Abstract:
A method and computer software program for automatically associating a collection of images with selected audio. The method includes providing a collection of digital still images, a collection of audio files, and selecting a first criterion for the automatic selection of audio files from the collections of audio files and/or a second criterion for the automatic selection of digital images from the collections of digital still images. The method further includes automatically analyzing the selected digital images and/or the selected audio files for creating a presentation of the selected digital images and selected audio files in the multimedia show in accordance with the first and second criteria.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to devices having music and image playback capabilities. Specifically, the present invention concerns detection of a predominate characteristic(s) of audio (and/or image) files and the use of these characteristics to automate provision of image files to accompany said audio file (or audio files to accompany said image files).  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Computer technology and software design have led to various methods and tools for creating “slideshows” for display of images accompanied by audio. Most of these systems require that the user specifically select both the images and the audio for inclusion in the show (i.e. Products currently commercially available include Shockwave.com&#39;s PhotoJam, NoizePlay&#39;s Photoshow product, Totally Hip Inc&#39;s LiveSideShow2 software, Macromedia Director™ and Adobe Premier™.) U.S. Pat. No. 6,078,005 discloses the ability to construct multimedia shows if driven by music selection and given a set of user indicated images. The &#39;005 patent also discloses automated selection and application of visual effects (i.e. creative criterion/criteria), but no capability to intelligently choose images to pair with the audio or vice versa.  
           [0003]    A few prior systems will allow users to select only images, and the system will randomly assign audio to the show (i.e. NoizePlay&#39;s Photojam, currently commercially available.)  
           [0004]    Jungleib Corp U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,908 discloses a system that creates new music or images based on pre-existing audio or visual media. However, it cannot match pre-existing audio and images.  
           [0005]    Other systems provide only image-based slideshow capabilities, without associated audio. Many of the systems targeting display of consumer images on televisions offer only image data, without specifically associated audio. Visioneer&#39;s PhotoPort TV 100 entered the market in 2002, and Kodak&#39;s Picture Channel related to image distribution and sharing via set top box.  
           [0006]    Unfortunately, no current system can “intelligently” author multimedia shows to provide images that are appropriate to user-selected audio, or conversely, to select audio that is appropriate for the user-selected images.  
           [0007]    Current practice requires heavy user input for each multimedia show the system authors. No system can analyze the content of the images selected by the user, and automatically select audio appropriate to the content or metadata of the images. No system can analyze the content of the audio selected by the user, and automatically select images from the user&#39;s collection that are appropriate to the audio.  
           [0008]    In addition, current systems cannot recall a user&#39;s preferred creative criterion/criteria for the show, preferred music genres, or determine a user&#39;s preferred image criterion/criteria. Current systems cannot use such data collected from one authoring experience to intelligently author the following show.  
           [0009]    What is needed is an improved method that can collect data about an image collection and/or audio collection, collect data about user preferences, and intelligently author multimedia shows tailored to the content of the media and to the user&#39;s preferences but with little direct user input... thus allowing a user to showcase her visual and audio creativity without requiring much time, effort or specialized skill.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for automatically associating images with audio for presentation in a multimedia show, comprising the steps of:  
           [0011]    a. providing a-collection of digital still images;  
           [0012]    b. providing a collection of audio files;  
           [0013]    c. selecting a criterion for the automatic selection of images from the collections of digital still images; and  
           [0014]    d. automatically analyzing the audio files for selecting audio files to be presented with the selected digital images in the multimedia show  
           [0015]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a software program for use in a computer that when loaded on to the computer the program will cause the computer to do the following steps:  
           [0016]    a. provide a collection of digital still images;  
           [0017]    b. provide a collection of audio files;  
           [0018]    c. allow selection of a criterion for the automatic selection of images from the collections of digital still images; and  
           [0019]    d. automatically analyzing the audio files for selecting audio files to be presented with the selected digital images in the multimedia show  
           [0020]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for automatically associating a of images with audio for presentation in a multimedia show, comprising the steps of:  
           [0021]    a. providing a collection of digital still images;  
           [0022]    b. providing a collection of audio files;  
           [0023]    c. selecting a criterion for the automatic selection of audio files from the collections of audio files; and  
           [0024]    d. automatically analyzing the digital image for selecting digital images to be presented with the selected audio files in a show  
           [0025]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer software program for use in a computer that when loaded on to the computer the program will cause the computer to do the following steps:  
           [0026]    a. provide a collection of digital still images;  
           [0027]    b. provide a collection of audio files;  
           [0028]    c. allow selection of a criterion for the automatic selection of audio files from the collections of audio files; and  
           [0029]    d. automatically analyzing the digital image for selecting digital images to be presented with the selected audio files in a show  
           [0030]    In accordance with still yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for automatically associating a collection of images with selected audio, comprising the steps of:  
           [0031]    a. providing a collection of digital still images;  
           [0032]    b. providing a collection of audio files;  
           [0033]    c. selecting a. first criterion for the automatic selection of audio files from the collections of audio files;  
           [0034]    d. selecting a second criterion for the automatic selection of digital images from the collections of digital still images; and  
           [0035]    e. automatically analyzing the selected digital images and the selected audio files for creating a presentation of the selected digital images and selected audio files in the multimedia show in accordance with the first and second criteria.  
