Recording For Monetary Delay Of An Analog Signal Patents (Class 360/7)
  • Patent number: 10516901
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to store a buffer of accelerable broadcast content. The processor is also configured to determine that a predefined condition exists, defining a situation where content acceleration is appropriate. The processor is further configured to determine a broadcast content playback point where content should be accelerated and playback a predetermined portion of the buffer at a predefined accelerated pace, responsive to reaching the playback point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daryl Martin, John William Schmotzer, Jae Hyung Lim
  • Patent number: 9945737
    Abstract: A method for determining waveguide temperature for at least one waveguide of a transceiver utilized for generating a temperature map. The transceiver generates an acoustic signal that travels through a measurement space in a hot gas flow path defined by a wall such as in a combustor. The method includes calculating a total time of flight for the acoustic signal and subtracting a waveguide travel time from the total time of flight to obtain a measurement space travel time. A temperature map is calculated based on the measurement space travel time. An estimated wall temperature is obtained from the temperature map. An estimated waveguide temperature is then calculated based on the estimated wall temperature wherein the estimated waveguide temperature is determined without the use of a temperature sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Upul P. DeSilva, Heiko Claussen, Karthik Ragunathan
  • Patent number: 9564146
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for processing of an audio signal relating to a diver in a deep diving environment. The system comprises an input device structured to receive the signal, a pitch changing module configured to change the pitch of the received signal, a plurality of processing modules collectively configured to process the pitch changed signal and produce a processed signal. The present invention is further directed to a method for processing of an audio signal relating to a diver in a deep diving environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Bongiovi Acoustics LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Bongiovi, Ryan Copt, Phillip Fuller, Joseph Butera, III, Glenn Zelniker
  • Patent number: 9467793
    Abstract: Embodiments can include systems, methods, and apparatus for recording three-dimensional audio and associated data. In one embodiment, an apparatus can include a base, a stick operable to move in either an X-axis direction or a Y-axis direction with respect to the base, a pedal operable to mount to a portion of the stick and receive a user input in either the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction, and a sliding mechanism operable to facilitate sliding the pedal with respect to the base, wherein the pedal is further operable to receive another user input to correspond to a Z-axis direction. In certain embodiments, the apparatus can also include a locking mechanism operable to receive a user input to limit sliding the pedal with respect to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventor: Tyner Brentz Strub
  • Patent number: 9271076
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enhanced stereo audio recordings in electronic devices. Stereophonic recording performance in an electronic device, using a first microphone and a second microphone in the electronic device, may be assessed; and processing of signals generated by the first microphone and the second microphone may be configured based on the assessed stereophonic recording performance. The configuring may comprises adaptively modifying the processing to enhance stereophonic recording performance, to match or approximate an ideal performance. The assessing of the stereophonic recording in the electronic device may be based on a type of each of the first microphone and the second microphone, and/or based on a spacing therebetween. The processing may be adaptively modified to simulate directional reception of signals by the first microphone and the second microphone when the microphones are omnidirectional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: DSP Group LTD.
