Abstract: An operation device includes a rotational operation element, an angular velocity detection portion detecting an angular velocity of a rotational operation on the rotational operation element, and a playback speed information computation portion calculating, when the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity detection portion is in a first velocity range including an angular velocity of 0, playback speed information according to the detected angular velocity through a first functional computation and when the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity detection portion is in a second velocity range, which is a range higher than the first velocity range, playback speed information according to the detected angular velocity through a second functional computation, and outputting the calculated playback speed information.

Abstract: A content reproduction device changing, according to a reproduction state of a stream media content, multimedia content to be presented after the reproduction of the stream media content has ended. The content reproduction device (100) including: a multimedia browser (102) displaying the multimedia content; a stream media reproducing unit (103) reproducing the stream media content; a reproduction state change instructing unit (104) receiving a user's instruction such as “fast-forward” during the reproduction of the stream media content, and notifying the stream media reproducing unit (103) of the instruction; a reproduction history storing unit (105) storing a reproduction history such as “fast-forward” carried out by the stream media reproducing unit (103); and a return position determining unit (106) determining a URL of a return position based on the reproduction history information stored in the reproduction history storing unit (105) and transition condition information.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for searching a start position of a broadcast program. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a received broadcast program is recorded in a recording medium while being output as video and audio. If a new broadcast program is started, position information regarding a start part of the new broadcast program is stored in a memory. Thus, a current broadcast program is reproduced from a start part by searching a start position of the current broadcast program recorded in the recording medium with reference to stored position information. A determination on whether the new broadcast program is started is done on the basis of Electronic Program Guide (EPG) information or a change in audio and video signals. Accordingly, it is possible to quickly search and reproduce a start part of a broadcast program which is currently recorded.

Abstract: An information storage medium on which multi-angle data is recorded includes at least two clips in each of which video object data for an angle of the multi-angle data is recorded. The at least two clips are recorded in contiguous areas of the information storage medium.

Abstract: During time-shifted playback of a broadcast signal, an immediacy information detection means (121) detects whether the received broadcast signal is a broadcast signal having immediacy information that must be provided immediately to the viewer, and when a broadcast signal having immediacy information is detected, a playback control means (123) interrupts the time-shifted playback of the broadcast signal that does not have immediacy information to immediately play back the broadcast signal having immediacy information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for time-shifted playback of audio/video data. The device comprises: means of storing audio/video data received, means of recording said audio/video data received on said storage means, means of displaying said audio/video data received as it is recorded, means of pausing at a given time the display of said audio/video data while continuing to record it. According to the invention, on switching back to playback mode, said display means display a summary of the audio/video data received during the pause before resuming the playback of said audio/video data received in real time.

Abstract: A method of playing a compressed digital video sequence, comprising steps comprising attributing to each frame a display duration determined as a function of a playing speed set point, and at each period of a frame synchronization signal: if a display duration cumulative value is equal to or greater than a threshold value corresponding to the period of the synchronization signal, playing a previously acquired decoded frame and decreasing the cumulative value of the threshold value; and if the present cumulative value is less than the threshold value, acquiring a new decoded frame and adding the display duration attributed to the newly acquired frame to the cumulative value, until the cumulative value is equal to or greater than the threshold value, playing a last decoded frame acquired and decreasing the cumulative value of the threshold value.

Abstract: Strategies are described for adding a mark to media content at a source location in response to the activation of a marking mechanism, and then resuming the presentation of the media content at a second location based on the mark. The source location may be the same as the destination location, or the source location may differ from the destination location. In the latter case, the source location can correspond to a first room in a home that provides a first media processing mechanism, and the destination location can correspond to a second room in the home that provides a second media processing mechanism. The marking mechanism can correspond to a mark button provided by a remote control. Various user interface displays facilitate the adding of the mark and the resuming of the presentation, including various timelines displays, mark panel displays, thumbnail displays, etc.

