Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
  • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
  • G11B27/00—Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
  • G11B27/005—Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
  • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
  • G11B27/00—Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
  • G11B27/02—Editing, e.g. varying the order of information signals recorded on, or reproduced from, record carriers
  • G11B27/031—Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
  • G11B27/034—Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals on discs
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
  • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
  • G11B27/00—Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
  • G11B27/02—Editing, e.g. varying the order of information signals recorded on, or reproduced from, record carriers
  • G11B27/031—Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
  • G11B27/036—Insert-editing
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
  • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
  • G11B27/00—Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
  • G11B27/10—Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
  • G11B27/102—Programmed access in sequence to addressed parts of tracks of operating record carriers
  • G11B27/105—Programmed access in sequence to addressed parts of tracks of operating record carriers of operating discs
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
  • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
  • G11B2220/00—Record carriers by type
  • G11B2220/20—Disc-shaped record carriers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to media viewing devices and, more specifically, to video viewing devices. In certain embodiments, the present invention may also have application to audio recording devices.
• Video data recorders are well-known in the art. Initially, video data recorders were designed to record video signals on video tape and to allow play back of recorded video signals from the tape. Of course, video tapes require sequential recording and playback limiting the functionality of such machines.
• Disk-based video playback machines have been introduced such as video disks and more recently digital video disk machines. These machines may be generally characterized as providing a removable randomly accessed disk allow for the storage and playback of video signals.
• United States Patent No. 5,241 ,428 (the '428 patent) describes a video recording and playback device.
• the described system provides for simultaneous playback and recording of video signals on a randomly accessed recording medium.
• additional functionality may be provided beyond that realized by a video tape recording machine.
• a method and apparatus providing for "instant replays" and "quick skip” functionality in a media playback device is described.
• the media playback moves temporally backwards.
• quick skip under user control, the media playback moves temporally forward.
• the temporal movement is based on a predetermined time (e.g., move back 5 seconds, move forward 30 seconds). In another embodiment, the temporal movement is based on scene change analysis.
• a predetermined time e.g., move back 5 seconds, move forward 30 seconds.
• the temporal movement is based on scene change analysis.
• Figure 2 is a flow diagram a method of user controlled temporal movement through media.
• Figure 3 is a flow diagram of a second method of user controlled temporal movement through media.
• reference numerals in all of the accompanying drawings typically are in the form "drawing number" followed by two digits, xx; for example, reference numerals on Figure 1 may be numbered l xx; on Figure 3, reference numerals may be numbered 3xx.
• a reference numeral may be introduced on one drawing and the same reference numeral may be utilized on other drawings to refer to the same item.
• FIG. 1 provides a high-level block diagram view of a video data recorder (VDR) as may utilize the present invention.
• VDR video data recorder
• a processor 101 is coupled in communication with a channel guide database 103, a criteria database 104, video storage 105 (also referred to as the recording medium), program logic memory 102, a video compressor/decompressor 1 12, a video input source 106, a video output 107, a channel guide data source 109 and a user interface 108.
• the processor 101 may be any of a plurality of commercially available processors such as the a processor from the Motorola 68000 series of processors, a processor from the Intel 8086 family of processors or a higher level processor such as a processor from the Intel PentiumTM family of processors or from the Motorola PowerPCTM family of processors.
• the processor in the described embodiment acts under program control by a program stored in program logic memory 102 to perform functions, such as "fast forwarding" and "rewinding", which will be described in greater detail below.
• the channel guide data source 109 provides periodic updates to the local channel guide database 103.
• the channel guide data source 109 provides program titles, start times, end times, channel information and other criteria (such as ratings, descriptions of shows, names of actors, producers, directors, awards and rating information) regarding channel programming.
• Channel guide data sources are available commercially from TVGuideTM, TV Data, and Tribune media.
• the channel guide source may be accessed periodically to obtain changes and additions over any of a number of communication mediums. For example, the channel guide source may be accessed telephonically by a modem connection to a server or by receiving broadcasted updates and changes from a source such as satellite or terrestial VBI, national pager network or the internet.
• the channel guide source may be obtained periodically such as by subscription and received on a recording media such as a disk through the mail or other source.
