Abstract:
The invention relates to a media playback system having a real-time displaying capability of displaying images generated from a camera and method thereof The media playback system receives a first input signal, and includes a real-time communication device for generating a second input signal, a playback processor, electrically coupled to the real-time communication device, for generating an output signal by integrating the first and second input signals, and a displaying device, coupled to the playback processor, for playing the output signal according to a first command.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a media playback system with real-time displaying capability and method thereof, and more particularly, to a media playback system capable of receiving at least two input signals simultaneously and method thereof. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Televisions and related peripheral devices and systems have become necessary household appliances in recent times. These modern devices and systems include functions such as: a time switch setting for automatic power-on, preset recording of a specified program, and picture out picture (POP) display. Also, other systems including similar functions are becoming more and more popular. For example, a television (TV) set-top box is used for watching cable TV programs on a computer, and a home theater apparatus is used for simulating a comfortable entertainment environment commensurate with traditional theaters by using a projector and a stereo or multi-channel audio playback apparatus. Thus, it is apparent that watching TV programs has become one of the most popular entertainment options available in our modern society. 
         [0005]    However, there are very often any numbers of disturbances that can interrupt the otherwise pleasant experience of enjoying TV watching. For example, it is common that a phone call or a doorbell ringing will occur while a user is watching TV programs. As is well know, the viewer will miss some of the TV programming because the TV program cannot be paused. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]    Thus, an objective of the present invention is to provide a media playback system and method thereof to solve above-mentioned problems. 
         [0007]    According to an embodiment of the claimed invention, a media playback system having a real-time displaying capability of displaying images generated from a camera is disclosed. The media playback system receives a first input signal, and includes a real-time communication device for generating a second input signal, a playback processor, electrically coupled to the real-time communication device, for generating an output signal by integrating the first and second input signals, and a displaying device, coupled to the playback processor, for playing the output signal according to a first command. 
         [0008]    According to an embodiment of the claimed invention, a media playback method having a real-time displaying capability of displaying images generated from a camera is also disclosed. The media playback method receives a first input signal, and includes: utilizing a real-time communication device to generate a second input signal; generating an output signal by integrating the first and second input signals; and displaying the output signal according to a first command. 
         [0009]    These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a media playback system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart of a media playback method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]    Please refer to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a media playback system  100  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the media playback system  100  includes a real-time communication device  110 , a television  150 , and a remote control  130 , where the television  150  is coupled to a signal source  200 . Additionally, the real-time communication device  110  is a doorbell device including a camera module  112 , a communication module  114 , and a doorbell button  116 . The television  150  includes a playback processor  152 , a control unit  154 , a video display device  156 , and an audio playback device  158 . 
         [0013]    If a user utilizes the television  150  to watch TV programs and the real-time communication device  110  has no action triggered, the playback processor  152  directly processes an audio signal SA 2  and a video signal SV 2  to generate an audio signal SA 3  and a video signal SV 3 , and then sends the audio signal SA 3  and the video signal SV 3  to the video display device  156 , such as a TV screen, and to the audio playback device  158 , such as TV speakers, respectively. In this way, the user can watch the images corresponding to the video signal SV 3  and listen to the sound corresponding to the audio signal SA 3 . 
         [0014]    However, the door ring button  116  sends a trigger signal St to the control unit  154  while an outdoor visitor pushes the doorbell button  116 , and the camera module  112  is activated as well as the communication module  114 . After receiving the trigger signal St, the control unit  154  sends a command C 1  to drive the playback processor  152  to add a text message to the video signal SV 3  or a notification audio clip to the audio signal SA 3  to inform the user that there is a visitor. If the user wants to know who the visitor is, he can use the user interface on the remote control  130  to send a control signal Sc to the control unit  154 , and the control unit  154  transmits a command C 2  to the playback processor  152  to drive the playback processor  152  to integrate the video signal SV 1  generated from the camera module  112  and the video signal SV 2  from the signal source  200  to generate the video signal SV 3 . At this moment, the video display device  156  displays the video signal SV 3  in the form of picture in picture (PIP) or picture out picture (POP), and the user can check the visitor at the same time when watching the TV programs. 
         [0015]    Furthermore, the user may even talk to the visitor if the communication module  114  has a built-in high-sensitive microphone. Also, the user can use the remote control  130  to send the control signal Sc to the control unit  154  wirelessly to drive the playback processor  152 , and the playback processor  152  generates the audio signal SA 3  according to the audio signal SA 1  from the communication module  114 . In this case, the user hears the voice of the outdoor visitor instead of the sound of the currently selected TV program. Alternatively, the playback processor  152  directly integrates the audio signal SA 1  and the audio signal SA 2  to generate the audio signal SA 3 , such that the user can hear the voice of the visitor and the sound of the currently selected TV program simultaneously and talk with the visitor by the built-in high-sensitive microphone. In other words, the user to adjust the operation mode of the playback processor  152  to determine whether the user can hear sound from one or two video signals as well as viewing image(s) from one or two video signals at the same time. 
         [0016]    Please refer to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a flow chart of a media playback method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. This method is applied to the media playback system  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , and comprises the steps as detailed below:
   Step  300 : Start   Step  302 : Detect if the doorbell  116  sends the trigger signal St? If yes, go to step  304 ; otherwise, go to step  308 .   Step  304 : Play the audio signal SA 2  and the video signal SV 2  corresponding to the audio signal SA 3  and the video signal SV 3 .   Step  306 : Is the playing of the audio signal SA 3  and the video signal SV 3  terminated? If yes, go to step  322 ; otherwise, go back to step  302  to continue monitoring the trigger signal St.   Step  308 : Activate the camera module  112  and the communication module  114 .   Step  310 : Send a command C 1  to drive the playback processor  152  to add a text message to the video signal SV 3  or a notification audio clip to the audio signal SA 3 .   Step  312 : Play the processed video signal SV 3  or the processed audio signal SA 3  to inform the user.   Step  314 : Detect if the control signal Sc from the controller is received. If yes, go to step  316 ; otherwise, go to step  304 .   Step  316 : Output a command C 2  to drive the playback processor  152  to integrate the video signal SV 1  and the audio signal SV 2  to generate the video signal SV 3 .   Step  318 : Play the processed video signal SV 3  to allow the user to identify the visitor.   Step  320 : Is the real-time communication terminated? If yes, go to step  304 ; otherwise, go back to step  318 .   Step  322 : End the playing of the audio signal SA 3  and the video signal SV 3 .   
 
         [0029]    Since the detail operation of the media playback system  100  has been mentioned above, further description of the media playback method is omitted for the sake of brevity. Also, the steps of the media playback method are not limited to the order of the steps described in  FIG. 2  if the achieved result is substantially the same. 
         [0030]    Additionally, it should be noted that the real-time communication device  110  is not limited to the television screen intercom example provided herein. The real-time communication device  110  can be any device capable of generating the video signal or the audio signal in a real-time fashion, such as a traditional telephone or video telephone. Additionally, the media playback system of the embodiment of the present invention can be applied to a television as offered as an example herein as well as other audio/video playback devices such as but not limited to: personal computers, projectors, and audio devices. By this way, the user can perform other jobs and tasks while listening to or watching TV programs. 
         [0031]    Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.