Abstract:
Described is a multi-purpose portable electronic device which is capable of providing both TV and storage functions. By using the portable electronic device, a user can watch a TV program received externally, store the TV program in a single portable electronic device and watch the stored TV program on different computers at different locations. In addition, an application software necessary for operating the portable electronic device on the computer may be directly stored in the portable electronic device itself. As such, a promoted convenience and lower cost are achieved by the multi-purpose portable electronic device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a portable electronic device and, more particularly, to a multi-purpose portable electronic device. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    As the electronic technology greatly proceeds, universal serial bus (USB) interface has been developed for computer, which is an interface for the computer to have a peripheral electronic device or peripheral electronic devices connect thereto and work therewith, so that a specific function or functions can be achieved thereon. The electronic device(s) connecting to the computer is/are equipped with the so-called plug-and-play function and the electronic devices are connected in series in this configuration. 
         [0005]    Portable electronic device is one form of the electronic devices and may be connected to the computer for a specific purpose via one of various kinds of interfaces, particularly the USB interface. The portable electronic device includes, but is not limited to, digital camera, MP3 player, personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular phone, portable digital TV card, one inch minihard drive, EZ-drive, etc. The content associated with the portable electronic device can be written from or uploaded to the computer connected therewith via the interface therebetween, thereby achieving the specific purpose. 
         [0006]    Since the computer is capable of mass storage and strong data processing, the portable electronic device connected thereto can be benefited with control from the computer when working together therewith. Further, since the portable electronic device can be carried in hand, it has enjoyed a popularity in market. However, there are many kinds of function-specific portable electronic devices. At this time, a user has to pay a high cost and inconvenience if he/she desires to have several kinds of the portable electronic devices. 
         [0007]    The followings will be dedicated to introduction of some such portable electronic devices, with reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
         [0008]    The portable TV card is a device through which the user can watch a TV program on a computer when the portable TV card is connected to the computer.  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating how the portable TV card works with the computer. As shown, the portable TV card  10  is connected to an external computer  15  and comprises a hybrid TV tuner module  11 , a digital demodulation module  12 , an analog decoding module  13  and a hybrid TV processing module  14 . The hybrid TV processing module  14  comprises a digital processing interface  141 , an analog processing interface  142  and a USB interface  143 . The computer  15  comprises an application software (not shown) for accessing the portable TV card  10  at least including beginning or stopping a TV program. 
         [0009]    When a user plays a TV program on the computer  15  by executing the application software thereon, the hybrid TV tuner module  11  receives a digital TV signal input TV_digital or an analog TV signal input TV_analog. Then, the hybrid TV tuner module  11  outputs a digital video/audio signal IF 1  or an analog video signal input IF 2  and an analog audio signal SIF. The digital TV signal input TV_digital and the analog TV signal input TV_analog may be a wireless TV signal or a cabled TV signal and comprises a video signal and an audio signal. 
         [0010]    Next, the digital demodulation module  12  and analog decoding module  13  receive the digital video/audio signal IF 1  or the analog video signal IF 2  and the analog audio signal SIF, and demodulates the digital video/audio signal IF 1  and decodes the analog video signal IF 2  and analog audio signal SIF, respectively. Then, the digital demodulation module  12  and analog decoding module  13  output a demodulated digital video/audio signal TS, and a decoded digital video signal YUV and a decoded digital audio signal I 2 S/AC-Link, respectively. The decoded digital audio signals I 2 S and AC-Link are taken from two different digital audio signal systems, respectively, and one of which is employed. Thereafter, the digital processing interface  141  and analog processing interface  142  receive the demodulated digital video/audio signal TS, and the decoded digital video signal YUV and decoded digital audio signal I 2 S/AC-Link, respectively. Then, a computer interface signal CUSB is outputted from the hybrid TV processing module  14  to the computer  15  connected with the portable TV card  10  through the USB interface  143 , in response to the received demodulated digital video/audio signal TS and decoded digital video signal YUV and the decoded digital audio signal I 2 S/AC-Link. 
         [0011]    Other portable storage devices such as flash memory, card reader and one inch minihard drive devices are also allowed to be connected to a computer and work with each other.  FIG. 2  shows an illustration where such portable storage device is connected to a computer and work therewith. As shown, the portable storage device  20  is connected to an external computer  23  and comprises a storage control module  21  and a storage module  22 . The storage control module  21  comprises a storage interface  211  and a USB interface  212 . The storage module  22  has data stored therein. The storage control module  21  reads data stored in the storage module  22  to the computer  23  or writes data to the storage module  22  from the computer  23  via the storage interface  211 , a read/write bus Data/Address and the USB interface  212 . As such, the data stored in the storage module  22  is uploaded to the computer  23  or the computer  23  transmits data to the portable storage device  20  at the storage module  22  through the storage control module  21 . 
