Method for handling audio/video source information

• US 5,164,839 A
• Filed: 10/11/1991
• Issued: 11/17/1992
• 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:
  US07/775,182
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 358/335, 358/133, 358/903, 358/901, 358/310, 358/134, 360/8, 360/9.1, 360/13, 360/14.1
• US Class Current: 386/285
• 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. A method for handling audio/video source information, the method comprising:

receiving audio/video source information;

compressing the received audio/video source information into a time compressed representation thereof having an associated burst time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of the received audio/video source information;

storing said time compressed representation of the received audio/video source information; and

transmitting, in said burst time period, the stored time compressed representation of the received audio/video source information to a selected destination.

2. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

editing the stored time compressed representation of said audio/video source information; and

storing the edited time compressed representation of said audio/video source information.

3. A method as in claim 2 further comprising the step of monitoring the stored, time compressed representation of said audio/video source information during editing.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting said time compressed representation of said audio-video source information over an optical channel.

5. A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting said time compressed representation of said audio-video source information over a telephone transmission channel.

6. A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of storing comprises storing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information on an optical disk.

7. A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of storing comprises storing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information in a semiconductor memory.

8. A method as in claim 1 wherein:

said audio/video source information comprises analog audio/video source information;

said method further comprises the step of converting said analog audio/video source information to corresponding digital audio/video source information;

said step of compressing comprises compressing said corresponding digital audio/video source information into a digital time compressed representation thereof having an associated burst time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of said digital audio/video source information; and

said step of storing comprises storing said digital time compressed representation of said corresponding digital audio/video source information.

9. A method as in claim 1 wherein:

said audio/video source information comprises digital audio/video source information;

said step of compressing comprises compressing said digital audio/video source information into a digital time compressed representation thereof having an associated burst time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of said digital audio/video source information; and

said step of storing comprises storing said digital time compressed representation of said digital audio/video source information.

10. A method as in claim 8 wherein said audio/video source information comprises information received from a television camera.

11. A method as in claim 8 wherein said audio/video source information comprises information received from an analog video tape recorder.

13. A method as in claim 8 wherein said audio/video source information comprises information transmitted by a remotely located television transmitter.

14. A method as in claim 8 wherein said audio/video source information comprises information received from a cable television system.

15. A method as in claim 9 wherein said audio/video source information comprises information received from a computer.

16. A method as in claim 9 wherein said audio/video source information comprises information received over a fiber optic transmission line.

20. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

selectively decompressing the stored time compressed representation of said audio/video source information;

editing the selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information; and

storing the edited selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information.

21. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

selectively decompressing the stored time compressed representation of said audio/video source information;

editing the selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information;

recompressing the edited selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information; and

storing the recompressed edited selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information.

22. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

selectively decompressing the stored time compressed representation of said audio/video source information; and

visually displaying the selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information for viewing by a user.

23. A method as in claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

selectively decompressing the stored digital time compressed representation of said corresponding digital audio/video source information;

editing the selectively decompressed digital time compressed representation of said corresponding digital audio/video source information; and

storing the edited selectively decompressed digital time compressed representation of said corresponding digital audio/video source information.

24. A method as in claim 23 further comprising the step of visually displaying the selectively decompressed digital time compressed representation of said corresponding digital audio/video source information for selective viewing by a user during editing.

25. A method as in claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

selectively decompressing the stored digital time compressed representation of said corresponding digital audio/video source information; and

visually displaying the selectively decompressed digital time compressed representation of said corresponding digital audio/video source information for selective viewing by a user.

26. A method as in claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

selectively decompressing the stored digital time compressed representation of said digital audio/video source information;

editing the selectively decompressed digital time compressed representation of said digital audio/video source information; and

storing the edited selectively decompressed digital time compressed representation of said digital audio/video source information.

27. A method as in claim 26 further comprising the step of visually displaying the selectively decompressed digital time compressed representation of said digital audio/video source information for selective viewing by a user during editing.

28. A method as in claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

selectively decompressing the stored digital time compressed representation of said digital audio/video source information; and

visually displaying the selectively decompressed digital time compressed representation of said digital audio/video source information for selective viewing by a user.

29. A method as in claim 8 wherein said analog audio/video source information is received from a video tape recorder.

44. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of recording the stored time compressed representation of said audio/video source information onto a removable recording medium.

