Patent Publication Number: US-2007118240-A1

Title: Accessory multi-media player

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a multi-media player, and more especially, to an accessory multi-media player.  
      2. Background of the Related Art  
      There are many portable devices with big memory storage, but they may not have the media (both video and audio, or only have audio but no video) playing function. Most of them with big memory storage, such as HDD, have standard interfaces such as IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics), USB or IEEE1934 (fire wire). The memories such as HDD and flash memory are all very expensive. Moreover, the devices using these memory storages are hence also very expensive. The best example is the ipod product (trademark of Apple Corporation) that has a very large HDD memory storage but only MP3 playing function.  
      It is desirable to use portable devices&#39; memory storage to store, for example video contents, and design an accessory capable of reading and playing the content through its interface, for example dock connector for iPod. The cost of adding only a display module is much less than a stand along video playing device with large memory storage. That is consumers could pay less money to add a video playing function to enjoy video function, rather than purchase a new unit with video function by paying more money if they already have iPod or ipod-like products. The similar idea could be applicable to all devices equipped with large memory storage. Designing an accessory with video or game function and making use the original memory storage is making sense of saving the cost of the expensive storage.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In order to solve the problems mentioned above, the present invention provides an accessory which attaches to the portable multi-media player and adds video (media, game) playing function to the player.  
      The accessory multi-media player is that a standard interface is disposed in the housing to be coupled with the multi-media player directly or indirectly through cables, and the accessory multi-media player has the host function to access the multi-media files stored in the multi-media player through the interface and is capable of processing the media files to be displayed through its display unit. The accessory multi-media player is portable and can be used conveniently.  
      The present invention thus provides an entertainment accessory for people and allows them to watch video or the like without the need of buying a new device with the same functions but equipped with expensive memory storage for cost saving.  
      Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention provides an accessory multi-media player comprising a main frame having a housing to which a multi-media player equipped with a memory storage attaches, a communication interface making a connection and receiving the data from the multi-media player, a processor coupled to the communication interface for receiving and processing the data, then outputting the multi-media data stream, a display unit coupled to the processor for receiving the multi-media data stream and displaying an image or moving pictures, and at least a speaker coupled to the processor for receiving the multi-media data stream and delivering sound. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of accessory multi-media connecting with a device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is another diagram of accessory multi-media connecting with a multi-media player in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of accessory multi-media connecting with a device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A device  10  equipped with memory storage (HDD, Flash memory or non-volatile memories) has a standard interface  11 , for example USB, IDE and IEEE1934, etc. An accessory multi-media player  20  according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main frame having a housing to which a multi-media player  10  attaches.  
      A communication interface uses standard interface  21  to connect the standard interface  11  and receives the multimedia content from the memory storage equipped in multi-media player  10 .  
      A processor  22  and the like electrically couples to standard interface  21  for receiving data, then processes the data and outputs the multi-media data stream to a display unit  23 , which receives multi-media data stream and displays images or moving pictures.  
      Furthermore, the device  10  is a multi-media player, such as portable music player, MP 3  player, flash memory disk or an external HDD.  
       FIG. 2  is another diagram of accessory multi-media connecting with a multi-media player in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A MP 3  player iPod  30  with  20 ,  40 , or  60  GB HDD memory has a dock connector  31  which is USB or fire wire compatible interface. The accessory multi-media player  40  may house the iPod  30  and use USB interface  41  to connect the dock connector  31 . The USB interface  41  has the host function, for example USB OTG (On-the-Go), thus the video process unit  42  may receive multi-media data stored in the HDD memory through USB interface  41 . After multi-media data being processed, the motion pictures or images are displayed on the flat panel display  43  and the sound is delivered to the air through the speaker  44  (or external headphone). The headphone interface (not shown) is disposed in the housing that permits the music files to be played through external headphones connected.  
      Furthermore the flat panel display  43  may be a color super-twist nematic (CSTN) LCD, organic LED, or a thin film transistor (TFT) LCD. The processor  42  may be a digital signal processor (DSP) or a micro controller unit (MCU) with video CODEC function.  
      Accordingly, one of features of the present invention is to provide an accessory multi-media player reading the content through its dock connector and playing the content. The cost of adding only a display module is much less than a stand along video playing device with big storage. That is consumers could pay less money to add a video playing function to enjoy video function, rather than purchase a new unit with video function by paying big money if they already have ipod. The similar idea could be applicable to all big storage devices. Designing an accessory with video or game function and make use the original storage is making sense of saving the cost of expensive storage.  
      Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention provides an accessory with the host function to these standard interfaces (the original storage device to be the slave) and is capable of adding functions to those devices. Furthermore, the present invention is to make use the usually very expensive storage resource and provides an accessory with a function (such as video playing or game function) capable of using the storage and saving the storage cost.  
      Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that other modifications and variation can be made without departing the spirit and scope of the invention as hereafter claimed.