Multiprogram video tape recording and reproducing device

• US 5,187,589 A
• Filed: 10/29/1991
• Issued: 02/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Electronics (USA) Incorporated (Pioneer Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Electronics (USA) Incorporated (Pioneer Corporation)
• Inventors: Uchiumi, Satoshi, Kono, Mutsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US07/784,736
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 358/335, 358/310, 358/320, 358/339, 358/183, 358/181, 358/22, 358/142, 358/316, 358/334, 360/18, 360/20, 360/19.1, 360/9.1, 360/33.1, 360/28
• US Class Current: 386/314
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9205 the additional signal being at least another television signal

Abstract

A video tape recording and reproducing device and a related method having a recording and a reproducing mode including a plurality of tuners for concomitantly receiving a plurality of television programs and generating a plurality of respective recording signals when in the recording mode, mixing means for producing a mixed recording signal responsive to the plurality of generated recording signals, recording means for recording the mixed recording signal on a video tape, reading means for reading the mixed recording signal from the video tape when in the reproducing mode, separating means for reproducing a selected recording signal from the mixed recording signal, and means for outputting the reproduced selected recording signal to an external device for producing the corresponding television program.

Claims

1. A video tape recording and reproducing device comprising:

a video head;

means for receiving a plurality of video inputs corresponding to respective television programs;

means, coupled to said receiving means, for providing a plurality of recording signals, each of the recording signals corresponding to a respective one of said video inputs;

means for selecting one of said plurality of recording signals;

means for storing said plurality of recording signals except said selected recording signal, said storing means including means for attaching a digital identifier to each of the recording signals to be stored to make stored recording signals distinguishable from the selected recording signal;

means, coupled to said storing means, for reading out the stored recording signals;

multiplexing circuit means, coupled to said reading out means and said selecting means, for alternately switching between the read out recording signals and said selected recording signal to generate a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of the recording signals;

means for recording said multiplexed signal on said video head;

a separating circuit, coupled to said video head, for separating one of said plurality of recording signals from a recorded multiplexed signal, said separating circuit including means for detecting the identifier in the multiplexed signal; and

an output circuit coupled to said separating circuit for providing the selected signal to an external device.

2. A video tape recording and reproducing device comprising:

a video head;

means for receiving a plurality of video inputs corresponding to respective television programs;

means, coupled to said receiving means, for providing a plurality of recording signals, each of the recording signals corresponding to a respective one of said video inputs;

means for selecting one of said plurality of recording signals;

means for storing said plurality of recording signals except said selected recording signal;

means, coupled to said storing means, for reading out the stored recording signals;

multiplexing circuit means, coupled to said reading out means and said selecting means, for alternately switching between the read out recording signals and said selected recording signal to generate a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of the recording signals;

means for recording said multiplexed signal on said video head;

a separating circuit, coupled to said video head, for separating one of said plurality of recording signals from a recorded multiplexed signal;

an output circuit coupled to said separating circuit for providing the selected signal to an external device; and

timer circuit means for presetting a recording start time and a recording end time separately for each of the provided plurality of recording signals, said timer circuit means providing a multiple recording operation mode signal to said multiplexing circuit means to activate said multiplexing circuit means during a multiple recording time period during which time period more than one recording time periods overlap, each recording time period having preset recording start and end times and corresponding to each one of the provided plurality of recording signals, and deleting said multiple recording operation mode signal during a single recording time period during which time period said recording time periods do not overlap.

3. A video tape recording and reproducing device for recording a multiplexed signal which simultaneously represents a combined plurality of television programs when in a recording mode and for reproducing any of the plurality of recorded television programs when in a reproducing mode, the device comprising:

a plurality of tunable means for respectively receiving the plurality of television programs and providing a plurality of respective recording signals when in the recording mode;

means for selecting one of said plurality of recording signals during the recording mode;

means for storing said plurality of recording signals except for a selected recording signal, said storing means including means for attaching a digital identifier to each of the recording signals to be stored to make the stored recording signal distinguishable from the selected recording signal;

means, coupled to said storing means, for reading out stored recording signals;

multiplexing circuit means, coupled to said reading out means and said selecting means, for alternately switching between the read out recording signals and said selected recording signal to generate a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of the recording signals when in the recording mode;

recording means including a write head for recording said multiplexed signal on a video tape;

reading means including a read head, coupled to the recording means, for reading said multiplexed signal from the video tape when in the reproducing mode;

separating circuit means, coupled to the reading means, for separating one of said plurality of recording signals from said multiplexed signal, said separating circuit means including means for detecting the identifier in the multiplexed signal; and

means, coupled to said separating circuit means, for providing said selected recording signal to an output circuit to which a reproduction device can be coupled.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the multiplexing circuit means and separating circuit means comprise a common circuit which is responsive to the plurality of tunable means which common circuit functions as the multiplexing circuit means at times when the device is in the recording mode and which common circuit is responsive to the reading means and which common circuit functions as the separating circuit means at times when the device is in the reproducing mode, the means for attaching a digital identifier being inactive during the reproducing mode.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the multiplexing circuit means and the separating circuit means are substantially separated and distinct from one another.

