Video recording apparatus with indexing of recording media

• US 6,035,091 A
• Filed: 05/12/1997
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kazo, Kazuya
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US08/854,703
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 386/4, 386/6-8, 386/45-46, 386/68-70, 386/81-83, 386/125-126, 360/27, 360/69, 348/552
• US Class Current: 386/200
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/026 by using processor, e.g. microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/05 by sensing features present on or derived from record carrier or container G11B15/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2525 Magneto-optical [MO] discs
• 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 23/08714 Auxiliary features sensing such features G11B15/06
• 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 27/005 Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording for television signals H04N5/783
• 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 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3063 Subcodes
• 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 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• 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 5/50 : Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9208 : involving the use of subcodes

Abstract

A picture signal recording/reproducing apparatus is disclosed in which a CPU 11 records the identification information for discriminating the video cassette during picture recording on a magnetic tape, while recording the recording information indicating the recording contents, such as the still picture data for program scenes, in memories 13 and 14 in association with the identification information. During reproduction, the CPU 11 reads out still picture data of each program from the memories 13 and 14, while a digital signal processing circuit 15 converts the still picture data of each program as a multi-picture into analog signals which are outputted to a TV receiver via an analog signal processing circuit 23 and an output terminal 33. The result is that the scenes of plural programs recorded in each of plural video cassettes are displayed on the TV receiver. This permits the user to easily recognize the program recorded on the video cassettes and to reproduce the desired program or to record a program in an optimum video cassette.

Claims

1. A video signal recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

a computer processor;

a memory unit connected to said processor;

a port for receiving a video signal; and

a deck controlled by said processor for recording signals on or reproducing signals from recording media;

wherein said deck records an identification of a particular recording medium on that medium, wherein said identification is generated by said processor;

wherein said processor stores information about recordings of said video signal made on said particular recording medium in said memory unit when said deck records signals on said particular recording medium;

wherein said processor associates said identification with said recording information in said memory unit; and

wherein said information includes at least one frame of said video signal.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a user interface of said apparatus comprises:

a remote control unit having a user input device to receive user input and a transmitter to transmit said input; and

a receiver associated with said processor for receiving said input transmitted by said remote control unit.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processor comprises a connection to a telephone line for receiving user input over said telephone line.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information includes:

a plurality of frames from said video signal wherein each of said frames corresponds to a different scene in a program carried by said video signal, and

location information regarding a location on said recording medium of a recorded signal corresponding to that scene.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said plurality of frames are simultaneously displayed on a display device such that a user may select one of said frames using a user interface and said apparatus will reproduce that portion of the recorded signal from said recording medium corresponding to the scene represented by said selected frame.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein data representing said at least one frame are thinned by said processor to facilitate storage of said data in said memory unit.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information includes information regarding when each program carried by said video signal was recorded on said recording media.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a housing for storing a plurality of recording media; and

a changer section for providing recording media from said housing to said deck.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said deck comprises:

two recording medium decks, each of which can record signals on or reproduce signals from a recording medium;

wherein said changer section selects and provides a recording medium to each of said two decks such that, when recording or reproduction ceases at a first of said decks, recording or reproduction begins at a second of said decks without pause.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said processor comprises:

means for determining an amount of available recording space on each of said plurality of recording media based on said recording information; and

means for comparing said amount of available recording space on each of said plurality of recording media with an amount of available recording space required by a program to be recorded as specified by input from said user through a user interface;

wherein said processor will select, if available, a recording medium having an amount of available recording space as great or greater than the amount required by said program; and

further wherein, if a recording medium having an amount of available recording space as great or greater than the amount required by said program is not available, said processor will select a plurality of recording media having an amount of available recording space as great or greater than the amount required by said program.

11. A video signal recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

a computer processor;

a memory unit connected to said processor;

a port for receiving a video signal;

a deck controlled by said processor for recording signals on or reproducing signals from recording media;

a housing for storing a plurality of recording media; and

a changer section for providing recording media from said housing to said deck;

wherein said deck records an identification of a particular recording medium on that medium, wherein said identification is generated by said processor;

wherein said processor stores information about recordings of said video signal made on said particular recording medium in said memory unit when said deck records signals on said particular recording medium; and

wherein said processor associates said identification with said recording information in said memory unit; and

wherein said processor comprises means for dedicating at least one of said plurality of recording media for use by a particular user or for a specified use.

12. A video signal recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

a computer processor;

a memory unit connected to said processor;

a port for receiving a video signal; and

a deck controlled by said processor for recording signals on or reproducing signals from recording media;

wherein said deck records an identification of a particular recording medium on that medium, wherein said identification is generated by said processor;

wherein said processor stores information about recordings of said video signal made on said particular recording medium in said memory unit when said deck records signals on said particular recording medium;

wherein said processor associates said identification with said recording information in said memory unit; and

wherein said processor may be programmed by said user through a user interface to maintain only a specified number of most recent programs recorded on one of said plurality of recording media such that when said one recording medium has recorded thereon said specified number of programs and said processor is programmed by a user to record an additional program on said one recording medium, said additional program is recorded over said program already recorded on said one recording medium which has been recorded on said one recording medium longer than any other program recorded on said one recording medium.