Patent Publication Number: US-2011066946-A1

Title: Transmitting and editing method for multimedia audio-visual device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a transmitting and editing method for multimedia audio-visual device, and more particularly to a method for a multimedia audio-visual device to provide combined functions of taking pictures, inputting music, playing and editing stored audio/video data, and transmitting audio/video files over a network for sharing the files with other users. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally, a digital camera and an MP4 player are two independent and separate devices. A user has to use different application programs to perform different data playing, editing, and network transmission functions on the two devices, which is of course very inconvenient to the user. It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop a transmitting and editing method for multimedia audio-visual device, so that a user can conveniently perform audio/video data playing, editing, online transmission, and data sharing over network all on the same one multimedia audio-visual device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a transmitting and editing method for multimedia audio-visual device, so that when a multimedia audio-visual device is connected to a computer having an audio/video editing and online transmitting application program installed thereon, the audio/video editing and online transmitting application program is automatically enabled to grab audio/video files stored on the multimedia audio-visual device for playing and editing, or for online transmission to share the audio/video files with other users over networks or emails. 
     To implement the transmitting and editing method of the present invention, the multimedia audio-visual device includes a main body, which is internally provided with a control circuit for processing, storing and playing audio/video data, and the control circuit includes a microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU), a network transmission unit, an audio/video interface unit, and a multimedia processing unit. By operating the multimedia audio-visual device, different functions, such as taking or shooting pictures, recording music, listening to radio, etc., all can be performed with the multimedia audio-visual device. 
     The audio/video editing and online transmitting application program allows a user to play and edit the audio/video files stored on the multimedia audio-visual device, and to directly transmit the desired audio/video files over a network for sharing the audio/video files with other users over the network or emails, allowing the multimedia audio-visual device to provide combined and useful functions of editing and online transmitting audio/video media. 
     With the present invention, when the multimedia audio-visual device is connected to a computer having the audio/video editing and online transmitting application program installed thereon, the audio/video data editing and online transmitting application program is automatically enabled to grab audio/video files stored on the multimedia audio-visual device for playing and editing, or for directly transmitting over a network to share the audio/video files with other users over the network or emails. Therefore, the multimedia audio-visual device has increased value for use. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a multimedia audio-visual device for which a transmitting and editing method according to the present invention is implemented; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the multimedia audio-visual device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of a control circuit for the multimedia audio-visual device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 1 and 2  that are front and rear perspective views, respectively, of a multimedia audio-visual device  100 , for which a transmitting and editing method according to the present invention is implemented; and to  FIG. 3  that is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of a control circuit  11  for the multimedia audio-visual device  100 . As shown, the multimedia audio-visual device  100  includes a main body  1 , a plurality of operation keys  12  and input/output (I/O) connectors, a micro camera lens  13 , and a liquid crystal display (LCD)  14 . The operation keys  12  are arranged at one lateral side of a rear face of the main body  1 . A cylindrical expanded portion  15  is provided on the main body  1  adjacent to the operation keys  12 , facilitating easy holding of the multimedia audio-visual device  100  at the expanded portion  15  by a user, and a shutter release button  16  is provided on a top of the cylindrical expanded portion  15 . A universal serial bus (USB) socket  17  and an earphone jack  18  are provided on the main body  1  at predetermined positions. To implement the method of the present invention, the control circuit  11  for the multimedia audio-visual device  100  includes a microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU)  111  for executing a predetermined program to process audio/video data; a system control unit  112  for driving the CPU  111  to work; a multimedia processing unit  113  for processing audio/video and image data; a standard system I/O unit  114  for receiving and outputting data; an audio/video interface unit  115  connected to the LCD  14  and the micro camera lens  13  and connectable to an external earphone for receiving audio/video data, transferring the received audio/video data to the CPU  111 , and transferring data from the CPU  111  for outputting; a memory unit  116  for storing data therein; and a network transmission unit  117  for transmitting audio/video data over a network. 
     The multimedia audio-visual device  100  with the above structure can be operated to play music, listen to radio, or record sound, or be switched to a camera mode and then operate the micro camera lens  13  and the shutter release button  16  to shoot or take pictures. Images of pictures taken can be stored in the memory unit  116 , and the stored images can be played back on the LCD  14 . 
     The multimedia audio-visual device  100  supports audio/video editing and online transmission. When the multimedia audio-visual device  100  is connected to a computer having an audio/video editing and online transmission application program installed thereon, the system control unit  112  of the multimedia audio-visual device  100  automatically enables the audio/video editing and online transmission application program, so that the latter automatically grabs audio/video files stored in the memory unit  116  of the multimedia audio-visual device  100  for playing and/or editing these files, or directly transmitting these files via the network transmission unit  117  for sharing them with other network users on a website, such as YouTube, or in emails. For example, a user of the multimedia audio-visual device  100  can use the network transmission unit  117  and the audio/video editing and online transmission application program to edit and upload a file stored on the multimedia audio-visual device  100  to the website of YouTube to share the file with other users. Similarly, the user of the multimedia audio-visual device  100  can also download audio/video files that are uploaded to YouTube by other users. Therefore, the multimedia audio-visual device  100  can provide the user with combined functions of editing and online transmitting multimedia audio-visual data. 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 2 , the multimedia audio-visual device  100  is provided with a USB socket  17  and an earphone jack  18 . A USB flash disk (not shown) can be externally connected to the USB socket  17 , so that data on the flash disk can be input to and stored in the memory unit  116 , giving the multimedia audio-visual device  100  increased value of application. An earphone (not shown) can be externally connected to the earphone jack  18 , so that a user can listen to music files stored in the memory unit  116 , radio programs, or music videos. 
     In brief, the present invention provides a transmitting and editing method for a multimedia audio-visual device, so that the multimedia audio-visual device can integrate audio/video data and automatically enable an audio/video editing and online transmitting application program run on a computer, allowing a user to conveniently enjoy the functions of taking pictures, recording music, editing audio/video files, transmitting audio/video files over network to share the files with other users. 
     Through the method of the present invention, an audio/video editing and online transmitting application program run on a computer cooperates with the control circuit of a multimedia audio-visual device to allow grabbing, editing, and playing audio/video files stored on the multimedia audio-visual device, and transmitting the audio/video files over a network. Therefore, the multimedia audio-visual device is more valuable and practical for use. 
     The present invention has been described with a preferred embodiment thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in the described embodiment can be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.