Apple vs Samsung?

I wondered what happened to Vlingo.

Good read.

My favorite part:

In 1999, for instance, two men received a patent for a crustless, sealed peanut butter and jelly sandwich. (The J. M. Smucker company acquired the patent and used it to sue other food makers. In 2007, after press scrutiny, federal officials canceled the patent.)

Patented peanut butter and jelly sandwich :lol:

My favorite part:

Patented peanut butter and jelly sandwich :lol:

ummm you missed the crustless part…..and the sealed part.

ummm you missed the crustless part…..and the sealed part.

So as long as you didn't cut the crust off for your kid and seal it in a container you could send it to school with them and not get sued :lol:

Apple loses UK tablet design appeal versus Samsung.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19989750

A judge at the High Court in London had originally ruled in July that the look of Samsung's Galaxy Tab computers was not too similar to designs registered in connection with the iPad.

He said at the time that Samsung's devices were not as "cool" because they lacked Apple's "extreme simplicity".

LOLZ.

Apple still needs to run ads saying Samsung had not infringed its rights.

Ouch, that's got to smart.

Meanwhile Apple keeps patenting every obscure thought it can muster.

Meanwhile Apple keeps patenting every obscure thought it can muster.

Apple already thought of this - you're on their list now

1. An information processing device connectable with an external memory, the information processing device comprising: a processor; a storage device that stores a plurality of network addresses obtained from one or more external memories; and memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause at least a portion of the information processing device to function as: a first obtaining device that obtains a first network address stored in a first external memory; a network communication device that downloads contents data from the first network address in response to determining that the first network address is not being stored in the storage device, wherein the network communication device does not download the contents data from the first network address in response to determining that the first network address is being stored in the storage device; a second obtaining device configured to obtain a second network address stored in a second external memory after the network communication device starts to download the contents data from the first network address, wherein the second external memory is different from the first external memory; an authentication device configured to authenticate the second external memory as an authorized recipient of the contents data by determining whether the second network address is identical to the first network address; and an outputting device configured to automatically output the downloaded contents data to the second external memory in response to determining that the second network address is identical to the first network address, wherein, in response to determining that the second network address is not identical to the first network address: the network communication device further downloads contents data from the second network address, and the outputting device outputs the contents data which has been downloaded from the second network address to the second external memory.

2. The information processing device as in claim 1, wherein the storage device stores, for each of the plurality of network addresses, an association of a network address and specific information indicating that contents data has been downloaded from the network address, wherein, when the network communication device determines that the first network address is being stored in the storage device: the network communication device further determines, by referring to the specific information associated with the first network address, whether contents data has been downloaded from the first network address, the network communication device downloads the contents data from the first network address in a case where the network communication device determines that the contents data has not been downloaded from the first network address, and the network communication device does not download the contents data from the first network address when the network communication device determines that the contents data has been downloaded from the first network address.

3. The information processing device as in claim 1, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least a portion of the information processing device to function as a data conversion device, wherein the information processing device further obtains information concerning a data format with which the second external memory is compatible, wherein the data conversion device is configured to convert a data format of the contents data downloaded from the first network address into the data format with which the second memory is compatible, and wherein the outputting device outputs the converted contents data to the second memory.

4. The information processing device as in claim 1, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least a portion of the information processing device to function as a deletion device, wherein the storage device stores, for each of the plurality of network addresses, an association of a network address, contents data downloaded from the network address, and a date, and wherein the deletion device is configured to delete the association including the date when a current date is past the date specified in the association.

5. The information processing device as in claim 4, wherein when the first network address is associated with a first type of date, the storage device stores an association of the first network address, the contents data downloaded from the first network address, and the date associated with the first network address.

6. The information processing device as in claim 5, wherein the first type of date includes an expiration date of the contents data set in the first external memory.

7. The information processing device as in claim 5, wherein when the first network address is associated with a second type of date, the storage device stores an association of the first network address, the contents data downloaded from the first network address, and date determined by adding a predetermined time period to the date associated with the first network address.

8. The information processing device as in claim 7, wherein the second type of date corresponds to a date on which downloading from the information processing device is to be performed.