           [0036]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer software program for use in a computer that when loaded on to the computer the program will cause the computer to do the following steps:  
           [0037]    a. providing a collection of digital still images;  
           [0038]    b. providing a collection of audio files;  
           [0039]    c. selecting a first criterion for the automatic selection of audio files from the collections of audio files;  
           [0040]    d. selecting a second criterion for the automatic selection of digital images from the collections of digital still images; and  
           [0041]    e. automatically analyzing the selected digital images and the selected audio files for creating a presentation of the selected digital images and selected audio files in the multimedia show in accordance with the first and second criteria.  
           [0042]    These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims and by reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0043]    In the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrating an embodiment of the system made in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating software architecture for use in the system made in accordance with the present invention; made in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 3 is a logic flowchart of a process for users to input audio and image files and to select criterion/criteria for use of images, audio and creative effects in the multimedia show made in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 4 is a continuation of the logic flowchart in FIG. 3, assuming the user has selected audio criterion/criteria but not image criterion/criteria for the authoring of a multimedia show made in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 5 is a continuation of the logic flowchart in FIG. 3, assuming the user has selected image criterion/criteria but not audio criterion/criteria for the authoring of a multimedia show made in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 6 is a continuation of the logic flowchart in FIG. 3, assuming the user has selected both audio use criterion/criteria and image use criterion/criteria for the authoring of a multimedia show made in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 7 is a continuation of the logic flowcharts in FIGS. 4, 5 and  6 , illustrating the automatic association of a collection of images with selected audio to create a multimedia show and the options for use of the multimedia show made in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0051]    As referred to in FIG. 1, the Multimedia Device  100  comprises a memory and control unit  104 , an audio input mechanism  118 , and image input mechanism  120 , keyboard  116  and a remote control  117  used for inputting instructions and data to the control unit  104 . Inputs  102  in the form of audio files  110 , image files  112  and user-determined criterion/criteria  114  are loaded into the memory and control unit  104  where they are stored in memory  126 . The memory and control unit  104  applies software  122  to the audio files  110 , image files  112 , and user-determined criterion/criteria  114  to create a new multimedia file  106  which is outputted from the multimedia device  100  to the audio output  130  and video output  132 .  
         [0052]    The audio files  110  are digital files that can be originally accessed via CD-ROM, DVD, MP3, or over a network or the World Wide Web. They are input to the memory and control unit  104  via one or more audio input mechanisms  118 . The audio input mechanisms  118  may be either ports to link to external audio system components, ports to link to networks or the Internet, or may be internal to the hardware of the memory and control unit  104  (i.e. an integrated CD player or memory card slot).  
         [0053]    The image files  112  are still or moving image digital files that can be originally accessed via memory card, USB or Firewire ports, network access to images stored in a remote memory locale (i.e. networked PC or online storage such as the Ofoto site.) They are input to the memory and control unit  104  via one or more image input mechanisms  120 . The image input mechanisms  120  may be either ports linked to external image storage locations or components (i.e. a digital camera, PC hard drive, or Internet access) or may be internal to the hardware of the memory and control unit  104  (i.e. an integrated CD-RW drive to read Picture CDs, a memory card slot, or receiver of wirelessly transmitted data.) The input mechanisms for audio and image files may in fact be one in the same.  
