Patent Publication Number: US-2011055747-A1

Title: Techniques for Expanding Functions of Portable Multimedia Devices

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     With the increasing integration degree of integrated circuits (ICs), more and more device functions can be combined on a single chip. Subsequently, more and more portable multimedia devices, which traditionally have only one single function or a few functions, start to incorporate such multifunctional chips so as to achieve powerful computing and various multimedia processing functions. Such portable multimedia devices include, but not limited to, an intelligent mobile phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Mobile Internet Device (MID), a portable multimedia player (e.g., MP3/MP4 player), a digital camera, a portable game console (e.g., PlayStation®Portable of Sony® Corp.), etc. These portable multimedia devices are similar to a mini Personal Computer (PC) with a powerful Central Processing Unit (CPU), and have functions of computing data and driving various peripheral devices. Therefore, a plurality of applications, such as playing games, downloading and playing music and movies, internet browsing, etc., which were previously only implemented on a conventional PC, can be run on these portable multimedia devices, bringing more and more multimedia experiences along with the portable feature. 
     Despite of the above advantages, the portability of the portable multimedia devices come with some limitations, which make it difficult to use or to fully perform the various functions that are supported by the processor provided therein. For example, due to the limited screen size and graphic processing ability of a portable multimedia device, only a video with a low resolution can be played, so that the playing effect is far inferior than can be played on a PC or a home theater system. Due to the limited body size of the portable multimedia device, only a few mini interfaces/ports can be provided thereon, which causes inconvenience of communicating with other electronic devices. Similarly, due to a limited power supply by batteries, the portable multimedia device usually cannot provide a long-lasting playing time, especially when playing video games or presenting video clips. These limitations make it difficult for the portable multimedia device to fully utilize its powerful computing ability, resulting in the waste of resources. 
     For the above reasons, there is a need to develop a multifunctional expanding system for conveniently connecting the portable multimedia device with other peripheral devices, and making full use of the powerful processing ability of the portable multimedia device without the limitations mentioned above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present technology may best be understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings that are used to illustrate embodiment of the present technology. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In consideration of the above-identified need, a multifunctional expanding system of a portable multimedia device is provided. The multifunctional expanding system primarily comprises an apparatus, i.e. a multifunctional expanding device for connecting the portable multimedia device to various peripheral devices. The apparatus comprises a processing unit, a motherboard (MB) coupled to the processing unit, a memory unit coupled to the MB and in communication with the processing unit, a device interface unit coupled to the MB and in communication with the processing unit, for coupling with the portable multimedia device, and an external interface unit coupled to the MB and in communication with the processing unit, for coupling with various peripheral devices. The processing unit is configured to identify and establish respective communication links between the apparatus and the one or more peripheral devices coupled to the external interface unit; receive a request from the portable multimedia device coupled to the device interface unit for operating a peripheral device coupled to the external interface unit; and establish a communication link between the portable multimedia device and the peripheral device. The memory unit is configured to store program codes and data for use by the processing unit in establishing the communication link between the portable multimedia device and the peripheral device. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for use by the multifunctional expending device. The method comprises identifying and establishing respective communication links between the multifunctional expanding device and one or more peripheral devices coupled to an external interface unit of the multifunctional expanding device; receiving a request from a portable multimedia device coupled to a device interface unit of the multifunctional expanding device for operating a peripheral device coupled to the external interface unit; and establishing a communication link between the portable multimedia device and the peripheral device. 
     Other features and embodiments are described below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present technology are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of an exemplary multifunctional expanding device, in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology. 
         FIG. 2  shows a portable multimedia device coupled to an exemplary multifunctional expanding device, in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology. 
         FIG. 3  shows is a block diagram of a system setup in which a portable multimedia device is coupled to various peripheral devices through the multifunctional expanding device, in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology. 
         FIG. 4  shows a flow diagram of an operation method for the multifunctional expanding device, in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present technology, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the present technology will be described in conjunction with these embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present technology, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present technology. However, it is understood that the present technology may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present technology. 
