Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
12573~3~
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METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING
VIDEO TAPE RECORDER WITH COMPUTER
This invention relates to a method of and a
system for controlling a video tape recorder with a
computer, wherein the video tape recorder is
controlled by the computer and images from both
are displayed on a single display.
Heretofore, inconvenience has sometimes been
encountered because separate displays for a video
image and a computer image have been required in the
use of a video tape particularly for home use, even
though two types of softwares may have been prepared for
the video tape recorder for home use and the computer,
both'of which are`c'ombine'd for associated operation.
For example, there is a video image
program of "intellectual tests" for children. Suppose, for
example in order to find the power of~observation of a child,
i.e., a testee, an image of seven piled-up apples is
shown to the child for 90 sec, and the number
of the apples counted by thechild is inputed into a
computer through a keyboard of the computer. In such
a case, a teacher first searches the aforesaid record
recorded on a video cassette tape by a video
tape recorder set for home use, and, presses a switch
12~73~6
for play back. Subsequently, the teacher, watching
a clock, presses a switch to stop the mechanism at the time
when 90 sec has elapsed. On the other hand, the child as
the testee has had to watch a displayed picture of the
video tape recorder, then to press a numeral 7 by use
of the keyboard of the computer, watching a displayed
pictureon the computer disposed ad~acent the video
tape recorder, and thereafter, confirm the answer
through a display of the computer.- simultaneously,
the teacher has had to calculate how many seconds have
elapsed before the numeral is pressed. Therefore, the
displays must be watched alternately every
time an operation is made. Very complicat-
ed operations are thus required.
The video image involves many
problems, and, when the program continues for
a long period of time, much inconvenience has been
encountered, because, in a video tape recorder set for
home use, The pick up head is out of contact with the
tape during fast forward and rewind, and it is thus
impossible automatically to control the operating modes
of reproduction, halt, fast forward, rewind,
or pause in response to an external signal.
On the other hand, in recent years,
television receivers for home use have become available,
capable of displaying the signal from a computer directly.
With such television receivers, however, the change-
1257;~86
--3--
over between the so-called RGB function and video
image cannot be automatically controlled, but, has to
be manually switched, thus leading to difficulty in
operation.
An object of the present invention is the
provision of a method of and a system for controlling
a video tape recorder with a computer, wherein the
operation mode of a video tape device can automatically be
controlled by a computer and images from both
sets can be displayed on a single display.
To this end, the present disclosure contemplates
a method in which: address data are successively
recorded on a predetermined track of a video tape
loaded in a video tape recorder; the address
data thus recorded in the video tape are read and
address data of a start and an end of a predetermined
image portion are previously stored in the computer;
when the predetermined image portion is selected by the
computer, an operation mode of the video tape
recorder set is controlled in accordance with the
address data of the start and the end of the aforesaid
image portion; and an image from the computerand
an image from the video tape recorder are alternate~
ly or simultaneously displayed on a single display.
The present disclosure also
contemplates to provide a system including: a computer
125~3~3~
--4--
a video tape recorder connected to the computer
through an interface; a display capable of
displaying an image from the video tape recorder
and an image from the computer; an address write-in
circuit for successively recording address data in a
predetermined track of a video tape loaded in the video
tape recorder in response to a command from the
computer; an address read~in circuit for reading
the address data recorded in the video tape in response
to a command from the computer and storing address
data of a start and an end of a predetermined image
portion in the computer; and a relay unit for
controlling an operation mode of the video tape recorder
said computer being of such an arrangement
that the computer controls an operation mode of the
video tape recorder through the relay unit in
accordance with the address data of the start and the
end of the aforesaid predetermined image portion when
the image portion is selected, while having a function
of switching the plcture of the dispIay and causing
the display to alternately or simultaneously
display the image from the computer and the image
from the video tape recorder.
Further, the display may be a cathode-ray
tube (CRT) of a television receiver for home use with
`: a computer signal function; a television CRT for a computer
1~5~86
-5-
(including C~T capable of superimposing a video signal
on a computer signal and capable of displaying even
when the scanning lines are different from each other); or
a system utilizing a superimposing unit, etc.
