Abstract: A method for determining key video frames for a digital video having a time sequence of video frames, comprising using a processor to perform the steps of: analyzing the digital video to determine an importance value as a function of time; forming a warped time representation by temporal relocation of the video frames responsive to the importance value as a function of time; subdividing the warped time digital video sequence representation into a set of equal intervals; selecting a key video frame for each interval by analyzing the video frames within each interval; and storing an indication of the key video frames in a processor-accessible memory.

Abstract: A data storage system allows a subscriber to store data at the time the subscriber experiences the date with an indication, such as a press of a button or a voice command. The indication causes a request to obtain and store the data to be issued. For example, the subscriber can store music while listening to it, store movies while viewing them, or store movie soundtracks while viewing movies. The entire music file can be stored, for example, in a vehicle in which the subscriber is traveling. For some environments, such as storage in a cellular telephone, a portion of the music is stored in a format compatible for that environment, such as cellular telephone ring tone format. When the indication is received, a determination is made as to which music is required, generally by determining the time of the indication. The music heard by the listener is then downloaded for storage in accordance with the subscriber's request.

Abstract: A video/audio processing device, such as a DVD recorder, includes a controller for controlling a state of power-on/off. The controller has a first standby mode and a second standby mode having power consumption larger than that of the first standby mode in a power-off state of the video/audio processing device. The first standby mode is a mode for maintaining a power of the video/audio processing device in the “off” state. The second standby mode is a mode for maintaining the power of the video/audio processing device in an apparent “off” state. The controller switches between the first standby mode and the second standby mode in conjunction with a state of power-on/off of external equipment such as television.

Abstract: A method of digital television recording including receiving a content item at a first Personal Video Recorder (PVR), determining whether to transfer the content item based, at least in part, on at least one of the following currentness of the content item, a user preference, and a user profile, and transferring the content item from the first PVR to a mobile PVR only upon a positive result of the determining. Related methods and apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for personal video recording (PVR) is provided for recording digitally encoded streams, and for playing back and decoding the recorded streams. The PVR system may receive the digitally encoded streams from a digital cable box or a network server. The system enables trick modes including fast forward and reverse mode displays at various speeds. The system an method for PVR may also be applied to digitally encoded streams without I-pictures, such as, for example, progressive refresh streams or HITS streams. Reverse decode and display may be implemented by starting at a suitable entry point, decoding quickly up to the point of the desired picture, and displaying the result, and repeating the process. Index tables of entry points may be used for proper operation in some modes where the entry points are entry pictures (E-pictures) which start a pattern of progressively refreshing I-slices.

Abstract: There is provided an information signal processing method used when performing a special reproduction operation for digest reproduction of a video/audio information signal of a broadcast program.

Abstract: A reproducing method of reproducing from a storage medium video data and graphics data for displaying a menu screen is provided. The reproducing method includes decoding graphics data, outputting the decoded graphics data when an activation command is generated by a user and the decoded graphics data is first graphics data, and outputting the decoded graphics data at a designated time when the decoded graphics data is second graphics data. The outputting of the first graphics data ends when an output finish time is reached and the first graphics data is deleted from a buffer of a decoder that performed the decoding of the graphics data. When the outputting of the first graphics data ends, an activation command generated by the user is ignored.

Abstract: A storage medium storing: video data; and graphics data for displaying a menu. The graphics data includes first graphics data displayed on the screen when an activation command is generated by a user and may also include second graphics data displayed on the screen at a designated time.

Abstract: A storage medium including meta data for providing an enhanced search function on AV data supporting multi-angle, and a reproducing apparatus and method for reproducing AV data from the storage medium are provided. The storage medium comprises moving picture data for supporting multi-angle; and meta data for providing an enhanced search function on the moving picture data, wherein the meta data is defined according to scene, and comprises information regarding at least one search keyword to be applied to a corresponding scene and information regarding an angle supported by the corresponding scene. Such meta data further includes information regarding a start location and a reproduction duration time of the corresponding scene. As a result, an enhanced search function can be realized according to scene, character, actor, or search criterion which a producer arbitrary defines, with respect to moving picture data supporting multi-angle.

Abstract: A video recording hands-free device that includes a storage medium, an optical sensor to receive an input image signal, and a processor that is coupled to the storage medium and the optical sensor. The processor is configured to process the input image signal received from the optical sensor into an encoded video data stream and store the encoded video data stream as recorded video data in the storage medium. The processor is also configured to receive and process a video control command to create a video clip file from a logical segment of the recorded video data.

