Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TIME-SHIFTING APPARATUS AND AUTO-EDIT SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
The present inventions) described herein pertain to a method and time shifting
event
recorder apparatus for pausing the display of a received time sequential
signal. More
particularly, the present inventions) pertains to a time shifting event
recorder capable of
arbitrarily pausing the display of, for example, a television program so as to
be effective in
time shifting the viewing of the program.
The present inventions) described herein also pertains to an auto-editing
device, and
more particularly, to an auto-editing device for use with a video recording
camera and a video
recorder.
Ever since events have been transmitted to and received by devices, such as
radios and
televisions, people have desired to be able to pause the display of ,the
continuous event at
selectable periods. Consider the example of a program being watched on a
television and a
viewer leaves the room to attend to a phone call. In this case, the display of
the program would
preferably be interrupted so that the viewer does not miss any of it. Upon
returning, it is
desirable to be able to resume viewing or listening to the transmitted event
from the point at
which the viewer left the room.
Also, when watching television, very often the viewer would like to return to
a previous
period in the continuously transmitted event to review that interval again.
This is
conventionally possible using a recording, such as a video tape of the event.
In this case, the
user is able to pause the video tape at any desired time. Then, at any future
time the viewer can
begin playing the tape again and watch the recorded event starting from the
point of time on
the tape at which its play back was stopped. Or, if something of interest
occurs during the
viewing of the recorded event, the viewer can rewind the video tape and watch
that interval over
and over again. After watching this interesting interval, the viewer can allow
the tape to
continually play to watch the rest of the event.
However, there is no prior art device or method that allows a user to pause
the display
of a television show and then return to the point of departure at any time,
with the time and the
duration of the pause being determined at the user's command.
The Internet has recently exploded in popularity. Computer users are getting
on-line
to search for and download their choice of information from the large amount
of information
intent already available. Business have realized the commercial prospects of
having an on
line presence, and often provide their world wide web site address in print,
radio and television
advertisements. A computer user with a modem can get on-line and access the
business' web
site to obtain more information about a particular product that the user is
interested in. This
form of advertisement will most likely become more and more common as Internet
use
increases. However, the user must memorize or write down the advertiser's web
site address, or
perform a sometimes labor and time intensive on-line search to find the web
site. If a television
viewer wishes to access the advertiser's web site for more information, then
he or she must wait
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until after the program has aired if it is desired to watch the whole program.
Therefore, there is
a need for a time shifting event recorder that allows a viewer to temporarily
pause a program,
access a computer network such as the Internet, and then resume viewing the
program without
missing any of it.
The accepted wisdom in the art is that a video cassette recorder can be used
to make a
recording of a television show so that the show can be later watched by a
viewer in an
asynchronous manner, that is, with pauses and replays determined according to
the desires of
the viewer.
In accordance with the teachings of the prior art, a dual deck recorder can be
used to
make copies of prerecorded tapes, or possibly record two different shows at
once (if two
channels can be tuned in), or possibly watch one prerecorded show while taping
another.
There is no prior reference that enables a television program to be viewed at
a pace
dictated by the viewer, even through the television program continues to be
aired. No prior
device allows a viewer to watch a broadcast television program during the
broadcast as if it were
a prerecorded tape.
On another front, the use of a video camera for recording events has become
widespread. Particularly, a video camera is pervasively used in the news-
gathering field to
capture images of real time events for later display and broadcast. Also, due
to the advent of
the home video player and video camcorder, the general public now records
personal events
using hand-held video cameras. A video camera uses a magnetic tape to store
the images of an
event for later display. New video cameras are being developed that store the
recorded video
image as digital information.
Typically, when filming an event a conventional video camera is set to record
during
durations of time that not only capture a desired portion of an event, or
interesting occurrence,
but which also record periods of superfluous and uninteresting footage. Since
an event or
interesting occurrence will often happen at times which are entirely
unpredictable, to capture
the desired unpredictable event the video camera must continuously record the
superfluous
footage, or risk the chance of not capturing the desired event.
In order to concentrate and make an interesting final product, extensive
editing is
usually required. Typically, this editing requires post-recording viewing of
the entire video
tape during which time interesting moments captured on the tape are
transferred to another
video tape, while leaving out the uninteresting or undesired recorded
portions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
The inventions described herein is intended to overcome the drawbacks of the
conventional art. In accordance with the present inventions) a time shifting
event recorder is
provided capable of recording portions of a time sequential signal
representing an event so that
a representation of the event can be produced in a time shifted manner.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention(s), an automatic
editing
device is provided for use with audio and/or video equipment, which is capable
of "live" editing
of an event as it is being recorded. Such an automatic editing device can
utilize the play back
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capabilities of the inventive time shifting event recorder to generate a video
tape containing a
recorded event that has been automatically edited.
In accordance with the present invention(s), a mufti-featured mufti-media
appliance can
be provided that includes at least one of:
(a) a recording device for pausing the display of a received time sequential
signal on a
displaying device, the recording device including recording means for
recording a first
recorded portion of a received time sequential signal and for recording a
second recorded
portion of the received time sequential signal, the second recorded portion
being a different
part of the received time sequential signal than the first recorded portion of
the received time
sequentiat signal; input receiving means for receiving a pause display command
and a resume
display command; determining means for determining the beginning of the first
recorded
portion; playing back means for playing back the first recorded portion and
the second
recorded portion; and controlling means for controlling the determining means
to determine
the beginning of the first recorded portion depending on the pause display
command, the
controlling means for controlling the recording means so that the first
recorded portion is
recorded depending on the pause display command, the controlling means for
controlling the
playing back means so that the first recorded portion is played back depending
on the
determining of the beginning portion by the determining means and depending on
the resume
display command, and for controlling the recording means so that at last a
part of the second
recorded portion of the different part of the received time sequential signal
is automatically
recorded simultaneously while at least a part of the first recorded portion of
the received time
sequential is being played back;
(b) an auto-editing system for use with an auto-editing device capable of
recording an
event on a recording medium, the auto-editing device generating a recorded
event having a
start-record signal recorded corresponding with at least one at least one edit-
record interval
corresponding to a respective selected portion of the recorded event, the auto-
editing system
comprising signal detecting means for detecting during an edit-recording
operation each said
start-record signal from the recording medium, controlling means for
controlling recording
means during the edit-recording operation so that a record operation to record
an edited
version of the recorded event dependent on each said detected start-record
signal to record a
copy of the recorded event having each said selected edit-record interval;
(c) a processor operated in accordance with an algorithm for restricting
reception of a
file from a computer network by a user's computer comprising the steps of
storing file
blocking information, requesting a file rating of a file from a computer
network, receiving the
file rating from the computer network, comparing the file rating with the file
blocking
information, if the file rating does not equal the fife blocking information,
then requesting and
receiving the file from the computer network, and if the file rating equals
the file blocking
information, then restricting reception of the file; and
(d) a processor operated in accordance with an algorithm for control the
recording of a
television program via received data instructions, comprising the steps of
providing access to a
computer network source of program information and data instructions,
providing for the
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selection of a television program to record from the received program
information, receiving
data instructions from the computer network source depending on the selected
television
program, storing the data instructions, determining when to record the
selected television
program depending on the stored data instructions, controlling a recording
apparatus to record
the selected television program depending on the stored data instructions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE' DRAWINGS:
Figure 1(a) is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the time shifting
event
recorder in accordance with the present invention(s);
Figure 1 (b) is a block diagram showing in more detail an embodiment of the
time
shifting event recorder in accordance with the present invention(s);
Figure 2 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the inventive time
shifting event
recorder;
Figure 3(a) is a perspective view of an embodiment in accordance with another
aspect
of the present inventions) for playing synchronized recordings and for
producing an
automatically edited version of a recorded event;
Figure 3(b) is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present inventions)
shown
in Figure 3(a), showing user definable perspectives of the synchronized
recordings played
simultaneously on a monitor;
Figure 3(c) is a block diagram of components of the embodiment of the
invention
shown in Figure 3{a);
Figure 4(a) is a block diagram of an inventive automatic edit event recording
system;
Figure 4(b) is a block diagram of an inventive automatic edit play back and
edited-
recording system;
Figure 4(c) is a block diagram of an inventive automatic edit event recording
system
having a manual control button foi- selecting a beginning time of an edit-
record interval;
Figure 4{d) is a graphic illustration showing an example of a time
relationship of an
inventive automatic editing operation with manual beginning time selection;
Figure 4(e) is a flow diagram of an automatic edit event recording operation
in
accordance with the time relationships shown in Figure 4(d);
Figure 4(f) is a flow diagram of an automatic edit play back and edited-
recording
operation in accordance with the time relationships shown in Figure 4(d);
Figure 4(g) is a graphic illustration showing an example of a time
relationship of an
inventive automatic editing operation with manual beginning time selection;
Figure 4(h) is a flow diagram of an automatic edit event recording operation
in
accordance with the time relationships shown in Figure 4(g);
Figure 4(i) is a flow diagram of an automatic edit play back and edited-
recording
operation in accordance with the time relationships shown in Figure 4(g);
Figure 4(~) is a flow chart illustrating the operation of recording an edited
version from
an auto-edit signal encoded master tape;
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Figure 4(k) is a flow chart illustrating the operation of recording an analog
edited
version from an analog auto-edit signal encoded master tape wherein a digital
recording
medium is used to temporally store the edited version tape;
Figure 5 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the components of a
multi-
featured multi-media appliance in accordance with the present invention(s);
Figure 6(a) is a drawing showing a configuration of reading/writing heads of
recording means associated with a same recordable disk recording medium;
Figure 6(b) is another configuration of reading/writing heads of recording
means
associated with a same recordable disk recording medium;
Figure 7(a) shows a block diagram of a configuration of the inventive time
shifting
event recorder wherein an electronic storage medium is constructed on a video
card for easy
assembly into media appliances and devices;
Figure 7(b) shows a block diagram of a configuration of the inventive time
shifting
event recorder for arbitrarily pausing the display of a video signal, such as
a television
program;
Figure 8 shows a flowchart of an algorithm showing the operational steps of
the
configuration of the inventive time shifting event recorder shown in Figure
7(b);
Figure 9 is a flowchart of an algorithm showing the operational steps of a
time shifting
event recorder in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 10 is a flowchart of an algorithm shown the operational steps of a time
shifting
event recorder used to enhance the performance of a pay-per-view system;
Figure 11 (a) is a timing chart of the prior art reception and recording of a
faster-than-
real-time compressed file containing a pay-per-view movie, and the subsequent
viewing of the
movie;
Figure 1 1 (b) is a timing chart of the reception and recording of a faster-
than-real-time
compressed file containing a pay-per-view movie, and the simultaneous viewing
of the movie;
and
Figure 11 (c) is a timing chart similar to Figure 11 (b) with a high
compression rate for
the compressed file.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
A conventional television set allows a viewer to decide what to watch, but not
when to
watch it. Each television program is broadcasted from a television station,
beamed via satellite,
and/or carried over a cable, to each receiving television set in a synchronous
manner. Stated
otherwise, each television set that is tuned to a particular channel receives
the same television
program starting and ending at the same times. Those who wish to view a
program must
synchronize their schedules with the time of the program broadcast. Video tape
recorders have
become very popular devices because they let a viewer watch a program
asynchronously, but
only after the program has bean aired. That is, a viewer can watch the
recorded program at
any time he or she desires. A VCR can be programmed to record a certain
channel at a certain
time to record a program. A viewer can then view the program at a later time
by replaying the
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recorded VCR tape. However, a viewer still must wait until the entire program
has been
received and recorded before viewing the play back from the VCR tape.
A video signal contains a large amount of information, and thus requires a
recording
scheme with a large storage capacity Eo record, for example, a television
program in its entirety
(as can be done using a conventional VCR). Recently developed video
compression
technology (such as MPEG) and recording media (such as high capacity disk
drives, Jazz drive
from Iomega and the like) now enables a useful amount of video information to
recorded in a
random access manner. This recent technology includes other formats of video
compression,
as well as recordable compact disks, digital video disks, magneto-optical
disks, phase change
optical disks, and the like. Companies such as Sony, Hitachi and 3M are
increasing the storage
capacity of magneto-optical disks, and Matsushita is making advances in phase
change storage
technology. This newly developed technology enables storage of Large amounts
of video
information, and can be used to enable the recording and playback features of
the inventive
device. Further advances in the speed and storage capacity of recordable media
are expected,
which could also be advantageously utilized by the present inventions}.
In accordance with the present invention(s), a viewer can pause the display
of, for
example a television program, at any time and for any length of time (limited
by the recording
capacity of the recording media). The pause can take place while the program
is being aired,
and the viewer can return to viewing the program from the point where the
pause began, even
while the program continues to be received. During the pause the viewer may
replay a
previously recorded portion of the, program, fast forward through a recorded
portion, simply
take a break from viewing and/or switch to another channel. Also, the present
invention{s)
allows a viewer to pause the display of a program and switch to another media
system, such as
an Internet connection. The viewer can access information from the Internet
computer
network while pausing the display of a television program.
