GB2266987A

GB2266987A - Video preview machine

Info

Publication number: GB2266987A
Application number: GB9209443A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Strage
Original assignee: DELILA Ltd
Current assignee: DELILA Ltd
Priority date: 1992-05-01
Filing date: 1992-05-01
Publication date: 1993-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 2012-05-01
Also published as: GB9209443D0; GB2266987B

Abstract

A preview machine to allow preview of a sample of a video program me selected by buttons 7 on a pad 1 within about 1 second from the selection having been made, each button 7 corresponding to a particular sample, comprises an optical disc player 3 storing a number of samples, and a television monitor 5 and speakers 6 through which a sample is replayed. If no sample is selected, the machine may replay the samples in sequence continuously. The machine is for use by customers in a music or video store, but can alternatively be used for display of, e.g. travel, business, industrial, medical, navigational or educational, information. <IMAGE>

Description

RETRIEVAL AND DISPLAY OF RECORDED INFORMATION The present invention relates to the retrieval and display of recorded information and more particularly to apparatus for presenting a plurality of video proarammes or like material from Which a consumer may select by touching one ot a plurality of pictorial representations and preview one or more of the selections before deciding on a purchase, rental or destination Upo# entry to a retail store such as a music or video store, a consumer is frequently unable to recognize or differentiate between even a small portion of the music or video selections available for purchase or rental. Various solutions have been proposed to overcome this problem. For example, a system called the "music sampler" has been used in various music stores. The music sampler provides a computer touch screen which presents one or more menus from which the user selects, for example. the type of music desired. ffr selection of the desired type of music the user is presented serially with a variety of album selections. For each selection the user is presented with the choice of continuing to browse or listening to a portion of the album. Presentation of an associated full motion video is not provided.

A variety of problems arise with systems such as the music sampler and other related systems. For example the consumer is forced to make several decisions in answer to several questions asked by the computer before being satisfied by the presentation of any of the recorded media. Also, the systems do not provide simultaneous display of both music and associated "MTV" or other full motion video type presentations. Further, the systems are sometimes slow in presenting a preview to the user. Other systems, particularly those which provide selections serially to the user, require the user to browse through many unwanted selections before reaching a desired selection and, therefore, require the user to invest a great deal of time before previewing a selection in which the user has an interest.Also, the consumer cannot view the whole array of different selections available for previewing at the same time as watching the preview last requested; the consumer must thus wait until the end of one selection before choosing and then viewing a second selection.

It is also known from US patent 5084768 to provide a plurality of preview portions of video programmes and apparatus by which a user may select and view any of them. Unfortunately, the apparatus is complicated. It is one object of this invention to provide apparatus of simplified structure which can retrieve preview portions quickly.

In one aspect the invention provides apparatus for previewing a portion of a video programme or the like, the programme being one of a plurality available for previewing, the apparatus comprising, a keypad having a plurality of button means, each presentina a representation appropriate to an individual portion.

optical storage means carrying the plurality of the portions, means to retrieve the video programme from the optical storage means, and display the portior approrr at to the actuated button means; and control means. arranged upon actuation of the button means to retrieve and display the selected portion within a mean period of about one second.

Most preferably the video programme includes both visual representation and audio representation and the display means is arranged to show the video and play the sound track therefor at the same time.

Most preferably the optical storage means is an optical disc medium. or a laser disc having one or more tracks thereon to be read by a low power laser medium or the like. The means may also be a compact disc. A laser disc is currently preferred and in a commercially available form is provided with one or more tracks having a capacity of about 54,000 frames. The number of frames for each preview section is about 700 which means, dependent on the broadcast format and play mode will play for about 28 seconds to about 60 seconds. The broadcast format may be say NTSC (national television system committee) or PAL (phase alternate by line) and the play mode may be CAV (constant angular velocity) or CLV (constant linear velocity).

It is a much preferred feature of the invention that the preview portions are stored on the storage means individually and are accessed individually. Preferably, the buttons are arranged on the keypad so that programmes having a similar theme are clustered together and the respective portions are located adjacent each other on the storage means. The portions may be spaced apart by one or more black frames.

The control means is arranged to ensure that the selected audio and visual information portion is retrieved within about one or two seconds from actuation of the respective button means irrespective of the location of that portion on the optical storage means.

