Editing apparatus and method in video tape duplicating system.

Background of the Invention

0001The present invention relates to an editing apparatus and a method in an audio/video information duplicating system, and particularly to an editing apparatus in an audio/video information duplicating system which edits a program by the automatic search of starting and ending points, and an editing method suitable for controlling the editing apparatus.

0002Generally, a recording/reproducing system is composed of a recording system to record audio and video information on a recording medium, and a playback system to reproduce the audio and video information recorded on the recording medium. Such an audio/video information duplicating system includes two recorder/reproducers connected to each other (one for the playback deck and the other for the recording deck), wherein the information recorded in one recorder/reproducer is duplicated (or recorded) on the other recorder/reproducer. In particular, a system which embodies two recorder/reproducers as above together in one unit is known as a double-deck recorder/reproducer.

0003The recording medium, e.g., a video tape, of the recorder/reproducer includes a video track for recording and reproducing video information, an audio track for recording and reproducing audio information, and a control track for recording and reproducing reference signals to control traveling speed, phase, and other operations. Especially, binary information in the form of "0" and "1" is recorded on the control track through "N" and "S" magnetic poles at a density of 1 bit per two video tracks. In other words, 1 bit per frame is recorded, and the logic "0's" and "1's" are regularly set by a predetermined duty ratio.

0004With the current trend toward performing many diverse functions in the recorder/reproducer, a high speed search function has been added to find a desired program among a plurality of programs recorded on a recording medium by altering the duty ratio of the control track. The Video Index Search System (hereinafter referred to as VISS) is one kind of such a function, wherein index information is recorded on a certain point of the recording medium in a predetermined manner, and the recorded index information is sequentially searched by operating a VISS control key during the operation of the recording medium. After searching the index information, the PLAY mode is initiated to confirm whether or not the program corresponding to the searched index information is the desired one. If not, repeated index information searches are carried out by the use of the VISS control key until the corresponding index information is found.

0005However, in the conventional audio/video information duplicating system, the duplicating method (dubbing or editing process) is greatly restricted. For example, to search a desired program for duplication, several function keys need to be repeatedly operated to control the fast forward (FF) or PLAY modes in the playback deck, making the process inconvenient. Therefore, to solve this problem, proposals have been made to utilize apparatuses adopting the aforesaid VISS information system. By using the VISS information, the FF and PLAY mode key operation is simplified. Further, the desired program can be quickly and easily detected, reproduced, and duplicated.

0006However, the VISS information system still has a problem in that a plurality of function keys need to be repeatedly pressed until the corresponding index information is found. In addition to this, after searching the desired program, when duplication is performed by the aforesaid two methods of control key operation, accurate duplication is not achieved in the course of converting to the PLAY mode in the playback deck and to the recording (REC) mode in the recording deck.

Summary of the Invention

0007Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an editing apparatus and a method in an audio/video information duplicating system, wherein an editing section is randomly preset using starting point and ending point markings. Then, edit duplication is to be performed by the automatic search of the marking information.

0008To accomplish the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an editing apparatus used for an audio/video information duplicating system comprising:    a key input for transferring user-designated command and information;    a playback system including a playback deck driver for driving a playback deck, and outputting a playback signal;    a recording system including a recording deck driver for driving a recording deck, and recording the playback signal, the recording system being formed in a unit together with the playback system;    an edit adjuster for controlling editing operation that allows the playback signal within a preset editing section output from the playback deck to be recorded on the recording deck in accordance with the output signal of the key input;    a dubbing portion for transferring video playback information from the playback system to the recording system;    a display for displaying the video information output from the playback system; and    a system controller that marks starting and ending points of the editing section on a recording medium of the playback system when a control command for setting the editing section is applied through the key input, and controls the edit adjuster's operation in accordance with the detection of the marking information when an editing control command is applied through the key input.

0009An editing method suitable for operating an audio/video information duplicating system including a recording system having a recording deck driver and a playback system having a playback deck driver, the recording system and playback system being formed in a unit, a dubbing portion, a display, a key input, an edit adjuster, and a system controller, comprises the steps of:    setting an editing section for setting starting and ending points of at least one section to be edited in a program which was recorded on the recording medium in a playback deck through the key input;    detecting marking information for detecting the marking information about the starting and ending points set in the step of setting an editing section while automatically shifting the playback deck's operational modes such as FF, STOP, and the to REW modes after the editing mode is set by the key input;    automatic editing for automatically duplicating the signal reproduced in the playback system onto the recording system upon detecting the starting point by the detecting step, for returning to the step of detecting a marking information upon detecting the ending point, and continuously checking for marking information from the initial point to the final point of the recording medium in the playback deck thereby performing automatic duplication.