As an example of this application for the present invention(s), the time
sequential
signal that carries a television program usually includes commercial messages.
The
commercial message may include information regarding an advertiser's world
wide web site, or
other computer network 'address. The address may be included as information
contained in
the video vertical blanking interval (a portion of the video signal that is
received during a time
when the video display scanning returns to the top of the screen). This
address information
can be accessed so that a viewer can access the advertisers computer network
location for more
information on a particular product that is described in the commercial
message. The viewing
of the program can be time shifted. while the viewer accesses the advertiser's
computer network
site. Once the viewer has reviewed the computer network site, he can return to
the television
program without missing any of it.
The present inventions) described herein facilitates the convergence of a bulk
information transfer medium (television) and a personalized, nearly unlimited
source of
substantive information (the Internet) by allowing access to on-line content
during the user-
determined pause. Relevant on-line content can be linked to the program via
information
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embedded in the television signal, or, on-line content can provide a link to a
related broadcast,
cable or video-on-demand television program.
Referring to Figure I (a), an embodiment of the inventive time shifting event
recorder
will be described. Receiving means 12 receives a time sequential signal
representing an event.
The time sequential signal may be transmitted as packets of compressed video
and audio
information. Each packet may not necessarily be received in the correct
chronological order.
For example, the received packets can be received and recorded out of the
correct viewing
sequence, with a later-viewed portion of the program being received and
recorded prior to an
earlier-viewed portion. Then, the program is reconstructed by replaying the
video and audio
information of the stored packets in the correct chronological order so that
the earlier-viewed
portion is played before the later-viewed portion.
In accordance with the present invention(s), a first recording means 14
records in a first
recording medium 16 at least one selected portion of the time sequential
signal. In other
words, if the viewer of a television program were to leave the room, the first
recording means
14 is activated to record that selected portion of the time sequential signal
received during the
viewer's absence. Upon returning, the viewer activates the playing-back means
18 to retrieve at
the selectable interval (the viewer's return), the recorded selected portion
of the time sequential
signal recorded in the first recording medium 16 during the viewer's absence.
The ptaying-
back means 18 produces a play back signal from this recorded time sequential
signal portion
so that the viewer can view the television program where he or she left off.
While the viewer is
viewing the time shifted. portion of the television program, a second
recording means 20
records in a second recording medium 22 another selected portion of the time
sequential
signal. In other words. since the television program continues on time
sequentially, while the
viewer is viewing the first recorded portion recorded in the first recording
medium 16, the
second recording means 20 continues recording the time sequential signal at
the point at which
the recording by the first recording means 14 is stopped so that the signal
can be played back.
After the time sequential signal recorded by the first recording means 14 has
been
played back {so that the viewer is able to view that portion of the television
program that was
aired in his absence), the playing-back means I8 retrieves the portion of the
time sequential
signal recorded by the second recording means 20 so that it may be played
back. Thus, the
continuous time sequential signal representing the event (the television
program) is time shifted
and the viewer views the program continuously upon returning, starting from
the point in time
at which the viewer first stopped viewing the program.
Controlling means 24 controls the first and second recording means 14,20 to
record
the respective selected portions of the time sequential signal. The
controlling means 24 also
controls the playing-back means 18 to retrieve at the selectable intervals the
respective selected
portions of the time sequential signal, so that the play back signal can be
generated and a
representation of the event can be produced in a time shifted manner. The time
sequential
signal can be a video signal or an audio signal. The recording media can be a
magnetic tape, a
magnetic disk, an electronic memory circuit (such as an EPROM, or other
electronic storage
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device) an optically recordable disk recording medium, or any recording medium
now known
or later developed suitable for the intended purposes described herein.
Figures I (a) and 1 (b) show an inventive recording device for pausing the
display of a
received time sequential signal (TSS) on a displaying device, such as a
television, computer
monitor, or radio. Fn accordance with the present inventions) recording means
14 is provided
for recording a first recorded portion of a received time sequential signal.
The recording
means 14 also records a second recorded portion of the received time
sequential signal. Input
receiving means 32 is provided for inputting a pause display command and a
resume display
command. The pause display command and the resume display command are
instructions
received from the viewer (via a remote control, voice activation mechanism,
computer
keyboard, or mouse, for example) to allow the control of the viewing of, for
example, a
television program depending on the viewer's preference.
Determining means 23 is provided for determining a beginning of the first
recorded
portion. The determining means 23 includes a start-recording value setting
means 25 for
setting a start-recording value. As will be described in more detail below,
the start-recording
value is utilized for determining where on the recording medium the beginning
of a recorded
portion of the time sequential signal is physically (or electronically)
located. For example, the
start-recording value may be a counter value that corresponds to where on a
VCR tape or other
magnetic recording tape the beginning of a recorded portion of the time
sequential signal is
Located. The counter may be an electronic digital counter that provides a
counter value signal
which can be stored in a memory device, such as a RAM. Each counter value
signal
corresponds to a segment of the length of the VCR tape.
The counter of the VCR does not necessarily have to be used to provided the
counter
value. For example, The microprocessor clock can be used to count the time
that a segment is
recorded. A factor is determined that depends on the time it takes to rewind a
given number of
seconds of recorded tape by determining how long it takes far a given unit of
VCR tape
containing the given numbers of seconds to be rewound during the rewind
operation. To get
back to the beginning of a recorded portion, the time of the recorded segment
is determined
and this time is multiplied by the determined factor. The VCR is then
controlled to rewind the
video tape by the amount needed to return it to the start of the recorded
segment.
Playing-back means 18 is provided for playing back the recorded portions of
the time
sequential signal (i.e., the first recorded portion and the second recorded
portion). Controlling
means 24 controls the determining means 23 to determine the beginning of the
first recorded
portion depending on the pause display command. The controlling means 24 may
thus
control the start-recording value setting means 25 depending on and in
response to the
received pause display command. When the pause display command is received,
the start-
recording value setting means 25 sets the start-recording value so that after
the portion of the
time sequential signal has been recorded its beginning can be located.
The controlling means 24 also controls the recording means 14 so that the
first
recorded portion is recorded depending on the pause display command. Once the
first
recorded portion of the time sequential signal has been recorded and the
viewer wishes to
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begin viewing the program again, the controlling means 24 controls the playing-
back means
I8 so that the first recorded portion is played back depending on the start-
recording value, and
depending on and in response to the resume display command. The controlling
means 24 also
controls the recording means 14 so that the second recorded portion is
recorded while the first
recorded portion is being played back.
In accordance with the present invention(s), the recording means 14 comprises
at least
one of a magnetic recording tape, a magnetic recording disk, an optical
recording disk, an
electronic recording circuit, and a recording medium. The recording medium may
be, for
example, a magnetic recording medium, an optical recording medium, a
holographic
recording medium, or an electronic recording medium. In the case of an
electronic recording
medium, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) may be used. An example of such
a
DRAM is to be produced by NEC~Corporation of Japan. NEC Corp. has prototyped a
DRAM
chip that can store more than 4 billion bits of information, enough to hold
more than half an-
hour of full-motion video. Compression techniques, such as MPEG, may be
employed to store
a greater amount of video on such a chip. In accordance with the present
invention(s), a single
DRAM may be used as both the first and the second recording mediums 16,22 if
it is capable
of simultaneously recording and playing back information. Alternatively, two
or more
DRAMS can be utilized as the respective first, second (and if desired third,
and so on)
recording mediums. In any event, the operation of the recording and playing
back of the
received time sequential signal will be controlled as described herein to
enable a viewer to
arbitrarily pause the display of, for example, a received television program,
and then later
return to the viewing of the program without missing any of it and even while
the rest of the
program continues to be received. The DRAM may be used as a buffer memory to
store a
portion of the time sequential signal to allow a non-random access recording
medium, such as
a conventional VCR video tape to be employed as either or both of the first
and the second
recording mediums 16,22. In place of the DRAM, an other random-accessible data
storage
device can be used, such as a hard drive, removable cartridge drive,
holographic memory, etc.
The use of other recording media, such as optical or magnetic disks,
electronic
memory, tape, etc. may each utilize different mechanisms for determining the
beginning and
ending of the recorded portions of the time sequential signal. The type of
start-recording
value setting means 25 utilized in accordance with the present inventions)
will depend upon
the type of recording means 14 utilized. However, it is important to note that
in accordance
with the present inventions) the recording means 14 utilized may be comprised
of two or
more different types of recording media, such as a VCR tape and an optical
disk. The
inventive recording device can be utilize in conjunction with a VCR tape
recorder so that the
necessary component parts (recording/play back head, motor 45, circuitry) of
the inventive
recorder are reduced while still allowing the unique and useful functionality
of pausing the
display of a time sequential signal on a displaying device 44, such as a
television, depending on
the viewer's preference. The start-recording value comprises at least one of a
tone signal, a
counter value, file allocation table address, and a location on a recording
medium.
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In accordance with the present invention(s), the determining means 23 may
include
stop-recording value setting means 31 for setting a stop recording value. The
stop-recording
value indicates where the end of each recorded portion of the time sequential
signal is located
on the recording medium. The invention further includes stop-recording value
detecting
means 29 for detecting the stop-recording value. The stop-recording value
setting means 31
may comprise one of a tone signal generator, a counter, a file allocation
address generator, and
a recording medium location address storing means. The stop-recording value
may comprise
at least one of a tone signal, a counter value, a file allocation table
address, and a location on a
recording medium.
Stated otherwise, the inventive apparatus for pausing the display of a
received time
sequential signal includes recording means 14 for recording a first recorded
portion of a
received time sequential signal and for recording a second recorded portion of
the received
time sequential signal. Input receiving means 32 inputs a pause display
command and a
resume display command. Determining means 23 determines the beginning of the
recorded
portion. Playing-back means plays back the first recorded portion and the
second recorded
portion in a time-shifted manner. In accordance with the present invention(s),
controlling
means 24 controls the determining means 23 to determine the beginning of each
recorded
portion depending on the pause display command. When the pause display command
is
received, the determining means 23 makes an indication of the physical or
electronic location
of the beginning of the recorded portion. This indication (start-recording
value) is used for
finding where each recorded portion begins. The physical location of the
beginning of each
recorded portion may be, for example, a segment of a recording tape, or a
sector and/or track
of a recording disk, etc. The electronic location may be an address of a
memory circuit, etc.
The controlling means 24 controls the recording means 14 so that the first
recorded portion is
recorded depending on the pause display command. When the pause display
command is
received, the recording means 14 begins recording a recorded portion of the
time sequential
signal. The controlling means 24 also controls the playing-back means so that
the first
recorded portion is played back depending on the beginning determined by the
determining
means 23 and depending on the resume display command. The controlling means 24
also
controls the recording means 14 so that the second recorded portion is
recorded
simultaneously while the first recorded portion is being played back. The
recording of the
second recorded portion depends on the received resume display command, since
after taking
an initial break when the viewer wishes to resume viewing the program, the
viewer inputs the
resume display command to the controlling means 24 (via remote control, voice
activation
circuitry, keyboard, mouse, or other input device). The first recorded portion
is then played
back, while the second recorded portion of the time sequential signal is
recorded.
In accordance with the present invention(s), the controlling means 24 includes
determining means 23 for determining if the ending of the first recorded
portion has been
played back. As long as the ending of the first recorded portion has not been
played back,
then the controlling the playing-back means continually plays back the first
recorded portion
of the time sequential signal, while simultaneously recording the second
recorded portion of
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time sequential signal. If the ending of the first recorded portion has been
played back, the
controlling means 24 is effective for controlling the recording means 14 for
recording an
ending of the second recorded portion of the time sequential signal on the
first recording
medium 16. Then, the controlling means 24 controls the playing-back means for
playing
back the second recorded portion of the time sequential signal using the
second start-recording
value to determine the beginning of the second recorded portion.
In accordance with the inventive apparatus, the start-recording value setting
means 25
may also be effective in setting a third start-recording value, a fourth start-
recording value and
so on, allowing the viewer to take any number of breaks in the viewing of the
continuously
received time sequential signal by recording third, fourth, etc. recorded
portions that are
played back in a time shifted manner. In accordance with the present
invention(s), time
shifting is defines as allowing a viewer to view a conventionally synchronous
program in an
asynchronous manner.
In the case of a third recorded portion, for example, the recording means 14
records a
beginning of a third recorded portion of the time sequential signal on the
first recording
medium 16. The third recorded portion can be recorded on a third recording
means 14, or the
first and the third recording means 14 can be one in the same. If the first
recorded portion has
already been played back, then the third recorded portion can be recorded over
it, or at least a
portion of the third recorded portion can be recorded on a different location
of the recording
medium holding the first recorded portion. The controlling means 24 controls
the
determining means 23 to be effective for determining if the ending of the
second recording
portion has been played back. If the ending of the second recorded portion has
not been
played back, then the controlling means 24 controls the playing-back means for
continuing
playing back the second recorded portion of the time sequential signal, while
simultaneously
recording the third recorded portion of the time sequential signal. If the
ending of the second
recorded portion has been played back (i.e., the second stop-recording value
is detected) then
the controlling means 24 controls the recording means 14 to record an ending
of the third
recorded portion of the time sequential signal on the first recording medium
16. Then, the
controlling means 24 controls the 'playing-back means to play back the third
recorded portion
of the time sequential signal using the third start-recording value to
determine the beginning of
the third recorded portion, and so on, playing back the recorded portions in
the order that they
were recorded, while allowing the viewer to pause the display, rewind and
review, fast forward,
etc., making viewing of the program asynchronous and under the complete
control of the
viewer.
