Abstract: An image processing apparatus that can display a predetermined content as a predetermined main screen or predetermined sub-screens includes a displaying unit operable to display a main-content on the main screen and sub-contents on the sub-screens; a detecting unit operable to detect characteristic amounts of the sub-contents displayed on the sub-screens; and a control unit operable to switch the display on the main screen based on the characteristic amounts of the sub-contents detected by the detecting unit.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for capturing an input stream in a plurality of recording formats and recording a plurality of captured streams on a same recording medium. The information processing apparatus includes an extracting unit operable to extract from the input stream characteristic data representing characteristics of the stream; and a recording unit operable to record the extracted characteristic data, predetermined data based on the extracted characteristic data, or both the extracted characteristic data and the predetermined data as common data representing the characteristics of the streams individually captured in the plurality of recording formats.

Abstract: A specific-condition-section detection apparatus configured to detect a specific condition section in a data signal having a signal level that continues to be closer to a predetermined signal level than a reference level includes a signal correcting unit configured to correct the data signal so that a segment of the data signal is corrected to a level closer to the predetermined signal level than the reference level for a predetermined amount of time starting from the point where the signal level of the data signal changes from a level closer to the predetermined signal level than the reference level to a level further away from the predetermined signal level than the reference level, and a determining unit configured to determine whether the level of the corrected data signal is closer to the predetermined signal level than the reference level.

Abstract: An information signal processing apparatus includes a first information signal reading unit for receiving or reading a predetermined first information signal. A second information signal reading unit receives, detects, or reads a second information signal which includes attribute information regarding the first information signal. A characteristic detecting unit detects a predetermined characteristic of the first information signal from the first information signal reading unit.

Abstract: A recording/reproduction apparatus is capable of effectively and efficiently making use of a large-quantity information signal recorded onto a recording medium and efficiently utilizing the recording medium for recording the information signal. In a process to record a video signal onto the recording medium 8, a video classification process unit 5 employed in the recording/reproduction apparatus recognizes similar pictures of the video signal, classifies pictures of the signal into similar-picture segments each including similar pictures and classifies the similar-picture segments into groups each including similar-picture segments resembling each other. Then, the recording/reproduction apparatus displays a picture as a thumbnail picture for each of the similar-picture segments on a classification display unit 19. By viewing a tabular display of such thumbnail pictures, contents of the video signal recorded on the recording medium 8 can be grasped effectively and with a high degree of efficiency.

Abstract: An information signal processing apparatus comprises: data playback unit for playing back data from a recording medium on which featured data is recorded according to the setting of a first parameter series; information file playback unit for playing back the video/audio information files by selecting from the recording medium; parameter setting unit for selecting one of the played back information files and setting parameter data corresponding to the information file and to the first or second parameter series; playback period processing unit for determining the playback period of the video/audio data recorded on the recording medium according to the featured data and either initialization parameter data set in advance in accordance with the first and second parameter series or the parameter data adjusted by the parameter setting unit; and playback control unit for performing playback control according to the signal from the playback period processing unit.

Abstract: In a signal record/playback apparatus and its method which performs the recording for recording a signal on the recording medium DISK and the playback for playing back the recorded signal from the recording medium DISK at the same time, the recording position and the playback position are set independently and arbitrarily. Record starting position information PREC on the recording medium DISK for starting the recording is stored, playback starting position information PPB on the recording medium DISK for starting the playback is stored, and the recording based on the record starting position information PREC and the playback based on the playback starting position information PPB are independently performed, so as to realize a signal record/playback apparatus and its method which can set the record starting position PREC and the playback starting position PPB arbitrarily.

Abstract: In a signal record/playback apparatus and its method which performs the recording for recording a signal on the recording medium DISK and the playback for playing back the recorded signal from the recording medium DISK at the same time, the recording position and the playback position are set independently and arbitrarily. Record starting position information PREC on the recording medium DISK for starting the recording is stored, playback starting position information PPB on the recording medium DISK for starting the playback is stored, and the recording based on the record starting position information PREC and the playback based on the playback starting position information PPB are independently performed, so as to realize a signal record/playback apparatus and its method which can set the record starting position PREC and the playback starting position PPB arbitrarily.

Abstract: A recording apparatus configured to receive analog video and audio signals, digitize and compress the same, and record the compressed audio and video signals on a digital recording medium such as an optical disk. As the audio and video signals are received and recorded, time segments of the audio signals are analyzed for certain features such as whether the time segment corresponds to instrumental music, vocal music or conversational speech. A table of contents is then generated corresponding to the feature analysis and digitally stored on the storage medium. As a result, the recorded audio is characterized over time, e.g., on a frame by frame basis. A high degree of versatility is thereby provided in the playback process, such as the ability to skip portions having certain audio types or to quickly scroll to desired portions of the recorded audio programs. Reproducing apparatuses enable the user to selectively reproduce segments of the recorded audio and video.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for recording and reproducing a TV broadcasting signal includes a CM detecting unit, a write data processing circuit, a recording system control circuit, and a recording medium. The CM detecting unit operates to detect if a TV broadcasting signal composed of a RF signal inputted through an antenna is now a CM. The write data processing circuit operates to generate CM information accompanied with the CM detected by the CM detecting unit. The recording system control circuit operates to record on the recording medium the CM information generated by the write data processing circuit together with a video signal and an audio signal.

