Abstract: A computing system including: a host system; at least one device, mechanically connected to the host system, each device having an active state and an inactive state, wherein each device is conductively disconnected from the host system when the inactive state is enabled; and a mechanism for the host system to switch each device between the active state and the inactive state Preferably, at least one device is connected to the host system via a connector. Preferably, the device is hard-wired to the host system. Preferably, some wires of at least one device are isolated from the host system via a mechanical contactor. Preferably, some wires of at least one device are isolated from the host system via an optical isolator. Preferably, the system further includes: a switching battery; and a mechanism for charging the battery when at least one device is disconnected from the host system.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods for protecting a peripheral device in a computing system from electrical surge currents, the method including the steps of: providing a controller operationally connected to a host system; and reversibly conductively connecting, via the controller, wires of the device to the host system. Preferably, the device is connected to the host system via a connector. Preferably, the device is hard-wired to the host system. Preferably, at least some wires of the device are isolated from the host system via a mechanical contactor. Preferably, at least some wires of the device are isolated from the host system via an optical isolator. Preferably, the method further includes the step of: charging a switching battery when the device is disconnected from the host system. Most preferably, the method further includes the step of: powering the device using the battery when the device is connected to the host system.

Abstract: A method for storing data in a computer having a magnetic hard disk drive (HDD) and an electronic solid-state drive (SSD). The method includes configuring the computer so that the HDD and the SSD are each independently accessible by an operating system of the computer. A plurality of files is received for storage by the computer. A predicted use profile of the computer is defined. A respective one of the HDD and the SDD is selected for the storage of each of the files responsively to the predicted use profile.

Abstract: Methods and systems for counting items in storage containers in an array of at least two storage containers, the method including the steps of: providing a storage array of at least two storage containers, each of the storage containers containing an unknown amount of items; providing a receiving array of at least two receiving containers, wherein the receiving containers initially contain no items; extracting a layer of the items from the storage array; inserting the layer into corresponding locations in the receiving array; repeating the steps of extracting and inserting while at least one of the storage containers is not empty; counting, for each storage container in the storage array, a productive-extraction amount; and reporting, for at least some of the storage containers, the productive-extraction amount from each storage container. Preferably, the method further includes recovering a storage identity upon recovery from a system failure that erases the productive-extraction amount.

Abstract: A system including a plug device, configured to be reversibly operationally plugged into a socket of a standard configuration, and a socket device, configured with at least one restriction structure that prevents a plug that is configured according to the standard configuration from being operationally plugged into the socket device. The plug device is configured with a respective accommodating structure to be reversibly operationally plugged into the socket device despite the restriction structure. The scope of the invention also includes a method of digital rights management by configuring a media player with the socket device of the present invention to connect to a media carrier configured with the plug device of the present invention, thereby allowing only the media carrier configured with the plug of the present invention to download data to this media player.

Abstract: The present invention discloses systems and methods for a smart card including: a first card having a device; and a second card having an aperture that is configured to allow a device to be inserted into an aperture when the second card is properly aligned with the first card, thereby allowing a device to protrude into an aperture. Optionally, the first card includes an aperture, and the second card includes a device, so that an aperture of the first card accommodates a device of the second card when the first card is properly aligned with the second card. Optionally, the apertures and the devices are configured to allow a stack of a plurality of the first and second cards to be densely packed Optionally, a card includes a magnetic stripe, an electronic circuit, and/or an embedded electrically-conductive wire for operationally connecting a device to a connector.

Abstract: Methods for enhancing the performance of a host system including the steps of: providing an operating system, running on the host system, that supports a ReadyDrive and ReadyBoost accelerator; and providing a flash-memory storage device, which supports both the accelerators, having a single flash-memory module. Preferably, the method further includes the steps of: monitoring a frequency of write commands by the host system to the device; and upon the frequency exceeding a predefined threshold, suspending operations of the accelerators until the frequency is below the threshold.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a flash-memory storage device for implementing both ReadyBoost and ReadyDrive Windows PC accelerators, the device including: a single flash-memory module adapted to be configured as a ReadyBoost accelerator and as a ReadyDrive accelerator; and a controller for controlling the flash-memory module. Preferably, the device further includes: a mechanism for wear-leveling the flash-memory module. Preferably, the device further includes: a mechanism for repartitioning the flash-memory module. Most preferably, the mechanism is configured to erase the flash-memory module. A flash-memory storage device including: a flash-memory module having at least one partition, wherein at least one partition is adapted to be alternatively reversibly configured as a ReadyBoost accelerator and as a ReadyDrive accelerator; and a controller for controlling the flash-memory module. Preferably, the device further includes: a mechanism for wear-leveling the flash-memory module.

Abstract: A peripheral device for connecting to a host includes a body and a peripheral connector attached to the body. The peripheral connector is connectable to a connector of the host. The peripheral device is configured to facilitate manual attachment to the host and to impede manual detachment from the host. Also provided a peripheral device that includes a body, a first connector connectable to the host connector and a second connector connectable to a connector of an add-on peripheral device; where the body, the first connector and/or the second connector are configured to facilitate manual attachment to the host and to impede manual detachment from the host.

Abstract: A portable media player has controlling circuitry, a memory, and a non-rechargeable battery built into the media player's housing such that the battery cannot be removed, replaced, or detached without damaging the media player or otherwise rendering it inoperable. The portable media player may protect multimedia content, for example, by enabling the download of multimedia files or by playing any multimedia file according to a predefined rule. Multimedia files may be downloaded into the memory by using USB protocol and a connector that functions as a USB connector. An audio plug may be manipulated inside an output socket of the media player to turn the media player on and off and also to adjust the volume of the media player's output signal and to select a mode of operation, or any of these tasks may be exercised using control rings or touch switches.