Brief Description of the Drawings

0010The object and features of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Figure 1 is a block diagram of an editing apparatus according to the present invention;</li><li>Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of an example of an edit adjuster of the editing apparatus shown in Figure 1;</li><li>Figures 3A to 3D are output waveforms of the flip-flops of the edit adjuster shown in Figure 2;</li><li>Figure 4 shows a remote controller serving as the key input of the edit apparatus shown in Figure 1;</li><li>Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the editing apparatus shown in Figure 1;</li><li>Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the subroutine of the step for setting an editing section in the flow chart shown in Figure 5;</li><li>Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the subroutine of the step for automatic editing in the flow chart shown in Figure 5; and</li><li>Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the subroutine of the step for manual editing in the flow chart shown in Figure 5.</li></ul>

Detailed Description of the Invention

0011Now, referring to the attached drawings, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail hereinbelow.

0012Figure 1 shows an embodiment of an editing apparatus according to the present invention, which includes a key input 10; a system controller 20 connected to key input 10; a superimposed information generator 130 and a blue screen 140 each connected to the system controller 20; a mixer 150 receiving respective inputs from superimposed information generator 130 and blue screen 140 and providing an input to a display 110; an edit adjuster 30 interconnected with system controller 20, a playback deck driver 40 and a recording deck driver 50 each interconnected with system controller 20; a playback deck head 60 and an audio head 80 each connected to playback deck driver 40; a recording deck head 70 and an audio head 90 each connected to recording deck driver 50; a dubbing portion 100 which has connections to playback deck head 60, recording deck head 70, playback audio head 80, recording audio head 90, system controller 20, display 110, and a speaker 120.

0013Figure 2 is a preferred embodiment of the edit adjuster 30 shown in Figure 1, which is constructed to receive input signals such as index information, REC mode set information, starting point (hereinafter referred to as START) mark information, ending point (hereinafter referred to as END) mark information, and automatic/manual control signal, all of which are supplied from system controller 20. Edit adjuster 30 applies a REC STOP/START control signal, a PLAY STOP/START control signal, and an FF control signal to system controller 20. In further detail, edit adjuster 30 is composed of a first OR gate OR1 that receives the index information and REC mode set information as input signals; a first flip-flop FF1 having the START mark information as a clock signal; a first AND gate AND1 that receives the REC mode set information and the non-inverted output Q from first flip- flop FF1 as input signals; a second AND gate AND2 that receives the output signals from first OR gate OR1 and first AND gate AND1 as input signals; a second flip-flop FF2 having the END mark information as a clock signal; a third AND gate AND3 that receives the REC mode set information and the non-inverted output Q from second flip-flop FF2 as input signals; a exclusive OR gate XOR which is connected to receive the outputs of second and third AND gates AND2 and AND3, while providing a REC STOP/START control signal and a PLAY STOP/START control signal as inputs to system controller; an inverter INV which also receives the output of exclusive OR gate XOR as an input; and a fourth AND gate AND4 which is connected to receive the outputs of inverter INV and the automatic/manual control output from system controller 20, and supply a FF control signal as an output to system controller 20. The edit adjuster 30 operates when editing is carried out in a predetermined manner using the playback deck in which the editing section has already been set.

0014Figures 3A through 3D show output waveforms pertaining to the flip-flops illustrated in Figure 2. Here, Figure 3A illustrates the START mark information; 3B, the END mark information; 3C, the waveform of the non-inverted output Q of the first flip-flop; and 3D, the waveform output from the non-inverted output Q of the second flip-flop.

0015Figure 4 is an example of the key input 10 shown in Figure 1, and shows just editing operation function keys provided in a remote controller. The operation of the function keys are as follows: INDEX is a key for designating automatic search stand-by, REC is for stand-by operation to edit using the automatic search function, AUTO is for automatic editing, MANUAL is for manual editing, S.MARK is for VISS marking or REC start marking, E.MARK is for end marking, and ERASE is for erasing the control information marked by the S.MARK or E.MARK.

0016Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the editing apparatus shown in Figure 1. Steps 200 through 400 are for preparing the editing, step 500 is for setting an editing section, steps 600 to 700 are for setting the editing method, step 800 is for automatic editing, and step 900 is for manual editing.

