Abstract: The present invention describes a decentralized symmetric configuration of digital video recorders (DVCRs) for monitoring, controlling, analyzing, recording, playback and streaming of audio/visual (A/V) media over a network. Each DVCR is an autonomous device able to operate in its local environment as well as access and operate another DVCR available on the network to facilitate the overall working of the disclosed system. Each DVCR also exhibits storage fail-safe feature whereby it recovers data automatically if storage media gets corrupted such as due to sudden power failure. A DVCR can be configured to scan the network for other DVCR units. A list of discovered DVCRs is displayed. Each DVCR can access, after authentication, any of the listed DVCR for configuration, monitoring, controlling, recording, playback and other available functionality over the network.

Abstract: A method for providing audio-only recording is disclosed. According to the method, a combined video stream and an audio stream are received from a source. The audio stream is digitized, if in analog form. The digitized audio stream is compressed using an audio encoding engine. The encoded audio stream is saved in a storage device. The storage device can be local or on a network. In the case of the input A/V signal being a multiplexed and compressed digital signal, the audio segment(s) are separated using a demultiplexer and saved in a storage device. The encoding format of the stored audio data follows that of the original audio data embedded in the multiplexed A/V stream. To store the audio data in a different encoded format, the audio data is first decoded using an appropriate audio decoder and then re-encoded in the desired encoding format. Alternatively, an audio transcoder can be used to store the audio data in the desired encoding format.

Abstract: The present invention describes a decentralized symmetric configuration of digital video recorders (DVCRs) for monitoring, controlling, analyzing, recording, playback and streaming of audio/visual (A/V) media over a network. Each DVCR is an autonomous device able to operate in its local environment as well as access and operate another DVCR available on the network to facilitate the overall working of the disclosed system. Each DVCR also exhibits storage fail-safe feature whereby it recovers data automatically if storage media gets corrupted such as due to sudden power failure. A DVCR can be configured to scan the network for other DVCR units. A list of discovered DVCRs is displayed. Each DVCR can access, after authentication, any of the listed DVCR for configuration, monitoring, controlling, recording, playback and other available functionality over the network.

Abstract: A method for providing instant replay is disclosed, including receiving a video and an audio stream from a source. Each media unit includes at least one video frame and at least one or more corresponding audio frames which further includes a first video frame that is independently decodable. Each media unit is an independently decodable entity. The media units have a fixed duration. The media units are stored in a memory. A number of starting addresses are stored in a table. The sequence header is retrieved in response to receipt of an instant replay command. Appropriate video and audio decompression engines are selected and configured based on the retrieved sequence header. An instant replay starting address is identified from the table in response to receipt of the instant replay command. One or more media units are retrieved from the memory starting with the media unit associated with the instant replay starting address.

Abstract: A method for displaying video data instantly in reverse order is disclosed. According to the method, a compressed audio and video (A/V) stream is received from a source. The compressed A/V stream is demultiplexed into an audio stream and a video stream. The video stream has a number of compressed video frames which include a number of key frames. Each key frame is followed by one or more associated frames. Each of the compressed video frames is tagged with a tag. The tag associated with each key frame and file position of each key frame is stored in a table. The compressed video frames are decoded to generate a number of decoded video frames while maintaining their corresponding tags. During normal play, the decoded video frames are stored in a forward queue, and the decoded video frames in the forward queue are then outputted in a FIFO (first-in-first-out) order to a reverse queue and a display device for display.

Abstract: A method for providing instant replay is disclosed. According to the method, a video stream and an audio stream are received from a source. A program is rendered from the video and audio streams and played in real time. The video stream and the audio stream are compressed using a video compression engine and an audio compression engine respectively. Information relating to the compressed video and audio streams and the video and audio compression engines is stored in a sequence header. The compressed video and audio streams are multiplexed to form a single data stream. The information relating to video and audio frames including synchronization information is stored in a multiplexer header. Media units are formed from the multiplexed data stream. Each media unit includes at least one video frame and at least one or more corresponding audio frames. Each media unit further includes a first video frame that is independently decodable. Each media unit is an independently decodable entity.