Still frame video in index

• US 6,240,241 B1
• Filed: 04/14/1997
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Index Systems Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Index Systems Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Yuen, Henry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUY THANH
• Application Number:
  US08/839,458
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 386/46, 386/83, 386/95, 386/96, 386/105, 386/106, 386/121, 348/906
• US Class Current: 386/241
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/00 Driving, starting or stopping record carriers of filamentary or web form; Driving both such record carriers and heads; Guiding such record carriers or containers therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function driving or guiding heads G11B3/00 - G11B7/00, G11B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• 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 2220/20 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 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/655 Memory in cassette [MIC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/80 Indexing information stored in optical or magnetic or other strip attached to cassette or disc, e.g. barcodes attached to a recording medium
• 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 27/28 : by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• 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 27/328 : 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 27/36 : Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• 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: G11B 5/86 : Re-recording, i.e. transcribing information from one magnetisable record carrier on to one or more similar or dissimilar record carriers by varying the order of the information G11B27/029, G11B27/036
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 : Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 : using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• 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

The indexing VCR maintains current information about programs recorded on tape by forming a directory/index of programs comprising a video frame of a program that is being recorded or was previously recorded along with a description or title of the program. Index information is provided on the tape to facilitate direct searching of programs recorded thereon and positioning the tape to selected programs.

Claims

1. A video tape player comprising:

a receiver capable of receiving broadcast video signals of a video program having a title and a data packet carrying information identifying a selected video frame;

a magnetic head for recording said broadcast video signals on to a cassette tape;

a decoder coupled to said receiver and decoding signals contained in a predetermined interval of said broadcast video signals to produce information signals representing the title and the identity of the selected video frame;

a controller receiving information signals and using said information signals to operate said video tape player;

means for storing said title in a directory of video programs; and

means for capturing and storing the selected video frame.

2. The video tape player of claim 1 wherein said predetermined interval of said broadcast video signals comprises a vertical blanking interval (VBI) of said broadcast video signals.

3. The video tape player in accordance with claim 1 wherein said title storing means comprises means for storing said title on a track of said tape.

4. The video tape player in accordance with claim 3 wherein said track is a control track.

5. The video tape player in accordance with claim 3 wherein said track is a video track.

6. The video tape player in accordance with claim 5 wherein said title is stored in portions of said video track which record vertical blanking intervals of video signals.

7. A video tape player in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a magnetic head for reading from a tape a still video frame for programs recorded on the tape.

8. The video tape player in accordance with claim 7 further comprising a magnetic head for reading from a tape a title for the program having a still video frame recorded on the tape.

9. A video tape player in accordance with claim 8 further comprising means for displaying the SVF picture and title.

10. The video tape player of claim 1 wherein said means for capturing the selected video frame comprises capturing the selected video frame from said broadcast video signals.

11. A method for storing, retrieving, a and displaying information on a video cassette tape comprising the steps of:

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

recording on the tape a directory of the titles of the video programs and their beginning locations on the tape;

recording on the tape a still frame image of each video program;

retrieving the title, beginning location, and still frame image; and

displaying the retrived still frame image and the retrived title at the same time for at least one of the video programs.

12. The method of claim 11, in which the step of recording the still frame image records the still frame image at the beginning of the tape before any programs.

13. The method of claim 11, additionally comprising the steps of receiving the video program on a television signal and marking the still frame image to be recorded in the television signal.

14. A method for storing, retrieving, and displaying information on a video cassette tape comprising the steps of:

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

recording on the tape a directory of the titles of the video programs and their beginning locations on the tape;

recording on the tape a still frame image of each video program;

retrieving the title, beginning location, and still frame image; and

displaying the retrieved still frame image and a still frame image description at the same time for at least one of the video programs.