Abstract: The present invention relates to a recoding apparatus and a recording method, a playback apparatus and a playback method, a recording/playback apparatus and a recording/playback method, and a program, whereby processing relating to a file can be readily performed. With a video camera wherein with regard to H.264/AVC for example, which is a coding method arranged to encode or decode data, a codec class arranged to classify the performance of a codec configured to encode or decode data, and a codec level serving as a group of said one or more codec classes whose upper compatibility is ensured, are based on stipulated specifications, data is encoded into, for example, coded data of a codec class #2, for example, within a codec level AVC_A by H.264/AVC. The coded data is recorded in a recording medium, for example, as a file “AVCA0001.MP4” whose file name represents the codec level AVC_A of the coded data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recoding apparatus and a recording method, a playback apparatus and a playback method, a recording/playback apparatus and a recording/playback method, and a program, whereby processing relating to a file can be readily performed. With a video camera wherein with regard to H.264/AVC for example, which is a coding method arranged to encode or decode data, a codec class arranged to classify the performance of a codec configured to encode or decode data, and a codec level serving as a group of said one or more codec classes whose upper compatibility is ensured, are based on stipulated specifications, data is encoded into, for example, coded data of a codec class #2, for example, within a codec level AVC_A by H.264/AVC. The coded data is recorded in a recording medium, for example, as a file “AVCA0001.MP4” whose file name represents the codec level AVC_A of the coded data.

Abstract: A processing apparatus including a plurality of task-processing devices includes a calculation control unit and a device control unit configured to cause the task-processing devices to perform tasks of at least one kind in parallel in accordance with control performed by the calculation control unit. The device control unit sends a command for starting task processing to each of the task-processing devices in accordance with the task group generated by and sent from the calculation control unit. The task-processing devices each execute a task issued from the device control unit, and when the task is complete, each provide a notification that the task is complete to the device control unit. The device control unit provides, in the case in which all tasks included in the task group are complete, a notification that the task group is complete to the calculation control unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to device and method for processing picture signals, a recording medium, a program, and a video camera that each allow the prediction residual of a coding-target picture to be predicted accurately before actual coding of the coding-target picture. The pseudo prediction residual BD(n) corresponding to the n-th picture from a pseudo prediction residual producer is input to a prediction residual calculator 21 and a delayer 22. The prediction residual calculator 21 calculates the anticipated prediction residual PRED(n) corresponding to the coding-target picture signal of the n-th picture by adding a value G(SAD(n?1)?BD(n?1)) to the pseudo prediction residual BD(n) that is input from the pseudo prediction residual producer 2 and corresponds to the n-th picture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a picture encoding apparatus in which, in the encoding rich in predictive modes, the volume of codes generated may be estimated highly accurately prior to encoding, and in which the encoding processing in the encoding means and step may be carried out under optimum control of, for example, the picture quality, compression ration or the rate. An encoder 12 applies encoding processing, rich in predictive modes, such as MPEG4 AVC, having orthogonal cosine transform, as a main function, to an input picture signal VIN (picture being encoded) from an input terminal 11. A predictor for the volume of codes generated 18 predicts the volume of codes generated BIT(N) in the encoder 12, based on the prediction residues obtained on applying the intra-frame and inter-frame predictive processing to the input picture signal VIN. The encoding controller 19 uses the volume of codes generated BIT(N), predicted by the predictor for the volume of codes generated 18, for controlling the encoding in the encoder 12.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus, a method of data processing and an encoding device are provided. The data processing apparatus is capable of encoding all motion compensation block data, wherein, when generating for example a motion vector MV of a motion compensation block data A in macro block data MB_X, when the motion vectors MV of the motion compensation block data B1, B2, and B3 at the periphery of that are not generated, a predictive vector generation unit of a motion prediction and compensation circuit generates a predictive motion vector PMV of the motion compensation block data A by using already generated motion vectors MV of motion compensation block data C1, C2, and C3 in the adjacent macro block data MB_Y in place of them.

Abstract: In an apparatus for recording and reproducing a digital picture signal, the large number of data bits in the digital picture signal to be recorded is reduced by a ratio of approximately 1:9, and the thus compressed data are recorded with a recording density of at least approximately 0.8 bit/&mgr;m2 in relatively narrow successive skewed tracks without guard bands on a metal evaporated magnetic tape having predefined characteristics. The magnetic tape has a width of no more than approximately 8 mm and a thickness of no more than approximately 7 &mgr;m and is wound in a relatively small size cassette.

Abstract: Methods and systems for bit manipulation instructions are disclosed. The instruction srlmsk shifts a value stored in a first register based on a shift value stored in a second register and loads N bits from the shift register to a third register using a single instruction. The instruction concat loads the lower N bits from a first register into the high order bits of a second register and loads a subset of least significant bits of a third register to the low order bits of the second register using a single instruction. These instructions may be used to improve variable length encoding and decoding processes.

Abstract: Rotary head recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which respective oblique tracks on a record medium are scanned, each track having an information signal area in which information data is recorded and a track following area in which a tracking control pilot signal is recorded. The track following area precedes the information signal area; and in the preferred embodiment, an additional track following area follows the information signal area. The pilot signal is recorded in only a portion of the track following area, the remainder of which has timing sync data recorded therein. In an after-recording mode the timing sync data is reproduced, detected and used as a reference to define an after-record area.

