Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing a television broadcast program digest which stores a broadcast signal indicative of contents of at least one television broadcast program and guide data of the at least one television broadcast program. The apparatus pre-stores a period of time and a weight point as data for at least one attribute concerning program contents every different television broadcast program. The apparatus reads the broadcast signal and guide data of the at least one television broadcast program when a digest reproduction is performed. In accordance with the guide data, the apparatus reads a period of time and a weight point for each attribute corresponding to a television broadcast program consistent in terms of content with or similar to the at least one television broadcast program. The apparatus reproduces a partial signal having a length of time based on the weight point and the period of time.

Abstract: A stream data recording apparatus records stream data in such a manner that the head of each video coding unit and the head of a series of audio coding unit corresponding to each video coding unit contained in the stream data coincide with the heads of access units of a recording medium. Utilizing the structure of stream data so recorded and the random accessibility of the recording medium, a stream data replaying apparatus and a stream data editing apparatus replay or edit the stream data freely on a video coding unit basis. By replacing stream data recorded on the recording medium on a video coding unit basis, the recording apparatus realizes endless recording that does not require complex file manipulation.

Abstract: In recording information, an SMPTE 339M-defined UMID buried in video and audio material signals to be recorded to a magnetic tape (30) or a UMID generated from information other than the material signals, is written to a contactless memory tag (37), whereby it is made possible to acquire a UMID for material signals recorded in the recording medium without having to actually read the material signals recorded in the recording medium and use the UMID for data search, validation, etc.

Abstract: With this invention, at least one of a video file containing video information, a still picture file containing still picture information, and an audio file containing audio information and a management file having management information on a control method of reproducing the information in the file are recorded on an information storage medium. This realizes a data structure that causes the recording and deleting places on the information storage medium to correspond spuriously to places on a single tape, such as a VTR tape. Use of the data structure provides users with an easy-to-use interface.

Abstract: For a reproduction of optical sound information in a double variable-area track (DZ) an optoelectronic converter device scans the optical sound track of a film. The converter device generates a digital image signal for buffer storage in the memory of a program-controlled data processing device. The data processing device derives the profile of the two edges of the double variable-area track from data values of the buffer-stored image signal. Audio data for a sound reproduction are generated using data about the edge profile determined.

Abstract: Prior to recording, a difference between a disc's temporal, maximum recordable length and a temporal length having been consumed by recording data is calculated. A scale is determined to allow a length of a period of a preprogrammed recording to be relatively matched on a timebase bar with the obtained difference's temporal length. Relative to the length of the period of the preprogrammed recording, an amount indicating a shortage of the difference's temporal length is calculated. An image of the timebase bar is created and the determined scale is used to create on the bar an image indicating the calculated amount of shortage, and these images are integrally displayed. Furthermore, if the current recording location and time shift reproduction location are also obtained, these locations are displayed on the same timebase bar.

Abstract: A copy protection method and apparatus is provided to inhibit unauthorized viewing or copying of a video signal. A varying set of additional or invalid video pulses are generated onto a typical video signal. A pulse sequence identifier identifies the location of the invalid or additional pulses and is likewise generated onto the video signal prior to the occurrence of the identified pulses. The combined signal is received at an authorized display which then decodes or filters the additional or invalid portion of the video signal from the original signal according to a decode protocol stored in local memory. A resultant video output signal is guaranteed from only the original signal.

Abstract: A video editing method for editing a video project is for user to edit video clips and transition effects. The method firstly provides a timeline and multiple tracks along the timeline. Then the video clips and transition effects are inserted into the corresponding tracks. Next, the timeline is cut into multiple segments so that each of the segments corresponds to distinguishable combination of the video clips and the transition effects. And for each of the segments, the invention displays each of the tracks with a limited number of thumbnails derived from the corresponding video clips, or with an icon indicating the corresponding transition effect. This method enables users to edit video projects on multi-tracks without the need to change the unit of timeline often.

Abstract: An entertainment system, having a capability to playback a stored digital video record that includes frames of video data received from a television broadcast system, approximates ranges of frames in a digital video record that are either commercials or non-commercials. The system also approximates frames that are either a beginning or an ending of a commercial or a non-commercial. The system then associates as a commercial two of the approximated frames that are a beginning or an ending of a commercial or a non-commercial and one or more of the approximated ranges there between until a predetermined percentage of the playback time of the digital video record is taken up by the associated commercials.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus includes a recording medium receiver to receive a recording medium whereon information may be recorded by the apparatus and a non-volatile memory to store management information about the recording medium provided in the recording medium receiver. The management information provides information about whether or not data can be recorded on the recording medium.

Abstract: In a recording medium storing MPEG stream, flag information (encode_condition) indicating that the stream is recorded in a format enabling easily the first stream (MPEG transport stream) to be converted into the second stream (MPEG program stream) is provided. Such a flag information is included in Tip packet which is a control packet, in the medium. Thus it can easily determine whether the data is recorded in this format without analysis of data stored in the recording medium.

