Portable data transfer and mass storage device for removable memory modules

For use in transferring data between a removable flash memory module and a user's computer, a portable, hand-held, general purpose, digital data transfer and repository device embodied in a housing connectable to both a removable flash memory module and a user's notebook or desktop computer and which is of a size which can be held in a user's palm, said repository device comprising:

• a housing of a size to be held in the palm of a user's hand and including a memory insertion section for receiving a first digital flash memory module, and for receiving a second digital flash memory module and including an output port for coupling said portable repository device to a user's computer,
• a hard disk drive contained within said hand-held housing and operatively coupled to receive and store digital data from said first digital flash memory module and said second digital flash memory module, said hard disk drive being accessible for data transfer between said portable repository device and a user's computer;
• processing circuitry contained within said hand-held housing for controlling the transfer of data stored in said first digital flash memory module and second digital flash memory module to said hard disk drive;
• an LCD display device for displaying data indicative of the contents of at least one of said first digital flash memory module and said second digital flash memory module, and
• an output interface, coupled to said hard disk drive, for use in transferring data between said hard disk drive and said user's computer, said output interface being compatible with an interface of said user's computer.

For use in transferring data between a removable flash memory module and a user's computer, a portable, hand-held, digital data transfer and repository device embodied in a housing connectable to both a user's notebook or desktop computer and which is of a size which can be held in a user's palm, said repository device comprising:

• a housing of a size to be held in the palm of a user's hand and including a memory input port for receiving a digital flash memory module and including an output port for coupling said portable repository device to a user's computer,
• a hard disk drive contained within said hand-held housing and operatively coupled to receive and store digital data from said digital flash memory module inserted into said memory input port, said hard disk drive being accessible for data transfer between said portable repository device and user's computer;
• at least one control key for initiating an operation relating to the data stored in said digital flash memory module;
• processing circuitry contained within said hand-held housing for controlling the transfer of data stored in said digital memory module to said hard disk drive,
• an LCD display device for displaying data indicative of the contents of the flash memory module, and
• an output interface, coupled to said hard disk drive, for use in transferring data between said hard disk drive and said user's computer, said output interface being compatible with an interface of said user's computer.

A method of operating a portable, hand-held digital camera picture image data transfer and repository device to permit a digital camera flash memory module to be reused and to transfer said image data between a removable flash memory module of a digital camera and a user's computer, said data transfer and repository device including an output port for coupling said portable repository device to a user's computer, a hard disk drive and further including an output interface, coupled to said hard disk drive, for use in transferring image data stored in said hard disk drive to said user's computer, said output interface being compatible with an interface of said user's computer, said method comprising the steps of;

• inserting into a memory input port of said repository device a digital camera flash memory module having picture image data stored therein;
• transferring picture image data from the digital memory module to said hard disk drive within said repository device;
• displaying data on an LCD display on said repository device indicative of the contents of said flash memory module, and
• reformatting said digital camera flash memory module so that it may be reinserted into a digital camera for picture taking.

For use in transferring data between a removable flash memory module and a user's computer, a portable, hand-held, digital data transfer and repository apparatus embodied in a housing connectable to both a removable flash memory module and a user's notebook or desktop computer and which is of a size which can be held in a user's palm, said repository device comprising:

• a housing of a size to be held in the palm of a user's hand including an output port for coupling said portable repository device to a user's computer;
• a memory input receiving section in said housing for receiving a digital flash memory module,
• a hard disk drive contained within said hand-held housing and operatively coupled to receive and store digital data from said digital flash memory module inserted into said memory input receiving section, said hard disk drive being accessible for data transfer between said repository device and a user's computer;
• an LCD display for displaying data indicative of at least part of the contents of said digital flash memory module;
• processing circuitry contained within said hand-held housing for modifying the contents of said digital memory module so that it may be reused in said user's device, and
• an output interface, coupled to said hard disk drive, for use in transferring data between said hard disk drive and said user's computer, said output interface being compatible with an interface of said user's computer.