9. The information processing device as in claim 4, wherein when the first network address is not associated with a date, the storage device stores an association of the first network address, the contents data downloaded from the first network address, and a date determined by adding a predetermined time period to the current date.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program for an information processing device connectable to external memory, the computer program including instructions that, when executed, cause the information processing device to perform: storing a plurality of network addresses in a storage device, the plurality of network addresses obtained from one or more external memories; obtaining a first network address stored in a first external memory; downloading contents data from the first network address in response to determining that the first network address is not being stored in the storage device, wherein the downloading is not performed in response to determining that the first network address is being stored in the storage device; obtaining a second network address stored in a second external memory after beginning downloading of the contents data from the first network address, wherein the second external memory is different from the first external memory; authenticating the second external memory as an authorized recipient of the contents data by determining whether the second network address obtained after beginning downloading of the contents data is identical to the first network address; automatically outputting the contents data downloaded from the first network address to the second external memory in response to determining that the second network address is identical to the first network address; in response to determining that the second network address is not identical to the first network address: downloading contents data from the second network address; and outputting the contents data downloaded from the second network address to the second external memory.

11. A method comprising: storing a plurality of network addresses in a storage device, the plurality of network addresses obtained from one or more external memories; obtaining a first network address stored in a first external memory; downloading, by a computing device, contents data from the first network address in response to determining that the first network address is not being stored in the storage device, wherein the downloading is not performed in response to determining that the first network address is being stored in the storage device; obtaining a second network address stored in a second external memory after beginning downloading of the contents data from the first network address, wherein the second external memory is different from the first external memory; authenticating, by the computing device, the second external memory as an authorized recipient of the contents data by determining whether the second network address obtained after beginning downloading of the contents data is identical to the first network address; automatically outputting, by the computing device, the contents data downloaded from the first network address to the second external memory in response to determining that the second network address is identical to the first network address; in response to determining that the second network address is not identical to the first network address: downloading contents data from the second network address; and outputting the contents data downloaded from the second network address to the second external memory.
Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-014606, filed on Jan. 25, 2007, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference into the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing device that outputs contents data downloaded from the internet to an external memory. Moreover, the term "contents data" utilized in the present specification is not restrictive concerning the type and format of data, but includes any types and formats of data stored on the internet Further, the term "external memory" refers to memory that is configured separately from the information processing device. The "external memory", may equally well be provided with an operational device, or may equally well not be provided with an operational device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Downloading audio data from the internet onto a personal computer (hereafter referred to as PC) is an action that is widely performed. When the PC is connected to a portable audio player, the PC outputs the downloaded audio data to the audio player. The audio data can thus be stored in the audio player. The following is set forth in the homepage (URL. http://www.apple.com/jp/support/ipod/tutorial/ip_gettingstarted_tl.- html) found on Jan. 15, 2007: when the audio player is connected to the PC, the audio data is automatically output to the audio player.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Although the above method is utilized widely, it is not necessarily the best method. In the present specification, a technique is taught for storing contents data in an external memory (the portable audio player in the above example) utilizing a novel technique that differs from the conventional technique.

One technique taught in the present specification is an information processing device to which an external memory is to be connected. The information processing device may comprise a contents data storage device, an obtaining device, and an outputting device. The contents data storage device may store a combination of an internet address and contents data downloaded from the internet address. The term "internet address" refers to an address on the internet storing contents data, and is represented for example by a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). Moreover, the contents data stored by the contents data storage device may equally well be data downloaded from the internet by the information processing device itself, or may equally well be data downloaded by another device and transmitted to the information processing device. The obtaining device may obtain an internet address stored in the external memory. The outputting device may output in a case where the internet address obtained by the obtaining device is identical to the internet address stored in the contents data storage device, the contents data combined with the internet address in the contents data storage device to the external memory. With this configuration, it is possible to store the contents data in the external memory utilizing a novel technique that differs from the conventional technique.

One technique taught in the present specification is an information processing device to which an external memory is to be connected. The information processing device may comprise an obtaining device, an internet communication device, and an outputting device. The obtaining device may obtain an internet address stored in the external memory. The internet communication device may download contents data from the internet address obtained by the obtaining device. The outputting device may output the contents data downloaded by the internet communication device to the external memory. With this configuration, it is possible to store the contents data in the external memory utilizing a novel technique that differs from the conventional technique.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a memory system of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows an example of stored contents of a RAM of a PC.

FIG. 3 shows an example of stored contents of the RAM of the PC.

FIG. 4 shows an example of stored contents of a URL storage part of a portable audio player.

FIG. 5 shows an example of stored contents of a schedule storage part of the portable audio player.

FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of a main process.

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of an expire date storing process.

FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of a download process.

FIG. 9 shows a flow chart of an expire process.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of a memory system of a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows a flow chart of a main process.

FIG. 12 shows a flow chart of a data output process.

FIG. 13 shows a flow chart of a URL registration process.

FIG. 14 shows a flow chart of a download process.

FIG. 15 shows a flow chart of a download URL determination process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An information processing device taught in the present specification has the novel characteristic of obtaining an internet address stored in an external memory. It is consequently possible to realize, for example, the following. The following is merely an example, and the scope of the technique taught in the present specification is not to be interpreted in a narrow sense according to this description. A user of the external memory is capable of storing, in the external memory, an internet address that is storing desired contents data The information processing device obtains the internet address that is being stored in the external memory, and outputs the contents data of that interact address to the external memory. The contents data of internet addresses that are not being stored in the external memory is not output by the information processing device to the external memory. This information processing device is capable of utilizing the internet address that is being stored in the external memory as a key to determine whether to output the contents data to the external memory. It is thus possible to store only contents data desired by the user in the external memory. That is, since the contents data of an internet address that is not being stored in the external memory is not transmitted from the information processing device to the external memory, the contents data stored in the information processing device can be provided only to a specific user.

The information processing device does not necessarily need to determine in all situations whether to output the contents data utilizing the internet address as a key. For example, the information processing device may execute the aforementioned determination in a case where the internet address is being stored in the external memory, and may automatically output the contents data to the external memory without executing this determination in a case where the internet address is not being stored in the external memory (or may output the contents data to the external memory utilizing a different method).

Further, for example, a configuration of the information processing device may be adopted in which the user can select whether to execute the aforementioned determination. That is, when the user has selected not to execute the aforementioned determination, the information processing device may automatically output the contents data to the external memory without executing this determination (or may output the contents data to the external memory utilizing a different method). As long as the information processing device is provided with a program capable of executing the aforementioned determination, a novel information processing device can be said to be realized in the present specification.

(First Embodiment)

An embodiment will be described with reference to figures. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a memory system 10 of the present embodiment. The memory system 10 comprises a PC 20, the internet 50, a contents providing server 52, and a portable audio player 60.

Looks like a lawyer wrote it. What is the point?

1. An information processing device connectable with an external memory, the information processing device comprising: a processor; a storage device that stores a plurality of network addresses obtained from one or more external memories; and memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause at least a portion of the information processing device to function as: a first obtaining device that obtains a first network address stored in a first external memory; a network communication device that downloads contents data from the first network address in response to determining that the first network address is not being stored in the storage device, wherein the network communication device does not download the contents data from the first network address in response to determining that the first network address is being stored in the storage device; a second obtaining device configured to obtain a second network address stored in a second external memory after the network communication device starts to download the contents data from the first network address, wherein the second external memory is different from the first external memory; an authentication device configured to authenticate the second external memory as an authorized recipient of the contents data by determining whether the second network address is identical to the first network address; and an outputting device configured to automatically output the downloaded contents data to the second external memory in response to determining that the second network address is identical to the first network address, wherein, in response to determining that the second network address is not identical to the first network address: the network communication device further downloads contents data from the second network address, and the outputting device outputs the contents data which has been downloaded from the second network address to the second external memory.

2. The information processing device as in claim 1, wherein the storage device stores, for each of the plurality of network addresses, an association of a network address and specific information indicating that contents data has been downloaded from the network address, wherein, when the network communication device determines that the first network address is being stored in the storage device: the network communication device further determines, by referring to the specific information associated with the first network address, whether contents data has been downloaded from the first network address, the network communication device downloads the contents data from the first network address in a case where the network communication device determines that the contents data has not been downloaded from the first network address, and the network communication device does not download the contents data from the first network address when the network communication device determines that the contents data has been downloaded from the first network address.

3. The information processing device as in claim 1, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least a portion of the information processing device to function as a data conversion device, wherein the information processing device further obtains information concerning a data format with which the second external memory is compatible, wherein the data conversion device is configured to convert a data format of the contents data downloaded from the first network address into the data format with which the second memory is compatible, and wherein the outputting device outputs the converted contents data to the second memory.

4. The information processing device as in claim 1, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least a portion of the information processing device to function as a deletion device, wherein the storage device stores, for each of the plurality of network addresses, an association of a network address, contents data downloaded from the network address, and a date, and wherein the deletion device is configured to delete the association including the date when a current date is past the date specified in the association.

