Patent Publication Number: US-2007104452-A1

Title: One-click video recording system and method

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention provides a system and its operational method to record image and voice simultaneously by clicking a functional hotkey which is embedded in a computer.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The video recording functionality on a common computer apparatus requires the associated video recording apparatus, such as a webcam or an external video camera, and the associated video recording application program installed in the computer system. To start video recording, the associated video recording application needs to be launched, and the video recording apparatus needs to be triggered by the software drivers via specific interface. During the recording process, the video image will be saved into the media devices such as hard disc or compact disc.  
      The related art, such as “Computer-Implemented Image Acquisition System” illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,459, revealed its ability to capture the video image via the video image capturing apparatus and save the data of the video image in the memory of the computer system. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the video image capturing system  20  comprised of plurality of video devices, such as scanner  201 , video camera  202 , and camera  203 , which connected to a computer  22 . The computer  22  is a common used computer system comprising Central Processing Unit (CPU)  21 , system memory  23 , data memory device  25  for the store of video/audio contents, display unit  27 , and communication interface  29  for the interchange of data of peripheral devices. After loading operating system (OS)  26  stored in compact disc, hard disc or other non-volatile program memory devices  28 , the management system  282  executed by OS  26  will scan, capture, save and send video image via graphical user interface  281 .  
      In contrast to the complicated steps to record video images by using the computer device as illustrated in the related art, such as driving the hard drives, executing the software and managing the files, current invention provides an apparatus of a computer device with one-click recording functionality for easier and quicker video recording operation.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      One-click video recording system and method is featuring the computer of a hotkey to initiate the functionality of video recording automatically. The hotkey can be external functional keys or the combination of the keys on the traditional keyboard, or the functional keys as defined in related art (F 1 , F 2  . . . F 12 ). The users can operates the hotkey to promptly complete the steps for video recording such as signals transmitting/receiving, video recording, sound recording and media files management by one-clicking.  
      The video recording system with one-click hotkey comprises a video capturing apparatus, a toggle apparatus, CPU, input/output (I/O) system, storing media and the application program. Herein the video capturing apparatuss coupling to the system chipset of the computer system, such as the SouthBridge chipset, is utilizing to capture dynamic video image. The toggle apparatus might configuring on the computer apparatus is featuring of startup or shutdown of the recording functionality when press/release command is received. The I/O System coupling to the system chip includes a table. The storing media configuring in the computer system is utilizing to store the media contents captured by said video recording apparatus. And the application program loaded in the computer system is executed to record the captured media contents.  
      To realize the one-click video recording functionality initialed by the functional key, the video recording functionality signal produced by one-clicking the above toggle apparatus will request the computer system chipset to startup the video recording module via controller, such as the CPU, and to launched the video recording application by lookup table method via BIOS.  
      Another embodiment of the one-click video recording functionality in accordance to the current invention is when a functional key is toggled, the toggle signal produced by the functional key will be sent to the CPU, the system chipset and the I/O System. By the method of lookup the mapping table, the video recording apparatus and the video recording application will be driven and launched respectively to start video recording, and to store the video recording contents into the storing media simultaneously. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the related prior art.  
       FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3A  illustrates the embodiment in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 3B  illustrates the embodiment in accordance with the present invention with dual-monitor computer apparatus.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates the computer system architecture of the embodiment in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates the video recording system architecture of the embodiment in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  is the operation flow chart of the recording method of one-click video recording system in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      In order to overcome the complexity of the commands or execution operations to trigger the video recording functionality in the related art, current invention provides the apparatus and the operational method of a video recording system with one-click functional hotkey for video recording. The one-click functional key triggers the video recording functionality to drive the video camera module by computer system chip, and to launch the video camera application via BIOS by method of lookup to a mapping table.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates one of the preferred embodiments in accordance with present invention, which equipped with functional key  34  on a computer, herein a notebook computer  30  equips with a video recording apparatus  32 , for video recording functionality. The execution of video recording and automated data storing will start once the functional key  34  is pressed by the user. Because the functional key  34  is configured by the way of mechanism to control the peripheral apparatus via I/O system of computer system and to trigger an application program for video recording, this embodiment utilizes a video recording apparatus  32  in build-in mode.  