     The present invention is directed toward portable multimedia devices, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for expanding functions of the portable multimedia devices. In one embodiment, a multifunctional expanding device includes a device interface for communicating with the portable multimedia device in order to transmit data and signals there between. The multifunctional expanding device also includes a plurality of external interfaces for communication with one or more peripheral devices. The multifunctional expanding device functions as “bridges” between the portable multimedia device and one or more peripheral devices. In this way, the number and type of interfaces of the portable multimedia device can be expanded by the multifunctional expanding device. Furthermore, the multifunctional expanding device may be configured to supply power continuously to the portable multimedia device when they are coupled, in order to ensure a long-lasting operation of the portable multimedia device. When necessary, the multifunctional expanding device may also be provided with an extra processor or a processing unit, such as a Graphic Process Unit (GPU) or an Audio Process Unit (APU). The extra processing unit may cooperate with the CPU of the portable multimedia device to compensate for the insufficient data processing ability, such as graphic or audio data processing ability, of the portable multimedia device. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of an exemplary multifunctional expanding device  100 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology, is shown. The multifunctional expanding device  100  includes a processing unit  101 , a device interface unit  102 , an external interface unit  103 , a motherboard (MB)  104  and a memory unit  105 . Optionally, the multifunction expanding device  100  may also include a user interface  106  and/or a display unit  107 . 
     The device interface unit  102  is used for coupling a portable multimedia device (not shown) to the multifunctional expanding device  100  and transmitting data and signals there between. The communication channel between the device interface unit  102  and the portable multimedia device may adopt any appropriate protocol commonly known in the art, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB), a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) port, a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCI-E) port, etc. Preferably, the connection protocol is the PCI-E port. PCI-E is structured around point-to-point serial links, which raises the data transmission rate to a higher level compared with using a PCI or an older shared parallel bus, so that a higher bandwidth than that of a PCI port can be obtained. Compared with PCI, which provides for uni-direction transmission at a single time period, PCI-E uses a dual simplex link to provide higher transmission rate and quality. Furthermore, PCI-E supports hot-plugging, which allows the user to couple or uncouple the portable multimedia device to or from the multifunctional expanding device  100  conveniently. Besides the above-mentioned hardware-based connections, a variety of wireless connections commonly known in the art may also be adopted, such as BlueTooth™ and wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), etc. 
     The external interface unit  103  is used for expanding the number and type of the external interfaces for the portable multimedia device. That is to say, the portable multimedia device may couple to various peripheral devices through the multifunctional expanding device  100 , whereas a direct connection there between is not possible or performs poorly. The external interface unit  103  may comprise a variety of conventional interfaces commonly used in the art, including, but not limited to, a data transfer port such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), a parallel port, a serial port, an IEEE1394 port, a video and audio port such as a Video Graphics Array (VGA), a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), a Super Video (S-Video), an audiovisual (AV), a Digital Visual Interface (DVI) port, a cable or wireless communication port such as local area network (LAN) and wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) ports or the like. These ports of the external interface unit  103  can be integrated into the MB  104 . The peripheral devices to be coupled through the external interface unit  103  include, but not limit to, a computer, an IP visual phone, a digital camera or video camera, a monitor, a memory, an audio/video playback device, a 3D glasses, a keyboard, a mouse, a printer, a projector, a home theater system, an intelligent security control system, a TV cable, a broadband device, a wireless network and other devices. 
     The MB  104  may adopt any forms or architectures commonly known and used in the art. Preferably, the MB  104  has a high integration degree and thus is small in size, which will make the multifunctional expanding device  100  small. The memory unit  105  may be used to store data that exchange with the portable multimedia device. The memory unit  105  can be used to backup various data of the portable multimedia device, or be used as a supplementary memory when the portable multimedia device has an insufficient memory capacity. The memory unit  105  may adopt any forms and architectures commonly known and used in the art, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), hard disk drives, flash memory, and so on. In consideration of the factors such as stability of operation, high storage capacity, silence and anti-vibration, flash memory is preferred for the memory unit  105 . 