         [0012]    Like other portable electronic devices, the above described portable TV card and portable storage device each have its own purpose. However, although the portable TV card is related to video and audio content, and the video and audio content is related a storage space. Or these portable devices may seek a wider range of functions. Therefore, there is a need to provide a portable TV card which can be enhanced in performance by considering the portable storage device in cooperation therewith. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a multi-purpose portable electronic device, a user stores receiving TV program through the multi-purpose portable electronic device and access TV program to play stored therein, so that cost thereof can be lowered and user convenience thereof can be enhanced. 
         [0014]    In accordance with the present invention, the multi-purpose portable electronic device comprises a TV module having a hybrid TV tuner unit, a digital demodulation unit and an analog decoding unit, a storage module storing a data content, and a hybrid processing module having a digital processing interface, an analog processing interface, a storage interface and a universal serial bus (USB) interface. In the TV module, the hybrid TV tuner unit receives one of an external digital TV signal or an external analog TV signal each comprising a video signal and an audio signal, and outputting one of a digital video/audio signal, or an analog video signal and an analog audio signal in response thereto. The digital demodulation unit receiving the digital video/audio signal and outputting a demodulated digital video/audio signal in response thereto. The analog decoding unit receiving the analog video and audio signals and outputting a decoded digital video signal and a decoded digital audio signal in response thereto. The digital processing interface receives the demodulated digital video/audio signal. The analog processing interface receives the decoded digital video and audio signals, and the storage interface connected to the storage module through a data/address bus on which a data/address signal associated with the video and audio content is transmitted. 
         [0015]    In operation, the hybrid processing module executes one of the following functions: playing a first content on the external computer corresponding to a first computer interface signal on the USB interface by receiving the first computer interface signal from the external computer through the USB interface in response to the received demodulated video/audio signal, the decoded digital video and audio signals and the data/address signal, storing the first content corresponding to a second computer interface signal on the USB interface to the storage module through the storage interface by receiving the second computer interface signal from the external computer through the USB interface, acquiring a second content corresponding to a third computer interface signal on the USB interface from the external computer from the storage module through the storage interface onto the external computer, and playing the stored second content corresponding to a fourth computer interface signal on the USB interface on the external computer. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment, the storage module is selected from the group consisting of a one inch mini hard drive, a flash memory, and a card reader and a card readable by the card reader. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, the flash memory is integrally formed with the portable electronic device, and the small sized portable hard disk drive and card reader are integrally formed with or detachable from the portable electronic device. 
         [0018]    By means of the portable electronic device, a user can watch a TV program received externally, store the TV program in a single portable electronic device and watch the stored TV program at different locations. In addition, an application software necessary for operating the portable electronic device on the computer may be directly stored in the portable electronic device itself. As such, a promoted convenience and lower cost are achieved by the multi-purpose portable electronic device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The above and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating how a conventional portable TV card works with a computer in accordance with the prior art; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating how a conventional portable storage device works with a computer in accordance with the prior art; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating how a multi-purpose portable storage device works with a computer in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    The present invention is a multi-purpose portable electronic device, which will be described taken in the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the multi-purpose portable electronic device  30  is connected to an external computer  37  and comprises a TV module  31 , a hybrid processing module  35  and a storage module  36 . The TV module  31  comprises a hybrid TV tuner unit  32 , a digital demodulation unit  33  and an analog decoding unit  34 . The computer  37  comprises an application software (not shown), on which a user may execute specific actions for accessing the multi-purpose portable electronic device  30 . 
         [0025]    When a user executes a command “play” on the application software on the computer  36 , the hybrid TV tuner unit  32  receives an external digital TV signal TV-digital or an external analog TV signal TV_analog. Each of the external digital and analog TV signals TV-digital and TV_analog may be a wireless TV signal or a cabled TV signal and comprises a video signal and an audio signal. The TV module  31  further comprises an antenna for receiving the wireless TV signal or a cable interface (not shown) for receiving the cabled TV signal through an external cable connecting thereto. In response to the external digital or analog TV signals TV-digital and TV_analog, the hybrid TV tuner unit  32  outputs a digital video/audio signal IF 1 , or an analog video signal IF 2  and an analog audio signal SIF. 
