Remotely controllable media distribution device

Abstract

A portable storage device having a memory and a wireless remote control receiver is equipped for connection to a digital content player, which is controllable by a wireless remote control transmitter. The memory stores digital content data. The remote control transmitter communicates with the remote control receiver to play the digital content data on the digital content player. Accordingly, an additional remote control transmitter is not necessary for the remote control playing of digital content data residing on the portable storage device. The digital content data may be loaded from an external source, such as a personal computer. The personal computer can also be controlled to play the digital content data by using remote control transmitter using a known protocol. Thus, a user wishing to play the digital content data stored in the portable storage device does not need to acquire an additional specially-matched remote control transmitter.

Description

Background technique [0001] A digital content player, such as a digital television or a digital audio player, plays digital content data input from various sources. Broadcast data may arrive via radio or wired transmission. Digital content players may also have accessories, such as digital video disc (DVD) players or compact disc (CD) players, to play digital content data stored on non-volatile memory media. Typically, digital content players include mechanisms that enable a user to remotely control the playback of digital content data. [0002] Figure 1 shows an example of a prior art digital content player that interfaces with an accessory to play pre-recorded digital content data. Digital television 10 is connected to DVD player 12 by cable 14 . A user can control the operation of digital television 10 by using wireless remote control transmitter 16 to send control signals to wireless remote control receiver 20 attached to digital television 10 . Similarly, a user can c...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, modifying a digital content player so that its remote control transmitter can be used to play data stored on the UFD is currently considered complex and expensive

Additionally, because manufacturers of digital content players and manufacturers of solid-state memory devices are typically separate entities, the coordination required between the two entities in order to properly modify existing technology is expected to be considerable and perhaps prohibitive. of

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