Recording and playing back multiple programs

Record and play multiple programs

Background of the invention

1. Technical Field

The configuration of the present invention relates generally to a video recording system, and more specifically, to a video recording system, which can digitally record encoded video streams to storage media, such as recordable digital video discs, hard drives Disk drives, magnetic optical discs and digital tapes.

2. Description of related skills

Many consumers use recording devices to record their favorite programs. However, in recent years, consumers have had too many program choices. For example, some satellite transmission systems may include more than 500 channels to provide program content. Therefore, a single recording device will strictly limit the consumer's choice if the consumer wants to record multiple programs.

One way is that consumers can purchase more than one recording device, which can program each of these devices to record an independent program. In addition, several encoders and decoders can be placed in a recording device to accommodate multiple signals. However, it is obvious that these options will increase a lot of costs. Furthermore, a recorder using multiple encoders and decoders can generate a bit rate exceeding the maximum recording rate of the recorder, which increases the complexity of the recorder design. Although one or more optical drive units can be added to solve this bit rate problem, the increased cost and design complexity make this solution inappropriate. Therefore, there is a need for a recording device that can record and play multiple important signals without significantly increasing the cost or complexity of the recording device.

Summary of the invention

The present invention provides a method for recording multiple programs on a storage medium. The method comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of multimedia input; sampling the input multimedia, multimedia input such that the sample comprises a portion of the plurality of multimedia input; binding of the sampled multi- media input; and the coding of the sampled input multimedia, Therefore, the number of encoding devices required to encode the sampled multimedia input is smaller than the number of the plurality of multimedia inputs. The method may also include the step of playing the sampled multimedia input. In one configuration, the playback step may further include the steps of: decoding at least one of the encoded sampled multimedia inputs to provide a decoded signal; and processing the decoded signal to be able to display at least one of the multimedia inputs. In addition, the processing step may further include a step of up-converting at least one of the sampled multimedia inputs.

In another configuration, the method may further include the step of providing an imitation input to be combined with at least one of the sampled multimedia inputs. Furthermore, the plurality of multimedia inputs may include multimedia data selected from a group including video, sound, or a combination thereof. At the same time, each of the multiple multimedia inputs can include audio and video.

On the other hand, the multimedia input including video may include a D1 video signal, and the sampling step may further include a step of sampling the D1 video signal to a half of the D1 video signal. In addition, the multimedia input including video may include a D1 video signal, and the sampling step may further include a step of sampling the D1 video signal to a SIF video signal. In another aspect, the audio-containing multimedia input may include a sound signal with more than two sound channels, and the sampling step may further include a step of sampling the sound signal to a stereo signal. Furthermore, the multimedia input including sound may include a sound signal having more than two sound channels, and the sampling step may further include the step of sampling the sound signal to a monophonic signal.

The invention also relates to a system for encoding a plurality of multimedia input signals. The system includes: at least one sampler for sampling the multimedia input signal so that the sampled multimedia input signal includes a part of the plurality of multimedia input signals; a combiner for combining the sampled multimedia input signal; And at least one encoder for encoding the sampled multimedia input signal, wherein the number of the encoder is smaller than the plurality of multimedia input signals, or smaller than the number of samplers used for sampling the multimedia input signal. In one configuration, the plurality of multimedia input signals may include sound signals, and the system may further include: a receiver for receiving the sound signal; a lower mixer for mixing the sound signal with the following; and at least one encoder , Used to encode the down-mixed sound signal, wherein the number of the encoder is smaller than the number of the sound signal. In another configuration, the plurality of multimedia input signals can be video signals and audio signals, and the system can further include a multiplexer for multiplexing the video and audio signals.

On the other hand, the system may also include: a decoder for decoding at least one of the encoded sampled multimedia inputs to provide a decoded signal; and a processor for processing the decoded signal to be able to display the At least one of the multimedia inputs. In addition, the system may include a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the audio and video signals, and a display device for outputting the audio and video signals. At the same time, the system may include an imitation program generator for providing an imitation input to be combined with at least one of the sampled multimedia inputs.

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a system for encoding multiple multimedia inputs according to the configuration of the present invention herein.

Figure 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of encoding multimedia input and decoding such encoded input according to the configuration of the present invention.