8. The device of claim 3,

wherein the multiplexing circuit means includes control circuit means for controlling the storing of said provided recording signals in relation to said selected recording signal.

4. A video tape recording device for recording a multiplexed signal which simultaneously represents a plurality of television programs on a video tape, the device comprising:

a plurality of tunable means for receiving means plurality of television programs and for providing a plurality of recording signals each corresponding to a respective television program;

means for selecting one of said plurality of recording signals during a recording mode;

means for storing said plurality of recording signals except for a selected one of the recording signals, said storing means including means for attaching a digital identifier to each of the recording signals to be stored to make the stored recording signal distinguishable from the selected recording signal;

means, coupled to said storing means, for reading out the stored recording signals;

multiplexing circuit means, coupled to said reading out means and said selecting means, for alternately switching between the read out recording signals and said selected recording signal to generate a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of the recording signals; and

recording means including a write head, coupled to the multiplexing circuit means, for recording said multiplexed signal on the video tape.

5. A video tape reproducing device for reproducing a single television program from a video tape having a multiplexed signal recorded thereon which simultaneously represents a combined plurality of television programs and which signal has therein a digital identifier for identifying one of the plurality of television programs, the device comprising:

reading means having a read head for reading the multiplexed signal from the video tape;

means for storing said multiplexed signal in a storage medium;

separating circuit means, coupled to said storing means, for reading out said multiplexed signal at a predetermined time interval to separate one of the recording signals corresponding to the single one of said plurality of television programs from said multiplexed signal, the separating circuit means including means for detecting said identifier; and

means, coupled to the separating circuit means, for providing the separated recording signal to an output circuit coupled to display means for producing the single television program.

9. A video tape recording and reproducing device for recording a multiplexed signal which simultaneously represents a combined plurality of television programs when in a recording mode and for reproducing any of the plurality of recorded television programs when in a reproducing mode, the device comprising:

a plurality of tunable means for respectively receiving the plurality of television programs and providing a plurality of respective recording signals when in the recording mode;

means for selecting one of said plurality of recording signals during the recording mode;

means for storing said plurality of recording signals by specifying distinguishable memory addresses for each of the recording signals;

means, coupled to said storing means, for reading out the stored recording signals;

multiplexing circuit means, coupled to said reading out means and said selecting means, for alternately switching between the read out recording signals and said selected recording signal to generate a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of the recording signals when in the recording mode, the multiplexing circuit means including means for setting the frequency of the alternate switching of the multiplexing circuit means in reference to the scanning frequency of one of two interlaced fields of an NTSC composite video signal;

recording means including a write head for recording said multiplexed signal on a video tape;

reading means including a read head, coupled to the recording means, for reading said multiplexed signal from the video tape when in the reproducing mode;

separating circuit means, coupled to the reading means, for separating one of said plurality of recording signals from said multiplexed signal; and

means, coupled to said separating circuit means, for providing said selected recording signal to an output circuit to which a reproduction device can be coupled.

10. A video tape recording and reproducing device for recording a multiplexed signal which simultaneously represents a combined plurality of television programs when in a recording mode and for reproducing any of the plurality of recorded television programs when in a reproducing mode, comprising:

a plurality of tunable means for respectively receiving the plurality of television programs and providing a plurality of respective recording signals when in the recording mode;

means for selecting one of said plurality of recording signals during the recording mode;

means for storing said plurality of recording signals, the storing means including means for synchronizing said provided recording signals with the corresponding synchronizing signals and deriving distinguishable memory addresses for each of the recording signals to store said provided recording signals;

means, coupled to said storing means, for reading out the stored recording signals;

multiplexing circuit means, coupled to said reading out means and said selecting means, for alternately switching between the read out recording signals and said selected recording signal to generate a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of the recording signals when in the recording mode, said multiplexing circuit means including means for alternately switching in association with the corresponding synchronizing signals;

recording means including a write head for recording said multiplexed signal on a video tape;

reading means including a read head, coupled to the recording means, for reading said multiplexed signal from the video tape when in the reproducing mode;

separating circuit means, coupled to the reading means, for separating one of said plurality of recording signals from said multiplexed signal; and

means, coupled to said separating circuit means, for providing said selected recording signal to an output circuit to which a reproduction device can be coupled.

