Motion video signal processing for recording or reproducing – Local trick play processing – With randomly accessible medium
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-14
2001-09-11
Nguyen, Huy (Department: 2615)
Motion video signal processing for recording or reproducing
Local trick play processing
With randomly accessible medium
C386S349000, C386S349000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289163
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to video processing. More particularly, this invention relates to a system and method for accurately capturing a video segment received from a conventional video player into digital form in a cost effective manner and without requiring time code information embedded into the video data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many video images and/or programs are typically stored on conventional media such as magnetic tapes (also referred to as video tapes). These video images and programs can be referred to as video contents. Once stored on the conventional media, the video contents are typically accessed by conventional video playback devices, such as VCRs (Video Cassette Recorder) or video camcorders.
However, video contents stored on these conventional media are typically difficult to manage and manipulate. For example, in order for a user to locate a particular image frame in a video program stored on a magnetic tape, the user has to view the program linearly or sequentially. This means that the user has to view the program from the very beginning of the video program. Alternatively, the user may have to view the video tape that stores the video program and a number of other video programs until the desired image frame is identified. This is typically a very time consuming process. The process can also be very frustrating, especially when the desired image needs to be identified quickly from a large number of video tapes.
In order to reduce the time one needs to find the desired video image in a video program, timing information or time code can be embedded into the video program so that the user can direct the video player to the exact location of the desired video image immediately. In this case, the user inputs the time code into the video player such that the video player fast-forwards to the location of the desired video image. This approach, however, still bears the disadvantage that the user has to remember the time code of each desired image frame.
With the advance of computer technology, it is now possible to store video contents in a computer system digitally. The digitally converted images, video segments, or video programs that are stored in the computer can be quickly retrieved for display. The digital images can also be digitally altered. In addition, the digitally converted video contents allows greater flexibility and ease of manipulation and management.
Due to the storage limitations in a computer system, only a video frame, a video segment, or a number of a video frames or segments of a video program are converted into digital form and then stored in the computer system. This requires the converter that performs the digital video conversion function to have a video capturing function. A number of prior art video capturing systems have been proposed. However, disadvantages are associated with these prior art systems. For example, one type of such prior art video capturing system can only capture video continuously. This system cannot be stopped and restarted when performing the capturing function, which means a large video segment must be digitized, stored, and then edited later. Another type of such prior art video capturing system captures the video contents at relatively low resolution. A yet another type of such prior art video capturing system requires proprietary time code information to be embedded or recorded onto the media. In this case, special device interfaces are also required. The interfaces and time code information allow the computer to control and access specific image frames from the playback device.
Thus, there exists a need to accurately select and seamlessly capture video segments into digital form in a cost effective manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One feature of the present invention is to automatically and accurately capture and store high quality video segments into a computer system from a conventional video player.
Another feature of the present invention is to automatically and accurately capture and store high quality video segments into a computer system from a conventional video player in a cost effective manner.
A further feature of the present invention is to automatically and accurately capture a video segment from a video program without requiring timing information recorded with the video program.
A frame-accurate video capturing system is described. The frame-accurate video capturing system captures a frame-accurate video segment into digital form. The system includes a start and stop frame capturing system that allows a user to identify a start frame and a stop frame of a desired video segment having a plurality of frames from an external video program. The frame-accurate video capturing system also includes a video segment capturing system that automatically captures the desired video segment of the external video program into digital form based on the start and stop frames captured by the frame capturing system.
A method of accurately capturing a video segment from an external video program is also described. The method includes the step of capturing a first set of frames having a start frame of the video segment from the external video program and allowing the user to accurately select the start frame from the first set of frames. Then a second set of frames having a stop frame of the video segment is captured from the external video program. The method allows the user to accurately select the stop frame from the second set of frames. The start and stop frames are then stored in a frame register. The video segment is then automatically captured from the external video program using the captured start and stop frames. The captured video segment is in digital form.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4685003 (1987-08-01), Westland
patent: 4774600 (1988-09-01), Baumeister
patent: 5122886 (1992-06-01), Tanaka
patent: 5157511 (1992-10-01), Kawai et al.
patent: 92/22983 (1992-12-01), None
Agilent Technologies , Inc
Nguyen Huy
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