Audio/visual media storage and playback devices and components therefor

Abstract

Systems, methods, technologies, and devices for use as stand-alone products or products that interface with personal computers, MP3, or MPEG players are disclosed. Various devices and electronics for recording or loading of electronic information, in particular electronic media, such as audio and visual media or multimedia, on a variety of novelty products or devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a person can record directly to a memory module in the novelty product. In other embodiments, a person can upload multimedia data onto the novelty product via a data port, for storage and later playback on the novelty product. In some embodiments, a person can do both.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 145,752, filed Jun. 25, 2008, and of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 841,808, filed Jul. 22, 2010, which claimed priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 227,531, filed Jul. 22, 2009. This application further claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 302,942, filed Feb. 9, 2010. The contents, teachings, and disclosures of all of the above are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, as if set forth herein in full.FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS[0002]The present systems, methods, and devices described herein relate generally to novelty, keepsake, and / or promotional items, such as photo albums, gift cards, gift card holders, envelopes, greeting cards, books, journals, ornaments, jewelry boxes, picture frames, product containers, and the like and more particularly to such novelty, keepsake, and / or prom...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention relates to novelty, keepsake, and promotional items that can be customized easily, quickly, and cheaply by users or purchasers of such items. The invention includes unconventional media recordation and playback / display devices that can be connected to other systems or devices for uploading and retrieving data (text, audio, video, still images, or combinations of any of the above) for playback. The technical effects of the invention include enabling users to customize their own items with personalized or promotional audio, video, electronic photographs, and other multimedia data storage mediums, making the items more unique and special."

Problems solved by technology

However, without anything more than a clearly pre-printed message and no real signature, the impact of such an impersonal card is diminished.

It is often impossible to make the recording more permanent for keepsake purposes.

One drawback to the above-type of greeting cards is the fact that the record and / or playback function is either built into the product or it is not.

Despite the value of photobooks and picture albums, there is the risk that such products will become obsolete and seen as less desirable by future generations.

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