Patent ID: 6091455
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An apparatus for recording a plurality of video signals, said apparatus comprising:a video analyzer for analyzing a first video signal and a second video signal and generating a first compression signal and a second compression signal;a first video encoder for encoding said first video signal at a variable rate determined by said first compression signal to form a first encoded video signal;a second video encoder for encoding said second video signal at a variable rate determined by said second compression signal to form a second encoded video signal; anda video generator for permanently recording said first and second encoded video signals so that said first and second encoded video signals can be repeatedly broadcast from said video generator,wherein each of said first and second encoded video signals corresponds to a movie and wherein said video generator comprises means for broadcasting said first and second encoded video signals a plurality of times in a day at predetermined times,wherein said first video signal has a complexity which varies over time, wherein said second video signal has a complexity which varies over time, and wherein said video analyzer comprises:a first complexity detector for generating a first complexity signal which is representative of said complexity of said first video signal;a second complexity detector for generating a second complexity signal which is representative of said complexity of said second video signal;means for determining a weighting factor based upon said first complexity signal and said second complexity signal; andmeans for generating said first compression signal based upon said weighting factor and said first complexity signal.