1321952 九、發明說明： 【發明所屬之技術領域】 本發明係有關於一種時光平移（time shifting)錄影方 法0 【先前技#ί】 時光平移（time shifting)為現今錄影機的常見功能。使 用者可藉由錄影機的時光平移功能回顧剛剛錯過的節目 内容。由於時光平移技術僅需儲存之前一段有限時間内的 ® 畫面，因此常用的緩衝器為可循環重複利用儲存空間的環 型緩衝器（ring buffer)。 第1圖圖解傳統時光平移技術使用一環型緩衝器100 • 的情形。當錄影機的時光平移功能啟動時，一影音信號會 完整地整段寫入該環型緩衝器100的一緩衝區（如第1圖 之緩衝區102)中。標誌104所標示處為該缓衝區102的標 頭，其中具有該影音信號之資訊，如該影音信號的時間索 引、檔案大小…等。在接收到使用者要求回顧晝面的命令 φ 後，播放器會先從該標頭104讀取出該緩衝區102所儲存 的影音信號之資訊，再依照這些資訊從頭搜尋該緩衝區 102，以讀取並且撥放所欲回顧的晝面。 然而，在時光平移所能回溯的影音信號之時間長度很 長時，上述傳統時光平移技術的幾項缺點——浮現。以三 十分鐘的時光平移規格為例，假設該緩衝區102所儲存的 影音之時間長度為三十分鐘。若使用者要求回顧三分鐘前 的畫面（第1圖之標誌106所標示處），則撥放器必須根據 該標頭104所儲存的資訊，從頭開始搜尋該缓衝區102直1321952 IX. Description of the Invention: [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a time shifting recording method. [Previous technique #ί] Time shifting is a common function of today's video recorders. The user can review the content of the program just missed by the time shift function of the video recorder. Since the time shifting technique only needs to store the ® picture for a limited period of time, the commonly used buffer is a ring buffer that can re-use the storage space. Fig. 1 illustrates the case where the conventional time shifting technique uses a ring type buffer 100. When the time shift function of the video recorder is activated, a video signal is completely written in a buffer (e.g., buffer 102 of FIG. 1) of the ring buffer 100. The flag 104 is marked as the header of the buffer 102, and has information about the video signal, such as the time index of the video signal, the file size, and the like. After receiving the command φ that the user requests to review, the player first reads the information of the video signal stored in the buffer 102 from the header 104, and then searches the buffer 102 from the head according to the information. Read and play the face you want to review. However, when the time length of the video signal that can be traced back in time shifting is long, several shortcomings of the above conventional time shifting technique are emerged. Taking the thirty-minute time shifting specification as an example, it is assumed that the time length of the video and audio stored in the buffer 102 is thirty minutes. If the user requests to review the screen three minutes ago (marked by the symbol 106 in Fig. 1), the player must search the buffer 102 from the beginning based on the information stored in the header 104.
Client’s Docket No.:TW95088GB TT’s Docket No:0932-A50934-TW/Final /Glorious Tien 5 1321952 至該標誌106處。此搜尋過程會浪費許多時間在該標誌 106前的二十七分鐘影音資料上。因此，時光平移所能回 溯的影音信號之時間長度愈長，此回溯過程會愈耗時。此 外，上述傳統時光平移技術的另一項缺點是不能準確回溯 至所欲回溯的時間點。由於影音信號乃經過壓縮後方儲存 至該環型緩衝器100，檔案的大小與影音信號的複雜度有 關。因此，很難從檔案的大小推估出該緩衝器102之不同 位置所儲存的影音資料之正確時間索引。這項問題在時光 平移所能回溯的影音信號之時間長度愈長時愈明顯。 【發明内容】 本發明提供一種新穎的時光平移錄影技術。此技術在 影音回溯時不僅速度快並且準確。 本發明所提供之時光平移錄影方法所使用的緩衝器 為一環型缓衝器。在儲存一影音信號前，本方法會先判斷 該影音信號之時間長度。在該影音信號的時間長度不大於 一額定時間長度時，本發明會根據一可寫入指標將該影音 信號寫入該環型緩衝器的一緩衝區中。在該影音信號的時 間長度大於該額定時間長度時，本發明會依照該額定時間 長度切割該影音信號，並且根據該可寫入指標將切割後所 得的數段影音資料依序寫入該環型緩衝器的複數個緩衝 區中。上述緩衝區各自所儲存的影音資料之最大時間長度 為該額定時間長度；並且上述緩衝區各自具有一標頭，用 以記錄所屬之緩衝區所儲存的影音資料之時間索引以及 檔案大小。 此外，本方法更包括在該影音信號寫入該環型缓衝器Client’s Docket No.: TW95088GB TT’s Docket No: 0932-A50934-TW/Final /Glorious Tien 5 1321952 To 106. This search process wastes a lot of time on the twenty-seven minutes of video material in front of the logo 106. Therefore, the longer the time length of the video signal that can be traced back by the time shift, the more time consuming this backtracking process will be. In addition, another disadvantage of the above conventional time shifting technique is that it cannot be accurately traced back to the point in time to be traced back. Since the video signal is compressed and stored in the ring buffer 100, the size of the file is related to the complexity of the video signal. Therefore, it is difficult to estimate the correct time index of the video material stored in different positions of the buffer 102 from the size of the file. This problem becomes more apparent as the length of the video signal that can be traced back in time shifting is longer. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a novel time shifting video recording technique. This technology is not only fast and accurate in video playback. The buffer used in the time-shifting video recording method provided by the present invention is a ring type buffer. Before storing a video signal, the method first determines the length of time of the video signal. When the length of the video signal is not longer than a nominal time length, the present invention writes the video signal into a buffer of the ring buffer according to a writable index. When the length of the video signal is greater than the rated time length, the present invention cuts the video signal according to the rated time length, and sequentially writes the pieces of video and audio data obtained after cutting according to the writable index into the ring type. Multiple buffers in the buffer. The maximum length of the video data stored in each of the buffers is the nominal length of time; and each of the buffers has a header for recording the time index of the audio and video data stored in the buffer to which it belongs and the file size. In addition, the method further includes writing the video signal to the ring buffer
Client's Docket N〇.:TW95088GB TT*s Docket No:0932-A50934-TW/Final /Glorious Tien 6 後，可寫入指標 :该環型緩衝器。由於該環型：：筆影音信號得以接續寫 循％重複利用，本方法 ^衝态所提供的儲存空間可 存空間被重複使_ 環型緩衝器所提供_ 該環型緩衝器的影音 ;^取指標，以確保儲存於 為讓本發讀取。 顯易懂’下文特舉出較佳=的、特徵、和優點能更明 說明。 心例’並配合所附圖式作詳細 【實施方式】 本孓明所採用的緩衝器— 器所提供的儲存空間可重二1緩衝器。該環型緩衝 之傳統時光平移技術，本發明心吏用。=於第1圖所示 儲存的影音資料之時間長度 、'母-個緩衝區所能 溯。 達到快速且準確的影音回 在本發明的一實施例中，一 衝區所能儲存的影音資料之時二f器， 度，本發明會依照_定時額又日守間長 根據-可寫入指標將切割後所得; 進=法記錄該數段影音資 影音資料之時ί 本方法在該料㈣ 入指標，以確保下-筆影音信號得二Client's Docket N〇.:TW95088GB TT*s Docket No:0932-A50934-TW/Final /Glorious Tien 6 After writing the indicator: The ring buffer. Because the ring type:: the pen audio and video signal can be successively written and reused by the %, the storage space available in the method of the method is repeated to enable the _ ring type buffer to provide the audio and video of the ring type buffer; ^ Take the indicator to ensure that it is stored for reading. It is obvious that the following is a better description of the features, features, and advantages. The present invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Embodiment] The buffer provided by the present invention can provide a storage space of two or more buffers. The conventional time shifting technique of the ring type buffer is used in the present invention. = The length of time of the stored video data as shown in Figure 1, 'Mother-buffer buffer can be traced back. Reaching a fast and accurate video back in an embodiment of the present invention, the time and space of the audio and video data that can be stored in a punching area, the degree of the invention will be in accordance with the The indicator will be cut after the cut; when the method is recorded, the number of audio and video data is recorded. ί This method is used in the material (4) to ensure that the next-pen audio and video signal is two.
