Apparatus and methods for voice titles

• US 20020031331A1
• Filed: 09/12/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Index Systems Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Index Systems Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Kwoh, Daniel S., Yuen, Henry C.
• Application Number:
  US09/952,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20020031331A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/46
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/1212 for continuous data, e.g. digitised analog information signals, pulse code modulated [PCM] data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/91 Helical scan format, wherein tracks are slightly tilted with respect to tape direction, e.g. VHS, DAT, DVC, AIT or exabyte
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3054 Vertical Interval Time code [VITC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/32 on separate auxiliary tracks of the same or an auxiliary record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/324 Duty cycle modulation of control pulses, e.g. VHS-CTL-coding systems, RAPID-time code, VASS- or VISS-cue signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9202 the additional signal being a sound signal H04N5/9155, H04N5/92 take precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for providing voice titles for recorded programs includes a recorder (11,19) for recording on a sequential recording medium, which has an audio recording portion (242) and a control recording portion (246). A control input (222) is provided for indicating a start of a voice title and the start indicator (252) is recorded on the control recording portion of the sequential medium. A microphone (264) or other device is provided for entering a voice title and for recording the entered voice title onto the audio recording portion of the sequential medium sequentially following the recorded indication of the start of the voice title in the control recording portion. A control input (222) is provided for indicating an end of the voice title and the end indicator (254) is recorded onto the control recording portion of the sequential medium sequentially following the recorded voice title in the audio recording portion. The apparatus includes an analog to digital converter (270) for digitizing the entered voice title and a memory (33) for storing the digitized voice title. Another embodiment of the apparatus includes a voice synthesizer (260) for synthesizing a voice from the stored digitized voice title.

Claims

1. A method for providing voice titles for video programs recorded on a video tape comprising the steps of:

recording a video program on the tape;

generating an audio signal of a title for the recorded program;

recording the audio signal on the tape as a voice title;

marking the beginning of the audio signal on the tape.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the audio signal is generated while the video program is being recorded.

3. The method of claim 2, in which the audio signal is recorded while the video program is being recorded.

4. The method of claim 3, in which the tape has an audio track and the audio signal is recorded in the audio track.

5. The method of claim 3, in which the recorded video program has a vertical blanking interval and the audio signal is recorded in the vertical blanking interval.

6. The method of claim 3, additionally comprising the step of marking the end of the recorded audio signal on the tape.

7. The method of claim 6, additionally comprising the steps of:

transporting the tape after the audio signal has been recorded;

transferring the audio signal to a random access memory (RAM) for later use to select programs for playback.

8. The method of claim 7, in which the transferring step comprises digitizing the audio signal and recording the digitized audio signal in the RAM.

9. The method of claim 8, in which the transferring step additionally comprises compressing the audio signal before recording it in the RAM.

10. The method of claim 9, additionally comprising the step of recording in the RAM with the audio signal other data to assist in the playback of the recorded program.

11. The method of claim 10, in which the other data includes the tape location of the start of the recorded program.

12. The method of claim 11, in which the other data includes the length of the recorded program.

13. The method of claim 12, additionally comprising the step of displaying on a screen a directory of the video programs recorded on the tape, including textual titles and voice title designations.

14. The method of claim 13, in which the voice title designations include the day and time of recording.

15. The method of claim 14, in which the voice title designations include the length of the program.

16. The method of claim 15, additionally comprising the step of selecting a displayed voice title designation, retrieving the audio signal corresponding to the selected voice title designation, and reproducing the audio signal as a voice title.

17. The method of claim 16, additionally comprising the step of positioning the tape at the beginning of a video program responsive to the other data.