System and interface for mixing media content

Abstract

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

1 . An interface for mixing audio and visual streams, comprising:
 a display having a plurality of display areas adapted to display information about a plurality of media streams; and   an icon visible on the display adapted to be moveable across the display,   wherein a position of the icon on the display determines a mix of the plurality of media streams including an amount of each of the plurality of media streams in the mix.   
     
     
         2 . The interface of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of media streams comprises a first audio stream, a second audio stream, a first visual stream, and a second visual stream. 
     
     
         3 . The interface of  claim 2 , further comprising a first display area for displaying the first visual stream and a second display area for displaying the second visual stream. 
     
     
         4 . The interface of  claim 3 , 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. 
     
     
         5 . The interface of  claim 2 , further comprising an auto mix button for generating a random movement of the icon. 
     
     
         6 . A system for mixing audio and visual streams, comprising:
 a display screen;   an icon associated with the display screen having a plurality of display areas adapted to display information about a plurality of media streams; and   a controller in communication with the icon, the controller adapted to receive an indication of a movement of the icon and programmed to mix a plurality of media streams based upon the indication,   wherein the position of the icon indicates an amount of each of the plurality of media streams in the mix.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of media streams comprises a first audio stream, a second audio stream, a first visual stream and a second visual stream. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , 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 generally a vertical direction. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , 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 generally a horizontal direction. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , 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 generally a horizontal direction. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a visual overlap slider to control a degree of overlap of the first visual stream and the second visual stream. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first visual stream and the second visual stream are selected from a group consisting of: a first video stream, a second video stream, a first static image and a second static image. 
     
     
         13 . An interface for mixing audio and visual streams, comprising:
 a display having a plurality of display areas adapted to display information about a plurality of media streams;   an icon visible on the display adapted to be moveable across the display;   a first display area for displaying the first visual stream and a second display area for displaying the second visual stream;   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; and   an auto mix button for generating a random movement of the icon,   wherein a position of the icon on the display determines a mix of the plurality of media streams including an amount of each of the plurality of media streams in the mix,   wherein the plurality of media streams comprises a first audio stream, a second audio stream, a first visual stream, and a second visual stream.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a visual overlap slider to control a degree of overlap of the first visual stream and the second visual stream,
 wherein the plurality of media streams comprises a first audio stream, a second audio stream, a first visual stream, and a second visual stream,   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 generally a vertical direction,   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 generally a horizontal direction,   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 generally a horizontal direction, and   wherein the first visual stream and the second visual stream are selected from a group consisting of: a first video stream, a second video stream, a first static image, and a second static image.