The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 11, 2006
Filed:
Aug. 31, 2001
Steve Craig Betz, Zionsville, IN (US);
Brian Albert Wittman, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Steve Craig Betz, Zionsville, IN (US);
Brian Albert Wittman, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Thomson Licensing, Boulogne-Billancourt, FR;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for bi-directional communication, such as a cable modem, adapted to interface with a plurality of consumer electronics devices such as external storage of memory. The communications device has a first interface adapted to provide data transfer between a host device and a communications network. A second interface is adapted to provide data transfer between the host device and an external storage device or consumer electronics product having a memory storage device. The second interface circuitry is adapted to determine a type of external device coupled thereto and responsively retrieve data therefrom, the retrieved data being provided to the host device.