Method for selectively playing back programs recorded on a video tape

• US 5,621,579 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 04/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Index Systems Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Yuen, Henry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sniezek, Andrew L.
• Application Number:
  US08/480,485
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 348/906, 395/159, 358/335, 360/27, 360/33.1, 360/35.1, 360/69, 360/79
• US Class Current: 386/243
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/023 remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/026 by using processor, e.g. microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/07 on containers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/087 by sensing recorded signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/1816 Programmed access in sequence to indexed parts of operating tapes cooperating with rotating heads see provisional also G11B15/005
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/91 Helical scan format, wherein tracks are slightly tilted with respect to tape direction, e.g. VHS, DAT, DVC, AIT or exabyte
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/08714 Auxiliary features sensing such features G11B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/30 with provision for auxiliary signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/36 Signals on record carriers or on containers and recorded by the same method as the main recording
• 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 27/029 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/13 the information being derived from movement of the record carrier, e.g. using tachometer
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3036 Time code signal
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3054 Vertical Interval Time code [VITC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/309 : Table of contents
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/324 : Duty cycle modulation of control pulses, e.g. VHS-CTL-coding systems, RAPID-time code, VASS- or VISS-cue signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/326 : used signal is a video-frame or a video-field (P.I.P.)
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/328 : on a tape [TTOC]
• 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 31/00 : Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/10 : Indicating arrangements; Warning arrangements G11B15/04, G11B19/04, G11B27/34, G11B27/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/0086 : using cyclically driven heads providing segmented tracks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 : User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42661 : for reading from or writing on a magnetic storage medium, e.g. hard disk drive
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 : by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 : comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 : involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7755 : the recorder being connected to, or coupled with, the antenna of the television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/78263 : for recording on tracks inclined relative to the direction of movement of the tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9206 : the additional signal being a character code signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 : for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals

Abstract

A frame of the video being recorded or previously recorded on tape is captured and stored for use at the time of displaying the directory of programs stored on the tape.

Claims

1. A method of selecting for playback on a VCR a program recorded on a video tape comprising the steps of:

recording video programs on a video tape, each program being made up of a sequence of still frame images;

storing in memory a directory of the programs recorded on the video tape, the directory comprising for each recorded program a still frame image of the program, a title of the program, and an address of the start of the program on the tape;

inserting the video tape into a VCR;

retrieving from memory for display a list of the titles of the programs recorded on the inserted video tape;

displaying the retrieved list of titles in a first area of a screen;

marking one of the displayed titles;

retrieving from memory for display the still frame image for the program of the marked title;

displaying the retrieved still frame image in a second area of the screen; and

selecting for playback one of the displayed titles.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the storing step stores the directory in a RAM.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the storing step stores the directory on the inserted video tape.

4. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising the steps of:

storing in memory as part of the directory of the programs recorded on the video tape for each recorded program a program description;

retrieving from memory for display the description of the program of the marked title; and

displaying the retrieved description in a third area of the screen.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the step of storing in memory a directory of the programs recorded on the video tape comprises storing the directories of pre-recorded tapes on the tape itself and storing the directories of home recorded tapes in a RAM, and the step of retrieving from memory for display a list of the titles of the programs recorded on the inserted video tape comprises detecting whether the inserted tape is a pre-recorded tape or a home recorded tape, retrieving the directory from the tape if a pre-recorded tape is detected, and retrieving the directory from the RAM if a home recorded tape is detected.

6. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising the steps of:

retrieving from the directory in memory the address of the start of the program of the selected title;

positioning the video tape at the retrieved address; and

playing the program of the selected title.