Patent ID: 6801707
Filing Date: 2004-10-05
Classification: G11B,H04N

Abstract:
An encoding/recording device that receives and encodes a video signal and an audio signal, multiplexes the encoded video signal and audio signal to produce a system stream, and records the system stream on a recording medium, and encoding/recording device comprising:a video data generating unit operable to (a) estimate an amount of data, which occupies a buffer in a decoder when the decoder decodes the encoded video signal (b) store how the amount of data changes over time as buffer information, (c) receive a video signal, (d) encode the received video signal to generate video data in a manner that prevents the decoder from overflowing and underflowing, and (e) update the buffer information whenever video data is generated; an audio data generating unit operable to receive an audio signal, and encode each part of the received audio signal to generate audio data, each part having a predetermined size; a multiplexing/recording unit operable to multiplex the generated video data and audio data, and record the multiplexed video data and audio data onto the recording medium; a pause controlling unit operable to specify a pause timing on receiving a pause instruction that suspends recording by the encoding/recording device from a user during the recording, and have the video data generating unit, the audio data generating unit, and the multiplexing/recording unit suspended operations; and a pause release controlling unit operable to specify a pause release timing on receiving a pause release instruction from the user, and have the video data generating unit, the audio data generating unit, and the multiplexing/recording unit resume the operations, wherein under control of the pause controlling unit, the video data generating unit suspends reception of the video signal with the specified pause timing without resetting the stored buffer information and under control of the pause release controlling unit, the video data generating unit resumes the reception the video signal with the specified pause release timing and resumes encoding the received video signal based on the stored buffer information, wherein under control of the pause controlling unit, the audio data generating unit suspends reception of the audio signal with the specified pause timing and under control of the pause release controlling unit, the audio data generating unit resumes receiving the audio signal with the specified pause release timing, and resumes encoding the received audio signal, and wherein the multiplexing/recording unit suspends multiplexing and recording with a predetermined timing that is equal to or later than the specified pause timing under control of the pause controlling unit, and resumes the multiplexing and the recording with a predetermined timing that is equal to or later than the specified pause release timing under control of the pause release controlling unit.