Abstract: In an apparatus for recording and reproducing a digital picture signal, the large number of data bits in the digital picture signal to be recorded is reduced by a ratio of approximately 1:9, and the thus compressed data are recorded with a recording density of at least approximately 0.8 bit/&mgr;m2 in relatively narrow successive skewed tracks without guard bands on a metal evaporated magnetic tape having predefined characteristics. The magnetic tape has a width of no more than approximately 8 mm and a thickness of no more than approximately 7 &mgr;m and is wound in a relatively small size cassette.

Abstract: A television receiver apparatus has large versatility to adapt itself to newly offered services or new modes of use. An external memory element loaded with a flash memory is connected to the receiver apparatus through an external memory interface having a connector and an interface circuit. The external memory element stores information such as a program for implementing an additional function or data such as video and audio data. The information stored in the external memory element is taken up by the receiver apparatus through the external memory interface. The information from the external memory element is processed by a controlling portion of the receiver apparatus so as to be subjected to use.

Abstract: A plurality of decoding programs respectively corresponding to each of a plurality of compression formats is stored in a memory card 18 attached to a slot 16. A CPU 20 determines whether or not a decoding program corresponding to a compression format of music data to be reproduced exists in a RAM 22a, and transfers the decoding program from the memory card 18 to the RAM 22a according to the determination result. That is, when the decoding program corresponding to the compression format of the music data to be reproduced exists in the RAM 22a, the same decoding program is not transferred. The music data is decoded by a DSP 22 according to the decoding program stored in the RAM 22a.

Abstract: In a digital broadcast receiving apparatus, digital broadcast signals provided by a digital broadcast method are supplied to various types of external units and are effectively utilized. In the above apparatus, a descrambler descrambles a transport stream output from a front end unit and supplies it to a digital interface and a demultiplexer. The demultiplexer extracts from the transport stream a compressed video signal and a compressed audio signal of a program specified by a user, and supplies the extracted signals to an MPEG decoder. The MPEG decoder decompresses the supplied video signal and the audio signal and supplies them to the digital interface, an NTSC encoder, and an audio signal D/A converter. The digital interface supplies either of the transport stream or the decompressed data to a digital external unit under the control of the controller.

Abstract: In a digital broadcast receiving apparatus, digital broadcast signals provided by a digital broadcast method are supplied to various types of external units and are effectively utilized. In the above apparatus, a descrambler descrambles a transport stream output from a front end unit and supplies it to a digital interface and a demultiplexer. The demultiplexer extracts from the transport stream a compressed video signal and a compressed audio signal of a program specified by a user, and supplies the extracted signals to an MPEG decoder. The MPEG decoder decompresses the supplied video signal and the audio signal and supplies them to the digital interface, an NTSC encoder, and an audio signal D/A converter. The digital interface supplies either of the transport stream or the decompressed data to a digital external unit under the control of the controller.

Abstract: A digital video recorder or player performing error correction coding and decoding in a two separate or paged memories. During a first phase of operation, previously error-corrected or error-encoded data is read from a first memory while simultaneously new data to be error-encoded or error-corrected is stored in the first memory. Meanwhile, the second memory is used for error-encoding or error-decoding of previously-stored data. In the second phase, the memories reverse roles; the data stored in the first memory is error-encoded or error-corrected while previously error-corrected or error-encoded data is read from the second memory and replaced with new data to be error-encoded or error-corrected. These phases are performed in an alternating fashion throughout a record or playback operation.

Abstract: A decoder has a DRAM used as a work area in processing such as decompression and an MPEG decoder including an OSD processing unit. The MPEG decoder has a function to decompress data completing MPEG compression and a graphic function to display information such as an EPG (Electronic Program Guide). A control unit generates display data from presentation information conveyed by a digital television broadcast by using the OSD processing unit employed in the MPEG decoder and the DRAM in order to display the presentation information. With such a decoder, it is possible to provide a receiver with a new function to use presentation information conveyed by a digital television broadcast without entailing an increase in cost.

Abstract: A television receiver apparatus has large versatility to adapt itself to newly offered services or new modes of use. An external memory element loaded with a flash memory is connected to the receiver apparatus through an external memory interface having a connector and an interface circuit. The external memory element stores information such as a program for implementing an additional function or data such as video and audio data. The information stored in the external memory element is taken up by the receiver apparatus through the external memory interface. The information from the external memory element is processed by a controlling portion of the receiver apparatus so as to be subjected to use.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plasma display panel capable of improving luminance intensity having a discharge-cell structure which can increase conductance at the time of exhaust and increase the surface area of a phosphor. A plurality of barrier ribs with the plane shape being formed with curve are provided on a back glass substrate to which address electrodes and a dielectric layer are formed and phosphors are formed in the discharge cells between the barrier ribs. The curvature and the pitch of the curved surface of the barrier ribs are determined by the spaces of sustain electrodes and address electrodes. For example, a rectangle or a square under consideration of the spaces or the like of the display electrodes is set to be a structural unit. The curve is drawn as an arc tracing the diagonal of such quadrilaterals and corrugated barrier ribs are formed by arranging these in 180° rotational symmetry to each other along the address electrodes.

