Video disk apparatus providing organized picture playback

• US 4,675,755 A
• Filed: 08/24/1984
• Issued: 06/23/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Greenwald, Roger J., Schauffele, Carl N., Baumeister, Hans-Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHARDSON, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US06/644,096
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 358/335, 358/342, 358/906, 358/909, 358/102, 360/35.1, 360/69, 360/98, 360/71, 360/72.1, 360/72.2, 360/74.1, 360/74.4, 360/133, 369/34, 369/36, 369/37, 369/38, 369/178, 369/180
• US Class Current: 386/262
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/225 wherein the disks are transferred from a fixed magazine to a fixed playing unit using a moving carriage
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2512 Floppy disks
• 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 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/22 Means responsive to presence or absence of recorded information signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• 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 1/00962 Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software program loading in general G06F9/445; network-specific protocols involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/217 Interfaces allowing access to a single user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence

Abstract

A video disk player is provided for playing back a series of still pictures prerecorded on a plurality of video disks. The disks are contained in a magazine that is inserted into the player. The magazine includes an erasable, non-volatile memory for containing data related to the pictures. The player includes an editing feature for generating picture file data prescribing an organized arrangement for viewing the pictures, including data pertaining to the assignment of pictures into one or more albums, the arrangement of the viewing order, the establishment of automated viewing times, the addition of text, and the like. The picture file data is put into the non-volatile magazine memory and remains there though the magazine is removed from the player. To view an album, the magazine is inserted into the player and the magazine memory is connected into the player circuit. An album is chosen by reference to the picture file data.

Claims

1. Video apparatus for playing back pictures prerecorded on a plurality of video disks, said apparatus comprising:

a magazine for containing the plurality of disks;

storage means accompanying said magazine for storing data related to the pictures;

means for generating operating data prescribing an arrangement for viewing the pictures;

means for storing the operating data in said storage means; and

means responsive to the operating data for playing back the pictures according to the prescribed viewing arrangement.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said storage means comprises an erasable non-volatile, solid-state memory attached to said magazine.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said storage means comprises a data storage disk included in said magazine and dedicated to storage of the operating data.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said generating means comprises editing means for generating operating data specifying the assignment of the pictures to one or more categories based on image content, the pictures within each category arranged according to a particular sequence.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said editing means includes means for generating operating data specifying a title for each category of pictures.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said editing means includes a text generator for generating operating data specifying a description for one or more pictures which is then played back with the pictures.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said playing back means responsive to the operating data comprises means for selecting a particular category and means for displaying the pictures within the selected category according to its prescribed viewing arrangement.

8. Video player apparatus for playing back pictures prerecorded on a plurality of video disks, said disks disposed in the player in a container of the type including

a removable magazine for containing said plurality of video disks and

storage means accompanying said magazine for storing data related to the pictures on the plurality of disks,

wherein said player apparatus comprises:

means for generating operating data prescribing an arrangement for viewing the pictures;

means for storing the operating data in said storage means;

means for generating a picture signal from one or more video disks;

means for addressing the data stored in said storage means; and

means responsive to said picture signal and said addressed data for generating a video output signal suitable for displaying the pictures according to the prescribed viewing arrangement.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said data generating means comprises editing means for assigning the pictures to one or more categories based on image content, said operating data prescribing a viewing arrangement including said assignments.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said editing means generates operating data prescribing a rearranged order for playing back the pictures prerecorded on the disks.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said editing means generates operating data prescribing elapsed view times for playing back one or more of the pictures within a category.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said editing means generates operating data prescribing a description for playing back with one or more pictures within a category.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means responsive to said picture signal and said addressed data comprises means for selecting one of the categories and means responsive to the selected category for generating a video output signal suitable for displaying the pictures in the rearranged order of the pictures assigned to the selected category.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein each disk contains video data for generating a picture signal and supplementary data related to the pictures, and wherein said means for addressing said data stored in said storage means also addresses said supplementary data and said means responsive to the addressed data is also responsive to the supplementary data for displaying the pictures according to the prescribed viewing arrangement.

15. Video player apparatus for playing back pictures prerecorded on a plurality of video disks, said disks disposed in the player in a container of the type including

a removable magazine for containing said plurality of video disks, said magazine including an aperture through which a disk may be withdrawn from the magazine, and

an erasable, non-volatile memory appended to said magazine for storing data related to the pictures on the plurality of disks,

wherein said player apparatus comprises:

means for generating operating data prescribing an organization for viewing the pictures, said organization comprising the separation of the pictures into categories of like image content and the ordering of the display of the pictures within a category;

means for storing the operating data in said memory;

means for withdrawing a disk from said magazine;

means for generating a picture signal from the withdrawn disk;

means for addressing the operating data stored in said memory; and

means responsive to said picture signal and said addressed data for generating a video output signal suitable for displaying the pictures on the withdrawn disk according to the prescribed organization.

16. Video player apparatus for playing back pictures prerecorded on a plurality of magnetic video disks, wherein at least some of the pictures are so related as to image content that they may be grouped into a plurality of viewing categories, said disks disposed in the player in a container of the type comprising

a removable magazine for containing the plurality of magnetic video disks and

an erasable, non-volatile solid state memory attached to said magazine for storing data identifying respective categories of pictures,

wherein said video player comprises:

a digital processing network for controlling said video player;

a channel defined in said video player for receiving said magazine and said attached memory; and

means responsive to the insertion of said magazine and attached memory into said channel for incorporating said memory into said digital processing network,

whereby the data identifying respective categories of pictures is available for processing by the data processing network.

17. A video disk player for reproducing pictures prerecorded on a plurality of video disks, said disks disposed in the player in a removable container of the type comprising

a magazine for containing said plurality of video disks,

storage means appended to said magazine for storing data defining a predetermined arrangement for showing the pictures, and

a connector mounted on the container for establishing electrical access to said storage means;

wherein said player provides an output signal to a display device for showing the pictures, said player comprising;

a control circuit for processing said

means for engaging said connector and connecting said storage means into said control circuit when the container of video disks is placed into the player; and

means responsive to the data in the connected storage means for operating said control circuit to display the pictures according to the predetermined arrangement defined by the data in said storage means.

18. A video disk player for playing back pictures prerecorded on a plurality of video disks, said disks disposed in the player in a removable container of the type including

a magazine for containing said plurality of disks,

an erasable, non-volatile memory device appended to said magazine for storing data prescribing a particular arrangement for displaying the pictures, and

a connector establishing electrical connection to said memory device;

wherein said player cooperates with a display device for displaying the pictures, said player comprising;

a socket for receiving said connector when the container is placed in the player;

means responsive to said received connector for addressing the data stored in said memory device;

means for generating a picture signal from the video disks; and

means responsive to the picture signal and the addressed data for generating an output signal to the display device for displaying the pictures according to the particular arrangment represented by the data stored in said memory device.