Method and apparatus for selectively recording multiple television signals

• US 5,594,551 A
• Filed: 11/22/1993
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Monta, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai Q.
• Application Number:
  US08/156,101
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 358/235, 358/310, 358/341, 358/342, 358/343, 360/19.1, 360/32, 360/33.1
• US Class Current: 386/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9205 the additional signal being at least another television signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/928 the sound signal being pulse code modulated and recorded in time division multiplex with the modulated video signal

Abstract

A recording/reproducing method and its apparatus for recording and reproducing a plurality of different television signals, each consisting of a video component and an audio component. The recording/reproducing method includes selecting and delivering the video components of input television signals and extracting a control signal from each of the selected video component signals. From the control signal it is determined whether the selected video signal is to be recorded or played back. If the selected video signal is to be recorded, it will be recorded onto a specific pattern of recording tracks of a recording medium defined by the control signal. If the signal is to be played back, the control signal is extracted from the selected video signal to be reproduced and then, the video signal is reproduced according to the control signal. The stereo audio components of the television signals prior to recording are data compressed and multiplexed. Then the stereo components are recorded in two, left and right, channels. In playback, the audio signals are retrieved by the control signal from audio sound tracks of the recording medium.

Claims

1. A method of recording and reproducing a plurality of input television signals comprising the steps of:

selecting video component signals from each of the input television signals;

extracting a control signal from each of said video component signals;

determining from said control signal for each of said video component signals whether said video component signals are to be displayed or recorded;

selecting a specific pattern of recording tracks on a recording medium in response to said control signal for each of said video component signals to be recorded;

recording each of said video component signals to be recorded onto said selected recording tracks;

extracting stereo audio components corresponding to each of said extracted video component signals to be recorded from the input television signals, said audio components having right sounds and left sounds;

compressing and multiplexing said right sounds and said left sounds of each of said audio components;

recording said compressed and multiplexed right and left sounds onto stereo sound tracks of said recording medium;

selecting said recorded video component signals;

from said recording tracks to be played back;

reproducing said recorded video component signals from said recording tracks in response to a playback control signal;

extracting said control signal from said reproduced video component signals;

selecting one said reproduced video component signals for display in response to said control signal;

selecting and reproducing, in response to said control signal from each of said video component signals to be played back, said recorded right and left recorded sounds from said stereo sound tracks to be played back.

2. A method of recording and reproducing a plurality of television signals comprising the steps of:

receiving component signals from at least two of the plurality of television signals;

selecting one of said video component signals;

extracting a control signal from said selected video component signal;

determining from said control signals whether said video component signal is to be displayed or recorded;

selecting a specific pattern of recording tracks of a recording medium in response to said control signal;

recording said video component signal onto said selected recording tracks;

selecting and reproducing, in response to a playback control signal, said recorded video component signals from said recording tracks of said recording medium if said recorded video component signal is to be played back;

extracting said control signals from each of said reproduced video component signals;

selecting one of said two of said reproduced video component signals for display in response to said control signals;

extracting a first audio component from one of said input television signals and a second audio component from the other input television signal, said first audio component having a first stereo sound and said second audio component having a second stereo sound, said stereo sounds having channels;

recording one of said channels of said first stereo sounds onto one of said recording medium left and right sound tracks and one channel of said second stereo sound onto the other sound track of said recording medium;

selecting one of said two audio components for playback from said sound track in response to said control signal of said video component signal to be played back.

3. A recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

video signal input means for receiving a plurality of video signals and selecting one of said input video signals;

video signal examining means for extracting a control signal from said selected signals supplied from said video signal input means and determining whether said selected video signal is to be recorded or displayed;

recording control means for selecting a specific pattern of recording tracks of a recording medium in response to said control signal and recording said selected video signal onto said selected recording tracks;

playback control means for reproducing the selected video signal recorded on said recording tracks of said recording medium in a sequence defined by a playback control signal, and receiving said reproduced selected video signal from said playback control means; and

audio signal recording/reproducing means for receiving stereo audio signals which correspond to said video signals, data compressing and multiplexing said right sounds and said left sounds of said stereo audio signals, recording said right and left data compressed and multiplexed audio signals onto said right and left stereo sound tracks of said recording medium respectively, and selectively reproducing one of said audio component signals from said stereo sound tracks of said recording medium in response to said control signal of said video component signal to be played back.

4. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recording control means has a display for displaying at least one video component signal of said plurality of the video component signals to be recorded and for displaying at least one of the recorded video component signals reproduced be the playback control means.

5. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the playback control means has a playback mode control terminal for directly reproducing data from said recording tracks of said recording medium.

6. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the playback control means further determines whether said video signal stored on said recording medium is a single-program video signal to be retrieved as a single-program video signal directly from said recording tracks.

7. A recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

video signal input means for receiving two video signals and selecting one of said two video signals;

video signal examining means for extracting a control signal from said selected video signal and determining from said control signal whether said selected video signal is to be displayed or recorded;

recording control means for selecting a specific pattern on a recording medium of recording tracks in response to said control signal and recording said selected video signal onto said selected recording tracks;

playback control means for selecting and reproducing said recorded video signals from said recording tracks in a sequence determined by a playback control signal, said video signal input means receiving said reproduced signal from said playback control means; and

audio signal recording/reproducing means for receiving a first and a second stereo audio signal corresponding to said two video signals, said stereo audio signals having at least one channel, said audio signal recording/reproducing means also recording one channel of said first audio stereo signal onto one of said recording medium'"'"'s left and right sound tracks and one channel of said second audio stereo signal onto the other sound track and selectively reproducing one of said two stereo audio signals from said stereo sound tracks of said recording medium in response to said control signal of said video signal to be played back.

8. A recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

video signal input means for receiving and selecting two video signals;

video signal examining means for extracting a control signal from each of said selected video signals and determining whether each of said selected video signal is to be displayed or recorded;

a recording medium having a plurality of recording tracks and stereo sound tracks;

recording control means for selecting a specific pattern of said recording tracks in response to each of said control signals and dividing said selected video signals into fields and alternately recording fields from each of said selected video signals, onto said selected recording tracks;

playback control means for selecting and reproducing one of said recorded video signals from said recording tracks of said recording medium in a sequence determined by a playback control signal, and providing said reproduced recorded video signals to said video signal input means; and

an audio signal recording/reproducing means for receiving two stereo audio signals corresponding to each of said video signals, recording one channel of one of said corresponding stereo audio signals onto said left and right sound tracks and one channel of the other stereo audio signal onto the other sound track and selectively reproducing one of said stereo audio signals from said stereo sound tracks in response to said control signal of said video signal to be played back.

9. A recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

detecting means for receiving a data input and determining whether said data input is a single video signal or a plurality of different video signals, said video signals having corresponding stereo audio signals, said stereo audio signals having right sounds and left sounds;

video signal input means for selecting one video signal from said received video signals;

video signal examining means for receiving said selected video signal, for extracting a control signal from said selected video signal and determining whether said selected video signal is to be recorded or displayed;

recording control means for directly recording said video signal if said video signal is a single video signal, and recording said video signals onto a specific pattern of recording tracks of a recording medium defined said control signal if there are a plurality of different video signals to be recorded;

playback control means for reproducing said video signals from said recording tracks in a sequence determined by a playback control signal, and signal, and for recording said video signals onto a specific pattern of recording tracks of a recording medium defined said control signal if there are a plurality of different video signals to be recorded;

playback control means for reproducing said video signals from said recording tracks in a sequence determined by a second control signal, and providing said unproduced signal to said video signal input means and said detecting means; and

audio signal recording/reproducing means for receiving said corresponding stereo audio signals, data compressing and multiplexing said right sounds and said left sounds of said stereo audio signals, recording said right and left data compressed and multiplexed audio signals onto said stereo sound tracks of said recording medium, and selectively reproducing one of said recorded audio signals from said stereo sound tracks in response to said control signal of said video signal to be played back.

10. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said recording control means having a display for displaying while recording at least one of said video signals to be recorded and for selectively displaying at least one of said recorded video signals reproduced by said playback control means.

11. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when said detecting means detects that said data input is two or more different video signals, said audio signal recording/reproducing means responsive to said output of said detecting means for receiving said corresponding stereo audio signals, records one channel of a first stereo sound of said two audio signals onto one of said left and right sound tracks of said recording medium and one channel of a second stereo sound of said corresponding audio signals onto the other sound track and selectively reproduces one of said stereo audio signals from said stereo sound tracks in response to said control signal of said video signal to be played back.

