Abstract: Copy protecting television broadcast program signals which are received and recorded in a format that reserves recording areas for accessory information relating to the format and reserves other recording areas for digital image signals. When the input signals received for recording are determined to be television broadcast program signals, a generation limiting signal inserted therein is set to a copy protect state and is recorded to inhibit copying.

Abstract: An application ID is recorded in a timing sector at an entrance end of a track on a recording medium for stipulating a data structure for the respective track including a determined number of areas into which the remainder of the track is divided, the positioning of those areas, and the arrangements of Sync. blocks and error correcting codes (ECC) in the areas. Further, each of the areas into which the track is divided in addition to the timing sector is provided with a respective application ID for determining the data structure in the respective area.

Abstract: Copy protecting television broadcast program signals which are received and recorded in a format that reserves recording areas for accessory information relating to the format and reserves other recording areas for digital image signals. When the input signals received for recording are determined to be television broadcast program signals, a generation limiting signal inserted therein is set to a copy protect state and is recorded to inhibit copying.

Abstract: A video signal recording apparatus digitally records on a storage medium a video signal comprising an image signal, an audio signal, and an audio-associated information signal, the audio-associated information signal is included in a vertical blanking period of the video signal, the audio-associated information is collected, formatted, and digitally recorded in an area separate from areas where the image signal and audio signal are recorded.

Abstract: During recording, a multilingual indication is generated when at least two of the audio channels of a digital audio signal are associated with a common program, and the multilingual indication is combined with the digital audio signal. During reproduction, a display is activated when a multilingual indication indicates that at least two of the audio channels included in a digital audio signal are associated with a common program.

Abstract: Magnetic recording apparatus are provided for recording signals on a magnetic tape. A recording head records signals in successive tracks on the tape and a tape transport transports a magnetic tape past the recording head in a recording direction. In one embodiment, absolute track addresses are recorded in at least some of the tracks, the absolute track address of each track corresponding to a distance of the track from a start position of the magnetic tape. Recording is initiated from a track having a predetermined absolute track address corresponding to a predetermined distance from the start position. In a further embodiment, the tape transport transports the tape initially by a distance necessary to establish a stable running state, and thereafter transports the tape a further distance while recording reproduction control signals so that during reproduction a stable running state may be achieved. Thereafter, information to be output is recorded.

Abstract: Magnetic recording apparatus are provided for recording signals on a magnetic tape. A recording head records signals in successive tracks on the tape and a tape transport transports a magnetic tape past the recording head in a recording direction. In one embodiment, absolute track addresses are recorded in at least some of the tracks, the absolute track address of each track corresponding to a distance of the track from a start position of the magnetic tape. Recording is initiated from a track having a predetermined absolute track address corresponding to a predetermined distance from the start position. In a further embodiment, the tape transport transports the tape initially by a distance necessary to establish a stable running state, and thereafter transports the tape a further distance while recording reproduction control signals so that during reproduction a stable running state may be achieved. Thereafter, information to be output is recorded.

Abstract: There is realized a cassette with a memory in which the writing time is short, it can be accessed in a short time, and there is no need to provide an additional memory to the apparatus side of the main body. As for a memory of a cassette with a memory, a memory to store fundamental data such as table of contents (TOC) information or the like is constructed by an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) and a memory to store data is constructed by a large capacity memory (for example, flash memory).

Abstract: Digital audio signal transmission is provided for digitally processing, for transmission in a digital VCR format, audio signals from a plurality of channels into a digitized audio data segmented into blocks having a data size, each block reserved for audio data digitized from one of the channels. The audio data is converted from the channels into the blocks of digitized audio data by varying the data size of the blocks. The audio data is composed by scaling the audio data in at least one of the blocks and combining the scaled audio data with the audio data of another of the blocks into a block reserved for composite audio data.

Abstract: A digital video signal is recorded in a first number of tracks in a standard play (SP) mode and in a second number of tracks in a long play (LP) mode, wherein each frame of the digital video signal is recorded in first and second sets of tracks in the SP mode and in only a first set of tracks in the LP mode, each track having subcode data recorded therein for locating frames during a high speed search of the record medium. The digital video signal is compressed prior to recording in both the SP and LP modes, with the compression ratio being greater in the LP mode. When the digital video signal is recorded in the SP mode, the subcode data is of a first type for recording in the first set of tracks and is of a second type for recording in the second set of tracks; whereas when the digital video signal is recorded in the LP mode, only one type of subcode data is recorded.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a video signal as a moving image or a still image. A moving image may be recorded in a first (YCrCb) recording mode wherein a luminance signal Y and color difference signals (R-Y) and (R-B) corresponding thereto are recorded. A still image may be recorded in a second (RGB) recording mode wherein three primary color signals corresponding thereto are recorded. In the RGB recording mode, the amount of information of each of the three primary color signals may be set to at least the amount of information of the luminance signal Y of the YCrCb recording mode such that, upon the reproduction thereof, a reproduced still image having a relatively high resolution is obtained.

