Abstract: A signal processor capable of extracting evaluated values used for automatic control more appropriately, including: a feature detection unit which detects a feature change position of any target pixel and its peripheral pixels in an input picture signal; a hold unit which holds the position information; a region creation unit which creates a region by excluding the held positions from an evaluated value extraction region; and an evaluated value extraction unit which extracts evaluated values in accordance with the region; wherein unnecessary portions different in feature from the periphery are extracted in accordance with any pixel unit by detection of the feature change position so that the feature change position is excluded from the evaluated value extraction region.

Abstract: In a case of recording and managing a program which has a plurality of image streams in one program, it is necessary to address which stream a logic table which records a position of an I picture for high-speed fast forwarding and rewinding corresponds to. In a recording method which records a digital broadcast, in particular one method is provided which records and manages the program which has the plurality of image streams in one program. In the case in which there are a plurality of image streams in one program, as information which indicates which stream the logic table of the I picture, for carrying out the fast forwarding and rewinding operations quickly, corresponds to, a component tag fixed by a European or Japanese digital broadcast standard is recorded with the logic table.

Abstract: The autofocus function included in general digital cameras and video cameras cannot set the camera to an in-focus state for a scene including a point light source depending on cases. This difficulty is removed by an image signal processing device including an area setting unit to set an area as a target area to calculate a focus evaluation value, a detection unit to judge presence or absence of a point light source in the area set as a target area, and a calculation unit to identify, by use of information obtained from the detection unit, an area in which a point light source exists and to calculate a focus evaluation value by removing the identified area from the target area. Once the detection unit detects a point light source, it conducts the operation only after a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A recording apparatus, including: a camera which picks up a picture from an optical image; a first encoder which encodes the picture by a first encoding method; a second encoder which encodes the picture by a second encoding method which is different from the first encoding method; and a recorder which records a file of the picture encoded by the first encoding method together with a file of the picture encoded by the second encoding method on a recording medium when in photographing of a still picture, and which records a file of the pictures encoded by the first encoding method on the recording medium when in photographing of moving pictures.

Abstract: A recording method of recording received digital broadcasting on a medium, wherein a stream other than first and last portions is recorded with a predetermined number of recording packets, and the number of recording packets of the first and last portions of an AV stream file is recorded as management data. This method, which records an AV stream basically with a specified number of recording packets in order to improve the performance of access to a medium, thereby makes it possible to improve the splitting accuracy when the user splits a program, overcoming a restriction caused by the specified number of recording packets.

Abstract: There is provided an information recording medium that reduces operation of shifting information backward or putting information forward closer together upon recording/deleting/dividing information to facilitate processes of recording/deleting/dividing information. An information recording medium records Programs 1 composed of image data, etc., UPGR 3 that refers to at least a part of the Programs 1, PGRG 5 that refers to the UPGR 3, a PGRM that collectively records the UPGR 3 and reference information thereof, and a PGRGM that collectively records the PGRG 5 and reference information thereof. When recording the UPGR 3, the information recording medium refers to the reference information contained in the PGRM, and when invalid reference information or reference information giving no reference to any UPGR 3 is present, records the UPGR 3 using the reference information.

Abstract: As a method of quickly displaying a thumbnail for navigation display of an AV stream, it is necessary to associate the AV stream with a thumbnail file when recording the thumbnail file separately from the AV stream file. The association, therefore, is performed by use of a serial number of the recorded AV stream file as a name of the related thumbnail file.

Abstract: With an object of executing excellent finishing processing when information is recorded to a rewritable type record medium or a write once type record medium, the finishing processing is switched by whether a kind of a medium for recording information is the rewritable type record medium or the write once type record medium and a method of executing the finishing processing is switched based on a state of supplying power.

Abstract: A recording apparatus, including: a camera which picks up a picture from an optical image; a first encoder which encodes the picture by a first encoding method; a second encoder which encodes the picture by a second encoding method which is different from the first encoding method; and a recorder which records a file of the picture encoded by the first encoding method together with a file of the picture encoded by the second encoding method on a recording medium when in photographing of a still picture, and which records a file of the pictures encoded by the first encoding method on the recording medium when in photographing of moving pictures.

Abstract: To provide a recording method for recording still images that is particularly suitable for sorting still images and recording and managing the sorted still images, there is disclosed a recording method for recording still image data and management information for managing the still image data, with the management information including information based on which a plurality of pieces of the still image data are sorted into sorting units, and an earliest one and a latest one of photographing dates at which the pieces of still image data sorted into each of the sorting units are respectively taken.

