Multimedia time warping system

• US 20010019658A1
• Filed: 04/05/2001
• Published: 09/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Barton, James M., Goodman, Andrew Martin, Moskowitz, Alan S., McInnis, Roderick James, Chow, Ching Tong, Kao, Jean Swey
• Application Number:
  US09/827,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20010019658A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2575 DVD-RAMs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/455 said record carriers being in one device and being used as primary and secondary/backup media, e.g. HDD-DVD combo device, or as source and target media, e.g. PC and portable player
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3027 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3054 Vertical Interval Time code [VITC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42615 involving specific demultiplexing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43076 : of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/432 : Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4341 : Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4344 : Remultiplexing of multiplex streams, e.g. by modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 : Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 : involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440281 : by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. by frame skipping television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4884 : for displaying subtitles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 : by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 : involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 : Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8063 : using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals

Abstract

A multimedia time warping system. The invention allows the user to store selected television broadcast programs while the user is simultaneously watching or reviewing another program. A preferred embodiment of the invention accepts television (TV) input streams in a multitude of forms, for example, National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) or PAL broadcast, and digital forms such as Digital Satellite System (DSS), Digital Broadcast Services (DBS), or Advanced Television Standards Committee (ATSC). The TV streams are converted to an Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) formatted stream for internal transfer and manipulation and are parsed and separated it into video and audio components. The components are stored in temporary buffers. Events are recorded that indicate the type of component that has been found, where it is located, and when it occurred. The program logic is notified that an event has occurred and the data is extracted from the buffers. The parser and event buffer decouple the CPU from having to parse the MPEG stream and from the real time nature of the data streams which allows for slower CPU and bus speeds and translate to lower system costs. The video and audio components are stored on a storage device and when the program is requested for display, the video and audio components are extracted from the storage device and reassembled into an MPEG stream which is sent to a decoder. The decoder converts the MPEG stream into TV output signals and delivers the TV output signals to a TV receiver. User control commands are accepted and sent through the system. These commands affect the flow of said MPEG stream and allow the user to view stored programs with at least the following functions: reverse, fast forward, play, pause, index, fast/slow reverse play, and fast/slow play.

Claims

1. A process for simultaneous storage and playback of multimedia data in a computer environment, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of input signal tuners;

wherein said tuners accept analog and digital television broadcast signals;

wherein each of said tuners is individually tuned to a specific broadcast signal;

converting analog television broadcast signals into a digital signal;

separating a digital signal or digital television broadcast signal into its video and audio components;

storing said video and audio components on a storage device;

providing an output device;

wherein said output device extracts a specific video and audio component from said storage device;

decoding said specific video and audio components into a television output signal; and

sending said television output signal to a television monitor.

2. The process of

claim 1

, further comprising the step of:

inserting on screen displays into said television output signal.

3. The process of

claim 1

, further comprising the step of:

accepting control commands from a user.

4. The process of

claim 3

, wherein the user selects an individual tuner and the specific broadcast signal for said individual tuner.

5. The process of

claim 3

, wherein the user selects a specific video and audio component to be extracted from said storage device and decoded.

6. The process of

claim 3

, wherein the user controls the decoding rate and direction of said decoding step to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions on said television output signal.

7. The process of

claim 1

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on the current date and time.

8. The process of

claim 1

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on a particular word or phrase in said broadcast signal.

9. The process of

claim 1

, further comprising the steps of:

extracting other signal components from said digital signal or said digital television broadcast signal;

wherein said storage step stores said other signal components on said storage device;

wherein said output device extracts the associated signal components of said specific video and audio components from said storage device; and

reproducing said associated signal components into their proper location in said television output signal.

