Abstract: In a system for reproducing AV information from a recording medium, such as a DVD, not only are usual titles reproduced, but also related information relevant to specific stream information is acquired easily by making use of resources on a computer network. In a reproducing system with the function of reproducing the title information recorded on a DVD and displaying it on the screen of a display section, when the user clicks a Web mark on the screen, the CPU links to a Web server on the Internet via a modem and accesses the Web page related to the stream information on the screen. At that time, the related Web page is the selected information conforming to parental information, or attribute information, set in the system.

Abstract: A method of reading out a CCD interline image sensor having M lines×N columns of photosites, N vertical shift registers corresponding to the N columns of photosites, and a horizontal shift register, comprising the steps of: exposing the sensor to a first exposure such that all the M lines of photosites are exposed; transferring a subset of the M lines of photosites from the exposed lines of photosites to the N vertical shift registers; serially shifting each line of data from the N vertical shift registers to the horizontal shift register and reading out the horizontal shift register until all of the lines of data have been read out except for a second subset of the M lines; exposing the sensor to a second exposure such that the second subset of the M lines of photosites have remained in the sensor; and transferring the data from the exposed lines of photosites of the second exposure to the N vertical shift registers, except for the second subset of the M lines, thereby increasing the frame rate of the

Abstract: In a recording mode, an image signal of a desired object is generated by an imaging unit such as a video camera, and the time difference between the hour of generation of the current image signal and the hour of generation of a preceding image signal is detected by a system controller. Then the image signal and predetermined data based on the result of detection of the time difference are recorded on a recording medium via an optical pickup section. In a reproduction mode, the predetermined data are read out from the recording medium together with the image signal representing the picture of the object, and a predetermined video effect is applied to the read image signal in accordance with the predetermined data.

Abstract: An erase prohibition setting unit sets erase prohibition in accordance with an instruction. When the range is not set in units of cells of the current cell, the current cell is divided by a cell separator to set a sequence of advanced cells. A reconstruction part reconstructs management information for playing back the advanced cells and current cell, and appends erase prohibition information to the management information for playing back the advanced cells that belong to the range.

Abstract: A digital camera having a camera body and a lens assembly within an imaging unit which is rotatably connected to the camera body. Rotation of the imaging unit containing the lens assembly with respect to the position of the camera body causes the flash within the camera body to follow the direction at which the lens assembly is aimed. If the camera has a self-portrait mode in which the lens assembly can be aimed backwards at the user of the camera but the flash cannot be aimed backwards due to constraints of the camera body or if the flash cannot cover the complete angular range of the lens, a mechanism is utilized to couple the movement of the lens and the flash over a limited range of movement of the lens. Springs, concentric gears attached by springs, or a clutch mechanism may be utilized to selectively couple the flash with the lens rotation. By separating the flash from the lens, the red-eye phenomena will be reduced.

Abstract: An optical disk for recording stereoscopic videos and high-quality video signals and a system for reproducing the videos and signals from the optical disk are made compatible with the conventional video reproducing system. A reproducing device which is used for reproducing stereoscopic videos and high-quality videos obtains stereoscopic video or high-quality videos by reproducing both first and second interleaved blocks on the optical disk in which first and second video signals are alternately recorded on the left and right sides by dividing the first and second video signals into frame groups of one GOP or more and a reproducing device which is not used for reproducing the stereoscopic videos and high-quality videos obtains ordinary videos by only reproducing either the first or second interleaved block by jumping tracks.

Abstract: When the reset gate electrode of the charge detecting section is driven with the reset pulse of three levels, it is difficult to realize the timing control when high speed operation is required. In the charge detecting section of the CCD solid-state image sensing apparatus having wide dynamic range, two reset gate electrodes, for example, are arranged in vertical between the FD area and RD area, and different reset pulses &phgr;RG1, &phgr;RG2 are applied to these reset gate electrodes to realize the reset operation, clipping operation and adding operation through the driving by the 2-level pulse.

Abstract: When processing an image of a two-dimensional pixel arrangement such as a Bayer arrangement, when a pixel G (j, i) of a first color component which represents luminance is interpolated, the value of the first color component associated with the primary reference pixels located adjacent to the top and bottom or left and right of the interpolated pixel position, and secondary reference pixels of the first color component, located in the vicinity of the primary reference pixel, is checked. The existence of an image edge component is detected. When an image edge component is detected, the weight of the reference pixels, for example, G(j−1, i), G(j+1, i), G(j, i−1) and G(j, i+1) is changed at the top, bottom, left and right.

Abstract: A data storage medium having stored thereon includes an audio sequence including at least one audio stream; at least one video stream; and reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the at least one audio stream and the at least one video stream. The reproduction control information includes reproduction order information defining the order of at least one video stream, among the at least one video stream stored on the data storage medium, which is to be reproduced in synchronization with the audio sequence.

Abstract: A data storage medium having stored thereon includes an audio sequence including at least one audio stream; at least one video stream; and reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the at least one audio stream and the at least one video stream. The reproduction control information includes reproduction order information defining the order of at least one video stream, among the at least one video stream stored on the data storage medium, which is to be reproduced in synchronization with the audio sequence.

