Single deck dual tape path VCR system

• US RE37,881 E1
• Filed: 11/22/2000
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digital Networks North America, Inc. (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Replaytv (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Haines, Curtis D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/721,789
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.592, H04/N.5761, 386/92, 386/46, 386/81, 386/83, 386/95, 386/52, 386/55, 386/4, 386/1, 360/32, 360/15, 360/13, 360/69, 369/83, 369/84
• US Class Current: 386/237
• 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 15/026 by using processor, e.g. microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/58 with vacuum column
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/6653 to pull the record carrier against drum
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/6656 using two-sided extraction, i.e. "M-type"
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/455 said record carriers being in one device and being used as primary and secondary/backup media, e.g. HDD-DVD combo device, or as source and target media, e.g. PC and portable player
• 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 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• 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 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: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7755 the recorder being connected to, or coupled with, the antenna of the television receiver

Abstract

A single deck dual tape path videocassette recorder/playback system enabling near simultaneous multiple functions with respect to a broadcast or cable communicated television signal. The system consists of standard elements which allow the receipt of a videocassette, the extracting and return of video tape from and to the videocassette, and the recording of a broadcast or cable communicated signal. The system also consists of two tape path assemblies and a videotape compartment consisting of a tape feed channel, a storage assembly, and a vacuum system. All elements are included within a single housing utilizing a common power supply, tuner, controls, and switching and control circuitry enabling simultaneous multiple functions using both tape paths, as well as additional function selections.

Claims

1. A VCR system for near simultaneous multifunction operations of at least one broadcast or cable communicated television signal, comprising:

(a) means for receiving a videocassette, for extracting videotape therefrom, and for returning the videotape thereto;

(b) means for receiving the at least one broadcast or cable communicated television signal;

(c) first tape path assembly for performing any of a first set of functions including recording the at least one broadcast or cable communicated television signal on a portion of the videotape extracted from the videocassette, playing back a prerecorded signal from a portion of the videotape extracted from the videocassette; and

rewinding, pausing, and fast forwarding a portion of the videotape extracted from the videocassette;

(d) videotape storage compartment defined by walls forming an enclosure suitable for receiving and storing a quantity of the videotape extracted from the videocassette after performing any of the first set of functions in the first tape path;

(e) means for storing a portion of the videotape extracted from the videocassette in the videotape storage compartment;

(f) means for extracting a portion of the videotape stored in the videotape storage compartment; and

(g) second tape path assembly for performing any of a second set of functions including recording a second broadcast or cable communicated television signal on a portion of the videotape extracted from the videotape storage compartment;

playing back the first or second television signal from a portion of the videotape extracted from the videotape storage compartment; and

rewinding, pausing, and fast forwarding a portion of the videotape extracted from the videotape storage compartment at substantially the same time that the first tape path assembly is performing any one of the first set of functions.

2. The VCR system of claim 1, wherein the videotape storage compartment comprises:

(a) tape feed channel, having means for transferring the videotape from the first tape path assembly into a tape storage enclosure and means for transferring the videotape between the second tape path and the tape storage enclosure,

(b) the tape storage enclosure having a first dimension approximately equal to a width of the videotape.

3. The VCR system of claim 1, wherein the videotape storage compartment further comprises a vacuum system, wherein the vacuum system draws the extracted videotape into the videotape storage compartment in random fashion.

4. The VCR system of claim 3, wherein the videotape storage compartment comprises:

(a) tape feed channel, having means for transferring the videotape from the first tape path assembly into a tape storage enclosure and having means for transferring the videotape between the second tape path and the tape storage enclosure;

(b) the tape storage enclosure having a first dimension approximately equal to a width of the videotape, the tape storage enclosure being disposed in communication with the tape feed channel and having at least one wall through which a vacuum may be drawn; and

(c) vacuum enclosure, disposed in communication with the tape storage enclosure through the wall,

wherein the vacuum system draws air from the tape storage enclosure thereby drawing the videotape from the tape feed channel into the tape storage enclosure, and wherein the vacuum system permits removal of the videotape from the tape storage enclosure through the tape feed channel to the second tape path.