0017Figure 6 is a detailed flowchart corresponding to step 500 shown in Figure 5, wherein steps 501 through 504 are for setting the editing section, and steps 505 through 509 are for setting the stand-by to edit in the playback deck (hereinafter referred to as P.DECK).

0018Figure 7 is a detailed flowchart corresponding to step 800 of Figure 5, wherein step 801 is for setting the automatic editing mode, steps 802 through 810 are for detecting the VISS (starting point) mark, steps 811 and 812 are for conducting the editing operation, steps 813 through 815 are for detecting the END mark, and steps 816 through 818 are for release from the editing mode.

0019Figure 8 is a detailed flowchart corresponding to step 900 of Figure 5, wherein steps 901 through 904 are for detecting a first editing point, step 905 is for setting the editing mode, steps 906 and 907 are for detecting the second editing point, steps 909 and 910 are for performing the editing operation, steps 911 and 912 are for detecting the END mark, and steps 913 through 915 are for release from editing mode.

0020Now, the operation of Figures 1 and 2 are described in detail with reference to Figures 3 through 8. More particularly, the description shall be made based on the flowcharts shown in Figures 4 through 8.

0021The playback driver 40 and the recording deck driver 50 include a playback deck and an recording deck (not shown) for reproducing and recording, respectively, and are composed of conventional signal processing circuits. The dubbing portion 100 is also known art and functions by faithfully transferring the playback signal (video and audio signals) from the P.DECK to the recording deck (hereinafter referred to as R.DECK) in accordance with the control signal from system controller 20. The blue screen 140 is a circuit to display a blue background on display 110 when system controller 20 instructs superimposed information generator 130 to superimpose information.

0022First, the power is turned on through key input 10 of Figure 1 (step 200). A tape on which programs are recorded is inserted to be edited in the P.DECK within playback deck driver 40 (step 300). A blank tape on which edited information will be recorded is inserted in the R.DECK within recording deck driver 50 (step 400).

0023Then, a program to be edited is set among the plurality of programs recorded on the tape in the P.DECK in accordance with the control signal applied through key input 10 (step 500). Here, it is assumed that key input 10 is a remote controller including the function keys shown in Figure 4. When the INDEX key of key input 10 is controlled for setting a section to be edited, system controller 20 outputs a high logic index bit to the edit adjuster 30 through a line L1. However, since the index bit applied through line L1 is high and other input signals (including the REC mode set information) are at a low logic state, the edit adjuster 30 constructed as shown in Figure 2, does not output a specific signal for controlling the P.DECK and R.DECK to system controller 20. Thus, a user presses the PLAY key of key input 10 to output a control signal, making the P.DECK perform a PLAY. This causes the P.DECK to read the recorded information from the recording medium as an electrical signal through playback deck head 60 and audio head 80, and to output the audio information to speaker 120 and the video information to display 110 through dubbing portion 100.

0024The INDEX control signal of system controller 20 is supplied to superimposed information generator 130 through a line L12, thereby generating the corresponding superimposed information. System controller 20 simultaneously controls blue screen 140 through a line L13 to make the background of the superimposed information blue. The outputs of blue screen 140 and superimposed information generator 130 are mixed at mixer 150 and output to display 110. Both the superimposed information and the background color are displayed in a predetermined region of the displayed picture. Examples of the superimposed information are the current mode, the number of selected programs or the set program, START and END markings, etc.

0025While reproducing audio/video information via the P.DECK using display 110 and speaker 120, VISS marking is carried out at the starting point of the section to be edited (step 502). For the VISS marking, when the S.MARK function key of the remote controller in Figure 4 is pressed at the aforesaid starting point, system controller 20 changes the control pulse's duty ratio of the starting point on the video tape in the playback deck driver 40 into a VISS duty ratio for standard VHS. Upon completion, the VISS marking of the starting point is displayed on display 110 as superimposed information such as a cursor.

0026Similar to the VISS marking, when the E.MARK function key of the remote controller is pressed at the desired ending point during reproduction, END marking is also completed but by a different duty ratio from the foregoing VISS (start marking) duty ratio. The duty ratio of the END mark is negligible as compared with that of the VISS mark. In more detail, when the duty ratio of the N to S magnetic poles of the general control pulse is 5:5, that of the VISS marking is 3:7, and that of the END mark is in the vicinity of 5:5, e.g., 5.5:4.5.