    Inventors: Arie Heiman, Moshe Haiut, Uri Yehuday
  • Patent number: 7643728
    Abstract: A video signal recording apparatus with a video and audio memorizing section for temporarily memorizing an inputted video audio signal, a time code generating section for generating a time-code of said video audio signal an auxiliary information memorizing section for temporarily memorizing auxiliary information appended to said video audio signal including said time code generating a regeneration value obtained from a time code to which one frame time is added to said recorded time code when a recording starts and correcting said regeneration value for an amount of delay corresponding to a storage volume temporarily memorized in said auxiliary information (time code, metadata, CUE audio signal, and the like) memorizing section and thus obtaining a corrected time code, and thereafter sequential time codes are generated from said corrected time code though said time code generating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akiyuki Noda, Shinji Takemoto, Hiroyuki Yamashita, Tsuneki Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 7593619
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus and method and to a program in which a user can reliably record desired data. An instructed recording start point B indicates a position at which AV data captured when the user gives an instruction to start recording is recorded. An instructed recording end point C indicates a position at which AV data captured when the user gives an instruction to finish recording is recorded. Extra pre-AV data before the instructed recording start point B and extra post-AV data after the instructed recording end point C are recorded. Accordingly, the user can record required images (sound) more reliably, and thus, the possibility of the user missing desired images (sound) is decreased. The present invention is applicable to a video image recording apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 7437751
    Abstract: A time sequential signal comprising audiovisual content and hyperlinks is received and displayed on a display device by the systems of the invention in a time sequential manner. The display of the time sequential signal is paused whenever a displayed hyperlink is selected. While pausing the display, data corresponding to any selected hyperlink is accessed and displayed on the display device. The corresponding data may comprise a web page accessed through the Internet or an interval page that is transmitted within the vertical blanking intervals of the time sequential signal. While pausing the display of the time sequential signal, the time sequential signal is recorded so that it can be viewed in the order it was recorded as soon as a resume display command is received by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: John J. Daniels
  • Patent number: 7376336
    Abstract: A recording apparatus is provided with a receiving device which simultaneously receives a plurality of broadcast video signals; a multiplexing device which obtains a plurality of broadcast video signals from the receiving device, putts each of the plurality of broadcast video signals into packets and converts the packets into time-division multiplexed data; and a control device which records the time-division multiplexed data in a memory apparatus in packet units using a ring buffer method and in the order of recording position, and forms chapter units in the memory apparatus from a specified group of packets for the same program when performing records.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7289718
    Abstract: An audio signal is compressively encoded into encoding-resultant audio data. A video signal is compressively encoded into encoding-resultant video data. An audio time stamp for audio-vide synchronous reproduction is added to every unit of the encoding-resultant audio data. A video time stamp for audio-video synchronous reproduction is added to every unit of the encoding-resultant video data. The time-stamp-added audio data and the time-stamp-added video data are multiplexed into main data. To a plurality of first after-recording-purpose data for at least one of (1) the encoding-resultant audio data and (2) the encoding-resultant video data which form the main data, time stamps for reproduction synchronous with a portion of the main data and identification information for identifying the plurality of first after-recording-purpose data are added to convert the first after-recording-purpose data into second after-recording-purpose data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Sugahara, Norihiko Fuchigami, Harukuni Kobari, Toshio Kuroiwa
  • Patent number: 7218837
    Abstract: A program signal is recorded on a recording medium. The program signal is reproduced from the recording medium. First time information is generated in accordance with lapse of time. Second time information is generated from the reproduced program signal. The second time information represents one of (1) a time at which the program signal was recorded and (2) a time at which the program signal was broadcasted. On-screen information is superimposed on the reproduced program signal. The on-screen information represents (1) a picture portion indicative of a time, (2) a first mark positionally corresponding to the first time information, and (3) a second mark positionally corresponding to the second time information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Goto, Noriaki Fukutsu
  • Patent number: 7062147
    Abstract: A audio stream may include portions that are stored while other portions are being displayed. In one embodiment, a portion of the audio stream may be stored in digital storage media at one instance while in the next instance another portion of the stream is being read out of the storage media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick J. Cooper, Dennis M. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 6973669
