Instant replay system

• US 6,477,312 B1
• Filed: 12/06/1996
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Houston, Theodore W.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US08/761,262
• Time in Patent Office: 2,160 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.576, H04/N.592, H04/N.514, H04/N.979, H04/N.5783, 386/1, 386/46, 386/68, 386/77, 386/81-82, 369/60.01, 360/7, 348/1, 348/5, 348/7, 348/10, 348/559, 348/560, 348/725, 348/571, 348/722, 348/714
• US Class Current: 386/327
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording

Abstract

A short segment recording and replay system which includes a receiver for receiving and displaying audiovisual information and an endless memory for storage of continuous short segments of the audiovisual information concurrent with display thereof by the receiver. A controller is responsive to a predetermined condition to freeze the contents of the endless memory therein. The endless memory is preferably a addressable random access memory which can be in a plug-in module. The system includes a switching element responsive to the controller for transmitting the contents of the endless memory to the receiver for display. Special effects can be added to the audiovisual information prior to storage thereof in the endless memory or prior to transmitting the contents of the endless memory to the receiver for display.

Claims

1. A short segment audiovisual recording and replay system which comprises:

(a) a receiver for receiving a continuous stream of audiovisual information;

(b) an output for outputting said audiovisual information;

(c) an endless memory for receiving and continually passing therethrough short segments of said continuous stream of audiovisual information received by said receiver; and

(d) a controller responsive to a predetermined condition for freezing the contents of said endless memory then in said endless memory in said endless memory.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said endless memory is an addressable random access memory.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said endless memory is a plug-in module.

4. The system of claim 1 further including switching means responsive to said controller for transmitting the contents of said endless memory to said output.

5. The system of claim 1 further including means for processing said audiovisual information prior to transmitting the contents of said endless memory to said output.

6. The system of claim 1 further including means for processing said audiovisual information prior to storing said audiovisual information in said endless memory.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said processing of said audiovisual information comprises means for decompression of said audiovisual information.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said processing of said audiovisual information comprises means for compression of said audiovisual information.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein said processing of said audiovisual information includes addition of special effects.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said audiovisual information received is analog, further comprising an A/D converter for conversion of analog input signals to digital signals for storage in said endless memory.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said endless memory includes multiple segments, said controller including means to freeze the contents of each of said multiple segments in said endless memory individually and reading out each of said multiple segments individually.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein said processing of said audiovisual information includes addition of special effects.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising a video display system for displaying at least one of said received audiovisual information and said audiovisual information stored in said endless memory.

14. A video player system comprising:

(a) a standard video player for outputting s continuous stream of audiovisual information stored therein;

(b) an endless memory for receiving and continually recording segments of said continuous stream of audiovisual information from said video player;

(c) control means for freezing the contents of said endless memory then in said endless memory in said endless memory; and

(d) control means for outputting the contents of said endless memory frozen in said endless memory.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said endless memory is an addressable random access memory.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said endless memory is a plug-in module.

17. An audiovisual receiver system comprising:

(a) an input circuit;

(b) an output circuit;

(c) an endless memory for receiving and continually passing therethrough audiovisual information while retaining short segments of said audiovisual information therein; and

(d) a control system for selectively and substantially simultaneously causing one of output of information from said input circuit to said endless memory and freezing said information in said endless memory or output of information from said endless memory to said output circuit.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said endless memory is an addressable random access memory.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said endless memory is a plug-in module.