Abstract: A signal processor includes a buffer memory for storing the image signal for output as a main image signal; a point setting section for storing a position on a temporal axis of the main image signal as a registration point in response to a given capture command, the main image signal corresponding to the capture command; a playback control section for causing the buffer memory to output an image frame following the registration point in response to a given playback command; a video capture section for generating a registration image based on at least one image frame in a neighborhood of the registration point of the main image signal outputted from the buffer memory, and storing the registration image; and an image superimposing section for superimposing the registration image onto the main image signal for display in a signal screen to generate a composite image signal.

Abstract: A signal processor includes a point setting part that sets a position of a main image signal, as a registration point. A playback control part causes output of an image frame from the registration point used as a starting point in response to a given playback instruction. A capture processing part generates a registration image based on the main image signal and stores the registration image, the at least one image frame being placed in a neighborhood of the registration point. A point recording part writes the registration point into a memory and writes the registration image corresponding to the recorded point into the memory. A point calling part reads out the recorded image and the recorded point in response to a given calling instruction. The point setting part sets the recorded point and the recorded image as the registration point and the registration image, respectively.

Abstract: An information reproduction apparatus which can perform repetitive reproduction is provided. In the apparatus, information recorded in an information storage medium is read. The read information is decoded. The decoded information is stored in a predetermined region of a storage device. During reproduction, information is sequentially read out and outputted in order of precedence at the time of writing the decoded information while the decoded information is stored in the predetermined region. When a start position of repetitive reproduction is designated, a repetition reproduction range is set. The repetition reproduction range is a range that would include the decoded information to be reproduced at one repetition reproduction. The decoded information is maintained in the repetition reproduction range.

Abstract: Audio information is read out of a recording medium which records musical pieces as audio information. The audio information read out is processed to detect BPM values and positions of beats in the musical piece. A musical piece is reproduced from the recording medium by reproducing audio information in accordance with the detected BPM values and positions of beats. The BPM value indicates the tempo of a musical piece, and the beat indicates a strength of a sound which repeatedly appears in each musical piece. When the audio information is reproduced in accordance with the detected BPM values and positions of beats, the musical piece is reproduced at the correct tempo and beats without giving an unnatural feeling to the listener.

Abstract: An information playback apparatus is provided, which can provide a sound which sounds natural by controlling an abrupt change in a tempo in the case of random access playback. When a cue point is registered, audio data which makes seamless playback possible is stored into a cue point memory, and further, the beat density of a playback sound being played when the cue point is registered is measured and stored. When the cue point is specified to start random access playback later, a ratio of the beat density (?×DBPM) of a playback sound being played when the cue point is specified and the beat density (DBPMreg) stored in advance is found. Then, the random access playback is started after the beat density of a playback sound to be played after random access playback is started is corrected to be equal to the beat density when a start of the random access playback is specified.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus is provided, which has a new cue point setting function with excellent operability for enabling new application form. Specifically, a cue point for specifying a start position for playing back a disc, and additional information or disc identification information corresponding to the cue point are stored in a backup memory. The additional information or the disc identification information is associated with the cue point and shown on a display according to a proper operation of operation buttons and a turning member. When the operation buttons and the turning member are properly operated, a system controller edits and adds the additional information, or edits the disc identification information in the backup memory. When the operation buttons and the turning member are properly operated to enter retrieval information, information stored in the backup memory is compared and retrieved, and the retrieved information associated with a cue point is shown on the display.

Abstract: A signal processor comprises: a first buffer memory for outputting an image signal after storage; a second buffer memory for outputting an audio signal after storage; and a playback control section. The play back control section variably adjusts the playback progress speed of at least one of the image signal and the audio signal by individually controlling the output timings of the image signal and the audio signal from the first and second buffer memories in response to a given command.

Abstract: A signal processor includes a buffer memory for storing the image signal for output as a main image signal; a point setting section for storing a position on a temporal axis of the main image signal as a registration point in response to a given capture command, the main image signal corresponding to the capture command; a playback control section for causing the buffer memory to output an image frame following the registration point in response to a given playback command; a video capture section for generating a registration image based on at least one image frame in a neighborhood of the registration point of the main image signal outputted from the buffer memory, and storing the registration image; and an image superimposing section for superimposing the registration image onto the main image signal for display in a signal screen to generate a composite image signal.

Abstract: A point setting part sets a position on a time axis of a main image signal corresponding to a capture instruction, as a registration point. A playback control part causes a buffer memory to output an image frame from the registration point used as a starting point in response to a given playback instruction. A capture processing part generates a registration image based on at least one image frame of the main image signal and stores the registration image, the at least one image frame being placed in a neighborhood of the registration point. A point recording part writes the registration point as a recorded point into a memory and writes the registration image as a recorded image corresponding to the recorded point into the memory. A point calling part reads out the recorded image and the recorded point from the memory in response to a given calling instruction. The point setting part sets the recorded point and the recorded image as the registration point and the registration image, respectively.

Abstract: An information playback apparatus which can perform random access playback, reverse playback, shuttle playback, etc. quickly and seamlessly. A signal processing unit stores audio data read out from a disc into a buffer memory, and performs information processing for audio playback based on the audio data in the buffer memory. Audio data of certain time durations respectively corresponding to a past and a future with respect to the audio data currently being subjected to audio playback is replenished and stored into the buffer memory. When a jog dial is manipulated, reverse playback, shuttle playback, etc. are performed quickly and seamlessly based on the audio data in the buffer memory.

