Audio/video transceiver apparatus including compression means, random access storage means, and microwave transceiver means

• US 5,057,932 A
• Filed: 05/05/1989
• Issued: 10/15/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Burstcom Incorporated (Burst.com)
• Original Assignee: Explore Technology, Inc. (Democrasoft Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lang, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Envall, Jr., Roy N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUY THANH
• Application Number:
  US07/347,629
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 381/29, 381/31, 381/32, 381/34, 381/35, 375/122, 370/109, 360/9.1, 360/32, 360/8, 358/133, 358/134, 358/135, 358/136, 358/137, 358/138, 358/261.1, 358/261.2, 358/261.3, 358/465, 379/100
• US Class Current: 386/314
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• 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 2220/455 said record carriers being in one device and being used as primary and secondary/backup media, e.g. HDD-DVD combo device, or as source and target media, e.g. PC and portable player
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/61 wherein solid state memory is used for storing A/V content
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• 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 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/026 on discs G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• 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 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/86 Re-recording, i.e. transcribing information from one magnetisable record carrier on to one or more similar or dissimilar record carriers by varying the order of the information G11B27/029, G11B27/036
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/00 Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2383 Channel coding or modulation of digital bit-stream, e.g. QPSK modulation arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by adapting the channel coding H04L1/0009; analogue front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/91 Television signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/04 : Systems for the transmission of one television signal, i.e. both picture and sound, by a single carrier H04N7/084, H04N7/087 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode

Abstract

An improved video recorder/transceiver with expanded functionality ("VCR-ET") including a capability for storing video and video programs in digital format, editing such programs, transferring such programs onto a hard copy magnetic media, and transmitting such programs to a remote location using a second VCR-ET. The increased functionality is realized through the use of analog to digital conversion, signal compression and intermediate storage in an integrated circuit, random access memory. The recorder/transmitter has capabilities to transmit and receive program information in either a compressed or decompressed format over fiber optic lines, conventional phone lines or microwaves.

Claims

1. An audio/video transceiver apparatus comprising:

input means for receiving audio/video source information, said audio/video source information comprising a multiplicity of video frames in the form of one or more full motion video programs;

compression means, coupled to said input means, for compressing said audio/video source information into a time compressed representation thereof having an associated time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of said audio/video source information;

random access storage means, coupled to said compression means, for storing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information; and

output means, coupled to said random access storage means, for receiving the time compressed audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means for transmission away from said audio/video transceiver apparatus;

said input and output means comprising microwave transceiver means, coupled to a microwave link, for receiving said audio/video source information over said microwave link and for transmitting said time compressed audio/video source information stored inn said random access storage means over said microwave link.

2. An audio/video transceiver apparatus comprising:

input means for receiving audio/video source information, said audio/video source information comprising a multiplicity of video frames in the form of one or more full motion video programs;

compression means, coupled to said input means, for compressing said audio/video source information into a time compressed representation thereof having an associated time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation f said audio/video source information;

random access storage means, coupled to said compression means, for storing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information, said random access storage means comprising a bubble memory; and

output means, coupled to said random access storage means, for receiving the time compressed audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means for transmission away from said audio/video transceiver apparatus.

3. An audio/video transceiver apparatus comprising:

input means for receiving audio/video source information, said audio/video source information comprising a multiplicity of video frames in the form of one or more full motion video programs;

compression means, coupled to said input means, for compressing said audio/video source information into a time compressed representation thereof having an associated time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of said audio/video source information;

random access storage means, coupled to said compression means, for storing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information, said random access storage means comprising digital paper; and

output means, coupled to said random access storage means, for receiving the time compressed audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means for transmission away from said audio/video transceiver apparatus.

4. An audio/video transceiver apparatus comprising:

input means for receiving audio/video source information, said audio/video source information comprising a multiplicity of video frames in the form of one or more full motion video programs;

compression means, coupled to said input means, for compressing said audio/video source information into a time compressed representation thereof having an associated time period that is shorter than a time period associated wth a real time representation of said audio/video source information;

random access storage means, coupled to said compression means, for storing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information, said random access storage means comprising one or magnetic disks; and

output means, coupled to said random access storage means, for receiving the time compressed audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means for transmission away from said audio/video transceiver apparatus;

5. An audio/video transceiver apparatus comprising:

input means for receiving audio/video source information as a time compressed digital representation thereof, said audio/video source information comprising a multiplicity of video frames in the form of one or moore full motion video programs, said time compressed digital representation of said audio/video source information being received over an associated burst time period that is shorter than a real period associated with said audio/video source information;

random access storage means, coupled to said input means, for storing the time compressed digital representation of said audio/video source information received by said input means; and

output means, coupled to said random access storage means, for receiving the time compressed digital representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means for transmission away from said audio/video transceiver apparatus;

said input and output means comprising microwave transceiver means coupled, via a microwave link, to a video library, said video library storing a multiplicity of full motion video programs in said time compressed digital representation for selective retrieval, inn said associated burst time period, over said microwave link, said microwave transceiver means being further operative for transmitting in said burst time period, said time compressed digital representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means over said microwave link.