      The above functional key  32  of the embodiment in accordance with the present invention can be a computer functional key as utilized in related art. The functional key  32  can also be configured as the toggle switch produced by hardware manufacturer to startup or shutdown the functionality of video recording via the electrification connection of the functional key  32  and the computer apparatus. Also, the functional key  32  can be the combination of plurality keys from the keyboard, such as combining the keys of “Ctrl” or “Shift” with other key, or combining “Fn” key with one of the original function key (F 1 , F 2  . . . F 12 ), or just refined any key in the keyboard to trigger the video recording functionality.  
       FIG. 3A  illustrates one of the preferred embodiment in accordance with present invention, which enables the functionality of video recording and storing operation by built-in or external video recording apparatus via the functional key  36 , even when the lid of the notebook computer  30  is closed. In this embodiment, the associated video recording hardware, such as the CPU, storing media, I/O system, and controller of video recording apparatus, will be activated by one-clicking the functional key  36  even when the computer system has been shut down. Furthermore, the functionality of video recording can operates in sleep mode, standby mode and power saver mode.  
       FIG. 3B  illustrates the embodiment in accordance with current invention with dual-monitor computer. Similarly, the dual-monitor computer activates the secondary monitor  38  and enables the functionality of video recording and storing operation by the built-in or external video recording apparatus via the startup key  36 ′, which can be attached to the secondary monitor  38  or provided in the secondary monitor  38 , even when the lid of said notebook  30  is being closed. The secondary monitor  38  can be used to monitor the recording status. By utilization of the startup key  36 ′ attached on the secondary monitor  38 , the associated video recording hardware in the system, such as functional key  36  or other hardware apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 3A , can be activated.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates the computer system architecture of one of the embodiment in accordance with present invention. The computer system comprises as below:  
      1. CPU  41  and the associated NorthBridge chipset  42  and SouthBridge chipset  43 , those are configured to connect other peripheral apparatus for normally execution of the computer system.  
      2. Storing apparatus  44 , such as compact disc, hard disc and other storing media, coupling to SouthBridge chipset  43 , and utilizing to store the contents captured from the video recording apparatus.  
      3. Video recording apparatus  45 , coupling to SouthBridge chipset  43 , herein the process of the video signals such as compress, decompress, encode, decode and file saving/loading is executed cooperatively with CPU  41 .  
      4. Microprocessor  47 , coupling to the SouthBridge chipset  43 , utilizing to read the operation codes produced by the toggle apparatus  46  or the key codes produced by the functional button of current invention, and sending the operation/key codes to the I/O system  48  via SouthBridge chipset. The video recording apparatus  45  and associated application is activated by a enabling signal after matching the lookup of the mapping table.  
      5. Toggle apparatus  46 , configured in the computer apparatus, utilizing to startup or shutdown the one-click video recording functionality by reading the key-pressed commands.  
      6. Video peripherals, such as video controller  401 , coupling to the NorthBridge chipset  42 , utilizing to display the operating system information on the monitor  403 .  
      7. Audio peripherals, such as audio decoder  405  coupling to the SouthBridge chipset  43 , utilizing to decode and decompress the audio signals. The audio signals will be output via speaker  409  after being amplified by the audio amplifier  407 . Besides, audio input apparatus  411 , such as microphone, serves as the input of external audio source. The audio signals will then be decoded and decompressed by the audio decoder  405 , being amplified by audio amplifier  407 , and being output via speaker  409 .  
      The video recording system with one-click recording functionality as illustrated by present invention at least includes storing media  44  coupling to the SouthBridge chipset, video recording apparatus  45 , CPU  47 , I/O system  48  and toggle apparatus  46 , microcontroller  47  as the embedded controller (EC) or keyboard controller (KBC) to receive and identify the signals produced by the toggle apparatus  46 , video recording apparatus  45 , which can be the built-in or external web cam, being connected to the computer system via USB, IEEE1394 or other wireless protocols. The toggle apparatus  46  in the present invention is shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  for the properly embodiment.  