         [0054]    The selection of files for inclusion in the multimedia show may be based on either user-determined criterion/criteria  114  or predetermined criterion/criteria  122  that reside in the software  122 . As described later herein, the user has the option to input specific criterion/criteria for the inclusion of audio, images and/or creative effects in the multimedia show. These are the three types of “user-determined criterion/criteria”  114 , and the user inputs this data to the memory and control unit  104  using a keyboard  116  or remote control  117  to select from options presented on-screen (as described in FIG. 3). Note that if the user opts not to input use criterion/criteria for any or all of these three types of inputs, the software will automatically select audio, image(s), and/or creative effects that are deemed appropriate according to the “predetermined criterion/criteria”  124  that reside in the software  122 . The “predetermined criterion/criteria” comprise a mapping among image characteristics, audio characteristics, and creative effects that have been preprogrammed as appropriate complements to one another. This process is described later herein in FIGS. 4, 5 and  6 .  
         [0055]    The multimedia device thus comprises one or more audio input mechanisms  118 , one or more image input mechanisms  120  and the memory and control unit  104 . The control unit  104  is provided with RAM memory  126 , and the software  122 . The memory  126  stores all of the inputs  102  and makes them available to the software  122  needed. The software  122  provides the capabilities described in FIGS. 1 through 7, and includes a set of predetermined criterion/criteria  124  that guides the automatic authoring of multimedia shows in the absence of user-determined criterion/criteria to guide the authoring of the multimedia shows  
         [0056]    Once the software  122  has authored a multimedia show, the memory and control unit  104  exports the newly compiled file  106  to an output system  108  comprising both audio output  130  and video output  132 . This output system  108  can take the form, for example, of a television, an integrated home entertainment system, or an output system that is networked to the memory and control unit  104  such as a PC or wireless device with audio-visual capabilities. After the user views the show, she may choose to save it to memory  126 , save it to a networked memory location, share the show via a network connection, or write it to a CD or DVD on a writer that is either networked or integrated into the memory and control unit  104 .  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the software architecture  204 , which interacts with memory and control unit  104 . The software  204  receives audio files  210 , image files  212  and user-determined criterion/criteria  214 . It then uses the predetermined criterion/criteria  224  to take the actions described in FIGS. 3 through 7 to compile a new file comprised of a multimedia show. In the preferred embodiment the software  204  resides in memory and control unit  104  located in the multimedia device  100 . In another embodiment the software  204  can reside in any type of memory and control unit, which may take the form of a hardware component of the home entertainment system, a handheld wireless device, or any networked CPU  128  or memory unit.  
         [0058]    Referring to FIG. 3, the user begins use of the multimedia device  100  by entering the software at step  300 , then loading one or a plurality of audio files at step  302  into the memory  126  and loading one or a plurality of image files at step  304  into memory  126 . Loading of the files into the memory  126  may occur in a variety of ways, including but not limited to: wireless transmission from either capture device or another storage device, direct cable connection from either capture device or another storage device (USB, Fire Wire), a network that accesses an image collection stored elsewhere in the network (i.e. connection to hard drive, handheld, set top box, stereo components or music storage system), Internet access to images accessible at remote storage locations (online storage or access to remote network storage),memory card input directly to Multimedia Device  100 , direct input of CD into Multimedia Device  100 , or direct input of DVD into Multimedia Device  100 . These files may remain in memory  126  indefinitely, so that the user does not have to load new files each time she wants to author a multimedia show and can instead author shows based on files already in the memory  126 .  
         [0059]    The user then responds to a software prompt at step  306  asking whether she wants to prioritize images or audio in the multimedia show.  
         [0060]    If the user chooses to prioritize images over audio, she then indicates a collection of image files at step  308  from among those stored in memory  126 . For example, she could indicate that all images stored in memory  126  are part of the collection; she could select a series of specific individual images; she could indicate one or a plurality of image folders in memory  126 .  
         [0061]    The user then inputs user-determined image use criterion/criteria/criterion at step  310  that will be used by the software to select specific images for inclusion in the show. She indicates these user-determined criterion/criteria/criterion by selecting among on-screen options, inputting data using the keyboard  116  or remote control  117 . Examples of user-determined image use criterion/criteria may include, but are not limited to: information about image metadata such as time of image capture, location of image capture, keywords in title or captioning of image, image author, inclusion of specific subjects (i.e. images that include a specific individual as determined by image recognition software) or event identification. The software then at step  312  applies the user-determined image use criterion selected by the user at step  310  to the selected image file collection at step  308  and creates an image list or folder of images that are now qualified for inclusion in the multimedia show.  
