Abstract:
A digital video recorder employing standard hard disk arrays employs a caching system to enable continuous video data to be supplied to and provided from the standard disk drives which may not be adapted for continuous data stream operation. The system is implemented as an array of disk drives and includes cache management functions for governing disk read and write operations. A predictor enables the cache to predict disk reads and disk writes and to maintain the cache based on the predictions. Redundancy enables playback in the event of failure of a drive in the array and also provides improved playback data retrieval time.
Abstract:
A memory buffer allowing preliminary access to an upstream data portion in a data stream and a method for allowing the access. This memory buffer is a “peek-ahead” FIFO comprising a data input that receives a data stream, a data output, a circular FIFO buffer that stores data from the input at a circulating read location and provided data from a circulating write location to the data output. The memory buffer also has read and write pointers that indicate the read and write locations in the FIFO buffer. If the upstream data portion is stored in the memory buffer, the read pointer can temporarily advance by an offset number of memory locations to allow reading of the upstream data portion. In one embodiment, this memory buffer is included in a DVD decoder and is used to identify the type of an incoming packet before the entire header of the packet is processed. Also described is a method and system for parsing data words from an interleaved byte stream. The method has steps of: (a) reading a byte from the byte stream, (b) determining a type of the byte, that is—what type of data is carried in the packet that it comes from, (c) storing the byte in a word-length buffer for its type, (d) transferring the buffer to a word-write memory if the buffer is full, and (e) repeating steps (a)-(d) for subsequent bytes in the data stream.
Abstract:
A video camera using a disk-type recording medium is capable of allowing the user to extend the remaining record time easily. In the control sequence, step 2 detects whether the record time extension key is pressed. The sequence proceeds to step 3 if the key is pressed, or otherwise proceeds to step 5. Step 3 calculates the extendable remaining record time and displays it. When the storage space runs out during the recording of the video signal of an intended shot scene, step 4 searches for the largest record area or nearest record area of NG scene based on management information which is recorded on the recording medium for the video signal of each shot scene, moves the recording head to the area, and records the video signal of intended scene continuously by overwriting in the area. Step 5 detects whether the record time remains. The sequence proceeds to step 6 to terminate the recording operation if the record time runs out, or otherwise returns to step 2. Management information including record positions of video signals is stored temporarily in the memory, and it is recorded in the management information area of the recording medium when the recording is halted or terminated.
Abstract:
A sub-picture packet is encoded using a packet header containing a time stamp, sub-picture data containing compressed pixel data, one or more display control sequences, and a sub-picture unit header. The time stamp indicates the playback start time of the sub-picture packet. The display control sequence defines the order of display of the sub-picture data. The sub-picture unit header indicates the size of the sub-picture packet and the location of the display control sequence. The encoded sub-picture packet is decoded, and displayed based on the display control sequence.
Abstract:
A method for playing back multiple kinds of optical discs includes making a decision as to whether a played back optical disc is classified into a digital video disc (DVD) or compact disc (CD) class, detecting the synchronization pattern of the identified disc class, reading a data stream from the optical disc by controlling the voltage controlled oscillation and the constant linear speed of the disc according to the identified disc class, decoding the data stream into the identified disc class according to the detected synchronization pattern, and transferring the decoded data stream to an audio/video decoder or a ROM decoder.
Abstract:
In a system having a digital video disc (DVD) player and a number of presentation devices (such as a television receiver, video cassette recorder/reproducer, and so forth), the DVD player may transmit presentation data and a portion of control or navigation data obtained from a digital video disc (DVD) to a desired one of the presentation devices in an isochronous communication manner so as to enable the respective presentation device to process or decode the presentation data in accordance with the transmitted portion of the navigation data without substantial time delays (or in real time). The remaining portion of the navigation data (which is not utilized in such real time processing) may be transmitted from the DVD player to the respective presentation device in an asynchronous communication manner. Such arrangement of isochronous and asynchronous communication enables processing to be performed by the respective presentation device so as to reduce the amount of processing which may otherwise have to be performed by the DVD player.
Abstract:
A multimedia optical disc including data area and index area is provided. The data area includes objects each of which includes video data. The index area includes sub-areas. Each sub-area includes addresses of objects selected from the objects in the data area, a flag indicating a random reproduction of the objects selected, and a number of repeats of the random reproduction.
Abstract:
A multimedia optical disk is provided. The multimedia optical disk includes a data area for storing objects which include moving picture data and at least one of audio data and sub-picture data. The multimedia optical disk also includes an index area for storing reproduction orders of the objects. Route information in the index area includes a sequence of addresses of objects whose alignment represents a reproduction order. Chain control information in the index area corresponds to the route information. The chain control information, being effective in reproducing objects specified by the alignment of the sequence of addresses (objects specified by the alignment of the sequence of addresses are called a chain), instructs the reproduction apparatus to have a navigation control of the chain. A piece of moving picture data having a certain time period is reproduced at the same timing as a piece of audio data and a piece of sub-picture data. A piece of sub-control information, being effective in reproducing moving picture data, sub-picture data, and audio data stored in a small unit instructs the reproduction apparatus to have a navigation control of the data stored in the same small unit.
Abstract:
A multimedia optical disk is provided. The multimedia optical disk includes a data area for storing objects which include moving picture data and at least one of audio data and sub-picture data. The multimedia optical disk also includes an index area for storing reproduction orders of the objects. Route information in the index area includes a sequence of addresses of objects whose alignment represents a reproduction order. Chain control information in the index area corresponds to the route information. The chain control information, being effective in reproducing objects specified by the alignment of the sequence of addresses (objects specified by the alignment of the sequence of addresses are called a chain), instructs the reproduction apparatus to have a navigation control of the chain. A piece of moving picture data having a certain time period is reproduced at the same timing as a piece of audio data and a piece of sub-picture data. A piece of sub-control information, being effective in reproducing moving picture data, sub-picture data, and audio data stored in a small unit instructs the reproduction apparatus to have a navigation control of the data stored in the same small unit.
Abstract:
In an optical disk storing digital image information in the form of a succession of blocks, each comprising a plurality of frames having I-, P- and B-pictures, an address format is preformatted in front of the block of image information of the plurality of frames. The data arrangement within each image information blocks is such that I- and P-pictures are collectively disposed. The position of the I-pictures within each block is shifted from one block to another. The I-picture data may be divided into fraction according to the position on the screen, the DCT frequency, or layering, and the fractional I-picture data may be arranged in the image information blocks, and a header or parity signal is recorded in front of each fractional I-picture data.