Time-keeping system and method for synchronizing independent recordings of a live performance in post-recording editing

• US 5,479,351 A
• Filed: 12/23/1994
• Issued: 12/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Sprague, David S., Woo, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wieland, Susan
• Application Number:
  US08/363,681
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 364/443, 364/449, 364/459, 364/424.04, 364/514, 342/357, 342/457, 73/178 R, 358/452, 358/335, 358/149, 354/106, 352/6, 352/7, 352/8, 352/4, 352/10, 352/11, 352/12, 340/825, 348/515
• US Class Current: 701/215
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3036 Time code signal

Abstract

A GPS receiver comprises a data output port for communicating time code information formatted according to standards published by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineer (SMPTE). Such time code information is input to independent sound, film and video recorders at a performance event to create tracks on each recording for re-synchronizing the pictures and sounds in post-performance editing.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing sound and picture recordings from a plurality of independent continuous recording devices at a common event, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving navigation satellite signals at a first location proximate to a first continuous recording device with a first navigation satellite receiver at a common event;

deriving from said navigation satellite signals a first date and time code information with said first navigation satellite receiver; and

tagging a first continuous recording generated by said first continuous recording device with said date and time code information at one of a motion picture video frame repetition rate.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving navigation satellite signals at a second location proximate to a second continuous recording device with a second navigation satellite receiver at said common event;

deriving a second date and time code information with said second navigation satellite receiver wherein said received navigation satellite signals from said second navigation satellite receiver have a common time base with said received navigation satellite signals from said first navigation satellite receiver; and

tagging a second continuous recording generated by said second continuous recording device with said date and time code information at said motion picture or video frame repetition rate, wherein said first and second recordings have corresponding date and time code information for portions of their respective continuous recordings that coincided in their original time of recording.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

combining said first and second continuous recordings according to a synchronization between said first and second date and time code information; and

generating a third recording from date and time synchronized portions of said first and second recordings, wherein said third recording presents an apparently time-seamless blend of said common event from a plurality of viewpoints.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the combining and generating are done in real-time with said common event such that said third recording is delayed from said common event by an insubstantial amount of time.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the combining and generating are done post said common event such that said third recording is independent of the time of said common event.

6. A master clock for film and video production equipment, comprising:

a navigation satellite receiver for receiving signals from a constellation of navigation satellites with atomic clocks having system-wide synchronization and with digital signal processing (DSP) means for accumulating and averaging code epochs which occur each millisecond in time providing for a precision time-base output; and

time-period-to-frequency conversion means connected to said precision time-base output and having a precision clock output for synchronizing film and video equipment at frame repetition rate intervals.

7. A video sync-generator for stable frame reference control, comprising:

a navigation satellite receiver for receiving signals from a constellation of navigation satellites with atomic clocks having system-wide synchronization and with digital signal processing means for accumulating and averaging code epochs which occur each millisecond in time providing for a precision time-base output;

processing means for deciphering date and time information broadcast over said orbiting navigation satellite transmissions; and

video sync-generator output means connected to the navigation satellite receiver and the processing means providing for a stable frame reference control output signal to drive video cameras and recorders at frame repetition rate intervals.

8. A time-keeping system for synchronizing sound and picture recordings from a plurality of independent recording devices at a shared performance, comprising:

a first navigation satellite receiver with digital signal processing (DSP) means for deciphering a date and time-of-day information broadcast by a constellation of orbiting navigation satellite having atomic clocks synchronized system-wide time, and time code output generation means connected to the DSP for formatting a first continuous output of digital time codes corresponding to said synchronized system-wide time; and

first continuous recording means connected to the first navigation satellite receiver for recording said first continuous output of formatted digital time codes on a first continuous recording medium of at least one of movie film, video tape and audio tape.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a second navigation satellite receiver with digital signal processing (DSP) means for independently deciphering and estimating said synchronized system-wide time, and time code output generation means connected to the DSP for formatting a second continuous output of digital time codes corresponding to said synchronized system-wide time; and

second continuous recording means connected to the second navigation satellite receiver for recording said second continuous output of formatted digital time codes on a second continuous recording medium of at least one of movie film, video tape and audio tape, wherein portions of said first and second continuous recording mediums that coincided in their original recording times have corresponding portions of said first and second continuous outputs formatted.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

editing means connected to the first and second recording means for combining said first and second recording mediums according to said recorded formatted digital time codes to create a time-synchronized composite recording.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

second recording means located proximate to and connected to the first navigation satellite receiver for recording said formatted digital time codes on at least one of movie film, video tape and audio tape.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

second recording means located proximate to and connected to the first navigation satellite receiver for recording said formatted digital time codes on at least one of movie film, video tape and audio tape; and

editing means connected to the first and second recording means for combining respective recordings of each according to said recorded formatted digital time codes to create a time-synchronized composite recording.