of traditional picture frames.
For example, a problem that may be encountered by picture frame users is that changing the picture in the frame requires a series of manual steps. For example, a person who wishes to change the picture must manually remove the picture and replace it with a new one. Consequently, changing the picture requires that a person be physically located at the same place where the picture frame resides.
An additional problem with picture frames is that the frame does not have the ability to adjust the dimensions and/or size of the picture to fit within the display area. Pictures placed into the picture frame must correspond to the dimensions of the frame's display area. One prior art attempt to overcome these limitations is the use of various type of digital display device. The following section describes a prior art digital display device and discusses the inherent limitations of the device.
Digital Display Device
FIG. 1
a
illustrates a prior art device (e.g. the Sony PHD A55 CyberFrame™) capable of displaying digital images. However, there are several problems associated with this device. For example, the device lacks the ability to dynamically obtain image data from a networked data source and then display that data according to criteria established by an authorized user. The device shown in
FIG. 1
a
consists of a display
100
. Display
100
is an active matrix LCD screen configured to display digital video data and still image data. The data shown on display
100
is obtained from storage media
103
. Storage media
103
is a memory medium capable of storing video and/or image data (e.g. a Memory Stick™).
The device contains software and/or hardware configured to playback MPEG or JPEG data files obtained from storage media
103
. The device supports playback in a variety of different resolutions and can, for example, display JPEG data in UXGA (1600×1200), SXGA (1280×960), XGA (1024×768), or VGA (640×480). MPEG data files are shown on display
100
using a presentation mode that supports a resolution of 320×240 or a video mode that uses a resolution of 160×112.
The device also has built-in speaker(s)
105
and volume control
107
. Speakers
105
provide a way to play back sound data introduced to the device via storage media
103
. Volume control
107
allows the user of the device to adjust the decibel level. Control mechanism
109
contains the software and/or hardware utilized to control how data is displayed. For example, control mechanism
109
has a slide show mode that allows the user to display several images at varying intervals. Control mechanism
109
also provides the system with a way to delete unwanted images or keep certain images from being deleted. Control mechanism
109
is configured to provide other functionality, such as a sleep timer, brightness control, an index mode, an automatic angle detector, and a touchless sensor.
A problem with prior art mechanisms, such as the one illustrated in
FIG. 1
a
, is that the user must physically provide storage media
103
to the device. Thus, a person who does not have physical access to the device cannot introduce new images into the device. Moreover, the device cannot be controlled from a remote location. For example, making changes to a web site cannot control the behavior of the control mechanism.
A further problem is that the functions offered by control mechanism
109
cannot be remotely updated, modified, or otherwise changed. For example, a new feature, such as the ability to obtain new images from a network, cannot be added by transmitting a software update to the device from a remote source. The device illustrated in
FIG. 1
a
is isolated from other devices and therefore does not have the ability to communicate with such devices over a telecommunication medium.
Another limitation inherent in the design of the prior art device is that the device cannot automatically receive different types of image data. For example, the device cannot obtain different types of image data via an image delivery service. The user of the device illustrated in
FIG. 1
a
cannot elect to periodically receive information relating to a particular topic such as the weather report. Computer networks are a prior art mechanism used to propagate data to devices connected to the network. The following section describes several techniques used to send and receive data across such computer networks and explains the limitations and disadvantages associated with such techniques.
Computer Networks
A network is an amalgamation of interconnected computers. Devices properly connected to the network may utilize the network to communicate with other devices coupled to the network. A server computer, for example, may use a network to transmit data to a client computer for display. There are several different techniques for propagating data to devices connected to the network. For example, electronic mail, client pull, and server push mechanisms all are examples of techniques that provide a way to transmit data to a client computer. However, these techniques lack a mechanism for establishing and then controlling the behavior of a device from a remote location. For example, these techniques cannot dynamically obtain image data from a networked data source and then display that data according to the behavior criteria established by an authorized user.
A. Electronic Mail Systems:
The following section discusses electronic mail systems and points out the limitations associated with using such systems to distribute image data. An electronic mail system is an example of a prior art system used to distribute data to one or more recipients. The electronic mail system, for example, provides users with a way to transmit data from one computer to another computer.
An example of an electronic mail system is shown in
FIG. 1
b
. The system consists of one or more client computers
125
-
128
each having a client software program
129
-
132
configured to send and receive data, a network
133
configured to relay the data to one or more recipients, and a mail server
120
having server software
121
configured to store the data until it is retrieved by the designated recipient(s).
A user residing at client computer
125
, for example, may use the system shown in
FIG. 1
b
to transmit an image file to another user residing at a different computer (e.g. client, computer.
127
). To send the file the user typically executes the appropriate client software program (e.g. client software
129
), determines the data to be sent, and directs the program to send the data to a recipient. Data that is sent is routed across network
133
to the appropriate mail server
120
-
123
associated with the recipient. Once mail server
120
receives the data, the server holds the data in the intended recipients account until requested by the recipient. For example, mail server
120
will store the data until the recipient residing at client computer,
127
executes a local version of client software program
129
and directs the program to obtain data from mail server
120
.
A problem associated with using curren
Schiller Dean
Yanover Paul
Ceiva Logic, Inc.
Herndon Heather R.
Rossi Jeffrey A.
The Hecker Law Group
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