     Compared with the central processor of the portable multimedia device, the processing unit  101  of the multifunctional expanding device  100  may rather act as an assistant processor for the portable multimedia device. Therefore, most of the functions performed by the processing unit  101  may be the functions that the portable multimedia device does not posses or has a lower performance. Taking a mobile phone as an example, the mobile phone may not have sufficient ability in graphic processing and usually does not support three-dimensional (3D) effect. So the processing unit  101  may be configured to implement a powerful graphic processing or 3D effect processing, which compensates for the insufficiency in the graphic processing of the mobile phone. Preferably, the processing unit  101  is a Graphic Processing Unit (GPU), which can optimize graphic data processing, therefore high quality image, such as high definition video or 3D video, can be presented. 
     The user interface  106  may be used for user control of the peripheral devices or the portable multimedia device that are coupled to the multifunctional expanding device  100 . For example, through the user interface  106 , a user can send commands to select and turn on or off a particular peripheral device, and adjust operational parameters of the portable multimedia device or the selected peripheral device. Such a user interface unit may be implemented in various ways known in the art, such as an infrared (IR) transceiver or a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, which receives user inputs from a handheld remote control device. 
     The display unit  107  may be a light emitting diode (LED) display or liquid crystal (LC) display or any other display method known in the art. The multifunctional expanding device  100  may employ the display unit  107  for displaying a status indicator indicating the working status of the multifunctional expanding device  100  and/or the peripheral devices, or, used in conjunction with the user interface  106 , the display unit  107  may display a user menu or the like for the remote controlling (or any other kind of user controlling) by the user. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an exemplary multifunctional expanding device  200  coupled to a portable multimedia device  206 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology, is shown. In this example, the multifunctional expanding device  200  is encased in a housing structure  201 , forming a standing unit. The device interface unit of the multifunctional expanding device  200  is implemented as a slot  202  on the top surface of the housing  201  for receiving the portable multimedia device  206  physically thereon. This standing unit may be a conventional design, similar to a stand for an iPod of the Apple Company or a conventional mobile phone charging station. Not only can this device interface unit embedded in the slot  202  transmit data and signals between the portable multimedia device  206  and the multifunctional expanding device  200 , but also position the portable multimedia device  206  firmly on the top of the housing  201 . Furthermore, under the situation that the connection between the portable multimedia device  206  and the multifunctional expanding device  200  is a hardware connection, the multifunctional expanding device  200  may be configured to supply power to or charge the portable multimedia device  206  through the device interface unit. Power supply and charging may be performed using the AC/DC power supply through a wall plug and a cable  210  or a battery installed inside the housing  201 . The function of power supply and charging ensure the portable multimedia device  206  to operate for a long time even under a high power consuming mode, which avoids the interruptions caused by the power exhausting of the portable multimedia device  206 . 
     Besides the power supply function, the housing  201  may include other slots or ports for the external interface unit of the multifunctional expanding device  200  to be coupled with one or more peripheral devices (not shown). For example, an audio jack  204  may be provided for coupling external speakers to the multifunctional expanding device  200 . 
     Further, the multifunctional expanding device  200  may include a user interface for a user to select the peripheral devices or control the operational parameters of the peripheral devices through the multifunctional expanding device  200 . For example, such a user interface unit may be implemented as an infrared port  205 , which receives user inputs from a handhold remote control  207 . 
     Still further, for more sophisticated user controlling, the multifunction expanding device  200  may include a digital display  203  for displaying a menu or the like to be used in conjunction with the remote controlling (or any other kind of user controlling) through the user interface. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a block diagram of a system in which a portable multimedia device  306  is coupled to various peripheral devices  310 - 318  through the multifunctional expanding device  300 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology, is shown. The multifunctional expanding device  300  includes a processing unit  301 , a device interface unit  302 , an external interface unit  303 , a motherboard (MB)  304  and a memory unit  305 . Optionally, the multifunctional expanding device  300  may also include a user interface  306  and a display unit  307 . The architecture and functions of these units have been described with reference to  FIG. 1  as above. In the illustrated system, at one end, a portable multimedia device  306  is coupled to the multifunctional expanding device  300  through a PCI-E or a USB port provided in the device interface unit  302  to transmit data and signals there between. The multifunctional expanding device  300  may also supply power to and/or charge the portable multimedia device  306  through the connecting port at the same time. At another end, one or more peripheral devices  310 - 318  may be coupled to the multifunctional expanding device  300  through the respective interfaces/ports configured on the external interface unit  303 . The peripheral devices include, but are not limited to, a home theater system  310 , an Internet protocol (IP) visual phone  311 , an intelligent security control system  312 , a 3D glasses  313 , a memory device  314 , an audio/video player  315 , a TV signal cable  316 , a broadband device  317  and/or other devices  318 . The functions of these peripheral devices connected with the multifunctional expanding device  300  and portable multimedia device  306  will be discussed in the following. 