      The video recording system architecture of the embodiment in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Functional key  501  can be the toggle switch configured by hardware manufacturer; or can be the combination of plurality of keys on the keyboard, such as the combination of the keys of “Ctrl” or “Shift” with other key, or the combination of “Fn” with one of the functional key (F 1 , F 2  . . . F 12 ), or re-defined key of the original keyboard.  
      The controller signals produced by pressing the functional key  501 , such as key codes of the enabling signal and the stopping signal, will be sent to CPU  503 . After that, CPU  503  send the signals to the system chipset  511 , and enables the operation system  507  to execute the functionalities produced by the functional key  501  and other peripheral hardware via driver module  505 . For instance, when the functional key  501  is pressed, the application program  515  associated to the functional key  501  will be executed via the operation system  507 .  
      In present invention, the video signals recorded by the application program installed in the operating system can be saved in the storing media  509  via the system chipset  511 . A mapping table  519  is built in the I/O system  513 , which is configured to the system chipset  511 . The mapping table  519  stores the matching relations between the functional key  501  and the associated hardware functionalities. When a functional button  501  is pressed, after matching to lookup the mapping table, video recording apparatus  521  will be activated by system chipset  511  via connection interface  517 . The aboved mapping table  519  can also match the functional key  501  with the associated application program  515 . When the functional key  501  with video recording function is pressed, the video recording application program  515  will be executed via the operation system  507 .  
       FIG. 6  illustrates the operation flow chart of the recording method of one-click video recording system in accordance with the present invention. To enable the functional button with video recording functionality of present invention to be applied in any situations, the functional button is designed to be operated in the computer system under any power modes. In one of the embodiment, even if the computer system is in shutdown mode, the signals produced by the video recording functional button can be received by the microprocessor, which is in standby mode. When the computer system is in startup mode, shutdown mode or other power saver mode, if the user pressed the special functional button, the pre-defined functional key on the original keyboard, or “Fn”, “Ctrl key”, “Shift”, “Alt” with other key, or the startup button attached on the secondary monitor (Step S 601 ), the enabling signal produced by the functional button will transmit to the microprocessor (Step S 603 ), and system chipset (Step S 605 ) via the configuration between the keyboard controller, system chipset and I/O system. After that, system chipset transmits the enabling signal to the I/O system. Next, the I/O system matches the contents of the mapping table of the system chipset (Step S 609 ). By utilizeing to lookup the mapping table method, the video recording apparatus, or the accompanied associated audio capturing apparatus will be driven by the system chipset via specific interface (Step S 611 ). Meanwhile, by method of utilizing to lookup the mapping table, the associated video recording application program installed in the operating system will be launched by the signals transmitted from the microprocessor via operating system to the I/O system of system chipset. The application program can launch the audio or/and video capturing apparatus to capture audio/video (Step S 613 ), and also store the video/audio contents into the storing media (Step S 617 ).  
       FIG. 7  is the operation flow chart of another embodiment in accordance with the present invention. When the toggle switch is pressed by the user in power on mode of the computer (Step S 701 ), the video recording application program will be launched by the microprocessor via operating system (Step S 703 ), and the video recording apparatus will be activated via system chipset (Step S 705 ) to start recording video and audio (Step S 707 ). Next, the video signals captured by the video recording apparatus will be transmitted to the SouthBridge chipset of the main system via connection interface (Step S 709 ), and the audio signals captured by the audio source input apparatus will be transmitted to the SouthBridge chipset of the main system via audio decoder (Step S 711 ). As the final step of the one-click video recording operation, the video/audio signal will be processed and saved into the hard disc via CPU and NorthBridge chipset (S 713 ).  
      Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to one of the ordinary skill in the art that modifications to the described embodiment may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention will be defined by the attached claims not by the above detailed description.