Compressed video data processing with conversion of image compression format

• US 20030091332A1
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masataka Higuchi, Seigo Asada, Shigeatsu Asari
• Original Assignee: Masataka Higuchi, Seigo Asada, Shigeatsu Asari
• Inventors: Asada, Seigo, Asari, Shigeatsu, Higuchi, Masataka
• Granted Patent: US 6,996,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/40 using video transcoding, i.e. partial or full decoding of a coded input stream followed by re-encoding of the decoded output stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• 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 5/9261 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A local server 102 records compressed digital video data according to a first image compression format at normal and four times speeds, while a main server 106 records compressed digital video data according to a second image compression format at normal speed. An image format converter 104 is provided between the local and main servers 102 and 106. The image format converter 104 converts compressed digital video data according to the first image compression format output at normal speed from the local server 102 to compressed digital video data according to the second image compression format to be sent to the main server 106. The image format converter 104 also converts compressed digital video data according to the second image compression format output at normal speed from the main server 106 to compressed digital video data according to the first image compression format to be sent to the local server 102. Then, compressed digital video data can be input and output at a high speed when digital video data compressed are recorded after the image conversion format is changed and compressed digital video data are output for reproduction after the image conversion format is changed.

Claims

1. A compressed video data processing apparatus comprising:

a first recording and reproducing device, including a storage device and connected to an external digital video cassette recorder, for recording and reproducing compressed digital video data according to a first image compression format; and

an image format converter, connected between said first recording and reproducing device and an external recording and reproducing device, for converting compressed digital video data between the first image compression format of said first recording and reproducing device and a second image compression format of the external recording and reproducing device different from that of the first image compression format.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transfer speed is faster than the second transfer speed.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording and reproducing device transfers compressed digital video data with the external recording and reproducing device according to the second image compression format through said image format converter in a network transmission format.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image format converter supports a plurality of conversion processes between the first image compression format and one of a plurality of the second image compression formats, said image format converter comprises a format detector for detecting the second image compression format of the external second recording and reproducing deevice and selects one of the conversion processes according to the second image compression format detected by said image format converter.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording and reproducing device comprises a plurality of input/output ports for connecting a plurality of the digital video cassette recorder.