     The processing unit  301  and the memory unit  305  of the multifunctional expanding device  300  are configured to (1) execute applications and drivers that enhance or expand the functions of the portable multimedia device  306  through the coupled peripheral devices, and (2) store program codes and data, respectively. In other words, the processing unit  301  runs a process in order to build proper communicating connections between the portable multimedia device  306 , the multifunctional expanding device  300  and one or more of the peripheral devices  310 - 318 . For example, drivers of various peripheral devices, such as drivers for monitors, printers, mobile phones, PDAs, IP visual phones or 3D glasses, can be installed on the multifunctional expanding device  300  and be executed by the processing unit  301 . One instance is that when the portable multimedia device  306  is coupled to the multifunctional expending device  300  which has been coupled to peripheral devices, under the assistance of the multifunctional expanding device  300 , the portable multimedia device  306  detects and identifies the communication channel to the peripheral devices so that it starts to use the communication channel for signal exchanges between the portable multimedia device  306  and the peripheral devices. 
     In another instance, a user of the system may select whether to use the peripheral devices, to select which peripheral devices to use (when multiple devices are connected), or to configure or operate the peripheral devices. This can be done through the portable multimedia device  306  or through the multifunctional expanding device  300 . For example, when a monitor is connected to the multifunctional expanding device  300 , the corresponding monitor driver installed on the multifunctional expanding device  300  will identify the monitor automatically and then build a connection between the portable multimedia device  306  and the monitor. Then the user may select whether to use the monitor through the portable multimedia device  306 . The user may use the portable multimedia device  306  to send a signal to the multifunctional expanding device  300  to enable or disable the monitor. If the user chooses to use the monitor, then the portable multimedia device  306  will transmit data to the monitor through the multifunctional expanding device  300 . Also, the parameters of the monitor such as chromaticity, contrast, etc. can be configured through the portable multimedia device  306 . Another example is when a 3D set of glasses is connected to the multifunctional expanding device  300 , the user may choose to use the 3D glasses to watch the 3D image shown on the monitor, or the user may choose not to activate the 3D glasses and watch the video directly. 
     It is obvious that the procedures mentioned above may be performed automatically. That is to say, whenever the peripheral devices are connecting to the multifunctional expanding device  300 , the peripheral devices will be activated automatically. For better understanding the present invention, the process for the portable multimedia device  306  and the multifunctional expanding device  300  to identify and use the peripheral devices is similar to that for a traditional PC. 
     Alternatively, in case the user control of the peripheral devices through the portable multimedia device  306  is not possible or inconvenient, the user may use the optional user interface  306  of the multifunctional expanding device  300  to perform the control functions. The optional display unit  307  may be used to indicate the commands and selections input by the user. 