5. The VCR system of claim 1 further comprising a microprocessor for controlling the first tape path assembly, the second tape path assembly, and the videotape storage compartment, the microprocessor being adapted to determine a quantity of videotape passed through the first and second tape paths and adapted to compare the quantity of videotape passed through the first and second tape paths to determine a quantity of the videotape stored in the videotape storage compartment.

6. A method for near simultaneous recording and multifunction operations of a first broadcast or cable communicated television signal by a VCR system having a videotape storage compartment defined by walls forming an enclosure suitable for receiving and storing a quantity of extracted videotape, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a videocassette into the VCR system;

(b) extracting videotape from the videocassette into the VCR system;

(c) receiving the first television signal;

(d) recording the first television signal on a portion of the videotape extracted from the videocassette by way of a first tape path assembly within the VCR system;

(e) storing a quantity of the extracted and recorded videotape in the videotape storage compartment;

(f) extracting a quantity of the portion of the videotape stored in the videotape storage compartment into a second path assembly;

(g) performing any of a set of functions including recording a second broadcast or cable communicated television signal on a portion of the quantity of the videotape extracted from the videotape storage compartment;

playing back the first or second television signal from a portion of the quantity of the videotape extracted from the videotape storage compartment; and

rewinding, pausing, and fast forwarding a portion of the quantity of the videotape extracted from the videotape storage compartment by way of the second tape path assembly at substantially the same time that the first tape path assembly is recording the first television signal; and

(h) returning the videotape from the second tape path assembly to the videocassette,

wherein a time delay, controlled by a user of the VCR system through control of the step of performing any of the set of functions of the videotape, occurs between the step of storing the videotape and the step of performing any of the set of functions of the videotape.

7. The method of claim 76further comprising the steps of :

(a) rewinding the extracted and recorded videotape from the videocassette through the second tape path and into the tape storage compartment;

(b) replaying the first or second television signal from the rewound videotape in the tape storage compartment by way of the second tape path assembly; and

(c) returning the replayed videotape from the second tape path assembly to the videocassette, wherein the step of recording the first or second television signal by way of the first tape path and the step of storing the extracted and recorded videotape in the tape storage compartment may occur substantially simultaneous to the step of rewinding the extracted and recorded videotape through the second tape path and may progress independently thereof.

8. The method of claim 76, further comprising the steps of :

(a) fast forwarding the extracted and recorded videotape from the tape storage compartment, through the second tape path, to the videocassette;

(b) resuming play of the extracted and recorded videotape from the tape storage compartment, through the second tape path, to the videocassette, wherein the step of recording the first or second television signal by way of the first tape path and the step of storing the extracted and recorded videotape in the tape storage compartment may occur substantially simultaneous to the step of fast forwarding the extracted and recorded videotape from the tape storage compartment through the second tape path and may progress independently thereof.

9. A method for near simultaneous recording and multifunction operations of video signal by a recording system comprising:

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first video signal comprises a broadcast television signal.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first video signal comprises a cable communicated television signal.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the second video signal comprises a broadcast television signal.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the second video signal comprises a cable communicated television signal.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the recording media comprises a tape media.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the recording media comprises a removable recording media.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the first video signal is recorded to a first portion of the recording media, and the second video signal is recorded to a second portion of the recording media.

17. A method for providing pass through or capture of continuous streams of information in various formats while providing the appearance of a locally stored stream, comprising:

18. An apparatus to near simultaneous record and to perform multifunction operations of video signal comprising:

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first video signal comprises a broadcast television signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first video signal comprises a cable communicated television signal.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second video signal comprises a broadcast television signal.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second video signal comprises a cable communicated television signal.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the recording media comprises a tape media.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the recording media comprises a removable recording media.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first video signal is recorded to a first portion of the recording media, and the second video signal is recorded to a second portion of the recording media.

26. An apparatus to provide pass through or capture of continuous streams of information in various formats while providing the appearance of a locally stored stream comprising: