Picture recording and reproducing apparatus and method

• US 6,577,805 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1998
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hirai, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Christensen, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHIEU, PO LIN
• Application Number:
  US09/193,602
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: 386/4, 386/52, 386/53, 386/64-65, 386/46, 360/13, 369/83, 348/594-595, 348/598, 348/700-701
• US Class Current: 386/241
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/036 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• 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 27/326 used signal is a video-frame or a video-field (P.I.P.)
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/328 on a tape [TTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9201 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/93 Regeneration of the television signal or of selected parts thereof

Abstract

In a recording mode, an image signal of a desired object is generated by an imaging unit such as a video camera, and the time difference between the hour of generation of the current image signal and the hour of generation of a preceding image signal is detected by a system controller. Then the image signal and predetermined data based on the result of detection of the time difference are recorded on a recording medium via an optical pickup section. In a reproduction mode, the predetermined data are read out from the recording medium together with the image signal representing the picture of the object, and a predetermined video effect is applied to the read image signal in accordance with the predetermined data. Thus, a multiplicity of pictures shot under any different conditions by a video camera or the like can be reproduced without incongruous appearances respectively

Claims

1. A picture recording apparatus comprising:

imaging means for generating a continuous current image signal;

time difference detection means for detecting a time difference between a generation time of the current image signal and a generation time of a preceding image signal, wherein the generation times of the-current image signal and the preceding image signal are distinct actual times;

data generating means for generating predetermined data based upon said detected time difference; and

recording means for recording, on a recording medium, the image signal obtained from said imaging means and also said predetermined data.

2. The picture recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said time difference detection means determines whether the time difference is within a predetermined time period or not, and said predetermined data is generated based upon the result of the determination by said time difference detection means.

3. The picture recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising setting means for setting said predetermined time period.

4. The picture recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined data indicates that the time difference is not within the predetermined time period.

5. A picture recording method comprising the steps of:

generating a continuous current image signal;

detecting a time difference between a generation time of the current image signal and a generation time of a preceding image signal, wherein the generation times of the current image signal and the preceding image signal are distinct actual times;

generating predetermined data based upon said detected time difference; and

recording, on a recording medium, the generated image signal and also said predetermined data.

6. The picture recording method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the detected time difference is within a predetermined time period; and

generating said predetermined data based upon said determination, said predetermined data defining, as one continuous scene, a group of pictures where said time difference is within the predetermined time period.

7. The picture recording method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of setting the predetermined time period.

8. The picture recording method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of recording data on said recording medium indicating that the time difference is not within the predetermined time period.

9. A picture reproducing apparatus comprising:

read means for reading, from a recording medium, predetermined data relative to the time difference between a recording time end of at least one continuously recorded picture and a recording time start of a next continuously recorded picture, together with the video signal of the pictures, wherein the recording times are the distinct actual times at which the end and the start of the at least one picture and the next picture, respectively, are recorded;

video effect generation means for applying a predetermined video effect to the read video signal; and

effect control means for controlling said video effect generation means in accordance with the predetermined data relative to the time difference.

10. The picture reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said predetermined data indicates whether or not the time difference is within a predetermined time period;

and

said effect control means controls said video effect generation means on the basis of said predetermined data.

11. The picture reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined data defines, as one continuous scene, a group of pictures where the time difference is within the predetermined time period.

12. The picture reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said effect control means determines whether or not the time difference is within the predetermined time period, and when it is determined that the time difference is not within the predetermined time period, said effect control means controls said video effect generation means to apply a predetermined video effect between reproduction of said at least one picture and reproduction of said next picture.

13. The picture reproducing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising setting means for setting the predetermined time period.

14. The picture reproducing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said effect control means controls said video effect generation means to cause a fade-out at the end of each continuous scene composed of a group of pictures where the time difference is within a predetermined time period, and to cause a fade-in at the start of a next scene.

15. The picture reproducing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said effect control means controls said video effect generation means to extract the picture at the end of each scene and the picture at the start of the next scene, and then to change a gain of each of the extracted pictures.

16. The picture reproducing apparatus according to claims 9, further comprising an audio effect generation means for applying a predetermined audio effect to an audio signal read out from the recording medium by said read means, wherein said effect control means controls said audio effect generation means on the basis of the predetermined data relative to said time difference.

17. A picture reproducing method comprising the steps of:

reading, from a recording medium, predetermined data relative to the time difference between a recording end time of one continuously recorded picture and a recording start time of a next continuously recorded picture, together with the video signal of the pictures, wherein the recording times are the distinct actual times at which the end and the start of the one picture and the next picture, respectively, are recorded; and

applying a predetermined video effect to the read image signal in accordance with the predetermined data relative to the time difference.

