MXPA98000325A - Vi reproduction automation - Google Patents

Abstract

A video recording and playback device has a control track recorder for recording a control track signal including the synchronization edges recorded on a magnetic tape or other storage medium together with the video program. The synchronization edges have a minimum of ramp leading edges to operate synchronization circuits, after reproduction, the synchronization circuits being insensitive to the trailing edges. A decoder is coupled to the control track signal and the magnetic tape drive to switch between a forward running mode, a forward jumping mode and a return mode, as a function of the execute, jump and return codes , inserted inside the control track as forward pulses with ramp edges less than the minimum, such that the pulses are different from the synchronization edges. The pulses digitally encode the commands run, jump and return, and can also encode the number of repetitions of segments preceded by the code to execute and followed by the code to return. The device allows the user to edit the codes to execute, jump and return and a number of multiple re-executions, overwriting the existing codes with the codes selected by the user via menu

Description

AUTOMATION OF VIDEO REPRODUCTION This invention relates to the field of recording and reproduction of images, and in particular concerns the programming of the user of control commands and the information that relates to tracks of recorded images. Common image recording formats for consumer equipment and the like, use a high proportion of the available recording media for the content of the program, namely video and audio. There is often little capacity available for occasional use, such as recording the commands and information that are derived from the user. A signal of low information rate that can be recorded on a magnetic tape or a similar means is a synchronization indicator signal. In the VHS tape format, the pulses of the control track are generated in the regime of the image representation and recorded together with the content of the program. In re-execution, those impulses are used both for the control of reproduction and to maintain the same regime as when they were recorded. The control track pulses are recorded along one edge of the tape and mark each frame, while the content of the video program is recorded across the width of the tape. Typically in the NTSC television standards, the control track pulses have a repetition period of approximately 16.6 thousandths of a second and a mandatory duration or cycle of approximately 50 percent, that is, alternatively 8 thousandths of a second in a level (eg. high example) and 8 thousandths of a second from another level (for example, zero). In the Standard Phase Alternating Line (PAL) operation the repetition period is 20 thousandths of a second and the pulse duration is approximately 10 thousandths of a second. It has been recognized that said control track signal does not make good use of magnetic media. The part of the recorded control track signal that is needed to control the synchronization of the tape playback to match the rate of the image representation, is only a single edge as the leading edge that rises during each period . The rest of the control track between edges rising from successive periods could be varied to encode additional data. At the beginning of the 1980s, the video index search signal (VISS) was introduced and an existing recording track was used for supplementary information such as a counter to refer to particular portions of the program on the magnetic tape. The edges that rise from the control track signal are used to control the speed of the tape playback, as has been said. According to the video index search signal standard, the non-time critical back edge of the control track pulse can be controllably shifted in one phase, while maintaining front-edge synchronization that is used to control the speed of the track. the reproduction. The information is coded by varying the phase of the trailing edge of the control track signal recorded between two different phases, representing data bits of digital values one and zero or true and false. This method of coding phases is not complicated. A logic value "1" may be encoded, for example, by advancing the phase of the trailing edge, thereby shortening the positive portion of the control pulse to a duration of approximately 27.5 percent of the pulse repetition period. A logical value "0" delays the trailing edge by comparing it with the mandatory 50 percent nominal cycle, for example to produce a 60 percent duration pulse. The simple and input synchronization circuits can distinguish between pulses that have a mandatory cycle that is longer or shorter than a reference duration (say 50 percent), to decode the information into a serial stream of digital information that he uses this relatively dependent and cheap technique of communication channel. Nevertheless, each control track pulse period may encode only one information bit of a value of one or zero. The information regime is slow. Video player recorders (VCRs) may employ the video index search signal method to mark the starting point of a recording or a recording segment, as a means to allow insertion for a subsequent repetition. A standard for such index signals employs a sequence marker consisting of a 63-bit sequence in which the first and the last bit are logical zeros and all the intermediate bits are logical ones, the zeros and the ones, are distinguished by the phase difference of the trailing edge of the control pulse. A similar use of encoded control track is employed in a system known as VHS or video address search signal VASS, which also uses the phase difference of the trailing edge to encode logical information. The video address search signal system adapts a digital address to be written to the control track during recording. The video address search signal may be used as an elapsed time indicator or to provide a specific address to the segment for editing or control purposes. A standard video address search signal format contains an 11-bit header, similar to the header of the video index search signal, with logical ones bounded by simple zeros. The header is followed by a 16-bit information