Slideshows comprising various forms of media

• US 9,158,776 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2008
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Weber, Ralf, Vergnaud, Guillaume
• Primary Examiner(s): LEUNG, ROBERT B
• Application Number:
  US12/217,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20090041423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,659 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/91 Television signal processing therefor

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided providing users with the ability to create and produce multimedia devices. In one aspect of the present invention, users are provided with the capability to easily and seamlessly create slideshows using multiple forms of graphic elements instead of just still pictures. In another aspect of the present invention, users are provided with the capability to create and modify the DVD menu that is required for DVDs to function properly on conventional DVD players. In still another aspect of the present invention, users are provided with an intuitive graphic interface that simply and clearly explains the trade offs the user must make in deciding which mode to record the DVD.

Claims

1. A method for aiding users in the creation of multimedia devices, comprising:

receiving a user selection of one or more video files and one or more image files to be integrated into a slide show, wherein the video files each comprise a respective audio track and wherein the image files are associated with a selected audio track selected by the user;

in response to receiving the user selection, integrating the one or more video files and the one or more image files into the slide show, comprising;

retrieving the one or more video files and the one or more image files from one or more storage devices; and

formatting the one or more video files and the one or more image files as a slide show that is enabled to be played by a media player, wherein the one or more video files are formatted to be played in conjunction with the respective audio tracks of the respective video files and wherein the one or more image files are formatted to be played in conjunction with the selected audio track selected by the user.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically playing the slide show using the media player.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein automatically playing the slide show comprises:

displaying a respective video having a respective audio track; and

in response to the video ending;

fading out the respective audio track;

fading in the selected audio track; and

displaying an image while playing the selected audio track.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein automatically playing the slide show comprises:

displaying a video having a respective audio track; and

in response to the video ending, playing a different audio track than that associated with the video.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein automatically playing the slide show comprises:

displaying a video; and

in response to the video ending, ending the slide show.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein automatically playing the slide show comprises:

playing a respective audio track associated with a respective video file as the respective video file plays; and

in response to the respective video file ending, fading in the selected audio track and displaying an image.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein automatically playing the slide show comprises:

fading out the selected audio track associated with the display of the one or more image files prior to a transition to displaying a respective video file; and

in response to the transition to displaying the respective video file, playing a respective audio track associated with the respective video file.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein automatically playing the slide show comprises:

playing the respective selected audio track or the respective audio tracks associated with the video files based on whether an image or a video is currently displayed as part of the slide show.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein automatically playing the slide show comprises displaying a text file for a predetermined period of time.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling the user to define a period of time that still images included in the slide show are displayed when the slide show is played.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising playing the slide show, wherein playing the slide show comprises:

displaying an image for the period of time.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising playing the slide show, wherein playing the slide show comprises:

displaying an image for the period of time; and

in response to the period of time elapsing, playing video.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising playing the slide show, wherein playing the slide show comprises:

displaying an image for the period of time; and

in response to the period of time elapsing, ending the slide show.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective audio tracks of the video files comprise audio captured as part of the generation of the respective video files and wherein the selected audio track comprises music specified by the operator input.

14. A system for aiding users in the creation of multimedia devices, comprising:

a hard drive that stores video files having respective audio tracks, image files, and audio files;

a display screen;

a user interface device that is used to select one or more video files, one or more image files, and one or more audio files for inclusion in a multimedia slide show;

a processor that;

retrieves selected video files, image files, and audio files from the hard drive; and

formats the selected video files, image files, and audio files as a slide show that is enabled to be played by a media player, wherein the video files are formatted to play with their respective audio tracks and the images files are formatted to play with one or more selected audio files.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising the media player that automatically plays the slide show when the removable storage device is inserted into or otherwise connected to the media player.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the media player comprises a DVD player that is only enabled to play conventional DVDs.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the DVD player includes a multi-functional processor utilizing specialized software for playing conventional DVDs.