System and method for mixing media content

Abstract

A visual display interface is provided that comprises an associated display icon. The display icon is dragged across the visual display interface in a movement so as to cause the mixing of a plurality of media streams. The output is a new mix of the various media streams.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system for mixing audio and visual content according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an icon for allowing the mixing of audio and visual content according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system for mixing audio and visual content according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of one approach for mixing audio and visual content according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing one example of an interface for mixing audio and visual content according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing one example of an interface for mixing audio and visual content according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing one example of an interface for mixing audio and visual content according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing one example of an interface for mixing audio and visual content according to the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing one interface for mixing audio and visual content according to the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of allowing a user to mix audio and visual content comprising: providing a visual display interface having a display icon associated therewith; anddragging the display icon across the visual display interface in a movement so as to cause the mixing of a plurality of media streams.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein mixing a plurality of media streams comprises mixing of a first audio stream and a second audio stream and the mixing of a first visual stream and a second visual stream.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein dragging the display icon in the movement comprises dragging the display icon in a generally vertical direction.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein dragging the display icon in the generally vertical direction causes the mixing of the first audio stream and the second audio stream.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein dragging the display icon in the movement comprises dragging the controller icon in a generally horizontal direction.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein dragging the display icon in the generally horizontal direction causes the mixing of the first visual stream and the second visual stream.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein dragging display icon in the movement comprises dragging the controller icon in both horizontal and vertical directions and wherein dragging the display icon in a generally vertical direction causes the mixing of the first audio stream and the second audio stream and wherein dragging the controller icon in a generally horizontal direction causes the mixing of the first visual stream and the second visual stream.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising providing a visual overlap slider to control a degree of overlap between the first visual stream and the second visual stream.

9. The method of claim 2 further comprising recording the movement of the display icon.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein dragging the display icon comprises manually dragging the display icon.

11. An interface for allowing a user to interactively mix audio and visual content comprising: a visual display; andan icon associated with the visual display and moveable by a human user across the visual display, wherein the movement of the icon by the user across the visual display selectively causes the mixing of a plurality of media streams.

12. The interface of claim 11 wherein the plurality of media streams comprise a first audio stream, a second audio stream, a first visual stream, and a second visual stream.

13. The interface of claim 12 further comprising a first display area for displaying the first visual stream and a second display area for displaying the second visual stream.

14. The interface of claim 13 further comprising a visual overlap slider to control a degree of overlap of the first visual stream and the second visual stream on the first display area and the second display area.

15. The interface of claim 12 further comprising an auto mix button for generating a random movement of the icon.

16. An system for allowing a user to mix audio and visual content comprising: a visual display screen;a display icon associated with the visual display screen; anda controller in communication with the display icon, the controller receiving an indication of movement of the display icon and being programmed to selectively cause the mixing of a plurality of media streams based upon the indication of the movement by a user of the display icon.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the plurality of media streams comprise a first audio stream, a second audio stream, a first visual stream and a second visual stream.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the controller is programmed to cause the mixing of the first audio stream and the second audio stream as the display icon is moved in a generally vertical direction.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the controller is programmed to cause the mixing of the first visual stream and the second visual stream as the display icon is moved in a generally horizontal direction.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the controller is programmed to cause the mixing of the first audio stream and the second audio stream as the display icon is moved in a generally vertical direction and to cause the mixing of the first visual stream and the second visual stream as the display icon is moved in a generally horizontal direction.

21. The system of claim 17 further comprising a visual overlap slider to control a degree of overlap of the first visual stream and the second visual stream.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the first visual stream and the second visual stream are selected from a group comprising: first and second video streams; and first and second static images.