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A media reader for a removable digital storage medium, such as a memory stick for a digital camera, has a housing and a media reading unit, contained within the housing, into which the removable digital storage medium is inserted for reading data. The media reader also includes a manual manipulation

A media reader for a removable digital storage medium, such as a memory stick for a digital camera, has a housing and a media reading unit, contained within the housing, into which the removable digital storage medium is inserted for reading data. The media reader also includes a manual manipulation unit for selecting a predetermined function to be communicated to a peripheral device, where the manipulation unit has different size buttons corresponding to each predetermined function, wherein the size of each button varies based on a frequency of use of the function. A signal indicative of the selected predetermined function is communicated by a controller to the peripheral device, which causes an application program in the peripheral device to be automatically commenced to perform the selected predetermined function, the application program in the peripheral device performing the selected predetermined function, including obtaining data from the removable digital storage medium.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A media reader for a removable digital storage medium, comprising:a housing having at least a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; a media reading unit, contained within the housing, into which the removable digital storage medium is inserted for reading data contained thereon, the medi

1. A media reader for a removable digital storage medium, comprising:a housing having at least a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; a media reading unit, contained within the housing, into which the removable digital storage medium is inserted for reading data contained thereon, the media reading unit having at least a proximal end adjacent the proximal end of the housing and a distal end opposite the proximal end of the media reading unit, the distal end having a connector for electrically connecting the media reading unit and the removable digital storage medium; a communication interface that provides communication between the media reader and a peripheral device; a manual manipulation unit for selecting a predetermined function to be communicated to the peripheral device via the communication interface, the manual manipulation unit being arranged within the housing between the connector of the media reading unit and the distal end portion of the housing, wherein the manual manipulation unit comprises a plurality of buttons each corresponding to a different predetermined function, and each of the plurality of buttons have different sizes based on frequency of use of the predetermined function corresponding to the respective button; and a controller communicating with the connector of the media reading unit, the manual manipulation unit, and the peripheral device via the communication interface, the controller detecting connection of the removable digital storage medium to the connector of the media reading unit, detecting selection of a predetermined function from the manual manipulation unit, and communicating a signal indicative of the selected predetermined function to the peripheral device via the communication interface. 2. The media reader according to claim 1, wherein the media reading unit, the communication interface, the manual manipulation unit and the controller are part of an integrated circuit board installed in the housing.3. The media reader according to claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a top portion, wherein each of the plurality of buttons is accessible through a corresponding hole through the top portion of the housing, and wherein the buttons are recessed below an outer surface of the top portion of the housing.4. The media reader according to claim 1, wherein the media reading unit reads a plurality of different types of removable digital storage media.5. The media reader according to claim 1, wherein the removable digital storage medium is a medium that stores digital image data recorded thereon by a digital camera.6. The media reader according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of predetermined functions comprise a print function, an index function, an email function, and save function.7. The media reader according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of buttons are sequentially arranged in a direction extending from the proximal end of the housing to the distal end of the housing.8. The media reader according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of buttons are sequentially arranged in a direction transverse to a direction extending from the proximal end of the housing to the distal end of the housing.9. The media reader according to claim 1, wherein a distance from the proximal end of the housing to the distal end of the housing is in range of 4 to 5 inches.10. The media reader according to claim 1, wherein a distance from the proximal end of the housing to the distal end of the housing is in range of 2 to 3 inches.11. The media reader according to claim 1, wherein the signal indicative of the selected predetermined function communicated by the controller to the peripheral device via the communication interface causes an application program in the peripheral device to be automatically commenced to perform the selected predetermined function, the application program in the peripheral device performing the selected predetermined function, including obtaining data from the removable digital storage medium.12. An integrated circuit card for a media reader for reading a removable digital storage medium, comprising:a circuit board having at least a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end; a media reading unit having an electrical connector attached to the circuit board adjacent the proximal end, the removable digital storage medium being inserted into the media reading unit for reading data contained thereon; a communication interface attached to the circuit board that provides communication