         [0062]    An example of how the user determined criterion/criteria is applied to the collection may comprise using metadata information that may contain information about the dates or times or subjects of the images supplied in the collection. This information may be used to group the images in the show in a certain way, or present them in a particular order. This grouping can be achieved using an event clustering algorithm such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,351,556, to Loui and Pavie, which discloses a method for automatically comparing the content of images for classification by event. In addition, the image content can be analyzed using computer vision and image understanding algorithms to detect a main subject of interest, or to classify it into different scenes, e.g., birthday party, graduation, wedding, picnic, beach activities, etc.  
         [0063]    When the qualified image list or folder at step  312  has been completely built, the user responds to a software prompt asking whether she wants to also select audio preferences at step  314 .  
         [0064]    If the user answers “yes” to this question at step  314  or answers “audio” to the initial question of image-driven vs. audio-driven at step  306 , the user then indicates a collection of audio files at step  316  from among those stored in memory  126 . For example, she could indicate that all audio files in memory are part of the collection; she could select a series of specific individual audio files; she could indicate one or a plurality of audio folders in memory  126 . The user then selects audio use criterion at step  318 , which may include but is not limited to information about audio metadata such as artist, genre, rhythm type, track duration, musical instrument inclusion, copyright date, date of loading the audio track into memory, or ownership of music (in the case that multiple users use the same Multimedia Device, the system can track which user “owns” which tracks in memory  126 ).  
         [0065]    The software then applies the user-determined audio use criterion  318  to the selected audio file collection at step  316  and creates an audio list or folder of images at step  320  that are now qualified for inclusion in the multimedia show. In order to apply the user-determined criterion at step  318  by analyzing the digital audio file and/or associated meta data, for example, beat identification may be required. Identification of the music beat can be accomplished using the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,930, titled “Apparatus for Synchronizing Playback Rates of Music Sources,” by Murakami, which discloses “a discriminating circuit operative in response to the music signal to produce a beat signal representative of extracted beats.” 
         [0066]    When this has been completed, the user responds to a software prompt asking whether she wants to also select image preferences at step  322 . If the user answers “yes” she moves to the beginning of the image preference process at step  308  and progresses through it.  
         [0067]    If the user answers “no” to the option to input user-determined criterion for image use, either because she already has done so or because she desires to select only audio use preferences, the user responds to a software prompt asking if she wants to input creative preferences at step  324 . If she indicates “yes,” the software prompts the user to input the criterion for creative treatments in the multimedia show at step  326 . This may take the form of the user selecting from among a plurality of creative templates that provide a combination of creative effects that fit a mood or theme such as described in U.S. pending patent application entitled SOFTWARE AND SYSTEM FOR CUSTOMIZING A PRESENTATION OF DIGITAL IMAGES, of Joseph A. Manico, John Kenton McBride, Dale Frederick McIntyre, and Alexander C. Loui, U.S. Ser. No. 10/178,976, filed Jun. 25, 2002 which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. (A creative template is a predetermined set of creative elements that may include, but is not limited to: a background, font style, style of transitioning from one image to the next and image filters. Examples of a “creative template” include themes such as “Beach Vacation,” “Christmas,” or “Wedding” or moods such as “Romantic,” “Nostalgic,” or “Edgy.”) Alternately, instead of choosing among creative templates, the user might input the user-determined criterion for creative effects by selecting among options for specific elements of the creative treatment—for example selecting among ten options for image transitions, then among ten options for backgrounds, then ten options for on-screen fonts.  
         [0068]    If the user answers “no” to the software&#39;s query whether the user wants to input user-determined criterion for creative effects, creative preferences at step  324 , the software advances to prepare the content for the multimedia show compilation, as described in FIG. 4, 5 or  6 .  
         [0069]    Now referring to FIG. 4, when user-determined criterion have been input for audio use criterion/criteria, but not for image use criterion/criteria. In this case, at step  400  the software will select at random one of the audio tracks from the selected audio file list from step  320  in FIG. 3. The software then analyzes said audio track at step  402 . This analysis may include but is not limited to information about audio metadata such as artist, genre, rhythm type, track duration, musical instrument inclusion, copyright date, date of loading the audio track into memory  126 , or the owner of the audio track.  
