Video transcript retriever

• US 5,172,281 A
• Filed: 12/17/1990
• Issued: 12/15/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Legal Process II Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Legal Process II Incorporated
• Inventors: Thompson, Kevin W., Ardis, Patrick M., Markovich, Marko R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US07/628,082
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 360/13-14.3, 360/33.1, 360/72.1-72.3, 395/600, 395/425, 395/144, 395/145, 364/409, 364/419, 369/14, 369/15, 358/335
• US Class Current: 360/72.2
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/005 Programmed access in sequence to indexed parts of tracks of operating tapes, by driving or guiding the tape access by driving of both record carrier and head G11B15/1816; see prov. also G11B15/602
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/028 with computer assistance
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence

Abstract

A video transcript retriever includes a control unit, a control interface, a tape unit and a display unit. The control unit includes a control computer having a software package consisting of control software, text software and edit software. The control software has the capacity to permit simultaneous operation of both the test software, which is capable of storing and searching voluminous documents, and the edit software, which has the capacity to operate the tape unit with precision. The text software is capable of performing a search function that at any time can provide the exact location of a specific passage within the searched document in terms of page and line. The edit software has the capacity to provide at any time the timecode number pre-recorded on the videotape that corresponds to a specific passage. The process for locating and retrieving specific information on a videotape includes the steps of striping the videotape by assigning a numerical address for every one-thirtieth (1/30) of a second segment of the videotape; indexing the words written in a computer transcript to the words spoken on the videotape by assigning a timecode number to both the computer transcript and the videotape segment where each question/answer passage begins; and instructing the tape unit to shuttle to a precise tape location determined by the timecode numerical address located during the search of the computer transcript.

Claims

1. A system for indexing written and video records of a deposition comprising:

a control unit having a control computer including a software package consisting of a text software having the capacity to store and search documents, an edit software having the capacity to operate a tape unit with precision, and a control software having the capacity to control said system and permit the simultaneous operation of said text software and said edit software;

a videotape having video and audio information thereon;

a document consisting of said audio information in a written record format stored in said test software;

a control interface connected to said control unit to receive signals from said control unit and pass signals to a tape unit;

a tape unit having said videotape thereon and connected to said control interface to receive signals therefrom;

a numerical timecode address assigned to said videotape for every 1/30 of a second segment of said videotape;

an identical numerical timecode address assigned to each audio information segment in said document corresponding to the identical audio information segment on said videotape; and

a display unit connected to receive signals from said control unit and from said tape unit for selectively displaying the audio and video information at any numerical address on said videotape.

2. A process for indexing each question and answer segment on a videotape deposition to each corresponding question and answer segment on a written record document of said deposition comprising:

listening to the audio information on said videotape while simultaneously reading a written record of said deposition;

marking the beginning of each question and answer segment of said deposition on said videotape with a numerical timecode address;

sending said timecode addresses which identify the beginning of each question and answer segment on said videotape through a control interface to a control unit; and

placing at the beginning of each question and answer segment of said written record of said disposition an identical numerical timecode address corresponding to the numerical timecode address previously assigned to each question and answer segment appearing on said videotape by means of a command generated in said control unit and passing through said control interface.

3. A process for retrieving and displaying video and audio information on a videotape comprising the steps of:

providing a written record document of the spoken words appearing on said videotape in question and answer segments;

indexing the words written in said record to the identical words spoken on said videotape by assigning a timecode numerical address for each question and answer segment on said written record corresponding to the identical question and answer segment on said videotape;

searching said written record to locate a specific word passage and the timecode numerical address assigned thereto;

instructing a tape unit to shuttle said videotape to the precise tape location as determined by the timecode numerical address located in said written record; and

displaying the information on said videotape located at said timecode numerical address.