1.-7. (canceled)
8. A computer program product for managing media storage, the computer program product comprising:
one or more computer-readable tangible storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable tangible storage media, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to determine that storage space is needed on a storage device, wherein the storage device stores one or more media files;
program instructions to determine a likely viewing device for a media file selected from the one or more media files; and
program instructions to convert the media file from a first format to a second format, based on the determined likely viewing device.
9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the one or more media files include one or more of: an audio file, a video file, or a data-broadcast file.
10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein program instructions to determine that storage space is needed on a storage device comprise:
program instructions to determine that at least one new media file is to be stored on the storage device;
program instructions to determine required storage space for the at least one new media file; and
program instructions to determine that the storage device does not have the required storage space.
11. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising:
prior to program instructions to determine the likely viewing device for the media file, program instructions to select the media file based on one or more of: elapsed time since the media file was last viewed, indicated content of the media file, and one or more indications associated with the media file.
12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein program instructions to determine the likely viewing device comprise:
program instructions to request, from a communication network, details of a viewing device, wherein such details include one or more of: a display resolution, a display size, and a media processing capability;
program instructions to determine a viewing history of the media file, wherein the viewing history includes a viewing device previously used for the media file; and
program instructions to determine the likely viewing device based on at least one of the details of a viewing device and a viewing history of the media file.
13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the determined likely viewing device includes one or more of: a televising device, a stationary computing device and a mobile computing device.
14. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the second format is a lower quality digital format than the first format.
15. A computer system for managing media storage, the computer system comprising:
one or more computer processors;
one or more computer-readable tangible storage media;
program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable tangible storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to determine that storage space is needed on a storage device, wherein the storage device stores one or more media files;
program instructions to determine a likely viewing device for a media file selected from the one or more media files; and
program instructions to convert the media file from a first format to a second format, based on the determined likely viewing device.
16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the one or more media files include one or more of: an audio file, a video file, or a data-broadcast file.
17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein program instructions to determine that storage space is needed on a storage device comprise:
program instructions to determine that at least one new media file is to be stored on the storage device;
program instructions to determine required storage space for the at least one new media file; and
program instructions to determine that the storage device does not have the required storage space.
18. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising:
prior to program instructions to determine the likely viewing device for the media file, program instructions to select the media file based on one or more of: elapsed time since the media file was last viewed, indicated content of the media file, and one or more indications associated with the media file.
19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein program instructions to determine the likely viewing device comprise:
program instructions to request, from a communication network, details of a viewing device, wherein such details include one or more of: a display resolution, a display size, and a media processing capability;
program instructions to determine a viewing history of the media file, wherein the viewing history includes a viewing device previously used for the media file; and
program instructions to determine the likely viewing device based on at least one of the details of a viewing device and a viewing history of the media file.
20. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the determined likely viewing device includes one or more of: a televising device, a stationary computing device and a mobile computing device.
21. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the second format is a lower quality digital format than the first format.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. An orifice introducer device comprising:
a tubular member having a distal end and a proximal end;
the distal end being adjustable between a first position for insertion into an orifice and a second position once inserted into the orifice.
2. The orifice introducer device of claim 1, wherein, in the first position, the distal end has a smaller diameter than the proximal end.
3. The orifice introducer device of claim 2, wherein the diameter of the distal end is greater in the second position relative to the first position.
4. The orifice introducer device of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the distal end is stretchable, and wherein the diameter of the distal end is adjusted to the second position relative to the first position by stretching.
5. The orifice introducer device of claim 3, wherein the distal end includes a slit, and wherein the diameter of the distal end is adjusted to the second position relative to the first position by opening of the slit.
6. The orifice introducer device of claim 5, wherein the distal end includes a plurality of holes adjacent to the slit and a string through the holes, and wherein the opening of the slit is controlled by moving the string.
7. The orifice introducer device of claim 6, wherein the string is attached to an actuation device for controlling a movement of the string.