The determining means 23 further includes stop-recording value setting means
31 for
setting a first stop-recording value for determining the ending of the first
recorded portion. In
this case, the determining means 23 includes means for determining if the
ending of the first
recorded portion has been played back by detecting the first stop-recording
value.
In accordance with the inventive apparatus, the determining means 23 includes
means for
determining if the ending of the first recorded portion has been played back.
If the ending of
the first recorded portion has not been played back, then the controlling
means 24 controls the
I1
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determining means 23 to determine if a viewer selected function is received.
The viewer
selected function may be, for example, rewinding, fast forward, stop, etc.
If the viewer selected function is received, then the function is performed
while
simultaneously continuing to record the second recorded portion (or the next
recorded portion
from the recorded portion that is being played back} of the time sequential
signal. If the
viewer selected function instruction is not received, then the controlling
means 24 controls the
playing-back means to continue playing back the first recorded portion of the
time sequential
signal, while the recording means .14 simultaneously continues to record the
second recorded
portion of the time sequential signal. The viewer can arbitrarily choose to
review a portion of
the program that has already been viewed by rewinding or otherwise returning
the play back
from the recording medium to that portion of the program and letting it play
again. While
the rewinding and replaying of the recorded portion is taking place, the
program (which
continues to be aired) is simultaneously and continuously recorded on, for
example, the
second recording medium 22 so that the viewer does not miss any of the
program. Further the
viewer can fast forward through commercials, or the commercials may be blanked
out by
detecting the information of the vertical blanking interval from the video
signal.
If the ending of the first recorded portion has been played-back, then the
controlling
means 24 controls the recording means 14 to record an ending of the second
recorded portion
of the time sequential signal on the second recording medium 22. Then, the
controlling means
24 controls the playing-back means to play back the second recorded portion of
the time
sequential signal using the second start-recording signal value, in a manner
similar to the
playing back of the first recorded portion.
As shown in Figure i (b), the controlling means 24 may include a
microprocessor that
is preset to control the performance of the operations of the inventive method
as described
herein. Recording means 14 records a recorded portions (first recorded
portion, second
recorded portion, and so on) of a received time sequential signal. The
recording means 14
includes a recording/playback head 21 to magnetically record the received
portion of the time
sequential signal on a recording medium, such as a VCR tape. The recording
means 14 also
includes a motor 45 for advancing the recording medium during the recording
process. The
controlling means 24 controls the recording means 14 by appropriately
actuating record
switches 39 that activate the recording/play back head 21 and the motor 45 to
effect the
recording process. In the configuration shown in Figure I (b), the recording
means 14 is
effective for recording on a first recording medium 16 and on a second
recording medium 22,
although, as described herein one or more recording media may be utilized,
depending on the
configuration of the inventive recording apparatus.
Input receiving means 32 are provided for inputting a pause display command
and a
resume display command. The input receiving means 32 allows the viewer to
asynchronously
determine the viewing of the received program, and allows the viewer to input
selected
functions, such as rewind, fast forvyard, stop, play, pause, etc. Determining
means 23
determines the beginning of the each recorded portion, and playing back means
18 for plays
back the recorded portions of the time sequential signal. The determining
means 23 includes
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start-recording value setting means 25 for setting a start-recording value,
and start-recording
value detecting means 27 for detecting the set start-recording value. The
determining means
23 may also include stop-recording value setting means 25 for setting a stop-
recording value
and stop-recording value detecting means 29 for detecting the stop-recording
value.
The playing back means 18 includes the recording/playback head and the motor
45
for advancing the recording medium during the playing back process. The
controlling means
24 controls the playing back means 18 by appropriately actuating play switches
41 that
activate the recording/play back head 21 and the motor 45 to effect the
playing back process.
In the configuration shown in Figure I (b), the playing back means 18 is
effective for playing
back recorded portions from a first recording medium I6 and from a second
recording
medium 22, although, as described herein one or more recording media may be
utilized,
depending on the configuration of the inventive recording apparatus.
The controlling means 24 controls the determining means 23 to determine the
beginning of the first recorded portion depending on the pause display
command. The
controlling means 24 also controls the recording means i4 so that the first
recorded portion is
recorded depending on the pause display command. The controlling means 24
further
controls the playing back means 18 so that the first recorded portion is
played back depending
on the determining of the beginning portion by the determining means 23 and
depending on
the resume display command. In addition, the controlling means 24 controls the
recording
means i4 so that the second recorded portion is recorded while the first
recorded portion is
being played back.
The controlling means 24 controls the start-recording value setting means 25
to set the
start-recording value depending on the pause display command, and the
controlling means 24
controls the playing back means 18 so that the first recorded portion is
played back depending
the start-recording value and the resume display command.
in accordance with the present invention(s), the recording means 14 comprises
at least
one of a magnetic recording tape, a magnetic recording disk, an optical
recording disk, an
electronic recording circuit and a recording medium. The stop-recording value
setting means
25 comprises at least one of an audio signal generator, a counter, a file
allocation table address
generator, and a recording medium location address storing means. The stop-
recording value
comprises at least one of an audio signal, a counter value, a file allocation
table address and a
location on a recording medium.
The controlling means 24 controls the playing back means 18 and the recording
means 14 to appropriately control the recording/play back head 21 and the
motor 45 by
controlling the actuation of switches (rewind switch 33, fast forward switch
35 and play switch
4i), as well as the record switch 39 and the play switch 41. The time
sequential signal is
received by the receiving means 12 and sent to, for example, a video signal
switch 43, which is
under the control of the microprocessor of the controlling means 24. When the
time
sequential signal is being viewed as it is received (like the conventional
manner), then the video
signal switch 43 is controlled to send the received time sequential signal to
the displaying
means 44. When viewing of the time sequential signal is being time shifted,
the video signal
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WO 98/51076 PCT/US97/18372
switch 43 is controlled by the microprocessor to transfer the received time
sequential signal to
the recording means 14.
Referring now to Figure 2, an embodiment of the inventive time shifting event
recorder
for displaying a time shifted representation of an event on a display device
is shown.
Receiving means 12, such as an aerial antenna 30 for receiving a broadcast
signal or a cable
coaxial receiver, receives a time sequential signal representing an event
(such as a television
program). At least one recording means 40 records in a respective recording
medium at least
one respective selected portion of the time sequential signal. Playing-back
means 18 retrieves
at respective selectable intervals each respective selected portion of the
time sequential signal
recorded in each recording medium. and generates a respective play back signal
dependent
thereon. Controlling means 24 controls each recording means to record each
respective
selected portion of the time sequential signal. The controlling means 24 also
controls the
playing-back means 18 to retrieve at each respective selectable interval each
respective selected
portion of the time sequential signal, so that the playing-back means I8
generates each
respective play back signal. Thus, a representation of an event can be
produced in a time
shifted manner (as described above with reference to Figure 2(a) and 2(b)).
In this embodiment of the present invention(s), as shown in Figure 2,
supplying means
42, controlled by the controlling means 24, supplies at least one of the
respective play back
signals and a current portion of the time sequential signal to a display
device 44
simultaneously so that at least one time shifted representation of the event
can be displayed
simultaneously with a current representation of the event on the display
device. In other words,
a time shifted event representation TSER can be displayed at one portion of a
television screen
while a current event representation CER is displayed at another portion of
the television
screen. In this way, the viewer can choose to recall and review again a
selected portion of the
television program while continuing to view the current event representation
in real time.
In accordance with the present invention(s), supplying means 42 controlled by
the
controlling means 24 supplies at least two of the respective play back signals
to a display
device simultaneously so that at least two time shifted representations of the
event can be
displayed simultaneously on the display device. In other words, in accordance
with one
embodiment of the present inventions) the time sequential signal of an event,
such as a
television program, is recorded as shown by way of example in Figures 2(a) and
2(b). At the
user's option, two or more portions of the event can be replayed
simultaneously and viewed by
the viewer on a display device 44, such as a television set. As with the other
embodiments, each
recording medium may be a magnetic tape, magnetic disk, electronic memory
circuit (such as
an integrated circuit device disposed on a silicon chip), an optically
recordable disk or other
suitable recording medium. It is particularly noted that various means for
recording
information are being constantly developed. Therefore, the present inventions)
is intended to
include the use of such information storage devices whether currently known or
developed at
such future time. As with a previously described embodiment, in accordance
with the
embodiment shown in Figure 2, each recording medium can be a portion of a
recordable disk
so that each recording means writes to and reads from the same recordable
disk. Alternatively,
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WO 98/51076 PCT/US97/18372
each recording medium can comprise a portion of memory of a same electronic
memory
circuit. In this case, each recording means stores information on a same
electronic memory
circuit. Furthermore, as with the dther embodiments, each recording means may
record the
time sequential signal as digital data, analog data or the like.
Figure 3(a) is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present inventions)
that
utilizes a record/play back system 48 of the configuration of the inventive
time shifting event
recorder shown, for example, in Figure 4(b) in conjunction with a VCR 50 (or
other storage
device) to play back and record onto a single videotape 52 the program
temporarily stored
non-continuously on the two recording media 14,16. In this use, the inventive
time shifting
event recorder is used to play back a correctly sequenced continuous version
of a recorded
event for storage on a single recording means, such as a videotape 52 recorded
by a VCR 50.
Thus, the viewer can permanently store the recorded event for later viewing,
allowing the dual
recording capabilities of the inventive time shifting event recorder to be
used again for
controlled viewing of another program, without Losing the program previously
recording in a
time shifting manner on the two recording media t 4, I 6.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention(s), the dual play
back
capability of the inventive time shifting event recorded is used for playing
synchronized
recordings for producing an automatically edited version of a recorded event.
A recorded
event is stored on at least two synchronized recorded tapes 14,16. The
synchronized recorded
tapes 14,16 store the recorded event captured from different respective
perspectives (as
described below with reference to Figures 12(a)-16(c)). Figure 3(a) shows the
inventive time
shifting recorder and a conventional VCR 50 used to play back and record the
two
synchronized tapes to produce an automatically edited version containing both
perspectives
with synchronized timing. The video signal from both synchronized recorded
tapes 14,16 is
controlled (as will be described below) so that the event is recorded onto an
edit-recorded tape
(videotape 52) with a correct sequence. For example, the recorded event may
contain a scene
of dialogue between two actors. As a first alternative, a first synchronized
recorded tape 14
may have a perspective of one actor, while a second synchronized recorded tape
16 may have a
perspective of another actor. During play back of the scene from the two
synchronized
recorded tapes 14, I6, the viewer can choose at any time between a variety of
viewing options,
such as switching between the two actors during the dialogue, or using a split
screen (picture-
in-picture) display of both actors, etc. For example, the first synchronized
recorded tape 14
may have a perspective switching between a close-up of each actor as he speaks
during the
dialogue, while the second synchronized recorded tape 16 may have a
perspective viewing both
actors at one.
Figure 3(b) is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present inventions)
shown
in Figure 3(a), showing user definable perspectives of the synchronized
recordings played on a
monitor 44. In the example given above, a first perspective 54 is obtained
from a first
synchronized recorded tape 14 and shows the speaking actor in the scene of
dialog. A second
perspective 56 is obtained from the second synchronized recorded tape 16 and
shows the
listening actor. The viewer can choose between the two perspectives, or as
shown, can view
CA 02259225 1998-12-21
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both perspective in a split screen display. Also, a videodisk can be used to
store more than one
perspective since the rapid access time of the videodisk will not interfere
with the continuity of
the displayed recorded event. A lag time will be caused by the access to a new
selected
perspective (which will require searching a correct synchronization signal
from the disk for the
selected perspective). However, by using two or more disks, this lag time wilt
have little or no
effect on viewing. A perspective from one disk can be displayed during the
search for the
synchronization signal for the selected perspective from the other disk. Also,
two or more
readlwrite heads can be used to retrieve the selected perspectives from a
single disk.
Figure 3(c) is a block diagram of elements of the play back components for
viewing
synchronized recorded tapes 14, I 6. In the case of continuously played
synchronized recorded
tapes I4,16 (or randomly accessible disk storage), first play back means 58
and second play
back means 60 are controlled by a controller 62 to generate a time
synchronized video signal
from the respective first and second synchronized recorded tapes 14,16. The
controller b2
receives a synchronization signat recorded or otherwise associated with each
of the tapes to
maintain the synchronisity of the different perspectives of the recorded
event. A remote signal
detector 63 receives signals from a viewer-controlled remote control, and
these signals are sent
to the controller. The controller 62 controls switching means 61 in response
to the remote
signal so a selected video signal is generated. The selected video signal may
include the
perspective obtained from either the first and second synchronized video tape
14, l6, or a
combination of the perspectives in a split screen display. Also, either
perspective can be fast
forwarded or rewound for controlled viewing, and then re-synchronized with the
other
perspective at a cater time by the controller 62 controlling the play back
means 58,60 to fast
forward, rewind, play or stop as necessary to re-synchronize the first and the
second recording
media 14,16.
