Abstract: The present invention is directed towards reducing hard disk drive (HDD) activity by reducing the activity of an internal time shift buffer (TSB). The HDD may be included in a digital host communications terminal (DHCT). The TSB can switch between buffering a high definition quality to a standard definition quality of a streaming program. Additionally, the TSB can be disabled to prevent buffering of the streaming program. The reduced buffering of the TSB is determined by several factors including the temperature of the HDD, the health of the HDD, a set-up menu including TSB options, and/or whether there is a high definition television connected to the DHCT.

Abstract: The optimal buffering strategy of the present invention allows for full smooth reverse functionality in an MPEG-type stream player, while reducing the buffering requirements. Furthermore, the buffering strategy drastically reduces the required number of passes through the video data unit by optimal scheduling of picture decodes. A video data unit buffering strategy for smooth reverse includes the following operations. First, a video data unit is scanned before decoding any pictures within the video data unit. Positions of each picture are then marked out in the video data unit. Next, the entire video data unit is decoded, except the open GOP pictures which need a reference picture from an adjacent video data unit. The open GOP pictures are then copied to the end of the current video data unit in the buffer, and the new video data unit continues to be fetched.

Abstract: An information record medium contains video information indicating a main-video, sub-video information indicating a sub-video which can be displayed at least partially over the main-video, and sub-video control information including sub-frame range information specifying at least a part of the region in the sub-video as a sub-frame and sub-frame control information for controlling display of a sub-frame displayed over the main-video. The sub-frame control information includes dynamic control information includes dynamic control information for dynamically displaying the sub-frame.

Abstract: A contents recording system and a contents recording method reducing a time taken for recording and editing of video content and other video contents and enabling editing of the video contents with a high reliability. An optical disk device for recording video content and a computer are connected via a network. The computer is supplied with clip data of the video and low resolution proxy AV data from the optical disk device, streaming reproduces them as live video and, at the same time, introduces essence marks as meta-data to any positions of the proxy AV data, and describes them in a meta-data file. When a communication abnormality occurs between the optical disk device and the computer, the clip data is notified to the computer again.

Abstract: A method for reproducing video contents includes the steps of: selecting a reproduction shot from video contents, based on a current location information and a shot index information; determining a reproduction section from the selected reproduction shot; and reproducing the determined reproduction section. After the determined reproduction section is reproduced, the above processes are repeated to next reproduction shots. The repetitive processes are performed all over the video contents until the user requests a reproduction change.

Abstract: An apparatus reproduces AV data in an interactive mode, a method handles a user input, and an information storage medium stores information therefor. The information storage medium includes AV data and a markup document utilized to reproduce the AV data in an interactive mode. The markup document includes first event information of an occurrence of a key input event corresponding to a user action to inform, by default, an AV playback engine, which plays back the AV data. Accordingly, interactive contents may be controlled using a limited user input device.

Abstract: Synchronizing media data used in authoring a Blu-ray disc (BD) comprising: receiving a discontinuous input timecode associated with at least one stream of the media data, said discontinuous input timecode having at least one discontinuity, said at least one discontinuity having a start point and an end point; generating an output timecode that matches said discontinuous input timecode until the start point of said at least one discontinuity, and continue generating said output timecode sequentially from a timecode subsequent to the end point of said at least one discontinuity, if a user specifies a continuous output timecode; and generating an output timecode that matches said discontinuous input timecode until the start point of said at least one discontinuity, and continue generating said output timecode that matches input timecode from a timecode subsequent to the end point of said at least one discontinuity, if a user specifies a discontinuous output timecode.

Abstract: At the time of recording, only an edition point is recorded (step S4). At the time of reproduction, overlap time (A_overlap) between an audio frame to be reproduced last and an audio frame to be reproduced first, each including a video connection point is calculated and, further, offset time is calculated on the basis of the overlap time (step S12). Reproducing audio data by using the calculated offset time (step S14) enables reproduction be performed without a gap between audio frames around a connection point. Around connection points, by performing a window function multiplying process on audio data, audio samples are seamlessly connected to each other.

Abstract: A rule storage unit stores a plurality of pieces of specifying information each showing a feature of frames to be specified as start frames, and each corresponding to a different type of content. A program obtaining unit obtains a content of which start frames are to be specified. An information obtaining unit obtains type information showing the type of the obtained content. A selecting unit obtains, from the rule storage unit, apiece of specifying information corresponding to the obtained type information. A specifying unit specifies, as the start frames, frames in the obtained content having the feature shown by the obtained piece of specifying information.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus and a program are provided to execute a sequence of processing operations including the recording of video data recorded to a first recording medium in a first format to a second recording medium in a second format without user's manual intervention. When a startup block detects that a digital video tape can be acquired from a DV, a processing control block makes a DVD format block, a check block, a bit rate setting block, an acquisition block, a menu creation block, and a DVD write block sequentially execute their processing operations in this order as sequence of processing operations, thereby recording the video data recorded to the digital video tape loaded on the DV to a DVD loaded on a DVD-R/RW drive without user's manual intervention.

