Method and apparatus for random-access sequencing of audio/visual information

• US 20030016948A1
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Published: 01/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Randax, LLC
• Original Assignee: Randax, LLC
• Inventors: Crim, Peter L., Heil, Charles W.
• Application Number:
  US10/176,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20030016948A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/69
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2525 Magneto-optical [MO] discs
• 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 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/036 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06

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.

Claims

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.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a dubbing device operatively connected to the receiver and sequencer, and being operable to receive, convert and store additional program events for regulated random-access sequencing by the sequencer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dubbing device takes the form of a stand alone unit which includes a dubbing switch for sending converted events to the destination.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the dubbing device takes the form of a stand alone unit which includes a dub switch for sending converted events to the library.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the sequencer is in communication with a control-parameter inputter that provides it with plural playlists showing program-event sequences for specified dates, and an accounting device that receives and records information from the sequencer relative to each sequenced, converted event.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the sequencer includes playlist-evaluator structure for establishing a date-appropriate playlist from such plural playlists and verifying that date-appropriate-list events are in the library.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the sequencer includes problem-event-transfer structure for identifying adjacent events on the date-appropriate-list that present a time-to-transmit problem, and for accommodating transfer of such problem events to new locations in the library so that adjacent date-appropriate-list events can be transmitted within a preselected time period of each other.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the problem-event-transfer structure is constructed to accommodate transfer of such problem events by accommodating dubbing of such events with the dubbing device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further including plural receivers and wherein the sub-apparatus includes plural converters/players, each being connected to a corresponding receiver.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further including at least one player in communication with at least one converter/player for reproducing sequenced events.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the switcher structure is operatively connected to plural desired destinations, and the sequencer is operable to regulate the random-access sequence in which events are sent to the plural destinations.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the switcher structure is operatively connected to plural desired destinations, and the sequencer is operable to regulate the random-access sequence in which events are sent to the plural destinations.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the converter/player is an optical-magneto disk recorder/player.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 further including plural inputters and converters/players.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further including at least one player in communication with at least one converter/player for reproducing sequenced events.

18. The method of claim 17 further including dubbing additional events for random-access sequencing by converting them to a random-access condition and storing them in another suitable storage medium.

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:

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.

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:

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.