Figure 4(a) is a block diagram of an inventive automatic edit event recording
system.
In accordance with this aspect of the invention, event-recording means (camera
recording
system 64) records an event on a recording medium, such as a VHS, beta, or 8
mm video tape
(or any other recording medium described herein). Selecting means (manual
control buttons
66) is provided for selecting at least one edit-record interval corresponding
to a respective
selected portion of the recorded event. Signal generating means (edit signal
generator 68)
generates a start-record signal dependent on each selected edit-record
interval. Signal
recording means records each start- record signal on the recording medium. In
accordance
with the invention, the audio and/qr video recording system of the camera
(camera recording
system 64) can be used to record the start-record signal onto a videotape or
other recording
medium. As an example, the edit signal generator 68 may generate an audio
signal that
contains separate start-record information for each edit-record interval. The
audio signal
should be above or below the range of human hearing so as not to interfere
with the eventual
viewing of the recorded event. The audio signal generated by the edit signal
generator 68 can
be sent to the camera recording system 64 to be stored on the videotape as the
event is being
recorded simultaneously on the same videotape by the camera recording system
64. Counter
values can also be stored to determine the portions of the recorded tape that
are to be later
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reproduced on an edit version tape. The recording of the start-record and stop-
record signals
produces an auto-edit signal encoded master tape from which an edit version
tape can be easily
made. This master tape can also be used to control a VCR so that the edited
version of the
event can be viewed directly from the master tape. in this case, the VCR that
is playing back
the master tape is controlled in accordance with the start-record and stop
record signals so that
the information that is viewed from the master tape corresponds the edited
version of the event
intended by the camcorder operator. For example, the master tape can be play-
fast forwarded
until the start-recording signal is detected, and then played until the stop-
recording signal is
detected, etc.
Figure 4(b} is a block diagram of an inventive automatic edit play back and
edited-
recording system used to perform a subsequent edit-recording operation. The
event recording
means (i.e., camera play/fast-forward/rewind/pause system 70) performs a play
back operation
to play back a video/audio signal of the recorded event containing the start-
record signal that is
reproduced along with the play back of the recorded event. Signal detecting
means 72 detects
during the subsequent edit-recording operation each start-record signal from
the recording
medium (videotape 52). An edit controller 62 (which may be a part of or
include the
controller 62) controls the event-recording means (camera piay/fast-
forward/rewind/pause
system 70) and an edited-recording means (VCR 50) during the edit-recording
operation so
that a play-back operation to play-back the event from the recording medium
(videotape 52) is
performed by the event-recording means (camera play/fast-forward/rewind/pause
system 70),
and a record operation to record an edited version of the event is performed
by the edited-
recording means (VCR 50}. The edit controller 62 effectively controls the
record operation
during the subsequent edit-recording operation dependent on each of the
detected start-record
signals to record a copy of the recorded event having each said selected edit-
record interval.
To speed-up the time required to make the edited version, the controlling
means may also
includes means for controlling the event recording means (camera play/fast-
forward/rewind/pause system 70) to fast Forward the recording medium
(videotape 52) through
periods of the recorded event that are not the selected edit-record intervals
(i.e., the
uninteresting superfluous portions of the recorded event). The edit controller
62 controls the
VCR 50 through a remote signal generator 74 that generates signals receptive
by a remote
signal detector 76 of the VCR 50. Since different VCRs respond to different
remote signals, the
remote signal generator 74 should. be capable of producing different remote
control signals
(similar to a universal remote control).
Stated otherwise, during the recording of an event, a user of a video camera
operates
manual control buttons 66 to flag selected portions of the recorded event that
are of interest
and that should be included in a final edited version. Thus, the recorded
videotape 52 contains
the flagged interesting portions as well as the superfluous portions of the
recorded event.
During a subsequent edit-recording operation, the recorded video is played
back by a play
back device. The record/pause system 78 of a VCR 50 and the play/fast-
forward/rewind/pause
system of the play back device are controlled, so that only the flagged
interesting portions of
17
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the recorded event are re-recorded onto the edited version, with the
superfluous portions being
automatically edited out.
Figure 4(c) is a block diagram of an inventive automatic edit event recording
system
having a manual control button for selecting a beginning time of an edit-
record interval. In
accordance with this construction of the invention, the selecting means
(manual control buttons
66) includes means for selecting a beginning time ("back-up time" button 80)
of the edit-
record interval. The beginning time occurs at a time prior to a time that the
edit-record
interval is selected (i.e., prior to depressing the "start flag" button 82).
The signal generating
means includes means for generating beginning time data along with the start-
record signal.
During a subsequent edit-recording operation, the camera play/fast-
forward/rewind/pause
system 70 (or other play back device) is controlled for rewinding the recorded
videotape to the
beginning time of the edit-record interval dependent on the start-record
signal with the
included beginning time data. In accordance with this feature of the
invention, a user can
include in a final edited version of an event, a portion of the recorded event
that occurred prior
to pressing the "start flag" button 82.
For example, if a user is recording a fishing expedition using a camcorder,
there is no
way to predict exactly when a fish will strike. To avoid including on the
edited version of the
event the boring superfluous wait for the fish strike, the user will not
depress the "start flag"
button 82 until after the fish has struck. In this case, the fish strike is
not flagged for recording
onto the edited version. However, by depressing the "back-up time" button 80,
the start-record
signal recorded on the recording medium at the time of depressing the "start
flag" button 82
includes the beginning time. The amount of back-up time can be controlled to
include an
appropriate portion of the recorded event occurring before depressing the
"start flag" button
82 so that the entire desired portion (i.e., the strike of the fish and the
fight of the fish) can be
automatically included in the final edited version of the recorded event. For
example,
depressing the "back-up time" button 80 once may include a 30 second beginning
time data
with the start-record signal so that the tape containing the entire recorded
event is rewound 30
seconds. Each subsequent depressing of the "back-up time" button 80 may add an
addition
time, such as increments of 30 seconds to the amount of time that the Eape is
rewound. To
simplify the operation, a single buXton can be used for both the "start flag"
and the "back-up
time", in which case, the back-up time is included starting with the second
depressing of a "start
flag/back-up time" button. An "end flag" button 84 is depressed after the
desired portion of
the recorded event has been recorded.
Figure 4(d) is a graphic illustration showing an example of a time
relationship of an
inventive automatic editing operation with manual beginning time selection.
Figure 4(e) is a
flow diagram of an automatic edit event recording operation and Figure 4(f) is
a flow diagram
of an automatic edit play back and edited-recording operation in accordance
with the time
relationships shown in Figure 4(d). Referring to Figures 8{d) and 8(e), an
entire event is
recorded starting with a start recording operation. An interesting event may
occur at minute
I.S. However, the user does not depress the "start flag" button 82 to record
flag 1 (start-record
signal) until minute 2. To include the beginning of the interesting event, the
user depresses the
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WO 98/51076 . PCT/US97/18372
"back-up time" button 80 once, and a 30 second beginning time data is included
in the start-
record signal of flag I. The interesting event ends at the start of minute 5,
so the user
depresses the "end flag" button 84. to record the end on the selected portion
of the recorded
event. From minutes 5-$ the event is boring and contains superfluous
uninteresting
occurrences. Than, another interesting event happens at the start of minute 9,
but the user does
not appreciate the interest until minute 10. To include the beginning of this
interesting event,
the user depresses the "back-up time" button 80 twice, and a 60 second
beginning time data is
include in the start-record signal of flag 2.
Figures 8(d) and 8(f) show the operation to obtain an edited tape containing
the
interesting portions of the recorded event with the boring superfluous
portions edited out. The
camera (or other play-back device) plays the tape containing the recorded
event, and a VCR 50
(or other recording device) is set to pause. The tape is fast forwarded (or
played} until flag I is
detected and read. The start-record signal of flag I includes the 30 second
beginning time
data, so the tape is rewound 30 seconds to the beginning of the first
interesting event. The tape
is than played and a video signal is generated by the play back device, while
the VCR 50
records the first interesting event onto the edited tape. After the end of
flag 1 is detected, the
VCR 50 is set to pause. The tape is then fast forwarded to flag 2, which is
detected and read.
The start-record signal of flag 2 includes the 60 second beginning time data,
so the tape is
rewound 60 seconds to the beginning of the second interesting event. The tape
is than played
and a video signal ES generated by the play back device, while the VCR 50
records the second
interesting event onto the edited tape. Using this procedure, an edited tape
is obtained
containing only the interesting pot;tion of the recorded event, while the
superfluous boring
portions of the recorded event are automatically edited out.
Figure 4(g) is a graphic illustration showing another example of a time
relationship of
an inventive automatic editing operation with manual beginning time selection.
Figure 4(h) is
a flow diagram of an automatic edit event recording operation and Figure 4(i}
is a flow
diagram of an automatic edit play back and edited-recording operation in
accordance with the
time relationships shown in Figure 4(g). Referring to Figures 8(g) and 8(h),
an entire event is
recorded starting with a start recording operation. As with the preceding
example, an
interesting event may occur at minute 1.5. Again, the user does not depress
the "start flag"
button 82 to record sflag I (start-record signal) until minute 2.
In this case, the start-record signal is a brief inaudible tone generated by a
tone signal
generator, such as the one described herein. To include the beginning of the
interesting event,
the user depresses the "back-up time" button 80 once, and a 30 second
beginning time data
(bflag I ) is included with the start-record signal of shag 1. The bflag I may
be, for example,
another tone signal (of a different frequency or pulse) that is generated by
the tone signal
generated and recorded just after sflag 1. The interesting event ends at the
start of minute 5, so
the user depresses the "end flag" button 84 to record eflag 1 along with the
end of the selected
portion of the recorded event. In this example, from minutes 5-6 the event is
boring and
contains superfluous uninteresting occurrences. Then , at minute 6 an
interesting thing occurs
and the user depresses the "start-flag" button 82 again to record sflag 2
{start-record signal).
I9
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This time, the user does not wish to include any previous portion of the
event, and so there is
no back-up time data generated. This interesting event continues until minute
8, at which time
the user depresses the "end flag" button 84 to record eflag 2 along with the
end of the second
selected portion of the event. Then, another interesting event happens at the
start of minute 9,
but the user does not appreciate the interest until minute 10. To include the
beginning of this
interesting event, the user depresses the "back-up time" button 80 twice, and
a bflag 3 tone is
recorded (either a single that indicates 60 seconds or two tones that indicate
30 seconds each)
so that a 60 second beginning time data is include along with the start-record
signal of sflag 2.
Similar steps are taken throughout the recording of the event so that a master
tape is obtained
having all or most of the event recorded on it, and having automatic editing
cues, in the form
of the sflags, eflags and bftags.
Figures 8(g) and 8(i) show the operation to obtain an edited tape containing
the
interesting portions of the recorded event with the boring superfluous
portions edited out. In
accordance with this aspect of the invention, professional cooking scene
transition are
automatically incorporated into the edited tape version. The camera (or other
play-back
device) plays the master or originally recorded tape containing the full
recorded event, and a
VCR SO (or other recording device) is set to pause ready to begin recording
the automatically
edited version of the recorded event. The master tape is fast forwarded (or
played) until sflag
1 is detected and read. The start-record signal of sflag I (in-audible tone)
is followed by bflag
1 indicating 30 second beginning time data, so the tape is rewound 30 seconds
to the
beginning of the first interesting event. The master tape is than played and a
video signal is
generated by the play back device, the VCR SO is controlled to record the
first interesting event
onto the edited tape. After the eflag I is detected (inaudible tone indicating
the end of the first
interesting portion), the VCR 50 is again set to pause.
However, in order to include a professional-looking transition between the
selected
interesting events, the master tape is rewound just enough so that a
transition portion of the first
interesting event can be stored. The transition portions are the very end of a
first scene and the
very beginning of a second scene, and the professional-looking transition is
obtained by
manipulation the recording of the transition portions onto the edited tape.
For example, the
transition from the first interesting event to the second interesting event
may involve a
"dissolve" from the very end of the first interesting event to the very
beginning of the second
interesting event. Many other interesting transition effects can be
incorporated between scenes
(selected interesting portions).
In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the transition portions of
the selected
interesting events can be converted (if necessary) into digital information,
and then digitally
stored using, for example, a RAM, or other digital information storage method.
