Three-stage menu processing for digital disc recorder

• US 7,127,149 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2000
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Lin, Shu
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): ATALA, JAMIE JO
• Application Number:
  US10/129,859
• Time in Patent Office: 2,185 Days
• Field of Search: 386/45, 386125-126, 386/111, 386/46, 386/95, 386/96, 715/840, 715/846, 715/765, 715/762, 715/813, 725/32, 717/100
• US Class Current: 386/329
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8063 using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 the additional signal being at least another television signal

Abstract

A method for real time generation of menus in a DVD recorder. The method includes the steps of providing a template menu having one or more dummy buttons, activating a marking command during a video data recording session, and in response to the marking command, modifying the template menu by assigning to the dummy button a valid flow control command for accessing the video data which has been recorded.

Claims

1. A method for real time generation of menus in a DVD recorder comprising the steps of:

providing a template menu having at least one dummy button;

activating a marking command during a video data recording session; and

responsive to said marking command, modifying said template menu by assigning to said dummy button a valid flow control command for accessing said video data which has been recorded at a time corresponding to said activating step.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of storing said

template menu on said DVD prior to said recording session.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of controlling a display parameter of said dummy button responsive to said marking command to make said dummy button visible.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising configuring said template menu with a selected number of dummy buttons responsive to a user input.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of modifying said template menu after said video data recording session.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein at least one of a button language, button appearance, button text, menu name and menu background is modified.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein said modifying step comprises changing the appearance of a button to a thumb-nail image.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein said thumb-nail image is a scene determined by said video data recorded during said session.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein said modifying step comprises deleting a button.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a second template menu accessible from said first template menu if additional buttons are needed.

12. The system according to claim 10 further comprising means for storing said

template menu on said DVD prior to said recording session.

13. The system according to claim 10 further comprising means for controlling a display parameter of said dummy button responsive to said marking command to make said dummy button visible.

14. The system according to claim 10 further comprising means for configuring said template menu with a selected number of dummy buttons responsive to a user input.

15. The system according to claim 10 further comprising means for modifying said template menu after said video data recording session.

16. The system according to claim 14 wherein at least one of a button language, button appearance, button text, menu name and menu background is modified.

17. The system according to claim 14 wherein said modifying step comprises changing the appearance of a button to a thumb-nail image.

18. The system according to claim 16 wherein said thumb-nail image is a scene determined by said video data recorded during said session.

19. The system according to claim 17 wherein said modifying step comprises deleting a button.

11. A system for real time generation of menus in a DVD recorder comprising:

means for providing a template menu having at least one dummy button;

means for activating a marking command during a video data recording session; and

means responsive to said marking command, for modifying said template menu by assigning to said dummy button a valid flow control command for accessing said video data which has been recorded at a time corresponding to said activating step.

20. The system according to claim 11 further comprising means for automatically providing a second template menu if additional buttons are needed.