Abstract: Editing apparatus for editing source video and/or audio material stored on a storage medium to generate an edited material sequence of clips from the source material, comprises: means for defining source files on the storage medium containing data representing the source material to be edited; and means for defining an output file on the storage medium for each edited material sequence, each output file comprising addressing information defining a sequence of storage locations on the storage medium of data within the source files representing the one or more clips of source material forming that edited material sequence.

Abstract: An audio/video reproducing apparatus is connectable to a communications network for selectively reproducing items of audio/video material from a recording medium in response to a request received via the communications network. The audio/video reproducing apparatus may comprise a control processor operable in use to receive data representing the request for the audio/video material item via the communications network. A reproducing processor is operable in response to signals identifying the audio/video material items from the control processor to reproduce the audio/video material items. The data identifying the audio/video material items includes meta data indicative of the audio/video material items. The meta data may be one of UMID, tape ID and time codes, and a Unique Material Identifier the material items.

Abstract: Video replay apparatus comprises a video material store and a replay controller for controlling replay of video material store; the replay controller being operable to control replay of video material stored in the store in accordance with associated data defining an information content of the video material.

Abstract: A video information processing apparatus for selecting a representative video image from a group of video images in dependence upon a frequency of occurrence of a plurality of possible values of at least one image property.

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus comprises a recording processor which is operable to record audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, a meta data generation processor which is operable to generate meta data identifying the content of the audio/video signals, and a communications processor which arranged to communicate the meta data separately from the recording medium.

Abstract: A camera-recorder apparatus comprises an image capture device operable to capture a plurality of video images; a storage medium by which the video images are stored for later retrieval; a feature extraction unit operable to derive image property data from the image content of at least one of the video images substantially in real time at the capture of the video images, the image property data being associated with respective images or groups of images; and a data path by which the camera-recorder apparatus is operable to transfer the derived image property data to an external data processing apparatus.

Abstract: A video information retrieval system comprises a client system having: means for issuing a search request in respect of desired video material; and means for accessing video material on the basis of a uniform resource locator (URL) and a SMPTE unique material identifier (UMID); a server system having: access to one or more databases containing metadata information relating to a plurality of video material items, a UMID associated with each video material item and at least one URL associated with each UMID; means for receiving a search request from the client system and detecting one or more video material items for which metadata information stored in at least one of the database(s) substantially corresponds to the search request; means for supplying the metadata information, the URL and the UMID relating to the one or more detected video material items to the client system; and at least one video repository having: a video storage arrangement storing video material and associated UMID data; in which the meta

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling replay of video and/or audio material comprises cursor control means for providing user control of a cursor on the display screen; selection control means for selecting an operation to be performed by the apparatus in dependence on the current position of the cursor on the display screen when the selection control means is activated by the user; means for defining a shuttle control display screen area for use in controlling shuttle replay operation; means for detecting an initial activation of the selection control means while the cursor is at an initial activation point within the shuttle control display screen area; and means, responsive to the detecting means, for controlling shuttle replay of the recorded material at a shuttle speed dependent on a current displacement on the display screen of the cursor from the initial activation point while the selection control means remains continuously activated after the initial activation.

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus is arranged in operation to generate audio and/or video signals representative of an audio and/or video source has a meta data generation tool which is arranged in operation to generate meta data associated with the audio and/or video signals, wherein the type of meta data generated by the meta data generation tool is user selectable. The audio and/or video generation apparatus may comprise a recording means which is arranged in operation to record the audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, and the audio and/or video generation apparatus may be arranged to receive meta data associated with the audio and/or video signals generated by a data processor, the recording means being arranged in operation to record the meta data on the recording medium with the audio and/or video signals. The meta data may be user generated, such as text describing the audio/video signals, or may be secondary meta data which is automatically generated by the audio/video apparatus.

Abstract: Data storage apparatus having an ordered data array of data items stored on a storage medium, in which deletion of a data item from the array leaves data storage space in which a newly stored data item can be stored, comprises means for storing a mask array on the storage medium, the mask array having a respective mask array data entry for each possible data item position in the stored data array, which is settable to indicate whether a data item is validly stored at that data array position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for editing recorded audio and/or video material, in which temporally successive material clips of a edited output material sequence are represented by corresponding clip icons on a display screen displayed in a display order corresponding to the temporal order of replay of the material clips.