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing one
em~odiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing details of
the arrangement of Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a device
for recording address data in the video tape recorder
and
Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing another
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIP~ION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In Fig. 1, is a computer 1 such as a micro-
computer, personal computer, or computer terminal (including
a single unit having a microcomputer function, such for
example as a control board mounted thereon with a micro-
computer). A video tape recorder unit 3 for home use, having
a sound duplex channel or sound multi-channel function is
connected to the computer 1 through an interface 2, and a
television receiver 4 having a so-called RGB function, i.e.,
-
-6- 1~5~
capable of displaying a computer signal, is connected to
thecomputer l remotecontrol device 5 for picture switching.
With the above arrangement, when the picture condition of
the television receiver 4 is switched to a television
picture through the remote control device 5 in response
to a command from the computer 1, a television image is
displayed. When switched to a video picture, a video
image from the video tape recorder 3 is displayed, and,
when switched to an RGB picture, an image from the com-
pute~ 1 i5 displayed, all in selective manner.
Furthermore, as shownin Fig. 2, the interface
2 includes: an address write-in circuit 10 for
successively recording address data AD, for example,
data 0 to 65,000, in a second sound channel track, as
a predetermined track, of the video tape loaded
in the video tape recorder 3 in response to an
~ ~e~
address ~riL~-in circuit ll forreading the address
data AD recorded in the video tape in response to an
address read-in command RC from the computer l and
storing a start address data(S address data) and an
end address data (E address data) of an image portion
desired to be watched and listened to in the computer
unit l;and a relay unit 12 for controlling the operation
mode of the video tape recorder 3 through a remote
control device 6 in response to a control command CC
from the computer l and switching the picture of the
~;~57~3~36
,
television receiver 4 through the remote control device
5.
The relay unit 12 comprises a relay
control circuit 13 and a plurality of relays 14 through
21. Relays 14
B through 18 give mode signals M~ to the remote control
device 6 to set the operation mode of the video tape
recorder 3 through the remote control device ~.
Mo~e specifically, the video tape recorder 3 is set
to reproduction mode in response to a mode signal
from the relay 14, to- stop mode in response to a mode
signal from thé relay 15, to fast forward mode in
response~to a signal from the relay 16, to
rewind mode from a signal from the relay 17 and
to pause mode iQ response to a signàl from the
relay 18, respectively. The relay 19
gives a picture control signal to the remote control
d~.vice 5, whereby the television receiver 4 is switched
to any one of a "television picture", "video picture"
and "RGB picture". The relays 20 an~ 21 are
utilized for controlling the drive for an
external motor and the like. Also, in Fig. 2,
designated at 21' are external terminals of
the second sound channel of the video tape recorder
25 3, and at 22 and 22' an external image terminal and
a first sound output channel terminal respectively of the
video tape recorder 3, both of which are connected to
the television receiver 4.
' -8- 125~3~
Operation of this embodiment will now be
described.
First, to record the address data in the
video tape, the tape is loaded in the video
tape recorder 3, and thereafter, the computer 1
is caused to emit an address write-in command WC
The address write-in circuit 10 is thus actuated and
the address data AD generated in the address write-in
circuit are successively recorded in the second sound
channel track of the video tape. As shown in Fig. 3
for example, the video tape recorder 3 may be
connected to the computer l through an interface 7
having only an address data generating circuit, whereby
the address data may be written into the video tape by
the address data generating circuit of the interface 7.
The start address data (S address data)
and the end address data (E address data) of the desired
image portion of the video tape, in which the address
data are recorded, are attached thereto with a title
B the image portion for example, and the title is
previously stored in the computer l.
The television receiver 4 is brought into
the condition of "RGB picture" and the video tape is rewound
to initial position, and the aforesaid question of the
piled up apples, "image of apples" is
9 12573~36
disposed at a position 1/3 from the beginning of the
video tape. If the child presses a key of a question
(1) in the keyboard of the computer 1 as a selective
operation for the question, then, first, the relay 16
is turned ON in response to the control command CC
from the computer 1 in accordance with the computer
program. Thereupon, the video tape recorder 3 is
operated in the fast forward mode through the remote
control device 6 in response to the mode signal MS due
to turn-ON of relay 16. Due to
a difference between the address data of the present
B position read in by the address read-in circuit i~ and
S address data, a time period, during which the video
tape is to be fast forwarded to a position ahead of
S address data, is calculated, and the video~tape
fast forwarded for such time period to the required
position and stopped thereat. The relay 14 is turned
ON in response to the mode command MC from the computer
1, and in response to the mode signal MS due to the turn-
ON of the relay 14, the video tape récorder 3 operates inthe reproduction or play mode by remote control device 6.