11. The device of claim 10, further including means for setting the corresponding synchronizing signal in reference to a vertical synchronizing signal of an NTSC composite video signal.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the storing means has a plurality of sections, each section storing a respective one of said recording signals.

13. A video tape recording device for recording a multiplexed signal which simultaneously represents a combined plurality of television programs on a video tape, the device comprising:

a plurality of tunable means for receiving said plurality of television programs and for providing a plurality of recording signals each corresponding to a respective television program;

means for selecting one of said plurality of recording signals during a recording mode;

means for storing said plurality of recording signals except for a selected one of the recording signals, said storing means including means for attaching a digital identifier to each of the recording signals to be stored to make the stored recording signals readily distinguishable from the selected recording signal;

means, coupled to said storing means, for reading out the stored recording signals;

multiplexing circuit means, coupled to said reading out means and said selecting means, for alternately switching between the read out recording signals and said selected recording signal to generate a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of recording signals, the multiplexing circuit means including control circuit means, responsive to the storing means and to the plurality of tunable means, for generating control signals for controlling the reading out of said stored recording signals in association with said selected recording signal; and

recording means including a write head, coupled to the multiplexing circuit means, for recording said multiplexed signal on the video tape.

14. A video tape recording device for recording a multiplexed signal which simultaneously represents a combined plurality of television programs on a video tape, the device comprising:

a plurality of tunable means for receiving said plurality of television programs and for providing a plurality of recording signals each corresponding to a respective television program;

means for selecting one of said plurality of recording signals during a recording mode;

means for storing said plurality of recording signals, said storing means including means for specifying distinguishable memory addresses for each of the recording signals;

means, coupled to said storing means, for reading out the stored recording signals;

multiplexing circuit means, coupled to said reading out means and said selecting means, for alternately switching between the read out recording signals and said selected recording signal to generate a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of the recording signals, the multiplexing circuit including;

means for setting the frequency of the alternate switching of the multiplexing means in reference to the scanning frequency of one of two interlaced fields of an NTSC composite video signal, and

control circuit means, responsive to the storing means and to the plurality of tunable means, for generating control signals for controlling the reading out of said stored recording signals in association with said selected recording signal; and

recording means including a write head, coupled to the multiplexing circuit means, for recording said multiplexed signal on the video tape.

15. A video tape recording device for recording a multiplexed signal which simultaneously represents a plurality of television programs on a video tape, the device comprising:

a plurality of tunable means for receiving said plurality of television programs and for providing a plurality of recording signals each corresponding to a respective television program;

means for selecting one of said plurality of recording signals during a recording mode;

means for storing said plurality of recording signals, the storing means including means for synchronizing said provided recording signals with corresponding synchronizing signals and deriving distinguishable memory addresses for each of the recording signals to store said provided recording signals;

means, coupled to said storing means, for reading out the stored recording signals;

multiplexing circuit means, coupled to said reading out means and said selecting means, for alternately switching between the read out recording signals and said selected recording signal to generate a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of the recording signals,

said multiplexing circuit means including means for alternately switching in association with the corresponding synchronizing signals; and

recording means including a write head, coupled to the multiplexing circuit means, for recording said multiplexed signal on the video tape.

16. The device of claim 15, further including

means for setting the corresponding synchronizing signal in reference to a vertical synchronizing signal of an NTSC composite video signal.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the storing means has a plurality of sections, each section storing a corresponding one of the stored recording signals.

18. A video tape recording and reproducing device for recording a multiplexed signal which simultaneously represents a combined plurality of television programs when in a recording mode and for reproducing any of the plurality of recorded television programs when in a reproducing mode, the device comprising:

a plurality of tunable means for respectively receiving the plurality of television programs and providing a plurality of respective recording signals when in the recording mode;

means for selecting one of said plurality of recording signals during the recording mode;

means for storing said plurality of recording signals except for a selected one of the recording signals, said storing means including means for attaching a digital identifier to each of the recording signals to be stored to make the stored recording signals distinguishable from the selected recording signal;

means, coupled to said storing means, for reading out the stored recording signals;