5. The information processing device as in claim 4, wherein when the first network address is associated with a first type of date, the storage device stores an association of the first network address, the contents data downloaded from the first network address, and the date associated with the first network address.

6. The information processing device as in claim 5, wherein the first type of date includes an expiration date of the contents data set in the first external memory.

7. The information processing device as in claim 5, wherein when the first network address is associated with a second type of date, the storage device stores an association of the first network address, the contents data downloaded from the first network address, and date determined by adding a predetermined time period to the date associated with the first network address.

8. The information processing device as in claim 7, wherein the second type of date corresponds to a date on which downloading from the information processing device is to be performed.

9. The information processing device as in claim 4, wherein when the first network address is not associated with a date, the storage device stores an association of the first network address, the contents data downloaded from the first network address, and a date determined by adding a predetermined time period to the current date.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program for an information processing device connectable to external memory, the computer program including instructions that, when executed, cause the information processing device to perform: storing a plurality of network addresses in a storage device, the plurality of network addresses obtained from one or more external memories; obtaining a first network address stored in a first external memory; downloading contents data from the first network address in response to determining that the first network address is not being stored in the storage device, wherein the downloading is not performed in response to determining that the first network address is being stored in the storage device; obtaining a second network address stored in a second external memory after beginning downloading of the contents data from the first network address, wherein the second external memory is different from the first external memory; authenticating the second external memory as an authorized recipient of the contents data by determining whether the second network address obtained after beginning downloading of the contents data is identical to the first network address; automatically outputting the contents data downloaded from the first network address to the second external memory in response to determining that the second network address is identical to the first network address; in response to determining that the second network address is not identical to the first network address: downloading contents data from the second network address; and outputting the contents data downloaded from the second network address to the second external memory.

11. A method comprising: storing a plurality of network addresses in a storage device, the plurality of network addresses obtained from one or more external memories; obtaining a first network address stored in a first external memory; downloading, by a computing device, contents data from the first network address in response to determining that the first network address is not being stored in the storage device, wherein the downloading is not performed in response to determining that the first network address is being stored in the storage device; obtaining a second network address stored in a second external memory after beginning downloading of the contents data from the first network address, wherein the second external memory is different from the first external memory; authenticating, by the computing device, the second external memory as an authorized recipient of the contents data by determining whether the second network address obtained after beginning downloading of the contents data is identical to the first network address; automatically outputting, by the computing device, the contents data downloaded from the first network address to the second external memory in response to determining that the second network address is identical to the first network address; in response to determining that the second network address is not identical to the first network address: downloading contents data from the second network address; and outputting the contents data downloaded from the second network address to the second external memory.
Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-014606, filed on Jan. 25, 2007, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference into the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing device that outputs contents data downloaded from the internet to an external memory. Moreover, the term "contents data" utilized in the present specification is not restrictive concerning the type and format of data, but includes any types and formats of data stored on the internet Further, the term "external memory" refers to memory that is configured separately from the information processing device. The "external memory", may equally well be provided with an operational device, or may equally well not be provided with an operational device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Downloading audio data from the internet onto a personal computer (hereafter referred to as PC) is an action that is widely performed. When the PC is connected to a portable audio player, the PC outputs the downloaded audio data to the audio player. The audio data can thus be stored in the audio player. The following is set forth in the homepage (URL. http://www.apple.com/jp/support/ipod/tutorial/ip_gettingstarted_tl.- html) found on Jan. 15, 2007: when the audio player is connected to the PC, the audio data is automatically output to the audio player.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Although the above method is utilized widely, it is not necessarily the best method. In the present specification, a technique is taught for storing contents data in an external memory (the portable audio player in the above example) utilizing a novel technique that differs from the conventional technique.

One technique taught in the present specification is an information processing device to which an external memory is to be connected. The information processing device may comprise a contents data storage device, an obtaining device, and an outputting device. The contents data storage device may store a combination of an internet address and contents data downloaded from the internet address. The term "internet address" refers to an address on the internet storing contents data, and is represented for example by a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). Moreover, the contents data stored by the contents data storage device may equally well be data downloaded from the internet by the information processing device itself, or may equally well be data downloaded by another device and transmitted to the information processing device. The obtaining device may obtain an internet address stored in the external memory. The outputting device may output in a case where the internet address obtained by the obtaining device is identical to the internet address stored in the contents data storage device, the contents data combined with the internet address in the contents data storage device to the external memory. With this configuration, it is possible to store the contents data in the external memory utilizing a novel technique that differs from the conventional technique.

