Abstract: The total running time of an original multi-channel program signal is altered to generate a time-shortened (or time-lengthened) program signal. The original program signal may be thought of subdividable into a sequence of program signal portions, each program signal portion being further subdividable into a sequence of signal windows. Differencing circuitry determines, for each program siganl portion, a difference value indicative of a best differnce match between an initial signal window in that signal portion and subsequent signal windows in that signal portion in accordance with a predefined criterion. Removal circuitry then deletes from the original multi-channel program signal a multi-window segment of that signal portion, the deleted segment beginning with the initial signal window and ending with the subsequent signal window that generated the best difference match.

Abstract: The running real time length of combined video and audio signal programs is shortened or lengthened by deleting or repeating individual fields or frames and corresponding amounts of audio segments. The video and audio portions of the programming material are separated and subjected to processing through a pair of program time changing units. The video portion is processed by deleting individual fields or frames on a manual, periodic or automatic basis. Manual deletion is done by an operator observing the program material on a monitor. Periodic deletion is performed automatically after the operator specifies the total amount of time (or number of fields or frames) to be deleted, with every ith frame or field deleted regardless of content. Automatic deletion is done in a fashion similar to periodic deletion, but the fields or frames are examined and are deleted on the basis of the amount of between frame motion.

Abstract: The running real time length of combined video and audio signal programs is shortened or lengthened by deleting or repeating individual fields or frames and corresponding amounts of audio segments. The video and audio portions of the programming material are separated and subjected to processing through a pair of program time changing units. The video portion is processed by deleting individual fields or frames on a manual, periodic or automatic basis. Manual deletion is done by an operator observing the program material on a monitor. Periodic deletion is performed automatically after the operator specifies the total amount of time (or number of fields or frames) to be deleted, with every ith frame or field deleted regardless of content. Automatic deletion is done in a fashion similar to periodic deletion, but the fields or frames are examined and are deleted on the basis of the amount of between frame motion.

Abstract: A double standards converter for converting video signals formatted according to a first standard having a slower frame rate to a second standard having a faster frame rate prior to intermediate signal processing, and for converting the signals resulting from the intermediate signal processing to a third format having the same frame rate as the original video signals. The input video signals are first time base corrected and then converted to the second format repeating a frame in a periodic manner related to the time ratios between the first and second frame rates. After intermediate signal processing, the resulting signals are converted to the third format having the slower frame rate by deleting each repeated frame. Each repeated frame presented to the intermediate signal processor is excepted from the intermediate signal processing in order to avoid the introduction of discontinuities when the leading and trailing frames are joined by deleting the repeated frame.