section that is typically used to store a four-digit segment address. The address of the segment written on the magnetic tape by a phase variation of the command track pulse is increased by one in each new video search signal address code. When starting a new recording operation, the counter is put back in the beginning. The address codes of the video search signal can be written redundantly to ensure that they have been decoded correctly, for example, by writing four times and requiring at least two successful decoding to be considered valid. Japanese Patent Publication JPA 4283447 of the Mitsubishi Electric, reveals a method to encode a control track with which it is possible to skip the playback of unwanted segments. Similar information encoding / decoding techniques can be used to record information other than segment numbers or synchronization codes. The patent of the United States of North America number: 5,333,091 teaches an automated detector for commercial breaks known as Commercial Free or Advanced Commercial, whose purpose is to mark commercials so that they can be automatically passed, eliminated or reproduced quickly forward, under the control of a decoder that responds to the command track codes. Video and audio signals are analyzed to look for certain attributes during recording to identify each commercial based on algorithms applied to audio and video parameters. The features are detected as blank spaces, advertising blocks, logos and the like, which appear to be in commercial messages or which often precede or follow commercial messages. A fast forward winding control is placed on the control track at the beginning of the commercials detected, and a command to resume playback is recorded at the end. The recorded commands need to slightly precede the beginning and end of a commercial cut to completely pass over the unwanted commercial message. The video signal is analyzed to look for probable commercial breaks when they have been recorded along with the synchronization signal on the command track. Then, in a second pass, both the beginning and the end of the control commands are coded or marked by an overwrite at the trailing edge of the track signal of the existing command. During subsequent reproductions of the user, after detecting the fast forward winding mark, the video recorder is connected in a fast forward scanning operation mode. The detection of an impulse to resume execution ends with the winding mode and resumes the execution mode. Then the commercial advertising blocks are skipped and only the desired program is re-executed. The detection of cuts of commercial notices during a television program can be difficult to achieve with precision. Although many commercial breaks make up a typical format or a sequence of parameters, for example, having one or more black boxes between the program and the commercial cut, some commercial cuts for one reason or another, are not shaped as such. A video tape recorder that the ability to mark commercial cuts can, for example, accurately identify commercial breaks about 80 percent of the time. An automated detection algorithm can fail to identify commercials that vary with the result that the start of the commercial cut is lost. When viewing the tape later, the user to see the unwanted commercial message. The opposite problem occurs when the desired program happens to contain aspects of format that resemble a commercial cut, and consequently satisfies the automated detection algorithm. In that case, a portion of the content of the program may be mistakenly identified as a commercial cut and be marked with coded markings on the control track as rolling and executing. The content of the desired program will then be skipped when the tape is re-shot, which is even more annoying than the occasional presence of a commercial. Should this occur, the user may wish to completely disable the possibility of skipping commercial breaks in order not to lose the desired content. Assuming that commercial cuts are identified with 100 percent accuracy and marked for commercial deletions, the user may nonetheless want to see certain commercial breaks. It could be convenient if this could be done without disabling that feature of the deletion of commercial breaks entirely, and without the need of multiple remote control operations so that the suppression of commercials can be suspended only in some commercials in particular. Advanced Commercial tries to remove or skip part of the programming. Methods for repeatedly playing a recorded program or the segment of a program between marked points are also known. For example, an advertisement, publicity or demonstration can be duplicated while the recorded magnetic tape lasts. When the end of the tape is reached and it is detected, the equipment of re-executing the image automatically rewinds until the tape starts and restarts the playback. This automatic method of repeating may involve editing and duplication of material that is repeated repetitively along the tape, which can be a challenging test for an occasional or non-professional user. A longer program will simply play from start to finish and then repeat repetitively until it is manually stopped. The repetition of the re-execution of the image is achieved by changing the video tape recorder between the execution mode and a return mode after capturing an end mark or beginning and ending marks on the tape, such as particular codes, a reflective mark of tape principle, etcetera. The time of the established tape or meter set up in VCR cassette recorders can also be used for the same purpose. For example, at the start of a segment to be re-executed, a tape counter is set to zero. At the end of the re-run material, the return is selected and the reading of the counter (or synchronizer) is automatically stored. The return continues until the count is zero and run is selected. When the account reaches the stored counter, the returned one is selected again allowing it to run again successively. Alternatively, the length of the tape may be coupled to that of the message that is replayed using an end-of-tape marker causing the tape to rewind to the beginning or to a previous marker and in which the mode of execution is automatically selected and the material is re-executed again.