Abstract: In one embodiment, providing a transport stream including a video stream that comprises a sequence of pictures corresponding to a video program, each of the pictures of the sequence uniquely associated with one of k successive tiers, where k is a non-negative integer number starting with a lowest tier number; and providing personal video recording assist (PVRA) information in the transport stream at a location corresponding to each of the pictures of the sequence associated with a first tier and each of the pictures of the sequence associated with a second tier different than the first tier, the PVRA information comprising an indication of a first tier number corresponding uniquely to the pictures associated with the first tier and a second tier number corresponding uniquely to the pictures associated with the second tier, the pictures corresponding to the first tier number decodable independently of the pictures corresponding to the second tier number.

Abstract: Meta-data (tags) for an audiovisual file can be generated by prompting a user to input certain tags (meta-data) descriptive of the audiovisual file, to serve as an initial estimate of the tags, and then revising the initial estimate (notably to expand it and/or render it more precise) based on the assumption that the relationships which hold between the different tags for a set of manually-tagged training examples will also hold for the tags of the input file now being tagged.

Abstract: A plurality of video streams and STN_table are recorded in the local storage 200. Each of the plurality of video streams is a secondary video stream to be played together with a primary video stream, and includes picture data representing a child image to be displayed in Picture in Picture that is composed of a parent image and the child image. In the STN_table, entries of secondary video streams that are permitted to be played are described in the order of priority.

Abstract: Adjusting the duration of first content having a plurality of segments including: identifying at least one segment of the first content; deleting the at least one identified segment from the first content to form modified content; and inserting transition periods between segments remaining in the modified content, wherein the transition periods are inserted to adjust the duration of the modified content to a desired duration.

Abstract: Techniques for selecting a picture of a video program for display in accordance with a selected trick play mode of a DVR are described herein. Sometimes, when desired playback speed is faster than normal, a DVR is forced to select some pictures to play and some pictures to skip. Ideally, in order to preserve “smooth” viewing quality, the next picture to be displayed should be temporally close to the currently displayed picture. Since some pictures can take longer to decode than others, accounting for picture decoding costs helps ensure that the best picture can be selected for decoding given playback speed requirements. According to one embodiment of the invention, for each picture of a plurality of pictures in a video data stream, a DVR determines a decoding cost for that picture. Based on the determined costs, the DVR selects a particular picture. The DVR outputs the selected picture for display.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and products for administering a time-shifting cache in a media playback device are disclosed, where the media playback device receives from a digital media provider a digital media stream of digital media content and administering the time-shifting cache includes caching the digital media content of the digital media stream in the time-shifting cache; dynamically identifying one or more non-preferred segments of the cached digital media content; and managing the time-shifting cache in dependence upon the identified non-preferred segments.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a memory may receive digital video data containing a first I frame and a second I frame with a plurality of P frames located between the I frames. The I frames each include a first timestamp. A processor may determine a subset of the P frames to be played in a trick mode along with the first I frame and the second I frame based on the number of P frames included in the plurality of P frames and the desired playback speed.

Abstract: Method for reproducing data streams, in particular of broadcast data, comprising the steps of: receiving at least one receiving data stream (RDS); providing a reproducing data stream (PDS) on the basis of said receiving data stream (RDS) and/or of derivatives (D-RDS) thereof; reproducing said reproducing data stream (PDS); including into said reproducing data stream (PDS) and thereby reproducing at least parts (S2,1-S2,6) of a second data stream (DS2) and/or of derivatives (D-DS2) thereof instead of said receiving data stream (RDS) in response to a first control signal; and generating said derivatives (D-RDS) of at least parts (S1,1-S1,7) of said receiving data stream (RDS).

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a content playback device includes a receiving module which receives a plurality of channels including content, a selection module which selects a desired channel from a plurality of channels, a playback module which plays back a content item included in the selected channel, and a creation module which creates a special clock based on a playback time of a content item for the selected channel.

Abstract: A video receiver system comprises a video elementary stream decoder that decodes an elementary stream and one or more trick mode processing modules that modify the elementary stream to enable a trick mode effect. The trick mode processing module(s) produce a trick mode elementary stream for input to the video elementary stream decoder module. For example, the one or more trick mode processing modules can replace plural non-key frames of the elementary stream with one or more P-type skipped frames for a fast forward effect, where the trick mode elementary stream comprises one or more entry point key frames and the one or more P-type skipped frames. The video receiver system can selectively route the elementary stream to either the video elementary stream decoder module or the one or more trick mode processing modules.