One technique taught in the present specification is an information processing device to which an external memory is to be connected. The information processing device may comprise an obtaining device, an internet communication device, and an outputting device. The obtaining device may obtain an internet address stored in the external memory. The internet communication device may download contents data from the internet address obtained by the obtaining device. The outputting device may output the contents data downloaded by the internet communication device to the external memory. With this configuration, it is possible to store the contents data in the external memory utilizing a novel technique that differs from the conventional technique.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a memory system of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows an example of stored contents of a RAM of a PC.

FIG. 3 shows an example of stored contents of the RAM of the PC.

FIG. 4 shows an example of stored contents of a URL storage part of a portable audio player.

FIG. 5 shows an example of stored contents of a schedule storage part of the portable audio player.

FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of a main process.

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of an expire date storing process.

FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of a download process.

FIG. 9 shows a flow chart of an expire process.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of a memory system of a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows a flow chart of a main process.

FIG. 12 shows a flow chart of a data output process.

FIG. 13 shows a flow chart of a URL registration process.

FIG. 14 shows a flow chart of a download process.

FIG. 15 shows a flow chart of a download URL determination process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An information processing device taught in the present specification has the novel characteristic of obtaining an internet address stored in an external memory. It is consequently possible to realize, for example, the following. The following is merely an example, and the scope of the technique taught in the present specification is not to be interpreted in a narrow sense according to this description. A user of the external memory is capable of storing, in the external memory, an internet address that is storing desired contents data The information processing device obtains the internet address that is being stored in the external memory, and outputs the contents data of that interact address to the external memory. The contents data of internet addresses that are not being stored in the external memory is not output by the information processing device to the external memory. This information processing device is capable of utilizing the internet address that is being stored in the external memory as a key to determine whether to output the contents data to the external memory. It is thus possible to store only contents data desired by the user in the external memory. That is, since the contents data of an internet address that is not being stored in the external memory is not transmitted from the information processing device to the external memory, the contents data stored in the information processing device can be provided only to a specific user.

The information processing device does not necessarily need to determine in all situations whether to output the contents data utilizing the internet address as a key. For example, the information processing device may execute the aforementioned determination in a case where the internet address is being stored in the external memory, and may automatically output the contents data to the external memory without executing this determination in a case where the internet address is not being stored in the external memory (or may output the contents data to the external memory utilizing a different method).

Further, for example, a configuration of the information processing device may be adopted in which the user can select whether to execute the aforementioned determination. That is, when the user has selected not to execute the aforementioned determination, the information processing device may automatically output the contents data to the external memory without executing this determination (or may output the contents data to the external memory utilizing a different method). As long as the information processing device is provided with a program capable of executing the aforementioned determination, a novel information processing device can be said to be realized in the present specification.

(First Embodiment)

An embodiment will be described with reference to figures. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a memory system 10 of the present embodiment. The memory system 10 comprises a PC 20, the internet 50, a contents providing server 52, and a portable audio player 60.

Meanwhile Apple keeps patenting every obscure thought it can muster.

The whole patent system is a mess. I'm with Woz on this - “I wish everybody would just agree to exchange all the patents and everybody can build the best forms they want to use everybody’s technologies.”

Looks like a lawyer wrote it. What is the point?

You don't have to quote something so big.

The point is the Apple hired a bunch of patent lawyers to work full time at patenting everything and anything. Jobs said patenting was bad, but the. In 2006 when Apple lost a $100 million lawsuit over the iPod he created the lawyer-patent division. Knee jerk reaction.

did you know that the iphone 3G cant run higher than os 4.2.1? how do i jailbreak it

http://www.redmondpie.com/sn0wbreeze-2.2-pwnagetool-for-windows-for-creating-ios-4.2.1-custom-firmware-available-for-download/

Just picked up the SGS3 after I soaked my SGS2.

Shopping for a new phone it was quite unreal how different the galaxy phones are from the iPhones. Like whichever you want, but the iPhone 5 and sgs 3 are so different in form and function it makes it almost funny to see all these lawsuits.

I'd be interested to see if apple goes after the windows phones next.

I'm pretty sure Apple stopped suing Microsoft after the bailout.