8. The orifice introducer device of claim 6, wherein one end of the string is attached to an actuation device.
9. The orifice introducer device of claim 6, wherein both ends of the string are attached to an actuation device.
10. The orifice introducer device of claim 7, wherein the actuation device includes a ring.
11. An orifice introducer device comprising:
a tubular member having a distal end;
a distal portion having a proximal end configured to be detachably secured to the distal end of the tubular member, the distal portion being selectively detachable when the orifice introducer device is positioned in the orifice.
12. The orifice introducer device of claim 11, wherein, when secured to the distal end of the tubular member, a distal end of the distal portion has a smaller diameter than the tubular member.
13. The orifice introducer device of claim 12, wherein, when detached from the distal end of the tubular member, the proximal end of the distal portion contracts so as to have a smaller diameter than the tubular member.
14. The orifice introducer device of claim 13, wherein the proximal end of the distal portion includes an annular groove configured to detachably secure the distal end of the tubular member.
15. The orifice introducer device of claim 11, further comprising a tubular insertion device configured to be insertable through the tubular member.
16. The orifice introducer device of claim 15, wherein the tubular insertion device is configured to detach the distal portion from the tubular member when inserted through the tubular member.
17. The orifice introducer device of claim 16, further comprising a recovery device for withdrawing the distal portion through the tubular member when the distal portion has been detached from the tubular member.
18. The orifice introducer device of claim 17, wherein the recovery device is a string attached to an inner wall of the distal portion.
19. The orifice introducer device of claim 16, wherein, when detached from the distal end of the tubular member, the proximal end of the distal portion contracts so as to have a smaller diameter than the tubular insertion device so as to be withdrawn through the tubular insertion device.
20. The orifice introducer device of claim 11, wherein the orifice introducer device is configured to introduce a surgical device into an orifice.
21. A method for using an orifice introducer device comprising the steps of:
providing a tubular member having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being in a first position in which the distal end has a smaller diameter than the proximal end;
inserting the distal end into an orifice; and
adjusting the distal end into a second position.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of inserting an element through the tubular member.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the inserting step includes inserting a surgical device through the tubular member.
24. The method of claim 21, wherein the adjusting step includes adjusting the diameter of the distal end so as to be greater in the second position relative to the first position.
25. The method of claim 21, wherein the adjusting step includes stretching at least a portion of the distal end.
26. The method of claim 21, wherein the adjusting step includes opening a slit in the distal end.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the opening of the slit includes the step of moving, via an actuation device, a string attached to the slit.
28. A method for using an orifice introducer device comprising the steps of:
providing a tubular member having a distal end;
detachably securing a proximal end of a distal portion to the distal end of the tubular member, a distal end of the distal portion having a smaller diameter than the tubular member;
inserting the distal end into an orifice; and
selectively detaching the distal portion from the tubular member.
29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of the distal portion contracting so as to have a diameter smaller than a diameter of the tubular member.
30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of withdrawing the distal portion through the tubular member.
31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of inserting an element through the tubular member.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the inserting step includes inserting a surgical device through the tubular member.
33. The method of claim 28, wherein the selective detaching step includes inserting a tubular insertion device through the tubular member for contacting an inner wall of the distal portion.
34. An orifice introducer, comprising:
a tubular sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, a diameter of the distal end of the sheath being expandable from a first diameter to a second diameter to allow passage of a surgical instrument having a diameter that is larger than the first diameter.
35. The orifice introducer of claim 34, wherein the distal end of the sheath is conically shaped at least when the diameter of the sheath is the first diameter.
36. The orifice introducer of claim 34, wherein the distal end of the sheath is tapered at least when the diameter of the sheath is the first diameter.
37. The orifice introducer of claim 34, wherein the distal end of the sheath includes at least one of a slit, a seam, a perforation and a weakened area, which allows the expansion of the distal end.
38. The orifice introducer of claim 34, wherein the distal end of the sheath is formed of a stretchable material so that the distal end of the sheath stretches to expand from the first diameter to the second diameter.