         [0026]    The digital demodulation unit  33  is used to receive the digital video/audio signal IF 1  and output a demodulated digital video/audio signal TS in response to the received digital video/audio signal IF 1 . 
         [0027]    The analog decoding unit  34  is used to receive the analog video signal IF 2  and the analog audio signal SIF, and outputs a decoded digital video signal YUV and a decoded digital audio signal I 2 S/AC-Link in response to the received analog video signal IF 2  and the analog audio signal SIF. The decoded digital audio signals I 2 S and AC-Link are taken from two different digital audio signal systems, respectively. Although only one of the decoded digital audio signals I 2 S and AC-Link is outputted in the present invention, they may both have its associated circuit disposed in the analog decoding module  34 . 
         [0028]    The hybrid processing module  35  has a digital processing interface  351 , an analog processing interface  352 , a storage interface  353  and a USB interface  354 . The digital processing unit  351  is used to receive the demodulated digital video/audio signal TS. The analog processing unit  352  is configured to receive the decoded digital video and audio signals YUV and I 2 S/AC-Link. The storage interface  353  is connected to the storage module  36  via a data/address bus Data/Address, on which a data/address signal associated with the video and audio content is transmitted. 
         [0029]    The storage module  36  may be a one inch mini hard drive or a flash memory. The flash memory is integrally formed with the portable electronic device  30  and the one inch mini hard drive is integrally formed with or detachable from the portable electronic device  30 . The storage module  36  may further be a card reader and a card which can be read by the card reader. The card reader is integrally formed with or detachable from the portable electronic device  30 , and the card is operable inserted into the portable electronic device  30 . The one inch mini hard drive is described as “detachable” simply because it has a standard connector and the multi-purpose portable electronic device  30  also comprises a standard connector complemented thereto, which the standard connector of the one inch mini hard drive  38  may be connected to or detached from. 
         [0030]    When the multi-purpose portable electronic device  30  receives a digital TV signal TV_digital or an analog TV signal from the external, the hybrid processing module  35  outputs a computer interface signal CUSB to the computer  37 , enabling the computer  37  to play a content corresponding to the computer interface signal CUSB thereon. When the user sends a command “store” on the application software on the computer  37  for storing a TV program received externally, the hybrid processing module  35  stores a content corresponding to the computer interface signal CUSB to the storage module  36 . When the user sends a command “acquire and play” on the application software on the computer  37 , the hybrid processing module  35  acquires the stored content corresponding to the computer interface signal CUSB and then enables the computer  37  to play the content corresponding to the computer interface signal CUSB. 
         [0031]    In addition, the application software is conventionally contained in an optical disk, so that the user may install the application software into the computer  37  by accessing the optical disk. However, the application software may be stored directly in the storage module  36  of the portable electronic device  30  in the present invention and thus do without the existence of the optical disk. At this time, if the user desires to re-install the application into the computer  37 , he/she may finish the job with the aid of the storage module  36  and does not take any risk of loss of the optical disk, need to locate where the optical disk has been put, or need to worry about if the optical disk is hard to re-acquired. Accordingly, the use of the multi-purpose portable electronic device  30  is provided a good convenience. 
         [0032]    Therefore, the user may watch a TV program received externally, store the TV program in a single portable electronic device and watch the stored TV program on any computer which the multi-purpose portable electronic device of the present invention is connected to. In addition, an application software necessary for operating the multi-purpose portable electronic device on the computer may be directly stored in the multi-purpose portable electronic device itself. 
         [0033]    The above mentioned signals TV_signal, TV_analog, IF 1 , IF 2 , TS, YUV, I 2 S/AC-Link, Data/Address and CUSB are apparent to those skilled in the art and will be omitted herein for clarity. 
         [0034]    By performing the present invention, the user may execute several functions by connecting a single portable electronic device to a computer, effectively enhancing the user convenience in terms of the desirable functions. In addition, the USB interfaces for the conventional portable TV card and the portable storage device are implemented as a single USB interface (i.e. the above described USB interface  354 ) when the conventional portable TV card and the portable storage device are incorporated into the multi-purpose portable electronic device of the present invention. As a consequence, the multi-purpose portable electronic device has a relatively reduced cost as compared to that of the conventional portable TV card and the portable storage device before being merged together. Of course, respective housings necessary for the conventional portable TV card and the portable storage device are relatively reduced as they are merged into the multi-purpose portable electronic device of the present invention. 
         [0035]    It is readily apparent that the above-described embodiments have the advantage of wide commercial utility. It should be understood that the specific form of the invention hereinabove described is intended to be representative only, as certain modifications within the scope of these teachings will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims in determining the full scope of the invention.