45. A method as in claim 2 further comprising the step of recording the edited time compressed representation of said audio/video source information onto a removable recording medium.

46. A method as in claim 45 further comprising the step of visually displaying the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored on said removable recording medium for selective viewing by a user.

48. A method as in claim 20 further comprising the step of recording the edited decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information onto a removable recording medium.

49. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

selectively decompressing the stored time compressed representation of said audio/video source information; and

recording the selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information onto a removable recording medium.

50. A method as in claim 22 further comprising the steps of:

recording the selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information onto a removable recording medium; and

visually displaying the selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information for viewing by a user.

51. A method as in claim 9 wherein said digital audio/video source information is received from a CD-ROM.

52. A method as in claim 9 wherein said digital audio/video source information is received from an erasable optical disk.

54. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of recording the stored time compressed representation of said audio/video source information onto a magnetic recording medium.

55. A method as in claim 2 further comprising the step of recording the stored edited time compressed representation of said audio/video source information onto a magnetic recording medium.

57. A method as in claim 20 further comprising the step of recording the edited decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information onto a magnetic recording medium.

58. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

selectively decompressing the stored time compressed representation of said audio/video source information; and

recording the selectively decompressed stored time compressed representation of said audio/video source information onto a magnetic storage medium.

59. A method as in claim 22 further comprising the step of recording the selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information onto a magnetic recording medium.

12. A method as in cl aim 8 wherein said audio/video source information comprises information received from a television RF tuner.

17. A method for handling audio/video source information, the method comprising:

receiving audio/video source information as a time compressed representation thereof, said time compressed representation of said audio/video source information being received over an associated burst time period that is shorter than a real time period associated with real time playback of said audio/video source information;

storing the time compressed representation of said received audio/video source information; and

transmitting, in said burst time period, the stored time compressed representation of said received audio/video source information to a selected destination.

18. A method as in claim 17 wherein said audio/video source information comprises information received over an optical channel from a video library storing a multiplicity of programs of audio/video source information as time compressed representations thereof for selective retrieval by a user in an associated burst time period.

19. A method as in claim 17 wherein said audio/video source information comprises information received over a communications link from a video library storing a multiplicity of programs of audio/video source information as time compressed representations thereof for selective retrieval by a user in an associated burst time period.

47. A method as in claim 17 further comprising the step of recording the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information onto a removable recording medium.

53. A method as in claim 17 wherein said audio/video source information comprises information received from a television RF tuner.

56. A method as in claim 17 further comprising the step of recording the stored time compressed representation of said audio/video source information onto a magnetic recording medium.

30. A method for handling audio/video source information, the method comprising:

providing a network that includes a plurality of audio/video transceivers, coupled via one or more communication links;

receiving audio/video source information at one or more of said plurality of audio/video transceivers;

compressing said received audio/video source information into a time compressed representation thereof having an associated burst time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of said received audio/video source information;

storing the time compressed representation of the received audio/video source information; and

transmitting, in said burst time period, the stored time compressed representation of the received audio/video source information to one or more of said plurality of audio/video transceivers.

31. A method as in claim 30 wherein said audio/video source information is received over one or more optical transmission channels and the stored time compressed representation of the received audio/video source information is transmitted over one or more optical transmission channels.

32. A method as in claim 30 wherein the stored time compressed representation of the received audio/video source information is transmitted over one or more telephone transmission channels.

33. A method as in claim 30 wherein the time compressed representation of the received audio/video source information is stored in an optical disk memory.

34. A method as in claim 30 wherein the time compressed representation of the received audio/video source information is stored in a semiconductor memory.

35. A method as in claim 30 wherein one of said plurality of audio/video transceivers stores a library containing a multiplicity of programs of audio/video source information as time compressed representations thereof for selective transmission, in an associated burst time period, to one or more of the remaining plurality of audio/video transceivers.

36. A method as in claim 30 further comprising the step of recording the stored time compressed representation of said audio/video source information onto a removable recording medium.

37. A method as in claim 30 further comprising the steps of:

decompressing the stored time compressed representation of said audio/video source information; and

recording the decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information onto a removable storage medium.

38. A method as in claim 36 wherein the stored time compressed representation of said audio/video source information is recorded onto a magnetic tape with a video tape recorder.