Abstract: A video signal processor interpolating lines in a vertical filter (24) in dependence on whether the lines are of a 625 line frame or a 525 line frame. The interpolated lines are filtered in a horizontal filter (26). The resultant lines are vertically and horizontally decimated by controlling the writing of the lines into a FIFO (28). A reduced size image is produced which has the same number of lines and pixels per line for both 525 and 625 line frames. The reduced size image is data compressed in a JPEG codec (50). The compression factor for a 525/60 signal is 6/5 of that for a 625/50 signal so the data rate per unit time is the same for both signals.

Abstract: A wheeled transporter for air cargo includes a load carrying platform having rollers, connected at one edge to a power console incorporating a prime mover, and supported at the other edge with unpowered castoring wheels. The transporter is driven by two steerable wheels located beneath the console adjacent opposite ends. Each steerable wheel is driven by a reversible motor, and is steerable so that when one wheel is turned in one direction the other is turned in an opposite direction. The transporter can thus be driven in either direction along path (X), and turned or rotated on (Z). By turning the wheels through 90 degrees to the longitudinal direction, the transporter can be driven along a path (Y) in either direction, and steered by varying the differential speed of the wheels. A container carried on the deck can be moved and rotated in directions X', Y' and Z'.

Abstract: An edit controller for controlling editing of recorded audio and/or video material, in which temporally successive material clips of a edited output material sequence are represented by corresponding clip icons on a display screen, comprises cursor controller for providing user control of a cursor on the display screen; selection controller for selecting an operation to be performed by the edit controller in dependence on the current position of the cursor on the display screen when the selection controller is activated by the user; logic for defining first and second display screen selection areas for each clip icon, the first and second display screen selection areas each having a predefined position on the display screen with respect to a current display position of the respective clip icon; logic, responsive to user operation of the selection controller while the cursor is displayed within the first selection area associated with a clip icon for initiating replay of the output material sequence from the s

Abstract: A predominantly liquid filled, vapor-liquid chemical reactor having an improved distributor plate assembly is disclosed. At least one of the plates in the assembly is formed with an active area having a plurality of apertures formed through the plate, an opening, and a downwardly depending lip proximate the opening. As vapor ascends through the reactor, the plate and the lip cooperate to trap the vapor upwardly against the bottom of the plate, forming a vapor region. This vapor region facilitates vapor liquid interaction and the flow pattern of liquid through the reactor.

Abstract: A laptop computer 53 has an LCD display 542 which is used to display images represented by data-reduced video signals supplied to it from a buffer 52 of a video signal processor (50, 51, 52, 56, 57). The processor is connected to the computer 53 via an SCSI interface having a test adaptor 55, a bus 556 and a device controller 56. The computer is not synchronised with the video. It processes a frame of image data to display the frame, and then requests another frame asynchronously with the video sync. The video signal processor (50, 51, 52, 56, 57) responds to the request by disconnecting from the bus (556) processing the next frame, and reconnecting to the bus to provide the frame synchronously with video frame sync F. Thus the computer becomes effectively synchronised to the video.

Abstract: An otherwise conventional CardBus adapter is provided with an additional status register, a small number of additional pins, and associated external buffering circuitry. Furthermore, a number of the CardBus adapter's existing pins are either eliminated, redefined or used for multiple purposes. As a result, the CardBus adapter in conjunction with the associated external buffering circuitry is able to interface to multiple CardBus/16-bit PC Cards at the same time.

Abstract: A system for enabling a PC card to appropriately function in the 16-bit and 32-bit standard PCMCIA environments. If the 16-bit standard and the 32-bit standard requires a pin to be connected in a certain manner, then the pin is connected in that manner. If the 16-bit standard requires a card detect pin to be grounded and the 32-bit standard requires that same card detect pin to be connected to a voltage sense pin, then the card detect pin and voltage sense pin are connected, and the card detect pin is connected to ground via a pull-down resistor. After initialization, the standard of the PCMCIA adapter can be detected by sensing the voltage of an open-circuited voltage sense pin.

Abstract: A method of making a balloon includes providing two balloon films and providing two valve films. The two valve films are placed one on top of the other and then inserted between the two balloon films. Then a portion of each of the valve films is tack sealed to its respective adjacent balloon film. The valve films are then sealed together to form a valve passageway therein. During the valve sealing step, the balloon films are held in a fanned out manner. Finally, the balloon films are sealed together along the perimeter thereof to form the balloon.

Abstract: A balloon includes a pair of overlying valve film strips disposed between a pair of overlying balloon films, which include neck and body portions. The valve film strips extend at an angle to a central axis of the neck portions, and valve seals formed in the valve film strips direct incoming gas from an inlet adjacent the neck, to an outlet between the body portions. Methods of assembling the balloons by forming the valve seams and neck seams without moving the balloon films or valve film strips is also disclosed.