10. An apparatus for simultaneous storage and playback of multimedia data in a computer environment, comprising:

a plurality of input signal tuners;

wherein said tuners accept analog and digital television broadcast signals;

wherein each of said tuners is individually tuned to a specific broadcast signal;

a module for converting analog television broadcast signals into a digital signal;

a module for separating a digital signal or digital television broadcast signal into its video and audio components;

a module for storing said video and audio components on a storage device;

an output device;

wherein said output device extracts a specific video and audio component from said storage device;

a module for decoding said specific video and audio components into a television output signal; and

a module for sending said television output signal to a television monitor.

11. The apparatus of

claim 10

, further comprising:

a module for inserting on screen displays into said television output signal.

12. The apparatus of

claim 10

, further comprising:

a module for accepting control commands from a user.

13. The apparatus of

claim 12

, wherein the user selects an individual tuner and the specific broadcast signal for said individual tuner.

14. The apparatus of

claim 12

, wherein the user selects a specific video and audio component to be extracted from said storage device and decoded.

15. The apparatus of

claim 12

, wherein the user controls the decoding rate and direction of said decoding module to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions on said television output signal.

16. The apparatus of

claim 10

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on the current date and time.

17. The apparatus of

claim 10

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on a particular word or phrase in said broadcast signal.

18. The apparatus of

claim 10

, further comprising:

a module for extracting other signal components from said digital signal or said digital television broadcast signal;

wherein said storage module stores said other signal components on said storage device;

wherein said output device extracts the associated signal components of said specific video and audio components from said storage device; and

a module for reproducing said associated signal components into their proper location into said television output signal.

19. A process for simultaneous storage and playback of multimedia data in a computer environment, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of input signal tuners;

wherein said tuners accept analog and digital television broadcast signals;

wherein each of said tuners is individually tuned to a specific broadcast signal;

converting analog television broadcast signals into a digital signal;

storing said digital signals and digital television broadcast signals on a storage device;

providing a plurality of output devices;

wherein each of said output devices extracts a specific digital signal from said storage device;

decoding said specific digital signals into a television output signal;

sending said television output signal to a television monitor; and

wherein said plurality of output devices allows for a picture in a picture display on said television monitor.

20. The process of

claim 19

, further comprising the step of:

accepting control commands from a user.

21. The process of

claim 20

, wherein the user selects the picture in a picture option to be displayed on said television monitor.

22. The process of

claim 20

, wherein the user selects which of said output devices displays in said picture in a picture display.

23. The process of

claim 20

, wherein the user selects the display position of each picture in the picture in a picture display.

24. The process of

claim 20

, wherein the user selects an individual tuner and the specific broadcast signal for said individual tuner.

25. The process of

claim 20

, wherein the user selects a specific digital signal to be extracted from said storage device and decoded.

26. The process of

claim 20

, wherein the user controls the decoding rate and direction of said decoding step to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions on said television output signal.

27. The process of

claim 19

, further comprising the step of:

inserting on screen displays into said television output signal.

28. The process of

claim 19

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on the current date and time.

29. The process of

claim 19

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on a particular word or phrase in said broadcast signal.

30. An apparatus for simultaneous storage and playback of multimedia data in a computer environment, comprising:

a plurality of input signal tuners;

wherein said tuners accept analog and digital television broadcast signals;

wherein each of said tuners is individually tuned to a specific broadcast signal;

a module for converting analog television broadcast signals into a digital signal;

a module for storing said digital signals and digital television broadcast signals on a storage device;

a plurality of output devices;

wherein each of said output devices extracts a specific digital signal from said storage device;

a module for decoding said specific digital signals into a television output signal;

a module for sending said television output signal to a television monitor; and

wherein said plurality of output devices allows for a picture in a picture display on said television monitor.

31. The apparatus of

claim 30

, further comprising:

a module for accepting control commands from a user.

32. The apparatus of

claim 31

, wherein the user selects the picture in a picture option to be displayed on said television monitor.

33. The apparatus of

claim 31

, wherein the user selects which of said output devices displays in said picture in a picture display.

34. The apparatus of

claim 31

, wherein the user selects the display position of each picture in the picture in a picture display.

35. The apparatus of

claim 31

, wherein the user selects an individual tuner and the specific broadcast signal for said individual tuner.