Abstract: A technique for selectively inhibiting a video recorder from recording and/or reproducing those television programs, which are not authorized for viewing. Authorization data associated with respective television programs that are receivable by the recorder and indication of whether that program is authorized for recording and/or reproduction, is received by the recorder prior to (or multiplexed with) the television program and is stored thereat. When the television program is received, the stored authorization data associated with that is read to determine if the received television program is authorized for recording and/or reproduction. If not, the recorder is inhibited from recording and/or reproducing that unauthorized television program.

Abstract: A technique for selectively inhibiting a video recorder from recording and/or reproducing those television programs, which are not authorized for viewing. Authorization data associated with respective television programs that are receivable by the recorder and indication of whether that program is authorized for recording and/or reproduction, is received by the recorder prior to (or multiplexed with) the television program and is stored thereat. When the television program is received, the stored authorization data associated with that is read to determine if the received television program is authorized for recording and/or reproduction. If not, the recorder is inhibited from recording and/or reproducing that unauthorized television program.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus according to the invention has: at least a pair of rotary heads having different azimuth angles; a run controller for controlling the run of the magnetic tape; and a recording timing controller for controlling so that the recording by the rotary heads is performed at the first period when digital data having a first data rate is inputted, wherein the digital data is recorded on the magnetic tape at a recording timing. The recording and reproducing apparatus also has a memory for storing the digital data which is supplied from the outside, a reader for reading the digital data stored in the memory, and a signal processor for executing a predetermined process to the digital data read from the memory.

Abstract: A video signal receiver receives a plurality of video channels simultaneously carrying, offset by a transmission interval, a single video program, selects one channel from which to obtain the program for display to a user, and achieves a pause function in the display of the transmitted video program by temporarily storing a segment of the video program equal to the length of the transmission interval and obtaining the remainder of the program at a later time from the same or another channel.

Abstract: A recording system that enables single authorized recordings of protected broadcasts be made. Subsequent unauthorized copies are prohibited by encoding a signal that causes the broadcast to be obscured during playback of the unauthorized copies. A broadcast is encoded to indicate that a single copy is authorized. If a copy is authorized, a control signal is input to the recording device wherein the signal is conditioned for recording and prior to placement of the conditioned signal on the recording medium the copy protect signal is encoded. Thus, if a second copy (which is unauthorized) is made, the copy protect signal will cause the recorded second copy to be obscured making the copy of little value to the unauthorized copier.

Abstract: A video signal receiver receives a plurality of video channels simultaneously carrying, offset by a transmission interval, a single video program, selects one channel from which to obtain the program for display to a user, and achieves a pause function in the display of the transmitted video program by temporarily storing a segment of the video program equal to the length of the transmission interval and obtaining the remainder of the program at a later time from the same or another channel.

Abstract: An input digital signal is recorded on inclined tracks on a magnetic tape. The tape has a length L divided quarterly. A leading portion L/4 is reserved for general data, while the remaining portions are reserved for continuous data. The general and continuous data are recorded as SYNC blocks on different tracks. A number of general data SYNC blocks of one track from a basic unit which is divided into sub-units. The general data sub-units are arranged in the same format as the continuous audio data such that the general data is recorded in the same format as the continuous data. The data rates of the input digital signal which includes the general and continuous data are supplied to a mechanism controller which controls a buffer, a frame segmenting circuit and a tape head mechanism according to the data rates of the general and continuous data such that the data is recorded at a standard rate.

Abstract: A technique for selectively inhibiting a video recorder from recording and/or reproducing those television programs, which are not authorized for viewing. Authorization data associated with respective television programs that are receivable by the recorder and indication of whether that program is authorized for recording and/or reproduction, is received by the recorder prior to (or multiplexed with) the television program and is stored thereat. When the television program is received, the stored authorization data associated with that is read to determine if the received television program is authorized for recording and/or reproduction. If not, the recorder is inhibited from recording and/or reproducing that unauthorized television program.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to record digital audio/video data originating from different sources in different data formats in a single format for recording on a digital cassette. The apparatus utilizes common circuitry to receive, record and playback the audio/video data while keeping the overall architecture simple. The apparatus is able to accommodate advanced formatting features such as trick play, without significant overhead.

Abstract: A video signal receiver receives a plurality of video channels simultaneously carrying, offset by a transmission interval, a single video program, selects one channel from which to obtain the program for display to a user, and achieves a pause function in the display of the transmitted video program by temporarily storing a segment of the video program equal to the length of the transmission interval and obtaining the remainder of the program at a later time from the same or another channel.

Abstract: In a digital video tape recorder (VTR) which reproduces digital video and audio signals from a magnetic tape, a copy protect bit in the reproduced digital video signal is detected, and on the basis of the copy protect bit, a code is generated and inserted into the vertical blanking interval of the reproduced video signal. When a video signal (which may be in analog or digital form) having the code in the vertical blanking interval is received in a digital VTR, the code is detected and recording of the video signal and an associated audio signal is inhibited if the code indicates that the received video signal is copy protected.