    Abstract: A time sequential signal comprising audiovisual content and hyperlinks is received and displayed on a display device by the systems of the invention in a time sequential manner. The display of the time sequential signal is paused whenever a displayed hyperlink is selected. While pausing the display, data corresponding to any selected hyperlink is accessed and displayed on the display device. The corresponding data may comprise a web page accessed through the Internet or an interval page that is transmitted within the vertical blanking intervals of the time sequential signal. While pausing the display of the time sequential signal, the time sequential signal is recorded so that it can be viewed in the order it was recorded as soon as a resume display command is received by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: John J Daniels
  • Patent number: 6906873
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to monitor the positioning of a tape leader pin in a tape threader block moveably disposed in a tape drive. The' apparatus includes a tape threader block assembly comprising a first circuit having a first coil, a second circuit having a second coil, where that second circuit has an impedance, where the first coil is disposed adjacent the second coil. The apparatus further includes a detection circuit which detects the impedance of the second circuit, where the second circuit has a first impedance when the first circuit is open, and where the second circuit has a second impedance when the second circuit is closed. In the event a tape leader pin is properly releaseably fixtured to Applicants' threader block, the first circuit is closed and the impedance of the second circuit changes. The detection circuit detects that impedance change and provides a signal to a controller indicating that the tape leader pin is properly seated in the threader block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Armando J. Argumedo, Edwin R. Childers, Mark A. Taylor, Richard A. West
  • Patent number: 6895165
    Abstract: A radio or television apparatus has tuning circuitry for selecting a channel from an input spectrum, an output for presenting a presentation from a selected channel, a recording apparatus having a memory with capacity for recording a fixed time duration T of the selected presentation, and adapted to make an audio record sequentially in a circular fashion, such that when the memory capacity is filled, the device continues to record, overwriting the oldest recorded information, providing thereby, at any point in time, a stored copy of time duration T immediately preceding the point in time. This innovation provides limited rewind capability for real-time data streams. In alternative embodiments add-on devices are provided for existing radios and TVs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Soundstarts, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Boys
  • Patent number: 6859611
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of selectively recording and playing the content of a broadcast program includes playing on a media player one of a plurality of prestored files which include program content. A broadcast program is received and it is determined whether a predetermined criteria associated with the broadcast program is met. If the predetermined criteria is met, at least a portion of content of the broadcast program is automatically recorded. The recorded content of the broadcast program on the media player is then automatically played, either immediately after being recorded or at the end of playing the one prestored file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Ollis, David T. Horoschak
  • Publication number: 20040234236
    Abstract: A data recording and reproduction apparatus includes a control unit that generates, and stores in a hard disk, channel information data including information of a changed channel in accordance with a channel change designation received via an operation device while program data is being stored in the hard disk, and an output terminal for connection with an external device. At the time of time shift playback of the program data, every time the channel information data is read from a temporary storage region, the control unit stores the changed-channel information included in the channel information data in a memory, and generates a channel display signal based on the changed-channel information and externally outputs the signal via the output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Jun Torobu
  • Publication number: 20040223727
    Abstract: This invention facilitates an operation after save recording of data in a hard disc if a residual capacity of a DVD is lessened while the data is recorded in the DVD. If it is detected that the residual capacity of the DVD is lessened while a program is recorded in the DVD, then save recording of the program in the hard disc is started, and the recording of the program in the DVD is stopped. If it is detected that the DVD is ejected and exchanged to a new DVD, the recording of the program in the new DVD is automatically started. While continuing the save recording of the program in the hard disc, the save-recorded program is time-shift reproduced from the beginning. The program reproduced from the hard disc is splice-recorded in the DVD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: Orion Electric Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuginori Ohnishi
  • Publication number: 20040197078
    Abstract: There is provided an image recording and reproducing apparatus, in which a user can simultaneously view a current broadcasting and a previous broadcasting with respect to one image content using a multi-decoding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Kyoung Ro Yoon, Bae Geun Kang, Sung Bae Jun
  • Publication number: 20040120689
    Abstract: A buffer memory continues storing AV data having time code added thereto, which data is supplied from a time code adding unit. A drive reads the AV data stored in the buffer memory and records the AV data onto an optical disc. When an instruction to pause recording is inputted, the drive stops recording the AV data onto the optical disc, while the buffer memory continues storing newest AV data. When an instruction to resume recording is inputted within a predetermined time, the drive reads the AV data after the time of input of the pause instruction from the buffer memory, and records the AV data onto the optical disc. Thus the AV data picked up during the pause period is recorded on the optical disc. Consequently, the possibility of missing taking desired video (audio) can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventor: Kenji Yamasaki