Abstract: An automatic clock signal phase adjusting circuit for use with a digital magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus adopting a partial response class IV coding method. The automatic clock signal phase adjusting circuit comprises: a pattern detection circuit for detecting at least one of patterns "1, 0, -1" and "-1, 0, 1" from a reproduced signal; a level detection circuit for detecting the levels of the reproduced signal in effect when the pattern detection circuit detects 0's; a clock reproduction circuit for reproducing a clock signal from the reproduced signal; and a phase adjustment circuit for adjusting the phase of the clock signal reproduced by the clock reproduction circuit based on the output signal from the level detection circuit.

Abstract: In a digital video tape recorder that has rotary magnetic heads for recording digital video information on a magnetic tape in the form of data blocks having a predetermined length, an ID signal is generated for each data block. The ID signal includes a number of data bits which identify the address of the data block, the information contained in the data block, and so forth. For the purpose of generating error code parity symbols, the ID signal is divided into a sequence of four-bit symbols, and at least two parity symbols are generated according to an error correction code for correcting errors in the sequence of four-bit symbols. The ID signal and parity symbols are recorded together on the magnetic tape. In this way, error correction can be performed on the ID signal during reproduction.

Abstract: Digital data representing a compressed image is separated into priority data and normal data, and formatted so that the priority data is repeatedly recorded on a magnetic tape. The transmission rate of the digital data is compared with the recording rate on the magnetic tape to control the number of repetitions of the priority data.

Abstract: A digital signal recording and reproducing apparatus are disclosed which can record digital data of the advanced television (ATV) system or some other digital data onto a recording medium without the necessity of displacing recording areas for sub codes of the recording medium and can thus make effective use of the recording capacity of the recording medium. When an ordinary television signal is to be recorded, the length of the Inter Block Gap IBG and amble areas between an audio signal recording area and a video signal recording area is set to an integral number of times the length of a synchronizing block of a digital audio signal and a digital video signal. When data of the ATV system or like data are to be recorded, the data are recorded continuously from the audio signal recording area to the video signal recording area.

Abstract: An automatic clock signal phase adjusting circuit for use with a digital magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus adopting a partial response class IV coding method. The automatic clock signal phase adjusting circuit comprises: a pattern detection circuit for detecting at least one of patterns "1, 0, -1" and "-1, 0, 1" from a reproduced signal; a level detection circuit for detecting the levels of the reproduced signal in effect when the pattern detection circuit detects 0's; a clock reproduction circuit for reproducing a clock signal from the reproduced signal; and a phase adjustment circuit for adjusting the phase of the clock signal reproduced by the clock reproduction circuit based on the output signal from the level detection circuit.

Abstract: An automatic clock signal phase adjusting circuit for use with a digital magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus adopting a partial response class IV coding method. The automatic clock signal phase adjusting circuit comprises: a pattern detection circuit for detecting at least one of patterns "1, 0, -1" and "-1, 0, 1" from a reproduced signal; a level detection circuit for detecting the levels of the reproduced signal in effect when the pattern detection circuit detects 0's; a clock reproduction circuit for reproducing a clock signal from the reproduced signal; and a phase adjustment circuit for adjusting the phase of the clock signal reproduced by the clock reproduction circuit based on the output signal from the level detection circuit.

Abstract: In a digital video tape recorder that has rotary magnetic heads for recording digital video information on a magnetic tape in the form of data blocks having a predetermined length, an ID signal is generated for each data block. The ID signal includes a number of data bits which identify the address of the data block, the information contained in the data block, and so forth. For the purpose of generating error code parity symbols, the ID signal is divided into a sequence of four-bit symbols, and at least two parity symbols are generated according to an error correction code for correcting errors in the sequence of four-bit symbols. The ID signal and parity symbols are recorded together on the magnetic tape. In this way, error correction can be performed on the ID signal during reproduction.

Abstract: Digital data representing a compressed image is separated into priority data and normal data, and formatted so that the priority data is repeatedly recorded on a magnetic tape. The transmission rate of the digital data is compared with the recording rate on the magnetic tape to control the number of repetitions of the priority data.

Abstract: A synchronizing signal extracting apparatus comprising synchronizing signal detecting circuit for detecting a synchronizing signal of predetermined bits from entered digital data, synchronizing signal generating circuit adapted to be reset by an output of the synchronizing signal detecting circuit, the synchronizing signal generating circuit generating an output in a timing of said synchronizing signal, and synchronizing signal extracting circuit for outputting, as a synchronizing signal, a result of an OR operation performed on the output of said synchronizing signal detecting circuit and the output of said synchronizing signal generating circuit, the synchronizing signal extracting circuit changing a state thereof according to match/mismatch in timing between the output of said synchronizing signal detecting circuit and the output of said synchronizing signal generating circuit.

Abstract: The characteristic of a regenerative signal from a magnetic head 11 is compensated by a filter 14 serving as an equalizer. The regenerative signal thus compensated is then decoded at a decoder 15. An adaptive control unit 17 adjusts (modifies) the characteristic of the filter 14 on the basis of a decode error (residual) at the decoder 15 and an input to the filter 14. A servo control unit 18 sends a servo lock signal to the adaptive control unit 17 when a servo control operation at the time of reproduction is stabilized to start an automatic adjustment operation of the filter characteristic. Thus, it is possible to prevent in advance bad influence or effect on a compensating operation of the equalizer resulting from the fact that an adaptive adjustment operation of the filter characteristic might be carried out at the time when the servo control operation is unstable like at the time of building up of a reproducing operation.

Abstract: In a digital information signal transferring apparatus for transferring sequential sync block data composed of encoded synchronous, ID and digital information signals, the digital information signal is encoded and an insertion area is formed therein, whereupon, an ID signal is added in the insertion area and comprises a format identifying signal, a signal for identifying the type of the digital information signal, and a sync block number.