Abstract: A TV program selection support system selects only programs suiting viewer's preference or necessary for a viewer from a large number of programs to be broadcast and proposes the selected programs to the viewer. The TV program selection support system comprises a program receiver for receiving broadcast TV programs, an EPG receiver for receiving an electronic program table listing TV programs, an EPG storage device for storing an EPG received by the EPG receiver, an operating means to be operated by the viewer to select a program from the stored electronic program table, a program selection support program for determining viewer's view tendency by analyzing the operation made by the viewer, creating an electronic program table on the basis of the view tendency and displaying the created electronic program table.

Abstract: A recording apparatus of a helical scan system, including a first video head which records video signals on a magnetic tape when a running speed of the magnetic tape is a standard speed and a second video head which records video signals on the magnetic tape when the running speed of the magnetic tape is approximately 1/N of the standard speed, N being an integer larger than 3.

Abstract: An information recording technique which, even when an interruption of recording operation takes place for some reasons, can make the most of the features of a recording medium and can record data on the medium with a good reliability. This can be realized by changing abnormality judging conditions according to the type of the recording medium and changing record resuming conditions after the interruption of the recording operation.

Abstract: A recorder/reproducer for recording and reproducing signals such as video and audio signals has first and second recording media. When an input signal is recorded on the first recording medium, it is once recorded on the second recording medium, and a certain time later it is transferred to the first recording medium, thus recorded thereon. During this certain time, other signal processings are made, such as recording/reproduction of other signals and discrimination of commercials from the program itself. In addition, when a signal is reproduced from the first recording medium, the signal is once recorded on the second recording medium, and a certain time later reproduced and supplied, and thus similarly other processings can be made during this certain time.

Abstract: A recorder/reproducer for recording and reproducing signals includes a receiver which receives signals, a first recorder which records the signals received by the receiver on a first recording medium, and a first reproducer which reproduces the signals recorded on the first recording medium. A second recorder is provided which records the signals reproduced by the first reproducer on a second recording medium, a detector is provided which detects a commercial message portion from the signals recorded on the second recording medium, and a second reproducer is provided which reproduces the signals recorded on the second recording medium while excluding the commercial message portion detected by the detector.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording/reproducing video and audio signals on/from a recording medium includes a first and second tuner which receive a video signal of a first and second format transmitted by broadcasting, respectively; a recorder which records the video signal of the first format from the first tuner on the recording medium; a reproducer which reproduces the video signal of the first format from the recording medium; and a decoder which decodes the video signal of first format from the reproducer and converts the decoded signal to another video signal of the second format. A switching circuit is provided which selects one of the another video signal of the second format and the video signal of the second format as a selected video signal, and a video output terminal outputs the selected video signal through an on-screen display unit.

Abstract: According to the invention, techniques for recording data onto recording media at relatively high transfer rates for relatively long periods of time. Embodiments according to the present invention include systems and apparatus capable of an improved sustained rate of data recording onto disk type-recording media, for example. Many embodiments can remove the upper limits of both recording capacity and the number of media that can be used. Select embodiments can be used with different kinds of recording media as well. In a specific embodiment, the area on a hard disk is divided into three areas. A first area can be suitable for sequential recording of continuous data. A second area can be suitable for random recording of discontinuous data. A third area can be used for recording logical sector numbers, coupling logical sector numbers, and file information that are used for marking each of the first and second areas, so that continuous data can be recorded on the hard disk at a high data rate.

Abstract: According to the invention, techniques for recording data onto recording media at relatively high transfer rates for relatively long periods of time. Embodiments according to the present invention include systems and apparatus capable of an improved sustained rate of data recording onto disk type-recording media, for example. Many embodiments can remove the upper limits of both recording capacity and the number of media that can be used. Select embodiments can be used with different kinds of recording media as well. In a specific embodiment, the area on a hard disk is divided into three areas. A first area can be suitable for sequential recording of continuous data. A second area can be suitable for random recording of discontinuous data. A third area can be used for recording logical sector numbers, coupling logical sector numbers, and file information that are used for marking each of the first and second areas, so that continuous data can be recorded on the hard disk at a high data rate.

Abstract: A support method for helping the user find a desired program from a collection of recorded television programs easily and quickly, and a recording/reproducing apparatus using this method. The recorded program viewing support system, when recording a television program, records electronic program information on the program, classifies the electronic program information according to predefined program category criteria, and successfully assigns predefined category numbers (recording channels) to the program to be recorded. Before the user views a recorded program, the user specifies the number of the recorded channel. A recorded channel number is allocated with a category item and hence the user can easily know the contents of the recorded programs. The user can change the channel number successively or directly specify it by using a remote controller to find a desired program easily and quickly.

Abstract: A helical scanning video tape recorder for recording and reproducing video signals and audio signals to/from a magnetic tape. The video tape recorder includes an analog signal reproducing mode in which an FM luminance signal and a down-converted chrominance signal are reproduced from the magnetic tape by a pair of magnetic heads having a first azimuth angle and an FM audio signal is reproduced from a deep layer of the magnetic tape by a pair of magnetic heads having a second azimuth angle, and a digital signal reproducing mode in which a digital signal is reproduced from the magnetic tape by the pair of magnetic heads having the second azimuth angle. The digital signal is converted into a signal having a frequency in a frequency band higher than a frequency of the FM audio is signal. The video type recorder also includes a recording mode detector and a controller.

