Abstract: Methods and apparatus for converting digital signals having a variable data rate to fixed data rate signals suitable for recording on a tape by a digital video tape recorder are disclosed. The methods include buffering of the received variable rate data, measuring the data rate of the received data for a fixed period of time and processing the buffered data to converted it into a fixed rate data stream. This processes is repeated for each of the fixed periods of time. Methods for increasing the recording time of a digital video tape recorder ("VTR") and for supporting multiple normal play modes of digital VTR operation, e.g., recording modes for recording SDTV and HDTV are also disclosed. To generate fixed data rate signals from variable data rate signals one or more of data padding and/or data reduction techniques are used.

Abstract: A digital video tape recorder ("VTR") that selects data useful for generating images during trick playback operation and records the data in trick play tape segments arranged on a tape to form fast scan tracks and multi-speed playback tracks. Each fast scan track comprises trick play tape segments located on a diagonal, relative to the length of the tape, of the same angle as the angle at which the heads of a VTR are expected to pass over the tape during trick play operation at a specific speed and direction of operation. Each multi-speed playback track comprises a plurality of trick play tape segments arranged parallel to the length of the tape. Data which is used for at least one mode of trick play operation is recorded in each trick play tape segment. Each fast scan track and multi-speed track crosses multiple normal play tracks.

Abstract: Apparatus and accompanying methods for use preferably in a multi-system shared data (sysplex) environment (100), wherein each system (110) provides one or more servers (115), for dynamically and adaptively assigning and balancing new work and for new session requests, among the servers in the sysplex, in view of attendant user-defined business importance of these requests and available sysplex resource capacity so as to meet overall business goals. Specifically, systems and servers are categorized into two classes: eligible, i.e., goal-oriented servers running under a policy and for which capacity information is currently available, and candidate, i.e., servers which lack capacity information.

Abstract: A battery or solar-powered apparatus for measuring and displaying optical power transmitted through an optical fiber. The apparatus has a measuring circuit comprising an optical detector (602), a current/voltage converter (704) and a control circuit (702) which provides timing signals and controls the power applied to the measuring circuit. The apparatus is secured within a housing (102) and is sufficiently small and light such that permanent, in-line attachment to the optical fiber is possible. In a first embodiment, a voltage proportional to the measured optical power is available at an output jack (214) attached to the housing (102). The jack further comprises a switch (1760) which enables power to the apparatus during a measurement period. An alternative embodiment comprises an analog/digital converter (1202) which provides a digital representation of the measured optical power.

Abstract: Methods of operating a digital video recording and playback device, such as a video tape recorder, to arrange trick play data into one or more groups, to generate error correction bits for each group of trick play data, e.g., a group of trick play data blocks, and to correct the data after being read back using the error correction bits is disclosed. The trick play data blocks are made to be smaller than normal play data blocks with multiple trick play data blocks being equal in size to a single normal play data block. By making a group of trick play data blocks equal in size to a single normal play data block, the group of trick play data blocks may be processed as a unit by the same error correction circuitry and in the same manner used to process individual normal play data blocks. In accordance with one embodiment, the error correction bits for a group of trick play data blocks are calculated treating the data in the group of trick play data blocks as a single unit.

Abstract: Sixty-four regions are established on an image sensed picture from a video camera, where evaluating value r.sub.ij, b.sub.ij, and y.sub.ij is obtained by averaging color difference signals R-Y and B-Y and luminance signal Y obtained from an image sensing signal for over 1 field period for each region. When the apparatus determines that the difference in the evaluating values between two adjacent regions does not exceed a predetermined value, that is, when that continuing regions have the same color, the weighing amount of the color evaluating values of a corresponding region is adjusted to limit its effect upon the gain control signals used to adjust the gain of the color signal amplifiers. As a result, the effect of objects of the same color towards white balance adjustment is reduced.