39. A method as in claim 37 wherein the stored time compressed representation of said audio/video source information is recorded onto a magnetic tape within a video tape recorder.

40. A method as in claim 36 wherein the stored time compressed representation of said audio/video source information is recorded onto one or more write-once read-many (WORM) optical disks within an optical disk drive.

41. A method as in claim 37 wherein the stored time compressed representation of said audio/video source information is recorded onto one or more write-once read-many (WORM) optical disks within an optical disk drive.

42. A method as in claim 36 wherein the stored time compressed representation of said audio/video source information is recorded onto one or more erasable optical disks within an optical disk drive.

43. A method as in claim 37 wherein the stored time compressed representation of said audio/video source information is recorded onto one or more erasable optical disks within an optical disk drive.

60. A method for handling analog and/or digital audio/video source information, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving analog and/or digital audio/video source information;

converting received analog audio/video source information to corresponding digital audio/video source information;

converting received digital audio/video source information to corresponding analog audio/video source information;

compressing said received digital or converted corresponding digital audio/video source information into a time compressed representation thereof having an associated burst time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of said received digital or converted corresponding digital audio/video source information;

storing said time compressed representation;

decompressing said time compressed representation into a real time representation of said received digital or converted corresponding digital audio/video source information;

storing said real time representation; and

transmitting said time compressed representation to a selected destination.

61. A method as in claim 60 further comprising the step of supplying timing information for association with said time compressed representation.

62. A method as in claim 60 further comprising the step of recording said received analog or corresponding analog audio/video source information onto a recording medium.

63. A method as in claim 60 further comprising the step of recording said received digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information onto a recording medium.

64. A method as in claim 62 wherein said received analog or corresponding analog audio/video source information is recorded onto a magnetic tape recording medium.

65. A method as in claim 63 wherein said received digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information is recorded onto a magnetic tape recording medium.

66. A method as in claim 63 wherein said received digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information is recorded onto a CD-ROM.

67. A method as in claim 63 wherein said received digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information is recorded onto a WORM optical disk.

68. A method as in claim 63 wherein said received digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information is recorded onto an erasable optical disk.

69. A method as in claim 60 wherein said received analog and/or digital audio/video source information is received from an audio/video recording and playback apparatus.

70. A method as in claim 60 wherein said digital audio/video source information is received over a high speed bus.

71. A method as in claim 60 wherein said digital audio/video source information is received over an optical bus.

72. A method as in claim 60 further comprising the step of selectively editing the received analog and/or digital audio/video source information.

73. A method for handling audio/video source information, the method comprising:

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

compressing said received audio/video source information into a time compressed representation thereof having an associated burst time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of said received audio/video source information;

storing the time compressed representation of said received audio/video source information; and

transmitting, over a microwave channel, in said burst time period, the stored time compressed representation of said received audio/video source information to a selected destination.

74. A method for handling audio/video source information, the method comprising:

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

compressing said received audio/video source information into a time compressed representation thereof having an associated burst time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of said received audio/video source information;

storing the time compressed representation of said received audio/video source information in a bubble memory; and

transmitting, in said burst time period, the stored time compressed representation of said received audio/video source information to a selected destination.

75. A method for handling audio/video source information, the method comprising:

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

compressing said received audio/video source information into a time compressed representation thereof having an associated burst time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of said received audio/video source information;

storing the time compressed representation of said received audio/video source information in a digital paper memory; and

transmitting, in said burst time period, the stored time compressed representation of said received audio/video source information to a selected destination.

76. A method for handling audio/video source information, the method comprising:

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

compressing said received audio/video source information into a time compressed representation thereof having an associated burst time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of said received audio/video source information;

storing the time compressed representation of said received audio/video source information on one or more magnetic disks; and

transmitting, in said burst time period, the stored time compressed representation of said received audio/video source information to a selected destination.

77. A method for handling audio/video source information, the method comprising:

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 more full motion video programs selected from a video library storing a multiplicity of full motion video programs in a time compressed digital representation thereof for selective retrieval, said time compressed digital representation of the received audio/video source information being received in an associated burst time period that is shorter than a time period associated in an associated burst time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of said received audio/video source information;

storing the time compressed digital representation of said received audio/video source information; and

transmitting, in said burst time period, the stored time compressed digital representation of said received audio/video source information to a selected destination.