     A remote control unit may be provided to the system for convenient usage. Such a remote control has been shown in  FIG. 2  described above. The connection between the remote control and the system is usually via a wireless communication channel, such as a conventional IR connection or a RF connection such as Bluetooth™. Users can use the remote control unit to control the peripheral devices coupled with the multifunctional expanding device  300 . This can be done by: (1) controlling the portable multimedia device  306 , so it sends a control signal to the multifunctional expanding device  300  and the multifunctional expanding device  300  sends instructions to the peripheral devices; (2) controlling the multifunction expanding device  300 , so it sends instructions to the peripheral devices; or (3) controlling the peripheral devices directly. For example, when a monitor is coupled to the multifunctional expanding device  300 , the remote control can be used to adjust the brightness or contrast of the monitor; when a speaker is coupled, the remote control can be used to adjust the volume, and so on. In other words, the remote control may replace the portable multimedia device  206  as a controlling means to operate the peripheral devices conveniently. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a flow diagram of a method for use by the multifunctional expending device, in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology, is shown. At  410 , the multifunctional expending device identifies and establishes respective communication links between the multifunctional expanding device and one or more peripheral devices coupled to the external interface unit of the multifunctional expanding device. At  420 , the multifunctional expanding device receives a request from the portable multimedia device coupled to the device interface unit of the multifunctional expanding device for operating a peripheral device coupled to the external interface unit. At  430 , the multifunctional expanding device establishes a communication link between the portable multimedia device and the peripheral device. 
     Optionally, at  450 , the multifunctional expanding device provides additional processing capability for assisting a processing unit of the portable multimedia device. Or, at  460 , the multifunctional expanding device provides additional storage capacity for use by the portable multimedia device. 
     The multifunctional expanding device may, at  460 , receive a user input for adjusting one or more operating parameters of the peripheral device. Thereafter, at  470 , it sends instructions to the peripheral device for adjusting one or more operating parameters according to the user input. Some exemplary applications of the multifunctional expanding device according to the present invention are introduced below. 
     Exemplary Embodiment 1 
     Connecting the Portable Multimedia Device to a Home Multimedia Center 
     At present, home multimedia centers (a.k.a. home theaters) are widely used by families due to their powerful audio/visual functions. A home multimedia center typically includes a large screen size television, a projector and an audio reproducing system. Due to the small size screen of the portable multimedia device and the poor ability in graphic processing and audio playing, a user&#39;s experience of the multimedia resources carried by the portable multimedia device may be limited. Therefore, the portable multimedia device is preferably coupled to the home multimedia center through the multifunctional expanding device according to the present invention, so that the video and audio recourses on the portable multimedia device can be played in a better performance through the large size screen and the excellent audio reproducing system of the home multimedia center. Provided with a separate GPU on the multifunctional expanding device, high definition video or 3D video that cannot be played or smoothly played on the portable multimedia device now can be played on the home multimedia center through the multifunctional expanding device according to the present technology. Thus, not only can a better effect than playing on the portable multimedia device be obtained, but also the insufficiency of the portable multimedia device in functions will be compensated. 
     The connection between the multifunctional expanding device according to the present invention and the home multimedia center can be configured depending on the type of the interfaces of the peripheral devices. For example, when a projector is connected, an AV port or an S-Video port can be used; when a monitor is connected, a VGA port or a DVI port can be used. Preferably, an HDMI port is used for realize the connection since the HDMI port can transmit audio and video signals at the same time. It is understood that any connections that can transmit signal and data can be used in order to meet different requirements. 
     It should be noted that concerning the multiple functionality, the combination of the portable multimedia device and the multifunctional expanding device is more or less like a traditional Home Theater Personal Computer (HTPC). For example, powerful audio and video processing and reproducing ability can be achieved through the processors of the portable multimedia device and the multifunctional expanding device, and a large storage capacity can be obtained by the memory of the multifunctional expanding device according to the present invention. However, there is an advantage in the present invention that the multifunctional expanding device is much more convenient and economy than the traditional HTPC. 
     In addition, since the portable multimedia device may be configured with some functions such as downloading data from the Internet, shooting pictures and moving from one system to another, it can obtain various multimedia resources through various channels. In this way, the portable multimedia device can also be a multimedia resource for the home multimedia center. For example, with the popularization of the 3G high speed network, people like to use mobile phones to download and play real-time audio and video. The mobile phones can be coupled to the home multimedia center through the multifunctional expanding device according to the present invention, so that the real-time playing can be performed on the home theater. 
