Abstract: The erasion level appending range of a file is instructed. According to this instruction, the erasion level is set. When this setting range does not agree with the cell unit of the current cell, the current cell is divided to set a sequence of divided cells. Playback management information of each of the divided cells and current cell is re-created, and erasion level information is appended to playback management information of the divided cell that belongs to the appending range.

Abstract: The erasion level appending range of a file is instructed. According to this instruction, the erasion level is set. When this setting range does not agree with the cell unit of the current cell, the current cell is divided to set a sequence of divided cells. Playback management information of each of the divided cells and current cell is re-created, and erasion level information is appended to playback management information of the divided cell that belongs to the appending range.

Abstract: An image recording and replaying apparatus in which a repeat recording control unit receives specification of a repeat recording time period, and instructs an image data recording unit to record image data; the image data recording unit records the image data into files having capacity corresponding to a predetermined time period; a replay control mode setting unit, under control of the repeat recording control unit, sets an all-replays-available mode for files recorded within the specified repeat recording time period back from the current time, and sets a replay restriction mode for a file that was recorded in the predetermined time period immediately before the repeat recording time period; and a replay control mode judging unit outputs a warning that special replays other than fast forward are not available if it judges that a currently replayed file is set to the replay restriction mode.

Abstract: The erasion level appending range of a file is instructed. According to this instruction, the erasion level is set. When this setting range does not agree with the cell unit of the current cell, the current cell is divided to set a sequence of divided cells. Playback management information of each of the divided cells and current cell is re-created, and erasion level information is appended to playback management information of the divided cell that belongs to the appending range.

Abstract: A phase standard position signal generator generates a phase standard position signal of a predetermined period indicating the phase standard position of an image signal of 24 frames/second format, for recordation into a recording reproducing medium. In reproducing from the recording reproducing medium, a phase standard position sensor senses the phase standard position signal. A counter performs frequency quintuplication of the phase standard position signal and counts the period of the frequency-quintupled signal. A time code reader reads a 24 Hz time code value from the recording reproducing medium. A time code generator calculates a 30 Hz time code with the use of the counted value given by the counter and the 24 Hz time code value. Thus, the time code of 24 Hz period is converted into the 30 Hz time code with high precision even in variable-speed reproduction.

Abstract: The erasion level appending range of a file is instructed. According to this instruction, the erasion level is set. When this setting range does not agree with the cell unit of the current cell, the current cell is divided to set a sequence of divided cells. Playback management information of each of the divided cells and current cell is re-created, and erasion level information is appended to playback management information of the divided cell that belongs to the appending range.

Abstract: The erasion level appending range of a file is instructed. According to this instruction, the erasion level is set. When this setting range does not agree with the cell unit of the current cell, the current cell is divided to set a sequence of divided cells. Playback management information of each of the divided cells and current cell is re-created, and erasion level information is appended to playback management information of the divided cell that belongs to the appending range.

Abstract: An electronic program guide processing device is connectable to a set-top box configured to receive electronic program guide information. The set-top box includes at least one auxiliary interface that supports communication between the electronic program guide processing device and the set-top box. The electronic program guide processing device includes at least one device interface connectable to the auxiliary interface. The electronic program guide processing device further includes an electronic program guide subsystem connected to the device interface to receive and process the electronic program guide information from the set-top box. In one aspect, a digital video recorder is connectable to a set-top box configured to receive electronic program guide information and broadcast audiovisual data. The set-top box includes at least one auxiliary interface that supports communication between the digital video recorder and the set-top box.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording and reproducing digital data, which is capable of recording digital broadcast data while reproducing previously-recorded digital broadcast data is provided. An apparatus 10 for recording and reproducing digital data, which is capable of recording MPEG2-PES data 42 generated from record control means 16 in recording means 20 by controlling the record control means 16 and reproduction control means 22 by time division control means 18 while reading the MPEG2-PES data 42 recorded in the recording means 20 by reproduction control means 22.

Abstract: In recording, reproducing, and recording/reproducing apparatuses and methods thereof, while endlessly-recording first data, desired second data can be easily stored. The apparatuses include a recording mechanism for endlessly-recording the first data in a recording medium, an input for inputting a start and end point of the second data out of the first data, and a controller, when the start point and end point are designated, for controlling the recording mechanism so as to endlessly-record the first data while avoiding a recording region for the second data. Thereby, the second data can be stored without replacing the recording medium even if the second data is endlessly-recorded. In addition, when the start point and end point of the desired second data out of the first data are designated, the start point and end point are recorded, and then the first data is endlessly-recorded based on the recorded start point and end point while avoiding the recording region for the second data.

