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.

1 . A photo album having a front cover, a back cover, and a spine for connecting the front and back covers of the album and for holding display sheets between the front and back covers and wherein the display sheets contain one or more photographs, the photo album further comprising:
 a data port mounted within said front cover and adapted for electronic connection with an external computing device for receiving data uploaded therefrom; and   a data storage device embedded within said front cover and in electronic communication with the data port for receiving and storing the received data;   wherein the received data represents an electronic copy of one or more of the photographs contained within the display sheets of the photo album.   
     
     
         2 . The photo album of  claim 1  wherein the front cover has an exterior and an interior surface and wherein the data port is mounted along a side of the front cover between said interior and exterior surfaces of the front cover. 
     
     
         3 . The photo album of  claim 1  wherein said data port is a removable flash drive that is mountable within a cavity on the inside surface of the front cover and wherein the flash drive is flush with the surface of the front cover when mounted within said cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The photo album of  claim 1  wherein said data port is pivotally mounted within a cavity on the inside surface of the front cover and wherein the data port pivots away from the surface of the front cover and out of the cavity when connected with the external computing device and wherein the data port pivots toward the surface of the front cover and into a flush position with the surface of the front cover when within the cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The photo album of  claim 1  wherein the data port is one of: a USB data port, a mini-USB port, a serial data port, a parallel data port, an A/V data port, and a proprietary data port adapted to communicate with a generic or branded MP3 or MPEG player. 
     
     
         6 . A gift card envelope for holding a gift card, comprising:
 a body having a foldably movable portion and adapted to receive the gift card therein, the body including at least a front surface containing brand information identifying a company associated with the enclosed gift card, a back surface in planar, parallel arrangement to the front surface and connected along at least a substantial portion of the adjoining edges of the front surface, and a bottom surface connected between the front and back surfaces, whereby the bottom edge creates a space between the parallel front and back surfaces;   a data port mounted between the front and back surfaces and accessible from the exterior side of the bottom surface, the data port adapted for electronic connection with an external computing device for receiving data uploaded therefrom and for downloading data thereto; and   a data storage component housed within the gift card envelope and in electronic communication with the data port for receiving and storing the received data and for storing communication data downloadable from the gift card envelope when the data port is connected with the external computing device, wherein the gift card envelope connects with a website associated with the company associated with the gift card as a function of the communication data when the data port is connected with the external computing device.   
     
     
         7 . The gift card envelope of  claim 6  wherein, after the gift card envelope connects with the website associated with the company associated with the gift card, monetary credit is added to the gift card by a user of the external computing device through interaction with the website. 
     
     
         8 . The gift card envelope of  claim 7  wherein the user adds monetary credit to the gift card by paying the company via the website and wherein an ID code is uploaded and stored within the data storage component and wherein the ID code identifies the monetary credit that is credited to a recipient of the gift card when the recipient subsequently connects the data port with another external computing device and accesses the company's website. 
     
     
         9 . The gift card envelope of  claim 6  wherein, after the gift card envelope connects with the website associated with the company associated with the gift card, one or more multimedia files are uploaded to the data storage component housed within the gift card envelope by a user of the external computing device through interaction with the website. 
     
     
         10 . The gift card envelope of  claim 9  wherein the multimedia files are already owned by the user and are uploaded for no cost from an account the user has with the website. 
     
     
         11 . The gift card of  claim 9  wherein the multimedia files are purchased by the user on the website before they are uploaded to the data storage component housed within the gift card envelope. 
     
     
         12 . A novelty photo album having a front cover, a back cover, and a spine for connecting the front and back covers of the album and for holding display sheets between the front and back covers and wherein the display sheets contain one or more photographs, the photo album further comprising:
 a data port mounted within said front cover and adapted for electronic communication with an external computing device for receiving data uploaded therefrom;   a data storage device mounted within said front cover and in electronic communication with the data port for receiving and storing the received data;   at least one speaker mounted within said front cover and configured to output audio associated with the received data;   a display mounted within said front cover and configured to output graphics associated with the received data;   a controller, responsive to actuation of a play switch, for transmitting the audio to the at least one speaker and for transmitting the graphics to the display; and   a power supply in electronic communication with and for providing power to the data storage device, the at least one speaker, the display, and the controller, whereby, upon actuation of the play switch, audio from the received data is output through the at least one speaker and graphics associated with the received data is displayed on the display.   
     
     
         13 . The novelty photo album of  claim 12  wherein the power supply is a rechargeable battery and the battery is in electrical communication with the data port and is recharged when the external computing device is connected to the data port. 
     
     
         14 . The novelty photo album of  claim 12  wherein the received data includes at least one multimedia files having both audio and video components. 
     
     
         15 . The novelty photo album of  claim 12  wherein the graphics include at least one still image without any audio component. 
     
     
         16 . The novelty photo album of  claim 12  wherein the received data includes only audio files and no video components. 
     
     
         17 . The novelty photo album of  claim 12  wherein the data storage device includes an IC chip, further comprising a record button whereupon actuation of the record button, audio is recorded by a microphone mounted within said front cover and is stored within the IC chip. 
     
     
         18 . The novelty photo album of  claim 12  further comprising a record button whereupon actuation of the record button, audio is recorded by a microphone mounted within said front cover and corresponding video is recorded by a camera mounted within said front cover, and wherein the audio and video are associated together and stored within the data storage device. 
     
     
         19 . The novelty photo album of  claim 12  further comprising a removable flash drive that is mountable within a cavity on the inside surface of the front cover and wherein the flash drive is flush with the surface of the front cover when mounted within said cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The novelty photo album of  claim 12  wherein the data port is one of: a USB data port, a mini-USB port, a serial data port, a parallel data port, an AIV data port, and a proprietary data port adapted to communicate with a generic or branded MP3 or MPEG player.