0027These VISS and END markings continue until the operating mode of the P.DECK is changed to the STOP by sensing the final point of the tape (step 504). However, if the VISS and END markings are finished before sensing the final point, the user can stop the P.DECK's operation by pressing the STOP key of key input 10 (step 505). Next, in step 506, the P.DECK executes the rewind function (hereinafter referred to as REW). If the STOP key is pressed during REW, the P.DECK is set to the STOP mode (steps 507 and 509). If the STOP key is not pressed, the P.DECK will also be set to the STOP mode by sensing the initial point of the tape (steps 508 and 509).

0028The editing section set by the above method is edited by a set editing method. The setting method can be classified into two methods: automatic editing by an AUTO key and manual editing by a MANUAL key, both shown in Figure 4. Accordingly, through input key 10, the desired method is set (step 600). In step 700, system controller 20 determines whether the control signal of the set editing method (supplied from the key input 10) is automatic or manual.

0029When the automatic editing is set in step 700, this method is performed as below.

0030First, system controller 20 sets the editing mode to automatic editing for the overall system which includes the playback deck driver 40 and recording deck driver 50 (step 801). Especially, the recording deck driver 50 controls the R.DECK upon REC stand-by state since the editing stand-by state is not attained unless the REC MODE key is controlled even though the AUTO key is controlled as described in Figure 4. Therefore, the REC mode set information from the system controller 20 always maintains a high logic state whenever the editing method is set to either automatic or manual, and automatic/manual control signal is output to the edit adjuster 30 through line L1. Accordingly, among the signals input to edit adjuster 30 through line L1, the REC mode set information and automatic/manual control signal are high logic. Thus, a low logic signal is applied to the clock terminals of the two flip-flops FF1 and FF2. Here, the first and second flip-flops FF1 and FF2 being JK flip-flops operate as toggle switches that change their output logic state whenever a clock signal is applied, since the J and K inputs are tied to 5V. Therefore, the non-inverted outputs Q from first and second flip-flops FF1 and FF2 go low. By this connection, each of the first through third AND gates AND1-AND3 outputs a low logic signal, to supply both inputs of exclusive OR gate XOR with a low. Exclusive OR gate XOR then outputs a low logic signal. Accordingly, the REC STOP/START and PLAY STOP/START control signals from edit adjuster 30 to system controller 20 through line L2 are both low, which results in letting the R.DECK and P.DECK maintain their STOP states.

0031Meanwhile, the output of the exclusive OR gate XOR is applied to the inverter INV to be inverted, making it high. Therefore, both inputs of fourth AND gate AND4 is supplied with high logic signals from inverter INV and the automatic/manual control signal of system controller 20 through line L1, providing a high logic signal as the FF control signal of system controller 20. System controller 20 outputs a control signal to the playback deck driver 40 through line L3, to allow the P.DECK to perform an FF function (step 802). Here, the playback deck driver 40 is constructed including the playback deck, and composed of a conventional signal processing circuit, as described above.

0032The playback deck driver 40 detects the VISS information which was marked while setting the editing section upon performing FF under the control of the system controller 20 (step 803). The VISS information was included in the playback information read from the recording medium by playback deck head 60 in the form of a picked up signal within the playback deck driver 40. When the marked VISS information is detected (step 804), the playback deck driver 40 informs system controller 20 of the detecting of the VISS information through line L4. Accordingly, the START mark information of system controller 20 supplied to edit adjuster 30 through line L1 goes high.

0033The START mark information such as the waveform shown in Figure 3A is applied as the clock signal of the first flip-flop FF1 in edit adjuster 30 Thus, at the rising edge of the START mark information applied to the clock terminal, the first flip-flop FF1 inverts the logic of the non-inverted output Q (Figure 3C). High logic signals are thus applied to both inputs of the first AND gate AND1, and output high logic signal is supplied to the input of the second AND gate AND2. Since the signals applied to both inputs of the second AND gate AND2 are also high logic states, the output signal to exclusive OR gate XOR becomes high. In the meantime, since the signal from third AND gate AND3 applied to the other input terminal of exclusive OR gate XOR is low, exclusive OR gate XOR outputs a high logic signal. The output of exclusive OR gate XOR is supplied to the REC STOP/START, the PLAY STOP/START control signal terminals of system controller 20 through line L2, and inverter INV. The inverter INV outputs a low logic signal to one input of the fourth AND gate AND4, causing fourth AND gate AND4 to output a low logic signal and apply a low logic signal as the FF control signal input of system controller 20.