The beginning and ending markers are resident on the tape, while they operate tape counter techniques from the information stored in the device to be re-executed or generated by the device to be re-executed. The methods that depend on the storage in the device to run again have the limitation that the changes when establishing the tape counter for example that occur with the removal of the tape from the re-run device, circumvent the automation. The resident markers of the tape are independent of this limitation but have the limitation that the beginning and end markers are relatively permanent and immovable indicators. A simple method and apparatus are required which allows a user to manually program a sequence of reproduced images and store, for example, on the magnetic tape convenient control commands to facilitate future automated reproductions of the sequence of images. This method conveniently allows the user to edit to change the control commands as desired, and employs a data coding technique that does not interfere with synchronization control signals and circuits. This method and apparatus are provided in accordance with aspects of the invention of a video recording and reproducing device with a control track recorder for recording a control track signal including synchronizing edges recorded on a magnetic tape or other means of storage together with the video program. The synchronization edges have a minimum forward ramp edge for operating the synchronization circuits after reproduction, the synchronization circuits being insensitive to the trailing edges. A decoder is coupled to the control track signal and the belt driver to switch between a forward run mode, a forward skip mode and a return mode, as a function of the run, skip and skip codes. return, inserted in the control track as phase variations of edges different from those used for synchronization, or preferably as pulses with inclined edges other than synchronization edges. In addition, to selectively skip sections of the video program preceded by a skip code and followed by a code to execute, such as commercial breaks, the device allows the user to edit the run and skip codes and multiple selective re-runs of sections of the video program preceded by a code to execute and followed by a code to return. Re-execution can be continuous or by a previously determined number of re-executions, coded in the control track signal with the codes to execute, jump and return. The codes to execute, jump and return and / or the number of repetitions to execute can be edited by the user from an on-screen menu to change the content that will be presented in later reproductions. The control information, including the execute, skip, and return codes, is added to the existing control information encoded in the control track, such as the synchronization control information, in a manner that retains the existing control or information. of synchronization, using the inclined front edges of the supplementary information added to distinguish the added information from the precise front edges of synchronization and other control signals. A further aspect of the invention is the ability of the user to review and edit the control information encoded in the control track, so as to allow the user to vary the ways of re-executing a tape from time to time, and to alter the sequence of the segments that have to be skipped, executed or repeated. This aspect also allows a user to reprogram the control codes inserted by an automatic identifier of commercial breaks, as you wish without necessarily disabling the commercial deletion completely. Accordingly, the invention facilitates the subsequent re-executions of those images or segments desired by the user in a versatile and effective manner. The invention provides a video recording and reproducing apparatus in which the video recorder includes an impeller for recording a video program signal and a first track in a storage medium. The device plays the recording of the video program from the storage medium. A control track signal generator registers a coded control track signal with an information signal in a second track in the storage medium. A decoder responds to the signal of the control track after the reproduction of the recording of the video program to decode the information signal and to couple the information signal to the impeller to change the apparatus among ones of a plurality of operating modes that respond to the information signal. The control track signal includes periodic front edges and rear edges of phase change, the leading edges representing a synchronization signal reference for the video program and wherein the information signal, representing the plurality of operation modes, it is coded by impulases that follow the trailing edges in the control track signal, and are discriminated from the pulses representing the synchronization signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure IA is a timing diagram showing unmodulated pulses of the control track.

Figure IB is a timing diagram showing control track pulses with modulated phase back edges. Figure IC is a timing diagram that illustrates a signal that can be added to Figure IA to produce the signal of Figure IB, namely to review the information encoded in the control track pulses. Figure 2 is a timing diagram illustrating how a multi-bit digital information word is added after the modulated rear edge of the signal phase of Figure IB. Figure 3 is a block diagram of an image recording and reproducing device employing a control system of the invention. Figure 4 represents a series of control steps of the invention for controlling the re-execution of images.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION An exemplary recording and re-executing device 500 employing a control system of the invention is shown in the block diagram of Figure 1. A recording medium, for example a magnetic tape 504, is mounted on reels in a cassette. 501. During the recording mode, an image signal is coupled to a device 500 for processing by the recording amplifier 545 and is recorded on the tape 504 in the form of magnetic variations, via the assembly of rotating heads 510. During the repetition of executing or the reproduction mode, the image signal is read from the tape 504 and processed by the repeating amplifier 550, which reproduces the signal of the image for display and other processes. The image signal is also coupled via a device added to a visual screen display 555, which can insert status and control information into the image signal prior to coupling with the visual display 700. The invention as shown and described concerns an exemplary recording format wherein the control information can be recorded along with a control track. Other recording formats are possible to facilitate the storage and editing of the information derived from the user. For example, information can be inserted into specific, exclusive recording locations, which obviates the need to share the capacity of the recorded track, for example with synchronization information. In Figure 1, in the recording mode, a control track is written along one edge of the tape 504 by a read / write head 525. The control track is generated by a control track pulse generator. 560, which is secured to the recorded picture signal and has a frequency derived from the picture frame rate. Figure IA represents an exemplary signal of control pulse track CTR produced by a generator 560 prior to modulation of information recording. As it has been described, the edge of the impulse that rises sharply shown in Figure IA, and marked with the head of an arrow, is detected and used as a time reference by a servo-system of tape reproduction. The descending or rear edges can respond by phase or modulated position to the information bits D, as shown in Figure IB, where a 27 percent duration impulse is generated in response to value "1" of information and a 60 percent impulse responds to an information value of "0". This does not affect the spaces of the edges that are raised but it does provide a means by which values of information can be encoded and distinguished. A control pulse generator 570 is coupled to the head of the record and execute control track 525. The control pulse generator 570 produces a ramp-shaped pulse signal in the frame rate CTD, shown in the Figure ÍC. The CTD control pulse signal is ramp shaped to allow overdubbing in the control track without a sharp raised edge. A) Yes, the CTD control pulse does not insert a synchronizing reference edge when the tape is rerun. The duration of the control pulse CTD is determined by the control information D from a control processor 580. The timing of the control pulse CTD is precisely determined by a clock generator (not shown) whose signal is referred to to the control track or control pulse (CTP) read from the magnetic tape during repetition. The 580 control processor provides a variety of functions including commercial cut detection, control pulse coding, control pulse processing for repetition, on-screen display generation and program execution. The control processor also receives commands from the user either by the control switches 586 in the unit 500 or via a remote control signal from the controller 600. The control processor 580 includes a microprocessor 581 and a memory 585 with programming of the control and computational and storage space. In the recording mode, an audio / video processor 582, which is part of the processor 580, receives the input image and audio signals for the automated signal analysis to detect the presence of the commercial announcement cuts. Subsequently the recording is automatically revised and the points of the beginning and end of the commercial cut are encoded by overwriting the control track signal with marker codes. A control information signal D is coupled to the pulse generator 570 for the generation of overwrite control pulses CTD. During the subsequent repetitions of the user of the encoded tape of the control track, the control track signal CTP is extracted by the read head 525 and processed together with the control processor 580 to decode and respond to various control commands. The control commands are separated from the driving edge of the control track by a pulse processor 584. The pulse processor 584 employs various means for detecting and recovering the coded control information. For example, the processor 584 may use the sharply rising edges of the control track signal to increment a synchronizer or counter which is compared to the regained control information, as well as to control the synchronization of the reproduction. A match, which occurs during the first 27 