Abstract: An amplifier includes a first reception section which receives multimedia data via the Internet, a first separation section which separates sound data from the multimedia data, a synchronization data generation section which generates synchronization data based on the sound data, and a synchronization data transmission section which transmits the synchronization data to a set-top box via an infrared communication channel; and the set-top box includes a second reception section which receives the multimedia data via the Internet, a second separation section which separates image data from the multimedia data, a synchronization data reception section which receives the synchronization data via the infrared communication channel, and a matching section which determines reproduction target image data based on the synchronization data.

Abstract: According to method of managing and reproducing additional audio files of an interactive optical disc, additional audio data associated with main video data of an optical disc such as an interactive DVD are recorded as a file of a prescribed format. File information about the additional audio data and buffering information thereabout recorded in the file of a prescribed format. An optical disc apparatus interprets the file information and buffering information and then carries out a series of operations storing and reading out and playing the additional audio data in a way suitable to the buffering area allocated within a buffer. Consequently, additional audio data of various contents are read out from the optical disc or provided by a content providing server connected through the Internet.

Abstract: For a large capacity recording medium, a user interface having high flexibility and enriched representation is accomplished. A flag that represents whether a play item has a multiple angle structure of which the play item is reproduced with a plurality of angles is described. In addition, a flag that represents whether the beginning of each decode unit is an angle switchable point is described. In a seamless multiple angle structure, the current angle can be switched without need to increase the number of interleave units. In a nonseamless multiple angle structure, with the flag, in a predetermined region on the rear end side of each angle, the current angle is prohibited from being switched. Thus, when a play item exits from the multiple angle, discontinuity in the reproduction can be prevented. In addition, with a flag that represents whether a sub play item should be reproduced not in synchronization with a main path, the sub play item of only audio data can be used as a BGM.

Abstract: A method of recording an encoded bit stream, said encoded bit stream representing a plurality of video objects comprising a sequence of cells together constituting a part of an MPEG2 Program Stream, on a disc like record carrier, such as an optical disc. The method comprises recording video objects comprising a sequence of contiguously recorded cells, each cell comprising a unique cell identification number within a video object, recording of a playback sequence of cells that defines a playable program chain of cells, wherein said sequence comprises references to the cell identification numbers and recording navigation data within said cells comprising said cell identification numbers.

Abstract: A method of storing a substantially real time stream of information signals arranged in separate, consecutive data packets of digital format on a disc like record carrier. A new stream pack (S_PCK) is defined comprising a pack header and a multiple of source packets containing said data packets with corresponding added time stamps related to a time of arrival of said data packets. The pack header comprises data packet retrieval information, such as the number of new source packets in the stream pack and the effect of the start location of the first source packet in the stream pack. Preferably private stream 2 of the MPEG-format is employed for this new stream.

Abstract: A recording system includes an input unit for inputting moving image data, a memory for accumulating the moving image data input by the input unit, a recording unit for recording the moving image data in a recording medium, and a selection unit for selecting either one of a first recording mode and a second recording mode. In the first recording mode, a predetermined amount of the moving image data is accumulated in the memory, is read out from the memory, and is recorded in the recording medium. In the second recording mode, the moving image data is recorded in the recording medium without being accumulated in the memory.

Abstract: A video data recordable having integrated channel guides allowing a user to control recording and storage of television signals into personal channels for later playback and viewing. In the described embodiment, the user may specify criteria for recording of shows from an input source such as a broadcast signal and shows are then selected based on the user specified criteria and recorded for later playback. Storage of the shows may be organized into personal channels in order to facilitate later playback, e.g., the user may specify a channel of action movies, a channel of nature programming, a channel for sports, etc. The shows to be recorded may also have a predefined format which may be used to ease playback of recorded programming by allowing the user to easily locate and playback sections of programming of interest.

Abstract: An information storage medium storing subtitle text-based information, and a method and apparatus utilizing same, process a subtitle. The information storage medium includes: dialog information which contains script text information of the subtitle and information specifying an output type of the script text; and presentation information which contains style information used to convert the script text into a bitmap format through rendering. With this structure, the amount of data required for a subtitle and the amount of data that should be processed when a subtitle is output may be greatly reduced.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a controller that sets type information, which represents that an application for executing a process using a dependent view video stream is an application for reproducing a 3-D image, in a clip information file which describes information on a transport stream including the dependent view video stream out of a base view video stream and the dependent view video stream obtained by encoding a plurality of video data according to the a predetermined video coding format.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus along with a method for displaying a list of data to be transferred from one storage area to another in conjunction with a progress status report of the data transfer, thereby allowing users to know at a glance how far the transfer of desired data has progressed.