Abstract: Disclosed are a selecting device, a selecting method, and a selecting program storage medium, which are configured to surely and easily select programs such as a drama series, even when a large number of programs are recorded. The selecting device includes: a designating section which designates a program from programs stored in a storage device in response to an operation; a searching section which searches the programs stored in the storage device for a program satisfying a predetermined correlation between itself and the program designated by the designating section; and a selecting section which collectively selects the program designated by the designating section and the program searched out by the searching section collectively.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a Video-on-Demand (VOD) program involves at a service provider head-end, separating VOD program data into first and second parts; transmitting the first part over a communication network to a recipient receiver for storage at a storage device as cached speculative data, where the transmitting is carried out as a data push when the communication network has available bandwidth to permit such transmitting and without regard for any order having been received for the VOD program to be sent to the receiver; receiving an order for the VOD program to be sent to the receiver; and streaming the second part to the receiver for reassembly into the VOD program at the receiver by combining the second part as it is streamed with the cached speculative data. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a digital video segment simulating motion at one speed, the frames in the segment spaced at a uniform time interval. The method further includes receiving a desired speed of motion, determining the appropriate uniform time interval corresponding to the desired speed, and generating a frame sequence simulating the motion at the desired speed, the frames in the generated sequence spaced at the determined appropriate uniform time interval. If the generated frame sequence includes a frame from the original segment, then only frames from the original segment are included in the generated frame sequence, and if the generated frame sequence includes an interpolated frame then only interpolated frames are included in the generated frame sequence.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a personal video recorder (PVR) software buffer management to support the software passage are disclosed. A first plurality of receive buffer descriptors may be allocated for recording at least one received packet in at least a portion of a shared memory. The received packet may be recorded in the shared memory utilizing at least one of the allocated first plurality of receive buffer descriptors. A plurality of playback buffer descriptors may be allocated for playback of the recorded received packet from the shared memory. A first portion of the received packet may be simultaneously played back from the shared memory while recording a second portion of the received packet in the shared memory. If at least one of the recorded received packet is consumed, the playback buffer descriptors corresponding to a number of the consumed received packet may be de-allocated.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electronic apparatus including, an acquisition portion configured to acquire video data having a plurality of picture data constituting a moving picture for reproduction of a three-dimensional moving picture, an operation portion configured to give an instruction for thin-out reproduction of the plurality of picture data acquired for three-dimensional moving picture reproduction, and a selection portion configured to select in turns the picture data for thin-out reproduction of the three-dimensional moving picture from the plurality of picture data acquired for three-dimensional moving picture reproduction, based on the thin-out reproduction instruction, wherein the selection portion selects the picture data of which the display position relative to the last-selected picture is subject to a limited change in the direction of depth.

Abstract: Systems and methods to modify playout or playback include a first and second approach to respond to a trick mode request (e.g., fast forward, rewind). First, a trick mode request may be responded to by associating primary content to secondary content and playing out the secondary content on a receiving device, the secondary content not being derived from the primary content. Second, a trick mode request may be responded to by associating primary content to secondary content and playing out the secondary content on a receiving device, the secondary content being derived from the primary content but played at a normal speed for the secondary content.

Abstract: A media reproducing apparatus includes a receiving unit for receiving primary content, memory for storing replay content from an identified portion of the primary content for time-shifted display of the primary content, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to cause a display to display at a first display rate the primary content on a first region of a display, and further cause the display to display the replay content at a second display rate, which is different than the first display rates on a second region of the display. The replay content being displayed simultaneously with the primary content. The control unit is further configured to terminate the display of the replay content upon an occurrence of a timing event. The terminating operation causes the primary content to be displayed on both the first region and the second region of the display.

Abstract: To provide an AV data recording and reproducing apparatus capable of easily carrying out real-time recording and reproducing via a 1394 interface, and method thereof. Input time information relating to one or a plurality of transport packets are stored in the different transport packet; the transport packets and the different transport packet having input time information relating to the transport packets are recorded; and at the same time the transport packet recorded in the recording medium and the different transport packet are read; the different transport packet corresponding to one of a plurality of the recorded transport packets are extracted and the input time is specified; and based on the input time information, the corresponding transport packet is output.

