MXPA05011872A - Method and apparatus for enabling sub-channel recording and playback - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus (20) such as a television signal receiver controls a digital recording device (40) via a digital data bus(30) to enable sub-channel recording and playback. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus (20) includes a processor (14) that is operative to process signals representing a plurality of sub-channels to generate digital data for a first one of the sub-channels. The digital data includes program data and identification data for the first sub-channel. An input/output terminal (13) is operative to provide the digital data to a digital recording device (40) via a digital data bus (30).

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS TO ALLOW SUB-CHANNEL RECORDING AND REPRODUCTION CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority for and all benefits that result from two (2) provisional applications filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on May 05, 2003 and July 2, 2003, and serial numbers assigned there 60 / 467,950 and 60 / 488,825, respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to techniques for controlling a digital recording device, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for controlling a digital recording device through a digital data bus for allow sub-channel recording and playback.

Background Information A digital data bus can be used to transmit digital data in a network between digital devices, such as television signal receivers, personal computers (PCs), display devices, video cassette recorders (VCRs), disc players versatile digital (DVD), direct broadcast satellite receivers (DBS), home control devices (for example, security systems, temperature control devices, etc.), and / or other devices. A digital data bus is typically according to a particular specification or standard. An example of a standard wired digital bus includes the High Performance Series Bus 1394 from the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), which is well known in the art. Wireless digital bus standards, such as Hiperlan2, are also known in the art. When digital data is recorded on a digital recording device, such as an auto / video hard disk drive (AVHDD), digital video cassette recorder (DVCR), or other digital recording device through a wired digital bus ( for example, IEEE-1394, Ethernet, etc.) and / or Wireless (for example, Hiperlan2, WI-FI, etc.), some content can be of a very large bandwidth for the digital recording device to record properly all the digital data. For example, certain digital data streams such as Quadrature Modulated Amplitude 256 (QAM) digital cable streams may include too much data for certain digital recording devices to properly record the entire digital data stream. In other words, the digital recording device can essentially be flooded with data, and consequently, be unable to adequately record the entire digital data stream. Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus, which avoids the aforementioned problem, and is therefore capable of reducing the amount of data provided to a digital recording device. The present invention addresses these and / or other issues.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method for allowing digital recording is described. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method comprises the steps of receiving signals representing a plurality of sub-channels, processing the received signals to generate digital data for a first of the sub-channels, wherein the digital data includes program data. and identification data for the first sub-channel, and providing the digital data to a digital recording device through a data bus. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is described. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises processing means for processing the signals representing a plurality of sub-channels to generate digital data for a first of the sub-channels. The digital data includes program data and identification data for the first sub-channel. The input / output means provide the digital data to a digital recording device through the data bus. According to still another aspect of the present invention, a television signal receiver is described. According to an exemplary embodiment, the television signal receiver comprises a processor that is operative to process signals representing a plurality of sub-channels to generate digital data for a first of the sub-channels. The digital data includes program data and identification data for the first sub-channel. An input / output terminal is operative to provide the digital data to a digital recording device via a data bus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The aforementioned and other characteristics and advantages of this invention and the way to achieve them, will become more evident and the invention will be better understood with reference to the following description of the embodiments of the invention taken together with the accompanying drawings , wherein: FIG. 1 is a convenient exemplary environment for implementing the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram that provides additional details of the apparatus of FIG. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the exemplary steps, according to one aspect of the present invention; and FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the exemplary steps, according to another aspect of the present invention. The exemplifications set forth herein illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be considered in any way as limiting the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, an exemplary environment 100 convenient to implement the present invention is shown. As indicated in FIG. 1, the environment 100 comprises user input means such as the user input device 10, control means such as the apparatus 20, digital bus means such as the digital data bus 30, and the digital recording means such as the digital recording device 40. The user input device 10 is operative to receive user inputs that control the operation of the apparatus 20 and / or the digital recording device 40. According to an exemplary embodiment, the device of knowledge 10 comprises a plurality of keys and transmits command signals such as wireless infrared (IR) and / or radio frequency (RF) signals to the apparatus 20 in response to user depression of its keys. The user input device 10 may, for example, be embodied as a portable remote control device, wired and / or wireless keyboard, or other user input device. The apparatus 20 is operative to receive signals that include audio, video and / or data signals in analog and / or digital format represented as channels of one or more signal sources such as terrestrial, cable, satellite signal sources, of Internet and / or others. As will be described later herein, each channel may include a plurality of sub-channels. The apparatus 20 is also operative to process these received signals and provide processed signals, as well as command signals, to one or more devices including the digital recording device 40 via the digital data bus 30. The apparatus 20 can also receive signals of one or more devices including the digital recording device 40 through the digital data bus 30. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus 20 controls the digital recording device 40 through a digital data bus 30 to allow the sub-channel recording and playback. Further details will now be provided herein with respect to these aspects of the apparatus 20. The digital data bus 30 is operative to transmit digital signals between devices including the apparatus 20 and the digital recording device 40. According to an exemplary embodiment, the digital data bus 30 can be embodied as a wired and / or wireless digital bus that is according to a given standard specification or bus. For example, the digital data bus 30 may be embodied as a wired digital bus such as an IEEE-1394 bus and / or a wireless digital bus such as a Hiperlan2 bus.

The digital recording device 40 is operative to digitally record data including audio data, video and / or others provided from the apparatus 20 through the digital data bus 30. The digital data recorded by the digital recording device 40 can also be provided to the device 20 through the digital data bus 30 for its emission during the reproduction. According to an exemplary embodiment, the digital recording device 40 can be embodied as any type of digital recording device such as an AVHDD, DVCR, or other digital recording device that is in accordance with the standard bus (e.g., IEEE -1394, Hiperlan2, etc.) of the digital data bus 30. Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram is shown which provides additional details of the apparatus 20 of FIG. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 20 of FIG. 2 comprises front panel means such as front panel assembly (FPA) 1 1, amplification means such as amplifier 12, and input / output means (I / O) such as block I / O 13, processing such as processor 14, and memory means such as memory 15. Some of the aforementioned elements of FIG. 2 can be realized using integrated circuits (ICs), and some elements, for example, can be included in one or more ICs. For clarity of the description, certain conventional elements associated with the apparatus 20, such as certain control signals, energy signals and / or other elements, may not be shown in FIG. 2. The FPA 1 1 is operative to receive the user inputs of the user input device 1 0, and output signals corresponding to the user inputs to the amplifier 12. According to an exemplary embodiment, the FPA 1 1 receives signals, such as IR and / or RF signals, of the user input device 10 and generates the corresponding signals, which are output to the amplifier 12. The amplifier 12 is operative to amplify the signals provided from the FPA 1 1 to output to the processor 14. The I / O block 13 is operative to perform the I / O functions of the apparatus 20. According to an exemplary embodiment, the I / O block 13 is operative to receive signals such as audio, video and / or data signals in analog and / or digital format represented as channels of one or more signal sources such as terrestrial, cable, satellite, Internet and / or other signal sources. As previously indicated herein, each channel may include a plurality of sub-channels. The I / O block 13 is also operative to output the processed signals, as well as command signals, to one or more other devices including the digital recording device 40, and to receive signals from one or more devices including the recording device. digital 40. According to an exemplary embodiment, the I / O block 13 includes a plurality of input and / or output terminals including at least one bidirectional terminal, such as that connected to the digital data bus 30. The processed 14 is operational to develop various signal processing and control functions of the apparatus 20. According to an exemplary embodiment, the processor 14 processes the signals provided from the I / O block 13 by developing functions including tuning, demodulation, advanced error correction, and functions of transport processing to thereby generate digital data representing one or more sub-channels. The digital data produced from such processing functions can be provided for further processing (eg, MPEG decoding, etc.) and display, and / or can be provided to one or more other devices including the digital recording device 40 through of the digital data bus 30. The digital data generated by the processor 14 may be in the form of packetized streams, which are known in the art. Accordingly, the terms "data packet" and / or "digital data stream" can be used herein to refer to such digital data. The processor 14 is also operative to receive and process signals such as the command signals provided through the user input device 10., and such command signals can be used to control the apparatus 20 and / or the digital recording device 40. According to an exemplary embodiment, the processor 14 can generate command signals such as video / control audio protocol signals ( AV / C) as defined by the Trademark Association 1394, Grapevine, Texas, USA. , or signals from another protocol, in response to the signals generated from the user input device 10. The command signals generated by the processor 14 can be used to control the devices connected to the digital data bus 30 such as the recording device. digital 40. The processor 14 also develops a packet identifier (PID) filtering process that filters all data packets in a received channel, except for those data packets having the desired PIDs corresponding to the program guide data and one or more sub-channels chosen by a user to record. The PID filtering process can be used to reduce the amount of data provided to the digital recording device 40 thus reducing its bandwidth requirements. Additional details regarding this aspect of the present invention will be provided hereinafter. Processor 14 may also perform various other functions such as, but not limited to, reading data from and writing data to memory 15, allowing menu displays, signal format detection, and / or other functions described in the present. The memory 15 is operative to develop the data storage functions of the apparatus 20. According to an exemplary embodiment, the memory 15 stores data such as software code, current mode of operation data, data set by the user, data of menu and / or other data, which allows the processor 14 to develop various functions that are described herein.

With reference to FIG. 3, a flow chart 300 illustrating the exemplary steps according to one aspect of the present invention is shown. In particular, FIG. 4 illustrates how a recording operation can be developed according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. For purposes of example and explanation, the steps of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to the elements shown in the environment 100 of FIG. 1 . The stages of FIG. 3 are merely exemplary, and are not intended to limit the present invention in any way. In step 301, a recording key of the user input device 10 is pressed by a user to initiate a recording operation of one or more sub-channels of a channel. According to an exemplary embodiment, step 301 occurs while the apparatus 20 is receiving signals such as audio, video and / or data signals represented as a particular channel of a signal source such as a terrestrial signal source, cable, satellite, Internet and / or other. The apparatus 20 is capable of processing these received signals using the processor 14 to thereby generate a stream of digital data representing a plurality of sub-channels included within the particular channel. Also according to this exemplary embodiment, the apparatus 20 provides an on-screen menu which allows the user to choose whether they want to record the entire digital data stream (i.e., all sub-channels of the channel), or only a part of the digital data stream (that is, one or more sub-channels of the channel). For example, a user may choose to record only the particular sub-channel he or she is currently viewing. Accordingly, the user presses the record key of the user input device 10 in step 301 to initiate a recording operation of one or more sub-channels included within the received channel. In step 302, the apparatus 20 determines whether it is currently in a recorded mode. During the recording mode, the apparatus 20 outputs data to a recording device such as the digital recording device 40 for recording. According to an exemplary embodiment, the processor 14 reads the operation mode data stored in the memory 15 to determine whether the apparatus 20 is currently in the etching mode in step 302. If the determination in step 302 is positive , the flow of the process advances to step 303 where no change in the operation occurs. Alternatively, if the determination in step 302 is negative, the process flow proceeds to step 304 where the apparatus 20 determines whether the etching mode is enabled and a failure recording device is identified. According to an exemplary embodiment, a device setting process 20 allows users to selectively enable or disable their recording mode, and choose a fault recording device (if the recording mode is enabled). Accordingly, in step 304, the processor 14 reads certain data set by the user stored in the memory 15 to thereby determine whether the etching mode is enabled and a failure recording device is identified. If the determination in step 304 is negative, the process flow proceeds to step 305 where the apparatus 20 leaves the recording operation under the control of the processor 14. Alternatively, if the determination in step 304 is positive, the flow of the process proceeds to step 306 wherein the apparatus 20 determines whether the current channel is a digital channel. According to an exemplary embodiment, the processor 14 makes the determination in step 306 by detecting whether the signals currently received by the apparatus 20 are digital format signals such as the type signals of the Advanced Television Standards Committee (ATSC). If the determination in step 306 is negative, the process flow returns to step 305 where the apparatus 20 leaves the recording operation under the control of the processor 14. Alternatively, if the determination in step 306 is positive, the process flow proceeds to step 307 where the apparatus 20 determines whether the PID filtering is to be performed. According to an exemplary embodiment, the processor 14 can use a PID filtering process to block the sub-channel if the user has chosen in step 301 not to record all the sub-channels in the received channel. In such a case, the processor 14 uses the PIDs as the basis for blocking all sub-channels in the received channel, except for the program guide data and the one or more sub-channels chosen by the user to record. If the determination in step 307 is positive, the process flow proceeds to step 308 where the PID filter of the processor 14 is started for the purpose of performing the PID filtering process during the recording operation according to the recording selection. of the user's sub-channel. From step 308, the process flow proceeds to step 309 where the apparatus 20 initiates the recording operation by providing an engraving command signal and a digital data stream filtered by PID to the digital recording device 40 through a digital data bus 30 under the control of the processor 14. According to an exemplary embodiment, the processor 14 filters all data packets in the received channel, except those data packets having the desired PIDs corresponding to the data of the program and the one or more sub-channels chosen by the user to record. The filtration of the data packets can be developed using methods known in the art. In this way, only the data packets having the desired PIDs are provided to the digital recording device 40 for recording. According to an exemplary embodiment, all secondary audio packets can also be filtered to further reduce bandwidth requirements. Alternatively, the applicable secondary audio packets and other packets, such as the sub-picture packets can be passed to the digital recording device 40 based on the selection of the user if the digital data bus 30 has sufficient bandwidth, and the digital recording device 40 is capable of handling the additional data. In this regard, the apparatus 20 may choose a bandwidth limit, and the user may be prompted to choose digital data streams to