Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording audio-visual (A/V) contents directly from an A/V input source to a portable media player (PMP) is disclosed. The recorded A/V contents can be played back by the portable media player immediately upon stopping the recording. The recording apparatus does not involve the use of any intermediate computing or storage device other than the portable media player and the recording apparatus itself. The A/V contents for recording may come in the form of analog/digital signals or as digital data in compressed or uncompressed form from transmission and/or storage devices. Depending upon the nature of the input, the recording apparatus digitizes, encodes and/or transcodes the A/V contents and stores the processed A/V contents directly into the portable media player in playback ready format. The recording apparatus includes a one-button control interface for starting and stopping the recording of A/V contents to the portable media player.

Abstract: A system and method of recording audio-visual (A/V) contents directly to a variety of portable media players (PMPs). The recorded contents can be played back by the portable media players immediately without further format conversions. To facilitate immediate playback of the recorded contents, the recording apparatus contains an identification device configured to automatically identify types of portable media players connected to an exemplary recording device that stores the A/V contents. Once the type of portable media player is identified, the recording device automatically generates compressed bit stream in a format that is compatible with the portable media player. Depending upon the nature of the input, the recording apparatus digitizes, encodes and/or transcodes the A/V contents and stores directly into the portable media player's local storage in playback ready format.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording audio-visual (A/V) contents directly from an A/V input source to a portable media player (PMP) is disclosed. The recorded A/V contents can be played back by the portable media player immediately upon stopping the recording. The recording apparatus does not involve the use of any intermediate computing or storage device other than the portable media player and the recording apparatus itself. The A/V contents for recording may come in the form of analog/digital signals or as digital data in compressed or uncompressed form from transmission and/or storage devices. Depending upon the nature of the input, the recording apparatus digitizes, encodes and/or transcodes the A/V contents and stores the processed A/V contents directly into the portable media player in playback ready format. The recording apparatus includes a one-button control interface for starting and stopping the recording of A/V contents to the portable media player.