Abstract: In a recording method, in particular, for recording still pictures, while classifying the still pictures and managing the still pictures classified, wherein still picture data and management information for managing that still picture data are recorded therein. The management information includes information for classifying the still picture data into a classifying unit, each, and also includes a file format of the still picture data classified into the classifying unit mentioned above.

Abstract: A video recording method used for a video recording apparatus which enables recording of both moving and still pictures on a recording medium, including: recording moving pictures encoded by a first encoding method, recording first still pictures encoded by a second encoding method which is different from the first encoding method, and recording second still pictures encoded by the first encoding method by which moving pictures are encoded, whereby a video reproducing apparatus enabled for decoding moving pictures encoded by the first encoding method, but which is not enabled for decoding still pictures encoded by the second encoding method, can decode the second still pictures recorded on the recording medium.

Abstract: With an object of executing excellent finishing processing when information is recorded to a rewritable type record medium or a write once type record medium, the finishing processing is switched by whether a kind of a medium for recording information is the rewritable type record medium or the write once type record medium and a method of executing the finishing processing is switched based on a state of supplying power.

Abstract: The present invention aims at suppressing a noise in a low luminance part and a high luminance part and, at the same time, realizing a high contrast of the parts, and realizing high contrast of a characterizing part of the image as well. The image signal processing is provided with: a first area input-output characteristics control unit which controls change of input-output characteristics for every arbitrary areas, associated with a value of an input luminance signal; a second area input-output characteristics control unit which controls change of input-output characteristics for every arbitrary areas, associated with an output of the first area input-output characteristics control unit; and a chrominance input-output characteristics control unit which controls change of the input-output characteristics of an input chrominance signal, utilizing the output of the first area input-output characteristics control unit and the output of the second area input-output characteristics control unit.

Abstract: With an object of executing excellent finishing processing when information is recorded to a rewritable type record medium or a write once type record medium, the finishing processing is switched by whether a kind of a medium for recording information is the rewritable type record medium or the write once type record medium and a method of executing the finishing processing is switched based on a state of supplying power.

Abstract: A transmitting terminal can transmit a content held by itself to a specific receiving terminal having no email software as if using a mailer. The transmitting terminal (10) and the receiving terminal (20) are connected to a delivery server (30) via a network (4). The delivery server (30) comprises: a database (36) for registering the device ID that specifies the receiving terminal (20); a content storage (39) for temporarily storing a content transmitted from the transmitting terminal (10); and table (33, 37) for managing contents separately on a per device ID basis of the receiving terminal. The delivery server (30), when receiving a request from the receiving terminal (20), refers to the tables (33, 27) and transmits to the receiving terminal (20) a content, the transmission destination of which corresponds to the device ID of the receiving terminal (20).

Abstract: A signal processor capable of extracting evaluated values used for automatic control more appropriately, including: a feature detection unit which detects a feature change position of any target pixel and its peripheral pixels in an input picture signal; a hold unit which holds the position information; a region creation unit which creates a region by excluding the held positions from an evaluated value extraction region; and an evaluated value extraction unit which extracts evaluated values in accordance with the region; wherein unnecessary portions different in feature from the periphery are extracted in accordance with any pixel unit by detection of the feature change position so that the feature change position is excluded from the evaluated value extraction region.

Abstract: A technique is provided for reproducing information from a recording medium, on which there are recorded a plurality of picture information sets; presentation time values, each associated with a corresponding one of the picture information sets; picture information record marks, each of which is associated with a corresponding one of the presentation time values; clip information specifying what position on the recording medium is associated with each of the presentation time values; and reproducing order specifying information which specifies in what order the picture information sets are to be reproduced.

Abstract: A technique is provided for reproducing information from a recording medium, on which there are recorded a plurality of picture information sets; presentation time values, each associated with a corresponding one of the picture information sets; picture information record marks, each of which is associated with a corresponding one of the presentation time values; clip information specifying what position on the recording medium is associated with each of the presentation time values; and reproducing order specifying information which specifies in what order the picture information sets are to be reproduced.

Abstract: A recording medium having recorded thereon, a plurality of picture information sets, presentation time values each of which is associated with the corresponding one of the picture information sets, picture information record marks each of which is associated with the corresponding one of said presentation time values, clip information specifying what position on the recording medium is associated with each of said presentation time values, and reproducing order specifying information specifying in what order the picture information sets are to be reproduced.