• the channel guide database 103 is illustrated in the described embodiment as being stored on a locally attached disk.
• the channel guide database may be stored locally in alternative storage media such as RAM.
• a channel guide database 103 may be stored on a remote server and queried for matches with the criteria database 104 periodically.
• the locally stored channel guide database 103 would be replaced with a "match" database in such an embodiment.
• Such an embodiment reduces the need for local storage and reduces the required bandwidth and processing power to periodically obtain and store a complete local channel guide database. However, this embodiment does depend on a relatively reliable connection to the server storing the channel database.
• the criteria database 104 provides criteria for selection of programming from the channel guide database.
• the criteria are user defined and input through user interface 108. Based on matches between the criteria database 104 and the channel guide database 103, the processor causes video input signals to be recorded on video storage 105.
• video storage 105 is a high capacity, recordable, randomly accessible recording medium such as a hard disk.
• a randomly accessible recording medium provides certain advantages such as allowing a user to simultaneously record and playback video signals.
• a user may view a program as it is being recorded and take advantage of the rewind, pause and fast forward capabilities of the VDR.
• a sequential recording medium may be utilized without departure from certain aspects of the present invention.
• the video input source 106 may be any of a number of sources including cable, over- the-air broadcast and satellite. In certain embodiments, multiple video input sources may be utilized.
• the video output source 107 is typically coupled with a display device such as a television but may also be coupled with another video data recorder.
• the video compressor/decompressor 1 12 provides for compressing and decompressing the video signal. Any commercially available compression technology may be utilized including by way of example MPEG and MPEG II.
• the data may be received in a compressed format.
• the compressor may not be utilized or even required and the decompressor may only be utilized to decompress the compressed signals.
• the disclosed embodiment provides certain user interface features. For example, in the disclosed embodiment it is possible to fast forward and rewind through recorded programming.
• the user may increase the rate of fast forwarding and/or rewinding by continuing to depress the fast forward and/or rewind button for a period of time. For example, if the button is pressed instantaneously, the system may fast forward or rewind at one speed and the speed may continuously increase the longer the button is depressed.
• a temporal movement function e.g., the fast forward or rewind button on the remote control
• rate of playback of the media is increased to a first rate if the temporal movement function is selected for a first period of time and at a second rate if the temporal movement function is selected for a second period of time, block 203.
• the described embodiment provides an instant replay function.
• the user may depress the instant replay button and the system will automatically “rewind” (move the point of viewing of the programming back in time, e.g., back temporally) a predetermined amount (e.g., 5 seconds) in the programming.
• a predetermined amount e.g., 5 seconds
• the described embodiment also provides a function for quickly advancing a predetermined temporal amount forward (e.g., 30 seconds).
• a predetermined temporal amount to move forward is chosen based on the length of a typical commercial allowing the user to quickly skip through commercials.
• Figure 3 illustrates an overall flow diagram of a method of moving a predetermined temporal distance, based on user activation of function.
• the user function may be activated, for example, by the user depressing a button on a remote control device.
• the media which is illustrated in the figure as being video but in alternative embodiments may be audio
• the user selects a temporal movement function, block 302.
• the temporal movement may be either a predetermined distance forward or a predetermined distance backward.
• the play resumes at a second position temporally forward from or temporally backward from the first position.
• the predetermined period of time may be set by the manufacturer of the device or may be user settable.
• the movement backward or forward may be based on scene change analysis.
• the "instant replay" function may skip back to the immediately preceding scene based on analysis of video frames and attempting to look for a scene change.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Television Signal Processing For Recording (AREA)
• Signal Processing For Digital Recording And Reproducing (AREA)
• Indexing, Searching, Synchronizing, And The Amount Of Synchronization Travel Of Record Carriers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (9)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=27494885

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (32)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 1999
  • 1999-08-06 CA CA002339789A patent/CA2339789C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-08-06 EP EP99939033A patent/EP1106012A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1999-08-06 AU AU53397/99A patent/AU5339799A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-08-06 WO PCT/US1999/017792 patent/WO2000008851A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1999-08-06 JP JP2000564376A patent/JP2002522976A/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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