percent of the CT period, is decoded as a logical 1, and a larger match that occurs when approximately 50 percent of the CT period is exceeded is decoded as a logical 0. The various systems employing coded control instructions in a control track can be initially distinguished by numbers of logical symbols recovered from the control track. For example, the video index search signal comprises 63 bits, where the first and last bits are logical "0" s and the remaining 61 bits are logical "1" s. The address search signal system of the video tape recorder employs a 27-bit address word, which includes an eleven-bit header comprising leading and trailing logical zeros with the intervention of nine logical bits. The automated commercial hop system uses 8, 12 and 29 bit logical "1" control words. Therefore, a manual control method of the invention can usefully employ similar control words to enable the use of existing pulse discrimination and control circuits resident within the control processor 580. An information encoding method of the invention is represented as an example in Figure 3 which allows the supplementary information bits to be encoded during the period of the control track waveform. Figure 3 shows examples of 8-bit supplementary information words, written following the encoded logic "1" value of the modulated phase CTR coded control track signal. In the example of the 8-bit word, a logical "1" value is represented by a ramp-shaped pulse signal that occurs in one of eight time positions separated evenly during the low portion of the control track signal CTR, and a logical "0" value is represented by the absence of a ramp-shaped pulse signal at the corresponding time position. Exemplary ramp signals can, for example, be derived from a closed clock that generates a clock pulse of one thousandth of a second. The use of a closed clock at the frequency of the control track signal CTR is preferred, to simplify decoding during the repetition of executing the tape. For example, to recover the exemplary 8-bit supplementary information word it is required that 27 percent of the modulated phase value of logical "1" of the CTR signal be detected. This detection then enables a synchronized detection window in which the 8 bits of modulated information of ramp pulses can occur. The microprocessor 581 can determine the presence / absence of the 8-bit control word and each of its bits, to distinguish between several coded control track systems. An 8-bit word can be encoded with logical "1" s during a plurality of control track periods to provide synchronization of the clock generator of one thousandth of a second. After clock synchronization, a predetermined information pattern can be encoded in alternate periods of the control track with the coded complement in the intermediate periods. When the tape is rerun, the previously determined information pattern and its complement can be tested by the microprocessor 581 which has the ability to check errors before decoding a control instruction contained in successive 8-bit words. The supplementary information bits can be encoded during a period of 15 control track cycles, for example, 5 bytes of logical "1" 4 bytes of word and synchronization complement, 6 bytes of control information. The supplementary information bits may be encoded during the period of logical "l" of video index search signal, video tape recorder address search signal or commercial skip signals, when shortening the modulated phase of the pulses in the control track signal CTR leaves a portion of the period available to encode information. Similarly, downward pulses may encode information during a logical "0" pulse of the CTR control track signal, provided that raised edges of the downward pulses are rampped so that they can be distinguished from the synchronization edges that rise sharply from the CTR signal. Ramp edges and sharply raised edges can be distinguished, for example, by using a high-pass filter. In order to provide the automation of the manually programmed image repetition, control functions and additional commands are advantageously required. These additional manual control functions can not only give the user the ability to program, but can also improve the operation and accuracy of control systems encoded control tracks previously described such as the identification or categorization of commercial and coding of controls of jumping for all commercials or those of a particular category. A sequence of the invention programmed by the user can advantageously provide an automatic repeatability for educational or sales purposes. A video cassette recorder can then be manually programmed to re-sequence user-selected sequences by one or more reps or until the cassette recorder receives a signal code interspersed with non-required sections that can be skipped. The user can program the sequence of commands by selecting a menu on the screen as shown in Figure l, wherein an EDIT menu can be selected for the display display 700 using the control inputs 581 or the remote control 600. The EDIT menu can be one or several menus that offer selections such as setting the time, channel programming and other similar ones. The EDIT menu can include a selection of AUTO-REPEAT, for example by linking to a subordinate menu. The AUTO-REPEAT sub-menu advises the user to carry out the transport of the tape or execute / return operations to put the tape in position at the beginning or at the end of the segments of the tape that are going to be processed in accordance with the User selections when the tape is rerun. For execution processes involving desired segments that are passed one or more times, the user can be advised to