The
conversion of an analog portion of the recorded event into a digital data
stream may be
accomplished using, for example, using a Macintosh compatible computer that
has the
MOTION DC20 hardware and software installed. Macintosh computers and Macintosh
system
software are manufactured by Apftle Computer of Copertino, CA and the miro
Motion DC20 is
manufactured by miro Computer Products AG, Braunschweig, Germany. This digital
CA 02259225 1998-12-21
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information can then be manipulated using, for example, software such as Adobe
Premiere,
from Adobe Systems Incorporated, Mountain View, CA. Adobe Premiere allows for
a number
of different professional-looking various scene transitions including
dissolves, wipes, checker
board, bran door, etc.
After the transition portion of interesting event 1 has been stored, master
tape is play
fast forwarded until the next tone (sflag 2) is detected. In this example,
there is no back up
data recorded along with sflag 2. To produce the professional-looking
transition between the
first interesting event and the second interesting event, the transition
portion of the recorded
second interesting event must be stored. Thus, the very beginning of the
second interesting
event is converted into a digital data stream (if necessary} and combine
using, for example,
Adobe Premiere, with the stored first transition portion. The type of scene
transition (dissolve,
wipe, barn door, etc.) that occurs may be selected by the user or randomly
generated. Once
the scene transition has been generated, it is converted into an analog signal
(if necessary).
The VCR 50 is controlled to record and the scene transition is outputted and
recorded. The
rest of the second interesting event is played back from the master tape and
recorded on the
VCR 50. Recording of the second interesting event continues until a eflag 2 is
detected. The
master tape is rewound just enough so that the transition portion of the
second interesting event
(the very ending) can be stored. The master tape is then fast forward played
until sflag 3 is
detected. bflag 3 is also present just after sflag 3, and includes the 60
second beginning time
data, so the master tape is rewound 60 seconds to the beginning of the second
interesting event.
To produce the professional-looking transition between the second interesting
event
and the third interesting event, the transition portion of the recorded third
interesting event
must be stored. Thus, the very beginning of the third interesting event is
converted into a
digital data stream (if necessary) and combine using, for example, Adobe
Premiere, with the
stored second transition portion. Again, the type of scene transition
(dissolve, wipe, barn door,
ete.) that occurs may be selected by the user or randomly generated. Once the
scene transition
has been generated, it is converted into an analog signal (if necessary). The
VCR 50 is
controlled to record and the scene transition is outputted and recorded. The
rest of the third
interesting event is played back from the master tape and recorded on the VCR
50. Recording
of the second interesting event continues until the end of the master tape or
another flag is
detected.
Using this procedure, an edited tape is obtained containing only the
interesting portion
of the recorded event, while the superfluous boring portions of the recorded
event are
automatically edited out. Also, in accordance with the present invention(s),
the edited tape has
automatically generated professional-looking transitions occurring between the
selected
interesting portions.
Figure 4(j) is a flow chart illustrating the operation of recording an edited
version from
an auto-edit signal encoded master tape. The master tape is placed in a first
cassette player
(which can be the camcorder, a VCR, or the inventive mufti-featured mufti-
media appliance
1000 described herein). The blank edit version tape is place in a second
cassette player (which,
again, can be the camcorder, a VCR, or the inventive mufti-featured mufti-
media appliance
21
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WO 98/51076 PCT/US97I18372
1000 described herein). The start of the master tape is played {step one}, and
play continues
(step two) until a start flag is detected (step three). If a start-flag is
detected (step three}, then it
is determined if back-up data is detected (step four). If back-up data is
detected (step five}
then the master tape is rewound in accordance with the back-up data (step
five). The
infotmtation on the master tape is then recorded onto the edit version tape
(step six). The
recording continues until an end flag is detected (step seven), or the end of
the master tape is
detected (step eight). If the end flag is detected (step seven), then the
recording of the edit
version tape is paused (step nine) and control goes to step two. If the end of
the master tape is
detected, then the recording of the edit version tape stops (step ten).
Figure 4(k) is a flow chart illustrating the operation of recording an analog
edited
version from an analog auto-edit signal encoded master tape wherein a digital
recording
medium is used to temporally store the edited version tape. This algorithm
illustrates how an
inventive mufti-featured mufti-media appliance 1000 that include, for example,
a computer
hard drive, can be used with an existing VCR to produce an edited version tape
from a master
tape. Alternatively, the mufti-featured mufti-media appliance 1000 can include
a computer
hard drive and a video cassette tape drive. In accordance with this aspect of
the invention, the
master tape is placed in a first cassette player (which can be the camcorder,
a VCR, or the
inventive mufti-featured.multi-media appliance 1000 described herein). The
start of the master
tape is played (step one), and play continues (step two) until a start flag is
detected (step three}.
If a start-flag is detected (step three), then it is determined if back-up
data is detected (step
four). If back-up data is detected (step five) then the master tape is rewound
in accordance
with the back-up data (step five). The information on the master tape is then
converted from
analog video data to digital video data (step six) and recorded onto the
digital recording
medium (step seven). The recording continues until an end flag is detected
(step eight), or the
end of the master tape is detected (step nine). If the end flag is detected
{step eight), then the
analog to digital conversion is paused (step ten) and the digital recording is
paused (step
eleven) and control goes to step two. If the end of the master tape is
detected, then the digital
recording stops (step twelve). Once the edited version of the event has been
digitally recorded,
the master tape is removed from the cassette, and the blank edit version tape
is place in the
cassette (which, again, can be the camcorder, a VCR, or the inventive mufti-
featured multi-
media appliance 1000 described herein) (step thirteen). Alternatively, if it
is not desired to
keep the original master tape with the superfluous recorded portions, then the
master tape can
simply be rewound and recorded over (step thirteen). The playback of the
digital version of
the edited version of the event begins (step fourteen) and continues (step
fifteen). The
playback of the digital version includes converting the digital video data to
analog video data
(step sixteen) so that is can be recorded on the blank edit version tape (step
seventeen). The
playback and recording continues until the end of the recorded digital video
data is reached
(step eighteen), after which the VCR recording of the edited version stops
{step nineteen). By
this algorithm, only one VCR deck is needed to perform the auto-editing
features of the
present inventions}.
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WO 98/51076 PCT/US97/18372
As shown in Figure 5, the various inventive features described herein can be
incorporated within a mufti-featured mufti-media convergence appliance 1000.
Such a device
may include the components necessary to enable one or more of the inventive
aspects
described above. For example, recording means and other components shown, for
example, in
Figure i (a) can be included to enable the time-shifting operations described
herein. The
inventive mufti-featured mufti-media convergence appliance 1000 can include a
modem 47 for
receiving and sending data to a computer network such as the Internet to
perform the Internet
and network operations described herein. The receiving means i2 and a
camcorder can
include jacks 51 to exchange the audio and video signals to/from the camcorder
or other video
playback device to perform the auto-editing playback functions described
herein. The
inventive mufti-featured mufti-media convergence appliance Some or all of the
auto-ediE
circuitry 49 can be incorporated onboard the camcorder, or some or all of the
auto-edit
circuitry 49 can be incorporated in the inventive Mufti-featured mufti-media
convergence
appliance 1000 (this is represented by the dashed line connecting the
controlling means 24
with the auto-edit circuitry 49. For example, the determining means 23 (start-
recording value
detecting means 27 and stop recording value detecting means 29) can be
utilized to detect the
auto-edit signals. The controlling means 24 is responsive to the determining
means 23 to
control the rewinding/pausinglplayback/fastforward operations of the source
video tape and
control the record/pause operations of the edited version video tape. The
source video tape can
be encoded with information that determines the edited version of the recorded
event. The
information can be a counter value, audio signal, video signal, or other
identifying information
that is used to trigger the appropriate control operations of the controlling
means 24. The
source video tape can be played back from one of the recording means, a VCR or
the
camcorder, and the edited tape can be recorded using one of the recording
mediums, a VCR or
the camcorder. The control of the VCR or the camcorder can be done through
remote control
signals generated by the remote signal generator 74, or through a direct
connection with the
inventive Mufti-featured mufti-media convergence appliance 1000.
Video cassette recorders (VCRs) are well known. Prior to the VCR, television
viewers
were forced to watch television pr6grams in a synchronous manner, that is> in
order to watch a
television show a viewer had to synchronize his or her schedule to the time
that the show was
broadcast. Every viewer of a particular broadcast television show watched the
show at the exact
same time as every other viewer.
With the advent of the VCR, viewers are free to watch a broadcast television
show
asynchronously. That is, the viewer can set their VCR to record a show, and
only after the
entire show has been recorded can playback the show with viewer determined
pauses and
replays.
In accordance with the present invention, a mufti-featured mufti-media
appliance 1000
is provided Ehat overcomes the drawbacks of the conventional art. The mufti-
featured multi-
media appliance 1000 can be configured to allow viewer determined pauses and
replays at any
time during the broadcast of a television show, and the viewer is able to
watch the entire show.
With the inventive mufti-featured mufti-media appliance 1000, a viewer can
pause the display
23
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of, for example a television program, at any time and for any length of time
(3imited by the
recording capacity of the recording media). The pause can take place while the
program is
being aired, and the viewer can return to viewing the program from the point
where the pause
began, even while the program continues to be received. During the pause the
viewer may
replay a previously recorded portion of the program, fast forward through a
recorded portion,
or simply take a break from viewing and switch to another channel. Also, the
present invention
allows a viewer to pause the display of a program and switch to another media
system, such as
an Internet connection. The viewer can access information from the Internet
computer
network while pausing the display of a television program. Once the viewer has
reviewed the
computer network site, he can return to the television program without missing
any of it.
In accordance with the present invention, a time sequential signal is received
by
receiving means 12, such as an antenna, cable television sef top box, modem,
etc. The time
sequential signal contains an information stream, such as a television
program, Internet or
Intercast web pages, and/or a radio program. The information is displayed on
displaying
means 44, for example, on a television or computer monitor.
In accordance with the present invention a viewer can take an arbitrary pause
during
the viewing of the information. The information can be, for example, a
broadcast television
program displayed on a television set, or blanking interval information such
as an Intercast web
page or Internet hyperlink included in a broadcast (or muiticast) program
signal, or a radio
program, or other information stream. The viewer inputs a pause display
command using, for
example, a remote controller that sends a radio or infrared signal to input
receiving means 32.
When the pause display command is received, recording means 14 is used to
record a
beginning of a first recorded portion of the time sequential signal on a first
recording medium
16. The part of the time sequential signal that is received during the pause
is recorded on the
first recording medium 16 for the duration of the viewer-determined pause.
When the viewer desires to continue watching the television program, the
remote
controller is used to send a resume display command, which is received by the
input receiving
means 32. When the resume display command is received, the ending of the first
recorded
portion of the time sequential signal is recorded on the first recording
medium 16.
In order for the viewer to watch the portion of the program that was received
during
the pause, the beginning of the first recorded portion is first determined,
and the first recorded
portion of the time sequential signal is then played back.
To enable the viewer to watch all of the program, that part of the time
sequential signal
that is received while the first recdrded portion is being played back must
also be recorded.
Thus, in accordance with the present invention, a second recorded portion of a
different part of the time sequential signal is recorded on a second recording
medium 22. The
second recorded portion is a different part of the time sequential signal than
the first recorded
portion of the time sequential signal, since it contains the segment of the
program that is
received while the first recorded segment of the program is being played back.
Of course, the
first recorded portion contains the segment of the program that was received
when the viewer
took the pause. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the playing
back of the first
24
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recorded portion of the time sequential signal and the recording of the second
recorded
portion take place.
it is determined if the ending of the first recorded portion has been played
back. If the
ending of the first recorded portion has not been played back, then playing
back of the first
recorded portion of the time sequential signal continues while simultaneously
recording the
second recorded portion of the time sequential signal. If the ending of the
first recorded
portion has been played back, then an ending of the second recorded portion of
the time
sequential signal is recorded on the second recording medium, the beginning of
the second
recorded portion is determined, and then the second recorded portion of the
time sequential
signal is played back.
In accordance with the present invention, what is played back (the first
recorded
portion) and what is recorded (the second recorded portion) are not the same,
in the case of a
television program, they are different segments of the program. The above-
described
recording and playing back scheme provides a method and apparatus that allows
a user to
arbitrarily pause the received program, or other information stream, and still
view the program
in its entirety.
The beginning of the first recorded portion is determined by setting a first
start-
recording value when the pause display command is received. This start-
recording value is
later used to determine where to start the playback of the recorded portion.
When the pause
display command is received, the determining means 23 makes an indication of
the physical or
electronic Location of the beginning of the recorded portion. This indication
(start-recording
value) is used for finding where each recorded portion begins. The physical
location of the
beginning of each recorded portion may be, for example, a segment of a
recording tape, or a
sector and/or track of a recording disk, etc. The electronic location may be
an address of a
memory circuit, etc. The mechanism employed to set the start-recording value
depends on the
type of recording medium that is used. For example, if the recording medium is
a magnetic
tape, such as a VCR cassette, then the start-recording value can be set by
generating and
recording a tone signal. If the recording medium is a computer diskette or
hard drive, then the
start-recording value can be set by storing a disk location value in a file
allocation table. A
digital counter can be used to set the start-recording value by noting and
storing the counter
value when recording the beginning of the first recorded portion of the time
sequential signal.