  • Publication number: 20040042103
    Abstract: One of the most frustrating things when recording for example songs from the radio is that many times by the time the user decides that he/she would like to record for example some song, the beginning of the song is already lost. Or the user might zap between radio stations and tune into the station after the song has already started or for example after the beginning of an interesting conversation or message or News item and is frustrated that he missed the beginning of it. Similarly, for example while zapping through cable TV stations, a user might find for example a fascinating scientific program or a fascinating report and regret that he/she had not seen or recorded it from the start for later reference. The idea of retroactive recording and/or replay has existed already since 1990 and there are a number of patents about it, but they do not deal with the problem of enabling retroactive recording and/or replay also when the user is zapping between channels for example on Radio or on TV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventor: Yaron Mayer
  • Patent number: 6614986
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods and computer program products permit a decision to record time sequential information, beginning at a particular point in time, to be made after that particular point in time. In one implementation, a decision to record a piece of music from the beginning can be made anytime during the playing of the music. In others, a decision to record a video program from the beginning can be made during the program. In a portable video camera, a decision to save a boy's turn at bat can be made after he hits a home run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Tognazzini
  • Publication number: 20030072556
    Abstract: In recording and reproducing a program contents, a first difference between a desired playback start time and a time corresponding to a desired recorded video position of said program is calculated, then a second difference between the desired start time of the program and a desired end time of the program is calculated. Then, based on the first and the second differences, a plurality of predetermined speeds are used sequentially to playback the recorded program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Kunihiro Okujima, Hidenobu Beppu
  • Publication number: 20030044170
    Abstract: There is disclosed a digital video recorder that uses a circular file management system to efficiently manage time-shifted viewing a live video broadcast television program. There is provided for use in the digital video recorder, an apparatus for performing time-shifted viewing of an incoming television program being received by the digital video recorder. The apparatus comprises a controller capable of creating a data file having a defined maximum size on a storage disk of the digital video recorder and capable of causing video data associated with the incoming television program to be stored sequentially in the data file from a first location to an Nth location. The controller, in response to a determination that the video data has been stored in the Nth location, causes a next received video data to be stored in the first location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Semir S. Haddad, Michael J. Jones
  • Publication number: 20030007776
    Abstract: In an information reception, recording and reproduction apparatus for implementing a time shift reproduction by utilizing a disk recording medium that allows random access, a time lag occurs in the video sound signals outputted via a path where an inputted video sound signal is outputted in real time and via a path where the inputted video sound signal is outputted through a recording medium and, therefore, the information reception, recording and reproduction apparatus for outputting video sound signals by utilizing the above two paths cannot carry out a smooth switching of the reproduction condition nor a switching of the inputted video sound signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Koichi Kameyama, Isao Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6477312
    Abstract: A short segment recording and replay system which includes a receiver for receiving and displaying audiovisual information and an endless memory for storage of continuous short segments of the audiovisual information concurrent with display thereof by the receiver. A controller is responsive to a predetermined condition to freeze the contents of the endless memory therein. The endless memory is preferably a addressable random access memory which can be in a plug-in module. The system includes a switching element responsive to the controller for transmitting the contents of the endless memory to the receiver for display. Special effects can be added to the audiovisual information prior to storage thereof in the endless memory or prior to transmitting the contents of the endless memory to the receiver for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Theodore W. Houston
  • Publication number: 20020122656
    Abstract: A system receives a broadcast data stream that is encoded using any encoding format. The received broadcast data stream is demultiplexed and stored on a storage device. In response to a command to play back the stored broadcast data stream, the stored data stream is retrieved and rendered in a manner that corresponds to the play back command. Multiple systems may retrieve the stored broadcast data stream simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Matthijs A. Gates, Jai Srinivasan, Mukund Sankaranamayan, Alok Chakrabarti
  • Publication number: 20020106185
    Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus for receiving program data including video data and/or voice data and recording and/or reproducing the program data, has