multiplexing circuit means, coupled to said reading out means and said selecting means, for alternately switching between the read out recording signals and said selected recording signal to generate a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of the recording signals when in the recording mode;

recording means including a write head for recording said multiplexed signal on video tape;

reading means including a read head, coupled to the recording means, for reading said multiplexed signal from the video tape when in the reproducing mode;

separating circuit means, coupled to the reading means, for separating one of said plurality of recording signals from said multiplexed signal, said separating circuit means including means for detecting the identifiers in the multiplexed signal and means, coupled to the reading means, for storing the read multiplexed signal;

control circuit means for generating control signals for controlling the reading of the stored multiplexed signal from the storing means at predetermined times; and

means, coupled to said separating circuit means, for providing said selected recording signal to an output circuit to which a reproduction device can be coupled.

19. A video tape recording and reproducing device for recording a multiplexed signal which simultaneously represents a combined plurality of television programs when in a recording mode and for reproducing at least one of the plurality of recorded television programs when in a reproducing mode, the device comprising:

a plurality of tunable means for respectively receiving the plurality of television programs and providing a plurality of respective recording signals when in the recording mode;

means for selecting one of said plurality of recording signals during the recording mode;

means for storing said plurality of recording signals, the storing means including means for specifying distinguishable memory addresses for each of the recording signals;

means, coupled to said storing means, for reading out the stored recording signals;

multiplexing circuit means, coupled to said reading out means and said selecting means, for alternately switching between the read out recording signals and said selected recording signal to generate a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of the recording signals when in the recording mode;

recording means including a write head for recording said multiplexed signal on a video tape;

reading means including a read head, coupled to the recording means, for reading said multiplexed signal from the video tape when in the reproducing mode;

separating circuit means, coupled to the reading means, for separating one of said plurality of recording signals from said multiplexed signal, said separating means including means, coupled to the reading means, for storing the read multiplexed signal;

control circuit means for generating control signals for controlling the reading of the stored multiplexed signal from the storing means at predetermined times, said control circuit means including means for setting said predetermined times in reference to the scanning frequency of one of two interlaced fields of an NTSC composite video signal; and

means, coupled to said separating circuit means, for providing said selected recording signal to an output circuit to which a reproduction device can be coupled.

20. A video tape recording and reproducing device for recording a multiplexed signal which simultaneously represents a combined plurality of television programs when in a recording mode and for reproducing any of the plurality of recorded television programs when in a reproducing mode, the device comprising:

a plurality of tunable means for respectively receiving the plurality of television programs and providing a plurality of respective recording signals when in the recording mode;

means for selecting one of said plurality of recording signals during the recording mode;

means for storing said plurality of recording signals, the storing means including means for specifying distinguishable memory addresses for each of the recording signals;

means, coupled to said storing means, for reading out the stored recording signals;

multiplexing circuit means, coupled to said reading out means and said selecting means, for alternately switching between the read out recording signals and said selected recording signal to generate a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of the recording signals when in the recording mode;

recording means including a write head for recording said multiplexed signal on a video tape;

reading means including a read head, coupled to the recording means, for reading said multiplexed signal from the video tape when in the reproducing mode, the recording multiplexed signal reading means including means for synchronizing the recorded multiplexed signal with corresponding synchronizing signals;

separating circuit means, coupled to the reading means, for separating one of said plurality of recording signals from said multiplexed signal, the separating circuit means including means, coupled to the reading means, for storing the read multiplexed signal;

control circuit means for generating control signals for controlling the reading of the stored multiplexed signal from the storing means at predetermined times; and

means, coupled to said separating circuit means, for providing said selected recording signal to an output circuit to which a reproduction device can be coupled.

21. The device of claim 20, further including means for setting the corresponding synchronizing signals in reference to a vertical synchronizing signal of the NTSC composite video signal.

22. A video tape reproducing device for reproducing a single television program from a video tape having a multiplexed signal recorded thereon which simultaneously represents a combined plurality of television programs, the device comprising:

reading means having a read head for reading the multiplexed signal from the video tape;

means for storing the read multiplexed signal in a storage medium with distinguishable memory addresses for each of the recorded signals in the multiplexed signal;

separating circuit means, coupled to said storing means, for reading out said multiplexed signal at a predetermined time interval to separate one of the recording signals corresponding to the single one of the plurality of television programs from the stored multiplexed signal, the separating circuit means including;

control circuit means for generating control signals for controlling the reading of the stored read multiplexed signal, the control circuit means including means for deriving the distinguishable memory addresses of the recorded signals in the multiplexed signal; and

means, coupled to the separating circuit means, for providing a separated one of the recording signals to an output circuit coupled to display means for producing the selected television program.