Abstract: When it is impossible to read NV_PCK from a DVD, a frame-start-position-information reading section reads VOBU_SRI obtained immediately before reading became impossible, stored in a memory; a search control section starts searching for the ddress indicated by FWDIn described in VOBU_SRI; when the address searched for can be read, reproduction is restarted from the corresponding VOBU; and if the address searched for cannot be read, the search control section starts searching for the address indicated by the next FWDIn to detect a VOBU of which the address can be read, and reproduction is restarted.

Abstract: In order to search for an image recorded on an optical disk 10, a registration trigger is generated automatically or in response to an instruction of the user from a microcomputer block 30, a pointer indicating the recording position of a main image which is used as an index image in a preset area of the optical disk 10 via a data processor 36 and disk drive 32, index image data which becomes the index image is created in an encoder section 50 and data is recorded from an index image buffer memory 59 into a user menu file on the optical disk 10 via a formatter 56, data processor 36 and disk drive 32.

Abstract: A recording medium for storing virtual deletion information, and recording and/or reproducing method and apparatus therefor are provided. The recording medium includes a first region having a plurality of still pictures, and a second region having first virtual deletion information for the still pictures, and still picture group information for separating the still pictures in the first region into a predetermined maximum number of groups in order to manage the still pictures at a group level, wherein the first virtual deletion information is within the still picture group information, and if the first virtual deletion information is set to a virtual delete state, the corresponding still picture is not to be reproduced. Accordingly, file extent information can be prevented from excessively increasing by maximally preventing a recording area from being scattered, when some of a data file are deleted by a user's request.

Abstract: An information record medium is provided with: substantial information including video information and audio information which are related to each other; first reproduction control information to simultaneously reproduce the video information and the audio information out of the substantial information; and second reproduction control information to reproduce only the audio information out of the substantial information.

Abstract: In order to search for an image recorded on an optical disk 10, a registration trigger is generated automatically or in response to an instruction of the user from a microcomputer block 30, a pointer indicating the recording position of a main image which is used as an index image in a preset area of the optical disk 10 via a data processor 36 and disk drive 32, index image data which becomes the index image is created in an encoder section 50 and data is recorded from an index image buffer memory 59 into a user menu file on the optical disk 10 via a formatter 56, data processor 36 and disk drive 32.

Abstract: An in-car video system with inputs for one or more analog or digital video cameras, one or more of which may be wireless, and having inputs for one or more microphones, one or more of which may be wireless. The system includes circuitry to digitize the input signals, if necessary, merge the data with system status data and compress the resulting data with any algorithm, preferably MPEG 4. A digital data cassette recorder records the compressed data, and a decompression circuit and active matrix display and audio channel provide monitoring capability of live video and audio. In some embodiments, a hard disk continuously records all data and archives previously recorded data to tape when so ordered to provide after-the-fact recording capability. In some embodiments, anti-tampering circuitry renders the recorded data tamper-proof, and a local playback circuit allows local playback of either live or previously recorded video.

Abstract: A signal recording apparatus includes a quantizer for quantizing a signal employing a quantization step. The apparatus further includes a quantization information creator for creating plural pieces of quantization information to specify the quantization step, an encoder for generating an encoded signal from the quantized signal, and a recorder for recording a compressed signal having data containing the plural pieces of quantization information and the encoded signal.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the invention includes a method of processing a video stream. The method involves detecting a request to playback a particular frame. It is determined whether a decoded version of the particular frame is in a decoded frame cache. If it is not, the method includes(i) determining a frame dependency for the particular frame; (ii) determining which of the frames in the frame dependency are in the decoded frame cache; (iii) decoding any frame in the frame dependency that is not in the decoded frame cache and placing it in the decoded frame cache; and (iv) using at least some of the decoded frames in the frame dependency to decode the particular frame to create a decoded version of the particular frame. In some embodiments, the request to playback a particular frame is part of a request to perform frame-by-frame backward playback and the method is performed for successively earlier frames with respect to the particular frame as part of the frame-by-frame backward playback.

Abstract: The erasion level appending range of a file is instructed. According to this instruction, the erasion level is set. When this setting range does not agree with the cell unit of the current cell, the current cell is divided to set a sequence of divided cells. Playback management information of each of the divided cells and current cell is re-created, and erasion level information is appended to playback management information of the divided cell that belongs to the appending range.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus include: a processing unit for processing recording information to be recorded and for generating processed information; a storage unit for temporarily storing the processed information; a recording unit for recording the processed information onto an information storage medium; a position storing unit for storing, at a time of interrupting recording of the processed information, an interruption storage position which is a storage position in the storage unit of the processed information corresponding to a timing at which interruption is instructed; an interrupting unit for interrupting recording of the processed information after storing the interruption storing position; and a restart unit for restarting the recording of the processed information based on the stored interruption storage position.