A memory address can also be stored to set the start recording value if the
recording medium
is an electronic memory .device such as a RAM. As another alternative, the
physical location of
the beginning of the first recorded portion can be predetermined. These same
techniques can
be employed for setting second and subsequent start-recording values, as well
as for setting
stop-recording values. In accordance with the present invention, the
determining means 23
may include stop-recording value setting means 31 for setting a stop recording
value. The
stop-recording value indicates where the end of each recorded portion of the
time sequential
signal is located on the recording medium. The stop-recording value is used to
determine the
end of a recorded portion of the time sequential signal.
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As the viewer watches the first recorded portion of the program played back
from the
first recording medium 16, the second recorded portion is recorded on the
second recording
medium 22. If the ending of the first recorded portion has not been played
back, then playing
back of the first recorded portion of the time sequential signal continues
while the second
recorded portion of the time sequential signal is recorded. The ending of the
first recorded
portion is determined by detecting~the stop-recording value, which, as
discussed above, may be
a tone signal, a counter value, a physical location (such as a location on a
disk stored in a file
allocation table), etc.
When the ending of the first recorded portion has been played back (as
determined by
detecting the first set stop-recording value), then an ending of the second
recorded portion of
the time sequential signal is recorded on the second recording medium, and a
second stop-
recording value is set. The beginning of the second recorded portion is then
determined using
the second start-recording value, and then playback of the second recorded
portion of the time
sequential signal begins. Thus, the second recorded portion of the time
sequential signal
contains that part of the program that is received while the first recorded
portion is being
played back and playing back the second recorded portion enables the viewer to
view the
entire program without missing any of it.
Further, if the viewer wishes to re-watch a segment of the program then a
viewer
selected function (for example, rewind) is transmitted from the remote control
to the input
receiving means 32. After rewinding the recording medium (in the case of a VCR
tape) or
going to a previously viewed disk location (in the case of a hard drive, DVD,
or other disk
media) another viewer selected function (for example, play) can be
transmitted. The segment
that is rewound can then be watched again. Further, the viewer can fast
forward through
boring portions, or through commercials, and may be able to "catch up" with
the reception of
the time sequential signal so that the program can be again viewed as it is
received. The viewer
may also pause the viewing of the recorded portion of the program.
In any event, as the viewer selected functions) is performed, the time
sequential signal still
continues to be recorded as it is received so that the entire program can be
watched at the
viewer's leisure.
In accordance with the present invention, a time sequential signal is received
via, for
example, an antenna, a cable television hook up, Internet modem connection,
satellite
transmission or other information transfer mechanism. The information
depending on the
time sequential signal is displayed for viewing on a television, computer
monitor, radio, or
other displaying device 44. The information that is displayed may be a
television or radio
program, or received data from a computer network, such as the Internet. The
present
invention enables asynchronous viewing of a multicasted or broadcasted
television program in
conjunction with the perusal at the viewer's leisure of computer network
information, such as a
world wide web page downloaded from the Internet. The present invention allows
a viewer to
pause the display of a program and switch to another media system, such as an
Internet
connection. The viewer can access information from the Internet computer
network while
pausing the display of a television program.
2s
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The time sequential signal may be a television program which contains a
blanking
interval (a portion of the video signal that is received during a time when
the video display
scanning returns to the top of the screen). The blanking interval can include
blanking interval
information including a selectable Link, such as a network address, to network
information,
such as a world wide web page, from a computer network, such as the Internet.
The television
program is displayed before receiving the pause display command. When the
viewer wishes to
obtain information via the Internet, the viewing of the television program is
paused and the
computer network is accessed using a modem or other suitable accessing means.
The network
information that is addressed by the selectable link is received from the
computer network.
This network information is displayed while the viewing of the television
program is paused
and time sequential signal is recorded so that the program viewing can be
returned to at a later
time without missing any of the program.
The inventive mufti-featured mufti-media appliance 1000 can display a received
television commercial 144 having an Internet address automatically linked by a
hypertext
message 146. Viewing of the paused program can continue in the time shifted
manner
described herein after the viewer returns from the Internet session.
Program information can be retrieved from the Internet, the television signal,
or other
medium, and displayed for the user during the operation of the inventive mufti-
featured multi-
media appliance i 000. The program information can be searched to select
specific shows that
are of interest to the user and then program information for the selected
shows can be
downloaded or otherwise retrieved to enable the inventive mufti-featured mufti-
media
appliance 1000 to provide easy VCR or video recording capabilities.
The inventive mufti-featured mufti-media appliance 1000 can be configured to
selectively restrict the reception of television and data contenE that a
parent or care-giver
decides in inappropriate for viewing by children. The content available to the
user can be
rated in accordance with a collaborative consensus of the user's of the
computer network
and/or television system.
The inventive Internetltelevision convergence appliance can be used to program
a VCR
via downloaded VCR control information received from an Internet source, a
disk or tape
mailed to the user or through the television signal. The downloaded VCR
control information
can be used to control recording on one or more of the recording mediums
incorporated in
the inventive mufti-featured mufti-media appliance 1000. The inventive
Internet/television
convergence appliance 1000 can incorporate components 53 such as a television
tuner,
computer hard drive, video card and/or frame grabber and printer port. Other
peripheral
components can also be included to enhance the usefulness of the inventive
Internet/television
convergence appliance. For example, the peripheral components may include a
speaker
phone, answering machine, radio tuner or remote home wiring control circuitry.
Figures 6{a) through 6(b) show the configuration of the first and second
recording
medium 16 and 22 of the inventive time shifting event recorder shown, for
example, in
Figure I (a). In this case, the first recording medium I 6 comprises at least
one portion of a
recordable disk and the second recording medium 22 comprises at least one
other portion of
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WO 98/51076 PCT/US97/18372
the same recordable disk. Read/write heads of the respective recording means
is able to
retrieve and write information on different portions of the same recordable
disk
simultaneously. Thus, a single recordable disk is used as the recording medium
for both the
first and second recording medium 20. As shown in Figure 6(a), the recordable
disk is
recorded on one side thereof by both read/write heads 38 of the respective
recording means.
Figure 6(b), on the other hand, shows a configuration in which the disk
recording medium
is recorded on both sides thereof. In this case, the read/write head 38 of one
of the
recording means records on one side while the read/write head 38 of another of
the recording
means records on the other. It is noted that if a third or more recording
means is utilized,
then another read/write head 38 may be used to record and play back
information from
different portions of the disk recording means. In the case of the memory
circuit, the idea is
the same. Namely, each recording means records the respective portions of the
time
sequential signal at, for example, different address locations of the memory
circuit and these
locations are addressed to retrieve the stored information. The disks can be
stacked, or
otherwise configured to increase the storage capacity. Nearly any
configuration suitable for
recording video signals can be used, so long as the recording and playback of
information
can occur simultaneously. Buffers can be used so that, for example, the video
data can be
compressed and expanded as necessary.
Figure 7(a) shows a block diagram of a configuration of the inventive time
shifting
event recorder wherein an electronic storage medium is constructed on a video
card for easy
assembly into media appliances and devices. In this case, an electronic
storage medium 11,
such as a DRAM configuration, enables the inventive time shifting event
recorder to be
constructed as, for example, an expansion card I3 that can be incorporated
into an existing
device. For example, a DRAM configuration for the video storage mediums
described herein
can be incorporated on a PCI or similar card along with the necessary
ancillary
microprocessors) 15 and other electronic components to enable the time shifted
recording
capabilities described herein. The, microprocessor I S and other components
may be part of
the device to which the time shifted recording expansion card is being
incorporated in, or some
or all of these electronic components can be included with the expansion card
13.
It is likely that up and coming multimedia devices, such as Internet
appliances, set top
boxes, so-called network computers, high definition televisions, computers,
VCRs, DVD drives,
etc. will include provisions for expanding the devices capabilities either
during the initial
product configuration by the distributor or through upgrades that can be
incorporated after
the consumer has purchased the device. The electronic memory (i.e., DRAM and
the like)
provides a convenient vehicle to enable such devices to be configured or
retrofitted with the
many advantages of the inventive time shifting event recorder. If the historic
trends continue,
it is very likely that the capacity and speed of such electronic memory
components will
increase, while their costs decrease, making this implementation of the
inventive time shifting
event recorder even more compelling to the consumers of multimedia and like
devices.
28
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The following is an illustration of a specific embodiment of the inventive
time shifting
event recorder. It is noted that this embodiment illustrates only one of many
configurations
for the inventions, as described herein. Figure 7(b) shows a block diagram of
a configuration
of the inventive time shifting event recorder for arbitrarily pausing the
display of a video
signal, such as a television program. The system components of this
configuration includes a
microprocessor 1 10 and electronic circuitry that controls the operation of a
first VCR (VCR1
112), a second VCR (VCR2 I 14), a video signal switch 1 16, and a data storage
device 118. An
Internet appliance 120, along the lines of WebTV, may be provided to enable
access to the
Internet and on-line services during the user-determined pauses made possible
by the inventive
time shifting event recorder. Access to the Internet and on-line services is
accomplished via
modem or other data transfer devices. Also, a universal-type remote control
signal generator
and/or receiver 122 may be included to send control signals to the components
and to receive
user input in the form of wireless remote control signal. Further, depending
on the
configuration of the inventive system, the data can be transferred between the
microprocessor
110 and the other components using a high speed transfer system such as that
specified as
IEEE 1394 also known as "FireWire". The video information and Internet data is
displayed
on a television 124.
The first and second VCR drives (VCR1, VCR2 112,114) may be separate video
cassette recorder units, or may be combined in a single dual-deck video
cassette recorder. The
microprocessor 1 10 may include some of the peripheral devices such as the
data storage device
118, and additional electronic components may be required to implement the
control of the
inventive time shifting event recorder in the manner described herein.
The control of the VCRs 1 I 2, i 14, video signal switch 116, television 124
and/or
Internet appliance 120, and the reception of data from the devices may be
accomplished by
direct wiring. For example, the electronic circuit included in the VCR that
drives the display
showing the counter-value may be directly connected via wires to the
microprocessor i 10.
Alternatively, remote control signals generated by the remote control signal
generator and/or
receiver 122 can be used to enable the microprocessor 1 10 to control the
operation of the
system components. Additional circuitry may be included to enable split
screens or picture-in-
a-picture display of, for example, user-determined instant replays, Internet
content and the like.
The television signal can be received through an antenna, co-axial cable,
satellite dish or any
other means for receiving TV signals (as illustrated by block "TV signal in"
126).
Figure 8 shows a flowchart of an algorithm showing the operational steps of
the
configuration of the inventive time shifting event recorder shown in Figure 7.
This algorithm
demonstrates a time shifting event recorder comprised of two conventional VCRs
(VCR1 1 12
and VCR2 114) controlled by a microprocessor 1 10 circuit. however, as
discussed at length
herein other configurations are possible all falling within the scope of the
invention. $efore
the time shifting operation, the tape counters of each of the VCRs 1 12,114
can be reset so the
counter-value at the start of recording is 00:00:00. In addition to resetting
the counter values,
the video cassette of each VCR can be rewound to its beginning prior to
resetting the tape
29
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counters. Further, the stored value C(q), the counter-value of the recording
VCR when a quit
command is received, is reset to a value of 0 (step 1 ).
In accordance with this configuration, at least one of the VCRs 112,114 (vcrR)
is tuned
to the selected channel SC and receives the television program as video-in
(step 2}. As will be
described, the present invention enables the user to arbitrarily pause the
reception of this
television program at any time, and for any length of time, limited only by
the recording
capacity of the VCRs 112,114. As an optional step, both VCRs can be initially
tuned to the
same television channel on which is carried the television program that is
being viewed by the
user, then one of the VCRs (not vcrR) can begin recording at the onset of the
program so that
even portions of the program that are viewed before the user-determined pause
can be
replayed.
The television signal is received through the VCR1 I 12 (vcrR) as video-in
(step two)
and the video signal switch 116 is~controlted by the microprocessor 1 IO so
that the program is
displayed on the television 124 in real time (step three). The microprocessor
1 10 waits for a
pause command to be inputted by the user (step four). As long as the pause
command is not
received (N; step four), the video-in is displayed (step three) so that the
television program
continues to be displayed as it is received (real-time). If the user wishes to
view a user-
determined instant replay, or engage in an Internet session, or channel surf,
or simply take a
viewing break, then a pause command is inputted (via a remote controller) and
the
microprocessor 110 controls the video signal switch 1 i 6 and the VCRs 1 I2,1
14 and/or Internet
appliance 120 in accordance with the viewing selection of the user.
