Thomson Licensing

Thomson Licensing S.a.

Thomson Consumer Electronics Inc.

Jianlei James Xie

Mark Alan Schultz

Donald Henry Willis

John Alan Hague

Shu Lin

Steven Anthony Barron

Barth Alan Canfield

Michael Dillon Rich

A method for editing source video in a DVD media for a slow motion recording special effect. According to the method, the DVD device receives a source video signal comprised of a plurality of source pictures. Each of the source video pictures is recorded in a selected picture frame on the DVD media. Subsequently s&#x2212;1 copies of the selected source video picture on the DVD media in s&#x2212;1 frames adjacent to the selected picture frame. For the purposes of the invention as described herein, s can be an integer value determined by a user selected motion speed. The user selected motion speed will be 1/s times slower relative to a normal motion speed. In an alternative embodiment, the method can be used for editing source video in a DVD media for a fast motion record special effect. In that case, the DVD device receives a source video signal comprised of a plurality of source pictures. Only one out of every n of the source video pictures is chosen as a selected source video picture. Each the selected source video pictures is recorded in a selected picture frame on the DVD media. Source video pictures that are not selected source video pictures are dropped. According to the invention, n can be an integer value determined by a user selected motion speed.

Method for editing source video to slow motion or fast motion on the recordable media

A method for providing improved trick mode performance in a DVD having a plurality of video object units where each of the VOBUs contains a navigation pack. The method involves storing on the DVD within each navigation pack certain supplemental disc search information. The SDSI can include one or more of the following: a picture structure of the VOBU; a number of fields to be displayed from each picture in a normal play mode; and a number of groups of pictures contained in said VOBU.

DVD navigation information for improved trick modes

A system and method of identifying programs contained on a disk of any format, including, for example, either a single-sided or a double-sided disk with either a single-layer or multi-layer tracks, are presented. In particular, a dual-sided recording medium is disclosed having respective program data on the first and the second sides of said medium. In addition, the medium has a first area on the first side and a second area on the second side, and the areas have laser encoded data representing individualized information relating to said respective program data. The areas may or may not overlap each other depending on the configuration chosen. Also disclosed is an apparatus for laser encoding the above-described recording medium, and a method for processing a disk having more than one laser encoded areas.

Identification of program information on a recording medium

There is provided an Ebook. The Ebook includes a memory device, a text-to-speech (TTS) module, and at least one speaker. The memory device stores files. The files include text. The TTS module synthesizes speech corresponding to the text. The at least one speaker outputs the speech.

Text-to-speech (TTS) for hand-held devices

A data recorder for a digital video disc includes a first-in, first-out buffer memory. The memory is responsive to an input data signal for sequentially storing in a first-in, first-out manner a running, data of Video Object Units (VOBU's), defined in the Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) Specification for Read Only Disc (the specification), prior to recording the data. In a first embodiment of the invention, the values of each address pointer of a first sub-set of address pointers contained in a field VOBU Search Information (VOBU_SRI), are established in accordance with the VOBU's contained in the buffer memory. The value of each address pointer of a second sub-set of the address pointers, associated with VOBU's positioned further behind, in a sequence of presentation, than each of the VOBU's contained in the memory is not made to conform to the Specification. Thereby, a storage capacity requirement from the buffer memory is reduced. In a second embodiment of the invention, the size of each Cell in the data format is constrained to only 59 VOBU's. The entries for each address pointer of the second sub-set, is made to contain a 'does not exist' code.

Arrangement for recording navigation information in a data recorder

The invention includes a system and method for changing a playback speed of a selected video segment containing field pictures which has been recorded onto a portion of a storage medium. A selected video segment can be modified for a changed playback speed and the modified video segment can be recorded exclusively on the portion of the storage medium. A plurality of non-video packs in the selected video segment can be deleted to reduce the amount of data contained in the modified video segment. The video segment can be modified by adding at least one field picture. Alternatively, the video segment can be modified by removing at least one field picture contained in the video segment. In either arrangement, the video segment can be reencoded to produce a smoother trick mode and playback performance.

Changing a playback speed for video presentation recorded in a field structure format

The invention includes a system and method for changing a playback speed of a selected video segment having a progressive frame structure which has been recorded onto a portion of a storage medium. A selected video segment can be modified for a changed playback speed and the modified video segment can be recorded exclusively on the portion of the medium. A plurality of non-video packs in the selected video segment can be deleted to reduce the amount of data contained in the modified video segment. Alternatively, the resolution of at least one frame in the modified video segment can be reduced. The video segment can contain intra and non-intra frames and can be modified by adding at least one picture. Alternatively, the video segment can be modified by removing at least one picture. The video segment can also be re-encoded for smoother trick mode and playback performance.

