Abstract: A packet recording/reproducing system is provided which records or reproduces packets on or from tracks formed in time sequence on a magnetic tape. In a recording operation, the packet recording/reproducing system adds to input packets time stamps whose values are synchronous with packet arrival time control clocks produced by the system. The timing with which the packets are recorded on the magnetic tape is controlled by the arrival time control clocks so that a given number of the packets inputted at high data rate are recorded within a one-track area, a two-track area, or a one-track over area defined across at least two of the tracks, thereby minimizing the loss of capacity of the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A video editing apparatus for editing electronic motion video image data utilizes an effect setting table that specifies mapping of editing effect names arbitrarily registered by the user to editing effects or screen effects, for example, transition effects between different scenes or successive video clips and insertion of captions and subtitles, executable by the video editing apparatus. In editing management data that specify a flow of a program, editing effects to be applied in respective video clip data are set indirectly by specifying the editing effect names registered in the effect setting table. Varying the mapping of the editing effect names to the editing effects enables a desired editing effect corresponding to a certain editing effect name to be collectively changed without modifying the editing management data. This arrangement desirably relieves the labor in the process of setting the editing effects and improves the certainty.

Abstract: Method of recording a series of ordered real-time information signals, such as audio/video information, on a disc like recording medium, such as an optically readable disc. The method comprises recording of contiguous sequences of detectable marks, each sequence representing a successive series of information signals of an A/V program, in a distributed manner across the recordable area of the disc like recording medium. Between the recorded sequences, preferably free space remains available for recording contiguous sequences of information signals of another A/V program in a same distributed manner. In an embodiment, a logical address space is divided in successive allocation areas, each allocation area used for subsequently recording a specific sequence of an A/V program.

Abstract: This invention allows the user to insert an entry point (bookmark) at an arbitrary recording position of video data, audio data, and the like as if he or she placed a bookmark between pages of a book. Information RTR_VMG that manages recorded objects includes movie cell entry point information M_C_EPI. M_C_EPI includes entry point playback time information EP_PTM and text information PRM_TXTI that pertains to an entry point. PRM_TXTI can store text information that pertains to its contents together with type information and date information of an entry point.

Abstract: A data recording and reproducing apparatus which can easily perform the editing of audio and/or visual data even at the camera site. In the data recording and reproducing apparatus, a VTR portion and an MO disc portion are integrally constituted. Audio and/or visual data input from an outside apparatus is recorded on a video tape by the VTR portion, and further reproduced from the video tape and transferred to the MO disc device at a high speed and recorded. The user of the data recording and reproducing apparatus quickly finds the desired video image by actively utilizing the random access property of the MO disc device and sequentially inputs the same to the VTR device, records the same on the video tape, and performs the editing of the audio and/or visual data.

Abstract: An information recording medium on which are recorded substantial data and reproduce control information for reproducing the substantial data, wherein the reproduce control information includes first reproduce control information required for reproducing the substantial data in all available reproduce patterns, and second reproduce control information required for reproducing the substantial data in a portion of the available reproduce patterns.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus not causing inconsistency between the original picture and the image for performing the operations even under the special playback mode. A transport stream from a receiver 34 is supplied to a converter 36. The converter 36 generates a data stream for normal playback. If a desired service contains control data for interactive operations, a data stream for normal playback containing the control data is generated. Also, selecting packets required for performing special playback generate a data stream for special playback. None of the control data is contained in the stream for special playback. Both the stream for normal playback and the stream for special playback are recorded on a recording medium44. In the normal playback mode, reproduction under interactive manner is performed in accordance with the control data for interactive operation.

Abstract: This invention allows the user to insert an entry point (bookmark) at an arbitrary recording position of video data, audio data, and the like as if he or she placed a bookmark between pages of a book. Information RTR—VMG that manages recorded objects includes movie cell entry point information M—C—EPI. M—C—EPI includes entry point playback time information EP—PTM and text information PRM—TXTI that pertains to an entry point. PRM—TXTI can store text information that pertains to its contents together with type information and date information of an entry point.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically creating a play list of a received digital broadcast stream to be recorded on a recording medium. Specific positions of the received broadcast stream in which the packet identification code contained in the received stream changes are detected and recorded as entry points of programs. A play list can be automatically created based upon the detected entry points, thereby enabling a user to easily locate start positions of recorded programs.

Abstract: In accordance with certain aspects of the present invention, enhancements have been developed to further extend the performance of a generic DVD navigator. The methods and arrangements herein provide a mechanism that allows a player application to precisely ‘bookmark’ locations during playback, and later resume playback at the selected bookmarked locations.