For example, if the user wishes to begin an Internet session, the
microprocessor 110
controls the Internet appliance 120 so that a connection with the Internet is
made. During the
time it takes for the connection to be made and the Internet session to begin,
the program may
continue to be viewed. For example, it can be detected when the home page of
the Internet
browser used by the Internet appliance 120 is loaded or is being loaded, and
then the
microprocessor can control the video signal switch 1 16 so that the signal
from the Internet
appliance is then displayed. The time shifting recording operations on vcrR
can begin at the
onset of the user's input to begin the Internet session so that the portion of
the program that is
received white the Internet connection is being made is available for later
viewing. If the
program continues to be viewed while the connection is being made, then
counter-value C(s)
(described below) can be determined when the video signal switch 116 switches
from television
program to the Internet session (to avoid redundant viewing of the program).
In any event, when the user inputs the pause command (Y; step four), then
recording of
the video-in begins on vcrR starting at the counter-value C(s) (step five)
(unless modified as
described in the preceding paragraph). The counter-value C(s) can be
predetermined by
resetting vcrR's counter to 0:00:00 (i.e., step one), or the current counter-
value can be
detected. The counter-value C(s) is sent to the microprocessor 110 via a wire
link, or through
an infrared or other remote data transmitter (if the counter-value 0:00:00 is
used, the
microprocessor 110 sends an appropriate signal to the vcrR so that the counter
is reset) if it was
not reset in step one. The counter-value C(s) is stored by the microprocessor
I 10 in the
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counter-value storage device I 18 so that the location of the beginning of
this portion of the
recorded video-in can later be determined. The microprocessor 110 controls
vcrR to record
the received television signal (video-in) during the user-determined pause.
The control of the
VCRs 112,114, video signal switch l Ib and/or Internet appliance 120 can be
done via wire
links, or through an infrared or other remote data transmitter. For example,
to increase the
versatility of the invention, the control of the VCRs 112,114 can be
accomplished using
circuitry similar to a commercially available "universal" remote controller.
During the user-determined pause, the user can access the Internet via an
Internet
appliance 120 such as WebTV. The television signal that carries the program
can also include
hyper-links to related Internet content. For example, a TV commercial may
include a hyper-
link to the advertiser's Web site. At the user's option, the hyperlink can be
activated resulting
in the retrieval of information from the Internet. Once the connection is
established and the
desired Web site is ready for display, the "pausing" of the program occurs in
the manner
described herein.
Once the pause command is received by the microprocessor 1 10, the video
signal
switch 120 is controlled so that the display on the TV 124 is in accordance
with the user's
selection (step six). If recording begins at the start of the program on VCR2
I I4 (even though
it is viewed in real-time), the user may also engage in user-determined
instant replays by
rewinding and replaying a portion of the recorded video-in that was received
prior to the pause
(step six). In this case, the microprocessor 1 10 controls the video signal
switch 1 16 so that the
output of the VCR2 I 14 containing the "instant replay" recording is displayed
on the TV 124
while video-in is recorded on vcrR (VCRI 112). During the pause, the
microprocessor I 10
can control the video signal switch t 16 so that the video signal from the
Internet appliance 120
is displayed on the TV 124 (if the,user chooses to access the Internet). The
microprocessor
110 can control the video signal switch 1 16 so that the video signal from the
VCR2 1 14 is
displayed on the TV I24. In this case, the television program that is being
recorded is tuned in
by vcrR (VCRI 112) while the tuner of the other VCR (VCR2 1 14) can be used
for channel
surfing.
The recording of the video-in (television program} continues (step seven)
while the
microprocessor I 10 waits for the user-inputted resume command (step eight)
and controls the
various devices (VCRs 1 i2,1 14; Internet appliance 120; video signal switch I
16, etc.} in
accordance with the user's selections.
During the recording of the television program, the existence of television
commercials
can be detected by detecting the information that is included in the vertical
blanking interval
(VBI) of the television signal. Recording of the television commercials can be
prevented by
sending a record-pause signal from the microprocessor 110 to vcrR when the
beginning of a
commercial break is detected, and.then sending a record-resume signal from the
microprocessor i 10 to the vcrR when the commercial break ends.
If the resume command is not inputted (N; step eight}, then it is determined
if a quit
command has been inputted (step nine). As long as no resume command (step
eight) or quit
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command (step nine) is received, the video signal switch i 16 is controlled to
display the user's
selection and recording of video-in on vcrR continues (step seven).
The quit command can be generated by a remote controller under the control of
the
user. Alternatively, the quit command (or other control command, such as to
initiate and
control an Internet session) can be generated in response to a information
embedded in the
television signal. For example, if the quit command is included in information
embedded at
the end of the television program, it can be detected and used (as described
herein) by the
microprocessor I i0 to determine when to stop recording the television
program.
If the quit command is received before the first resume command (Y; step
nine), then
the current counter-value of vcrR is stored as C(q) in the counter-value
storage device 118
(step ten) and the microprocessor 110 controls vcrR to end recording video-in
(step eleven).
Once the resume command is inputted (Y; step twelve) the vcrR is controlled by
the
microprocessor I 10 to rewind back to counter-value C(s) and begin playback of
the recorded
portion of the TV program as video-out (step thirteen). To save time, the
rewind operation can
begin as soon as the recording ends (step eleven). The VCRs 112,114, Internet
appliance 120
and video signal switch l 16 are controlled according to the user's selection
so that the user's
selection is displayed. For example, if the user's selection is to engage in
an Internet session,
then the playback from vcrR is paused and the video signal switch I 16 is
controlled so that the
signal from the Internet appliance I20 is displayed.
Once the current counter-value of vcrR equals C(q) (step fifteen) the portion
of the
program recorded prior to the quit command has been played back and the time
shifting
recording operation ends (step sixteen).
When the resume command is received (Y; step eight), then the recording of
video-in
on verR ends at counter-value C(e) (step seventeen). Thus, the location of the
cassette tape that
contains the just-recorded portion of the TV program is defined by the end
points determined
by values C(s) and C(e). The counter-values C(s),C(e) can be obtained by
taping into the
wiring of the VCR that drives the display that shows the counter value. The
value of C(e) is
stored by the microprocessor 1 10 so that the location of the ending of the
recorded video-in
can later be determined. The resume command can be inputted automatically from
an Internet
site so Ehat when the user has come to the end of related information
contained on the Internet
site a command is sent from the site to the user's Internet appliance 120 that
in turn sends the
resume command to the microprocessor 110.
Once the resume command is received, the microprocessor 1 10 controls the VCRs
I I2,
114 so that the recording VCR, (vcrR; now VCRI I 12) becomes the playback VCR
(vcrP) and
the playback VCR (vcrP; now VCR2 1 14) becomes the recording VCR (vcrR) (step
eighteen).
Thus, in the first iteration of the loop vcrR changes from VCRI 1 12 to VCR2 I
I4, and vcrP
changes from VCR2 I 14 to VCR 1 1 12.
The portion of the television signal that is received during the playback of
the portion
that was received during the pause is recorded so that it can be later viewed.
If it is not already
so tuned, vcrR is tuned to the selected channel SC to receive the television
program (video-in)
(step nineteen). In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the
microprocessor 110
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re-stores the value of C(s) as C(p) and set C(s) to the counter-value at which
recording begins
on vcrR (now, VCR2 I 14) (step twenty).
In this case, the data storage device needs to have enough capacity to store
at least the
five counter-values, C(s), C(e), C(p), C(l) and C(q). The microprocessor I 10
retrieves the value
of C(p) (formerly, C(s)) and vcrP is rewound to counter-value C{s) (the
beginning of the
portion received during the pause). The microprocessor 1 10 sends control
signais to verP to
rewind the cassette until counter-value C(p) is detected (indicating the
beginning of the just-
recorded portion of the TV program. Then once counter-value C(p) is reached,
vcrP is control
to begin playing back the just recorded portion as video-out (step twenty-
one(a)).
At the same time that vcrP is being controlled to rewind to counter-value
C(p), vcrR
(now, VCR2 I 14) is controlled to begin recording the video-in (television
program) starting at
counter-value C(s), and C(s) is stored by the microprocessor 1 10 (or the
counter of VCR2 I 14
is reset to 0:00:00) (step twenty-one(b)). Alternatively, the VCR's counter
can be reset to
00:00:00, and C(s) preset to equal00:00:00.
After the first iteration of t'he loop, when recording video-in on vcrR the
cassette of
verR can be rewound, if necessary, so that the counter-value is again
00:00:00. However,
during the time that the cassette is rewinding, the television program will
not be recorded.
Therefore, it may be preferable to either modify the cassette so that the time
for rewinding is
relatively short, or simply to forego the rewinding operation unless the end
of the tape is
reached. If the cassette is to be modified, the take-up and supply reels of
the cassette can be
constructed so that the supply reef is relatively larger than the take up
reef. Thus, each
revolution of the supply reel (when it is driven in reverse during the rewind
process) will
replace more tape back onto the supply reel than if both reels were of equal
diameter.
The microprocessor 1 10 switches the video signal switch I 16 so that the
played back
video-out is displayed (step twenty-two) on the TV 124 and the user views the
portion of the
television program that was received during the pause. While the video-out is
played back
from vcrP, the video-in continues to be recorded on vcrR. The microprocessor 1
l0 waits for
either the end of video-out (step twenty-three) or another user-inputted pause
command (step
twenty-five or step twenty-eight}.
The end of video-out is determined by detecting when counter-value C(e) is
reached
on vcrP. Thus, the microprocessor 1 10 compares the current counter-value of
vcrP with the
stored value C(e). When the current counter-value equals the stored value
C(e)> then the end of
video-out (for this recorded portion of the program) has been reached (Y; step
twenty-three).
If the end of video-out is not reached (N; step twenty-three), the
microprocessor 110
determines if the stored value C(q) is equal to 0 (step twenty-four). In step
one, C(q) is reset to
0, and it does not change from 0 unless the a quit command is received. Thus,
if C{q) is equal
to 0 (Y; step twenty-four), the quit command has not yet been received, and it
is determined if
a command has been inputted that equals the quit command (step twenty-five).
If the quit
command has been inputted (Y; step twenty-five) then the current counter-value
of vcrR is
stored as C(q) (step twenty-six) and the recording of video-in on vcrR ends
(step twenty-
33
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seven). Control then goes back to~step twenty-two and the video-out continues
to be displayed
without the recording of video-in onto vcrR.
If the quit command is not inputted (N; step twenty-five), then it is
determined if a
pause command is inputted (step twenty-eight). If the pause command is not
received (N; step
twenty-eight), the display of video-out {recorded show portion) from vcrP and
the recording of
video-in (received show portion) onto vcrR continues.
The user may take any number of pauses during the time-shifted viewing of the
television program. When the user inputs a pause command (Y; step twenty-
eight), the
playback of video-out from vcrP is paused and the current counter-value can be
stored as C(I)
by the microprocessor 1 IO (step twenty-nine). The counter-value C(1) is
stored as a marker for
the end of the played-back portion of the time-shifted television program so
that play back can
be picked up where it left off. During the pause, the last frame of video-out,
the real time
program or a blank screen can be displayed, or the user can access the
Internet, watch a user-
determined instant-replay or channel surf.
While the viewing pause is occurring, the video-in (received television
program)
continues to be recorded on vcrR and the user's selection is displayed (step
thirty). The
microprocessor I IO waits for an inputted resume command (step thirty-one). If
the resume
command is not received (N; step twenty), it is determined if the stored value
C(q) is equal to 0.
If C(q) is not equal to 0, then the quit command has already been entered. In
this case, control
goes immediately back to step thirty and the user's selection continues to be
displayed.
Again, if C(q) is equal to 0, then the quit command has not yet been entered.
In this
case, it is determined if the quit command is inputted. If it not {N; step
thirty-three), then the
video signal switch I 16 is controlled so the user's viewing selection is
displayed on the TV 124
(step thirty) while the incoming television program is recorded on vcrR (step
nineteen). If the
quit command is inputted (Y; step thirty-three} then the current counter-value
of vcrR is stored
as C(q) (step thirty-four} and the recording of video-in on vcrR ends (step
thirty-five). Control
then goes back to step twenty-nine and the video-out continues to be displayed
without the
recording of video-in onto vcrR.
When the resume command is received (Y; step thirty-one), then the playback of
the
video-out begins again from vcrP starting at counter-value C(1) (step thirty-
six). Thus, when
the user wishes to begin viewing the program again (or at a time dictated by,
for example, a
response to a web page), a resume. command is inputted. The stream of video
information is
retrieved from the vcrP starting at the last portion of the recorded video
that was displayed
(counter-value C(1)).
Control then goes to step twenty-two, and the video-out from vcrP is displayed
until the
current counter-value of vcrP is equal to the stored value C(e) indicating
that the end of the
recorded portion on vcrP is reached (step twenty-three), another pause command
is received
(step twenty-eight), or if it has not yet been received, the quit command is
inputted (step
twenty-five or step thirty-three).
When the end of video-out is reached (Y; step twenty-three), then it is
determined if the
stored value C(e) is equal to the stored value C(q). This will be affirmative
when the portion of
34
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the program that was recorded when the quit command was entered has been
played back. If
C(e) does not equal C(q}, then it is determined if the quit command has been
inputted yet by
checking if C(q) is equal to 0. If C(q) is still equal to 0, then the end of
the time shifting
operation has not yet been determined.
