Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
  • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
  • G11B15/00—Driving, starting or stopping record carriers of filamentary or web form; Driving both such record carriers and heads; Guiding such record carriers or containers therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function
  • G11B15/02—Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
  • G11B15/026—Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing by using processor, e.g. microcomputer

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method for facilitating the various operations linked to the recording and then the playback of television broadcasts by household recording and playback devices, such as associated cassette recorders.
• remote control called "remote control”.
• the operator or user When programming the video recorder, the operator or user reports the information found in the television press: channel, day, start and end time of the recording. To take into account the 0 non-compliance with the program times, a few minutes are deducted from the start time and a few minutes are added to the end time for recording.
• the operator searches for a cassette to receive the new recording. Once this has been found, he must place it in the device and position it at the start of the recording area. 0
• the cassette search time depends on the classification mode as well as the number of cassettes used with this VCR.
• 35 handwritten information placed on a large adhesive label To access this label, you must systematically take the cassette in hand because, depending on the mode of natural storage, the label placed on the upper part of the cassette is not visible.
• the operator When the recording is complete, the operator carefully checks that the desired program has been completely recorded. Then he removes the cassette, writes the recording information to his label and puts it away.
• the VCR that has become available can receive another cassette for a new recording.
• the playback of a pre-recorded program is generally followed by a search phase for the cassette carrying the desired program. For this, the operator establishes his search, as before, by reading the labels worn on the cassettes. The cassette finally found, it must, after having loaded it in the video recorder, to seek the beginning of the program chosen on the tape.
• the cassette will be extracted from the video recorder and the labeling of the label will be erased or crossed out, the location having become available for another recording.
• This methodology the most commonly used can be improved by the use of paper supports, notebooks, or notebooks for example to note the different programs in addition to the labels.
• the improvement relates to the concentration of information on the same support, thereby avoiding manipulation.
• the object of the invention is to remedy all of these drawbacks and to this end it proposes a method for facilitating the various operations linked to the recording and then the playback of television broadcasts by household recording and playback devices, such as as video cassette recorders associated with television receivers, a process which is characterized in that it consists, during a preparatory phase for recording: to have the user select at least one television program to be recorded, and
• an assistance module also comprising at least processing circuits, display means and a memory, all of the parameters which identify the 'program selected to enter them into the assistance module memory which contains all the parameters for identifying the programs already recorded as well as the identification numbers and the filling rates of the cassettes on which these programs were recorded, and in that it consists, during the programming phase of the recording of the selected program:
• the assistance module automatically search, by consulting its memory, that of the cassettes which has a sufficient space available to receive the recording of the selected program, and
• the assistance module display the identification number of the cassette which can receive the recording of the selected program to allow the user to load this cassette into the video recorder.
• the method consists in deferring in time the operation of programming the recording of a selected program with respect to the time of selection of this program by the user, and having the program periodically by the audio and / or visual signal assistance module to warn the user that he must still carry out this programming operation.
• the method consists, when the user erases a program already recorded on a cassette, to have the assistance module update the content of its memory to delete the information relating to this program.
• the method consists, during the preparatory phase for recording, of having the user select several television programs to be recorded, and of having him enter all of the parameters which identify each program. selected to enter them into the assistance module memory.
• the method consists, during the programming of the recording of the programs selected by the user:
• the assistance module automatically search, by consulting its memory, that of the cassettes which has a sufficient space available to receive consecutive recordings of several of the selected programs, and
• the assistance module display the identification number of the cassette which can receive these recordings to allow the user to load this cassette into the video recorder and thus limit unnecessary handling.
• the method consists, during the preparatory phase for recording, of having the assistance module check the consistency of the identification parameters which are entered by the user for each program selected. .
• a program has been recorded on a cassette: - to have the user identify the actual start and the actual end of the recording, and - to enter this data in the assistance module to update the parameters ' for identifying the recorded program and thus optimize the free spaces of the cassette which can receive the recording of other programs and position, during of a playback operation of a recorded program, the cassette at the actual start of the recording.
• the method consists in identifying a television program selected by the user by the parameters concerning in particular the date on which the selected program is scheduled, the channel which will broadcast this program, the time of start and end time of the program and its title, as well as any comments added by the user.
• the method consists, once the parameters have been entered by the user to select a program, to have the assistance module calculate the duration of the program by adding to it weighted safety margins start and end to determine the duration of the recording, so as to search on the basis of this duration, at the time of programming of this program, a sufficient space available on a cassette capable of receiving the recording of this program.
• the method consists, during the programming operation, of having the parameters of each selected program displayed by the assistance module, of having the selection of this program validated by the user and to have the parameters necessary for programming the selected program and positioning the cassette automatically sent to the VCR by teletransmission and by the assistance module.
