Compressed video data processing with conversion of image compression format

• US 6,996,331 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Higuchi, Masataka, Asada, Seigo, Asari, Shigeatsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Boccio, Vincent F.
• Application Number:
  US10/319,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20030091332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 386/46, 386/95, 386125-126, 386/131, 386109-111
• US Class Current: 386/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/40 using video transcoding, i.e. partial or full decoding of a coded input stream followed by re-encoding of the decoded output stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9261 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A local server records compressed digital video data according to a first image compression format at normal and four times speeds, while a main server records compressed digital video data according to a second image compression format at normal speed. An image format converter converts compressed digital video data according to the first image compression format output at normal speed from the local server to compressed digital video data according to the second image compression format to be sent to the main server. The image format converter also converts compressed digital video data according to the second image compression format output at normal speed from the main server to compressed digital video data according to the first image compression format to be sent to the local server.

Claims

1. A compressed video data processing apparatus for use with an external digital video cassette recorder and an external recording and reproducing device, said apparatus comprising:

a first recording and reproducing device, including a storage device and connected to the external digital video cassette recorder, for recording and reproducing compressed digital video data according to a first image compression format; and

an image format converter, connected between said first recording and reproducing device and the external recording and reproducing device, for converting compressed digital video data between the first image compression format of said first recording and reproducing device and a second image compression format of the external recording and reproducing device, wherein the second image compression format is different than the first image compression format,

wherein said first recording and reproducing device is operable convert transfer speeds such that the compressed digital video data is transferred between the external digital video cassette recorder and said first recording and reproducing device at a first transfer speed and the compressed digital video data is transferred between said first recording and reproducing device and the external recording and reproducing device at a second transfer speed different than the first transfer speed.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transfer speed is faster than the second transfer speed.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording and reproducing device transfers compressed digital video data with the external recording and reproducing device according to the second image compression format through said image format converter in a network transmission format.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image format converter supports a plurality of conversion processes, each being between the first image compression format and a respective one of a plurality of the second image compression formats, said image format converter comprises a format detector for detecting the second image compression format of the external second recording and reproducing device and selects one of the conversion processes according to the second image compression format detected by said image format converter.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording and reproducing device comprises a plurality of input/output ports for connecting a plurality of the external digital video cassette recorder.