be filtered when the bandwidth limit is exceeded. Alternatively, if the determination in step 307 is negative, the process flow proceeds to step 309 where the apparatus 20 initiates the recording operation by providing the recorded command signal and all (i.e., not filtered) the recording current. digital data to the digital recording device 40 through a digital data bus 30 under the control of the processor 14. The recording command signal provided to the digital recording device 40 in step 309 may, for example, be a AV / C protocol command, or a command signal from another protocol. The digital data stream provided to the digital recording device 40 in step 309 includes the program data (e.g., audio and / or video data) for one or more sub-channels, as well as the program guide data. In step 31 0, the apparatus 20 can cause the digital recording device 40 to store the identification data for the channel and the sub-channel (s) being recorded in a predetermined memory location. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus 20 obtains the identification data of the channel and sub-channel of the program guide data included in the digital data stream under the control of the processor 14. For example, the identification data of the channel and sub-channel can be obtained from the data of the program association table (PAT), data from the program map table (PMT), and / or information from the Program and Systems Information Protocol (PSIP) included in the program guide data. Also according to an exemplary embodiment, the predetermined memory location used in step 310 includes a title field used to store the titles or names of the recordings, although other predetermined memory locations or fields may also be used. For example, if the digital recording device 40 is an AVHDD, the title field for each track is stored in the content table area. Therefore, using the title field or equivalent (eg, name block) to store the channel and sub-channel identification data may be desirable since this allows the channel and sub-channel information to be displayed to the user as part of the title during playback. Conversely, the channel and sub-channel identification data may be stored at the end of the title field (or other) so that the channel and sub-channel information is cut off when the title is displayed to the user. According to another exemplary embodiment, if the title information already occupies the total length of the title row, the last part of the title field (for example, the last 10 bytes, etc.) can be over written with the data of identification of the channel and sub-channel. To allow storage of data in step 310, the apparatus 20 provides a command signal and identification data for the channel and sub-channel (s) being recorded to the digital recording device 40 through the digital data bus 30 under the control of the processor 14 which causes the digital recording device 40 to store the identification data of the channel and sub-channel in the predetermined memory location. The command signal provided in step 310 may, for example, be an AV / C protocol command signal, or a command signal from another protocol. For example, with the AV / C protocol, a BLOCK WRITE INFO command signal may be used by the apparatus 20 in step 310 to cause the digital recording device 40 to store the channel and subchannel identification data. in the default memory location, such as the name information block. According to an exemplary embodiment, the channel and sub-channel identification data have a predetermined format, such as "XXX-YYY" where "XXX" represents a three-digit channel number and "YYY" represents a number of three-digit sub-channel. This type of format, for example, can be used for each recorded sub-channel. Other types of predetermined formats can also be used for the identification data of the channel and sub-channel. The step 31 0 described above can be particularly useful in enabling a reproduction operation according to the present invention. In particular, when the aforementioned PID filtering process is used during a recording operation, a problem may occur if the apparatus 20 is unable to edit certain program guide data such as the PAT and PMT data included in the data stream. digital data provided to the digital recording device 40. Without such program guide data being edited, the data recorded by the digital recording device 40 will include the program guide data for all sub-channels included in the particular digital data stream, even if the user has chosen to record only a single sub-channel. Consequently, the user can be falsely guided to believe that certain sub-channels have been recorded and that they can be played. For example, the user may choose to play a given sub-channel and thereby cause the apparatus to search the data of the sub-channel that is referenced in the recorded program guide data (e.g., PAT, PMT), but it is not present in the recorded digital data stream since it was previously filtered by the PID filtering process. As a result, the user can be provided with a blank screen without audio during playback thus creating an unpleasant viewing experience. As will be described later herein, the storage identification data for the channel and sub-channel (s) recorded in step 310 help to avoid this problem. With reference to FIG. 4, a flow diagram 400 illustrating the exemplary steps according to another aspect of the present invention is shown. In particular, FIG. 4 illustrates how a reproduction operation can be developed according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. For purposes of example and explanation, the steps of FIG. 4 will also be described with reference to the elements shown in the environment 100 of FIG. 1. The stages of FIG. 4 are merely exemplary, and are not intended to limit the present invention in any way. In step 401, a play key of the user input device 10 is pressed by the user to initiate a playback operation of a recorded