During this play the
address read-in circuit 11 is operated in response to
the address read-in command RC from the computer 1
i and the address data AD of the video tape are
-10- 1~573~6
successively read in. When the address data AD
thus read in reach the S address data, the relay 15 is
turned ON in response to the controi command CC from
the computer 1, and, in response to the mode
signal MS due to turn-ON of relay 15, the video
tape recorder 3 is stopped by remote
control device 6. Simultaneously, relay 19 is
turned ON in response to the control command CC from
the computer 1, whereby the picture of the television
receiver 4 is switched to "video picture", by remote
control device 5 in response to turn-ON of relay 19.
Subsequently, the relay 14 is turned ON in response
to a control command CC from the computer 1, whereby,
in response to the signal MS due to turn-ON of
relay 14, the video tape recorder 3 is set again
to play mode by remote control device 6.
If a program of pronouncing "pee" for example at
this time is inserted into the computer 1, then
the start of the "reproduced" image can be made
known.
When the reproduction or play operation is started,
the "image of apples" is displayed on the television
receiver 4 by the external image (signal D) terminal 22
of the video tape recorder 3 and a line connecting
the terminal 22~ Of the first sound output channel
-
(signal E) to the television receiver 4. At this time,
Z573~3~
the address read-in circuit 11 is operated, whereby the
address data AD recorded in the video tape are
successively read in. When the address data AD
reach E address data, the "image of apples" of
the video image comes to an end, whereby the relay 15
is turned ON in response to the control command CC
from the computer 1, and the video tape recorder 3
is stopped through the remote control device 6 in
response to the mode signal MS from turn-ON of relay
15. The forwarding rate during the play
operation is determined so that a time
period for reproduction from S address data to E
address data may be 90 sec for example.
If the inputed answer by the child
through the keyboard of the computer 1, after seeing
the picture on the television receiver
4 is correct, then the relay 17 is turned ON in response
to the control command CC from the computer 1, and,
in response to the mode signal MS due from
turn-ON of relay 17, the video tape recorder 3
is rewound by remote control device 6.
The video tape is rewound to the initial position
and simultaneously, the relay 19 is turned ON, so that
in response to the picture switching signal due to
turn-ON of relay 19, the picture of the television
receiver 4 is changed to the "RGB picture" to
display the image from the computer 1 through
125~386
remote control device 5. The picture thus displays the
computer information showing that the answer is
correct and the time period required for inputing the
answer, for example. On the other hand, if the answer
S is incorrect, the video tape is returned to the position
of S address data and the process described above is
repeated.
W~hen the relay 18 is turned ON
in response to the control command CC from the computer
1 in the course of operation, the video tape
recorder 3 ls issued to pause, ~hen desirable
address data AD is specified by the computer 1, the
video tape may be returned to a position between S
address data and E address data as necessary.
In consequence, in this embodiment,
lS address data AD are previously and successively
stored in the sound channel of thehome video tape
recorder, the so-called RGB function of the television
receiver 4 for home use is utilized to search for a start
and an end of a desired image portionfrom the images
recorded in the video tape, and the address data of the
start and the end are inputedinto the computer 1.
In accordance with a program in the computer
set 1, play back of the video tape
recorder 3 is turned ON by the remote control
device 6 through the relay
unit 12, and the video tape condition is turned
into the image reproducing condition. At this time,
3~3~
-13-
in order to give a priority to the video signal from
the video tape recorder 3, there is no need to
manually switch the remote control device 5 for the
television picture since device 5 can be automatically
switched in accordance with the computer program. Subsequently,
when the video image is reproduced to the position of
E address data and E ~ddress data is sensed by the
computer l, the halt relay 15 is operated to stop
the reproduction from the video tape,
simultaneously, the picture condition of the
receiver 4 is switched to the "RGB picture", by
remote control device 5 in response to the picture
switching signal due to turn-ON of relay l9.
The program of the computer l, such for example as
a plurality of image titles recor-ded on the video tape,
is then displayed, so that the image from the video tape
recorder 3 can be automatically switched to the
image from the computer l to be displayed on the single
television receiver 4.
On the other hand, in the case of the afore-
said questions for children, where softwares for.the
video image and the computer image exchan8e informa-
tion in both directions, the c.~mputer produces the time
12~;7~386
-14-
program so that the forwarding time period of the video
tape recorder 3 can be automatical]y detected, and the
time at which the child, testee, presses
the key forthe correct answer, can be detected. By
virtue of this, no manual labor is required at all, and
questions can be automatically and suçcessively
given out. If the answer is incorrect, the
video tape can return to the S address data position
again (repeat function).
