Abstract: A camera configured to generate audio/video signals, the camera including a recording unit configured to record the audio/video signals on a recording medium, a meta data generation processor configured to generate automatically meta data identifying the content of the audio/video signals in response to the audio/video signals, a wireless communications processor configured to communicate the meta data separately from the recording medium, and a communications interface configured to communicate the automatically generated meta data to a personal data processing apparatus and to receive user generated meta data from the personal data processing apparatus.

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus comprises a recording processor which is operable to record audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, a meta data generation processor which is operable to generate meta data identifying the content of the audio/video signals, and a communications processor which arranged to communicate the meta data separately from the recording medium. Furthermore, the meta data generation processor may be operable to generate at least one sample image which is representative of a video image from the recorded video signals, and to associate the sample image with an address on the recording medium at which the video image is recorded. The video and/or audio generation apparatus provides an advantage in generating and utilising meta data to facilitate the generation of audio/video productions.

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus comprises a recording processor which is operable to record audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, a meta data generation processor which is operable to generate meta data identifying the content of the audio/video signals, and a communications processor which arranged to communicate the meta data separately from the recording medium. Furthermore, the meta data generation processor may be operable to generate at least one sample image which is representative of a video image from the recorded video signals, and to associate the sample image with an address on the recording medium at which the video image is recorded. The video and/or audio generation apparatus provides an advantage in generating and utilising meta data to facilitate the generation of audio/video productions.

Abstract: A camera configured to generate audio/video signals, the camera including a recording unit configured to record the audio/video signals on a recording medium, a meta data generation processor configured to generate automatically meta data identifying the content of the audio/video signals in response to the audio/video signals, a wireless communications processor configured to communicate the meta data separately from the recording medium, and a communications interface configured to communicate the automatically generated meta data to a personal data processing apparatus and to receive user generated meta data from the personal data processing apparatus.

Abstract: A signal processor has an input for receiving an information signal representing material, for example video or audio material. The signal processor is arranged to apply to the material a modification defined by a predetermined algorithm. The modification is perceptible in the material so as to impair the material, the perceptibility of the impairment varying in a predetermined manner in the material.

Abstract: Video special effects apparatus comprises a plurality of video special effects processing modules; a display screen; a palette area on the display screen, the palette area displaying module screen icons representing video special effects processing modules; a graph area on the display screen; user-operable means for moving screen icons from the palette area to the graph area and for graphically linking the screen icons together to form a representation of a composite video special effects process; and user-operable means for a group of selecting two or more linked screen icons displayed in the graph area and transferring the group to the palette area, the group being represented in the palette area as a composite process screen icon in the palette area.

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus comprises a recording processor which is operable to record audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, a meta data generation processor which is operable to generate meta data identifying the content of the audio/video signals, and a communications processor which arranged to communicate the meta data separately from the recording medium.

Abstract: A system for electronic media distribution comprises means for generating a plurality of media items; a data repository for storing a respective metadata item containing metadata relating to the generation of the corresponding media item; means for electronically distributing at least some of the media items to a plurality of end-users; means for detecting reception by the end-users of the media items; and means for associating, with each metadata item relating to an electronically distributed media item, a reception indicator indicative of the number of users receiving that media item.

Abstract: A computer system and method for performing concurrency control on work requests, the system having an object request broker for receiving work requests and for dispatching them for execution within the computer system, a processor for processing the requests which have been received by the object request broker, and a concurrency control component in the object request broker for performing concurrency control by isolating the effects of a group of related work requests which form a transaction. The method includes the steps of receiving a work request, analyzing the requested object and method related to the work request, and locking the brokering of the method.