Method, system and devices for wireless data storage on a server and data retrieval

Abstract

A method and system for remotely storing data on a server through a wireless connection instead of storing data locally in a consumer device, as well as devices for use with the method and system. More particularly, a video camera, still camera, laptop computer, or other consumer device which normally stores data in local memory such as film, disk, random access memory, memory sticks, or other forms of storage would transmit the data to a remote server through a wireless connection. The data would be saved on the remote server for subsequent retrieval through, for example, the Internet or a wireless connection to the server. In addition, data not originating from the user device could be downloaded to the consumer device. The data to be retrieved can be specified by the user, or sent to the user according to a user profile stored on the server.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 542,126 filed on Apr. 4, 2000, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, which in turns claims priority from U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 181,129 filed on Feb. 8, 2000, U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 180,990 filed on Feb. 8, 2000, U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 180,987 filed on Feb. 8, 2000, Provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 180,985 filed on Feb. 8, 2000, U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 181,148 filed on Feb. 8, 2000, U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 181,144 filed on Feb. 8, 2000, U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 181,145 filed on Feb. 8, 2000, U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 180,992 filed on Feb. 8, 2000, U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 180,991 filed on Feb. 8, 2000, U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 181,105 filed on Feb. 8, 2000, U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 181,128 fi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The present invention addresses the limitations associated with relying on local data storage media by employing a wireless communications link to a remote data server. By way of example, and not of limitation, a video camera, still camera, laptop computer, or other device which normally stores data in local memory such as film, disk, random access memory, memory sticks, or other forms of storage would transmit the data to a remote server through a wireless connection. The data would be saved on the remote server for subsequent retrieval through, for example, the Internet or a wireless connection to the server. In addition, the user can download data from the server that did not originate from the user such as, for example, commercially available audio files, video files, images, and the like. Data retrieval can be manual where the user specifies data to be downloaded, or can be automated through the use of a personal user profile stored on the server which defines what data will be downloaded, as well as how and when the data will be downloaded. Therefore, the invention not only provides an alternative to local data storage, but further enables the development of a myriad of consumer devices with wireless access to data.

[0010] An object of the invention is to reduce or eliminate the need for local data storage media in a consumer device.

Problems solved by technology

This presents an element of inconvenience, particularly when storage capacity is reached at a critical time, an element of expense since it is generally necessary to purchase multiple storage devices for extended use of the camcorder, and an element of unreliability since the storage devices can fail.

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