between the integrated circuit card and a peripheral device; a manual manipulation unit attached to the circuit board for selecting a predetermined function to be communicated to the peripheral device via the communication interface, the manual manipulation unit being arranged on the circuit board between the connector of the media reading unit and the distal end portion of the circuit board, wherein the manual manipulation unit comprises a plurality of switches each corresponding to a different predetermined function, and wherein each of the plurality of switches are activated by a corresponding button, each corresponding button having a different size based on frequency of use of the predetermined function corresponding to the respective switch; and a controller attached to the circuit board for communicating with the connector of the media reading unit, the manual manipulation unit, and the peripheral device via the communication interface, the controller detecting connection of the removable digital storage medium to the connector of the media reading unit, detecting selection of a predetermined function from the manual manipulation unit, and communicating a signal indicative of the selected predetermined function to the peripheral device via the communication interface. 13. The integrated circuit card according to claim 12, wherein the media reading unit reads a plurality of different types of removable digital storage media.14. The integrated circuit card according to claim 12 wherein the plurality of switches are sequentially arranged in a direction extending from the proximal end of the circuit board to the distal end of the circuit board.15. The integrated circuit card according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of switches are sequentially arranged in a direction transverse to a direction extending from the proximal end of the circuit board to the distal end of the circuit board.16. The integrated circuit card according to claim 12, wherein the signal indicative of the selected predetermined function communicated by the controller to the peripheral device via the communication interface causes an application program in the peripheral device to be automatically commenced to perform the selected predetermined function, the application program in the peripheral device performing the selected predetermined function, including obtaining data from the removable digital storage medium.17. A media reader for a removable digital storage medium, comprising:a housing having at least a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; a media reading unit, contained within the housing, into which the removable digital storage medium is inserted for reading data contained thereon, the media reading unit having at least a proximal end adjacent the proximal end of the housing and a distal end opposite the proximal end of the media reading unit, the distal end having a connector for electrically connecting the media reading unit and the removable digital storage medium; a communication interface that provides communication between the media reader and a peripheral device; a manual manipulation unit for selecting a predetermined function to be communicated to the peripheral device via the communication interface, the manual manipulation unit being arranged within the housing between the connector of the media reading unit and the distal end portion of the housing; and a controller communicating with the connector of the media reading unit, the manual manipulation unit, and the peripheral device via the communication interface, the controller detecting connection of the removable digital storage medium to the connector of the media reading unit, detecting selection of a predetermined function from the manual manipulation unit, and communicating a signal indicative of the selected predetermined function to the peripheral device via the communication interface, wherein the signal indicative of the selected predetermined function communicated by the controller to the peripheral device via the communication interface causes an application program in the peripheral device to be automatically commenced to perform the selected predetermined function, the application program in the peripheral device performing the selected predetermined function, including obtaining data from the removable digital storage medium. 18. An integrated circuit card for a media reader for reading a removable digital storage medium, comprising:a circuit board having at least a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end; a media reading unit having an electrical connector attached to the circuit board adjacent the proximal end, the removable digital storage medium being inserted into the media reading unit for reading data contained thereon; a communication interface attached to the circuit board that provides communication between the integrated circuit card and a peripheral device; a manual manipulation unit attached to the circuit board for selecting a predetermined function to be communicated to the peripheral device via the communication interface, the manual manipulation unit being arranged on the circuit board between the connector of the media reading unit and the distal end portion of the circuit board; and a controller attached to the circuit board for communicating with the connector of the media reading unit, the manual manipulation unit, and the peripheral device via the communication interface, the controller detecting connection of the removable digital storage medium to the connector of the media reading unit, detecting selection of a predetermined function from the manual manipulation unit, and communicating a signal indicative of the selected predetermined function to the peripheral device via the communication interface, wherein the signal indicative of the selected predetermined function communicated by the controller to the peripheral device via the communication interface causes an application program in the peripheral device to be automatically commenced to perform the selected predetermined function, the application program in the peripheral device performing the selected predetermined function, including obtaining data from the removable digital storage medium.