         [0070]    At step  404 , the software then uses the analysis of the audio track from step  402  to select a predetermined criterion/criteria from among a plurality of predetermined criterion/criteria that are preprogrammed in the software  122 . The selected predetermined criterion/criteria will guide the software to identify images that “fit” with the metadata and content characteristics of said audio track. (As previously discussed, “predetermined criterion/criteria” are stored in the software  124  and comprise a mapping of image characteristics to audio characteristics that have been preprogrammed as appropriate complements to one another.)  
         [0071]    For example, if the audio analysis output at step  402  indicates that the audio track is a techno genre, fast beat, 90 second duration track owned by user A, the predetermined image criterion/criteria may include: image ownership by user A, image transitions to occur “with the beat” (i.e. every two seconds) which thus dictates the number of images that should be selected from the qualified image list step  312  of FIG. 3, (i.e. forty-five images are needed in order to transition every 2 seconds for the duration of the 90 second audio track), images that involve one or more faces or are titled, captioned or organized in a folder that includes the keyword “party.” 
         [0072]    As another example, if the audio analysis indicates that the track includes the use of steel drum instruments, the predetermined image criterion/criteria may be for images in any folder that includes images with a beach. Data on the image content, such as a beach, party, vacation, etc. may be determined using event clustering methods as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,351,556 and/or image content parsing methods as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,147,742.  
         [0073]    Once the software has determined the predetermined criterion/criteria that are appropriate to the audio track at step  404 , the software identifies images on the qualified image list step  312  of FIG. 3 that fit said predetermined criterion/criteria at step  406 . The software then creates a folder or list containing all the images that meet said predetermined criterion/criteria, with the files listed in chronological order at step  408 .  
         [0074]    At step  410 , the software now determines whether the user has previously input user-determined creative criterion/criteria during step  326  of FIG. 3. If “yes,” the software progresses directly to the logic flowchart depicted in FIG. 7. If not, the software uses the output of the audio analysis to select among predetermined creative criterion/criteria at step  412 . For example, if the audio is the techno genre track previously mentioned, the predetermined creative criterion/criteria stored in the software  124  may include specific distortion image filters, spinning special effects and transitions, and modernistic backgrounds. If the audio is the steel drum band track previously mentioned, the predetermined creative criterion/criteria may include faded transitions, a background that depicts waves and water, and/or on-screen fonts that look like casual handwriting.  
         [0075]    Once the software has collected criterion/criteria for audio, image and creative treatments based on either user-determined criterion/criteria or predetermined criterion/criteria, it begins to collate the files to compile the multimedia show, thus progressing to the continuation of the logic flowchart referred to in FIG. 7.  
         [0076]    Now referring to FIG. 7, the software links the first image in the image list (as previously determined based on either user preference at step  312  in FIG. 3 or predetermined criterion/criteria at step  408  in FIG. 4) to the selected audio track (as previously determined based on either user preference step  400  in FIG. 4 or predetermined criterion/criteria step  506  in FIG. 5) using the creative criterion/criteria (as previously determined based on either user preference step  326  in FIG. 3 or predetermined criterion/criteria steps  412 /  510 /  608 ) at step  700 . U.S. docket 82717 theme such as described in U.S. pending patent application entitled SYNCHRONIZATION OF MUSIC AND IMAGES IN A CAMERA WITH AUDIO CAPABILITIES, of John Randall Fredlund, John C. Neel, Steven M. Bryant, U.S. Ser. No. 09/922,969, filed Aug. 6, 2001, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference which describes a relevant method for the automatic synchronization of sound to images (using beat, etc.).  
         [0077]    The software then links the second image on said image list to said audio using said creative criterion/criteria at step  702 . This process repeats until the first of two events occurs: either the qualified image collection from step  312  in FIG. 3 is exhausted or the audio selected in step  400  or  506  or  602  finishes. The software then compiles the multimedia show from the total collection of linked images and audio at step  704  and caches the show file in memory  126  at step  706 .  