• the invention also relates to an assistance module for implementing the method, which is characterized in that it comprises at least:
• the assistance module is autonomous and of the portable type to allow the user to program the recording of television programs outside the field of the video recorder.
• the method according to the invention makes it possible to facilitate the various operations related to the recording then to the reading of a television program on a cassette of a video recorder, and is based on the use of a intelligent assistance module available to the user.
• the operating mode of the assistance module is dependent on the three phases of the life of a program corresponding to a television program for example, namely: recording, reading and erasing. ''
• the recording of a program corresponding to a television program breaks down itself into three operations: input of the parameters identifying the selected program, programming of the video recorder and finally verification.
• Entering parameters is the main means of enriching a database on which the logical architecture of the assistance module is based.
• the assistance module favors the recording, on the same cassette, of several consecutive recordings. The programming of these different recordings will only be done once for these consecutive recordings. In fact, programming a recording can only be done if the destination cassette is already placed in the VCR.
• the programming of a recording is done by remote transmission of all its parameters contained in the database as well as orders for the placement on the recording start position.
• Verification or validation is an essential operation which guarantees the complete recording of the program. On the other hand it contributes to the optimization of the place occupied by the recordings. Although essential, this operation is often considered useless and tedious, this is why it must present a minimum of constraints during its implementation.
• Erasing consists in making the various parameters of the recording disappear from the assistance module database. The physical erasure of the recording will only be carried out when the tape is rewritten for a new recording.
• the operating mode of the assistance module and associated cassettes is therefore as follows:
• the operator or user when learning about new television programs, selects the programs to be recorded. Thanks to its assistance module, it can enter, outside the field of the video recorder, the various parameters linked to the chosen programs: title, comments, channel, date, start and end time of the program. The entry of all these parameters is guided by a drop-down menu. The operator does not have to worry about corrections to schedules, which are rarely respected, the assistance module takes care of this.
• An input check is carried out as the parameters are entered. Messages, visual and audible, highlight the detected errors which are immediately corrected by the operator. These errors being for example: simultaneous transmissions, expired recording date, duration of emission exceeding the capacity of the blank cassettes, day of more than 24 hours etc ...
• the assistance module also checks that the space available in the cassettes is sufficient to accept all new registrations. If it is exceeded, it sends a message asking to add a new cassette to the initial population or else to stop the seizure.
• the assistance module prepares the programming of the next recording: it searches, through successive iterations, among all the available locations for the one that can accommodate the maximum of next recordings. If the space available is insufficient to accommodate the next two recordings, then the selected location will be that which will have the closest time, but greater, than the time of the first of the next two records.
• the location being selected it sends a message giving the designation of the cassette to be placed in the recording apparatus.
• the different recording parameters are then transmitted: Channel, date, weighted start and end times, tape position and VCR standby. This saves the parameters, positions the cassette and stands by.
• the assistance module automatically goes into standby after a few minutes of non-operation. Its alarm clock is obtained, for example, by pressing any key on the keyboard.
• To validate a previously saved program simply wake up the assistance module which, having prepared this new operation during sleep, indicates the theoretical position at the end of the useful program. To put the cassette in this position, simply press the programming button on the assistance module. If this position is not good, the operator scrolls the strip, using the movement buttons on the assistance module. Having found the end of the program, generally the end credits, he enters the position indicated by the video recorder, which is requested by the assistance module. Immediately after this, the theoretical position of the start of the program is displayed. This position is validated as that at the end of the program.
• the assistance module inserts the new title with its parameters into the database contained in its memory. Then it moves to the programming position, indicating the designation of the cassette which must be loaded into the video recorder.
• the assistance module goes to standby.
• the assistance module starts to emit audible messages. If, despite this, programming never takes place, then the parameters are erased and the location of the cassette reused.
• the operator simply has to wake up the assistance module and press any button outside the programming button. He then has access to a menu which allows him to obtain the catalog of all the pre-recorded and validated titles. According to the menu, the titles are classified by cassette, by duration or chronological order of recording, starting with the oldest. Regardless of the title, other information is reproduced: the duration of the program, the day of recording, the recording channel, the cassette, the position of the start of the program and the comments.
• the operator only has to place the cassette, the designation of which is indicated on the display of the assistance module, in the video recorder and press the programming button.
• the tape position will be uploaded and program playback will start as soon as the playback position is reached.
• the assistance module alerts the operator, using visual and audible messages, when the latter is about to load the cassette intended for reading. If no title is selected, then simply let the assistance module go to sleep.
• the assistance module goes to standby during the reading of a pre-recorded program. When he wakes up, he asks whether the program viewed should be deleted or not. Once the order has been executed, it goes into programming mode or into standby if there is nothing more to program.