Client^ Docket N〇.:TW95088GB TT^ Docket No:0932-A50934-TW/Final /Glorious Tien 1321952 器。由於本發明所使用的緩衝器為環型緩衝器，新寫入的 影音資料可能會覆蓋到之前寫入的影音資料。因此，本方 法在寫入影音資料至該環型緩衝器的過程中必須適時調 整一可讀取指標，以確保儲存於該環型緩衝器的影音資料 得以被正確讀取。 第2圖以分解步驟圖解本發明的一實施例，内容為一 環型緩衝器在三個不同階段時的狀況（220、230、以及 240)。圖形220顯示一環型緩衝器尚未有影音資料寫入 時，一可讀取指標R以及一可寫入指標W所標誌的位置。 • 第2圖之實施例所採用的額定時間長度為五分鐘，整個環 型緩衝器的儲存空間足以儲存三十分鐘的影音資料。圖形 230圖解一時間長度為三十分鐘的影音信號在該環型緩衝 - 器中的儲存狀況。由於每一個緩衝區所能儲存的影音資料 之時間長度不得超過五分鐘’因此必須將該影音信號每隔 五分鐘切割成一段資料，依序儲存至緩衝區202、204、 206、208、210、與 212。該等緩衝區 202、204、206、208、 210 與 212 各自具有一標頭 201、203、205、207、209 與 φ 211，用以記錄所屬之緩衝區所儲存的影音資料之時間索 引以及檔案大小。相較於第1圖所描述之傳統時光平移技 術，本實施例若欲回顧三分鐘前的晝面（標誌216所標示 處），僅需從第六個缓衝器212之標頭211讀取出緩衝器 212所儲存的影音資料之相關資訊，並且根據這些資訊搜 尋該緩衝器212，即可很快找到三分鐘前的晝面。相較於 第1圖所描述之傳統時光平移技術需要花費大量時間在 標誌106之前的二十七分鐘影音資料上，本發明僅需要搜 尋標誌216之前的兩分鐘影音資料即可找到三分鐘前的Client^ Docket N〇.:TW95088GB TT^ Docket No:0932-A50934-TW/Final /Glorious Tien 1321952. Since the buffer used in the present invention is a ring buffer, the newly written video material may cover the previously recorded video material. Therefore, in the process of writing video and audio data to the ring buffer, the method must adjust a readable index in time to ensure that the audio and video data stored in the ring buffer is correctly read. Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in a decomposition step for the condition (220, 230, and 240) of a ring buffer at three different stages. The graphic 220 shows that when a ring buffer has not been written with audio and video data, a readable index R and a position that can be written by the index W can be read. • The embodiment of Figure 2 is rated for five minutes and the entire ring buffer has enough storage space for thirty minutes of audio and video data. Graph 230 illustrates the storage of a video signal having a duration of thirty minutes in the ring buffer. Since the length of the video and audio data that can be stored in each buffer cannot exceed five minutes', the video signal must be cut into a piece of data every five minutes, and sequentially stored in the buffers 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, With 212. The buffers 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, and 212 each have a header 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, and φ 211 for recording the time index and file of the audio and video data stored in the buffer. size. Compared with the conventional time shifting technique described in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, if the facet three minutes ago (marked by the mark 216) is to be reviewed, only the header 211 of the sixth buffer 212 needs to be read. After the information about the video and audio data stored in the buffer 212 is extracted, and the buffer 212 is searched based on the information, the face three minutes ago can be quickly found. Compared with the conventional time shifting technique described in FIG. 1, it takes a lot of time to spend 27 minutes of video data before the logo 106. The present invention only needs to search for the two minutes of video data before the logo 216 to find the three minutes before.