     Exemplary Embodiment 2 
     Accessing Intelligent Security Control System Through the Portable Multimedia Device 
     With the increasing needs of the security control system by the enterprises and the communities, home intelligent security control system will replace the traditional measures such as weld mesh screens. The home intelligent security control system is a new intelligent control system based on the integration of computer technology, network technology and control technology. A lot of functions can be achieved through this system, such as alarming (anti-thief alarm, gas leak alarm, fire alarm, and emergency alarm, etc.), remote control, timing control, calling the police by phone and voice prompt. With the present invention, users may control the intelligent security control system through a portable multimedia device when the intelligent security control system is coupled (e.g., through RF LAN or the Internet) to the multifunctional expanding device. Therefore, the above-mentioned functions can be realized easily under the control of the portable multimedia device. For example, a user may use a mobile phone to monitor or shout to the security control spot, or watch the security control spot through the real-time video and switch to different cameras, which facilitate the control of the security control system. A monitor can be coupled to the multifunctional expanding device and the image in the security control system may be transmitted to the monitor through the multifunctional expanding device to obtain a better view. Also, the image in the security control system may be uploaded to the Internet through the networking functions of the multifunctional expanding device according to the present invention, so that user can check the security spot at any place or any time. 
     Exemplary Embodiment 3 
     Connecting the Multifunctional Expanding Device to a Visual-IP-Phone 
     With the increasing network bandwidth, use of Internet Protocol (IP) phone technology is becoming increasingly popular. IP phone is a brand-new communication service in accordance with the Internet technology content of the international Internet protocol and using the Internet as voice transmission media to perform voice communication. A variety of software applications such as Skype™ have appeared to allow users making voice telephone calls over the Internet, sending instant messages, transferring files and video conferencing with one another. Not only may a user receive calls from other users via their computers, which is currently free-of-charge, but also call regular phones and mobile phones world wide at much less cost than using conventional telephones. 
     Since the multifunctional expanding device according to the present invention has the networking function, a portable multimedia device may be coupled to the Internet through the multifunctional expanding device, and IP phone software installed on the multifunctional expanding device may be run to realize communication through the IP phone. User can use the portable multimedia device to make IP phone calls, which is cheaper than using regular phone but having almost same communication quality. Furthermore, the camera and screen of the portable multimedia device can be used to perform visual phone functions through the multifunctional expanding device. 
     Exemplary Embodiment 4 
     Connecting the Multifunctional Expanding Device to 3D Glasses 
     3D films and games are becoming more and more popular, and they bring different visual experiences to users. Watching a 3D image needs a specific device called 3D glasses, such as GeForce 3D Vision from NVIDIA. With the present technology, a user may use the portable multimedia device to drive the 3D glasses in order to watch 3D image by coupling the 3D glasses to the multifunctional expanding device. The 3D glasses includes a 3D synchronizer provided with an interface (e.g., a USB port), which can be used to couple to the multifunctional expanding device and further to the portable multimedia device. The connection between the 3D synchronizer and the glasses may be via wireless means, e.g., an infrared port. 
     Considering the fact that some portable multimedia devices may not support the 3D effect, the processing unit (e.g., GPU) provided inside the multifunctional expanding device may be configured to support the 3D effect. 
     Exemplary Embodiment 5 
     Providing Cable TV Access to the Portable Multimedia Device 
     Watching TV on the portable multimedia device such as a mobile phone is becoming a new way of entertainment. However, the TV signals are usually unsteady due to the limited ability of receiving TV signals directly by the portable multimedia device, and the video effect shown on the portable multimedia device is also limited by the graphic processing ability and the small screen size of the portable multimedia device. With the present technology, the multifunctional expanding device may function as a Set-Top Box (STB). That is, a TV cable may be coupled to the multifunctional expanding device and it transmits the data to be processed by the portable multimedia device. In this way, a steady TV signal may be transmitted to the portable multimedia device and some complex graphic processes such as High Definition reproduction may be obtained through the portable multimedia device. 
     As stated above, through the multifunctional expanding device of the present technollgy, not only can users couple the portable multimedia device to various peripheral devices, but also process and optimize data transmitted to or received from the portable multimedia devices by the processing unit of the multifunctional expanding device. Therefore, the inconvenience brought by the limitations of the portable multimedia devices is drastically decreased, and the functions and performance of the portable multimedia devices are largely expanded. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present technology have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present technology and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present technology and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.