GB2231695A

GB2231695A - Portable microprocessor apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2231695A
Application number: GB8911183A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Jones; Geoffrey Payne; Patricia Verney; Donald Matthew Branch
Original assignee: J V P SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: J V P SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 1989-05-16
Filing date: 1989-05-16
Publication date: 1990-11-21
Also published as: GB8911183D0

Abstract

Portable microprocessing apparatus for storing and displaying data concerning recordings present on one or more video tapes comprises a microprocessor and power supply circuitry, a keyboard 6 operable to access the microprocessor, a read only memory (ROM) adapted to program the microprocessor to store and display data concerning recordings present on one or more video tapes, random access memory (RAM) for storing data concerning such recordings entered by means of the keyboard, power supply circuitry for sustaining the random access memory, and a visual display 5 to display accessed information. The apparatus is adapted to receive and hold in RAM data entered via the keyboard 6, selectively to access such data, and to display details thereof on the visual display 5. <IMAGE>

Description

Portable Microprocessor Apparatus This invention relates to portable electronic microprocessing apparatus capable of being programmed to store in memory and to display on demand data concerning recordings present on one or more video tapes.

The extensive home use made of video recorders to record on video tapes, programmes, films and the like broadcast by television stations often leads to situations in which particular recorded items are difficult to locate because no accurate index of recordings is maintained. It is also often the case that the owner of a collection of video tapes is unable quickly to identify available space on one or more tapes when fresh programmes are to be recorded.

The present invention sets out to provide portable microprocessing apparatus by means of which an index of recorded items can readily be maintained to enable inter alia particular programmes and available recording space to be readily located.

According to the present invention there is provided portable microprocessing apparatus for storing and displaying data concerning recordings present on one or more video tapes, the apparatus comprising a microprocessor and power supply circuitry therefor, a keyboard operable to access the microprocessor, a read only memory (ROM) adapted to program the microprocessor to store and display data concerning recordings present on one or more video tapes, random access memory (RAM) for storing data concerning such recordings entered by means of the keyboard, power supply circuitry for sustaining the random access memory, and a visual display to display accessed information, the apparatus being adapted to receive and hold in RAM data entered via the keyboard, selectively to access such data, and to display details thereof on the visual display.

Preferably the apparatus is hand-held. The microprocessor is preferably housed within a reusable casing of plastics or similar material.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view from above of microprocessing apparatus in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a block circuit diagram of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1 illustrates is a hand-held microprocessor 1 retained within a plastics casing comprising a base 2 and a hinged lid 3. The lid 3 includes a catch 4 which co-operates with a lip or recess of the base 2 to provide a secure housing for the apparatus.

The microprocessor 1 comprises an LCD display 5 and a keyboard 6 including a multiplicity of alpha-numeric input keys 7 for entering data into the memory of the microprocessor and a plurality of function keys 8 by which selective operating functions can be effected. These functions include keys 9 for editing information entered; keys 10 for scrolling displayed information upwardly or downwardly; and keys 11 to 15 respectively for shift, deletion, clearing, entry clearing and entering functions.

As will be seen from Figure 1, the input keys of the microprocessor are displayed in the conventional "QWERTY" formation to be found on typewriters. However, other letter and numeric formations can readily be employed.

The circuit diagram illustrated in Figure 2 is typical of the overall circuit architecture. The circuit components include a battery 20, microprocessor chip 21, an 8K ROM chip 22, a 32K RAM memory chip 23, keyboard 24, logic controller 25 and LCD display 26. An additional back-up power supply 27 is provided to sustain the RAM to prevent loss of information stored therein.

A real time clock generator 29 is linked to the chip 21.

The keyboard preferably takes the form of a membrane keyboard.

The circuit operates in the following manner. The battery 20 supplies power to the microprocessor chip 21, the keyboard 24, the LCD display 26, the ROM 22, the RAM 23, and the logic controller 25. A buffer 30 is positioned between the keyboard 24 and an address bus 31 of the microprocessor to ensure that information keyed into the microprocessor via the keyboard 24 is properly entered. Data is relayed from the microprocessor to the LCD display 26 via an 8-bit data bus 32.

In use, by pressing the "ENTER" function key 15 and then operating the keys 7 of the keyboard 26, the operator enters information regarding the title of the programme or film to be stored, the number of the tape on which the item is to be or has been stored, the location of item on that tape and the running time for the item. This data is received by the ROM controlled microprocessor and accessed to RAM.

For accessing purposes the microprocessor is programmed to display three pieces of information, these being a numeric indication of the tape number and track location of a recorded programme, the name of the programme and an indication of the starting and finishing locations of the programme on the tape in question.

Additionally, an indication of the running time of the programme may be displayed. Thus, in the example illustrated, the display informs the user that the programme The Pirates of Penzance" is located at track six on tape seventeen, the programme spanning the sequence one to thirtyfive of that tape. The LCD display may also display information to enable the user to locate spare recording space on one or more video tapes.

By using the appropriate scroll function keys 10, it is possible to see in sequence what programmes are stored on one or several tapes and the locations of these programmes on that or those tapes. Additionally. by operating the appropriate function keys, it is possible to erase details of any given programme from memory.

To access the data in store in RAM, the name of any given programme (or a part of such name) is entered via the keyboard. The appropriate function key is pressed to cause the LCD display to show on which tape and at which location that programme is recorded on the tape collection.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of one embodiment of microprocessing apparatus in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Portable microprocessing apparatus for storing and displaying data concerning recordings present on one or more video tapes, the apparatus comprising a microprocessor and power supply circuitry therefor, a keyboard operable to access the microprocessor, a read only memory (ROM) adapted to program the microprocessor to store and display data concerning recordings present on one or more video tapes, random access memory (RAM) for storing data concerning such recordings entered by means of the keyboard, power supply circuitry for sustaining the random access memory, and a visual display to display accessed information, the apparatus being adapted to receive and hold in RAM data entered via the keyboard, selectively to access such data, and to display details thereof on the visual display.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 housed within a reusable casing of plastics material.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the keyboard includes a multiplicity of alpha-numeric input keys for entering data into the memory of the microprocessor and a plurality of function keys by which selective operating functions can be effected.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising a real time clock linked to the microprocessor.

5. Portable microprocessing apparatus substantially as herein described and as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.