Abstract: An information management apparatus capable of reliable management of distributed information and an information providing system employing the same information management apparatus has a main information reproducing system for reproducing main information recorded in a given recording medium; and a reproduction management system for managing the main information reproducing system for reproducing the main information. A receiver is provided with a unit for recording distributed information and control information limiting the number of main information reproducing cycles on a recording medium, and a main information reproducing system provided with a reproduction disabling function for limiting the reproduction of main information.

Abstract: For achieving a recording apparatus and a reproducing apparatus enabling to function an interface of digital signals even when recording and reproducing analog signals, wherein the analog signal reproduced in an analog signal recording/reproducing circuit is converted into the digital signal in an encoder so as to be outputted from an interface circuit when reproducing the analog signal, while the digital signal inputted from the interface circuit is converted in a decoder into the analog signal to be recorded when recording the analog signal. Further, it comprises a digital signal recording/reproducing circuit for recording/reproducing a first digital signal into a recording medium, a converter for converting between the first digital signal and a second digital signal, and an interface circuit for inputting/outputting the second digital signal.

Abstract: In a disk device, when processing is resumed after replacing the disk or cutting off the power supply, in order to acquire disk-related information in a short period of time and reduce the start-up time, the effectiveness of management information recorded on the disk is judged, the finding of the judgment is stored into a memory means capable of storing even when power supply is off, the management information is read out of some of the recording areas of the disk in advance of a recording or reproducing operation if the stored information on the finding of the judgment indicates effectiveness for the inserted disk.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information providing system. More particularly, this invention relates to an information management apparatus capable of reliable management of distributed information and an information providing system employing the same information management apparatus. The information management apparatus comprises a main information reproducing means for reproducing main information recorded in a given recording medium; and a reproduction management means for managing the main information reproducing means for reproducing the main information. The present invention provides a receiving means provided with a means for recording distributed information and control information limiting the number of main information reproducing cycles on a recording medium, and a main information reproducing means provided with a reproduction disabling means for limiting the reproduction of main information.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for recording and playing back monitored video data for recording monitored video data generated continuously for a long time on a magnetic tape, with less S/N degradation by shortening the operation time of the VTR to suppress the degradation of the magnetic tape, recording head, and other mechanical items. Video signals from a video camera are converted to digital signals in an A/D converter, compressed and encoded in a compression encoder and decoder circuit, then transferred to a time axis compression circuit which includes a first memory, the second memory, an SCSI controller, and a hard disk unit. The digital signal is thereafter compressed on the time axis and recorded on the magnetic tape loaded in a D-VHS standard VTR via an I/F circuit.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus such as an optical disc that can avoid an unrecordable condition between a power-on operation and an available state for recording thereby to solve a problem that an image taking chance is missed in a recording step, wherein its constitution is such that: receiving a command to turn on the apparatus after switching, a system controller drives a power-supply circuit to activate a drive controller and a memory controller; if the optical disc is not replaced while in power-off operation by a sub-battery, the system controller issues a request for high-speed activation, based on information stored in an EEPROM, to the drive controller, and drives plural drive control units one after another thereby to establish an activation period confirmedly, allowing the memory controller to accept a request for a recording start from the system controller without waiting for a report of activation completion to be issued by the drive controller.

Abstract: In a disk device, when processing is resumed after replacing the disk or cutting off the power supply, in order to acquire disk-related information in a short period of time and reduce the start-up time, the effectiveness of management information recorded on the disk is judged, the finding of the judgment is stored into a memory means capable of storing even when power supply is off, the management information is read out of some of the recording areas of the disk in advance of a recording or reproducing operation if the stored information on the finding of the judgment indicates effectiveness for the inserted disk.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus is provided for effecting digital processing to convert an analog video signal into a digital signal without losing character data superimposed over a vertical blanking period of the analog video signal. The recording/reproducing apparatus for converting the analog video signal into the digital signal and recording/reproducing the converted digital signal has a detector which detects character data, which is superimposed over the vertical blanking period of the received analog video signal, at the recording time. A superimposer which encodes the detected character data and superimposes the encoded character data over a digital signal from which the character data was removed, whereby the digital signal with the superimposed character data is recorded on the recording media.

Abstract: An information recording technique which, even when an interruption of recording operation takes, place for some reasons, can make the most of the features of a recording medium and can record data on the medium with a good reliability. This can be realized by changing abnormality judging conditions according to the type of the recording medium and changing record resuming conditions after the interruption of the recording operation.

Abstract: In an information recording apparatus, for conducting finalizing process on a removable recording medium with certainty, on which information is recorded in an easy format contained within a portable equipment in real-time manner, wherein the finalizing process is executed (steps 102, 103 and 104) when a predetermined amount of capacity remains in a battery 22, or when an external electric power source is connected to (20), depending upon a disc recording medium 32. Also, providing electric power saving (37) during time-period of this process and means (16) for inhibition of camera operation, for stoppage on a way and for re-recording, realizes the certain finalizing process. Further, a means is provided for conducting that process at high speed. Therefore, the finalizing process can be achieved with stability even in a portable equipment.