18. The picture reproducing method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether or not the time difference is within a predetermined time period based upon said predetermined data; and

applying a predetermined video effect to the read image signal on the basis of said predetermined data.

19. The picture reproducing method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of applying a predetermined video effect to the read image signal on the basis of the predetermined data that define, as one continuous scene, a group of pictures where the time difference is within the predetermined time period.

20. The picture reproducing method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether or not the time difference is within the predetermined time period; and

applying a predetermined video effect between reproduction of said one picture and reproduction of said next picture when the determination indicates that the time difference is not within the predetermined time period.

21. The picture reproducing method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of setting the predetermined time period.

22. The picture reproducing method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of applying a video effect to cause a fade-out at the end of each continuous scene composed of a group of pictures where the time difference is within a predetermined time period, and to cause a fade-in at the start of a next scene.

23. The picture reproducing method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of applying said video effect by extracting the picture at the end of each scene and the picture at the start of the next scene, and then changing a gain of each of the extracted pictures.

24. The picture reproducing method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

reading out an audio signal from said recording medium; and

applying a predetermined audio effect to the read audio signal on the basis of the predetermined data.

25. A picture recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

imaging means for forming a continuous image signal;

time difference detection means for detecting a time difference between a generation time of the image signal and a generation time of a preceding image signal, wherein the generation times of the image signal and the preceding image signal are distinct actual times;

data generating means for generating predetermined data based upon said detected time difference;

recording means for recording, on a recording medium, the image signal obtained from said imaging means and also said predetermined data;

read means for reading, from said recording medium, the predetermined data together with the image signal;

video effect generation means for applying a predetermined video effect to the image signal thus read; and

effect control means for controlling said video effect generation means in accordance with the predetermined data.

26. The picture recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said time difference detection means determines whether or not the time difference is within a predetermined time period, and said predetermined data is generated based upon the result of such determination.

27. The picture recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising setting means for setting said predetermined time period.

28. The picture recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said predetermined data indicates that the time difference is not within the predetermined time period.

29. The picture recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said read means reads out, from the recording medium, predetermined data indicating whether or not the time difference is within a predetermined time period.

30. The picture recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said predetermined data defines, as one continuous scene, a group of pictures where the time difference is within the predetermined time period.

31. The picture recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said effect control means determines whether or not the time difference is within the predetermined time period, and when the result of the determination indicates that the time difference is not within the predetermined time period, said effect control means controls said video effect generation means to apply a predetermined video effect between reproduction of said preceding image signal and reproduction of said image signal.

32. The picture recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising setting means for setting the redetermined time period.

33. The picture recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said effect control means controls said video effect generation means to cause a fade-out at the end of each continuous scene composed of a group of pictures where the time difference is within a predetermined time period, and to cause a fade-in at the start of a next scene.

34. The picture recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said effect control means controls said video effect generation means to extract a picture at the end of each scene and a picture at the start of the next scene, and to change a gain of each of the extracted pictures.

35. The picture recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising an audio effect generation means for applying a predetermined audio effect to an audio signal read out from the recording medium by said read means, wherein said effect control means controls said audio effect generation means on the basis of said predetermined data.

36. A picture recording/reproducing method comprising the steps of:

generating a continuous current image signal;

detecting a time difference between a generation time of the current image signal and a generation time of a preceding image signal, wherein the generation times of the current image signal and the preceding image signal are distinct actual times;

generating predetermined data based upon said detected time difference;

recording, on a recording medium, the generated current image signal and said predetermined data;

reading the predetermined data from the recording medium together with the current image signal; and

applying a predetermined video effect to the read image signal in accordance with said predetermined data.

37. The picture recording/reproducing method according to claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether or not the detected time difference is within a predetermined time period; and

generating the predetermined data defining, as one continuous scene, a group of pictures where the time difference is within the predetermined time period.

38. The picture recording/reproducing method according to claim 37, further comprising the step of setting the predetermined time period.

39. The picture recording/reproducing method according to claim 37, further comprising the step of recording predetermined data indicating that the time difference is not within the predetermined time period.

40. The picture recording/reproducing method according to claim 36, further comprising the step of:

reading, from the recording medium, the predetermined data indicating that the time difference is within a predetermined time period.

41. The picture recording/reproducing method according to claim 40, wherein said predetermined data define, as one continuous scene, a group of the pictures where the time difference is within the predetermined time period.

