Method and apparatus for controlling a video player to automatically locate a segment of a recorded program

• US 5,999,688 A
• Filed: 08/13/1996
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Televentions LLC
• Original Assignee: SRT, Inc.
• Inventors: McFarland, Alan, McLam, George, Iggulden, Jerry, Fields, Kyle
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US08/695,794
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 386/1, 386/6-8, 386/45, 386/4, 386/52, 386/59, 386/60, 386/62, 386/69-70, 386/81-82, 386/125-126, 358/908, 360/69, 360/72.1, 360/72.2, 360/72.3
• US Class Current: 386/343
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/023 remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/026 by using processor, e.g. microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/087 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 15/1875 adaptations for special effects or editing signal processing or indexing therefor G11B27/00
• 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 2220/65 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 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 27/028 with computer assistance
• 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 27/22 Means responsive to presence or absence of recorded information signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/24 by sensing features on the record carrier other than the transducing track ; sensing signals or marks recorded by another method than the main recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3036 Time code signal
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3054 : Vertical Interval Time code [VITC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/323 : Time code signal, e.g. on a cue track as SMPTE- or EBU-time code
• 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 27/328 : on a tape [TTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 : Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/375 : Commercial
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/377 : Scene
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 : of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/59 : of video recognising characters or patterns in general G06F18/00, G06V20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/142 : Detection of scene cut or scene change
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/179 : the unit being a scene or a shot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/87 : involving scene cut or scene change detection in combination with video compression
• 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 5/9201 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/002 : Special television systems not provided for by H04N7/007 - H04N7/18 still pictures via a television channel H04N1/00098
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/908 : Pause control, i.e. "commercial killers"

Abstract

A video playback device includes video and audio event detectors which detect the presence of events in the video signal as it is played. When the viewer commands the device to skip past a portion of a recorded program, a processor monitors the detected events to locate an event corresponding to the beginning of a next program segment. The device then returns to that location and begins normal play. Alternatively, the viewer may manually terminate the skipping process, at which time the device automatically returns to the location of the most recently detected event.

Claims

1. A video playback system comprising:

(a) a video player having a play mode, a fast scan mode and a reverse mode;

(b) a recording medium for insertion into the video player, said recording medium having a video signal recorded thereon;

(c) means for commanding the video player to enter the fast scan mode;

(d) event detection means for automatically detecting events within viewable lines of video frames in the video signal;

(e) timer means for determining that a detected event is not followed by another event within a predetermined period of time;

(f) means responsive to said timer means for commanding the video player to enter the reverse mode until reaching a position on the recording medium corresponding to said detected event which is not followed by another event within a predetermined period of time.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the recording medium is a video tape.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the recording medium is an optical disc.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the recording medium is a magnetic disc.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for commanding the video player to enter the fast scan mode comprises a manual control.

6. A video playback system comprising:

(a) a video player having a play mode, a fast scan mode and a reverse mode;

(b) a recording medium for insertion into the video player, said recording medium having a video signal recorded thereon;

(c) means for commanding the video player to enter the fast scan mode;

(d) event detection means for automatically detecting events within viewable lines of video frames in the video signal;

(e) storage means for storing data identifying a location on the recording medium of a most recently detected event;

(f) means for commanding the video player to enter the reverse mode until reaching said location on the recording medium of a most recently detected event.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the means for commanding the video player to enter the reverse mode comprises a manual control.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the means for commanding the video player to enter the reverse mode comprises a timer that is initialized by said most recently detected event.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the recording medium is a video tape.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the recording medium is an optical disc.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein the recording medium is a magnetic disc.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein the means for commanding the video player to enter the fast scan mode comprises a manual control.

13. A method of cueing a video tape having a video signal containing a program recorded thereon to a beginning of a program segment comprising the steps of:

(a) advancing the video tape at a speed faster than a normal play speed;

(b) monitoring the video signal as the video tape is advanced to automatically detect events within viewable lines of video frames;

(c) analyzing the detected events to identify an event associated with said beginning of a program segment;

(d) reversing the video tape to a location corresponding to said event associated with said beginning of a program segment; and

(e) commencing normal play of said video tape at said beginning of a program segment.

14. A method of cueing a video recording medium having a video signal containing a program recorded thereon to a beginning of a program segment comprising the steps of:

(a) advancing through the recorded video signal at a speed faster than a normal play speed;

(b) monitoring the video signal as it is advanced through to automatically detect events within viewable lines of video frames;

(c) analyzing the detected events to identify an event which has no following event within a predetermined period of time;

(d) commencing normal play of the video signal at a location on the video recording medium corresponding to said event which has no following event within a predetermined period of time.