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Device, system and method for data exchangeRelated Patent Categories: Electrical Computers And Digital Processing Systems: Multicomputer Data Transferring, Computer-to-computer Direct Memory AccessingDevice, system and method for data exchange description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070204000, Device, system and method for data exchange. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/084,226, currently pending. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a device, system and method for data storage with the unique capability of exchanging data with another such device without any intervention of, with or through a computer, and in particular, for such a device, system and method in which data exchange is performed with a highly simplified device interface. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Portable electronic devices for data storage are useful for data access and transfer, particularly outside of a desktop computer environment. Such devices enable the user to keep data at hand, rather than forcing the user to access such data from the memory or data storage of a single stationary computer. Currently, portable data storage is performed either with an electronic device that attempts to maintain all functions of the desktop computer, such as a Palm computing device for example, or with completely passive data storage devices, such as a floppy disk for example. [0004] Both of these different types of portable data storage media suffer from drawbacks. A handheld computer/organizer has the advantage of being able to read, write, manipulate and display data, in addition to being able to store the data. However, as a smaller, more portable version of a desktop computer, the handheld computer is also relatively complex and more expensive. Organizers are not built to store large computer files. Even if they have this capability, they do not have a provision to exchange files, but only very specific information, such as the user's personal data. On the other hand, the floppy disk, which is a very inexpensive alternative, does not allow data transfer between similar devices without any intervention of a computer, as it requires a particular type of computer to be able to access the data, which is typically a PC computer running the Windows operating system. Thus, if the user wishes to transfer data from one floppy disk to another, the user must first locate a compatible computer with a compatible operating system, which would support the data exchange by copying the data first to its memory (or hard disk) and then copying the data onto the other floppy drive. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The background art does not teach or suggest a memory storage device which has active functions apart from passively storing data. Also, the background art does not teach or suggest a memory storage device which can transfer data directly to another such storage device through a simplified device interface, without first transferring the data to a computer. [0006] The present invention overcomes these deficiencies of the background art, by providing a device, a method and a system for portable data storage and transfer through a simplified device interface. The operations of the device are restricted, in order to increase the ease of use of the device, and in order to provide certain core functions. These core functions include reading data, writing data and exchanging data with a similar device and/or with an external computer. The device preferably has a limited device interface, which is optionally and more preferably only able to interact with other devices according to the present invention and/or computers. Alternatively, a limited user-device interface is provided, for example in order to permit the user to view and select data for data transfer. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user is able to set one or more permissions for data exchange, such that requests for data exchange that fulfill such permission(s) cause data to be transferred automatically from the device. For example, if the user has determined that data set "A" would be automatically transferred to another device upon request, and such a request is received from another device according to the present invention and/or from a computer, then data set "A" would be automatically transferred to the requesting device when the device is in a stand alone mode and is turned on. Optionally, such a transfer would occur without additional intervention and/or permission from the user. Alternatively, the user may set the permission(s) such that manual approval must be given by the user through a small display/key that might be optionally part of the device when the device receives such a request. [0007] Hereinafter, the terms "computer" or "computational device" refer to a combination of a particular computer hardware system and a particular software operating system. [0008] For the present invention, a software application could be written in substantially any suitable programming language, which could easily be selected by one of ordinary skill in the art. The programming language chosen should be compatible with the computer by which the software application is executed, and in particularly with the operating system of that computer. Examples of suitable programming languages include, but are not limited to, C, C++ and Java. Furthermore, the functions of the present invention, when described as a series of steps for a method, could be implemented as a series of software instructions for being operated by a data processor, such that the present invention could be implemented as software, firmware or hardware, or a combination thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] The foregoing and other objects, aspects and advantages will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings, wherein: [0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative system and device according to the present invention, in communication with a computer; [0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of two exemplary devices according to the present invention in communication; [0012] FIG. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of another illustrative embodiment of the device according to the present invention; and [0013] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for operating the device of any of FIGS. 1-3 according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0014] The present invention is of a device, a method and a system for portable data storage and transfer through a simplified device interface. The operations of the device are restricted, in order to increase the ease of use of the device, and in order to provide certain core functions. These core functions include reading data, writing data and exchanging data with a similar device and/or with an external computer. The device features a minimal set of hardware components for accomplishing these functions, such as a data processor of some type, a memory storage medium or media, and a data exchange mechanism, which may optionally be an infrared port for example, but is alternatively any type of device interface. [0015] The device according to the present invention also features one or more instructions for performing data transfer, for example in order to be able to operate the data exchange mechanism. These instruction or instructions may optionally be hard-coded, for example by being burnt onto a ROM or any other permanently writable memory device, such that the instruction or instructions are permanently stored in the permanently writable memory device. Alternatively or additionally, the user is not able to alter the instruction or instructions, regardless of the type of storage thereof. [0016] Alternatively, the instructions may optionally be loaded as software. Optionally, an additional software application cannot be downloaded to the device, such that only those applications provided with the device may be used. Preferably, even if additional software applications cannot be downloaded, existing applications can optionally be upgraded. [0017] The device preferably has a limited device interface, which is optionally and more preferably only able to interact with other devices according to the present invention and/or computers. Such a device interface may optionally comprise a data exchange mechanism for communication with another device or a computer. Examples of such exchange mechanisms include but are not limited to, infrared ports, Bluetooth-enabled devices, and cable-based connections, or any other type of device interface. [0018] Alternatively, a limited user-device interface is optionally provided, for example in order to permit the user to view and select data for data transfer. Examples of such a limited interface include, but are not limited to, a display screen (that might for example be part of the device or attached to it), a small keyboard (that might for example be part of the device or attached to it) or a touch-screen, which enables the user to touch the display screen in order to operate a software interface. [0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user is able to set one or more permissions for data exchange, such that requests for data exchange that fulfill such permission(s) cause data to be transferred automatically from the device, For example, if the user has determined that data set "A" would be automatically transferred to another device upon request, and such a request is received from another device according to the present invention and/or from a computer, then data set "A" would be automatically transferred to the requesting device. Optionally, such a transfer would occur without additional intervention and/or permission from the user. Alternatively, the user may set the permission(s) such that manual approval must be given by the user when the device receives such a request. User can also optionally and preferably determine which data set(s) should be received from the other devices by initiating one or more requests for such data. 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