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Chiaki Fujii, Hisatoshi Mori, Koichi Kameyama
  • Publication number: 20020090195
    Abstract: An apparatus for recording and reproducing information which can expand a ring buffer area in a recording medium. In an apparatus for recording and reproducing information in which a ring buffer area where an information signal is circulatively recorded and reproduced and a memory area where the information signal is permanently stored are formed on a recording medium, wherein a recorded position of the information signal is set as an extension area of the ring buffer area in response to an erasing command for erasing the information signal recorded in the memory area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichiro Tada
  • Publication number: 20020071656
    Abstract: A radio or television apparatus has tuning circuitry for selecting a channel from an input spectrum, an output for presenting a presentation from a selected channel, a recording apparatus having a memory with capacity for recording a fixed time duration T of the selected presentation, and adapted to make an audio record sequentially in a circular fashion, such that when the memory capacity is filled, the device continues to record, overwriting the oldest recorded information, providing thereby, at any point in time, a stored copy of time duration T immediately preceding the point in time. This innovation provides limited rewind capability for real-time data streams. In alternative embodiments add-on devices are provided for existing radios and TVs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventor: MARK A. BOYS
  • Patent number: 6400652
    Abstract: A recording system that is automatically triggered in response to the detection of a triggering event to record a desired signal. In order to determine whether the triggering event is present in the input signal, the recording system of the present invention detects whether a recognized pattern in the input signal corresponds to a reference pattern maintained in memory. Alternatively, the triggering event may be detected by performing a predetermined logic operation on those recognized patterns that match at least one of the reference patterns. The present invention also employs a buffer for delaying the input signal by a predetermined duration. Once the triggering event is detected, a recording device is activated to record the delayed signal for at least the predetermined duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Randy G. Goldberg, Kenneth H. Rosen
  • Publication number: 20020064368
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method in which a recording section configured to record an external input signal, and a display signal output section configured to output a display signal based on at least one of the external input signal and a reproduction signal from the recording section are used. Here, when the display signal output section outputs the external input signal as the display signal, and a predetermined temporary interruption state is set at this time, the external input signal is recorded in the recording section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Shinichi Kikuchi, Hideo Kataoka, Kazuya Fujita
  • Publication number: 20010051032
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods and computer program products permit a decision to record time sequential information, beginning at a particular point in time, to be made after that particular point in time. In one implementation, a decision to record a piece of music from the beginning can be made anytime during the playing of the music. In others, a decision to record a video program from the beginning can be made during the program. In a portable video camera, a decision to save a boy's turn at bat can be made after he hits a home run.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Tognazzini
  • Patent number: 6263147
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods and computer program products permit a decision to record time sequential information, beginning at a particular point in time, to be made after that particular point in time. In one implementation, a decision to record a piece of music from the beginning can be made anytime during the playing of the music. In others, a decision to record a video program from the beginning can be made during the program. In a portable video camera, a decision to save a boy's turn at bat can be made after he hits a home run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Tognazzini
  • Patent number: 6064792
    Abstract: A device for recording and playing back a selected episode from an input analog audio-visual signal. A "deferred recording" feature allows the user to briefly delay his/her decision to record a live signal episode until after the signal episode has at least partially transpired. Thus, the user can first evaluate the episode prior to deciding whether to record it. The recorded signal episode contains both preamble and postamble segments, i.e. the signal segments preceding and following activation of a record switch. The analog playback signal is directed to an A/V output device so it can be heard/viewed by the user. Some embodiments provide for recording multiple signal episodes, multi-signal channel episodes, variable length episodes, simultaneous record and playback, episode deletion, variation of sampling rate, skip forward, reverse, and squelch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventors: James Kelly Fox, Harold Charles Schloss, Clinton Gregory White
  • Patent number: 5946050
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for monitoring the audio portion of a broadcast signal includes a keyword listening device. A relatively limited set of keywords are stored in a memory and the keyword listening device monitors the broadcast signal for any of these keywords. Upon recognition of any one or more of the keywords, the broadcast audio signal is recorded for a period of time and then fully analyzed. After analysis, and in dependence upon the recorded and analyzed broadcast audio signal, a number of different functions, such as connection to an external network at a specified address, or control of a video cassette recorder, may be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert M. Wolff