Changing a playback speed for video presentation recorded in a progressive frame structure format

The invention includes a system and method for changing a playback speed of a selected video segment having a non-progressive frame structure which has been recorded onto a portion of a storage medium. A selected video segment can be modified for a changed playback speed and the modified video segment can be recorded exclusively on the portion of the storage medium. A plurality of non-video packs in the selected video segment can be deleted to reduce the amount of data contained in the modified video segment. The video segment can be modified by decoding the frames in the video segment, reencoding such frames into their associated field pictures and adding at least one field picture. Alternatively, the video segment can be modified by removing at least one frame or field picture contained in the video segment. In either arrangement, the video segment can be reencoded to produce a smoother trick mode and playback performance.

Changing a playback speed for video presentation recorded in a non-progressive frame structure format

A first method for acquiring data from a recording on a disk medium, comprises the steps of, successively reading bits defining a data set from different parts of the disk, continuously error correcting the bits to validate at least a part of the data set read from the disk, and, terminating reading upon successful validation of the data set by the error correcting step. A second method for acquiring data from a recording on a disk medium, comprises the steps of reading a data set beginning from a first position on the data recording, reading the data set from a second position radially spaced in a first direction from the first position absent acquisition of an error free data set from the first position; and, reading the data set from a third position radially spaced in an opposite direction beyond the first position absent acquisition of an error free data set from the second position.

BCA data replay

The invention includes a system and method for changing a playback speed of a selected video segment having repeat fields. To achieve fast motion play a selected video segment can be modified to delete repeat fields . Further pictures can be deleted as required to achieve a desired playback speed. To achieve slow motion play, a selected video segment can be modified by encoding repeat fields into conventional field pictures. Further pictures can be added as required to achieve a desired playback speed . Further, a repeat first field flag in the picture header of the picture containing the repeat field can be set to zero . Furthermore, a GOP structure of the modified video segment can be reencoded into a conventional or a desired GOP structure. Additionally, the modified video segment can be recorded exclusively on a desired portion of a storage medium

Changing a playback speed for video presentation recorded in a modified film format

A method for controlling MPEG compatible data reproduced in sectors by a digital video disk player. The method comprises the steps of transducing groups of sectors including requested sectors having MPEG compatible data required for processing, and unrequested sectors having MPEG compatible data not required for processing. Coupling the requested sectors exclusive of the unrequested sectors to a data processor for processing. Processing the requested data sectors to extract the required MPEG compatible data representative of video information.

Controlled data flow

An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a disk medium, comprises a transducerwhich transduces the digitally encoded signal. A memory is coupled to the transducer for storing the digitally encoded signal. A decoder is responsive to the digitally encoded signal for decoding a picture therefrom. A controller for the memory, wherein a first operational mode the controller controls the memory to read the stored digitally encoded signal from the memory responsive to a first sequence and in a second operational mode the controller controls the memory to read the stored digitally encoded signal from the memory in a second sequence.

Random picture decoding

An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a medium, comprises a transducer for transducing the digitally encoded signal and generating a bit stream therefrom. A processor is coupled to receive the bit stream for controllably processing the bit stream. A memory is coupled to the processor for storing the processed bit stream information. A controller is coupled to control the memory and the processor for controlling identification of information within the bit stream, wherein the controller controls the processor to identify a specific sector type in the bit stream and responsive to the specific sector identification the controller controls the memory for storing the identified specific sector.

Replay bit stream searching

In an digital disk player the timely acquisition of requested replay sectors is particularly important during trick mode operation. Delay in a transduced bitstream path is substantially obviated from the process of controlling a transducer position during replay by a method comprising the steps of receiving a first and a second transducer address for controlling the transducer position responsive to a replayed address. Comparing the replayed address with the first transducer address to detect equality therebetween. In response to the detected equality moving the transducer to a new position determined by the second transducer address.

Transducer repositioning

Video processing image manipulation and trick play modes provide seamless normal play and trick play functioning. Specifically, a system processes video data including encoded digital packetized data representative of a sequence of individual images and ancillary data identifying characteristics of the individual images. The system involves a pre-processor for parsing the ancillary data to determine characteristics of the individual images prior to storing the encoded digital packetized data. The system also includes a multiplexer for filtering the encoded digital packetized data based on the determined characteristics to identify particular images of the image sequence for storage in a memory and for excluding other images of the sequence from storage.

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Carmel, IN, United States of America

Jianlei James Xie