         [0078]    The memory and control unit  104  then outputs an audio-visual signal to the visual display  132  and audio playback  130  systems so that the user can experience the multimedia show at step  708 . During playback, the user can edit the show in realtime using the remote control  117  to indicate, for example, that the image display duration should be longer or shorter or that a specific image should be deleted from the show.  
         [0079]    While the show plays on the output system, the software may automatically begin to author a second show comprised of the images on the qualified image list  312  set to another of the audio tracks on the qualified audio list  320 . This process continues until either the qualified image list  312  or the qualified audio list  320  is exhausted.  
         [0080]    When the show has been fully played, the software collects user input regarding the future of the show at step  710 . The software then executes the user command at step  712 , which may include deleting the show from memory  126  at step  716 , saving the show to a hard drive (either the memory in the unit  126  or an external memory source) at step  718 , saving the show to a disc (possibly burning a CD or DVD on either a drive integrated into the memory and control unit  100  or accessed externally via a network) at step  720 , or sharing the show with others via a network connection at step  722 . The user can also choose to edit the show at step  714  by returning to choose new audio use criterion/criteria step  318  FIG. 3, image use criterion/criteria step  310  FIG. 3, or creative criterion/criteria step  326  FIG. 3. A method for creative template-based multimedia authoring systems and software where an initial multimedia presentation may be easily edited or otherwise modified by a user to create an improved presentation is described in U.S. pending patent application entitled SOFTWARE AND SYSTEM FOR CUSTOMIZING A PRESENTATION OF DIGITAL IMAGES, of Joseph A. Manico, John Kenton McBride, Dale Frederick McIntyre, and Alexander C. Loui, U.S. Ser. No. 10/178,976, filed Jun. 25, 2002 which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference..  
         [0081]    Instead of the logic flow as referenced in FIG. 4 for the primary embodiment, the logic flow of FIG. 5 may be substituted. FIG. 5 refers to the situation where the user has input user-determined criterion/criteria for image use, but not audio use.  
         [0082]    The software  204  at step  500  analyzes the images on the qualified image list as previously determined at step  312  to determine a dominant pattern in the data. This analysis may include but is not limited to event clustering, image content analysis, and metadata identification and analysis such as previously discussed. For example, the software  204  analysis of the qualified image previously obtained at step  312  may find that all of the images were captured by user B, that most of the images involve landscape shots, and that the capture location of the majority of the images lies in France.  
         [0083]    The software  204  then uses the output of the image analysis to select predetermined audio criterion/criteria at step  502 . In the example described, the predetermined criterion/criteria may be that the audio track is in user B&#39;s audio collection and that the title is in French or includes the keyword “Paris.” Or, it may be that the dominance of landscape images links to a predetermined criterion/criteria for an audio track of the classical genre.  
         [0084]    Once the predetermined criterion/criteria have been identified at step  502 , the software identifies any audio tracks stored in memory  126  that fit the predetermined criterion/criteria and generates a list of qualified audio tracks at step  504 . At step  506  the software then pulls one audio track randomly from the list of qualified tracks previously generated at step  504 .  
         [0085]    At step  508 , the software now determines whether the user has previously input user-determined creative criterion/criteria during step  326   t.  If not, the software  204  uses the output of the audio analysis to select among predetermined creative criterion/criteria at step  510 . For example, if the audio is the track with “Paris” in the title as previously mentioned and has a slow rhythm, the predetermined creative criterion/criteria may include simple transitions, a transition from one image to the next on only alternate beats, and backgrounds that incorporate images from France.  
         [0086]    Once the software has collected or assigned criterion/criteria for audio, image and creative treatments, it begins to collate the files to compile the multimedia show, thus progressing to the continuation at step  700  of the logic flowchart in FIG. 7 described above.  
         [0087]    Instead of the logic flow as referenced in FIG. 4 for the primary embodiment, the logic flow of FIG. 6 may be substituted. In this case, the user has selected both image use criterion/criteria and audio use criterion/criteria.  
         [0088]    At step  600  the software pulls images from the qualified image list as previously determined i, and then at step  602  the software pulls an audio track randomly from the list of qualified tracks as previously determined at step  320 .  
         [0089]    Then at step  604 , the software  204  determines whether the user has previously input user-determined creative criterion/criteria during step  326 . If not, the software  204  analyzes the selected audio track at step  606  in the manner described relative to FIG. 4, and uses the output of the audio analysis to select among predetermined creative criterion/criteria at step  608  in the manner described earlier relative to FIG. 4.  