• the assistance module which corresponds to the meeting of several functional elements allowing the implementation of the process which is the subject of the invention, can take various forms, namely being either integrated into a portable device which, grouping all of its functions , will be called monolithic, or shared between two modules, one portable like remote control VCR and the other integrated in the recording and playback machine.
• the monolithic assistance module 10 illustrated in the figure is in the form of a crushed parallelepiped whose dimensions are substantially those of a remote control.
• it has on its upper face a display 12 of at least 3 lines of 20 characters and an alphanumeric keyboard 14 of at least 50 keys.
• This keyboard 14 also has keys 16 for controlling the video recorder: programming, forward and backward scrolling, etc.
• a small window 18 formed by several small perforations facilitating the emission of sounds from a generator of sound messages (vibrator for example).
• the cassettes are grouped near the video recorder and easily accessible. For this, they have been stripped of protections like "sheath or wallet”. They are placed and ordered, side by side, like books in a library.
• the cassettes are identified once and for all in an increasing numerical or alphanumeric manner, for example: 1, 2, 3, N or else Kl,
• the functional architecture of the assistance module 10 must include at least the following functions:
• a clock function carried out, for example, by a date component inserted in the electronic architecture of the module makes it possible to supervise the synchronous unfolding of the events; a memory function for storing the program managing the functionalities of the assistance module; - a memory function to store all the information in the program database;
• an intelligence function to coordinate the operation of the assembly this function is provided by one or more microprocessors; and - an energy source function comprising a backup, this function being able to be broken down into main and secondary source depending on the functional breakdown and the choice of electronic components for the memory function.
• the hardware architecture of the monolithic assistance module is organized around a single printed circuit on which are located, on one side, the contact part of the keyboard, the display and the generator of sound messages and , on the other side, processing circuits based on electronic components of the microprocessor type, memories, date stamp, interface tools, resistors, diodes, capacitors, etc., as well as a transmitting diode for controlling the video recorder. and the contact anchor points for accumulators or batteries.
• the printed circuit is sandwiched between two plastic shells, an upper shell comprising the window of the display as well as the various keyboard openings, while the lower shell comprises a cavity with a hatch for housing the rechargeable batteries (or batteries).
• the window of the display is held between the two shells, and the keyboard of the elastomer type is placed between the upper shell and the printed circuit.
• the assistance module given the richness of its material organization, can provide one or more other additional domestic functions, such as: telephone directory, calendar, account tracking, dictionary, games, etc.
• the hardware architecture of the exploded assistance module is more complex because the choice of cutting, linked to economic imperatives or according to the technological choices made, for the recording machine and. of reading means that we are faced with a multitude of solutions.
• this process, object of the present invention will probably be degraded for some users.
• the diversity of the current fleet of video recorders means that the remote transmission functions of the assistance module will not always be accepted by all devices.
• the operator will report the programming or positioning information given by the assistance module. This reporting will be done using the remote control or directly on the VCR.
• the method and the assistance module also make it possible to manage a batch of cassettes resulting from personal recordings, from video cameras.
• the operating mode is simplified since the programming phase disappears. Compared to what was developed previously, this operating mode becomes:
• the operator having recorded, using his camera, a cassette, watches it and records the start and end times of each filmed event to which he gives a name. This information is entered in the assistance module.
• cassette identification event name
• comments position on the cassette
• duration date of recording
• the assistance module includes some statistical and analysis functions which allow it to quantify the use of video equipment: total number of programs recorded for a given period, total number of programs having been recorded on the same cassette, time cumulative of all the recorded programs etc ... But above all, these functions allow to know the average deviations of the programming times. These differences are obtained by comparison between the forecast times, given by the specialized press, and the real times obtained during the validation phase. These statistical differences are very important for the automatic correction of timetables.
• the assistance module will calculate the starting position on the tape so that the end of the recording will coincide exactly with the end of the band.
• the particular mode of operation of the assistance module used to manage tapes from personal recordings, from video cameras, is also widely used during the initialization phase. Indeed, the assistance module will necessarily have to be introduced to users who already have a large number of non-blank cassettes.
• the assistance module can be personalized according to the material environment, thanks to the macro-programming possibilities contained in its logic: certain programmable keys can, for example, control all the links in the audio chain. video.
• a programmer integrated in the control logic of the assistance module, gives the operator the choice of how to save the programming parameters (day, channel, start and end times): either by direct use of the timetables either by using digital codes.

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Citations (12)

• 1994
  • 1994-02-07 FR FR9401324A patent/FR2716063B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1995
  • 1995-02-07 EP EP95908991A patent/EP0744072A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 1995-02-07 WO PCT/FR1995/000143 patent/WO1995021445A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (12)

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