Abstract: The present patent application relates to a video signal playback apparatus comprising video signal chunking means for partitioning a video signal provided to the video signal playback apparatus into video chunks, each video chunk comprising a first temporal amount of video signals, and video chunk compressing means for temporarily compressing the first temporal amount of video signals comprised in each video chunk.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus has several function units that perform: storing a time when dubbing is started, halting the dubbing temporarily when that the connecting cable is disconnected, and storing a dubbing time and the picture and audio data for a predetermined time period when the dubbing process is halted temporarily as temporary halt picture and audio information; and when the cable is reconnected, calculating a disconnection time of the cable, rewinding magnetic tape to a predetermined time period ahead of a presumed temporary halt position based on the disconnection time, reproducing the magnetic tape, determining whether a data pattern of the reproduced picture and audio data matches a data pattern of the temporary halt picture and audio information; and if they match, restarting the dubbing process from a position on the magnetic tape corresponding to final recording of the temporary halt picture and audio information.

Abstract: A video recording apparatus provides a slow motion effect or a quick motion effect by digitally converting the frame-rate instead of by changing the playback speed of the film, and using few recording media without requiring any special device at playing. A picture encoding part encodes only valid frames by changing a rate-controlling method so that a predetermined playing frame-rate is obtained at a standard data-rate at playing. And a TS multiplexing part multiplexes by converting a frequency of a standard STC clock by only a ratio of valid frame-rate and playing frame-rate, and generating values for PCR, PTS, and DTS.

Abstract: A method of generating a dependent media item (911) is disclosed. The method comprises arranging a sequence of EDL elements (901-907) in an order, wherein at least an ordered sub-set of the EDL elements (901-907) are associated with track control attributes (912) for the dependent media item (911). The method further comprises producing a sequence of media items (904-908) in a source track (906) dependent upon at least some of the sequence EDL elements (901-907), and generating the dependent media item (911) dependent the track control attributes (912) and the order in which the sub-set of EDL elements is arranged.

Abstract: When playing an AV Clip recorded on a BD-ROM, a judgment is made, for each elementary stream, which of a plurality of predetermined conditions the elementary stream satisfies. The plurality of predetermined conditions include (a) a condition that a playback apparatus has a capability of playing the elementary stream, (b) a language attribute of the elementary stream matches a language setting of the playback apparatus, and (c) a channel attribute of the elementary stream is surround sound and the playback apparatus has a surround output capability. The playback apparatus assigns a priority to each elementary stream based on which conditions the elementary stream satisfies, selects an elementary stream having a highest priority, and plays the selected elementary stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a method, a playback apparatus and a method, a recording medium, and a program capable of quickly playing back a picture associated with a unit in which a moving image is encoded. An extraction section 51 extracts one picture from each GOP. A number-of-pixels conversion section 40 reduces the amount of information of the extracted picture by thinning out pixels. A static-image compression section 41 encodes the picture whose amount of information has been reduced by a JPEG technique. A microcomputer 31 associates the encoded picture with the GOP from which the picture has been extracted and controls recording of the picture associated with the GOP onto a disk 45 on which the moving image is to be recorded. The present invention can be applied to a recording apparatus for recording a moving image onto a data recording medium.

Abstract: A storage device 500 includes an input 405 for receiving a digital video stream complying with a predetermined video encoding standard via a digital video communication system. The stream includes a sequence of digital video frames, a sequence of program clock reference stamps (PCR) and a sequence of video presentation time stamps (PTS). A time-base modifier 510 replaces the PTS's by respective modified video presentation time stamps (M-PTS) based on a constant predetermined frame time between successive presentation time stamps and replaces the PCR's by respective modified program clock reference stamps (M-PCR) by scaling the PCR's using a scaling factor that depends on a ratio of an expected time between a video presentation time stamp j and a preceding video presentation time stamp j?n and an actual time between the video presentation time stamp j and the preceding video presentation time stamp j?n, where j?n>0. The expected time is n times the predetermined frame time.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and apparatus for audio content playback during fast forward playback video trick modes. A storage medium reader is provided for reading coded digital data from a storage medium such as a DVD. The coded digital data comprises a video programming and a corresponding audio programming. A decoder decodes from a portion of the digital data comprising the audio programming a plurality of digital audio samples corresponding to a selected portion of the video programming. Subsequently, an audio processor key shifts a playback audio pitch associated with the audio samples to compensate for the higher pitched audio associated with the fast forward video playback mode.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus for recording information on an optical disk or for reproducing information recorded on an optical disk, wherein previews corresponding to respective titles or chapters of information recorded on an optical disk are displayed and reproduced on a display device. The apparatus includes: a system controller which compares a target title or chapter with a comparison reference title or chapter during reproduction of a preview corresponding to the target title or chapter, and skips common scenes and reproduces subsequent information when the target title or chapter and the comparison reference title or chapter have common scenes.

Abstract: When playing an AV Clip recorded on a BD-ROM, a judgment is made, for each elementary stream, which of a plurality of predetermined conditions the elementary stream satisfies. The plurality of predetermined conditions include (a) a condition that a playback apparatus has a capability of playing the elementary stream, (b) a language attribute of the elementary stream matches a language setting of the playback apparatus, and (c) a channel attribute of the elementary stream is surround sound and the playback apparatus has a surround output capability. The playback apparatus assigns a priority to each elementary stream based on which conditions the elementary stream satisfies, selects an elementary stream having a highest priority, and plays the selected elementary stream.