Abstract: To improve the efficiency of primary editing of a video tape, a shot mark as a mark at the time of primary editing is determined. With a video tape of a digital VTR format, the shot mark may be recorded onto a user's bit on a time code track. Even at the time of editing, this shot mark may be appended. At the time of primary editing, a predetermined range specified with reference to the position of the shot mark is defined as a portion to be used, thereby preparing a master tape.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes a menu switch for displaying, on a display, the first print mode of printing only image data and the second print mode of superimposing and printing attendant data on image data, increment and decrement switches for moving menu items, and an execution switch for determining and executing a target item, wherein when an image file recorded on a recording medium is to be displayed on the display, if the electronic camera is in the first print mode, attendant data is superimposed and displayed on image data after the start of display, and display is switched to display of only the image data after a predetermined period, or if the electronic camera is in the second print mode, attendant data is always superimposed and displayed on image data during display.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for inserting virtual objects into a video sequence including a camera position sensing system which uses LED's to provide perspective information for the camera sensing system thereby allowing natural scenery to be used.

Abstract: Another operation such as searching for information recorded is achieved without interrupting recording of input information. A CPU controls a VCR block so that input information is recorded on a video tape when the video tape is ready for recording. When the video tape is not ready for recording, such as when searching for information recorded on the video tape is performed, the CPU controls a RAM block so that input information is temporarily recorded in RAM. When the video tape shifts from a state of not ready for recording to a state of ready for recording, the CPU controls the VCR block and the RAM block so that the information recorded in the RAM is transferred to the video tape for recording.

Abstract: A broadcast program reserve-recording apparatus receives broadcast program information contained in a broadcast signal received in a main body such as a VCR or TV, and displays the received information on a remote transceiver such as a remote controller having a display. When a user selects a desired broadcast program for reserve-recording while watching broadcast program information displayed on the remote transceiver, the reserve-recording information of the selected broadcast program is transmitted to the main body, in order to set reserve-recording. Thus, the broadcast program reserve-recording apparatus can reserve-record the broadcast program with minimum power necessary for transmission and reception of information without turning the power of the main body fully on.

Abstract: An image and sound reproduction system which can perform reproduction while replacing a predetermined portion of a background image with another still picture is provided. Still picture synthesizing means combines an arbitrary first still picture with plural second still pictures serving as a background, and synthesis and reproduction controlling means controls the still picture synthesizing means, whereby the first still picture is combined with the plural second still pictures in accordance with position information for combining the first still picture with the second still pictures. The synthetic images are sequentially reproduced. In this case, the position of a partial region (dummy object) of a dummy still picture serving as a reference is determined, and a synthesizing position of a part (user object) of the first still picture is determined in accordance with the position coordinates of the dummy still picture.

Abstract: A multimedia optical disc includes a lot of blocks each of which stores moving picture data, audio data, sub-picture data, and control information. Each piece of moving picture data, audio data, sub-picture data, and control information in the same block has the same reproduction time limit. Each piece of control information includes a mask flag indicating whether to mask a key interrupt requesting a special reproduction such as fast forward, the key interrupt being generated by the user by pressing a key on a remote controller and the like. The mask flag is effective for the key interrupt generated during the reproduction time limit stored in the control information.

Abstract: A data structure of an image signal includes a reproduction cycle identifier indicating whether the cycle of image display for each frame is variable or not. When the display cycle identifier indicates that the display cycle is fixed, display cycle data is inserted in a header of the coded image data, and data relating to the frame number is inserted in each frame. On the other hand, when the display cycle identifier indicates that the display cycle is variable, display time data is inserted for each frame. Therefore, when decoding and displaying the coded image data having a fixed display cycle, the decoded image data can be displayed by a simple circuit structure, i.e., based on the display cycle data and the frame number data having a relatively small data quantity (bit number), without referring to the display time data having a relatively large data quantity for each frame. Furthermore, this data structure can be applied to a coded image signal having a variable display cycle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reproducing apparatus for a remote rental system, and in particular to a reproducing apparatus and control method for the apparatus by which the playback permission of the video title, advertisements, and charge collection are performed remotely over a public communication network between a remote server and a reproducing apparatus. The remote rental system of the present invention comprises an information-stored medium with a unique ID code, a reproducing apparatus for playing the data on the information-stored medium, and a remote server for controlling the playback of the information-stored medium on the reproducing apparatus over the communication network. The remote rental system enables customers to keep the information-stored medium at a low cost without return, to use the information-stored medium whenever they want, and to receive useful information such as public advertisements that are provided continually over the communication network.

Abstract: In an output section (11d) of an image sensor (11), information charges are discharged from a capacitance at a reset clock &phgr;r1, which is twice the period of a horizontal clock &phgr;h, and the information charges for two pixels are accumulated in the capacitance. In two steps, a sample-and-hold circuit (14) inputs an image signal Y0(t) that is output from the output section (11d) and outputs an image signal Y1(t) in which a period representing the information charge for one pixel and a period representing the information charges for two pixels alternately repeat. By taking the difference between the value of the period representing the information charges of two pixels and the value of the period representing the information charge of one pixel in the image signal Y1(t), the information charge of each pixel can be individually determined.