manually insert the tape at the beginning of the first selection to be repeated. The user selects BRAND EXECUTE in the menu or sub-menu, to designate the point to start running the tape. The encoding of the EXECUT mark makes it possible for the user to accept OK in the menu, on which the appropriate code will be placed on the command track. The actual place of the mark or RUN code must be written before the start of the desired material by a previously determined length, in order to anticipate the reaction time of the user and to compensate the braking time of the means. The distance between the RUN mark and the point at which the program step will begin, can also be indicated by a code in the control track in association with the RUN mark, by which the transport synchronization can be varied. the tape, for example, depending on whether the RUN mark is encountered during a fast forward scrolling or scanning, as opposed to a low-speed blank run operation. After entering the code for the RUN mark, it will run preferably forward, or it can be scanned forward. If an unwanted segment is found, the user can stop and place the tape at the beginning of the unwanted segment. (So to speak, the end of the previous desired segment) and place the command JUMP FORWARD on the control track by a timely selection in the menu. Preferably the video tape recorder then enters the forward scanning mode to advance to the end of the unwanted segment while the user observes and can roll forward, execute, stop, return, etc., until manually placing the tape at the beginning of the next desired segment (at the end of the previous unwanted segment). As stated above, RUNNING, JUMPING FORWARD and similar codes can be written on the control track before the position of the tape to which they refer. The SKIP FORWARD mode allows recorded images to be viewed at a higher speed than normal until the next desired sequence is found. Alternatively, the user may choose to run forward at normal speed. In any circumstance, with the tape placed in the following position to resume executing during the repetition of running the tape, when the tape is stopped or in motion, the user selects EXECUTE in the menu and enters the corresponding command code. After entering the EXECUTE knob following a previous JUMP FORWARD, the video cassette recorder automatically returns to the point where you selected JUMP FORWARD and enter an EXECUTE knob in a position before the point where you will begin to run the tape, as described above, to allow enough time for the video cassette recorder to brake during a re-run and start playing at the desired point. In each case, the commands FORWARD JUMP and the RUN commands are written on the modulated phase pulse information in the control track. JUMP and EXECUTE normally occur in pairs, determining if a particular section is executed or skipped. So much so that the normal start-up mode for re-running a video cassette recorder is the run mode, the first control code that counts on a tape is normally JUMP FORWARD. However, neither of the two even codes JUMP FORWARD and EXECUTE can be placed on the control track before the other is placed. For example, the sequence of a schedule may attempt to place an EXECUTE code at the end of a section that will be skipped. As an alternative, after writing the command JUMP FORWARD, the tape may get stuck automatically in a place before that point, after the user enters the EXECUTE mode command to overwrite it in the command track. Similarly, the command track codes can define a BACKWARD or return command causing the tape to roll back until an RUN knob is found. This allows the user to cycle or repeat a defined segment of the tape, as well as selectively execute certain segments and skip others, by means of programmable and changeable codes placed by the user on the control track. As discussed above, it is possible to insert the SKIP and RUN commands to skip commercial message playback. A glance of the user to the content of the tape can also decide after seeing a particular segment if that one should be skipped. Users will usually choose to insert the codes in advance, but can often decide, after seeing a segment (say, an undetected commercial), to place an EXECUTE code at the end and then return to the beginning. Having written the command EXECUTE on the control track with the video tape recorder during the programming of the SKIP and RUN codes, the video tape recorder can determine, for example, by the user's input signals, run starting where the EXECUTE knob has entered until the user determines the end of the desired material and again select JUMP FORWARD from the menu. When programmed from the menu, the recorded images can be viewed at a higher speed than the normal speed until you find the next point that requires a code on the command track. The user can select and accommodate a sequence of images from a recording that contains both desired and unwanted material. The method briefly described above, can also include control commands to JUMP BACK, enabling the accommodation of a sequence from non-sequential records. However, a sequence accommodated from non-sequential registers may require specific IR A commands and address segments to avoid unwanted repetition of sections to be executed. Some of the bits in the encoded information when overwriting in the command track can be used to encode a number of repeating cycles. When the selection of the desired registers is complete, the user can select REPEAT from the menu, which alerts the selection of a continuous cycle or of repeating until the HIGH mode is selected, or the selection of a number of repeat cycles that It will be done before