Audio/video messaging device and system

• US 20080122934A1
• Filed: 07/23/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Martin J. Marotti
• Original Assignee: Martin J. Marotti
• Inventors: Marotti, Martin J.
• Application Number:
  US11/880,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20080122934A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An audio/video messaging device allows a user to record, store and replay short audio/video messages. Key components of the present audio/video messaging device include a camera to capture video, a microphone to capture audio, memory, such as but not limited to flash memory, or a hard drive for storing the captured audio and video, a display to replay the video, a speaker to replay the audio, and controls to manage the recording and playback of audio/video messages. The present audio/video messaging device allows creation of a predetermined number of audio/video messages corresponding to a predetermined number of message slots. Each audio/video message may last up to a predetermined length of time and are sequentially stored in the memory/hard drive corresponding to the message slots. The controls allow navigation between audio/video message slots for creation, replay and erasure of an audio/video message. A remote control may also be provided to perform the various commands/features/functions of the audio/video messaging device. The present audio/video messaging device provides a level of information and/or communication that conveys the full range of emotional content not available in written, voice or still picture messages.

Claims

1. A messaging device comprising:

a video camera for receiving video for an audio/video message;

a microphone for receiving audio for the audio/video message;

memory for storing the received audio and video for the audio/video message;

a display for playing the video of the stored audio/video message;

a speaker for playing the audio of the stored audio/video message; and

a user interface for managing recording and playing of the audio/video message.

2. The messaging device of claim 1, further comprising:

processing in communication with the video camera, microphone, memory and user interface.

3. The messaging device of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication port for receiving and sending an audio/video message.

4. The messaging device of claim 1, wherein the display, video camera, microphone, speaker, memory and user interface are supported in a panel.

5. The messaging device of claim 4, wherein the panel is pivotally supported on a stand.

6. The messaging device of claim 1, wherein the memory is one of flash memory and a hard drive.

7. The messaging device of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a remote control.

8. The messaging device of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a record button operable to initiate recording of the audio/video message, a play button operable to play a stored audio/video message, and an indicator operable to display whether an audio/video message has been recorded.

9. A messaging device comprising:

a processor;

a video camera in communication with the processor and operable to receive video for an audio/video message;

a microphone in communication with the processor and operable to receive audio for an audio/video message;

digital storage in communication with the processor and operable to store the video received from the video camera and the audio from the microphone for an audio/video message;

a display in communication with the processor and operable to play the video of a stored audio/video message;

a speaker in communication with the processor and operable to play the audio of a stored audio/video message;

controls for managing recording and playing of an audio/video message;

wherein the messaging device is operable to allow receipt and playback of up to a predetermined number of audio/video messages.

10. The messaging device of claim 9, wherein an audio/video message is recordable up to a predetermined length of time.

11. The messaging device of claim 9, further comprising a predetermined number of audio/video message indicators corresponding to the predetermined number of audio/video messages, each one of the audio/video message indicators operable to indicate whether an audio/video message is present and whether it has been played.

12. The messaging device of claim 11, wherein the controls further provide for erasing a recorded audio/video message.

13. The messaging device of claim 12, wherein the controls include a record button operable to initiate recording of the audio/video message, a play button operable to play a stored audio/video message, and an indicator operable to display whether an audio/video message has been recorded.

14. The messaging device of claim 13, wherein the controls further include a navigation button operable to select a particular recorded audio/video message.

15. The messaging device of claim 13, wherein the controls includes a remote control having a record button operable to initiate recording of the audio/video message, a play button operable to play a stored audio/video message, an indicator operable to display whether an audio/video message has been recorded, and a navigation button operable to select a particular recorded audio/video message.

16. The messaging device of claim 9, further comprising a communication port for receiving an audio/video message and for sending an audio/video message.

17. A messaging device comprising:

an audio/video recorder operable to receive an audio/video message;

a plurality of audio/video message slots each one of which is operable to store a received audio/video message;

an audio/video player operable to play a stored audio/video message; and

a user interface operable to select any one of the plurality of audio/video message slots in order to allow recording, playback and erasure of an audio/video message associated with the selected one of the plurality of audio/video message slots.

18. The messaging device of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of indicators corresponding in number to the plurality of audio/video message slots, each one of the plurality of indicators associated with one of the plurality of audio/video indicators and operable to visually show whether an audio/video message is stored in the associated audio/video message slot and whether the associated audio/video message has been viewed.

19. The messaging device of claim 18, wherein each one of the plurality of indicators comprises an LED.

20. The messaging device of claim 17, wherein the user interface includes a record button operable to initiate recording of an audio/video message, a play button operable to play a stored audio/video message, and an erase button operable to delete a recorded audio/video message.