23. The device of claim 22, further including

means for setting said predetermined times in reference to the scanning frequency of one of two interlaced fields of an NTSC composite video signal.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein said separating circuit means includes means for synchronizing the stored multiplexed signal with corresponding synchronizing signals.

25. The device of claim 24, further including means for setting the corresponding synchronizing signal in reference to a vertical synchronizing signal of an NTSC composite video signal.

26. A method of recording a plurality of television programs on the same length of a video tape when in a recording mode and for reproducing a selected one of said plurality of television programs when in a reproducing mode, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of recording signals, each corresponding to a respective television program when in the recording mode;

selecting one of said plurality of recording signals;

storing said plurality of recording signals except for said selected recording signal in a storage medium, the storing steps including attaching a digital identifier to each of the stored recording signals to be stored to make the stored recording signal distinguishable from the selected reading signal;

reading out the stored recording signals from the storage medium;

alternately switching between the read out recording signals and the selected recording signal to produce a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of recording signals;

recording said multiplexed signal on the video tape;

reading said multiplexed signal from the video tape when in the reproducing mode;

reproducing a selected one of said plurality of recording signals from said multiplexed signal, the reproducing step including detecting any identifier in the read multiplexed signal; and

providing said reproduced recording signal to an external device for displaying the corresponding television program.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the multiplexed signal producing step includes generating control signals for controlling the reading of the stored recording signals in association with the selected recording signal.

28. The method of claim 27,

wherein the storing substep includes storing the generated recording signals in said storage medium in reference to said selected recording signal.

29. A method for recording a plurality of television programs multiplexed on a video tape, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of recording signals, each of the recording signals corresponding to a respective one of said plurality of the television programs;

selecting one of said plurality of recording signals during the recording mode;

storing said plurality of recording signals except for said attaching recording signal, the storing step including attaching a digital identifier to each of the recording signals to be stored to make the stored recording signals distinguishable from the selected recording signal;

reading out said stored recording signals;

alternately switching between said read out recording signals and said selected recording signal to produce a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of recording signals; and

recording said multiplexed signal on the video tape.

30. A method for reproducing a selected one of a plurality of television programs from a video tape having a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of recording signals, one of which is associated with a digital identifier, each recording signal corresponding to a respective one of said plurality of television programs, the method comprising the steps of:

reading said multiplexed signal recorded on the video tape;

storing said read multiplexed signal in a storage medium;

reading out said stored multiplexed signal at a predetermined time interval to reproduce a signal corresponding to said selected one of a plurality of television programs from the multiplexed signal, the reading step including detecting the identifier; and

providing the reproduced signal to an external device for producing the selected television program.

31. A method of recording a plurality of television programs on the same length of a video tape when in a recording mode and for reproducing a selected one of said plurality of television programs when in a reproducing mode, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of recording signals, each corresponding to a respective television program when in the recording mode;

selecting one of said plurality of recording signals;

storing said plurality of recording signals in a storage medium, the storing step including specifying distinguishable memory addresses for each of the recording signals;

reading out the stored recording signals from the storage medium;

alternately switching between the read out recording signals and the selected recording signal to produce a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of recording signals;

recording said multiplexed signal on the video tape;

reading said multiplexed signal from the video tape when in the reproducing mode;

reproducing a selected one of said plurality of recording signals from said multiplexed signal; and

providing said reproducing recording signal to an external device for displaying the corresponding television program,

wherein the multiplexed signal producing step includes generating control signals for controlling the reading of the stored recording signals in association with the selected recording signal, and referencing two interlaced fields of an NTSC composite video signal, and setting the frequency of said alternate switching in reference to the scanning frequency of the NTSC composite video signal.

32. A method of recording a plurality of television programs on the same length of a video tape when in a recording mode and for reproducing a selected one of said plurality of television programs when in a reproducing mode, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of recording signals, each corresponding to a respective television program when in the recording mode;

selecting one of said plurality of recording signals;

storing said plurality of recording signals in a storage medium, the storing step including specifying distinguishable memory addresses for each of the recording signals;

reading out the stored recording signals from the storage medium;

alternately switching between the read out recording signals and the selected recording signal to produce a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of recording signals;

recording said multiplexed signal on the video tape;

reading said multiplexed signal from the video tape when in the reproducing mode;

reproducing a selected one of said plurality of recording signals from said multiplexed signal, the reproducing; and

providing said reproduced recording signal to an external device for displaying the corresponding television program,

wherein the multiplexed signal producing step includes alternately switching between the read stored recording signals and the selected recording signal in association with corresponding synchronizing signals.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said generated recording signal storing step includes setting the corresponding synchronizing signal in reference to a vertical synchronizing signal of the NTSC composite video signal.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein said storage medium has a plurality of sections, and said generated recording signal storing step includes storing a different one of the plurality of generated recording signals in a corresponding one of the plurality of sections.