36. The apparatus of

claim 31

, wherein the user selects a specific digital signal to be extracted from said storage device and decoded.

37. The apparatus of

claim 31

, wherein the user controls the decoding rate and direction of said decoding module to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions on said television output signal.

38. The apparatus of

claim 30

, further comprising:

a module for inserting on screen displays into said television output signal.

39. The apparatus of

claim 30

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on the current date and time.

40. The apparatus of

claim 30

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on a particular word or phrase in said broadcast signal.

41. A process for simultaneous storage and playback of multimedia data in a computer environment, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of input signal tuners;

wherein said tuners accept analog and digital television broadcast signals;

wherein each of said tuners is individually tuned to a specific broadcast signal;

converting analog television broadcast signals into a digital signal;

separating a digital signal or digital television broadcast signal into its video and audio components;

storing said video and audio components on a storage device;

providing a plurality of output devices;

wherein each of said output devices extracts a specific video and audio component from said storage device;

decoding said specific video and audio components into a television output signal;

sending said television output signal to a television monitor; and

wherein said plurality of output devices allows for a picture in a picture display on said television monitor.

42. The process of

claim 41

, further comprising the step of:

accepting control commands from a user.

43. The process of

claim 42

, wherein the user selects the picture in a picture option to be displayed on said television monitor.

44. The process of

claim 42

, wherein the user selects which of said output devices displays in said picture in a picture display.

45. The process of

claim 42

, wherein the user selects the display position of each picture in the picture in a picture display.

46. The process of

claim 42

, wherein the user selects an individual tuner and the specific broadcast signal for said individual tuner.

47. The process of

claim 42

, wherein the user selects a specific video and audio component to be extracted from said storage device and decoded.

48. The process of

claim 42

, wherein the user controls the decoding rate and direction of said decoding step to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions on said television output signal.

49. The process of

claim 41

, further comprising the step of:

inserting on screen displays into said television output signal.

50. The process of

claim 41

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on the current date and time.

51. The process of

claim 41

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on a particular word or phrase in said broadcast signal.

52. The process of

claim 41

, further comprising the steps of:

extracting other signal components from said digital signal or said digital television broadcast signal;

wherein said storage step stores said other signal components on said storage device;

wherein each of said output devices extracts the associated signal components of said specific video and audio components from said storage device; and

reproducing said associated signal components into their proper location in said television output signal.

53. An apparatus for simultaneous storage and playback of multimedia data in a computer environment, comprising:

a plurality of input signal tuners;

wherein said tuners accept analog and digital television broadcast signals;

wherein each of said tuners is individually tuned to a specific broadcast signal;

a module for converting analog television broadcast signals into a digital signal;

a module for separating a digital signal or digital television broadcast signal into its video and audio components;

a module for storing said video and audio components on a storage device;

a plurality of output devices;

wherein each of said output devices extracts a specific video and audio component from said storage device;

a module for decoding said specific video and audio components into a television output signal;

a module for sending said television output signal to a television monitor; and

wherein said plurality of output devices allows for a picture in a picture display on said television monitor.

54. The apparatus of

claim 53

, further comprising:

a module for accepting control commands from a user.

55. The apparatus of

claim 54

, wherein the user selects the picture in a picture option to be displayed on said television monitor.

56. The apparatus of

claim 54

, wherein the user selects which of said output devices displays in said picture in a picture display.

57. The apparatus of

claim 54

, wherein the user selects the display position of each picture in the picture in a picture display.

58. The apparatus of

claim 54

, wherein the user selects an individual tuner and the specific broadcast signal for said individual tuner.

59. The apparatus of

claim 54

, wherein the user selects a specific video and audio component to be extracted from said storage device and decoded.

60. The apparatus of

claim 54

, wherein the user controls the decoding rate and direction of said decoding module to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions on said television output signal.

61. The apparatus of

claim 53

, further comprising:

a module for inserting on screen displays into said television output signal.

