Enhancing operations of video tape cassette players

• US 6,487,362 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1996
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• 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: Mankovitz, Roy J., Kwoh, Daniel S., Yuen, Henry C., Hindman, Carl, Ngai, Hing Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOCCIO, VINCENT F
• Application Number:
  US08/777,799
• Time in Patent Office: 2,156 Days
• Field of Search: 386/83, 386/52, 386/55, 386/95, 386/57, 386/98, 386/64, 386/65, 386/77, 386/78, 348/468, 348/563, 360/69
• US Class Current: 386/243
• 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 60/372 : Programme
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 : for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 : for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/44 : for identifying broadcast stations
• 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

Operation of a video cassette player is facilitated by providing a VBI decoder which decodes information, such as title, channel, date, time and length of broadcast programs and utilizing the information in providing directory of the programs as well as control of the VCR. The video cassette player is also provided with a VBI encoder for inserting control as well as directory information into the tape, either in the VBI portions of the video track or in the control track.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a directory of programs stored on home recorded (HR) and prerecorded (PR) video tapes, the method comprising the steps of:

repeatedly storing an on tape directory of programs recorded on each PR tape directly on the same tape as the recorded programs;

storing a directory of programs recorded on each HR tape in a random access memory (RAM);

inserting a video tape in a video tape recorder (VCR);

sensing whether the inserted video tape is an HR or a PR tape;

accessing the directories stored in RAM when the inserted video tape is an HR tape to retrieve the directory for the inserted video tape;

accessing the on tape directory when the inserted video tape is a PR tape to retrieve the directory for the inserted video tape; and

displaying the retrieved directory.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the step of storing a directory in RAM comprises:

recording a unique tape identification (TID) on each HR tape; and

linking the TID of each HR tape to the location of its directory in RAM.

3. The method of claim 2, in which the step of recording a unique TID comprises recording the TID in the VBI of each frame while recording the programs so the TID can be read as soon as an HR tape is inserted in the VCR.

4. The method of claim 3, in which the step of accessing the directories stored in RAM comprises:

reading the TID of the inserted tape; and

coupling the TID to the RAM to retrieve the directory linked to the coupled TID.

5. The method of claim 4, in which the step of storing an on tape directory comprises:

storing the directory in the VBI of each frame recorded on the tape so the on tape directory can be read as soon as a PR tape is inserted in the VCR.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the step of storing an on tape directory comprises:

storing the directory in the VBI of each frame recorded on the tape so the on tape directory can be read as soon as a PR tape is inserted in the VCR.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the sensing step searches the VBI of the inserted tape for an on tape directory and the step of accessing the directories stored on RAM accesses the directories stored in RAM when the on tape directory is not found in the VBI.

8. The method of claim 7, in which the step of accessing the on tape directory accesses the on tape directory when the on tape directory is found in the VBI.

9. The method of claim 1, in which the sensing step searches the VBI of the inserted tape for an on tape directory and the step of accessing the on tape directory accesses the on tape directory when the on tape directory is found in the VBI.

10. The method of claim 1, in which PR tapes have unique TID'"'"'s, the method additionally comprising the steps of transferring the on tape directory to the RAM when the inserted tape is a PR tape and linking the TID of the inserted PR tape to the location of its directory in RAM.

11. The method of claim 1, in which the step of storing a directory in the RAM comprises:

recording a unique tape identification (TID) on each tape, the TIDs of HR tapes being distinguishable from the TIDs of PR tapes; and

linking the TID of each HR tape to the location of its directory in the RAM.

12. The method of claim 11, in which the sensing step retrieves the TID from the inserted tape and determines if such TID is a TID for an HR tape or a PR tape.

13. The method of claim 12, additionally comprising the steps of transferring the on tape directory to the RAM when the inserted tape is a PR tape and linking the TID of the inserted PR tape to the location of its directory in the RAM.

14. The method of claim 13, in which the step of accessing the on tape directory comprises:

determining if the TID of the inserted PR tape is linked to a directory in the RAM;

if the TID of the inserted PR tape is linked to a directory in the RAM, retrieving the directory of the inserted PR tape from the RAM;

if the TID of the inserted PR tape is not linked to a directory in the RAM, retrieving the directory for the inserted PR tape from the inserted PR tape.

15. A method of indexing a prerecorded (PR) cassette video tape at the time that a video program is recorded thereon, the method comprising the steps of:

recording on a control track of the tape marks that indicate the start of each program;

recording on the tape an identification;

repeatedly recording on selected lines of each program recorded on the tape a directory of the programs recorded on the tape so the directory is immediately accessible regardless of the tape location in the cassette when inserted in a VCR;

inserting a blank (HR) cassette tape in a VCR, recording video programs on the blank tape with the VCR, simultaneously creating a directory of the recorded programs, storing the created directory in a RAM; and

repeating the recited steps to form a library of all the HR tapes in the RAM; and

determining whether a tape inserted in the VCR is a PR tape or an HR tape, accessing the inserted tape to retrieve the directory of the inserted tape from the tape if the inserted tape is a PR tape, accessing the RAM to retrieve the directory of the inserted tape from the RAM if the inserted tape is an HR tape, and displaying the inserted tape.

16. The method of claim 15, additionally comprising the step of inserting the cassette tape in a VCR connected to a television having a screen, transporting the tape to retrieve the first encountered repetition of the directory recorded on the tape, and displaying the directory on the screen.

17. The method of claim 15, in which the step of recording the directory records the directory on vertical blanking interval lines of each video frame.

18. The method of claim 15, in which the step of recording the tape identification records the tape identification in the control track of the tape.

19. The method of claim 15, in which the step of recording the marks that indicate the start of each program records absolute addresses in the control track of the tape.

20. The method of claim 15, additionally comprising the steps of inserting the PR tape in the VCR and transferring the directory thereof to the library in the RAM.

21. The method of claim 20, in which the directories include program identifiers, the method additionally comprising the steps of selecting a particular program identifier, searching the RAM for directories that contain the selected program identifier, and displaying the directories that contain the selected program identifier.