Abstract: An audio/video information recording/reproducing device capable of easily implementing a post-recording function on an optical disk by using even a low-cost disk drive having a comparatively low-speed seek time. When recording a video file, it is recorded on an optical disk continuously for a duration equivalent to more than three times a seek time. When recording dubbing audio, it is recorded continuously only with constant data size at the same time with the reproducing of the recorded video file, thereby enabling concurrent real-time continuous reproducing and recording. Accordingly, concurrent reproductions of a video file and an audio file are ensured when reproducing dubbing audio.

Abstract: A method for preventing the copying of useable video content is disclosed. The method includes identifying the video signal content of a video signal that is suitable to be extracted, extracting video content from the video signal to transmit to a receiver, and replacing the extracted video content with marred video content in the video signal. The method further includes placing the extracted video content in a user data channel of a program stream for transmission to a receiver. In addition, the method includes transmitting portions of the video signal that contains the marred video content in a first channel of the program stream, and transmitting the extracted video content in a second channel of the program stream to the receiver. The signals transmitted in the program stream are synchronized for presentation in the display of the receiver.

Abstract: The audio-video synchronization process ensures continuity of displayed AV data. To initialize the process, a transport processor determines whether an occupancy criterion of a buffer storing received audio and video frames has been met. If the criterion is met, the transport processor obtains an initial time stamp value from an initial frame, and a subsequent time stamp value from a subsequent frame. Initial and subsequent parameters are computed from these respective time stamp values, and are compared against each other. If the parameters coincide, the frame is valid, and corresponding audio or video frames may be decoded and displayed. If the parameters do not coincide, a recovery process is initiated. In either event, the invention makes it possible to achieve audio-video synchronization for both live and playback modes of a digital video recorder (DVR).

Abstract: The buffer of a programmable video recorder includes a backing store having a plurality of discrete temporary files that are configured to store non-byte streamed data, such as ASF data. The data stream includes a number of data samples that are each assigned a time stamp upon receipt. Each data sample is then assigned and written to a temporary file based on a corresponding duration assigned to each of the temporary files. The backing store operates like a moving window as the oldest temporary files are replaced with the newest temporary files.

Abstract: A signal receiving apparatus includes a tuner (102) for selecting a broadcasting station or a program, which becomes a reception subject, a program recording/playing circuit (202) for recording a received signal of the reception subject, and a control unit (109) for controlling start of recording a signal on the program recording/playing circuit (202). The control unit (109) controls the program recording/playing circuit (202) by using a fact that a selected time over which the reception subject has been selected exceeds a predetermined time, as a condition under which recording is started. Even if the user does not conduct operation for starting recording, therefore, recording can be started.

Abstract: A combination system commonly using a set-up value with regard to plural devices. The combination system has an input unit to input the set-up value, plural set-up value storage units to store the input set-up value, and a controller to control a set-up value storage operation with respect to the set-up value storage units. A user inputs the set-up value as data about an operation mode of each of the devices through the input unit. The controller judges whether the set-up value input into one of the devices is the same type value as a pre-set up value with regard to another device. When the set-up value is determined to be the same type value, then the controller sets up the pre-set up value as a common set-up value with regard to the plural devices. Accordingly, the user does not have to input the set-up value individually for each of the devices.

Abstract: When the head of a data pack that can be a start point of consecutive recording is included in an ECC (error correcting code) bank, data indicating this is set in an ECCTB (error correctly code two-B picture). When the head of a data pack that can be a start point of consecutive recording is not included in the ECC bank, data indicating this is set in the ECCTB. Thus, when performing consecutive recording, a recording apparatus refers to contents of the ECCTBs to detect a consecutive recording start, thereby allowing selection of the point closest to a point where a user desires to start consecutive recording, and the user starts the consecutive recording at the detected point.

Abstract: When a digitized broadcast is recorded in a storage medium, a required capacity of the storage medium is firstly calculated on the basis of a bit-rate of digitized broadcast data and a recording time which is known in advance. If the remaining capacity of the storage medium is smaller than the required capacity of the storage medium, for example, a frame rate decimation and pixel reduction are performed upon a broadcast to be newly stored, a re-encoding processing is performed for the broadcast and then the resultant broadcast is stored in the storage medium. If the remaining storage capacity of the storage medium is larger than the required capacity of the storage medium and thus remains, a frame interpolation and pixel interpolation are performed for the broadcast to be stored and then a re-encoding processing is performed for the resultant broadcast in order to improve its image quality. As a result, recording of the broadcast data in the storage medium can be ensured.

Abstract: There is provided herein an invention that utilizes a themed template which is designed to assist novice video editors quickly compose a complete video work which memorializes a particular familiar occasion, such as, for example, a birthday, a wedding, a trip to the theme park, etc. The template for each such occasion will be customized with predefined cells that are annotated with descriptions of events that might occur during said occasions. A user will be able to drop his or her own video and/or audio clips taken at the occasions into the cells and, if this is done according to the annotations, thereby create a complete video work that memorializes the selected occasion.