         [0090]    Once the software  204  has collected or assigned creative criterion/criteria for the user-determined audio and image lists, it begins to collate the files to compile the multimedia show, thus progressing to the continuation of the logic flowchart as previously described in FIG. 7.  
         [0091]    The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the scope of the invention.  
       PARTS LIST  
       [0092]    [0092] 100  multimedia device  
         [0093]    [0093] 102  inputs  
         [0094]    [0094] 104  memory and control unit  
         [0095]    [0095] 106  newly compiled file  
         [0096]    [0096] 108  output system  
         [0097]    [0097] 110  audio files  
         [0098]    [0098] 112  image files  
         [0099]    [0099] 114  user-determined criterion/criteria  
         [0100]    [0100] 116  keyboard  
         [0101]    [0101] 117  remote control  
         [0102]    [0102] 118  audio input mechanism  
         [0103]    [0103] 120  image input mechanism  
         [0104]    [0104] 122  software  
         [0105]    [0105] 124  predetermined criterion/criteria  
         [0106]    [0106] 126  memory (RAM)  
         [0107]    [0107] 128  CPU (Processor)  
         [0108]    [0108] 130  audio output  
         [0109]    [0109] 132  video output  
         [0110]    [0110] 204  software  
         [0111]    [0111] 210  audio files  
         [0112]    [0112] 212  image files  
         [0113]    [0113] 214  user determined criterion/criteria  
         [0114]    [0114] 224  pre-determined criterion/criteria  
         [0115]    step  300  user enters software  
         [0116]    step  302  user inputs audio file(s) to memory  
         [0117]    step  304  user inputs image file(s) to memory  
         [0118]    step  306  user chooses whether show should be driven by images or audio  
         [0119]    step  308  user selects an image file collection  
         [0120]    step  310  user selects image use criterion/criteria  
         [0121]    step  312  software creates qualified image list  
         [0122]    step  314  user chooses whether to select audio criterion/criteria  
         [0123]    step  316  user selects audio file collection  
         [0124]    step  318  user selects audio use criterion/criteria  
         [0125]    step  320  software creates qualified audio list  
         [0126]    step  322  user chooses whether or not to select image preferences  
         [0127]    step  324  user chooses whether to input creative preferences  
         [0128]    step  326  user selects creative criterion/criteria  
         [0129]    step  400  software selects audio track from qualified audio list  
         [0130]    step  402  software analyzes selected audio track  
         [0131]    step  404  software selects predetermined criterion/criteria  
         [0132]    step  406  software ID&#39;s images in memory that fit predetermined criterion/criteria  
         [0133]    step  408  software creates a list containing all qualified images  
         [0134]    step  410  user chooses whether to select creative preferences  
         [0135]    step  412  software selects predetermined creative criterion/criteria  
         [0136]    step  500  software analyzes images on the list of qualified images  
         [0137]    step  502  software selects predetermined audio criterion/criteria  
         [0138]    step  504  software ID&#39;s and lists audio tracks that fit predetermined criterion/criteria  
         [0139]    step  506  software selects one audio track from list of qualified audios  
         [0140]    step  508  user chooses whether to select creative preferences  
         [0141]    step  510  software selects predetermined creative criterion/criteria  
         [0142]    step  600  software pulls images from qualified image collection  
         [0143]    step  602  software selects audio track from qualified audio list  
         [0144]    step  604  software determines whether user has selected creative preferences  
         [0145]    step  608  software selects predetermined creative criterion/criteria  
         [0146]    step  700  software links image # 1  with audio according to creative criterion/criteria  
         [0147]    step  702  software links image # 1 +n . . . with audio according to predetermined criterion/criteria  
         [0148]    step  704  software compiles show file from total collection of linked images &amp; audio  
         [0149]    step  706  software caches show file in memory  
         [0150]    step  708  software outputs AV signal to visual and audio playback systems  
         [0151]    step  710  software collects user input regarding future of show file  
         [0152]    step  712  software executes user demand  
         [0153]    step  714  user edits show file  
         [0154]    step  716  software deletes show  
         [0155]    step  718  software saves show file to memory  
         [0156]    step  720  software saves show to disc  
         [0157]    step  722  software shares show file via network connection