  • Patent number: 5701383
    Abstract: A video time-shifting system characterized in having a continuous recording track accessed by separate, asychronous read and write facilities enables playback of a video program to commence from any point in the program while continuing to be recorded in real time, thus providing VCR-like program control features such as PAUSE/RESUME, REWIND, and FAST FORWARD. A memory is used to store information relating to various points in the program so that even upon receipt of multiple PAUSE commands, the system automatically keeps track of correct program re-entry. In the preferred embodiment, the storage means takes the form of a continuous recording track in a magnetic disk drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Gemstar Development Corporation
    Inventors: James Russo, Michael R. Levine
  • Patent number: 5671195
    Abstract: An audio system comprising programmable means and power-distributing means is capable of recording preselected audio broadcasts in accordance with the program data manually set by a user based on the best projection of his/her routine or particular schedule. In addition to making latest traffic/weather information available in advance, an audio system in accordance with this invention is capable of automatically outputting the sound data of the recorded information either at a preselected time when a use is being waken up or when his/her vehicle is started. Said audio system is optionally afforded with an additional radio receiving means so that a user has a choice of continuously listening in to a musical broadcast during a preselected traffic/weather broadcast from a different radio station is being automatically recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Intellectual Science and Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Hong-Dough Lee
  • Patent number: 5633764
    Abstract: A magnetic a tape recording/reproducing apparatus comprises a tape running unit, a recording and reproducing unit, a data memory, and a controller. The controller controls the tape running unit, the data memory and the recording and reproducing unit such that, in a recording mode, the input data are continuously written into the data memory at a first a data rate and the written data are intermittently read out from the data memory at a second data rate which is higher than the first data rate and intermittently recorded onto a magnetic tape, and that, in a reproduction mode, the recorded data are intermittently reproduced from the magnetic tape and intermittently written into the data memory at the second data rate and the written data are continuously read out from the data memory at the first data rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Haruo Ohta
  • Patent number: 5579188
    Abstract: An "ironless" bearing spindle motor for rotating at least one disc about a central axis in a data storage device comprises a housing, a stationary member, a hub, and a stator. A rotor magnet is attached to the hub. A bearing interconnects the hub with the stationary member such that the hub and rotor magnet are rotatable about the central axis. The stator is coaxial with the hub and includes an ironless stator winding. The ironless stator winding minimizes low-harmonic acoustic vibration peaks in the spindle motor, resulting in a spindle motor having a very quiet operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Dunfield, Gunter K. Heine, Kamran Oveyssi, Marcel Jufer
  • Patent number: 5463599
    Abstract: A buffer system for radio receivers includes an analog-to-digital converter, a digital cyclic storage device for continuously storing in digital form the audio signals last outputted thereby over a predetermined time interval, and a control circuit including a mode selector switch to select a Skip Mode, in which the receiver audio circuit receives the signals from the cyclic storage device with a slowly increasing delay from real-time, and another switch to connect the audio circuit to receive the audio signals real-time, and thus to skip a part of the broadcasted information. The mode selector may also select a Standby Mode for storing information broadcasted before the receiver has been turned on, and/or a Forward Mode for storing information broadcasted after the receiver has been turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Inventors: Aharon Yifrach, David S. Newman
  • Patent number: 5345430
    Abstract: A recording device and method for recovering a portion of a commercial radio or TV broadcast immediately after listening to it. The device consists of a short term memory media which is used to continuously record the last few minutes of the program being monitored, a control logic module which upon command will cause the material on the short term storage media to be transferred to a long term storage media, and the long term storage media. A timer, or a marker on the short term storage media, is used to terminate the recovery process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Inventor: Gordon Moe
  • Patent number: 5293273
    Abstract: Informational data is efficiently recorded on a recording medium in response to an input signal containing information and pauses of different intervals. Information following each pause is captured for recording and space occupied on the recording medium for recording of the pauses is minimized. A stream of input data corresponding to the input signal is supplied by operation of a controller selectively to a first buffer and a second buffer arrangement. The input signal is also coupled to a record signal generating circuit that produces a record signal in response to an input signal having information of a certain duration, and produces a no-record signal in response to a pause in the input signal of a determined interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Touchstone Applied Science Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Gene S. Glick
  • Patent number: 5241428
