Abstract: A discontinuous position detecting device for detecting a discontinuous position at which date and time information indicative of date and time of recording on a recording medium is discontinuous, the discontinuous position detecting unit including, a scanning unit that scans the recording medium in a first direction and in a second direction that is different from the first direction, a first detecting unit that detects a temporary discontinuous position located in a vicinity of the actual discontinuous position while the scanning unit scans the recording medium in the first direction, a second detecting unit that detects the actual discontinuous position while the scanning unit scans the recording medium in the second direction, and a scan controller that controls the scanning unit to scan the recording medium at a first scan speed except while the second detecting unit detects the actual discontinuous position, and to scan the recording medium at a second scan speed while the second detecting unit detects

Abstract: An information preparation device, such as a personal computer, detects non-consecutive position information, such as times and dates, based on parameters (S11), such as preinputted non-consecutive point detection margins, and prepares (S12) an information table with image information for each non-consecutive position. Based on editing parameters, the device synthesizes and edits (S13) the information in the information table by date and the like. Then the device divides the information into objects, which is a data format, by data The device retrieves contents information and the like that corresponds to the divided information, and generates (S14) and outputs (S15) scenario information. The date and the like indicated by the divided regions serve as an index on buttons of menus that the user operates to easily select and display a desired images.

Abstract: A method of making an information recording medium of the invention is that first a scenario template is generated based on an input scenario information and assignments of titles, chapters, programs, and cells are determined. Based on this assignments, a disk information file and video file management information are generated on a hard disk and a recording area of a video file data is allocated. At this time, in the disk information file and the video file management information, management information as to menu information corresponding to the scenario template and recording area of cells to be recorded in the video file data. Therefore, the efficiency of making a multimedia optical disc, such as a DVD, which records still picture data, moving picture data, or audio data such as voice, as a content, can be increased.

Abstract: A video image edit device for editing video image contents recorded on a video tape. The video tape is rewound to its leading end and a start point time code and a maximum video image content period are stored in a RAM. Then, a video reproduction is started and a time code and time information for a video image content are retrieved. A difference between the present time and a precedent time is compared with a predetermined period to detect discontinuity of the video image content. If discontinuity cannot be detected, judgment is made as to whether or not a difference between the present time code and a start point time code exceeds the maximum video image content period to determine a subdivision point. If discontinuity is detected, or if the difference exceeds the maximum video image content period, a present end point time code and next start point time code are stored for again detecting the discontinuity or judging the next subdivision point.