Abstract: An information reproduction apparatus which can perform repetitive reproduction is provided. In the apparatus, Information read from an information recording medium is decoded by the plurality of decoding devices. Then a source of an output of the information reproduction apparatus is switched among outputs of a plurality of the decoding devices. If a start position to start repetitive reproduction is designated, another decoding device except one decoding device whose output is currently switched as the source is controlled so as to be able to begin to decode the information on and after the start position. Then if a start instruction is provided, the source is switched from the output of the one decoding device to the output of the another device. Further, the another decoding device is controlled to decode the information on and after the start position, and the one decoding device is controlled to be able to begin to decode the information on and after the start position.

Abstract: An information playback apparatus is provided, which provides a more convenient operation when a piece of music or the like is switched to another to be played continuously and to play a sound which sounds natural during the switching manipulation. When a loop-in button key is manipulated to be ON, the number of beats (beat density) BPMreal per unit time of music or the like being played is measured, and a time (60/BPMreal)×Kbpm in proportion to a ratio of the beat density BPMreal to a certain beat density Kbpm pre-set by the user or the like is computed. Then, audio data, such as music, corresponding to a range from a point at which the loop-in button key is manipulated to be ON to a point at which the computed time has passed, is stored into a loop data memory. Consequently, repetitive playback is performed based on audio data stored in the loop data memory at a tempo (the number of beats per unit time) adjusted to the certain beat density Kbpm until a loop-off button key is manipulated to be ON.

Abstract: An information playback apparatus is provided, which can provide a sound which sounds natural by controlling an abrupt change in a tempo in the case of random access playback. When a cue point is registered, audio data which makes seamless playback possible is stored into a cue point memory, and further, the beat density of a playback sound being played when the cue point is registered is measured and stored. When the cue point is specified to start random access playback later, a ratio of the beat density (&agr;×DBPM) of a playback sound being played when the cue point is specified and the beat density (DBPMreg) stored in advance is found. Then, the random access playback is started after the beat density of a playback sound to be played after random access playback is started is corrected to be equal to the beat density when a start of the random access playback is specified.

Abstract: An information playback apparatus which can perform random access playback, reverse playback, shuttle playback, etc. quickly and seamlessly. A signal processing unit stores audio data read out from a disc into a buffer memory, and performs information processing for audio playback based on the audio data in the buffer memory. Audio data of certain time durations respectively corresponding to a past and a future with respect to the audio data currently being subjected to audio playback is replenished and stored into the buffer memory. When a jog dial is manipulated, reverse playback, shuttle playback, etc. are performed quickly and seamlessly based on the audio data in the buffer memory.

Abstract: Audio information is read out of a recording medium which records musical pieces as audio information. The audio information read out is processed to detect BPM values and positions of beats in the musical piece. A musical piece is reproduced from the recording medium by reproducing audio information in accordance with the detected BPM values and positions of beats. The BPM value indicates the tempo of a musical piece, and the beat indicates a strength of a sound which repeatedly appears in each musical piece. When the audio information is reproduced in accordance with the detected BPM values and positions of beats, the musical piece is reproduced at the correct tempo and beats without giving an unnatural feeling to the listener.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus is provided, which has a new cue point setting function with excellent operability for enabling new application form. Specifically, a cue point for specifying a start position for playing back a disc, and additional information or disc identification information corresponding to the cue point are stored in a backup memory. The additional information or the disc identification information is associated with the cue point and shown on a display according to a proper operation of operation buttons and a turning member. When the operation buttons and the turning member are properly operated, a system controller edits and adds the additional information, or edits the disc identification information in the backup memory. When the operation buttons and the turning member are properly operated to enter retrieval information, information stored in the backup memory is compared and retrieved, and the retrieved information associated with a cue point is shown on the display.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for processing communication data transmitted from a data center such as a sing-along data center to a terminal communication apparatus such as a communication type sing-along apparatus via a communication line.

Abstract: An information reproduction apparatus which can perform repetitive reproduction is provided. In the apparatus, Information read from an information recording medium is decoded by the plurality of decoding devices. Then a source of an output of the information reproduction apparatus is switched among outputs of a plurality of the decoding devices. If a start position to start repetitive reproduction is designated, another decoding device except one decoding device whose output is currently switched as the source is controlled so as to be able to begin to decode the information on and after the start position. Then if a start instruction is provided, the source is switched from the output of the one decoding device to the output of the another device. Further, the another decoding device is controlled to decode the information on and after the start position, and the one decoding device is controlled to be able to begin to decode the information on and after the start position.

Abstract: An audio and video reproduction apparatus performing variable seed reproduction is provided. In the apparatus, a video output controlling device controls an output of a decoded video signal. An audio output controlling device controls an output of a decoded audio signal. Then, a video/audio signal synchronization controlling device controls the video output controlling device so that a decoded video signal whose position on a time axis is coincident with that of the decoded audio signal is outputted in synchronism with the decoded audio signal.

Abstract: An information reproduction apparatus which can perform repetitive reproduction is provided. In the apparatus, information recorded in an information storage medium is read. Then read information is decoded. Further, the decoded information is stored in a predetermined region of a storage device. During reproduction, information is sequentially read out and outputted in order of precedence at the time of writing the decoded information while the decoded information is stored in the predetermined region. Then, if a start position of repetitive reproduction is designated, a repetition reproduction range is set. The repetition reproduction range is a range that would include the decoded information to be reproduced at one repetition reproduction. Further, the decoded information is maintained in the repetition reproduction range.