The quit command is inputted by the user when it is desired to end the time
shifting
operation and stop recording the video-in signal for later time shifted
viewing. When the user
inputs the quit command, the current counter value of vcrR is determined and
stored as value
C(q) in Ehe data storage device 1 18. The recording on vcrR may continue so
that the TV
channel being recorded can be later viewed, or recording can stop all
together.
If the quit command has not yet been received (Y; step thirty-eight), then
control goes
back to step seventeen, and the end of the video-in is recorded on vcrR (in
this, the second
iteration of the loop, the VCR2 1 14) at new counter-value C(e) which is
stored in the data
storage device 118, and the algorithm continues as described above. At the
start of each
iteration of this loop, the recording VCR (vcrR) becomes the playback VCR
(vcrP) and vice-
versa (step eighteen}. Thus, the entire television program is available for
time-shifted viewing.
Until the quit command is entered, the time shifting operation continues even
after the
initial television program has ended. The television programs that are on the
same channel as
the initial program can be watched in a time shifted manner. If the user
wishes to watch
another channel in a time shifted manner, then he inputs the quit command to
end the time
shifting of the current TV channel, switches to another channel, and then
inputs the pause
command to begin time shifted viewing of the new TV channel.
If the quit command has been entered, then C(q} does not equal 0 (N; step
thirty-eight)
and control goes to step thirty-nine where the recording VCR (vcrR) becomes
the playback
VCR (vcrP) and vice-versa (step thirty-nine). In order to end the time
shifting operation, the
stored value C(e) becomes equal tq the stored value C(q) (step forty). Next,
vcrP is then
rewound until the stored value C(s} is reached on the VCR's tape counter, and
then playback
of video-out begins from vcrP. Playback continues until either the pause
command is received
(step twenty-eight) or the end of the last recorded portion of the program has
been displayed
(Y; step twenty-three). Since C(e) has been made equal to C{q) in step forty,
then the values
are compared again in step thirty-seven the time shifting operation will end
(step forty-two).
At the end of the time shifting operation, control can return to step one
where the system is
reset and made ready for the next 'time shifting operation.
A copy of the entire program can be obtained at a Later time if: the program
recording
begins when the program begins; the recorded portions are not destroyed; and
the counter-
values that indicate at least one of the beginning and the ending of each
recorded portion are
stored.
To give the user the option of obtaining a complete recording of the program a
third
VCR can be employed to receive the recorded portions of the program in the
correct sequence
from each of the two VCRs used to effect the above-described time shifted
viewing. If a copy
of the entire program is desired, then one of the VCRs is controlled to record
the program
from the beginning of the program (i.e., before the first user-determined
pause) and the
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counter-values C(s) and C(e) for this recorded portion are stored. During the
time shifted
viewing operation each of the counter-values C(s) and C(e) are stored as welt.
During the time
shifted viewing operation the VCRs are controlled so as to keep the recorded
portions from
being destroyed (that is, the recorded portions are not re-recorded over).
Thus, after the initial
recorded portions on each VCR, each recorded portion on each VCR begins after
the end of
the last recorded portion that had been played back.
After the program has been recorded on the two VCRs, the recorded segments are
played back in the correct sequence as dictated by the stored counter-values
C(s) and/or C(e).
This resulting video signal is fed to a third VCR on which the program is re-
recorded in its
entirety (or what ever portion of it is available from the two VCRs}.
The specific configurations described herein illustrate only some of the
possible
constructions of the inventive time shifting recording device. For example,
the VCRs just
discussed with reference to Figures 7(b) and 8 can be substituted by other
video
recording/pIayback devices, such as DVD drives, computer hard drives, flash
memory, eeprom,
etc. In one practical construction. all the components except for one of the
video storage
devices is incorporated into a single unit. For example, an Internet appliance
can include the
microprocessor 110 (computer CPU) and a DVD-Ram drive (with the DVD-Ram
possibly also
functioning as a computer hard drive). An existing VCR (or other video storage
device) can
be used as the second video storage device. This configuration enables the
unique attributes of
the inventive time shifting recording device while reducing complexity and
cost by utilizing
the video recording/playback capabilities of an already existing VCR.
Figure 9 is a flowchart of an algorithm showing the operational steps of the
configuration of the inventive time shifting event recorder. This operation of
this flow chart is
similar to that of the flowchart shown in Figure 7. However, this flowchart
illustrates the
general steps of the inventive time shifting recording method. In this case,
the recording
mediums can be any combination of recording devices that are suitable for
recording video
and playing back video information, including, but not limited to magnetic
tape, magnetic
disks, optical disks, electronic circuits, etc.
At the start of operation, the recording mediums (med I and med2 are
designated as
medR and medP, respectively) (step one). The video signal is received as video-
in (step two)
and video-in is displayed (step three). As long as a pause command is not
received N; step
four) video-in continues to be displayed. Once the pause command is received
(Y; step four),
a segment of video-in is recorded on medR starting at value R(s) (step five)
and the pause
begins. During the pause, the display shows the user's selection {step six)
which as discussed
herein might be an Internet web site, another television program, a
prerecorded program
(which may be included on the recording mediums med 1 and/or med2 and/or on a
third
medium), etc. The recording of video-in on medR continues (step seven) until a
resume
command is received (Y; step 8).
Once the resume command is received, the end of video-in is recorded on medR
ending at value R(e) (step nine), and medR becomes medP, and medP become medR
(step ten).
The recording of another segment of video-in begins on medR starting at value
R(s) (step
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eleven), and playback as video-out of the previously recorded segment from
medP begins
starting at R(s) (step twelve). Note: R(s) of medP is not the same as R(s) of
medR. The video-
out is displayed (step thirteen) and continues to be displayed (step fourteen)
until either a
pause command is received (step sixteen) or the end of the recorded segment is
reached (step
fifteen). If a pause command is received (Y; step sixteen) then the playback
of video out is
paused and, in an optional step, the value of where the playback is paused is
saved as R(I) (step
seventeen). The user's selection is displayed during the pause (step eighteen)
and recording of
video-in continues on medR (step nineteen). When the resume command is
received (Y; step
twenty) then playback of video-out continues from medP starting at R(1) (step
twenty-one} and
control goes back to step thirteen and video-out is displayed. When the end of
playback of the
recorded segment from medP is reached (Y; step fifteen), then it is determined
if the end of the
show has been reached or if the user has selected to end the time shifting
operation (step
twenty-two). If the time shifting operation is to continue (N; step twenty-
two) then the
program continues from step nine wherein the end of video-in on medR is
recorded at value
R(e) (step nine) and the playback medium (medP) becomes the recording medium
(medR}
and vice versa.
Using recently developed compression schemes, it is now possible to transmit a
movie
at substantially faster-than-real-time data transfer rates. For example, U.S.
Pat. Nos. 4,963,995
and 5,057,932 to Lang describe a burst mode transmission of audio/video
program
information in a burst period of time that is substantially less than the time
required for real
time viewing of that audio/video program information. U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,334
to Lang
describes how this burst mode transmission of audio/video program information
can be used to
provide a video distribution system that will allow subscribers to the system
a choice between a
number of video programs in a type of video-on-demand (VOD} system. F-iowever,
as with the
prior attempts at a VOD system, the subscriber must wait until the entire
program has been
transmitted to and recorded on the subscriber's VCR (or, presumably, other
video recording
device) before viewing of the selected program begins.
In accordance with the present invention, a VOD-type system is provided that
enables a
subscriber to begin viewing the selected program even while it continues to be
receives. Thus,
the subscriber does not have to wait for the entire program to be received
before viewing
begins, making the present invention a substantial improvement over previous
VOD-type
systems.
Figure 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present invention for
use
in an enhanced pay-per-view (PPV) movie system. A subscriber receives pay-per-
view (PPV)
selection options (step one). Of course, the received programs do not
necessarily have to be of
the pay-per-view type, but can be any TV program or movie or other data
stream. The
subscriber selects a PPV movie and send a request to the system provider (step
two). In this
illustration, the movie data is transmitted in received as packets of data,
either compressed (e.g.,
burst mode} or uncompressed. In the case of uncompressed transmission, the
received PPV
movie is viewed like a conventionally received television program, but with
the time shifting
features (user determined pauses, replays, etc.) described herein. In the case
of compressed
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data, the faster-than-real-time transmission capability allows for enhanced
features as described
below. The first packet of data of. the first segment of the move is received
and recorded on
diskR (step three). It is possible that the data packets wilt not be
transmitted in chronological
order. That is, the packets may be received by the subscriber as they become
available on the
system. Thus, the packets may include packet sequence information that is used
to ensure that
the recorded packets are replayed in the correct time sequence. In this case,
the first packet
sequence information may be stored, for example, in RAM, at a memory location
designated
S(s) (step three). The packets of the first segment of the movie continue to
be received and
recorded on diskR, while the packet sequence information for the received
packets is stored
(step four). As in the other embodiments and configurations described herein,
it may be
possible to substitute different recording mediums for the diskR and diskP
(e.g., tape,
electronic memory, etc.). As long as the first segment of the program is still
being received {N;
step five), the packets of the first segment of the movie continue to be
received (step four). In
this example, the first segment of the movie encompasses a length of viewing
time that is
appropriate in terms of the PPV system requirements and limitations. Specific
timing
examples are described below which illustrate this.
Once the first segment is received (Y; step five), the recording on diskR ends
and the
sequence information of the last packet (in terms of viewing time
sequentially) is stored as S(e)
so that the end of the first segment can be later determined (step six).
As with the other example flowcharts, diskR becomes diskP and vice-versa (step
seven).
To facilitate operation, the value of S(s) is given to variable S(p} (step
eight). Playback of the
recorded segment on diskP as video-out begins starting at sequence information
S(p) (step
nine}, while the first packet of the next segment of the movie is received and
stored on diskR
and the first packet sequence information is stored as S(s). Video-out is
displayed (step
eleven) and the viewer watches the selected movie. The packets of the next
segment of the
movie continues to be received and recorded (step twelve) while playback of
the recorded
segment in accordance with the stored packet sequence information continues
(step thirteen).
The packets of the movie data do not necessarily have to be received in the
correct
chronological order, the sequence information is used to ensure that during
playback the
movie is viewed in the correct time sequence.
The end of the recorded segment that is being played back is determined by
detecting
when the current packet sequence being played back is S(e). If the end is not
reached (N; step
fourteen), then video-out continues to be displayed (step eleven); the
received packets continue
to be recorded on diskR (step twelve); and the playback of the recorded
segment from diskP
(step thirteen), continues.
Once the end of the recorded segment has been reached (Y; step fourteen), the
control
goes to step six and the selected PPV program continues to be viewed and
recorded in the time
shifted manner described herein.
This flowchart illustrates how the present invention can be used to allow a
subscriber to
begin viewing a selected program soon after it is selected from a PPV or VOD
system. In
conventional PPV and VOD systems that take advantage of burst mode or
compressed data
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transmissions, the entire program must first be received before is can be
viewed. In systems
that transmit the PPV or VOD selection in real time, the movie is viewed in
the manner of a
broadcast television program. The present invention, on the other hand, allows
the viewer to
begin viewing a compressed transmission movie well before the entire movie is
received and
recorded, and the enhance features of user-determined pauses, replays, etc.
described herein
are available with either compressed or real-time transmitted movies.
Figure 1 1 (a) shows the timing of a movie selected from a VOD system that
transmits
the video data compressed 2:1. In this case, once the movie begins to be
received, the viewer
must wait fifteen minutes for the transmission of a movie with a viewing
length of thirty
minutes. Once the entire movie has been transmitted, the subscriber can begin
viewing.
In contrast, Figure 1 I (b) shows the timing of a movie selected from a VOD-
type
system in accordance with the present invention, The compression rate and
minutes shown are
for illustrative purposes, the timing of an actual compressed movie will vary
depending on
factors such as compression rate, transmission error corrects, In this case,
the first segment of
the movie is transmitted (along with its sequence information if necessary) in
the first minute
of elapsed time and recorded on disk 1. The first segment contains the first
two minutes of the
movie. Once the first segment is received, it is played back from diskl
beginning at minute 2
of the elapsed time. While the first segment is being played back from diskl,
the next segment
of the movie is received and recorded on disk2 during minutes 2 and 3 of the
elapsed time.
The inventive time shifting recording and playback operation continues in the
manner
described herein thereby allowing the viewer to view the entire program
without having to wait
for the entire program to be received. In this example, the viewer would have
had to wait 15
minutes for the movie to be received (see, Figure I 1 (a)) before viewing
could start. In
accordance with the present invention, the viewer begins viewing the movie as
soon as the first
segment of it has been received. Of course, the viewing length of the first
segment could be
even shorter, making the time for it to be received (the time before viewing
begins) less.
Figure I I (c) shows the timing of a movie selected from a VOD-type system as
in
Figure l I(b). In this case, the compression ration is 5:1, meaning that five
minutes of movie
viewing are transmitted each minute. In this case, the viewer receives the
first five minutes of
the movie in the first minute of transmission.
39
