Abstract: A recording medium for storing real time recording/reproduction information, a real time recording and reproducing method and apparatus, and a file operating method using the information. Real time recording/reproduction information for ensuring real time recording/reproduction is stored in a file control information area, in each real time file, or in a separate file, and real time recording/reproduction attributes are assigned to the file. Thus, real time recorded files can be continuously reproduced without interruption. Also, there are methods of creating a file to which real time recording/reproduction attributes are assigned, extending a data area, and recording and reproducing the file to which real time recording/reproduction attributes are assigned.

Abstract: A method is described for writing real time video signals on an optical disc having a recording area which comprises an administrative area, a spare area, and a user area. Normal recording takes place in blocks in a first pre-reserved area of a free part of the user area. If during the recording process a defective block is encountered a replacement recording having the size of a plurality of blocks is made in a second pre-reserved area of the free part of the user area, after which normal recording continues in the first pre-reserved area.

Abstract: For a plurality of digital video signals whose frame frequencies are different, a pixel number converting circuit to convert the number of pixels is provided so that differences of the frame frequencies are replaced to differences of the numbers of pixels and a plurality of digital video signals whose frame frequencies are different can be processed by a common clock frequency. The frame frequency is detected by a frame frequency value decoder and the number of pixels in the horizontal direction of the pixel number converting circuit is properly set in accordance with the frame frequency. As mentioned above, if the differences of the frame frequencies are replaced to the differences of the numbers of pixels and the images are converted into the image in which the frame frequencies are the same and the numbers of pixels are different, the frame frequencies are equalized and the signals can be processed by the same clock.

Abstract: Necessary coded data only can be read out at random accessing even with recording medium having coded data recorded thereon but whose code quantity is out of proportion to time. Once a recording medium was loaded into a recorder-player connected with a coded-data control device, the device reads control data from the recording medium and stores the data in a coded data control portion. At random accessing, the control data is read-out from the coded-data control portion and entered into a recording medium controller which in turn controls the recording medium to read-out only desired data according to the information inputted from the coded data control portion. In random access playback, fast playback from the midway of a video-sequence can be realized by accessing coded data of a video frame by using control data.

Abstract: A system receives a broadcast program and temporarily stores the program data. A request is received to permanently record the broadcast program. This request is received after a portion of the broadcast program has been received and temporarily stored. The broadcast program is then permanently recorded, including the temporarily stored program data. A metafile identifies portions of the broadcast program and is accessible by a reader to continuously retrieve the stored portions of the broadcast program.

Abstract: The image signal reproduction apparatus for reproducing a main image signal including either a first type of image signal obtained by converting a film material image into an electrical signal or a second type of image signal including a video signal as a material thereof, using a transfer information including the main image signal and a determination flag for determining whether the main image signal is the first type of image signal or the second type of image signal.

Abstract: A system receives a broadcast program and temporarily stores the program data. A request is received to permanently record the broadcast program. This request is received after a portion of the broadcast program has been received and temporarily stored. The broadcast program is then permanently recorded, including the temporarily stored program data. A metafile identifies portions of the broadcast program and is accessible by a reader to continuously retrieve the stored portions of the broadcast program.

Abstract: An information storage medium capable of recording and playing back still picture information is provided with a first information unit having one still picture information, and a first group unit which is composed of a set of first information units, and has a plurality of pieces of still picture information having different contents. Information is recorded in the first group unit.

Abstract: A reproducing device has an input means for inputting an MPEG transport stream from a hard disk; and reproducing means for reproducing the inputted MPEG transport stream, in case of reproducing a special reproduction image, the input means extracts an MPEG transport stream from an arbitrary position to another arbitrary position in the inputted MPEG transport stream to output the special reproduction image used for special reproduction, and the reproducing means reproduces the special reproduction image while detecting whether a plurality of pieces of picture data exist in one of MPEG transport packets constituting the outputted special reproduction image.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and mobile device for providing geographic information to a user. The system includes a mobile device that is wirelessly connected to a geographic database. The mobile device includes a plurality of sensors for determining a first location and a first direction. A controller is adapted to provide information requested based on local queries and distal queries. In addition, the controller can respond to thematic queries of each variety, wherein the database search is limited to objects, entities or features that fit within a selected theme. Finally, the controller is adapted to select and order query results based upon two- and three-dimensional query windows.

Abstract: 139 sync blocks, each having 111 bytes, are disposed on each track of a magnetic tape. Among the 139 sync blocks, 121 sync blocks each consist of a two-byte detection pattern for detecting the sync block, three-byte identification information for identifying the sync block, 96-byte main data, and 10-byte inner error correcting code added to the identification information and the main data. In the remaining 18 sync blocks, instead of the main data, 96-byte outer error correcting code is included. The outer error correcting code is provided for each group of the 139 sync blocks. Such a group of 139 sync blocks is obtained by dividing 2224 sync blocks contained in sixteen tracks by sixteen planes, 1668 sync blocks contained in twelve tracks by twelve planes, or 1112 sync blocks contained in eight tracks by eight planes. The sync blocks are arranged on the magnetic tape so that the distance between the sync blocks belonging to the identical plane is constant among the planes.

