Patent Application
20080114908
1. Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates generally to media management, and, more particularly to systems and methods for media template configuration, providing media on portable devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Portable devices collectively refer to various portable appliances comprising handheld devices, such as mobile phones, smart phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), handheld game consoles, handheld video players and Digital Still Cameras (DSCs). Recently, portable devices have become more and more advanced, with built-in advanced functionality such as media recording and playback capabilities.
Generally, media from any source device such as DSC, DV, VCD/DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-ray Disc, mobile phone, and network, can be imported to portable devices for playback. However, such portable devices are considerably different in their compatibility since they are from different manufacturers and in different hardware and software platforms. The media may not be compatible and played back in the portable devices since the media format may be different.
Conventionally, media are converted according to the specifications provided by the manufacturers of the portable devices. This is inflexible and limited to some portable devices. Software provides a function for manually setting related parameters for media conversion, although lack of user experience with complex process often results in failure. For example, the converted media may be video with no audio, audio with no video, or the resolution of the converted media may not match the display of a device. Parameters must be set by trial and error, an inconvenient and time-consuming method.
Media management systems and methods for portable devices are provided.
An embodiment of a media management system for portable devices comprises a portable device comprising media, and a host coupled to the portable device. The portable device exports the media to the host. The host receives the media, and analyzes the media to obtain properties of the media. The host generates a media template according to the properties.
An embodiment of a media management system for portable devices comprises a portable device, and a host coupled to the portable device. The portable device comprises an application analyzing media properties for the portable device, exporting the media properties to the host. The host receives the media properties, and generates a media template according to the media properties.
An embodiment of a media management system for portable devices comprises a portable device, and a host coupled to the portable device. The host comprises an application analyzing media properties for the portable device, and generates a media template according to the media properties.
In an embodiment of a media management method for portable devices, a portable device and a host coupled to the portable device are provided. Media properties are analyzed for the portable device by the portable device or the host. The host generates a media template according to the media properties.
Media management systems and methods for portable devices may take the form of program code embodied in a tangible media. When the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the disclosed method.
The invention will become more fully understood by referring to the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Media management systems and methods for portable devices are provided.
The host 210 can generate a media template such as a movie template according to the media properties, and store the media template to the storage device 211. In some embodiments, the host 210 can generate test media such as a test movie according to the media template, and transmit the test media to the portable device 220 for playback. If the test media are played back normally, a signal indicating the test media has been played back normally on the portable device can be transmitted to the host 210, and the host 210 stores the media template to the storage device 211 in response to the signal. Further, the host 210 can convert source media (not shown) according to the media template, and transmit the converted source media to the portable device 220, such that the converted source media can be played back normally on the portable device 220.
Similarly, the host 210 can generate a media template such as a movie template according to the media properties, and store the media template to the storage device 211. In some embodiments, the host 210 can generate test media such as a test movie according to the media template, and transmit the test media to the portable device 220 for playback. If the test media are played back normally, a signal indicating the test media has been played back normally on the portable device can be transmitted to the host 210, and the host 210 stores the media template to the storage device 211 in response to the signal. Further, the host 210 can convert source media (not shown) according to the media template, and transmit the converted source media to the portable device 220, such that the converted source media can be played back normally on the portable device 220.
Similarly, the host 210 can generate a media template such as a movie template according to the media properties, and store the media template to the storage device 211. In some embodiments, the host 210 can generate test media such as a test movie according to the media template, and transmit the test media to the portable device 220 for playback. If the test media are played back normally, a signal indicating the test media has been played back normally on the portable device can be transmitted to the host 210, and the host 210 stores the media template to the storage device 211 in response to the signal. Further, the host 210 can convert source media (not shown) according to the media template, and transmit the converted source media to the portable device 220, such that the converted source media can be played back normally on the portable device 220.