The above-described system
is applicabIe for instance to questions for
motor vehicle driving licenses, national
examinations for medical and dental
practice, licensing and so forth.
It is possible to display both the video
image and the computer program on the single CRT, i.e.,
,.,
alternate displays of the computer signal and the video
signal on one CRT, so that very effectivei, efficient,
teaching results.
Where, for instance, students are to
select a firm for securing a position, video images of
a multiplicity of firms and computer programs are
previously prepared by the school, and further,
if there are produced video images for guidance to
scores of firms classified by industry, forming into
graphic charts the data of the achievements of respective
firms such as the turnover and settlement of accounts,
_ 1s- ~ ~738~
then each of students can select and observe a firm to
his taste. In this case, if a printer or the like is
added thereto, then the data of the firms can be
printed on paper, so that each of students can obtain
~ore information about his selection.
To describe a consumer item, it is possible to
produce an animated "moving catalogue" using the char-
acteristics of video images, without requiring any paper
catalogue.
The scope of applications, can be expanded by
connecting the relay unit with a motor, lamp and
the like to give an advertisement display as a moving
image. As a specific example, from several sorts of
blouses and several sorts of skirts, one blouse and skirt
can be moved from opposite ends to the center and vertically
arranged for "color matching", if a client is not pleased
with the pair, then another blouse and skirt may be moved
and arranged again. When the client is pleased
with the pair, a previously produced video image of a
model wearing the pair may be observed through switching.
In this embodiment, the
image from the computer l and the image from the
video tape recorder 3 are alternately displayed on
the television receiver 4, however, the
computer signal or computer image is overlapped with
~57;~86
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the image recorded on the video tape, and the resultant
image may be simultaneouslY displayed on the television
receiver 4. As shown in Fig. 4 for example, a signal
composing circuit 31 is provided on the interface 2~
and, the computer signal inputed from the computer l
through a relay 32 is joined with the video image signal
inputed from the video tape recorder 3 through the relay
32, so that the resultant composite image signal may be
displayed on the television receiver 4.
In the above emboaiment, a video tape
recorder has been~used, however, a tape
recorder carrying only the sound for various teaching
materia~. and a data recorder or the like can be utilized,
in which address data are recorded in a vacant track of
the cassette tape, if these
recorders are controlled in accordance with the address
data, then the contents of the tape recorders
can be displayed integral]y wi$h the computer image~.
Along with the trend in audio sets in recent years
in which the analogue signal is changed to digital
to obtain sound of better quality, there is a practice
of connecting an analogue/digital converter (for example,
a pulse code modulation (P. C. M.) processor) to home
video tape recorders, whereby music and
the llke are recorded in an image track portion instead
-17- 12573~
of a video image. In this case, when music, not an
image, is recorded by the digital signals in the video
tape, difficulty is encountered in suitably selecting
from a number of pieces of music. The
utilization of the present system makes it
possible to display the tities of "auto program search"
and "end" for operation, so that the selection of a
specific pieces of music can be facilitated
and desired pieces of music can be continuously and
automatically played for listening to
Where the video tape
recorder is utilized such that several types of
programs are recorded (written in) by digital
signals in the image track portion of the video
heretofore, It has been the practice for the same
7~O le
B programs ~e recorded on a cassette tape, a program back-
up machine, etc., or several disks, such
reco,rds being held in reserve. For the "read-out"
i.e., "auto program search", the computer successively
examines and searches the title inserted into the
programs, thus presenting the disadvantage of requiring
much labor. The utilization of the present
system makes it possible to display the titles of data
(index system), so that the "write-in" and "read-in" can
be efficiently and quickly executed. ~
relay circuit for the write-in is additionally provided,
relays of which should make the operations o~ "recording"
125~36
of a remote control device for the video set.
In the above embodiment, the address
data AD has been recorde~ in the second sound channel
track, however, the address data may be recorded in a
track for the address data write-in exclusive use
which is provided separately of the sound channel track
or tracks, or may be recorded in either one or both
of the first and second sound channel tracks, both of
which are not used in a system where the sound is
recorded between the image signals. In any case, the
address data AD may be recorded in a predetermined track
in the tape.
As has been described hereinabove, the present
invention can provide a method of and a system for
controlling a video tape recorder with a computer,
wherein an operation mode of the video tape recorder
is automatically controlled by the computer and
images from the both sets can be displayed on a single
display.