Abstract: A recording arrangement receives reception information including program, picture and/or sound information in a receiving channel of a television program. A detector detects the received program information which characterizes the start and end times of the television programs. A recorder is adapted to record the picture and/or sound information on a record carrier from a recording start time till a recording end time. A recording controller which, when a user of the recording arrangement has defined the recording start time and the receiving channel for a recording, is adapted to propose the end determined by the detector as the recording end time for the recording of the television program that can be received in the receiving channel.

Abstract: A transfer unit and an image output control unit are provided in order to check and prevent any alteration or forgery of image file data in a memory card. The transfer unit transfers a digital signature of the image file data stored in the memory card, a secret key used for the digital signature or a public key paired to the secret key, together with the image file data and a property file, to an image control apparatus. The image output control unit controls an image output in accordance with the information transferred by the transfer unit.

Abstract: In an editing apparatus, the work efficiency can be improved comparing to a conventional apparatus. Storage means (14) having a plurality of input ports and at least one output port; and control means (16) for controlling the recording areas of the storage means, in which the different recording area is respectively assigned to each of a plurality of encoding means (11 to 13) as a recording area in which the encoded data is stored, the recording area in which the encoded data has been stored is assigned to the multiplexing unit (15), and the recording area which is different from that of the encoded data is assigned as the recording area in which the multiplexed data is stored are provided, so that the storage means can be commonly used both in the encoding means and the multiplexing means. Thereby, the data transfer between encoding means and the multiplexing means does not performed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an audio and video data synchronous reproduction method, wherein an audio decoder decodes audio data separated by a demultiplexer from the multiplexed stream in which audio data, video data and a time stamp are multiplexed. A video decoder decodes video data separated by the demultiplexer from the multiplexed stream. Reproduction processing on audio and video data is paused in response to the request to pause the reproduction of the audio and video data. The reproduction processing on the audio and video data a video decoder is resumed in response to the request to release the pause in the reproduction of the audio and video data. The respective internal clocks included in the demultiplexer, the audio decoder and the video decoder is, before the resuming, set to indicate a single time.

Abstract: The invention includes a system and method for changing a playback speed of a selected video segment containing field pictures which has been recorded onto a portion of a storage medium. A selected video segment can be modified for a changed playback speed and the modified video segment can be recorded exclusively on the portion of the storage medium. A plurality of non-video packs in the selected video segment can be deleted to reduce the amount of data contained in the modified video segment. The video segment can be modified by adding at least one field picture. Alternatively, the video segment can be modified by removing at least one field picture contained in the video segment. In either arrangement, the video segment can be reencoded to produce a smoother trick mode and playback performance.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture is provided for automatic insertion of a compressed GOP offset table within a previously encoded MPEG video file, for frame accurate random access of each individual video frame in play-from-offset mode. The method creates a compressed GOP offset table having an entry for each GOP header of every video packet of the MPEG video file, and modifies the MPEG video file by inserting the compressed GOP offset table before the MPEG video file as at least one padding packet, thereby preserving the MPEG compliance and compressed audio/video data of the MPEG video file. The method further has a step for estimating a number of padding packets needed for the GOP offset table, thereby limiting the MPEG video file reading to a single read.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproduction apparatus for recording and/or reproducing data onto and/or from a storage medium is disclosed. The recording and/or reproduction apparatus includes a recording and/or reproduction section for recording and/or reproducing data onto and/or from the storage medium, a communication section for communicating with an external apparatus, a memory for storing operation screen information corresponding to the recording and/or reproduction section, a transmission controller for controlling the communication section to transmit the operation screen information to the external apparatus, and a controller operable when the communication section receives operation information to the operation screen information displayed on the external apparatus for controlling the recording and/or reproduction section in accordance with the operation information.

Abstract: On an optical disk, video object sets (VTST_VOBS) to be reproduced and video title set information (VTSI) serving as management information on the video object sets have been stored. In each video object set (VTST_VOBS), many data cells, each containing video, audio, and sub-picture data, are arranged Management information of program chains, which are combinations of programs to be reproduced one after another, has been written in a video title set PGC table (VTS_PGCIT). By referring to the program chain table (VTS_PGCIT) according to the user's input, the playback order of program chains can be changed, enabling the program chains to be reproduced one after another in various modes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a video-signal recording & playback apparatus and method for recording and playing back a video signal of a television-broadcast program and a recording medium for storing a computer-readable program for controlling the video-signal recording & playback apparatus. A video-signal recording & playback apparatus includes a detection element for detecting relevant information related to a program being recorded and a modification element for automatically modifying an algorithm of detecting a program-representing picture in dependence of the relevant information.