Auxiliary information generation method, auxiliary information generation apparatus, video data generation method, video data playback method, video data playback apparatus, and data storage medium

• US 20020041757A1
• Filed: 08/29/2001
• Published: 04/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Toshiya
• Granted Patent: US 7,489,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9201 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the video signal

Abstract

Auxiliary information relating to digital data such as video and audio data is generated in synchronization with power-on, or it is generated according to an instruction from the user operating an information button or the like. Further, only an important portion of digital data is extracted by using the auxiliary information to generate reduced digital data, whereby the time and cost required for transmission are reduced.

Claims

1. An auxiliary information generation method comprising:

generating auxiliary information relating to digital data when the digital data is generated; and

recording or transmitting the generated auxiliary information together with the digital data.

2. The auxiliary information generation method defined in claim 1, wherein:

a candidate of auxiliary information to be generated is selected; and

auxiliary information corresponding to the selected candidate is generated.

3. The auxiliary information generation method as defined in claim 1, wherein generation of the auxiliary information is carried out in synchronization with the start or completion of one of inputting, recording, and transmission of the digital data.

4. The auxiliary information generation method as defined in claim 1, wherein generation of the auxiliary information is carried out with, as a trigger, user operation performed on a data generation apparatus which generates the digital data.

5. The auxiliary information generation method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the digital data is video and audio data; and

the auxiliary information includes any of temporal information, contents, and degree of importance, of the video and audio data.

23. A data storage medium which stores a data processing program for making a computer execute the auxiliary information generation method defined in claim 1.

26. A data storage medium which stores the auxiliary information generated by the auxiliary information generation method defined in claim 1.

6. An auxiliary information generation apparatus for generating auxiliary information relating to digital data when the digital data is generated, and recording or transmitting the digital data and the auxiliary information.

7. The auxiliary information generation apparatus as defined in claim 6 comprising a CPU which is included in a data generation apparatus for generating the digital data.

8. The auxiliary information generation apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein:

said data generation apparatus includes a display means for displaying the digital data; and

said CPU includes,

a menu display means for displaying, on the display means, a menu of auxiliary information which is to be selected by the user of the data generation apparatus,

a model selection means for selecting a model of auxiliary information according to options in the menu selected by the user, and

a model rewriting means for rewriting parameter sections in the selected model according to an instruction from the user.

9. A video data generation method comprising:

reducing the length of digital data including video on the basis of auxiliary information relating to the digital data, thereby generating reduced digital data; and

recording or transmitting the reduced digital data.

10. The video data generation method as defined in claim 9, wherein the reduced digital data is generated by preferentially extracting digital data having a high degree of importance, on the basis of the auxiliary information.

11. The video data generation method as defined in claim 10, wherein:

generation of the reduced digital data is carried out on the basis of the time required for transmission of the digital data or the storage capacity required for recording of the digital data, in addition to the auxiliary information; and

the generated reduced digital data is transmitted.

12. The video data generation method as defined in claim 10, wherein the generated reduced digital data is reproduced at the side where the digital data is generated.

14. The video data generation method as defined in claim 13, wherein the information relating to transmission is information about the name of a destination.

15. The video data generation method as defined in claim 13, wherein the information relating to transmission is information about the contents to be transmitted.

16. The video data generation method as defined in claim 13, wherein the information relating to transmission is information about the capability of a terminal at a destination.

18. The video data generation method as defined in claim 17, wherein the information relating to transmission is information about the name of a destination.

19. The video data generation method as defined in claim 17, wherein the information relating to transmission is information about the contents to be transmitted.

20. The video data generation method as defined in claim 17, wherein the information relating to transmission is information about the capability of a terminal at a destination.

24. A data storage medium which stores a data processing program for making a computer execute the video data generation method defined in claim 13.

25. A data storage medium which stores a data processing program for making a computer execute the video data generation method defined in claim 17.

27. A data storage medium which stores the video data generated by the video data generation method defined in claim 13.

13. A video data generation method comprising:

reducing the length of digital data including video on the basis of auxiliary information relating to the digital data, and information relating to transmission, thereby generating reduced digital data; and

recording or transmitting the reduced digital data.

17. A video data generation method comprising:

selecting at least one piece of digital data from plural pieces of digital data including video, on the basis of auxiliary information relating to the digital data and information relating to transmission; and

recording or transmitting the selected digital data.

28. A data storage medium which stores the video data generated by the video data generation method defined in claim 17.

21. A video data playback method comprising:

reducing the length of digital data including video, on the basis of auxiliary information relating to the digital data, thereby generating reduced digital data; and

displaying the reduced digital data.

22. A video data playback apparatus for

reducing the length of digital data including video, on the basis of auxiliary information relating to the digital data, thereby generating reduced digital data;

and

displaying the reduced digital data.