sub-channel. In step 402, the apparatus 20 determines whether it is currently in the playback mode. During the playback mode, the apparatus 20 allows an output corresponding to the recorded data provided from a recording device such as the digital recording device 40. According to an exemplary embodiment, the processor 14 reads the stored operation mode data in the memory 15 to determine whether the apparatus 20 is in the reproduction mode in step 402. If the determination in step 402 is positive, the process flow proceeds to step 403 where no change in operation occurs . Alternatively, if the determination in step 402 is negative, the process flow proceeds to step 404 where the apparatus 20 determines whether the digital recording device 40 has stored the identification data of the channel and sub-channel at the location of the device. default memory. As previously described herein, the apparatus 20 may cause the digital storage device 40 to store the identification data of the channel and sub-channel in the predetermined memory location, such as the title field or other location, during a recording operation in step 310 of FIG. 3. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus 20 makes the determination in step 404 by providing a command signal to the digital recording device 40 via the digital data bus 30 under the control of the processor 14 to thereby read the data from the default memory location. The command signal provided in step 404 may be, for example, an AV / C protocol command signal, or a command signal from another protocol. For example, with the AV / C protocol, a BLOCK READ INFO command signal can be used by the apparatus 20 in step 404 to read any data from the predetermined memory location, such as the name information block. As previously indicated herein, the channel and sub-channel identification data may be stored in the predetermined memory location according to a predetermined format (for example, "XXX-YYY" where "XXX" represents a number three-digit channel and "YYY" represents a three-digit sub-channel number). Accordingly, the apparatus 20 can easily detect whether the digital recording device 40 has stored the identification data of the channel and sub-channel in a predetermined memory location based on the format of any read data. If the determination in step 404 is negative, the process flow proceeds to step 405 where the apparatus 20 attempts to reproduce the first sub-channel. According to an exemplary modality, the apparatus 20 attempts to initiate the playback operation in step 405 by providing a playback command signal to the digital recording device 40 via the digital data bus 30 under the control of the processor 14. The playback command signal may be , for example, an AV / C protocol command signal, or a command signal from another protocol. The reproduction command signal provided in step 405 causes the digital recording device 40 to provide the stored digital data including the program data (e.g., audio and / or video data) for the sub-channel (s). en) recordings and program guide data to the apparatus 20. The apparatus 20 processes the digital data received under the control of the processor 14 and thus attempts to enable an atrial and / or visual emission corresponding to the first sub-channel. In particular, the processor 14 attempts to tune the first sub-channel based on the information (eg, PAT, PMT, etc.) on the received program guide data. However, if the first sub-channel was not chosen by the user to record in step 301, the first sub-channel was not recorded and therefore does not exist in the digital data provided from the digital recording device 40. In such case , the first sub-channel can not be reproduced and the user will be provided with a blank display without audio in step 405. Alternatively, if the determination in step 404 is positive, the process flow proceeds to step 406 in where the apparatus 20 reproduces the first identified sub-channel. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus 20 initiates the reproduction operation in step 406 by providing a playback command signal to the digital recording device 40 via the digital data bus 30 under the control of the processor 14. The signal of The playback command can be, for example, an AV / C protocol command signal, or a command signal from another protocol. The reproduction command signal provided in step 406 causes the digital recording device 40 to provide the stored digital data, including the program data (e.g., audio and / or video data) for the sub-channel (s) recording (s) and program guide data, to the apparatus 20. The apparatus 20 uses the identification data of the channel and sub-channel read in step 404 to process the digital data received under the control of the processor 14 and thus allows an atrial and / or visual output corresponding to the first identified sub-channel. In particular, the processor 14 uses the identification data of the channel and sub-channel read in step 404 to tune the first identified sub-channel and allow a corresponding atrial and / or visual output. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus 20 reproduces the first sub-channel identified in step 406 since its identification data is first read from the predetermined memory location in step 404. For example, if a recorded channel includes two recorded sub-channels, the apparatus 20 reproduces the first of these sub-channels in step 406 since the identification data for the first sub-channel is read (and therefore is identified) before the identification data for the second sub-channel. sub-channel in step 404. By using the identification data of the channel and sub-channel to allow the reproduction operation in step 406, advantageously the present invention avoids the potential problem of step 405 where the reproduction of a sub-channel not recorded. Accordingly, the user will not find a blank screen without audio during the playback operation of step 406. As described herein, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling a digital recording device through a digital recording device. Digital data bus to allow sub-channel recording and playback. The present invention can be applicable to various apparatuses, either with or without a visual representation device. Accordingly, the phrase "television signal receiver" as used herein may refer to systems or apparatus including, but not limited to, television sets, computers or monitors that include a visual display device, and system or devices such as top boxes, VCRs, digital versatile disc players (DVD), video game boxes, personal video recorders (PVRs), computers or other devices that may not include a display device. Although the invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this discovery. Accordingly, this application is designed to cover any variation, use or adaptations of the Invention, using these general principles. Furthermore, this application is designed to cover such deviations from the present invention as long as they fall within the practice known and customary in the art to which this invention pertains and which falls within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims (21)

1. CLAIMS 1. A method for enabling digital recording, comprising: receiving signals representing a plurality of sub-channels; processing said received signals to generate digital data for a first of said sub-channels, said digital data including program data and identification data for said first sub-channel; and providing said digital data to a digital recording device through a digital data bus. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said digital data bus includes an IEEE-1394 bus. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said digital recording device includes an audio / video hard disk drive (AVHDD). The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of causing said digital recording device to store said identification data in a predetermined memory location. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that: said program data includes audio and video data; said identification data includes a number of subchannels; and said predetermined memory location includes a title field. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of: reading said identification data from said predetermined memory location through said digital data bus; receiving said program data from said digital recording device through said digital data bus; and allowing an output corresponding to said first sub-channel. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of allowing an output corresponding to said first sub-channel while said digital recording device stores said program data. 8. An apparatus, comprising: processing means for processing signals representing a plurality of sub-channels for generating digital data for a first of said sub-channels, said digital data including program data and identification data for said first sub-channel. channel; and input / output means for providing said digital data to a digital recording device through a digital data bus. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that said digital data bus includes an IEEE-1 bus 394. 10. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that said digital recording device includes an audio / video hard disk unit. (AVHDD). eleven . The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that said processing means cause said digital recording device to store said identification data in a predetermined memory location. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: said program data includes audio and video data; said identification data includes a number of sub-channels; and said predetermined memory location includes a title field. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said processing means read said identification data of said predetermined memory location through said digital data bus and allows an output corresponding to said first sub-channel in response to a user input that starts a playback operation. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that said processing means allow an output corresponding to said first sub-channel while said digital recording device stores said program data. 15. A television signal receiver, comprising: an operating processor for processing signals representing a plurality of sub-channels for generating digital data for a first of said sub-channels, said digital data including program data and identification data for said first sub-channel; and an operational input / output terminal for providing said digital data to a digital recording device through a digital data bus. 16. The television signal receiver according to claim 15, characterized in that said digital data bus includes an IEEE-1394 bus. 17. The television signal receiver according to claim 15, characterized in that said digital recording device includes an audio / video hard disk drive (AVHDD). The television signal receiver according to claim 15, characterized in that said processor causes said digital recording device to store said identification data in a predetermined memory location. 19. The television signal receiver according to claim 18, characterized in that: said program data includes audio and video data.; said identification data includes a number of subchannels; and said predetermined memory location includes a title field. The television signal receiver according to claim 18, characterized in that said processor reads said identification data from said predetermined memory location through said digital data bus and allows an output corresponding to said first sub-channel in response to a user input that initiates a playback operation. twenty-one . The television signal receiver according to claim 15, characterized in that said processor allows an output corresponding to said first sub-channel while said digital recording device stores said program data.