Method and apparatus for random-access sequencing of audio/visual information
First Claim
1. Apparatus for random-access sequencing of audio/visual information accessible initially to the apparatus in the form of plural program events that are available from a source in a non-random access condition, comprising:
- a receiver for acquiring from such source such plural program events;
converter/player sub-apparatus, operatively connected to the receiver, for converting such events to a converted, random-access condition, and for playing such converted events;
a library, operatively connected to the sub-apparatus for storing the converted events;
a switcher structure, operatively connected to the sub-apparatus and to a desired destination for directing played, converted events toward the latter; and
a controller, in communication with the library, the sub-apparatus, and the switcher structure, for controlling the operations of the same, and including a sequencer for regulating the random-access sequence in which converted events are played and sent to the destination.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is described for random-access sequencing of audio/visual information that is accessible initially to the apparatus in the form of plural program events available from a source, such as videotape, in a non-random access condition. The apparatus includes a receiver for acquiring the plural program events, and converter/player sub-apparatus for converting such events to a converted, random-access condition, and for playing such converted events. A library such as a optical-magneto disk(s) (OMD'"'"'s) is, operatively connected to the sub-apparatus for storing the converted events, and switcher structure is, operatively connected to the sub-apparatus and to a desired destination for directing played, converted events toward the latter. The apparatus also includes a controller which further includes a sequencer for regulating the random-access sequence in which converted events are played and sent to the destination. The invention also includes a dubbing device that is constructed as a stand-alone unit or as an internal unit that is part of the apparatus of the invention. In another embodiment, the sequencer also includes playlist-evaluator structure for establishing an output list from plural playlists and verifying that output-list events are in the library. In another embodiment, the sequencer includes problem-event-transfer structure for identifying output-list events that present a time-to-transmit problem, and for dubbing such events with the dubbing device. A method for such random-access sequencing is also described.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for random-access sequencing of audio/visual information accessible initially to the apparatus in the form of plural program events that are available from a source in a non-random access condition, comprising:
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a receiver for acquiring from such source such plural program events;
converter/player sub-apparatus, operatively connected to the receiver, for converting such events to a converted, random-access condition, and for playing such converted events;
a library, operatively connected to the sub-apparatus for storing the converted events;
a switcher structure, operatively connected to the sub-apparatus and to a desired destination for directing played, converted events toward the latter; and
a controller, in communication with the library, the sub-apparatus, and the switcher structure, for controlling the operations of the same, and including a sequencer for regulating the random-access sequence in which converted events are played and sent to the destination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18)
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13. In communication with plural outputs to corresponding, desired destinations, apparatus for random-access sequencing of audio/visual information accessible in the form of plural program events that are recorded in a non-random access condition, comprising:
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a receiver for obtaining such events from a source;
a converter/player operatively connected to the receiver for converting the events to a random-access condition, storing the converted events, and playing stored events; and
a sequencer operatively connected to the converter/player for sending desired events to desired outputs in a desired random-access sequence.
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17. A method of random-access sequencing of audio/visual information for transmission to a desired destination, with the information being accessible initially in the form of plural program events that are available from a source in a non-random access condition, comprising:
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choosing one such event;
converting the event to a random-access condition and storing it in such converted condition in a storage medium;
repeating the choosing and converting steps for desired events; and
random-access sequencing of the information from the medium and transmitting it to the desired destination.
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Specification