Motion video signal processing for recording or reproducing – Local trick play processing – With randomly accessible medium
Reexamination Certificate
1997-04-01
2001-05-08
Garber, Wendy (Department: 2715)
Motion video signal processing for recording or reproducing
Local trick play processing
With randomly accessible medium
C386S349000, C348S515000, C369S047360, C370S517000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06229953
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an information input apparatus. More particularly, it relates to an information input apparatus whereby, when a second type of information has been input in a format added to a first type of information, after having recorded the first type of information with header information including the input date and time of the first type of information, addition of information can be performed easily by recording the second type of information while annexing header information identical to or related to the first type of information.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, it has been made possible to record video images and sounds on magnetic tape (video tape) using devices such as a video camera.
Furthermore, as a type of information input apparatus to photograph objects, electronic cameras have been used widely that convert the photographic images into digital image data and record it on recording media such as memory cards. Certain conventional digital cameras have a sound recording function. However, such conventional digital cameras record sounds only in a predefined time period for each photographic image when operating the sound recording switch while photographing the objects.
Among the conventional electronic cameras discussed above are those having the function (sound recording time modification switch) of modifying the sound recording time for one frame of the photographic images, e.g., to 15 seconds, 10 seconds, 5 seconds, etc., and the user can set the desired sound recording time per frame of the photographic images by operating this modification switch.
Furthermore, there is also technology that records video images and sounds on a 2-inch, so-called still video floppy. In this case, to record simultaneously the video images and sounds, it is necessary that the tracks on which the video images are recorded be next to those on which the sounds are recorded.
With conventional digital cameras, when first photographing video images using a video camera and thereafter adding sounds to those video images, such operations become complicated since it is necessary to rewind the video tape to the position where it is desired to add the sounds. Furthermore, it is necessary to record the sounds while synchronizing them with the video images recorded in that position. Similar operations become necessary even when the sounds are recorded first and the video images are added thereafter.
Additional problems occur when recording video images and sounds using conventional electronic cameras. For example, to record sounds when photographing objects in continuous mode, such as when photographing at 30 frames per second, it is necessary to synchronize the sound recording time per frame to the photographic interval of one frame ({fraction (1/30)} seconds).
When reproducing recorded photographic images and sounds wherein the recording time of the sounds per frame is shorter than the photographic interval at that time, the sounds that get reproduced are disconnected (continuous sounds are not reproduced).
Additionally, when the recording time of the sounds per frame is longer than the photographic interval at that time, once again there is a lack of synchronization between the images and the sound.
Conventional information input apparatus do not include a means for setting the sound recording time to be equal to the photographic interval of each frame in continuous mode, even when using the sound recording time modification switch mentioned above.
Another inherent problem with conventional information input technology such as the still video floppy mentioned above, is that in order to add sounds to recorded video images, it is necessary to empty the tracks next to the tracks on which the video images are recorded, and thereafter to record the sounds on those tracks. Such operations are complicated and time consuming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is made in consideration of the above-discussed inherent problems with conventional information input apparatus, and is intended to make it possible to easily input video images and sounds in proper synchronization.
The information input apparatus of the present invention comprises a photographic means that photographs objects; a sound recording means that records sounds; a first modification means that modifies the number of frames of the photographic images per unit time of the photographic means; a second modification means that modifies the sound recording time of the sound recording means per frame of the photographic images, corresponding to the number of frames of the photographic images modified by the first modification means; and a recording means that records in a first area each frame of the photographic images photographed by the photographic means, and records in a second area the sounds recorded by the sound recording means for each frame of the photographic images.
In the information input apparatus of the present invention, the photographic means photographs objects, and the sound recording means records sounds. The first modification means modifies the number of frames of the photographic images per unit time of the photographic means. The second modification means modifies the sound recording time of the sound recording means per frame of the photographic images, corresponding to the number of frames of the photographic images modified by the first modification means. The recording means records in a first area each frame of the photographic images photographed by the photographic means, and records in a second area the sounds recorded by the sound recording means for each frame of the photographic images.
The information input apparatus of the present invention further comprises an input means that inputs multiple types of information; a conversion means that digitizes the information input by the input means; a detection means that detects the input time of the information input by the input means; an annexing means that annexes to the digitized information header information representing the input time of the input information; a recording means that records the information having annexed the header information; and a reproduction means that reproduces the information recorded by the recording means; whereby, when a second type of information is input while a first type of information recorded by the recording means is being reproduced, the annexing means, annexes to the first type of information and the second type of information the identical or related header information.
In the information input apparatus of the present invention, the input means inputs multiple types of information. The conversion means digitizes the information input by the input means. The detection means detects the input time of the information input by the input means. The annexing means annexes to the digitized information header information representing the input time of the input information. The recording means records the information having annexed the header information. The reproduction means reproduces the information recorded by the recording means. The annexing means, when a second type of information is input while a first type of information recorded by the recording means is being reproduced, annexes to the first type of information and the second type of information the identical or related header information.
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Ejima Satoshi
Hamamura Akihiko
Garber Wendy
Nikon Corporation
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Onuaku Christopher
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