Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

U.S. Philips Corporation

Entropic Communications, Inc.

Albert M A Rijckaert

Onno Eerenberg

Marinus A H Looykens

Bartel Marinus Van De Sluis

Mark Henricus Verberkt

Wilhelmus Franciscus Johannes Fontijn

Josephus A H M Kahlman

Frits A Steenhof

Wilhelmus H A Br&uuml;ls

Adrianus J M Denissen

Koen Hendrik Johan Vrielink

Erik P M Niessen

Jan P L Mourik

Ewot Brandsma

An apparatus processes a video stream signal. The video stream signal represents a succession of frames, comprising a plurality of dependent frames that each provide for prediction of visual content using selectable ones of a preceding and following anchor frame that precede and follow the plurality of frames respectively. When a shortage of transmission bandwidth occurs, the apparatus generates a processed version of the video stream signal wherein a bit-rate alteration is performed starting from one of the dependent frames before an end of said plurality. Said alteration is executed by substituting a standard prediction from the following anchor frame at least for data in the video stream signal that encodes a region in said one of the dependent frames. The bit rate alteration is accompanied by a switch to a mode in which the processing circuit substitutes a standard prediction from the following anchor frame in all following dependent frames that follow said one of the dependent frames until the following anchor frame, for data in the video stream signal that encodes the region in said following dependent frames. In an embodiment interlacing is killed for the replaced regions.

Replacement of frame data in a video stream signal

A system (), apparatus () and method () are provided to automatically play/suggest at least one audio accompaniment while a sequence of at least one digital image is being displayed such that the audio accompaniment matches the content of the particular sequence of images and matches any provided and/or generated image metadata. Search terms are derived from the images themselves as well as any metadata provided by the user and these search terms are then used to find audio accompaniment that either (1) contains these search terms or synonyms thereof in the image or associated text (e.g., song text) or (2) represents the sound normally associated with the images, such as rushing water sound for an image of a fast flowing brook. The invention accepts user input, locates appropriate audio accompaniment as search results and presents these results to the user either by playing the audio accompaniment while displaying the images or by suggesting a playlist to the user compiled from these results.

System and method for using content features and metadata of digital images to find related audio accompaniment

A video tape recorder is operated with multiple tracks that are physically in parallel to each other and are collectively accessible as a single logical track, through selectively displaying in parallel a plurality of video keyframes. Actual play is controlled through selectively accessing a particular displayed keyframe. In particular, various ones of the displayed keyframes are associated with a value-based display of an analog quantity to indicate an anticipated time lapse that will be necessary before actual play as pertaining to the associated keyframe may effectively start.

Method and device for keyframe-based video displaying using a video cursor frame in a multikeyframe screen

A trick play information stream is generated from a normal play information stream, so that they can be recorded together as a composite information stream on the record carrier, such that upon reproduction in a trick play reproduction mode, an information signal of sufficient quality, e.g., as regards visibility, can be obtained. GOPs are generated, each GOP including an I-frame retrieved from the original normal play information stream, and one or more so-called 'empty P frames'. Another aspect is the requirement of generating GOPs for the trick play information stream that have a constant bitcost per GOP. Again, another aspect lies in the retrieval of the I-frame for the trick play information stream from the normal play information. More specifically, an I-frame is generated by retrieving, from an I-frame included in the normal play information, the DC coefficient of the I-frame and a number of AC coefficients from that I frame, and generating the I-frame for the trick play information stream therefrom. More specifically, the number of AC coefficients for an I-frame of the trick play information signal depends on the difference between the DC coefficients of two subsequent I-frames in the normal play information from which the I-frame to be generated and the just previously generated I-frame for the trick play information signal have been derived.

Trick play signal generation for a digital video recorder using retrieved intra-encoded pictures and generated inter-encoded pictures

A tracking control system is proposed for realizing a tracking control in a trick play reproduction mode in a helical scan reproduction apparatus. The tracking is based on the derivation of a tracking error control signal from the track numbers and the sync block numbers of the sync blocks read from the tracks in the trick play reproduction mode.

Reproduction of a digital information signal in a trick play reproduction mode

A recording apparatus records a first and a second information signal in a first and a second recording mode, respectively. The apparatus uses two substantially identical processing units ( ) for processing the information so as to obtain a signal suitable for recording. Further, a reproducing apparatus reproduces the signals recorded with the recording apparatus.

Recording and reproduction of a first signal with a first bit-rate and a second information signal with a second bit-rate larger than the first bit-rate

A signal processing technique for generating and processing trick play information for recording on a record carrier is used in an apparatus for recording a digital information signal onto a record carrier, in which the apparatus includes a first error correction encoder for error correcting trick play sync blocks generated from the digital information signal, a second error correction encoder for error correcting sync blocks formed from sync blocks of the digital information signal and the error corrected trick play sync blocks, and a third error correction encoder for error correcting each of the error corrected sync blocks. In the technique, the order that the trick play sync blocks provided by the first error correction encoder to the second error correction encoder is not the same as the order in which the third error correction encoder supplies the trick play sync blocks to the writing heads.

Apparatus and method for recording a digital information signal in slant tracks on a record carrier

A format for the recording of trick play signals in which trick play segments, having sync blocks of information of a trick play signal, are recorded in groups of p successive tracks. At least first and second trick play signals are recorded on the record carrier. The first trick play signal is meant for reproduction in a reproduction apparatus at a reproduction speed n times the recording speed with which the trick play signals are recorded on the record carrier. The second trick play signal is meant for reproduction in the reproduction apparatus at a reproduction speed n times the recording speed. Both trick play signals are recorded such that upon reproduction at the speed n times the recording speed, m sync blocks of information of the first trick play signal and m sync blocks of the second trick play signal are read from the record carrier during one revolution of the head drum in the reproduction apparatus.

