Abstract: The handling of large amounts of data on storing media shall be simplified. Therefore, a method for maintaining a storage media by generating, editing or reading log data related to the content and usage of a data item stored or to be stored on a storage medium is provided. Data items are deleted or recommendations for deletion are provided on the basis of the log data from the storage medium. Thus, the user is relieved from the unpleasant and time-consuming task of deleting data items from recording media.

Abstract: Video recording according to the DVD-VR Specification allows to record only one sub-picture stream. Therefore, a new technique is provided in order to be able to record at least two different sub-title streams in such a way that the sub-pictures of the different streams may be displayed optionally. A first sub-picture stream is directly copied to the DVD-VR disc, whereas a second or third sub-picture stream is transcoded to Teletext format so that the data can be included into the video stream to be recorded on the DVD-VR disc. Thus, several sub-titles are available during replaying a DVD-VR disc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hand-held device (1) comprising connection means for supporting an internet data transmission link between the hand-held device (1) and the internet (4); browser means for fetching internet data from the internet (4); input means for receiving a user input; and generating means for generating a command script in response to said user input, where said command script is related to said searched internet data; where said command script, when the hand-held device (1) is connected to a multimedia home device (5, 7, . . . , 14), can be processed to initiate a transmission of at least part of said searched internet data and/or other internet data to said multimedia home device (5, 7, . . . , 14).

Abstract: A replay appliance for recording media containing information blocks, the appliance comprising means which are independent of the contents directory for access to files and information, and which allows replay even if the contents directory or file system is damaged. The appliance includes search means for searching for a designator of a file which is to be localized in blocks of the recording medium, evaluation means for determining the designator of following bytes which indicate a number of 2048 byte blocks from which the information block is composed, and the information block determined in this way is used for data access. The field of application of the invention extends to replay appliances for recording media containing information blocks, such as a hard disk, a digital versatile disk, which is also referred to as a DVD, a CD-ROM, floppy disk or a data tape, which have a recording format from the so-called Yellow Book.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a digital audio and/or video recorder and to a method for recording of program data comprised in a transport stream, the transport stream having metadata, the method comprising the steps of:

Abstract: The invention relates to a digital video recorder and to a method for recording DVB data. A program association table comprising program numbers and assigned program map table packet identifiers are recorded. A program map table packet being accessible by means of its assigned packet identifier is also recorded. A data stream type is provided in the program map table and a data stream type packet identifier is assigned to the data stream type.

Abstract: When recording real-time data on a DVD streamer or DVR the arrival time ATC of every real-time packet received by the recorder is stored along with the data on the recording medium. This is done to provide—by means of the ATCs—the same timing for the playback of the stored real-time stream as the timing of the recording process. However, a data stream received via the Internet TCP/IP protocol having a varying data rate is not played back correctly because the variations of the data rate of the received data stream are present in the played back signal. In the inventive data stream recording an arrival time stamp is provided for each data packet of said data stream, which arrival time stamps represent the arrival times of said data packets and are intended for temporally correct replay of the data stream to be recorded. However, said arrival time stamps are re-stamped in accordance with a desired data rate for the playback of said data stream to be recorded.

Abstract: Motion-compensated hybrid codecs are used in data compression for moving picture sequences. By virtue of the regular insertion of intraframe-coded pictures, these compression methods enable access to any desired individual pictures in the entire bit stream or the playback of the bit stream from virtually any desired location. A disadvantage is the high bit outlay necessary for intraframe-coded pictures. In a feedback loop, a codec usually contains a simulation of the receiver-end decoder, whose coding errors can thus also be taken into account by the encoder. According to the invention, an attenuation element is inserted into this feedback loop. The coding and the receiver-end decoding of intraframe-coded pictures becomes superfluous.

Abstract: A method for regenerating the original data of a digitally coded video film is described, in which a specific picture type of a number of picture types (I, B, P) has been allocated to each of the individual pictures during coding and the coding order (DEO) does not correspond, at least in part, to the display order (DIO). This method provides for an independent time base to be used in order to recover the display order, which time base is obtained from internal information items in the decoder, the information items having been stored during the preceding decoding of a number of pictures. This method has the advantage that even with the omission of a header of a Group of Pictures (GOPH), the correct display order can still be achieved, even if the otherwise customary temporal reference codes in the bit stream signal an incorrect display order.