0034The system controller 20 detects the VISS information again, which was detected before execution of the editing operation to precisely detect the VISS information under the control of the edit adjuster 30. When the VISS information is detected, the operational mode of the P.DECK is converted from the FF to the STOP (step 805). Subsequently, in the REW (or reverse), step 806 rotates the tape, e.g., about one frame in reverse, stopping at the point right before the position where the VISS information was detected (step 807). Then, the P.DECK is set to the PLAY by the control signal of system controller 20 in accordance with the output edit adjuster 30 (step 808). At this time, the playback signal of the P.DECK is output to display 110 and speaker 120 through dubbing portion 100.

0035During the next stage, playback deck driver 40 repeats the aforesaid VISS mark search while the P.DECK is playing (step 809). When the VISS mark is detected, after the lapse of about one frame (step 810), the recording deck driver 50 make the R.DECK perform the REC function in response to the output signal of system controller 20 through line L5 (step 811). By controlling playback deck driver 40, the video and audio information reproduced in the playback deck head 60 and audio head 80 is output to display 110 and speaker 120 through dubbing portion 100. At the same time, audio/video information is recorded on the recording medium of the R.DECK through recording deck head 70 and audio head 90 (step 812).

0036While performing the editing operation as the above, the playback deck driver 40 continuously searches for an END mark as shown in Figure 3B (813). When the END mark is detected in step 814, the END mark information supplied from system controller 20 to edit adjuster 30 through line L1 is output as a high logic signal. By this operation, a clock signal as shown in Figure 3B is applied to the clock terminal of the second flip-flop FF2, thereby producing the non-inverted output Q shown in Figure 3D. The third AND gate AND3 of which both input signals are high, outputs a high logic signal to one input of exclusive OR gate XOR. Meanwhile, the first flip-flop FF1 maintains its previous output state until before detecting the next START mark information. Therefore, the first AND gate AND1 also outputs a high logic signal. Exclusive OR gate XOR receives low logic signals at both inputs, its output is low.

0037The system controller 20 stops the PLAY and REC operations of the P.DECK and R.DECK (step 815), since the REC STOP/START and PLAY STOP/START control signals of exclusive OR gate XOR from edit adjuster 30 are both low. At the same time, the high output logic state of exclusive OR gate XOR is supplied to fourth AND gate AND4 through inverter INV. The fourth AND gate AND4 thus outputs a high logic signal, and system controller 20 sets the P.DECK to the FF again (step 816).

0038Then, the starting and ending points of the predetermined editing section are detected by the steps described as the above. In particular, when second starting point shown in Figure 3A is detected, the non-inverted output Q from the first flip-flop FF1 is inverted, becoming the low logic signal shown in Figure 3C, and is then applied to the first AND gate AND1. Therefore, the first AND gate AND1 outputs a low logic signal, and according to this operation, the second AND gate AND2 also outputs a low logic signal. However, second flip-flop FF2 maintains its previous output state until just before detecting the next end mark information, third AND gate AND3 outputs a high logic signal. As a result, exclusive OR gate XOR outputs a high logic signal by exclusive ORing, thereby stopping the FF operation of the P.DECK and simultaneously starting the REC and PLAY. These editing section detecting steps are repeatedly performed until the final point of the video tape is sensed by a final sensor (not shown). When the final point of the video tape is detected (step 817), the editing method is exited (step 818), and the editing apparatus stops.

0039When the editing method is manual in step 700, the manual editing method is similar to the automatic editing method. However, according to the manual editing method, only one program can be edited among programs set by at least one editing section in random manner. Therefore, before the editing operation, the video tape in the P.DECK should be moved close to the starting point of the desired program to be edited (step 901). The movement is executed by repeating the FF, STOP, and PLAY functions or by a conventional VISS mark search. Then, when the staring point of the desired program to be edited is detected (step 902), the operational mode of the P.DECK is changed to the STOP. After carrying out the REW as long as or longer than that in the automatic editing method, the operational mode is converted to the STOP. The user has firsthand control of the mechanism through key input 10 up to the foregoing steps. Then, by pressing the MANUAL key and REC MODE key of key input 10, precise VISS mark detection and the editing operation are performed as in the automatic editing method (steps 907 through 910). The editing operation is performed until the END mark is detected in steps 911 and 912. If the editing operation is again performed while the P.DECK and R.DECK are both in the STOP, the same process as in step 901 proceeds, and editing is implemented. If the editing operation does not continue in step 914, the editing mode is exited (step 918).

0040In the present invention, the desired section to be edited is irregularly set among one or a plurality of reproducing programs using VISS marking and END marking methods, and duplication is performed in accordance with the marked information detected during automatic or manual editing. Consequently, since the user can precisely edit various programs as desired, a video tape duplicating apparatus can be provided which is capable of effective editing.