Abstract:
The present invention discloses a module and method for controlling a portable multimedia audio and video recorder/player which has an operating interface management program installed into the module for controlling audio and video recorder/player, and the operating interface management program displays certain operating function menus on a display module of the recorder/player, and builds a scrolling component into the recorder/player as a basis for executing the foregoing operating function menus, and thus the portable audio and video recorder/player can maximize its functions and operate independently under an environment without a computer system as well as simplifies the control buttons, so that users can control the recorder/player by simple operations.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a portable multimedia audio and video recorder/player, more particularly to a module and a method for controlling a portable multimedia audio and video recorder/player.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     As the portable audio and video recreation becomes more popular, the portable audio and video recorder/player usually comes with a thin, light, short and compact structure and integrates the functions of a music playback, a video playback, a digital photo album, a digital audio recording and a digital video recording, etc to create a new mobile audio/video application mode and satisfy the personal portable digital audio and video requirements. Such portable audio and video recorder/player has become a very popular electronic consumer product now.  
         [0005]     However, some of the functions (such as a digital recording of a television program) of the foregoing portable audio and video recorder/player still have to be connected with a computer system and controlled indirectly by computer software, and the operating modules of many computer software or audio and video player are very professional or too complicated and discourage users from using the portable audio and video recorder/player, or having problem of using it without some training.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Therefore, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a portable audio and video recorder/player that can maximize its functions and operate independently under the environment without a computer system and allow users to control the audio and video recorder/player with simple operations.  
         [0007]     To achieve the foregoing objective, an operating interface management program is installed into the module for controlling audio and video recorder/player in accordance with the present invention, and the operating interface management program shows certain operating function menus on a display module of the recorder/player, and builds a scrolling component into the recorder/player as a basis for executing the foregoing operating function menus. The foregoing operating function menu comprises a main menu and a plurality of submenus for the functional options attached to the main menu; the foregoing scrolling component comprises a knob and a movement sensing system, and the knob is fixed into an opening on a side of the housing of a recorder/player and capable of rotating about the vertical axis of the opening and moving along the horizontal axis of the opening; the foregoing movement sensing system senses the extent of turning of the knob and determines whether or not a transversal movement is taken place, and reflects the detected result to the functional options of the main menu as to select one of the functional options.  
         [0008]     The present invention allows a portable audio and video recorder/player to maximize its functions and operate independently under the environment without a computer system, and also simplifies the control and operation of the press buttons, such that users can control the recorder/player with simple operations. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a view of the control module and the control flow chart according to the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2A  is a front view of the audio and video recorder/player and the screen of the main menu according to the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2B  is a front view with a submenu on the screen according to the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2C  is a left side view of the audio and video recorder/player according to the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2D  is a right side view of the audio and video recorder/player according to the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2E  is a top view of the audio and video recorder/player according to the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a view of the modes indicated in the main menu according to the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of controlling the execution of the audio and video playback function according to the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of controlling the execution of the music playback function according to the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of controlling the execution of the digital photo album functions according to the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 7A  is a schematic view of controlling the execution of the digital audio recording function according to the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 7B  is another schematic view of controlling the execution of the digital audio recorded file playback and function according to the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 8A  is a schematic view of controlling the execution of the digital video recording function according to the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 8B  is another schematic view of controlling the execution of the digital video recorded file and playback function according to the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of controlling the execution of the setup and adjustment function according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]     To make it easier for our examiner to understand the objective of the invention, its structure, innovative features, and performance, we use a preferred embodiment together with the attached drawings for the detailed description of the invention.  
         [0025]     Please refer to  FIG. 1  for a portable audio and video recorder/player  10  in accordance with the present invention, which comprises the following modules:  
         [0026]     a digital photo display module  101  capable of providing a digital photo display function;  
         [0027]     a MPEG compatible video playback module  102  capable of providing a video playback function;  
         [0028]     a MP3 compatible audio playback module  103  capable of providing an audio playback function;  
         [0029]     an audio/video recording module  104  capable of providing a video and an audio recording functions;  
         [0030]     a television reception module  105  capable of providing a television reception function;  
         [0031]     a control module  106  capable of controlling the digital photo display module  101 , the MPEG video playback module  102 , the MP3 compatible audio playback module  103 , the audio/video recording module  104  and the television reception module  105  for executing the required digital photo browsing function, video playback function, audio playback function, audio/video recording function, or television reception function;  
         [0032]     an internal storage module  107  capable of storing the digital photo file processed by the digital JPEG photo display module, the digital video file processed by the MPEG video playback module, the digital audio file processed by the digital MP3 audio playback module and the digital audio/video file processed by the digital audio/video recording module;  
         [0033]     a display module  108  capable of displaying a digital photo or a digital video image processed by the digital photo display module  101 , the video playback module  102 , or the television reception module  105 , and the display module  108  is a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT LCD) module;  
         [0034]     an audio output module  109  for outputting a audio/video signal processed by the audio/video playback module  102 , the audio playback module  103  and the television reception module  105 ;  
         [0035]     an audio/video input/output interface  110 , being connected to an external audio/video source device  30  or an external display device  31  as to input an audio/video signal from the external audio/video source device  30  or output an audio/video signal to the external display device  31 ; and  
         [0036]     a universal serial bus (USB) data communication interface  111  for externally connecting to one or more sets of multimedia processing host devices  32  to expand the multimedia processing functions.  