Abstract: The typical operation of AV processing ICs includes an initialisation mode wherein registers are set up according to the desired functionality using dedicated set up software, and a normal decoding mode in which the content of the registers will not be changed any more. Often the initialisation mode software leads to un-initialised pointers and addresses for the registers. The writing of data in case of invalid pointers or address values can be avoided by additional small hardware for the register write access logic which enables or disables a write enable signal for distinct periods of time.

Abstract: Video recording according to the DVD-VR Specification allows to record only one sub-picture stream. Therefore, a new technique is provided in order to be able to record at least two different sub-title streams in such a way that the sub-pictures of the different streams may be displayed optionally. A first sub-picture stream is directly copied to the DVD-VR disc, whereas a second or third sub-picture stream is transcoded to Teletext format so that the data can be included into the video stream to be recorded on the DVD-VR disc. Thus, several sub-titles are available during replaying a DVD-VR disc.

Abstract: A method for regenerating the original data of a digitally coded video film is described, in which a specific picture type of a number of picture types (I, B, P) has been allocated to each of the individual pictures during coding and the coding order (DEO) does not correspond, at least in part, to the display order (DIO). This method provides for an independent time base to be used in order to recover the display order, which time base is obtained from internal information items in the decoder, the information items having been stored during the preceding decoding of a number of pictures. This method has the advantage that even with the omission of a header of a Group of Pictures (GOPH), the correct display order can still be achieved, even if the otherwise customary temporal reference codes in the bit stream signal an incorrect display order.

Abstract: The coding or decoding of video data with the associated audio and/or other data can be performed, for example, on the basis of the standards ISO/IEC 11172 (MPEG1) or ISO/IEC 13818 (MPEG2). Such coding and decoding can include the conversion of a primary bit stream coded on the basis of such standards into a secondary bit stream with a different data rate. Since the information content of the motion vectors from the primary bit stream retain their validity in the secondary bit stream, it is not necessary to recalculate motion vectors for transcoding. Instead, encoding of the secondary bit stream is performed with the aid of the motion vectors from the primary bit stream which are reused. In such a case, the encoding of the secondary bit stream is carried out in a restricted prediction mode, i.e. only those prediction modes which are described by respective block type or the motion information of the primary bit stream are allowed in the secondary bit stream.

Abstract: A method for the remote control of at least one electronic device (10 to 25) is proposed in which the control data are transmitted from a remote control device (27) to the electronic device (10 to 25). In the method, information data at least regarding the remote control functions of the electronic device (10 to 25) to be controlled are transmitted to the remote control device (27). These information data are stored in the remote control device (27) and called on during a control operation in order to select and transmit the control data necessary for the respective control operation. At least the device identification number (GID) and the device type are transmitted to the remote control automatically, for example after the connection of the electronic device to the power supply system.Furthermore, an apparatus for the remote control of an electronic device is proposed, as well as an electronic device.

Abstract: A method for the production of picture sequences for a fast search operation in a film play-back device (10, 40) is proposed. In this case, the video data of the individual pictures of the film are stored in digitally coded form in a storage unit (11, 41). The method is distinguished by the fact that 1. the video data of the pictures are read out from the storage unit (11, 41) at an increased speed, that 2. the read-out video data are decoded at an increased speed in a decoder (18, 43), that 3. only the video data of specific individual pictures are selected from the decoded video data and are fed to an encoder (21, 45) which operates at a regular speed.

Abstract: When digital data are being transmitted, parts of these data can be irreversibly destroyed by channel interference. Gaps produced in this way in the bit stream must be indicated and the respective decoder must be resynchronized. When encoding in accordance with the MPEG2 standard is used, the timing of this resynchronization is heavily dependent on the contents of the bit stream elements which have been lost. Thus, in the event of failure of the picture start codes or extension start codes of the frame layer which are important for the decoding, although the decoder will resynchronize to the slice-start code of the following slice layer, important information such as the time reference of the frame, for example, the frame type (I-, P-, B-frame) or else important parameters relating to the decoding of movement vectors may be false in this case, however.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the transmission of digital signals comprises the steps of forming at least two data channels carrying data packets, and eventually header data. The channels have different levels of error protection and include picture data, wherein the data packets within one of the channels have the same level of error protection, and wherein a super-ordinate channel has a higher error protection than a subordinate channel. Important information of a subordinate channel is then transmitted in a super-ordinate channel. The important information allows following erroneous reception of the digital signals an improved recovery of picture data decoding.