Abstract: An automatic overshoot control system and method can enable a user to more easily terminate a trick mode (e.g., fast forward or rewind) at an intended point in program material. For example, after a trick mode, a user can initiate display of audio or video at a particular intended point in the program material while minimizing a need to manually adjust. The system determines an offset and tracks a preview position within the program material displayed as a trick mode preview incorporating the offset. The system also tracks an actual position within the program material based on the preview position and offset. The actual position corresponds to a predicted location that the user desires upon terminating the preview trick mode. When the preview trick mode is terminated, normal playback of the program material is resumed at the actual location corresponding to the user's intended location in the program material.

Abstract: A method, apparatus (100) and system (200) for altering the playback speed of recorded content (105) to match a target syllable rate is provided. A user may enter a desired, target playback syllable rate through a user interface (101), such as a keypad or touch screen. Alternatively, the target playback syllable rate may be determined from identification of the source of the recorded content (105). An actual playback syllable rate (106) associated with the recorded content (105) is then determined. The recorded content (105) is then altered, by time domain harmonic scaling in one embodiment, such that the altered playback speed (109) substantially matches the target playback syllable rate. In so doing, a listener is able to receive recorded content (105) at a faster or slower rate than it is produced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving and recording a digital broadcast program and reproducing a recorded digital broadcast program with time-based trick play features. While recording a broadcast program on a storage medium, the apparatus creates an index file regarding random access points of the program. Receiving a request for a jump or trick play operation given in terms of time, the apparatus detects the time interval between each of the random access points based on the created file. Referring to the time interval, the apparatus determines the position to be reached by the jump and begins playback from the position or determines the number of access points to be skipped for the trick play and begins the requested trick play by skipping random access points by the number, thereby providing a user-friendly interface having time-based trick play features.

Abstract: A video signal producing system includes an imaging device for obtaining progressive imaging signals having various frame rates, a recording device for recording an output signal of the imaging device and a reproduction device for reproducing a recording signal obtained from the recording device. The imaging device includes a frame rate converting portion for converting the imaging signals to an output having a predetermined frame rate and the reproduction device changes a reproduction speed in response to each of the various frame rates so as to generate an output having a substantial number of frames such that the substantial number of the frames assumes a predetermined value.

Abstract: A content reproduction method is provided, which acquires, from a data transmission apparatus, first streaming data that is used to play a content at a first speed, and records the first streaming data on a storage medium. The content reproduction method plays the content at the first speed, based on the stored first streaming data. The content reproduction method also starts acquisition of second streaming data in response to a varied-speed reproduction request for the content, wherein the second streaming data is used to play the content at a second speed, and plays the content at a transition speed based on the stored first streaming data, in response to the varied-speed reproduction request. The content reproduction method plays the content at the second speed based on the second streaming data, after the acquisition of the second streaming data progresses to a reproduction preparation complete state.

Abstract: Trick mode playback is implemented by disengaging a frame synchronization signal, and then decoding “I” and “P” frames to two (or more) buffers. Specifically, each buffer has a pointer that is associated with a memory/origin address. The pointers are locked in place by disengaging the frame synchronization signal. Once the pointers are locked in place, the “I” frames and “P” frames are decoded to the two buffers in an alternating fashion based on a continuous swapping of the memory addresses associated with the two pointers. Because both “I” and “P” frames (as opposed to only “I” frames) are decoded and displayed, the trick mode playback appears smoother. In addition, because the frame synchronization signal was disengaged, the frames can be decoded at a rate faster than a single frame time. That is, one frame need not be completely decoded and read out before the next frame is decoded.