42. The picture recording/reproducing method according to claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether or not the time difference is within the predetermined time period; and

applying a predetermined video effect between reproduction of said current image signal and reproduction of said preceding image signal when the time difference is not within the predetermined time period.

43. The picture recording/reproducing method according to claim 42, further comprising the step of setting the predetermined time period.

44. The picture recording/reproducing method according to claim 42, further comprising the step of applying a video effect to cause a fade-out at the end of each continuous scene composed of a group of pictures where the time difference is within a predetermined time period, and to cause a fade-in at the start of a next scene.

45. The picture recording/reproducing method according to claim 44, further comprising the steps of:

applying said video effect by extracting a picture at the end of each scene and a picture at the start of the next scene; and

changing a gain of each of the extracted pictures.

46. The picture recording/reproducing method according to claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

reading out an audio signal from said recording medium; and

applying a predetermined audio effect to the read audio signal on the basis of the predetermined data.

47. A recording medium for use with a data processor and on which a plurality of video signals representing pictures are recorded, along with data relative to a difference between the recording end time of at least one continuously recorded picture and the recording start time of a next continuously recorded picture, said video signals and said data being used by said data processor, wherein the recording times are the distinct actual times at which the end and the start of the at least one picture and the next picture, respectively, are recorded.

48. The recording medium according to claim 47, wherein said data indicates that said time difference is within a predetermined time period.

49. The recording medium according to claim 48, wherein a scene number is recorded for each continuous scene, each scene being defined as a group of pictures where the time difference is within the predetermined time period.

50. A picture reproducing apparatus comprising:

time difference detection means for detecting a time difference between a recording end time of at least one continuously recorded picture recorded on a recording medium and a recording start time of a next continuously recorded picture, wherein the recording times are the distinct actual times at which the end and the start of the at least one picture and the next picture, respectively, are recorded;

read means for reading out a video signal corresponding to each of the pictures recorded in said recording medium;

video effect generation means for applying a predetermined video effect to the read video signals; and

effect control means for controlling said video effect generation means in accordance with the detection result obtained from said time difference detection means.

51. The picture reproducing apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said effect control means controls said video effect generation means on a scene-by-scene basis, each continuous scene including a group of pictures where the time difference detected by said time difference detection means is within the predetermined time period.

52. The picture reproducing apparatus according to claim 51, wherein said effect control means controls said video effect generation means to extract a picture at the end of each scene and a picture at the start of the next scene, and to change a gain of each of the extracted pictures.

53. The picture reproducing apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said effect control means controls said video effect generation means to cause a fade-out at the end of each scene and to cause a fade-in at the start of the next scene.

54. The picture reproducing apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said effect control means determines whether or not the time difference is within the predetermined time period, and when the time difference is not within the predetermined time period, said effect control means controls said video effect generation means to apply a predetermined video effect between reproduction of said at least one picture and reproduction of the next picture.

55. The picture reproducing apparatus according to claim 54, further comprising setting means for setting the predetermined time period.

56. The picture reproducing apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising audio effect generation means for applying a predetermined audio effect to an audio signal read out from the recording medium by said read means, wherein said effect control means controls said audio effect generation means on the basis of the detection result obtained from said time difference detection means.

57. A picture reproducing method comprising the steps of:

detecting a time difference between a recording end time of at least one continuously recorded picture recorded on a recording medium and the recording start time of a next continuously recorded picture, wherein the recording times are the distinct actual times at which the end and the start of the at least one picture and the next picture, respectively, are recorded; and

applying a predetermined video effect to the video signal of the picture read out from said recording medium in accordance with the detection result obtained with regard to the time difference.

58. The picture reproducing method according to claim 57, further comprising the step of applying a predetermined video effect to the video signal of the picture read out from said recording medium for each continuous scene, each scene including a group of pictures where the detected time difference is within the predetermined time period.

59. The picture reproducing method according to claim 58, further comprising the steps of:

extracting a picture at the end of each scene and a picture at the start of the next scene; and

changing a gain of each of the extracted pictures.

60. The picture reproducing method according to claim 59, further comprising the step of applying a video effect to cause a fade-out at the end of each scene and to cause a fade-in at the start of the next scene.

61. The picture reproducing method according to claim 57, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether or not the detected time difference is within a predetermined time period; and

applying a predetermined video effect between reproduction of said at least one picture and reproduction of the next picture when the time difference is not within the predetermined time period.

62. The picture reproducing method according to claim 61, further comprising the step of setting said predetermined time period.

63. The picture reproducing method according to claim 57, further comprising the step of applying a predetermined audio effect to an audio signal read but from the recording medium on the basis of the detection result obtained with regard to said time difference.