         [0037]     The present invention is designed according to the aforementioned control modules such that a portable multimedia audio and video recorder/player  10  can maximize its function and operates independently in an environment without a computer system and simplifies the operating press buttons to let users control the recorder/player with simple operations.  
         [0038]     Please refer to  FIGS. 2A, 2B ,  2 D and  3 , the control modules of the present invention include: 
        an operating interface management software being installed in the internal storage module  107  and displaying some operating function menus on the display module  108 ; and     a scroll component  70  being built in the housing  60  of the portable multimedia recorder/player and serving as a basis for executing the foregoing operating function menu.        
 
         [0041]     The foregoing operating function menu further comprises a main menu  51  and a plurality of submenus  52  for each functional option attached to the main menu  51 .  
         [0042]     In  FIGS. 2A and 3 , the main menu  51  displayed on the display module  108  includes a circular display area  511  and a plurality of functional options  512 ,  513 ,  514 ,  515 ,  516 ,  517 . The circular display area  511  is a circular block and the functional options  512 ˜ 517  are arranged along the circumference of the circular display area  511 . The functional options  512 ˜ 517  include a video playback  512 , a music playback  513 , a digital photo album  514 , a digital audio recording  515 , a digital audio/video recording  516 , and a setup  517  (such as the brightness of the LCD screen, the timing of backlight illumination, the timing of automatically turning on/off the power, the television output standard, the video recording quality, the audio recording quality, the automatic playback setup the system default setting, the system date, and the system time, etc). Each functional option corresponds to one of the foregoing functional modules to control one of the modules to execute the corresponding function.  
         [0043]     In  FIGS. 2D and 4 , the scroll component  70  includes a knob  71  and a movement sensing system  72 , and the knob is fixed into a predetermined opening on a side of the housing  60  and can be turned upward or downward in the direction indicated by the arrow y in the opening and moving outward in the direction indicated by the arrow x in  FIG. 2B .  
         [0044]     The movement sensing system senses the extent of the upward or downward turning and reflects the result to the functional options  512 ˜ 517  of the main menu  51  as to select one of the functional options. The selected functional option will be displayed in a rotational symbol mode and in the circular display area  511 , so that a user can see the desired selected function easily and clearly for entering the corresponding functional option into the functional submenus  521 ,  522 ,  533 ,  524 ,  525 ,  526 .  
         [0045]     In  FIGS. 2B and 4  to  9 , the plurality of functional options of the functional submenus  521 ,  522 ,  533 ,  524 ,  525 ,  526  are arranged with an interval between them and parallel to the vertical axis Y of the display module  108 , and the knob  71  is turned upward or downward and the extend of turning upward or downward is reflected to the submenus, such that one of the options will be selected and the selected option will be displayed in rotational symbol. The horizontal outward movement of the knob  71  is reflected to the selected functional option for being entered into the corresponding submenu  5211 ,  5221 ,  5241 ,  5251 ,  5261  to execute the corresponding function or play the multimedia file or return to the previous menu of the options depending on the cursor&#39;s position.  
         [0046]     In  FIG. 4 , while the user is operating in the submenu of the video playback  512 , turning the knob  71  upward or downward allows a user to select a functional option in the submenu  521 ,  5211 ; and pressing the knob  71  inward allows the user to select a functional option. After a functional option is selected and enters into a playback mode, turning the knob  71  upward or downward further provides the function of adjusting the sound volume; simultaneously turning the knob  71  inward and upward/downward gives the fast forward or fast backward function; and pressing the knob  71  inward provides a toggle between the pause and continue functions.  