Abstract: A drop sensor detects a drop of a device. When the drop of the device is detected, a sub CPU allows a counter to count a drop time. When the device drops for a predetermined time or more, the sub CPU controls a regulator so that the regulator forcibly disconnects an electric power to be supplied to a hard disc, and writes a drop occurrence flag into a nonvolatile memory. When the power supply is again turned on, a main CPU allows a display section to display information indicating that the power supply is disconnected due to the drop of the device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method thereof determines a title of a recorded program. After a desired video content that is transmitted through a channel has been recorded upon user's request of timer recording, it is checked if more than one program is scheduled for broadcast on that channel during the preset timer recording interval based on broadcast program time information obtained from the channel. If it is determined that more than one programs is scheduled, the title of the recorded desired video content is determined on the basis of time length, data size, and/or minimum ratio.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recording steps performed in a computer environment to produce an electronic demonstration movie. The method includes recording at least one screen shot corresponding to at least one of the steps using a still motion recorder. The method also monitors the steps for the presence of detail criteria. In response to the detection of detail criteria in the steps, the still motion recorded is paused and a video recorder is initiated for recording full motion video clips of a detailed process. In response to the end of the detail criteria, the video recorder is paused and the still motion recorder is re-instated in response to the pausing of the video recorder. The recorded screen shots and recorded full motion video are then compiled into an electronic demonstration movie.

Abstract: In conventional technology, when a program which operates in synchronization with reproduction of video and audio instructs a trick play of video and audio such as fast-forward and rewind, the trick play of the video and audio continues even after the program is terminated. This makes it impossible to cancel a redundant trick play which continues for an interval of time which is not expected by the program. In the present invention, a program which instructs a trick play of video and audio is retained, and when the program is terminated, it is determined whether or not the program has instructed the trick play, and if that program has instructed the trick play, the trick play of the video and audio is cancelled. As a result, it is possible to cancel such a redundant trick play which would otherwise continue for some interval of time which is not expected by the program.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing dynamic compensation for delays over extant infrastructure within a content-based network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable network, and the infrastructure comprises that nominally used for on-demand (OD) services such as VOD. The method includes periodically or situationally assessing variable delays within the system associated with functional commands (such as “trick mode” commands), and dynamically compensating for these variable delays in order to improve the accuracy and timeliness of the user's trick mode command. This approach increases user satisfaction, and obviates the issuance of additional compensatory trick mode commands that only further degrade the performance of the network.

Abstract: The present patent application relates to a video signal playback apparatus comprising video signal chunking means for partitioning a video signal provided to the video signal playback apparatus into video chunks, each video chunk comprising a first temporal amount of video signals, and video chunk compressing means for temporarily compressing the first temporal amount of video signals comprised in each video chunk.

Abstract: A playback apparatus includes a VOBU number retriever for obtaining the number of VOBU included in a title, a playback time retriever for obtaining playback time for the title and a playback controller for carrying out a special playback according to the number of VOBU and the playback time. The playback controller obtains average playback time for one VOBU from the playback time and number of VOBU for the title as unit playback time and refers to an address map of a VOBU according to the unit playback time to execute a high-speed search and time search.

Abstract: A video-on-demand system encodes multiple video streams from media content, such that the video streams have staggered intra-frame intervals. When a client device requests a video stream, the video-on-demand system selects one of the multiple video streams based on the position of the intra-frames, and transmits the selected video stream to the client device.

Abstract: Computer-based editing methods and systems for defining and generating transitions between video clips in a video presentation. Transition regions are defined at one or both ends of a video clip such that the transition region remains defined on the first video clip until the transition region is edited or deleted by a user. Making the transition region a property of the clip upon which the transition region is defined, and retaining that property while the clip is manipulated within a timeline of a video editing system reduces ambiguity as to how transitions are to be treated in the editing process. It also helps reduce loss of original video material associated with transition regions during the editing process.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for time-adapted video content during trick mode playback. There is provided a method of providing a plurality of pre-produced alternative contents for use by a playback device in conjunction with rendering of a content, comprising determining a current playback speed of the playback device, comparing the current playback speed with a real-time playback speed of the playback device that is for viewing the content, selecting one of the plurality of pre-produced alternative contents based on the current playback speed in response to the comparing of the current playback speed with the real-time playback speed, and rendering the one of the plurality of pre-produced alternative contents in place of the rendering of the content. In this manner, more relevant and intelligible video contents can be provided for the user during trick mode playback.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus 20 comprises a store 2 for storing data representing an image, a cathode ray tube 5 for displaying the image represented by the data in raster scan order and a camera 7 for directing the displayed image onto film 10. A movable mask 21 is positioned in front of the screen of the cathode ray tube 5. The mask defines an aperture 25 which is moved over the screen of the tube 5 as the image is displayed thereon so as to prevent unwanted light caused by the displaying of the image from being directed onto the film 10.