62. The apparatus of

claim 53

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on the current date and time.

63. The apparatus of

claim 53

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on a particular word or phrase in said broadcast signal.

64. The apparatus of

claim 53

, further comprising:

a module for extracting other signal components from said digital signal or said digital television broadcast signal;

wherein said storage module stores said other signal components on said storage device;

wherein each of said output devices extracts the associated signal components of said specific video and audio components from said storage device; and

a module for reproducing said associated signal components into their proper location in said television output signal.

65. A process for simultaneous storage and playback of multimedia audio data in a computer environment, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one input signal tuner;

wherein said tuner accepts streaming audio signals, said streaming audio signals are in digital and analog form;

wherein said tuner is tuned to a specific streaming audio signal;

converting said streaming audio signals that are analog signals into a digital stream;

storing said digital stream and digital streaming audio signals on a storage device;

providing an output device;

wherein said output device extracts a specific digital stream from said storage device;

decoding said specific digital stream into an analog or digital audio output signal; and

playing back said analog or digital audio output signal.

66. The process of

claim 65

, further comprising the step of:

accepting control commands from a user.

67. The process of

claim 66

, wherein the user selects an individual tuner and the specific streaming audio signal for said individual tuner.

68. The process of

claim 66

, wherein the user selects a specific digital stream to be extracted from said storage device and played back.

69. The process of

claim 66

, wherein the user controls the decoding rate and direction of said decoding step to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, pause, and play functions on said analog or digital audio output signal.

70. An apparatus for simultaneous storage and playback of multimedia audio data in a computer environment, comprising the steps of:

at least one input signal tuner;

wherein said tuner accepts streaming audio signals, said streaming audio signals are in digital and analog form;

wherein said tuner is tuned to a specific streaming audio signal;

a module for converting said streaming audio signals that are analog signals into a digital stream;

a module for storing said digital stream and digital streaming audio signals on a storage device;

an output device;

wherein said output device extracts a specific digital stream from said storage device;

a module for decoding said specific digital stream into an analog or digital audio output signal; and

a module for playing back said analog or digital audio output signal.

71. The apparatus of

claim 70

, further comprising the step of:

accepting control commands from a user.

72. The apparatus of

claim 71

, wherein the user selects an individual tuner and the specific streaming audio signal for said individual tuner.

73. The apparatus of

claim 71

, wherein the user selects a specific digital stream to be extracted from said storage device and played back.

74. The apparatus of

claim 71

, wherein the user controls the decoding rate and direction of said decoding module to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, pause, and play functions on said analog or digital audio output signal.

75. A process for simultaneous storage and playback of multimedia data in a computer environment, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of input signal tuners;

wherein said tuners accept analog and digital television broadcast signals;

wherein each of said tuners is individually tuned to a specific broadcast signal;

converting analog television broadcast signals into a digital signal;

storing said digital signals and digital television broadcast signals on a storage device;

providing an output device;

wherein said output device extracts a specific digital signal from said storage device;

decoding said specific digital signals into a television output signal; and

sending said television output signal to a television monitor.

76. The process of

claim 75

, further comprising the step of:

inserting on screen displays into said television output signal.

77. The process of

claim 75

, further comprising the step of:

accepting control commands from a user.

78. The process of

claim 77

, wherein the user selects an individual tuner and the specific broadcast signal for said individual tuner.

79. The process of

claim 77

, wherein the user selects a specific digital signal to be extracted from said storage device and decoded.

80. The process of

claim 77

, wherein the user controls the decoding rate and direction of said decoding step to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions on said television output signal.

81. The process of

claim 75

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on the current date and time.

82. The process of

claim 75

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on a particular word or phrase in said broadcast signal.