It is a much preferred feature of the invention that the congo means is arranged to operate the apparatus so that when no button means is actuated the preview portions are displayed in sequence from the storage means continuously. This allows a virtually seamless presentation of the information which serves to present each portion equally and allow passers-by to see the portions arc be attracted to the Apparatus. They can then watch all the portions or more typically will select, using the buttons on the key pad, the portions they wish to inspect, In the description so far. the emphasis has been on video programmes likely to have value as entertainment. The apparatus of the invention however can be used in association with video programmes (with or without sound track) for other selection purposes e.g. travel (to select a holiday destination), business (e.g. to show the range of products or services offered), industry (e.a. to display operational and/or fault conditions of operating equipment) medi~ine (to show diagnosis and/or therapy to patients or practitioners), navigation (e.g. to display a map and location at a trade show), or education. Other uses will occur to those skilled in these and other arts.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an overall block diagram of the apparatus of the invention Figure 2 is an exploded plan view of the disc playing system.

As shown in Figure ' the apparatus comprises a key pad 1, a printed circuit board 2. and an optical disc player system 3 linked to a television or monitor 5 and an audio amplifier 4 connected to stereo speakers 6. The whole is housed in a cabinet not shown. The key pad 1 comprises an array of buttons 7 some of which are shown, each of which has fluorescent backlighting. z plastics sheet, not shown, having mini photographs of the video programmes available for previewing is fitted over the key pad 1, the photographs aligning with the buttons 7. The plastics sheet and the corresponding optical disc will be changed on a regular basis as is needed.Each button is arranged under the control of the electronic circuitry on the board 2 SO that, on touching the respective photograph, the apparatus causes the display of the preview portion of the respective video programme on the television monitor 5, and the running of the sound track on the stereo speakers 6. (It is particularly convenient and acceptable for the consumer to touch a button and that alone actuates the selection.) As shown in Figure 2, the laser disc player system 3 comprises a low power laser reading device 10 at the edge of a laser disc 11.

The laser disc has a continuous track 12. The track is arranged to accommodate visual frames of the video film and also the associated sound track; usually about 700 frame spaces are required for the display of a preview portion lasting for about 28 seconds. The preview portions are arranged on the track in a sequence, corresponding to the layout of the buttons 7 on the keypad 1, programmes having a similar theme being located adjacent each other. Each preview portion is directly connected via the control circuits on the printed circuit board 2 to the respective button 7. As a result of this arrangement, the mean time between the touching of a button 7 and the display of the respective preview portion is one second and the maximum is about 2.The printed circuit board 2 carries the electrical connections by which touching of a button 7 causes the selection of the respective portion on the track 11 and its display on the monitor 5. It is an advantageous feature of this invention that despite the large number of available preview portions (up to 77), the use of a single optical disc 11 and the general simplicity of construction of the equipment retrieval can be this short.

The separation of the viewing means (monitor 5) from the selection means (keypad 1 and the buttons 7) means that the consumer can watch one preview portion and at the same time decide on his next selection. This contrasts with other systems where the user has to use the information on the monitor in order to make his selections.

It is a much preferred embodiment of the invention that the preview portions are displayed continuously, in order to attract people to the apparatus. The apparatus will thus have consumer appeal, the keypad is ergonomically acceptable and the speed of retrieval is fast as few components are required the capital cost in hardware ana software is low.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. Add ons may be included such as a rid circuit board 20 for the compilation of statistical data, e.g. which pro#ramm.es are selected most often or another board 21, for the display of graphics on the television monitor. The optical disc may have multiple circular tracks instead of a single spiral. More than one television monitor 5 may be used e.g. for attachment to a video wall. The invention may be used in any environment where a user needs to be presented with a variety of options and to make a selection therefrom.

Claims

1. Apparatus for previewing a portion of a video programme or the like, the programme being one of a plurality available for previewing, the apparatus comprising: a keypad having a plurality of button means, each presenting a representation appropriate to an individual portion; optical storage means carrying the plurality of the portions, means to retrieve the video programme from the optical storage means, and display the portion appropriate to the actuated button means; and control means, arranged upon actuation of the button means to retrieve and display the selected portion within a mean period of about one second.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the video programme includes both visual representation and audio representation and the display means is arranged to show the video and play the sound track therefor at the same time.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein, the optical storage means is an optical disc medium, or a laser disc having one or more tracks thereon to be read by a low power laser medium compact disc (including CD, CD-ROM, CD-C, CD TV) or the like.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the storage means is a laser disc provided with one or more tracks having a capacity of about 54,000 frames.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the preview portions are stored on the storage means individually and are accessed individually.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the control means is arranged to ensure that the selected audio and visual information portion is retrieved within about one or two seconds from actuation of the respective button means irrespective of the location of that portion on the optical storage means.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the control means is arranged to operate the apparatus so that when no button means is actuated the preview portions are displayed in sequence from the storage means continuously.

8. Apparatus for previewing a portion of a video programme or the like, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.