stopping automatically or continue playback. The number of repeat cycles to be performed may be coded in the RUN MARKS. For example BRAND EXECUTE can have a range between 11111110000 and the MARK EXECUTE is represented by the first group of seven bits placed in true, with the four remaining bits representing the number of times of repetition cycles the respective segment is crossed. The EXECUTE MARK can be defined as shown in the following example table: An exemplary automatic presentation sequence based on the aforementioned codes is shown in Figure 4. The automated presentation sequence begins at step 100 by starting the playback recorder with an instruction to execute RUNNING FORWARD or JUMPING FORWARD in step 110. In step 120 a test is performed to determine if HIGH mode has been requested, where an SI causes the recorder / player to assume a stop condition in step 130 and wait to restart in step 100 through selection in the menu. A NO in step 120 results in an additional test in step 140 to determine whether a RUN MARK has been detected from the encoded control track. A NO in step 140 forms a cycle which awaits the occurrence of an EXECUTE MARK, which allows the recorder / player to continue its forward leap. If the BRAND EXECUTE test in step 140 results in a SI, the control sequence triggers the decrement of a counter in step 150. The value of the account in step 155 is calculated from the number of registered EXECUTE MARKS multiplied by the number of repetition cycles coded in the RUNNING MARKS. If, for example, the continuous repetition of the visual display of a warning or an advertisement is required, the EXECUTE MARK "0000" may result in it being ignored in step 150 or may cause the value of the account to be set to a high value. Returning to the main branch of the flow chart of Figure 4, step 160 tests the count for a zero value. An SI means completing the predetermined number of cycles of the programmed repetition sequence and initiating the STOP mode in step 130. A NO in step 160 selects the EXECUTE mode in step 165. After starting the EXECUTE mode, the sequence The control device branches to step 180 and enters a status check condition which tests to see the detection or to see either a forward or reverse command, or FAST FORWARD, or the JUMP command. A NO in step 180 forms a waiting cycle, and IF returns to step 110 and assumes the RUNNING FORWARD mode to restart the control sequence in step 120. A second branch of step 165, tests in step 190 for detection of a command ROLL IN REVERSE or JUMP BACK, where a NO forms a waiting cycle and a SI returns to step 115 and assumes a REVERSE ROLL mode to restart a control sequence. In this way, the codes programmed in the command track enable the recorder / player to progress in both directions through a sequence of segments that have already been executed or skipped. In the following example, the user can manually select the recorded material for subsequent viewing and identify selections with control marks. In this way when the tape is subsequently viewed, the desired selected sections are re-executed and the unwanted sections are omitted. This ability to repeat the execution can facilitate educational applications. For example, long-term recordings of traffic flow patterns, behavioral studies, scientific experimentation, psychiatric sessions or surgical procedures can be marked for detailed review of portions of particular interest for educational and training purposes or for analysis, jumping over the unwanted intermediate material. The ability to manually select and mark the material recorded for subsequent views may also be advantageous for review of the manufacturing process and derivation of the training material thereof. The following method can be used to facilitate the user selection and programming of the re-executed and skipped material. The user can program the repeated sequence by entering a menu selection on the screen called EDIT in the main menu and selecting a sub-menu of EXECUTE and SKIP. The EXECUTE and SKIP menu comprises an entry START MARK? the selection of which causes the pre-recorded tape containing desired material, be rewound from the beginning. The video cassette recorder automatically starts the EXECUTE mode and overwrites the control track with an EXECUTE FORWARD or JUMP FORWARD command. After finishing the JUMP FORWARD marking on the video cassette recorder, a forward scanning mode is assumed that allows a high-speed review of the program until the desired material is observed after which the user selects EXECUTE from the menu. The RUN selection results in the tape being returned to a distance backing a predetermined distance to allow accurate location of the beginning of the section to be repeated. Having located the place where the tape begins to run, the user selects an entry in the MARK menu EXECUTE? causing the control track to be overwritten with an EXECUTE MARK. The tape then passes forward. At the end of the desired material, the user selects a menu selection SKIP FORWARD? and recognizes YES, which causes the control track to be overwritten with a BRAND JUMP FORWARD. The EXECUTE and JUMP FORWARD markings can continue as described until the end of the desired material. At the end of the last desired section, the user selects "MARK THE END?" from the menu, which results in the control track being overwritten with the HIGH command. When the tape as marked has been replayed from the beginning, the video cassette recorder assumes a roll mode that responds to the encoded BRAND EXECUTE command and continues executing until a SKIP command is decoded. Then the user's run / skip sequence continues until an END mark is detected.

