Audiovisual effects processing method and apparatus for instantaneous storage-based playback of audio data in synchronization with video data

• US 6,188,830 B1
• Filed: 07/14/1997
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mercs, James S., Embree, Paul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US08/891,895
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 386/12, 386/13, 386/54, 386/48, 386/55, 386/75, 386/52, 386/4, 358/335, 370/94.2, 369/13, 369/14
• US Class Current: 386/285
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs

Abstract

The present invention overcomes the serious practical limitations inherent in presently-existing RAM-based audiovisual effects processing systems for essentially instantaneous playback of data. The method of the invention divides individual audio effects into two discrete segments, and stores these two segments in a distributed storage system. The first segment of an effect is stored in memory, allowing nearly instantaneous access and playback of this segment. The second segment is stored in a storage device with a relatively long access time. In operation, the first portion of the effect is played from memory, while the second portion is simultaneously retrieved from storage, such that the second portion is retrieved and is available for playback by the time the playing of the first segment terminates. Playback of these two segments in perfect succession effectively furnishes instantaneous playback of audio data, while reducing cost, facilitating loading of effects data, and providing further operational advantages. The disclosed method and apparatus is equally suitable for implementing essentially instantaneous playback of video or audiovisual data.

Claims

1. A method for processing a plurality of effects described by data, wherein each effect is describable by data describing a first portion and a second portion, in a system which comprises an apparatus for the distributed storage and access of data, adapted to provide playback of effects described by the data, including first means for storing data describing a first portion of an effect and for accessing and reading data at a first access time and read rate, and second means for storing data describing a second portion of the effect and for accessing and reading data at a second access time and read rate different from the first access time and read rate, wherein the first effect portion comprises the extent of the effect for a period of time which is equal to or longer than the period of time for accessing and reading the second effect portion for output thereof, dependent upon the second access time and read rate for access and reading data from the second means, the system further comprising means for initiating output of the first effect portion when output of the effect is requested, means for initiating accessing and reading of the second effect portion prior to the completion of the output of the first effect portion, and means for initiating output of the second effect portion upon the completion of the output of the first effect portion, wherein the method comprises:

loading data describing a first portion of an effect in the first means in the apparatus;

loading data describing a second portion of the effect in the second means in the apparatus;

initiating output of the first effect portion when output of the effect is requested;

initiating access and reading of the second effect portion prior to completion of the output of the first effect portion; and

initiating output of data from the second effect portion at the conclusion of the output of the first effect portion.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising a method for storing audio data in a distributed storage system and providing essentially instantaneous playback of audio effects described by the audio data, in an audiovisual effects processing system.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising a method for storing video data in a distributed storage system and providing essentially instantaneous playback of video effects described by the video data, in an audiovisual effects processing system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

after initiating access of the storage device, and before the conclusion of the output of the first portion of the effect, initiating reading of the second portion of the effect and, as the second portion of the effect is thereby read, loading data from the read second portion into a memory device having a shorter access time than the storage device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

after storing the first portion of the effect, storing a pointer identifying the storage location of the second portion of the effect; and

prior to initiating output of the second portion of the effect, reading the pointer and identifying the second portion of the effect on the basis of the pointer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

prior to the step of storing data describing a first portion of an effect, identifying the first portion and the second portion of the effect.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein output of the effect is requested pursuant to an edit decision list.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of synchronizing the effect with data for simultaneous playback.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory means is a volatile memory device, and wherein the storage means is a non-volatile storage device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory means is RAM, and wherein the storage means is a hard disk drive.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory means is RAM, and wherein the storage means is a digital video disk.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory means is RAM, and wherein the storage means is a super compact disk.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory means is RAM, and wherein the storage means is a magneto optical drive.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the data describing a second portion of the effect is stored in portions of the storage device, the portions chosen in accordance with a consideration of the varying access times and read rate characteristics of different portions of the storage device, so as to optimize the subsequent retrieval time of the stored data.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage device is located at a remote location and wherein the data transferred to and from the storage device is transferred over communication channels, the communication channels comprising part of a computer network.

16. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of identifying the first portion and the second portion is performed so that the output of the second portion may be accomplished in succession with the output of the first portion.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the data describing a second portion of the effect is stored in particular sectors of the hard disk drive, the particular sectors chosen in accordance with a consideration of the varying access times and read rate characteristics of different sectors of the hard disk drive, so as to optimize the subsequent retrieval time of the stored data.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the computer network allows multiple users to simultaneously access data residing on a common storage device.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first means comprise memory means, and the second means comprise storage means, and wherein loading the first effect portion in the first means comprises loading the first effect portion in the memory means, loading the second effect portion in the second means comprises loading the second effect portion in the storage means, initiating access of the first effect portion comprises initiating access of the first effect portion from the memory means, and initiating output of the second effect portion comprises initiating output of the second effect portion from the storage means.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising means for initiating accessing of the second effect portion prior to the completion of the output of the first effect portion and means for loading the accessed second effect portion for output thereof, and further comprising initiating accessing of the second effect portion prior to completion of the output of the first effect portion, and loading the accessed second effect portion for output thereof.

21. A system for processing a plurality of effects described by data, wherein each effect is describable by data describing a first portion and a second portion thereof, comprising:

an apparatus for the distributed storage of data, adapted to provide playback of effects described by the data, including;

first means for storing data describing a first portion of an effect and for accessing and reading data at a first access time and read rate;

second means for storing data describing a second portion of the effect and for accessing and reading data at a second access time and read rate different from the first access time and read rate;

wherein the first effect portion comprises the extent of the effect for a period of time which is equal to or longer than the period of time for accessing and reading the second effect portion for output thereof, dependent upon the second access time and read rate for accessing and reading data from the second means, the system further comprising;

means for initiating output of the first effect portion when output of the effect is requested;

means for initiating accessing and reading of the second effect portion prior to the completion of the output of the first effect portion; and

means for initiating output of the second effect portion upon the completion of the output of the first effect portion.

22. The system of claim 21, comprising an apparatus for the distributed storage of audio data, the apparatus capable of providing essentially instantaneous playback of audio effects described by the audio data, in an audiovisual effects processing system.

23. The system of claim 21, comprising an apparatus for the distributed storage of video data, the apparatus capable of providing essentially instantaneous playback of video effects described by the video data, in an audiovisual effects processing system.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the first means comprise memory means, and the second means comprise storage means.

25. The system of claim 21, further comprising means for initiating accessing of the second effect portion prior to the completion of the output of the first effect portion, and means for loading the accessed second effect portion for output thereof.