    Abstract: A video recorder and playback device allowing simultaneous recording and playback of program material, including means for controllably varying a time delay between the recording and playback of recorded material. This allows, for example, playback of previously recorded material to be temporarily stopped and then resumed without interrupting the recording of new material. A user can arrange to start recording a broadcast program (while the user is not at home, for example) in the conventional way via stored instructions, and then begin watching the recording several minutes or hours later, before the program is over, without stopping the recording. The user can also interrupt the playback of a program that is being recorded as it is being watched (to take a telephone call, for example), and then resume playback of the program (after the phone call is over) without stopping the recording. The user can then watch the rest of the program delayed by a time period equal to the length of time of the interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Inventors: Eric P. Goldwasser, Romi E. Goldwasser
  • Patent number: 5126982
    Abstract: A buffer system for radio receivers includes a cyclic storage device connectable to a demodulator circuit for continuously storing the audio signals last outputted thereby only over a predetermined time interval, enabling the listener to jump-back to hear a preceding portion of the radio broadcasts. In one described embodiment, the listener normally hears the broadcasts in a real-time manner but may depress a button to hear the broadcasts in a delayed-time manner via the cyclic storage device. In a second described embodiment, the listener normally hears the broadcasts in a real-time manner, may depress a button to freeze a part of the broadcast in another storage device, and may later depress another button to play back the portion frozen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Inventor: Aaron Yifrach
  • Patent number: 4982390
    Abstract: A signal recording apparatus includes a temporary memory for writing an input signal at a predetermined signal-transfer rate and reading it out in the same sequence as input, and a main recorder for recording the signal read out from the temporary memory. The reading signal-transfer rate of the temporary memory is variable. The apparatus further includes a controller which, upon receiving a data-save instruction, sets the reading signal transfer rate of the temporary memory faster than its writing signal transer rate and transfers the signal from this memory to the main recorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yoichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4897741
    Abstract: A signal recording apparatus comprising the operation portion to be manipulated when it is found necessary to record a signal on a recording medium while the signal is being produced, a signal conversion circuit for converting the signal to a digital signal, a memory circuit of specified capacity for temporarily storing the digital signal from the conversion circuit and thereafter feeding the signal to a signal recording head, and a main control circuit for controlling the memory circuit for storing the signal therein and reading out the signal therefrom. In response to a recording start instruction given by the operation portion, a system for driving the recording medium is initiated into operation, and at the same time, the signal is read out from the memory circuit retroactively since a predetermined time interval prior to the manipulation of the operation portion and is recorded on the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Syuzi Inoue, Hideki Osawa, Nobumasa Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 4665443
    Abstract: A signal recording and reproducing apparatus where the signal is recorded in a forward and reverse direction on a magnetic medium such as tape and where the signal to be recorded is supplied to the recording head through a delay circuit with a delay between the recording head and the magnetic tape in the second direction being larger than the signal delay between the head and the tape in the first direction and wherein the difference between these two delays is longer than the time required for tape reversal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4633331
    Abstract: An information signal delay system utilizes a solid-state memory for continuously storing the information and reading it out on a time-delayed basis. An information signal is converted into a digital format and compressed using conventional compression algorithms. The compressed digital signal is then sequentially written into successive locations in a random access memory. These locations are sequentially addressed at a later point in time to read the digitized information out of the memory on a time-delayed basis relative to when it was stored in the memory. The time delay is related to the anticipated reaction time it takes to cycle completely through all of the address locations in that portion of the memory being used to store the information. The digitized information that is read out of the memory can be synthesized or otherwise suitably processed to reconstruct the original information signal as a delayed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: Picotrin Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. McGrady, Leonard A. Brand, Jr., Hunt K. Brand
  • Patent number: 4408309
    Abstract: A time delay apparatus has a multistate switch and a delay medium. The time delay apparatus is used in combination with a receiver/amplifier and a recording system. A continuous signal is switched from the receiver/amplifier to the delay medium when it is desired to store a selected portion of the continuous signal. By switching the continuous signal to the delay medium, a delay signal may be monitored so the decision to store the selected portion may be made ex post facto of its occurence. The delayed signal is then switched to the recording system to store the selected portion at the appropriate moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Inventors: Roy A. Kiesling, Roy A. Kiesling, III