83. An apparatus for simultaneous storage and playback of multimedia data in a computer environment, comprising:

a plurality of input signal tuners;

wherein said tuners accept analog and digital television broadcast signals;

wherein each of said tuners is individually tuned to a specific broadcast signal;

a module for converting analog television broadcast signals into a digital signal;

a module for storing said digital signals and digital television broadcast signals on a storage device;

an output device;

wherein said output device extracts a specific digital signal from said storage device;

a module for decoding said specific digital signals into a television output signal; and

a module for sending said television output signal to a television monitor.

84. The apparatus of

claim 83

, further comprising:

a module for inserting on screen displays into said television output signal.

85. The apparatus of

claim 83

, further comprising:

a module for accepting control commands from a user.

86. The apparatus of

claim 85

, wherein the user selects an individual tuner and the specific broadcast signal for said individual tuner.

87. The apparatus of

claim 85

, wherein the user selects a specific digital signal to b e extracted from said storage device and decoded.

88. The apparatus of

claim 85

, wherein the user controls the decoding rate and direction of said decoding module to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions on said television output signal.

89. The apparatus of

claim 83

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on the current date and time.

90. The apparatus of

claim 83

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on a particular word or phrase in said broadcast signal.

91. A process for simultaneous storage and playback of multimedia data in a computer environment, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of input signal tuners;

wherein said tuners accept analog and digital television broadcast signals;

wherein each of said tuners is individually tuned to a specific broadcast signal;

converting analog television broadcast signals into a digital signal;

separating a digital signal or digital television broadcast signal into its video and audio components;

decoding said specific video and audio components into a television output signal; and

sending said television output signal to a television monitor.

92. The process of

claim 91

, further comprising the step of:

inserting on screen displays into said television output signal.

93. The process of

claim 91

, further comprising the step of:

accepting control commands from a user.

94. The process of

claim 93

, wherein the user selects an individual tuner and the specific broadcast signal for said individual tuner.

95. The process of

claim 93

, wherein the user controls the decoding rate and direction of said decoding step to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions on said television output signal.

96. The process of

claim 91

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on the current date and time.

97. The process of

claim 91

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on a particular word or phrase in said broadcast signal.

98. The process of

claim 91

, further comprising the steps of:

extracting other signal components from said digital signal or said digital television broadcast signal; and

reproducing said associated signal components into their proper location in said television output signal.

99. An apparatus for simultaneous storage and playback of multimedia data in a computer environment, comprising:

a plurality of input signal tuners;

wherein said tuners accept analog and digital television broadcast signals;

wherein each of said tuners is individually tuned to a specific broadcast signal;

a module for converting analog television broadcast signals into a digital signal;

a module for separating a digital signal or digital television broadcast signal into its video and audio components;

a module for decoding said specific video and audio components into a television output signal; and

a module for sending said television output signal to a television monitor.

100. The apparatus of

claim 99

, further comprising:

a module for inserting on screen displays into said television output signal.

101. The apparatus of

claim 99

, further comprising:

a module for accepting control commands from a user.

102. The apparatus of

claim 101

, wherein the user selects an individual tuner and the specific broadcast signal for said individual tuner.

103. The apparatus of

claim 101

, wherein the user controls the decoding rate and direction of said decoding module to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions on said television output signal.

104. The apparatus of

claim 99

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on the current date and time.

105. The apparatus of

claim 99

, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on a particular word or phrase in said broadcast signal.

106. The apparatus of

claim 99

, further comprising:

a module for extracting other signal components from said digital signal or said digital television broadcast signal; and

a module for reproducing said associated signal components into their proper location in said television output signal.

107. A process for simultaneous storage and playback of multimedia data in a computer environment, comprising the steps of:

accepting analog and digital video streams;

converting analog video streams into a digital video stream;

separating a digital video stream into its video and audio components;

storing said video and audio components on a storage device;

providing an output device;

wherein said output device extracts a specific video and audio component from said storage device; and

decoding said specific video and audio components into a television output signal.

108. The process of

claim 107

, further comprising the step of:

accepting control commands from a user.

109. The process of

claim 108

, wherein the user selects a specific video and audio component to be extracted from said storage device and decoded.