Detailed description of preferred specific embodiments

The block diagram shown in FIG. 1 is a system 100 configured to implement various advanced operating features in accordance with the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific system shown in FIG. 1, because the present invention can be implemented by any other system that can encode and decode video signals. The system 100 may include an encoding path 110 for receiving and processing multimedia input, and for storing the input on a storage medium (not shown). In addition, the system may include a decoding path 112 for receiving and processing multimedia data read from the storage medium. In one configuration, the multimedia input and the multimedia data read from the storage medium may include video, sound, or a combination thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, the encoding path 110 may include one or more samplers 114 for sampling a corresponding number of video signals. These sampled video signals can then be input to a video combiner 116, which can combine or combine these sampled video signals. Next, these signals can be encoded by the video encoder 118 and then transmitted to a multiplexer 120. The encoding path 110 may also include one or more samplers in the form of a down-mixer 122 for sampling or down-mixing a corresponding number of sound signals. The down-mixed sound signal can then be sent to a sound combiner 123, which can combine the down-mixed sound signal. The down-mixed audio signals can be encoded by an audio encoder 124 and sent to the multiplexer 120, which can multiplex the audio and video signals. These signals can then be sent to a controller (not shown) to record the signals on a storage medium. As described below, the encoding path 110 may also include an imitation program generator 140 for generating one or more imitation programs, which may be combined with one or more incoming sampled video signals.

Referring to the decoding path 112, a demultiplexer 126 can receive and demultiplex the multimedia data read from the storage medium. In one configuration, if the multimedia data contains video, the video can be decoded by a video decoder 128 and then sent to a video selector 130. The video can then be processed by a video display processor 132 and transmitted to, for example, a display device (not shown). As explained below, the video display processor 132 can be used for up-conversion or to improve the image quality of the decoded video signal before it is displayed. In one configuration, the video display processor 132 can be a one-line duplexer; however, the present invention is not limited by this, and any other known devices can be used to improve image quality.

If the multimedia data contains sound, the sound can be decoded by a sound decoder 134 and then sent to a sound selector 136. Then, the sound can also be transmitted to the display device. In another configuration, the decoding path 112 may also include a program selector 138 having a control interface to connect to the video selector 130 and the sound selector. The program selector 138 can allow a user to select among any video or audio signals read from the storage medium, because a plurality of these signals can be used during the receiving and encoding steps performed in the encoding path 110 Record to the storage medium. Only those signals selected and displayed by the user through the program selector 138 are allowed to pass through the video selector 130 and/or the sound selector 136. The steps performed in the encoding path 110 and the decoding path 112 will be described in detail below.

Record and play multiple programs

According to the configuration of the present invention, multiple programs can be recorded on a storage medium. Specifically, it can receive multiple multimedia inputs, and these inputs can be sampled, so that the sampled multimedia input includes a part of the multiple multimedia inputs. These sampled multimedia inputs can be combined and encoded, so that the number of encoding devices required to encode the sampled multimedia inputs can be less than the number of the plurality of multimedia inputs, or smaller than the samples used to sample the plurality of multimedia inputs The number of devices. In addition, these sampled multimedia inputs can be played by at least one of the decodes, and the decoded signal is processed to be able to display at least one of the multimedia inputs. Furthermore, during this processing step, one or more decoded multimedia inputs to be played can be up-converted.

Figure 2 shows a flow chart 200 which illustrates a way to use a reduced or minimum number of encoding devices to record multiple programs on a storage medium. In step 210, a plurality of multimedia inputs can be received. These multimedia inputs can be audio signals, video signals, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the present invention can receive any number of multimedia inputs.

In step 212, the multimedia inputs may be sampled so that the sampled multimedia input includes a part of the plurality of multimedia inputs. For example, the resolution of the image included in each of the plurality of multimedia inputs sampled may be smaller than the resolution of the image included in each input before the sampling process. Several sampling techniques can be used to perform this step. For example, if a video is being received, the resolution of the video signal can be reduced by removing the resolution line or removing pixels from the image contained in the video signal. If sound is being received, each sound signal can be sampled or down-mixed by removing one or more sound channels included in each sound signal. It must be noted, however, that the present invention is not limited to any specific sampling technique, because any other suitable technique in the art can be used to sample the incoming multimedia input.

The following discussion can illustrate an example of this sampling process. It receives two D1 video signals. The D1 signal is a video signal with an image resolution of 720X480. In some examples, the image resolution is 704X480. These signals can be sampled to convert them to 1/2 D1 video signals, that is, video signals with an image resolution of 352X480. Therefore, each sampled 1/2 D1 signal contains a part of its original corresponding D1 video signal. In another example, the D1 signal can be down-sampled to a 1/4 D1 signal, or a standard input format (SIF) signal, with an image resolution of 352X240. Although the previous description is useful, because D1, 1/2 D1 and 1/4 D1 video signals are conventional formats, it must be noted that the present invention is not limited to this example. In fact, any number of incoming video signals can be down-sampled to any other appropriate resolution or image size.

For another example, two independent sound signals can be received, where each sound signal contains four sound channels. These incoming sound signals can be sampled or down-mixed to sound signals containing only two sound channels, that is, each sound signal is now a stereo signal. In another example, the incoming four-channel audio signal can be down-mixed to a audio signal containing only one audio channel, that is, each audio signal is now a single audio signal. But similar to the example regarding the incoming video signal, the present invention is not limited to the previous example, because any number of incoming audio signals can be sampled or down-mixed to any other suitable format or size.