In step S510, the portable device 220 exports the media 221 to the host 210. Media 221 can be movies comprising video and/or audio content. Besides, media 221 also can be images, animation, slideshow, sound, voice or one of each combination, and others. In step S520, the host 210 analyzes the media 221 to obtain media properties thereof. The media properties comprise total frames, a resolution, an aspect ratio, a color depth, a frame rate, a data rate, an audio type, total samples, a sample rate, a bit rate, a channel, or a sample depth, and others. In step S530, the host 210 generates a media template such as a movie template according to the media properties, and in step S540, generates test media such as a test movie according to the media template. In step S550, the host 210 transmits the test media to the portable device 220 for playback. In step S560, the portable device 220 plays back the test media. If the test media are played back normally (Yes in step 5470), in step S580, the host 210 stores the media template to the storage device 211. It is understood that a signal indicating the test media has been played back normally on the portable device is transmitted to the host 210 if the test media are played back normally, and the host 210 stores the media template to the storage device 211 in response to the signal. If the test media cannot be played back normally (No in step S570), the procedure returns to step S520, and the host 210 analyzes other media exported from the portable device 220. It is understood that since the portable device may have several media, if all media are analyzed and no corresponding test media can be played back normally on the portable device 220, the procedure is terminated.
In step S610, the media properties are analyzed for the portable device 220. Similarly, the media properties comprise total frames, a resolution, an aspect ratio, a color depth, a frame rate, a data rate, an audio type, total samples, a sample rate, a bit rate, a channel, or a sample depth, and others. If the portable device 220 supports JAVA technology, for example, with built-in J2ME, the application 222 can directly analyze the portable device 220 to obtain the media properties using function calls, such as Mobile Media API (MMAPI) and others. It is understood that the analysis of media properties may be performed by the application 222 on the portable device 220 analyzing the media 221, or the application 222 on the portable device 220 directly analyzing the portable device 220 to obtain the media properties. In step S620, the portable device 220 outputs the media properties to the host 210. In step S630, the host 210 generates a media template such as a movie template according to the media properties, and in step S640, generates test media such as a test movie according to the media template. In step S650, the host 210 transmits the test media to the portable device 220 for playback. In step S660, the portable device 220 plays back the test media. If the test media are played back normally (Yes in step S670), in step S680, the host 210 stores the media template to the storage device 211. Similarly, a signal indicating the test media has been played back normally on the portable device is transmitted to the host 210 if the test media are played back normally, and the host 210 stores the media template to the storage device 211 in response to the signal. If the test media cannot be played back normally (No in step S670), the procedure returns to step S610, and the media properties are analyzed again. It is understood that since the portable device may have several media, if all media are analyzed and no corresponding test media can be played back normally on the portable device 220, the procedure is terminated.
In step S710, the media properties are analyzed for the portable device 220. Similarly, the media properties comprise total frames, a resolution, an aspect ratio, a color depth, a frame rate, a data rate, an audio type, total samples, a sample rate, a bit rate, a channel, or a sample depth, and others. The analysis of media properties is performed by the application 222 on the host 210 directly analyzing the portable device 220 to obtain the media properties. In step S720, the host 210 generates a media template such as a movie template according to the media properties, and in step S730, generates test media such as a test movie according to the media template. In step S740, the host 210 transmits the test media to the portable device 220 for playback. In step S750, the portable device 220 plays back the test media. If the test media are played back normally (Yes in step S760), in step S770, the host 210 stores the media template to the storage device 211. Similarly, a signal indicating the test media has been played back normally on the portable device is transmitted to the host 210 if the test media are played back normally, and the host 210 stores the media template to the storage device 211 in response to the signal. If the test media cannot be played back normally (No in step S760), the procedure returns to step S710, and the media properties are analyzed again. In some embodiments, if the analyses of the media properties are performed for a predefined times, the procedure is terminated.
After the media template is generated, any source media can be converted according to the media template, and the converted media can be compatible with the portable device, and played back normally thereon. In the media conversion, the media properties are first retrieved from the media template. The media properties and some necessary properties such as media length of source media are combined, and new media is generated according to the media content of source media and the combined media properties.
Media management systems and methods for portable devices, or certain aspects or portions thereof, may take the form of program code (i.e., executable instructions) embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMS, DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Flash Memory, hard drives, or any other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine thereby becomes an apparatus for practicing the methods. The methods may also be embodied in the form of program code transmitted over some transmission medium, such as electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via any other form of transmission, wherein, when the program code is received and loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the disclosed methods. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code combines with the processor to provide a unique apparatus that operates analogously to application specific logic circuits.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those who are skilled in this technology can still make various alterations and modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention shall be defined and protected by the following claims and their equivalents.