Client's Docket N〇.:TW95088GB TT's Docket No:0932-A50934-TW/Final /Glorious Tien 8 1321952 晝面（標誌216處）， 時間。此外’由於每大地縮短了搜尋影音資料所需要的 間長度有限，因此衝區所能儲存的影音資料之日i 比較圖形220 準確度也就相對提高了許多。 著該環型緩衝器的=可以發現該可寫入指標W會隨 號得以接續寫入該環U =況變動’以令下-筆影音信 圖形240顯示又、、’’’衝态。 衝器時，該環型緩衝=一 4分鐘長影音信號至該環型緩 超過五分鐘(額定時間長的;^狀：^由於此影音信號並未 鲁衝區214)。假設此4又）1可寫在早一個緩衝區中（緩 後的樓案大小极大，2影音信號的複雜度很高’經壓縮 如圖形謂所示，緩3利用到缓衝區2〇2的儲存空間。 .衝區202本來儲存^ ^14覆蓋到緩衝區202，導致緩 .適當地修改。如圖形必須做 標示處改指向下一個缓取指標…。所 衝器的影音資料得以2〇4，以確保儲存於該環型緩 音資料寫入該環形緩取二t外’隨著此4分鐘影 指向該緩衝區mil二2 W°所標示處改 接續寫入該環形緩^束處’以綠保下一筆影音信號得以 。第3圖為本發明之時光平移錄影方法的一實施例之流 耘圖。^光平移錄影功能被啟動後，步驟地與％ ^將該環型緩衝器與—影音編解碼器初始化。在步驟规 t ’錄影機會自料取得—影音信號並且視該影音信號的 類型解碼該影音信號。該影音信號可為由一電視卡所操取 到的電視信號、或一影音光碟（如DVD)之信號、或其他任Client's Docket N〇.:TW95088GB TT's Docket No:0932-A50934-TW/Final /Glorious Tien 8 1321952 Face (mark 216), time. In addition, since each geography shortens the length of time required to search for audio and video data, the accuracy of the comparison image 220 on the date of the audio and video data that can be stored in the rushing area is relatively improved. If the ring buffer is =, it can be found that the writable index W can be successively written into the loop U = conditional change so that the lower-pen audio and video signal 240 displays again, and the ''' state. In the case of the punch, the ring type buffer = a 4 minute long video signal to the ring type is delayed for more than five minutes (the rated time is long; ^ shape: ^ because the video signal is not rushed to the 214). Assume that this 4 and 1) can be written in a buffer earlier (the size of the slower case is very large, and the complexity of the 2 video signals is very high.) The compression is as shown in the figure, and the buffer is used. 2 storage space. The punching area 202 originally stored ^ ^ 14 covered to the buffer 202, resulting in a slow and appropriate modification. If the graphic must be marked to change to point to the next slowing index .... 〇4, to ensure that the ring type buffer data is stored in the ring mitigation two t outside 'with this 4 minutes shadow pointing to the buffer mil two 2 W ° marked change to continue to write the ring At the end of the green security, a video signal is obtained. Fig. 3 is a flow chart of an embodiment of the time shifting video recording method of the present invention. After the optical panning video function is activated, the step is buffered with %^. And the video codec initialization. In the step t 'video opportunity to take the video signal and decode the video signal according to the type of the video signal. The video signal can be a television signal obtained by a television card , or a signal from a video disc (such as a DVD), or He served
Client's Docket N〇.:TW95088GB TT*s Docket No:0932-A50934-TW/Final /Glorious_Tien 9 1321952 何影音信號。之後，步驟308將壓縮該影音信號以降低該 影音信號的檔案大小。步驟310判斷該影音信號之時間長 度是否大於一額定時間長度。若該影音信號之時間長度大 於該額定時間長度，則執行步驟312，依照該額定時間長 度將該影音信號切割成數段影音資料，並且根據一可寫入 指標依序寫入該環型解碼器的複數個緩衝區中。若該影音 信號之時間長度不大於該額定時間長度，則執行步驟 314，將該影音信號根據該可寫入指標寫入該環型解碼器 内的一個緩衝區中。上述步驟3 12與314，在影音資料寫 # 入該環型緩衝器後，皆必須適當地調整該可寫入指標以及 一可讀取指標，以正確標示該環型緩衝器目前可讀取的區 段以及可再寫入資料的地方。上述緩衝區各自具有一標 . 頭，用以記錄所屬之缓衝區所儲存的影音資料之時間索引 以及檔案大小，以作為影音回溯時搜尋檔案的根據。 此外，若時光平移的規格改變（例如使用者希望能夠 回溯更久之前的影音信號），本發明僅需在步驟302(初始 化該環型緩衝器）時稍作修改即可達到。 φ 本發明雖以較佳實施例揭露如上，然其並非用以限定 本發明的範圍，任何熟習此項技藝者，在不脫離本發明之 精神和範圍内，當可做些許的更動與潤飾，因此本發明之 保護範圍當視後附之申請專利範圍所界定者為準。