Once the multimedia input has been properly sampled, the sampled input can be combined, as shown in step 214. For example, if two D1 signals are received and sampled down to 1/2 D1 signal, these signals can be combined to generate a signal that includes the same number of resolution lines as carried in a complete D1 signal. Similarly, if two independent four-channel audio signals have been down-mixed to two independent stereo signals, these stereo signals can be combined to produce a four-channel audio signal.

In one configuration, an imitation program signal can be generated, which can be combined with one or more of the incoming sampled video signals to generate a combination of sampled signals, wherein the combined resolution of the combined signal includes the imitation signal, That is equal to a D1 signal. An imitation program signal can be a video signal that does not contain a program, that is, a blank image. For example, if three D1 signals are received, it needs to sample these signals down to a 1/4 D1 signal, because the 1/4 D1 format is a conventional format. However, it should be noted that if three D1 signals are received and sampled down to 1/4 D1, the combined analytical line is not equal to a complete D1 signal. Obviously, many video encoders can operate more efficiently on video signals with a resolution of D1 signals. Therefore, it is better to combine an imitation program signal to the 1/4 D1 signal to enable the encoder to operate more efficiently. It must be noted, however, that the present invention is not limited to this particular example, because a simulated program signal can be added to any appropriate number of sampled video signals to improve the performance of the video encoder.

Once the multimedia input is properly sampled, the input is encoded, as shown in step 216. Obviously, because the incoming multimedia input has already been sampled, the number of encoding devices required to encode these sampled signals may be less than the number of the original multimedia input. For example, if a conventional storage media device receives two independent D1 video signals, the storage media device needs two independent video encoders to simultaneously encode the D1 signal. Similarly, if two independent four-channel audio signals are received, the storage media device needs two independent audio encoders to encode the two independent four-channel audio signals.

However, according to the configuration of the present invention, sampling the incoming multimedia input can reduce the number of encoders generally required to encode the multimedia input. For example, if two D1 video signals are sampled down to 1/2 D1 signal and combined, only one video encoder is needed to encode the two signals at the same time. This can reduce the number of encoders required to perform this processing from 2 to 1. Furthermore, if four D1 video signals are sampled down to four 1/4 D1 signals and then combined again, it only needs one video encoder to encode these 1/4 D1 signals.

For another example, if two sound signals, each of which has four channels of sound, are down-mixed to a stereo signal and combined, then only a four-channel sound encoder is needed to simultaneously encode the down-mixed signal. At the same time, if four sound signals, each of which has four sound channels, are down-mixed to a single sound signal and combined, only a four-channel sound encoder is needed to encode the down-mixed sound signal. Therefore, the number of encoders required to encode the sampled multimedia input is less than the number of encoders required to encode the originally received multimedia input, and therefore less than the number of multimedia inputs actually received. It must be noted, however, that the present invention is not limited to the foregoing example, because any number of multimedia inputs that can be received, and sampling down to any other appropriate format, is used to reduce the number of encoders required to encode the incoming multimedia input.

In one configuration, once the sampled multimedia input has been encoded, the sampled input can be recorded on a storage medium, as shown in step 218. It can then decide whether these sampled multimedia inputs can be played, as shown in decision block 218. If not, the procedure stops in step 222. If the sampled multimedia inputs are to be played, these inputs can be read by the storage medium, as shown in step 224. In step 226, one or more of these multimedia inputs can be decoded to provide a decoded signal. Specifically, the sampled video signal and the down-mixed signal can be decoded. These decoded signals can then be processed to be able to display at least one of the multimedia inputs, as shown in step 228. For example, because a plurality of these sampled inputs are read from a storage medium, a user can selectively choose which inputs he wants to display. For example, if four 1/4 D1 signals are encoded and recorded on a storage medium, the user can selectively view any number of the four signals. Those video signals that are selected for display can be sent to a display device for viewing, and those video signals that are not selected for viewing can be avoided for display. In addition, the user can selectively choose which audio signal will be played, which includes selectively combining any audio signal with any video signal for display.

In one configuration, the decoded video signal to be displayed can be further processed or up-converted to improve its image quality. For example, the decoded video signal can be upconverted by passing it through a line duplexer, or by any other known device that can be used to improve image quality. Finally, the flowchart 200 may end in step 230.

Although the present invention is described in conjunction with the specific embodiments disclosed herein, it must be understood that the previous description is intended to illustrate rather than limit the scope of the present invention defined by the scope of the patent application.

Symbol description

100. . . system

110. . . Encoding path

112. . . Decoding path

114. . . Sampler

116. . . Video combiner

118. . . Video encoder

120. . . Multiplexer

122. . . Down mixer

123. . . Sound combiner

124. . . Voice encoder

126. . . Demultiplexer

128. . . Video decoder

130. . . Video selector

132. . . Video display processor

134. . . Sound decoder

136. . . Sound selector

138. . . Show selector

140. . . Dummy program generator