Abstract: An information signal processing apparatus includes a first information signal reading unit for receiving or reading a predetermined first information signal. A second information signal reading unit receives, detects, or reads a second information signal which includes attribute information regarding the first information signal. A characteristic detecting unit detects a predetermined characteristic of the first information signal from the first information signal reading unit.

Abstract: A commercial detector includes a soundless section detecting circuit which detects a soundless section of an audio signal SA and a scene change detecting circuit which detects a scene change point of an image from a video signal SV during the soundless section detected by the soundless section detecting circuit. A commercial section detecting circuit detects whether a time interval of the scene change points detected by the scene change detecting circuit agrees with a predetermined rule. A tuner detects a sound multiplexing mode SSA of an audio signal received.

Abstract: Even if data is recorded on a recording medium on which another data has been recorded, no problem takes place. Data that has been recorded on a recording medium is read. A reproduction signal processing portion 26 extracts an ID signal that identifies the number of samples of the data. The extracted ID signal is supplied to a record signal processing portion 39 and a fs clock generating PLL portion. The fs clock generating PLL portion 33 generates a clock corresponding to the supplied ID signal. A sound (audio) signal is sampled corresponding to the generated clock. The sampled signal is supplied to the record signal processing portion 39 along with the ID signal supplied from the record signal processing portion 39 and the number of samples represented by the ID signal to an after-record region.

Abstract: To easily reproduce data even in variable speed reproduction mode as with normal reproduction mode. Data read from a magnetic tape 1 is supplied to a reproduction equalizing portion 4 through a reproducing amplifier 3. The reproduction equalizing portion 4 trims wave shape and supplies the resultant signal to a data determining comparator 5. The data determining comparator 5 digitizes the input signal. The digitized data is supplied to a reproduction clock extracting portion 7. The reproduction clock extracting portion 7 extracts a reproduction clock. The extracted clock is supplied to a reproduction data strobe portion 6. The reproduction data strobe portion 6 supplies the digitized data to an error correcting portion 8 in synchronization with the reproduction clock. The error correcting portion 8 generates an error correction flag, an interpolation flag, and so forth. A reproduction signal processing portion 10 and a memory 9 process signals and output a sound signal through a D/A converting portion 11.

Abstract: A signal processing operation includes periodic recordation of information, such as television image and audio signals, on a recording medium. The information is recorded for a predetermined period of time provided that a signal level of the recorded image and audio signals exceeds a predetermined threshold. After the recording operation is completed, a recording standby state follows during which no recording is performed on the recording medium. The information contents are sufficiently understandable by carrying out the periodic recording operation while the hard disk can be efficiently utilized to provide additional recording space thereon.

Abstract: Even if data is recorded on a recording medium on which another data has been recorded, no problem takes place. Data that has been recorded on a recording medium is read. A reproduction signal processing portion 26 extracts an ID signal that identifies the number of samples of the data. The extracted ID signal is supplied to a record signal processing portion 39 and a fs clock generating PLL portion. The fs clock generating PLL portion 33 generates a clock corresponding to the supplied ID signal. A sound (audio) signal is sampled corresponding to the generated clock. The sampled signal is supplied to the record signal processing portion 39 along with the ID signal supplied from the record signal processing portion 39 and the number of samples represented by the ID signal to an after-record region.

Abstract: A VTR has heads adapted for reading out a video signal, a PCM audio signal, and an FM audio signal, respectively, from a magnetic tape, and a signal detecting circuit operable to detect which of the video, PCM and FM signals are recorded on the magnetic tape and to provide a signal indicative thereof to a system control circuit which controls a switching circuit for selectively connecting FM and PCM audio demodulating circuits with a signal output line, so that the video signal and the PCM audio signal or the video signal and the FM audio signal are output to be reproduced. The VTR further includes a recording system adapted to record a video signal, a PCM audio signal, and an FM audio signal in respective magnetic layers of a magnetic tape which are at different depths relative to the surface of the magnetic tape in accordance with a predetermined recording current relationship used for recording the video, FM audio and PCM audio signals so as to improve the S/N ratio of each signal when reproduced.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for selectively recording a digital information signal on a first magnetic tape cassette having a tape with a first characteristic or a second magnetic tape cassette having a tape with a second characteristic. The digital information signal selectively has a recording mode of a first standard or a recording mode of a second standard. The apparatus comprises a first sensor for detecting the kind of the magnetic tape cassette, a second sensor for detecting the kind of the recording mode, and a controller for controlling value of recording current for the digital information signal in response to the outputs of the first sensor and the second sensor.

Abstract: A digital signal played back from a record medium is supplied to plural processing circuits which exhibit respectively different characteristics to impart different error rates to the digital signal processed by each circuit. The processed digital signal having the most favorable error rate is detected and the processing circuit which produces that signal is selected for use with further circuitry which recovers information from the processed digital signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording and reproducing a video signal and a digital audio signal, the audio signal being recorded and reproduced in either a first mode or a second mode, includes a rotary drum having a pair of rotary heads and records the video signal and selectively records the audio signal on a magnetic tape wrapped around the rotary drum. When the video signal and selected digital audio signals are reproduced, a detector detects the frequency of a predetermined portion of the reproduced signal and judges the mode of the digital audio signal on the basis of the detected frequency.