110. The process of

claim 108

, wherein the user controls the decoding rate and direction of said decoding step to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions on said television output signal.

111. The process of

claim 107

, further comprising the steps of:

extracting other signal components from said digital video stream;

wherein said storage step stores said other signal components on said storage device;

wherein said output device extracts the associated signal components of said specific video and audio components from said storage device; and

reproducing said associated signal components into their proper location in said television output signal.

112. An apparatus for simultaneous storage and playback of multimedia data in a computer environment, comprising the steps of:

a module for accepting analog and digital video streams;

a module for converting analog video streams into a digital video stream;

a module for separating a digital video stream into its video and audio components;

a module for storing said video and audio components on a storage device;

an output device;

wherein said output device extracts a specific video and audio component from said storage device; and

a module for decoding said specific video and audio components into a television output signal.

113. The apparatus of

claim 112

, further comprising:

a module for accepting control commands from a user.

114. The apparatus of

claim 113

, wherein the user selects a specific video and audio component to be extracted from said storage device and decoded.

115. The apparatus of

claim 113

, wherein the user controls the decoding rate and direction of said decoding module to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions on said television output signal.

116. The apparatus of

claim 112

, further comprising:

a module for extracting other signal components from said digital video stream;

wherein said storage module stores said other signal components on said storage device;

wherein said output device extracts the associated signal components of said specific video and audio components from said storage device; and

a module for reproducing said associated signal components into their proper location in said television output signal.

117. A process for simultaneous storage and playback of multimedia data in a computer environment, comprising the steps of:

accepting analog and digital video streams;

converting analog video streams into a digital video stream;

separating a digital video stream into its video and audio components;

storing said video and audio components on a storage device;

providing an output device;

wherein said output device extracts a specific video and audio component from said storage device; and

decoding said specific video and audio components into a digital video output stream.

118. The process of

claim 117

, further comprising the step of:

delivering said digital video output stream to a receiver.

119. The process of

claim 117

, further comprising the step of:

displaying said digital video output stream.

120. The process of

claim 117

, further comprising the step of:

accepting control commands from a user.

121. The process of

claim 120

, wherein the user selects a specific video and audio component to be extracted from said storage device and decoded.

122. The process of

claim 120

, wherein the user controls the decoding rate and direction of said decoding step to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions on said digital video output stream.

123. The process of

claim 117

, further comprising the steps of:

extracting other signal components from said digital video stream;

wherein said storage step stores said other signal components on said storage device;

wherein said output device extracts the associated signal components of said specific video and audio components from said storage device; and

reproducing said associated signal components into their proper location in said digital video output stream.

124. An apparatus for simultaneous storage and playback of multimedia data in a computer environment, comprising the steps of:

a module for accepting analog and digital video streams;

a module for converting analog video streams into a digital video stream;

a module for separating a digital video stream into its video and audio components;

a module for storing said video and audio components on a storage device;

an output device;

wherein said output device extracts a specific video and audio component from said storage device;

a module for decoding said specific video and audio components into a digital video output stream; and

a module for displaying said digital video output stream.

125. The apparatus of

claim 124

, further comprising:

a module for delivering said digital video output stream to a receiver.

126. The apparatus of

claim 124

, further comprising:

a module for displaying said digital video output stream.

127. The apparatus of

claim 124

, further comprising:

a module for accepting control commands from a user.

128. The apparatus of

claim 127

, wherein the user selects a specific video and audio component to be extracted from said storage device and decoded.

129. The apparatus of

claim 127

, wherein the user controls the decoding rate and direction of said decoding module to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions on said digital video output stream.

130. The apparatus of

claim 124

, further comprising:

a module for extracting other signal components from said digital video stream;

wherein said storage module stores said other signal components on said storage device;

wherein said output device extracts the associated signal components of said specific video and audio components from said storage device; and

a module for reproducing said associated signal components into their proper location in said digital video output stream.