Abstract: A plurality of additional information are made correspond to one predetermined video image; a storing order of events is properly set and data processes in a memory in case of adding or deleting character information are easily executed. The number information indicative of the number of text events corresponding to the program event is recorded in the program event. As for memory areas of the cassette with a memory, there are provided: a main area in which tape information and the like are stored; and an optional area in which TOC information, timer recording information, character information, and the like are stored. In the case where character information regarding the events of the optional area exists, the character information is stored at the last position of the optional area.

Abstract: The television signal recording/reproducing system digitally records and reproduces television signals composed of a luminance signal, a chrominance signal and a resolution compensation signal included in predetermined television scanning lines. The system includes a Y/C separating circuit for separating the luminance signal Y from the chrominance signal C. The luminance signal Y and the resolution compensation signal are combined onto a first signal line. A demodulating circuit demodulates the chrominance signal into a color difference signal and outputs the demodulated signal to a second signal line. A digital video signal recorder digitally process the signals on the first signal line separately from the signals on the second signal line and records the digitally processed signals. In this manner, the resolution compensation signal is processed with the luminance signal and the resolution compensation signal can be accurately recorded.

Abstract: A signal format and reproducing apparatus compatible with that format protect the copyright of recorded video and audio data against digital and analog dubbing. The reproducing apparatus senses copyright information included in the signal reproduced from a record medium to generate a copyright protection signal which is placed in a vertical blanking interval of the analog output of the reproducing apparatus. If a Serial Copy Management System (SCMS) signal is reproduced, it is supplied to a digital VCR (Video Cassette Recorder). The copyright protection signal disrupts the AGC (Automatic Grain Circuit) of a recording analog VCR and the SCMS signal prevents a digital VCR from digitally dubbing the reproduced video and audio data.

Abstract: An apparatus records and reproduces digital video signals on a tape such that recording by another digital VTR or another analog VTR can be blocked, both through a digital interface and an analog interface, to provide a copy protection through various techniques, such as AGC or color striping. The digital recording format includes a recording area for encoded video signals and a recording area for auxiliary information configured in packs. A disturbance signal generating flag is included in an auxiliary information pack and recorded in the auxiliary information recording area. Based on the status of the flag, a disturbance signal may be inserted as a copy protection signal that is reproduced from the encoded video signals into the analog video signal.

Abstract: There is realized a cassette with a memory in which the writing time is short, it can be accessed in a short time, and there is no need to provide an additional memory to the apparatus side of the main body. As for a memory of a cassette with a memory, a memory to store fundamental data such as TOC information or the like is constructed by an EEPROM and a memory to store data is constructed by a large capacity memory (for example, flash memory).

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus which receives character broadcasting information transmitted via a vertical blanking period of audio/video signals. The apparatus detects certain information from the received data, including a prefix portion and character information. The character information is screened for desired information which is then separated from the remaining broadcasting information based on the detected information, such as the prefix portion. The separated data is then recorded in a separate area on the recording track. Video data is recorded in a first area and audio data is recorded in a second area on the recording track. The character broadcasting information is reproduced by inserting the reproduced desired character information into the vertical blanking period of reproduced video data.

Abstract: The television signal recording/reproducing system digitally records and reproduces television signals composed of a luminance signal, a chrominance signal and a resolution compensation signal included in predetermined television scanning lines. The system includes a Y/C separating circuit for separating the luminance signal Y from the chrominance signal C and a decoder for decoding the color signal into color difference signals C.sub.B, C.sub.R. One of the color difference signals C.sub.B, C.sub.R is combined with the resolution compensation signal, and a digital video signal recorder digitally records the combined resolution signal and the color difference signal. In this manner, the resolution compensation signal is accurately recorded.

Abstract: A digital signal recording and/or reproducing apparatus and method can maintain a satisfactory continuity of a previously-recorded area and a postrecorded area by reducing a tracking displacement between the previously-recorded area and the postrecorded area. A signal from a playback amplifier (10) is supplied to a f1/f2 discriminating circuit (13), and a discriminated signal is supplied to a tracking information detector (14). A memory (15) is controlled by a system controller (100). Tracking information from the detector (14) is supplied to the memory (15) which independently memorizes tracking information signals of respective areas of a video signal, an audio signal, a subcode signal and an ITI signal. Tracking information signals of the respective areas memorized in the memory (15) are selected by a selector (16) formed of switches (16.sub.1 to 16.sub.4) and supplied to an averaging circuit (17).

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus for selectively having a normal cassette containing a recording and reproducing tape or a cleaning cassette containing a cleaning tape loaded therein is provided to detect, for example, on the basis of information stored in a semiconductor memory or an ID board of each cassette, whether the loaded cassette is a normal cassette or a cleaning cassette and, if a cleaning cassette is detected, to limit performance of a cleaning operation to only a predetermined time.