Client's Docket N〇.:TW95088GB TT*s Docket No:0932-A50934-TW/Final /Glorious_Tien 9 1321952 He Yingyin signal. Thereafter, step 308 compresses the video signal to reduce the file size of the video signal. Step 310 determines whether the time length of the video signal is greater than a nominal time length. If the time length of the video signal is greater than the rated time length, step 312 is performed, the video signal is cut into several pieces of video data according to the rated time length, and the ring decoder is sequentially written according to a writable index. In multiple buffers. If the length of the video signal is not longer than the rated time length, step 314 is executed to write the video signal into a buffer in the ring decoder according to the writable index. In the above steps 3 12 and 314, after the audio and video data is written into the ring buffer, the writable index and a readable index must be properly adjusted to correctly indicate that the ring buffer is currently readable. Sections and places where data can be rewritten. Each of the buffers has a header for recording the time index of the audio and video data stored in the buffer to which it belongs and the file size, as a basis for searching for files during video backtracking. In addition, if the specification of the time shift is changed (e.g., the user desires to be able to trace back the video signal before the longer time), the present invention can be achieved with only minor modifications in step 302 (initializing the ring buffer). The present invention is not limited to the scope of the present invention, but may be modified and retouched without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.
Client's Docket N〇.:TW95088GB 10 TT's Docket No:0932-A50934-TW/Final /Glorious Tien 1321952 【圖式簡單說明】 第1圖圖解傳統時光平移錄影方法的一實施例； 第2圖圖解本發明一實施例的三個階段；以及 第3圖為本發明一實施例的流程圖。 【主要元件符號說明】 100〜環型緩衝器； 102〜緩衝區； 104〜標頭； 106〜標誌前三分鐘的影音位置； 201、 203、205、207、209 與 211 〜標頭； 202、 204、206、208、210、212 與 214〜緩衝器； 216〜標誌前三分鐘的影音位置； 220〜未寫入影音資料的環型缓衝器； 230~寫入一 30分鐘影音信號的環型缓衝器； 240〜在圖形230中，更寫入一 4分鐘影音信號的環型緩衝器； R〜可讀取指標； W〜可寫入指標； 302〜環型緩衝器初始化； 304〜編解碼器初始化； 306〜取得影音信號； 308〜壓縮該影音信號； 310〜判斷該影音信號之時間長度是否大於一額定時間長度； 312〜依照該額定時間長度切割該影音信號，以寫入該環型緩 衝器之複數個缓衝區中；以及 314〜將該影音信號寫入一緩衝區。Client's Docket N〇.: TW95088GB 10 TT's Docket No:0932-A50934-TW/Final /Glorious Tien 1321952 [Simplified Schematic] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a conventional time shifting video recording method; FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of the present invention. Three stages of the embodiment; and Figure 3 is a flow chart of an embodiment of the invention. [Main component symbol description] 100~ring buffer; 102~buffer; 104~header; 106~ mark the first three minutes of video and audio position; 201, 203, 205, 207, 209 and 211 ~ header; 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212 and 214~ buffer; 216~ mark the first three minutes of video and audio position; 220~ ring type buffer without writing audio and video data; 230~ write a ring of 30 minutes of audio and video signals Type buffer; 240~ In the graphic 230, a ring buffer for writing a 4 minute video signal; R~ readable index; W~ writable index; 302~ ring type buffer initialization; 304~ The codec is initialized; 306~ obtains the video signal; 308~ compresses the video signal; 310~ determines whether the time length of the video signal is greater than a rated time length; 312~ cuts the video signal according to the rated time length to write the a plurality of buffers of the ring buffer; and 314~ writing the video signal to a buffer.
Client’s Docket N〇.:TW95088GB 11 TT’s Docket No:0932-A50934-TW/Final /Glorious_TienClient’s Docket N〇.:TW95088GB 11 TT’s Docket No:0932-A50934-TW/Final /Glorious_Tien