Recording of trick play signals on a record carrier

A recording apparatus for recording a first information signal, having packets of information and a trick play signal having packets of information, includes a time stamp generator for generating time stamps for the packets. The first digital information signal is meant for a reproduction at a record carrier speed which equals the recording speed, and the second digital signal is meant for a reproduction at a speed n times the recording speed. The time stamp generator includes a first counter for generating subsequent cycles of subsequent first count values so as to supply time stamps for the packets of the first digital information signal, and a second counter for generating subsequent cycles of subsequent second count values so as to supply time stamps for the packets in the second digital information signal, the first counter supplying the first count values at a first rate, the second counter supplying the second count values at a second rate, which equals the first rate divided by n .

Recording of a trick play signal on a record carrier such that the bit-rate during reproduction of the trick play signals is the same as that for normal play

A format for the recording of trick play signals in which trick play segments including sync blocks of information of a trick play signal are recorded in the tracks. At least first and second trick play signals are recorded on the record carrier. The first trick play signal is meant for reproduction in a reproduction apparatus at a reproduction speed n times the recording speed with which the trick play signals are recorded on the record carrier. The second trick play signal is meant for reproduction in the reproduction apparatus at a reproduction speed &minus;n times the recording speed. Both trick play signals are recorded in the tracks such that, upon reproduction at the speed n times the recording speed, m sync blocks of information of the first trick play signal and, upon reproduction at the speed &minus;n times the recording speed, m sync blocks of the second trick play signal are read from the record carrier during one revolution of the head drum in the reproduction apparatus. Further, a direction identifier is stored in the trick play sync blocks, indicating whether a trick play sync block is meant for a specific trick play speed in the forward or in the reverse direction.

Direction identifier for recording of trick play signals on a record carrier

A recording apparatus records an MPEG information signal and a trick play signal in tracks on a record carrier ( ). The trick play signal is meant for reproduction in a corresponding reproduction apparatus at a record carrier trick play speed which is n times the nominal reproduction speed. Time stamps are added to the packets included in the trick play signal, and sync block numbers are added to the sync blocks including a packet, and the sync blocks are recorded at specific positions in the tracks. A specific algorithm is provided to determine those positions, dependent of the time stamps, and the sync block numbers given, such that upon reproduction at the trick play speed, the reproduction apparatus requires a buffer memory of a limited capacity.

Recording of a trick play signal in a helical scan type recording apparatus

A specific sync block numbering is provided for the sync blocks of a trick play signal recorded on a record carrier. This trick play signal is meant for reproduction at a trick play record carrier speed other than the nominal recording speed.

Sync block numbering of trick play signals during recording of such signals on a record carrier

An arrangement for reproducing an electric signal from a track on a magnetic record carrier (,) includes a magnetic read head (,) for reading from the track an electric signal and for supplying the electric signal to an output, and automatic equalizer filter (,), including transconductance-capacitor filter (,). The transc-filter (,) has a tuning signal input (,). The equalizer filter (,) has a control signal input (,) and is adapted to automatically equalize the electric signal read from the track in response to a control signal supplied to its control signal input, and to supply an equalized output signal at its output (,). The tuning signal input of the transc-filter is coupled to the control signal input of the equalizer filter. The arrangement further includes a control signal generator (,) having an output (,) coupled to the control signal input (,) of the equalizer filter (,), the generator being adapted to generate a control signal and to supply the control signal to its output (,). The transconductance-capacitor filter (,) has a magnitude filter characteristic which increases with increasing frequencies in a frequency range below a reference frequency of the filter. The transconductance-capacitor filter is adapted to control the reference frequency in the filter characteristic in response to the control signal, so as to vary the angle of inclination of the filter curve below the reference frequency.

Arrangement for reproducing a digital signal from a track on a magnetic record carrier having an equalizer filter in the form of a transconductance-capacitor filter

A format for the recording of trick play signals in which trick play segments, having sync blocks of information of a trick play signal, are recorded in groups of p successive tracks. At least first and second trick play signals are recorded on the record carrier. The first trick play signal is meant for reproduction in a reproduction apparatus at a reproduction speed n,time the recording speed with which the trick play signals are recorded on the record carrier. The second trick play signal is meant for reproduction in the reproduction apparatus at a reproduction speed n,times the recording speed. Both trick play signals are recorded such that upon reproduction at the speed n,times the recording speed, m,sync blocks of information of the first trick play signal and m,sync blocks of the second trick play signal are read from the record carrier during one revolution of the head drum in the reproduction apparatus.

An apparatus for recording an information signal forming slant tracks (T,) on a magnetic record carrier (,), and for recording a control (CTL) signal forming a longitudinal CTL track (,). At least one write head (,) located on a rotatable head drum (,) writes the information signal on the record carrier to produce the slant tracks, while a CTL write head (,) writes the CTL signal at a specific frequency on the record carrier. In a first recording mode, a portion of the information signal is recorded by the write head (,) to produce a track during each revolution of the head drum on the record carrier, the frequency of the CTL signal being such that an edge in the CTL signal is written in the CTL track for each of the tracks, and the record carrier (,) being transported with a predetermined first speed, and the head drum (,) being rotated with a predetermined rotational velocity. In a second recording mode, the information signal produces a track of information during each n-th revolution of the head drum (,), while the record carrier is transported at a second speed substantially equal to the first speed divided by n, in the second recording mode, and the head drum is rotated at the same predetermined rotational velocity.

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Albert M A Rijckaert