Additional control commands programmed by the user can advantageously enable the ability to edit ROLLER MARKS FORWARD, for example to eliminate program content spoiled by incorrect automatic identification of commercial messages. The user can also erase the RUNNING MARKS for example, to remove final identifications from incorrect and unwanted commercials, or to prevent an unwanted RUN selection mode during the magnetic tape shuttle operation, as well as to alter the encoding, by example, to change the number of repeated cycles. A properly coded commercial skip tape can contain desired commercial views. This way, the user can choose to delete BRANDS ROLL FORWARD, to facilitate the view of desired commercials. Conversely, a tape that has improperly encoded skip commercials may contain views of unidentified and unwanted commercials, so the user may be able to record BRANDS ROLL FORWARD and MARK RESUME EXECUTE, in order to skip views of undesirable commercials . The following are examples of possible methods where the user can prevent jumps permanently in specific places on the tape by deleting control marks. When a tape encoded with commercial hop control signals is re-executed, the user may observe the program material, or a group of commercial announcements skipped at a specific location on the magnetic tape. The following methods can be used to permanently avoid jumps by erasing control marks. A) During or immediately after a commercial jump, the user can select the VISUAL DISPLAY key (or a specially assigned key) located either on the remote control unit or on the player recorder. The VISUAL DISPLAY operation key causes the playback recorder to rewind just before the last ROLLER MARK FORWARD. The playback recorder then enters the EXECUTE mode and overwrites the group of 27.5 percent control track pulses which means the CONTROL FORWARD control, with control track pulses having the standard duration. B) Alternatively, the user can place the tape to be before or after the skipped section. The microprocessor control system stores the address of the last section skipped. The user selects an EDIT menu provided with an OSD display that offers an exemplary section of: 1) Play last / next section skipped? 2) Delete last mark ROLL EXECUTE? 3) Delete next mark ROLL EXECUTE? 4) Delete all marks RUN RUN? The first option facilitates the revision of the last or the next section skipped before editing the control marks. In the following example a user looks at a tape encoded with commercial jump control signals, and during a commercial jump he observes an interesting image. The user is eager to repeat run and see the material skipped once more without jumping. Conveniently this can be done with a minimum of control interaction that is, without the need for multiple typing to disable the commercial leap. For example, the user of a commercial dialing system that inserts control codes in a way that can not be reprogrammed, may need to enter a menu to turn off with SHUT DOWN commercials, exit the menu, rewind the tape until the beginning of the commercial group and finally select the EXECUTE mode to see the commercial of your interest. After the view, the user must reenter the menu system, turn ON the commercial jump and exit the menu. To simplify the description, it is assumed in the aforementioned scenario, that the user rewound the tape properly to the beginning of the group of commercials without exceeding or needing the selection of the fast forward mode, which would add additional keystrokes and delay.

The following method can be used to facilitate an automated repetition without jumps of a commercial block encoded for jump. The user chooses the VISUAL DISPLAY key (or the specially assigned key) on the remote control unit. The VISUAL DISPLAY key causes the tape to automatically rewind and look for the ROLL BRAND FORWARD of the commercial jump. Having located the ROLLER MARK FORWARD, the commercial jump is temporarily disabled, for example, by means of software control. The video cassette recorder automatically enters the EXECUTE mode and executes the group of commercials. After detecting the MARK RESUME EXECUTE the video cassette recorder automatically rehabilitates the commercial skip mode.

Claims (10)

1. A video recording and reproducing apparatus comprising: a video recorder including a tape drive for recording a video program signal in a first track, and for recording the reproduction of a video program in a video medium. storage, - a control track signal generator for recording a coded control track signal with an information signal in a second track in the storage medium; a decoder that responds to the control track signal after playing the recording of the video program, for decoding the information signal and coupling the information signal with an impeller to change the apparatus among ones of a plurality of modes of operation that respond to the information signal; and wherein the control track signal includes periodic front edges and rear edges of phase change, the leading edges representing a synchronizing signal with references to the video program and the phase rear edges being variably changed to encode digital information and in where the run and skip codes are represented by the pulses that follow said trailing edges in the control track signal.

2. The video recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of modes includes the modes of executing, jumping and returning. The video recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the following pulses, ie, the trailing edges, represent the digital plurality words where each of said plurality of digital words corresponds to each of the pass, jump and return modes. The video recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the decoder responds to the control track signal after playing the video program can be operated to change the apparatus between a forward running mode, a way to jump forward and a way to return, as a function of their respective digital words. The video recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one decoder can be operated after decoding a representative digital word in a backward fashion to change the apparatus to the way back to the previous digital word representative of a way to execute, during a previously determined number of repetitions. The video recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one of the digital words representative of the execute modes and the return modes includes a counter representative of a previously determined number of repetitions. The video recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 3, comprising means that the user can operate to insert and erase the digital words after re-running the video program. 8. The video recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 5, further comprising means that the user can operate to insert and erase at least one of the digital words representative of the execute, jump and return modes, and altering the number previously. determined, after the re-execution of the video program, the generator of the control track signal that can be operated to overwrite at least one of the digital words representative of the execute, jump and return modes and a predetermined number of repetitions. 9. The video recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the track signal control generator responds to the means operated by the user to insert and erase digital words. The video recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means that the user can operate comprises an on-screen menu, generated by the video recording and playback apparatus, displayed after the user's selection thereof. .