Abstract: A signal reproducing apparatus is disclosed with which time is not required from a moment at which a user has started a reproducing operation to a moment at which the user is able to actually confirm required information. An audio-and-video-signal reproducing apparatus incorporates a head for recording an audio and video signal recorded on a recording medium; a RAM on which the audio and video signal read by the head is temporarily stored; and a control circuit having a control function for controlling the head to read the audio and video signal recorded on the recording medium and controlling writing of the audio and video signal temporarily stored in the RAM.

Abstract: A signal recorder/reproducer comprising an integrated buffer memory 22 having a memory area for a recording system and a memory area for a reproduction system, the allocation of the memory areas being variable, and a system controller 5 to control, via a recording control signal input unit 2 or reproduction control signal input unit 4, the allocation of the memory areas in the integrated buffer memory 22 depending upon which is designated by the user, a recording or reproduction mode.

Abstract: A commercial candidate section detector detects a commercial candidate section on the basis of a quiet section and a scene change point. A commercial characteristic quantity detector judges whether the commercial candidate section has various characteristics of commercials, and adds a predetermined value to an commercial characteristic value on the basis of the judgment result. The commercial characteristic quantity detector compares the final commercial characteristic value with a predetermined threshold value, and judges on the basis of the comparison result whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial section.

Abstract: Images of reproduced video data of plural channels are displayed on main small screens arrayed in a central horizontal row on an index picture. Time-serially anterior images of reproduced video data are displayed on two upper small screens above the main small screens, while time-serially posterior images of reproduced video data are displayed on two lower small screens below the main small screens. In a forward reproduction mode, the images displayed on the respective small screens are altered, with a lapse of time, to the lower adjacent images while being cross faded. And in a reverse reproduction mode, the images are altered, with a lapse of time, to the upper adjacent images while being cross faded. A normal reproducing operation is started from a desired image when the main small screen, where the desired image is being displayed, is selected by means of a cursor. Thus, any image of video data can be indexed efficiently.

Abstract: Disclosed is a video-signal recording and playback apparatus for recording or playing back a video signal, the video-signal recording and playback apparatus comprising: extracting means for extracting a static picture from a sequence of video signals with a predetermined timing; judgment means for forming a judgment as to whether or not a static picture extracted by the extracting means can be used as a representative picture; and setting means for setting the static picture as a representative picture in accordance with an outcome of a judgment formed by the judgment means.

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: The invention provides a broadcast signal recording and playback apparatus and method which can detect a CM included in a television broadcast signal with certainty without an error. A CM candidate period detection section detects a CM using an audio mode signal outputted from a tuner, a sound absence discrimination output from a sound absence detection section and a scene change detection output from a scene change detection section as basic materials. A detection operation discrimination section limits operation of the CM candidate period detection section when it is known that the broadcast signal includes no CM or when the electric field is weak.

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: A signal recorder/reproducer comprising an integrated buffer memory 22 having a memory area for a recording system and a memory area for a reproduction system, the allocation of the memory areas being variable, and a system controller 5 to control, via a recording control signal input unit 2 or reproduction control signal input unit 4, the allocation of the memory areas in the integrated buffer memory 22 depending upon which is designated by the user, a recording or reproduction mode.

Abstract: A tracking apparatus for tracking an imaging object, includes: imaging means for imaging the imaging object; driving means for driving the imaging means to perform panning and tilting; position detection means for detecting a position of the imaging object in an image outputted from the imaging means; automatic tracking means for calculating a displacement amount between the position of the imaging object detected by the position detection means and a reference position in the image outputted from the imaging means and controlling the driving means based on the displacement amount so that the position of the imaging object may coincide with the reference position to automatically track the imaging object; and reference position setting means for setting the reference position.

Abstract: Images of reproduced video data of plural channels are displayed on main small screens arrayed in a central horizontal row on an index picture. Time-serially anterior images of reproduced video data are displayed on two upper small screens above the main small screens, while time-serially posterior images of reproduced video data are displayed on two lower small screens below the main small screens. In a forward reproduction mode, the images displayed on the respective small screens are altered, with a lapse of time, to the lower adjacent images while being cross faded. And in a reverse reproduction mode, the images are altered, with a lapse of time, to the upper adjacent images while being cross faded. A normal reproducing operation is started from a desired image when the main small screen, where the desired image is being displayed, is selected by means of a cursor. Thus, any image of video data can be indexed efficiently.

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: By reducing the number of seek operations in an operation to play back a signal from a recording medium, the amount of data temporarily stored in a read buffer memory employed in a signal recording/playback apparatus is large enough to be output as a playback signal during a seek operation, allowing a continuous playback operation to be carried out. In order to reduce the number of seek operations, a signal is always recorded onto the recording medium in continuous free areas each having a size equal to or larger than a predetermined recording/playback time length which is typically set at 1 minute. If it is necessary to insert an additional signal having a length smaller than the predetermined recording/playback time length into a point of insertion in an area already occupied by an existing signal, a continuous free area with a size equal to or larger than the predetermined recording/playback time length is newly allocated to the additional signal.

Abstract: By reducing the number of seek operations in an operation to play back a signal from a recording medium, the amount of data temporarily stored in a read buffer memory employed in a signal recording/playback apparatus is large enough to be output as a playback signal during a seek operation, allowing a continuous playback operation to be carried out. In order to reduce the number of seek operations, a signal is always recorded onto the recording medium in continuous free areas each having a size equal to or larger than a predetermined recording/playback time length which is typically set at 1 minute. If it is necessary to insert an additional signal having a length smaller than the predetermined recording/playback time length into a point of insertion in an area already occupied by an existing signal, a continuous free area with a size equal to or larger than the predetermined recording/playback time length is newly allocated to the additional signal.

Abstract: A motion detection system for detecting motion in input images. One of the input images is stored for use as a reference image for motion detection processing. The reference image is updated according to any one of a multiple of possible updating modes. Images input after establishment of the reference image are compared to the reference image and the detection of motion in the input images is based on the comparison. The interval in which motion in the input images is detected is extended according to a predetermined extension time.

Abstract: The invention provides a tracking apparatus and a tracking method by which an imaging object can be set without any special manual operation by a user. An imaged image is supplied to an imaging object setting section via an imaging object processing section. In the imaging object setting section, a motion detection section calculates a difference value between images of successive two frames and detects a motion of an image based on the difference value. Then, a portion of the image from which the motion is detected is set as an imaging object to be tracked.

Abstract: A subject tracking apparatus in which the target is tracked further stably by effectively eliminating the erroneous judgment due to the effects from the object which resembles the target, the luminance change, and objects having different shapes. Each of the R-Y signal and the B-Y signal at setting the feature of target is modeled by the luminance, so as to detect the features without concerning the hue to the luminance change. Also, the R-Y signal and the B-Y signal are directly modeled, so as to detect the features in the same way regarding the subject with colorless since hue has no effect on it. Since it becomes unnecessary to adjust the parameter strictly by modeling in regard to the permissible error, the target can be tracked stably even the luminance changes.