Multimedia and scent storage medium and playback apparatus

A multimedia player and scent recovery system for use with a multimedia and scent storage medium in disc format, the multimedia and scent storage medium storing multimedia information and at least one scent, the multimedia and scent recovery system comprising:

• multimedia playback means for recovering the multimedia information stored in the multimedia and scent storage medium;
• scent recovery means for recovering the scents stored in the multimedia and scent storage medium;
• user input and control means for permitting the user of the integrated system to input commands for controlling the playback of multimedia information and recovery of scents stored in the multimedia and scent-bearing medium;
• a housing for enclosing the multimedia playback means and scent recovery means, the housing being semicircular in shape and having an upper surface, said housing having a slot for accepting the multimedia and scent-bearing medium, the multimedia and scent-bearing medium partially extending outward from the slot when placed within the housing for playback purposes, and wherein the housing further comprises at least a plurality of vents in the upper surface of the housing that permit scents recovered from the multimedia and scent-bearing medium by the scent recovery means to be exhausted to the atmosphere;
• a retractable shield for covering the portion of the multimedia and scent-bearing medium extending beyond the slot, wherein the retractable shield can be moved between at least a partially open position where the multimedia and scent-bearing medium may be placed within the slot in the housing and a closed position where the multimedia and scent-bearing medium is protected during operation;
• and
• a motor drive for moving the retractable shield.

A portable system for playback of multimedia information and recovery of scents for use in combination with the multimedia information, the portable system comprising:

• a multimedia and scent-bearing medium comprising:
• multimedia storage means for storing multimedia information;
• and scent storage means for storing at least one scent, and wherein the multimedia information further comprises at least preprogrammed scent recovery and multimedia playback sequence information for use in coordinating multimedia playback and scent recovery so that they occur in a repeatable manner;
• a multimedia player and scent recovery system for use in conjunction with the multimedia and scent-bearing medium, wherein the multimedia and scent bearing medium is separate and removable, the multimedia player and scent recovery system comprising:
• multimedia playback means for recovering and playing back the multimedia information stored in the multimedia storage means;
• scent recovery means for recovering and releasing the scents stored in the scent storage means;
• user input and control means for permitting the user of the portable system to input commands for controlling the playback of multimedia information and recovery of scents stored in the multimedia and scent-bearing medium;
• scent recovery and multimedia playback sequence editing means both for editing the pre-programmed scent recovery and multimedia playback sequence to create a user-specified scent recovery and multimedia playback sequence, and for creating entirely new user-specified scent recovery and multimedia playback sequences;
• and
• a housing for enclosing the multimedia playback means and scent recovery means, the housing having an upper surface and a slot for accepting the removable multimedia and scent-bearing medium, and wherein the housing further comprises at least one vent that permits scents recovered from the multimedia and scent-bearing medium by the scent recovery means to be exhausted to the atmosphere.

A portable system for playback of multimedia information and recovery and release of scents for use in combination with the multimedia information comprising:

• a multimedia and scent-bearing disc comprising:
• a substrate;
• a scent storage region positioned on the substrate for storing at least one scent;
• a multimedia storage region positioned on the substrate for storing optically-encoded multimedia information;
• scent recovery and multimedia playback sequence information;
• and scent identification information;
• a multimedia player and scent recovery and release system for use with the multimedia and scent-bearing disc, wherein the multimedia and scent-bearing disc is separate and removable, the multimedia player and scent recovery system comprising:
• multimedia playback means for recovering and playing back the information stored in the multimedia storage region;
• scent recovery means for recovering and releasing the scents stored in the scent storage region;
• user input and control means for permitting the user of the integrated system to input commands for controlling the playback of multimedia information and recovery of scents stored in the multimedia and scent-bearing disc;
• scent recovery and multimedia playback sequence editing means both for editing the pre-programmed scent recovery and multimedia playback sequence to create a user-specified scent recovery and multimedia playback sequence, and for creating entirely new user-specified scent recovery and multimedia playback sequences;
• and
• a housing for enclosing the multimedia playback means and scent recovery means, the housing having an upper surface and a slot for accepting the removable multimedia and scent-bearing disc, and wherein the housing further comprises at least one vent that permits scents recovered from the multimedia and scent-bearing disc by the scent recovery means to be exhausted to the atmosphere.