         [0047]     In  FIG. 5 , while the user is operating in the submenu of the music playback  513 , turning the knob  71  upward or downward can select a functional option in the submenu  522 ,  5221  and pressing the knob  71  inward can select a functional option. After a functional option is selected and enters into a playback mode, turning the knob  71  upward or downward further provides the function of adjusting the sound volume; simultaneously turning the knob  71  inward; and pressing the knob  71  inward provides a toggle between the pause and continue functions.  
         [0048]     In  FIG. 6 , while the user is operating in the submenu of the digital photo album  514 , turning the knob  71  upward or downward can select a photo file in the submenu  523  and pressing the knob  71  inward can select a photo file. After a photo file is selected and enters into a photo playback mode, turning the knob  71  upward or downward further provides the function of volume adjustment.  
         [0049]     In  FIGS. 7A and 7B , while the user is operating in the submenu of the digital audio recording  515 , turning the knob  71  upward or downward can select the functional options in the submenu  524 ,  5241 , and pressing the knob  71  inward can select a functional option. After a functional option is selected and enters into an audio recording mode, pressing the knob  71  inward provides the toggle between the pause and continue functions. When the audio recording is completed and ready for playing the recorded sound, turning the knob  71  upward or downward further provides the function of adjusting the sound volume; simultaneously turning the knob  71  inward and upward/downward gives the fast forward or fast reverse function; and pressing the knob  71  inward provides a toggle between the pause and continue functions.  
         [0050]     In  FIGS. 8A and 8B , while the user is operating in the submenu of the digital video recording  516 , turning the knob  71  upward or downward can select the functional options in the submenu  525 ,  5251 , and pressing the knob  71  inward can select a functional option. After a functional option is selected and enters into a video recording mode, pressing the knob  71  inward provides a toggle between the pause and continue functions. When the video recording is completed and ready for playing the recorded video, turning the knob  71  upward or downward further provides the function of adjusting the sound volume; and pressing the knob  71  inward provides a toggle between the pause and continue functions.  
         [0051]     In  FIG. 9 , while the user is operating in the menu of setup  517 , turning the knob  71  upward or downward can select a function in the submenu  526 ,  5261  and pressing the knob  71  inward can select a functional option.  
         [0052]     In FIGS.  2 A˜ 2 E, the external look of the multimedia recorder/player according to the present invention and a display screen  11  are shown.  
         [0053]     On the left side of the recorder/player  10 , the following are provided:  
         [0054]     an audio/video input terminal slot  12  for receiving the signal input line for the connection of the recorder/player  10  with an audio/video equipment such as a television, a video recorder/player or a digital camera;  
         [0055]     an audio/video output terminal slot  13  for receiving the signal output for the connection of the recorder/player  10  with an equipment such as a television or a stereo;  
         [0056]     an earphone jack  14 ;  
         [0057]     a universal serial bus (USB) port  15  for connecting a USB cable for the connection of the recorder/player  10  to the USB host device;  
         [0058]     a power connector slot  16  for receiving a cable of a power adapter for charging a battery inside the recorder/player  10 ; and  
         [0059]     a microphone receptor hole  17  for digital audio recording.  
         [0060]     On the right side of the recorder/player  10 , the following are provided:  
         [0061]     a knob  71 , having the functions as described above;  
         [0062]     a reset button  18  for resetting the setting to the factory default setting by pressing this button with a tiny needle thru the hole, when a function of the recorder/player  10  is locked or cannot work properly; and  
         [0063]     a key lock button  19  for disabling the functions of all function keys by pulling down this slide switch.  
         [0064]     At the top of the recorder/player  10 , the following are provided:  
         [0065]     a rewind button  20  for jumping to the previous file by pressing this button once while playing a file;  
         [0066]     a stop button  21  for stopping the playback and returning to the previous menu by pressing this button while playing a file;  
         [0067]     a play/pause button  22  for playing a file or pausing the playback by pressing this button while playing a file;  
         [0068]     a forward button  23 , for jumping to the next file by pressing this button once while playing a file;  
         [0069]     a power on/off button  24  for turning on or off the power of the recorder/player by pressing this button; and  
         [0070]     a display mode button  25  for switching the display mode to an audio/video output mode by pressing this button when the audio/video output is connected to other video equipment and displaying the screen of the recorder/player on the connected video equipment, and such screen includes a user interface and a multimedia content.  
         [0071]     In the control method and mode as shown in FIGS.  4  to  9 , the reverse button  20 , the stop button  21 , the play/pause button  22  and the forward button  23  can fully play their functions.  
         [0072]     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.