Abstract: A hand-held battery powered data transfer and repository device for transferring data between one or more flash memory modules and a large capacity digital storage device, which may be either external or internal to the device. The device includes one or more slots to accept a flash memory module into a housing which includes processing and logic circuitry disposed within the housing for transferring data between the flash memory module and the large capacity digital storage device. Ports are disclosed for transferring data between the repository and data transfer device to a host device, which may be a wide range of digital appliances including a digital computer, a digital camera, a camcorder or a personal digital assistant.

Abstract: A video tape recorder includes a rotary cylinder of double-azimuth four-head structure having a pair of main heads and a pair of subheads. When it is detected base on an envelop signal that clogging or the like occurs in the pair of main heads, a controller performs a head change so as to record a video signal by using the pair of subheads, and changes a phase of a control signal that is to be recorded on a magnetic tape by 180 degrees.

Abstract: In a recording device (1), a switching portion (19) is supplied with an ID signal from an identification signal generating portion (21) in a video display device (2) through a connector output portion (8). The switching portion (19) is also supplied with an ID signal outputted from an identification signal generating portion (15) in the recording device (1). When the ID signal indicating the video display device (2) is outputted from a return identification signal distinguishing portion (17) to a recording standby signal generating portion (18), the switching portion (19) is switched to the side-b so that the ID signal inputted to the recording device (1) is outputted to the outside as it is. The ID signal passed through the recording device (1) is inputted to an identification signal input portion (41) in an analog video signal output processing portion (4).

Abstract: The present invention provides an editing system and method for editing source content such as video and/or audio material to produce an edited content sequence, source metadata being associated with portions of the source content. The system comprises storage for storing a template defining a desired style for content, template metadata being provided within the template to define the desired style, and a processing unit configured to apply the template to the source content by comparing the source metadata with the template metadata and to arrange the portions of source content in accordance with the comparison to produce the edited content sequence. This provides an efficient technique for providing an editor with a first cut in which the content has been arranged into a desired style, thereby avoiding the need for the user to spend time familiarizing himself/herself with the content prior to performing editing of the source content.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for reproducing a plurality of image data which has been recorded in a plurality of independent areas on a disk-shaped recording medium and specified so as to be reproduced in predetermined order, from the disk-shaped recording medium by using a pickup mechanism. The apparatus has a memory for storing the reproduced image data and a memory control unit for reading out the image data stored in the memory in the predetermined order, and controls whether the image data recorded in the plurality of areas is reproduced in order different from the predetermined order and written in the memory or not, on the basis of position information indicative of positions of the plurality of areas on the disk-shaped recording medium, a capacity of the memory, and a seeking time between the plurality of areas by the pickup mechanism.

Abstract: A low cost video recording apparatus for one time recording on a recording medium, comprises a casing (15) which houses a video cassette tape, a lens (1), a microphone (16), a colour CMOS sensor, a signal processing module, a write head and a drive unit, in operational relation to each other. Also provided is a view finder (21) and an operating switch (22). The casing (15) has formed thereon a tear strip (20) used for opening the casing once recording has been completed. Removal of the cassette tape also involves disabling of tape guide components. Since one time recording only is possible with no playback or rewind, the life requirements for the various components can be considerably reduced.

Abstract: A device and method for integrating passive data content into multimedia content-controlled environment is described. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a device is coupled to a server through a network. The device includes a storage memory that includes a number of text sections. Additionally, the server can update the plurality of text sections through the network. The device also includes a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) drive coupled to the storage memory. The DVD drive plays a DVD, wherein the DVD includes video content. Moreover, a number of time codes are associated with positions in the video content. The DVD drive includes a register that includes a register value. Further, the DVD drive includes a table having a number of table entries, wherein each table entry includes one of a number of register values, one of the number of time codes and an address. Each address is associated with one of the plurality of text sections.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a digital video-audio signal recording and reproducing apparatus that allows the number of channels of audio data and the data width per sample to be changed corresponding to user's settings. 24-bit/sample audio data that is input as serial data to Ch 1 of the digital video-audio signal recording and reproducing apparatus is separated into high order 16 bits and low order eight bits. The high order 16 bits are recorded in a region of Ch 1 of a record medium. The low order eight bits are stored to a region of low order eight bits of Ch 3 paired with Ch 1 of the record medium. Mode information that represents that 24-bit data is separated into paired channels is added to record data each edit unit of video data. When dat is reproduced, data of paired channels is combined corresponding to the mode information so as to restore 24-bit data. Since the 24-bit data is treated as 16-bit data, the record format of 16-bit data can be used for the 24-bit data.

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: An audio and video recording and reproduction apparatus and method is described, which uses a movable storage memory such as a memory card, so that audio and video signals are easily accessed without separate editing devices. The apparatus uses a separable memory so that a deck is unnecessary, allowing small, lightweight constructions, and a compression algorithm results in longer playing time, while read/write operations robust to noise are achieved. Also, data desired by the user is easily accessible, and applications as a substitute for magnetic or disk media are also possible.