12. A recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

video signal input terminals for receiving a plurality of video signals;

a video selector switch connected to the video signal input terminals, the output of a recorder unit, and a control pulse generator for passing in recording mode one of the input video signals and in playback mode passing the output signal of the recorder unit in response to a video signal selecting pulse signal from the control pulse generator;

a first recording/reproducing selector switch connected to the output of the video selector switch, one of the video signal input terminals, and the control pulse generator for passing in recording mode the output signal of the video signal input terminal and in playback mode passing the output signal of the video selector switch in response to a first recording/reproducing switching control pulse signal;

a signal processor connected to the output of the first recording/reproducing selector switch and the control pulse generator for synchronizing in recording mode two program signals to be multiple recorded and in playback mode reproducing one of the two program signals with the use of a recording/reproducing compatible circuit controlled by a signal processing control pulse signal from the control pulse generator;

a playback mode input terminal for receiving an input to selectively control the playback mode in the playback action;

the control pulse generator connected to the output of the video selector switch and the playback mode input terminal for generating control pulse signals to control the apparatus;

a recording switch connected to the output of the video selector switch, the output of the signal processor, and the control pulse generator for passing in one-program recording mode the output signal of the video selector switch and in two-program recording mode passing the output signal of the signal processor in response to a recording mode pulse signal from the control pulse generator;

the recorder unit connected to the output of the video selector switch for recording the video signals wherein in two-program recording mode, the two program signals are recorded in interleaved fashion;

a second recording/reproducing selector switch connected to the output of the video selector switch, the output of the signal processor, and the control pulse generator for passing in recording mode the output signal of the video selector switch, in two-program playback mode passing the output signal of the signal processor, and in one-program playback mode passing the output signal of the video selector switch in response to a second recording/reproducing switching control pulse signal from the control pulse generator; and

a video signal output terminal connected to the output of the second recording/reproducing selector switch for delivering the video signal to be displayed.

13. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the video selector switch has an external input terminal for receiving the video signal selecting pulse signal.

14. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the control pulse generator has an external input terminal for receiving the recording mode pulse signal.

15. A recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

video signal input terminals for receiving a plurality of video signals;

a video selector switch connected to the video signal input terminals, the output of a recorder unit, and a control pulse generator for passing in recording mode one of the input video signals and in playback mode passing the output signal of the recorder unit in response to a video signal selecting pulse signal from the control pulse generator;

a first recording/reproducing selector switch connected to the output of the video selector switch, one of the video signal input terminals, and the control pulse generator for passing in recording mode the output signal of the video signal input terminal and in playback mode passing the output signal of the video selector switch in response to a first recording/reproducing switching control pulse signal;

a signal processor connected to the output of the first recording/reproducing selector switch and the control pulse generator for synchronizing in recording mode two program signals to be recorded field by field prior to combining the two program signals for multiple recording and in playback mode reproducing one of the two program signals multiple recorded with the use of a recording/reproducing compatible circuit controlled by a signal processing control pulse signal from the control pulse generator;

a playback mode examining unit connected to the output of the video selector switch for detecting the polarity of each field of the output signal of the video selector switch to automatically examine whether the output signal of the video selector switch contains one- or two-program data;

the control pulse generator connected to the output of the video selector switch and the playback mode examining unit for generating control pulse signals to control the total system of the apparatus;

a recording switch connected to the output of the video selector switch, the output of the signal processor, and the control pulse generator for passing in one-program recording mode the output signal of the video selector switch and in two-program recording mode passing the output signal of the signal processor in response to a recording mode pulse signal from the control pulse generator;

the recorder unit connected to the output of the video selector switch for recording the video signals wherein in two-program recording mode, the two-program signals are recorded in interleaved fashion;

a second recording/reproducing selector switch connected to the output of the video selector switch, the output of the signal processor, and the control pulse generator for passing in recording mode the output signal of the video selector switch, in two-program playback mode passing the output signal of the signal processor, and in one-program playback mode passing the output signal of the video selector switch in response to a second recording/reproducing switching control pulse signal from the control pulse generator; and

a video signal output terminal connected to the output of the second recording/reproducing selector switch delivering the video signal to be displayed.

16. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the video selector switch has an external input terminal for receiving the video signal selecting pulse signal.

17. A recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control pulse generator has an external input terminal for receiving the recording mode pulse signal.

18. A method of recording and reproducing a plurality of input television signals comprising the steps of:

reproducing said recorded audio components in response to said playback control signal by demultiplexing and data expanding said recorded audio components; and

outputting said reproduced video and audio components.

19. A recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

receiving and separating means for receiving a plurality of input television signals and for separating the video components out of each of said plurality of input television signals;

selecting means for selecting said video components of one of said plurality of television signals;

control pulse generator means for receiving said selected video components, for extracting a respective control signal from each of said selected video components, for determining whether said video components are to be recorded or played back and for producing a control pulse signal indicating whether said selected video components are to be displayed or recorded;

audio extracting means for extracting audio components from one of said input television signals corresponding to said video components to be recorded

recording means for receiving said selected video components, said control signal and said audio components, for recording said video components in response to said control signal and for recording said audio components;

playback means for determining whether said recorded video components are to be played back and for reproducing said recorded video and audio components if said recorded video components are to be played back.