Abstract: A method of limiting the play back of multimedia content in a memory of a portable media player includes providing a non-rechargeable battery as a power source for the portable media player, and enclosing the battery within a housing such that the battery cannot be removed without damaging the portable media player. The memory of the media player may be provided with multimedia content, or a communication interface may be provided to receive, or to download into the memory, multimedia content, for example at a point of sale. The method may further include limiting the writing of multimedia content into the memory only once, or not more than a predetermined number of times. The method may include downloading a multimedia file into the memory by engaging the communication interface with a communication interface of a file downloading station.

Abstract: A device for associating image areas with audio recordings includes a user-programmable image holder having a touch-sensitive surface. Logic circuitry within the image holder is operative to define at least one image area and to associate the image area with an audio signal. The image area is defined, by the device, in response to physical contact applied to the image area on the touch-sensitive surface. A non-volatile memory for storing the audio signal is memory mounted within the user-programmable image holder and electrically connectable to the logic circuitry. Also provided a method for associating image areas with audio recordings using a user-programmable image holder having a touch-sensitive surface.

Abstract: The present invention discloses systems and method for storing and organizing UFDs (USB flash drives) on a storage pole, and for configuring UFDs to accommodate storage on a storage pole. Various embodiments also include configurations of the UFDs and/or storage poles which prevent rotation of the UFDs on the storage pole, thereby providing aligned stacking of the UFDs. Some embodiments include more than one pole for storage and/or alignment of the UFDs. Some embodiments do not require a pole for storage and/or alignment of the UFDs. In addition, systems which allow extraction of a single UFD from a stack of UFDs while maintaining the order of the UFDs are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system including: (a) a host device including: (i) a cavity; and (ii) a socket, recessed in the cavity; and (b) a UFD configured to be reversibly operationally connected to the host device via the socket, wherein the UFD is configured to physically reside substantially in the cavity when the UFD is operationally connected to the socket. Also disclosed is a UFD system including: (a) a first part having components of a UFD, wherein the components include a primary connector and an electronics assembly; and (b) a second art having a UFD holder and a secondary connector, wherein the UFD holder is configured to reversibly accommodate the first part, wherein a dimension of the first part parallel to an insertion direction of the primary connector is shorter than a dimension of the second part parallel to an insertion direction of the secondary connector.

Abstract: A card device has a generally rectangular body formed from flexible material and including electronic circuitry electrically connected to a set of electrical contacts. At least part of the card device is flexed, bent or folded in such a manner that the inherent resilience of the card material provides a force for pressing the set of contacts against the electrical contacts of a USB receptacle.

Abstract: A system for selecting and presenting advertising to a user, the system including: a storage memory, residing in a mobile device, having program code, wherein the program code is configured: to locally select at least one context-dependent advertising message from a locally-stored database residing in the mobile device; and to present at least one context-dependent advertising message to the user on the mobile device; and a processor for running the program code on the mobile device. Preferably, the presenting includes presenting at least one context-dependent advertising message to the user on a mobile phone. Preferably, the program code is further configured: to record an event report for remunerating the user, with a compensatory reward, for consent to receive at least one context-dependent message. Most preferably, the event report is used by an MNO to remunerate the user and/or to bill an advertiser.

Abstract: A method for mediating messages between an advertiser and a user of a mobile device, the method including the steps of: providing the mobile device with: a local storage memory having a locally-stored database, residing in the mobile device, with at least one advertising message of the advertiser; an ADM, residing in the mobile device, for selecting advertising messages from the database; and an event detector, residing in the mobile device, for detecting at least one event of the mobile device; detecting an occurrence of at least one event using the event detector; locally selecting at least one context-dependent advertising message stored in the database using the ADM, at least one context-dependent advertising message correlated with at least one event; presenting at least one context-dependent advertising message to the user on the mobile device; and remunerating the user for consent to receive at least one context-dependent advertising message.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a sensor adapted to provide a digital representation of a portion of a field of view and an optical system that causes a plurality of locations within the field of view to become incident on the sensor. A pixel correction module adds a bias value to any pixel within the digital representation of a portion of a field of view and multiplies it by a gain factor. A region-of-interest lookup table stores sets of values, each set related to a rectangular region of interest within the field of view. The stored values include bias and gain factors.

Abstract: The present invention discloses systems and methods for communicating with a storage device configured to store signed program files, the method including the steps of: generating, by a program process, a respective command number associated with a process command; issuing, by the program process, the process command with the respective command number to the storage device; and according to the respective command number, verifying, by the storage device, whether the process command originated from a trusted program process launched from the program files stored in the storage device. Preferably, the step of verifying includes: generating, by the storage device, a respective initial command number associated with a requested program file; and attaching, by the storage device, the respective initial command number to a copy of the requested program file.

Abstract: The present invention discloses devices and methods for a connectivity hub, for connecting a plurality of storage devices to a host system, including: a plurality of ports, each port operative to electrically engage with a storage device; electrical paths joining the plurality of ports to a common point operationally connected to the host system; and a controller operative to associate a relative physical location with a logical identity for each port. Preferably, the controller is configured to perform the association by correlating an insertion time of the storage device in a respective port with a detection time of the logical identity. A connectivity hub, for connecting a plurality of storage devices to a host system, including: at least 23 ports, each port operative to electrically engage with a corresponding storage device; and electrical paths joining at least 23 ports to a common point operationally connected to the host system.