35. A method of recording a plurality of television programs on the same length of a video tape when in a recording mode and for reproducing a selected one of said plurality of television programs when in a reproducing mode, comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of recording signals, each corresponding to a respective television program when in the recording mode;

selecting one of said plurality of recording signals;

storing said plurality of recording signals in a storage medium, the storing step including specifying distinguishable memory addresses for each of the recording signals;

reading out the stored recording signals from the storage medium;

alternately switching between the read out recording signals and the selected recording signal to produce a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of recording signals;

recording said multiplexed signal on the video tape;

reading said multiplexed signal from the video tape when in the reproducing mode;

reproducing a selected one of said plurality of recording signals from said multiplexed signal; and

providing said reproducing recording signal to an external device for displaying the corresponding television program, wherein the selected signal reproducing step includes;

storing the multiplexed signal read by the reading step in a storage medium by specifying distinguishable memory addresses to have orthogonal coordinates for each of the stored signals; and

generating control signals for controlling the reading of the recorded multiplexed signal.

36. The method of claim 35,

wherein said control signal generating substep includes setting said predetermined times in reference to the scanning frequency of one of two interlaced fields of an NTSC composite video signal.

37. A method of recording a plurality of television programs on the same length of a video tape when in a recording mode and for reproducing a selected one of said plurality of television programs when in a reproducing mode, comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of recording signals, each corresponding to a respective television program when in the recording mode;

selecting one of said plurality of recording signals;

storing said plurality of recording signals except for said selected recording signal in a storage medium, the storing step including specifying distinguishable memory addresses for each of the recording signals;

reading out the stored recording signals for the storage medium;

alternately switching between the read out recording signals and the selected recording signal to produce a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of recording signals;

recording said multiplexed signal on the video tape;

reading said multiplexed signal from the video tape when in the reproducing mode;

reproducing a selected one of said plurality of recording signals from said multiplexed signal; and

providing said reproducing recording signal to an external device for displaying the corresponding television program,

wherein the recording multiplexed signal reading step includes synchronizing the recorded multiplexed signal with the corresponding synchronizing signals.

38. The method of claim 37, further including the step of setting the corresponding synchronizing signal in reference to a vertical synchronizing signal of the NTSC composite video signal.

39. A video tape recording and reproducing device for recording a plurality of television programs multiplexed on a video tape when in a recording mode and for reproducing a selected one of said plurality of television programs when in a reproducing mode, the device comprising:

a plurality of tunable means for receiving a plurality of respective television programs and for providing a plurality of recording signals, each corresponding to a respective television program when in the recording mode;

means for selecting one of said plurality of recording signals during the recording mode;

means for storing said recording signals except for a selected recording signal, said storing means including means for attaching a digital identifier to each signal to be stored to make it distinguishable from the selected recording signal;

means, coupled to said storing means, for reading out stored recording signals;

multiplexing circuit means, coupled to said reading out means and said selecting means, for alternately switching between read out recording signals and said selected recording signal to generate a multiplexed signal simultaneously representing a combined plurality of recording signals when in the recording mode;

recording means including a write head for recording said multiplexed signal on the video tape;

reading means including a read head, coupled to the recording means, for reading said multiplexed signal from the video tape when in the reproducing mode;

means, coupled to said reading means, for storing a read multiplexed signal;

separating circuit means, coupled to the reading means, for outputting the stored multiplexed signal at a predetermined time interval to separate a selected one of the plurality of recording signals from the stored multiplexed signal, including means for detecting any identifier therein; and

means, coupled to the separating circuit means, for providing a separated recording signal to an output circuit to which a reproduction device can be coupled,

wherein each one of said plurality of recording signals includes a corresponding audio signal.

40. The video tape device of claim 39, wherein said recording means includes one or more audio channels for recording a respective one of the audio signals of said one or more video inputs on a tape.

41. The video tape device of claim 40 wherein said separating means includes means for separating from the multiplexed signal a respective one of the audio signals of said selected one of the plurality of signals.