REPRODUCING APPARATUS ENABLING THE ACTUAL BEGINNING OF THE REPRODUCTION OF A TELEVISION PROGRAM RECORDED ON A MAGNETIC TAPE

Abstract: In a reproducing apparatus (1) comprising magnetic tape transport means (8) for transporting a magnetic tape (15) with a normal-play reproduction speed (V1), at least one trick-play reproduction speed (V2-V9) and a winding speed (VS, VR), where the at least one trick-play reproduction speed (V2-V9) and the winding speed (VS-VR) are higher than the normal-play reproduction speed (V1), and comprising reproducing means (7, 10) for reproducing digital signal data (SD) from normal-play reproduction areas of a magnetic tape (15) transported by the magnetic tape transport means (8) with the normal-play reproduction speed (V1) or from trick-play reproduction areas from a magnetic tape (15) transported by the magnetic tape transport means (8) with a trick-play reproduction speed (V2-V9), and comprising control means (31) for controlling the magnetic tape transport means (8) in a playback search mode to achieve a transportation of the magnetic tape (15) until a predefined magnetic tape position (P3, P4, P7, P10, P11) is reached with a higher speed than the normal-play reproduction speed (V1) and, subsequently, a transportation of the magnetic tape (15) with the normal-play reproduction speed (V1), assigning means (30) are arranged for assigning at least one predefined magnetic tape position (P3, P4, P7, P10, P11) with an at least one trick-play reproduction speed (V2-V9) and the control means (31) are provided for reaching a predefined magnetic tape position (P3, P4, P7, P10, P11) for controlling the magnetic tape transport means (8) to transport the magnetic tape (15) until the predefined magnetic tape position (P3, P4, P7, P10, P11) is reached with the trick-play reproduction speed (V2-V9) assigned to the predefined magnetic tape position (P3, P4, P7, P10, P11).

Description: Reproducing apparatus enabling the actual beginning of the reproduction of a television program recorded on a magnetic tape. The invention relates to a reproducing apparatus as defined in the introductory part of claim 1 and to a recording apparatus as defined in the introductory part of claim 6. Such a reproducing apparatus in accordance with the introductory part of claim 1 and such a recording apparatus in accordance with the introductory part of claim 6 are known from document EP 0 892 406 A2 and formed by a video recorder. The known video recorder includes magnetic tape transport means for transporting a magnetic tape contained in a cassette inserted into the video recorder, with a normal-play reproduction speed which corresponds to a normal recording speed with which the magnetic tape is transported by the magnetic tape transport means during the recording of digital signal data in helical recording tracks on the magnetic tape. The magnetic tape transport means are further provided for transporting the magnetic tape with a plurality of trick-play reproduction speeds and with a winding and rewinding speed to reach in the fastest way possible magnetic tape positions predefined by a user. The known video recorder further includes reproducing means by which digital signal data can be reproduced from normal-play reproduction areas from a magnetic tape transported by the magnetic tape transport means with the normal-play reproduction speed, or from trick-play reproduction areas from a magnetic tape transported by the magnetic tape transport means with one of the trick-play reproduction speeds. Signal data may then contain video data, audio data or additional data. When a magnetic tape is transported by the magnetic tape transport means with a winding or rewinding speed, the reproducing means can reproduce only certain additional data from a linear track recorded on the magnetic tape, but no signal data from helical recording tracks. The known video recorder further includes storage means for storing information about television programs recorded on magnetic tapes as additional data. In the storage means are stored, inter alia, the title and the magnetic tape position from where a certain television program was recorded on the magnetic tape. The known video recorder further includes control means by which in a playback search mode of the video recorder a magnetic tape is transported with one of the winding speeds until a magnetic tape position stored in the storage means is reached from where a television program desired by a user is reproduced at normal reproduction speed. In the known video recorder it has proved to be disadvantageous that in the playback search mode activated in the video recorder no digital signal data can be reproduced by the reproducing means while the magnetic tape is being transported with one of the winding speeds, and the user has to wait for the desired television program to be shown until the stored magnetic tape position is reached. It is an object of the invention to provide a recording apparatus and a reproducing apparatus to enable the reproduction of the actual beginning of a television program recorded on a magnetic tape. This object is achieved with a reproducing apparatus by means of the measures of the characterizing part of claim 1 and with a recording device with the measures of the characterizing part of claim 6. This achieves that the magnetic tape transport means transport a magnetic tape with the trick-play reproduction speed assigned by the assigning means to a predefined magnetic tape position, in the trick-play reproduction areas of which had already been recorded by the recording means the beginning of a television program whose reproduction, starting from the predefined magnetic tape position - on a magnetic tape transported by the magnetic tape transport means at normal reproduction speed - is continued from normal-play reproduction areas. This offers the advantage that the reproduction of a television program selected by a user and recorded on a magnetic tape is started without a delay as a result of rewinding operations. According to the measures of Claim 2 and Claim 7 there is the advantage that trick-play reproduction areas of a magnetic tape transported with a trick-play reproduction speed in certain sections of the magnetic tape can be assigned to different predefined magnetic tape positions and, therefore, an immediate reproduction of a larger number of television programs recorded on the magnetic tape is made possible. According to the measures of Claim 3 there is the advantage that digital signal data can be reproduced from trick-play reproduction areas of a magnetic tape transported with a trick-play reproduction speed, which digital signal data, delivered to a television set, achieve the same image and tone impression as digital signal data reproduced from a magnetic tape transported with a trick-play reproduction speed from normal-play reproduction areas. Advantageously, the user hardly notices any difference whether the start of a television program is reproduced in a still active playback search mode from the magnetic tape transported with a trick-play reproduction speed, or after the certain magnetic tape position has been reproduced from the magnetic tape transported with the normal-play reproduction speed. According to the measures of Claim 4 and Claim 8 it is achieved that also content data can be recorded on the magnetic tape, which data contain information about television programs recorded on the magnetic tape, and the assignment of predefined magnetic tape positions to trick-play reproduction speeds and start positions of the reproduction areas and end positions of the reproduction areas. As a result, separate storage means may advantageously be omitted. The invention will be described in the following with reference to an example of embodiment represented in the drawing Figures and to further examples of embodiment to which the invention, however, is not restricted. Fig. 1 shows a video recorder in the form of a block diagram which forms a recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and playing back signal data in normal-play reproduction areas and in trick-play reproduction areas of a magnetic tape according to a first example of embodiment of the invention, while assigning means assign predefined magnetic tape positions to certain trick-play reproduction speeds; Fig. 2 symbolically shows television programs recorded as digital signal data, which television programs were recorded with the video recorder shown in Fig. 1 in normal- play reproduction areas and trick-play reproduction areas of a magnetic tape; Fig. 3 symbolically shows television programs recorded as digital signal data, which television programs were recorded with a recording apparatus in accordance with a second example of embodiment of the invention in normal-play and trick-play reproduction areas of a magnetic tape; and Fig. 4 symbolically shows television programs recorded as digital signal data, which television programs were recorded with a recording apparatus in accordance with a third example of embodiment of the invention in normal-play reproduction areas and trick- play reproduction areas of a magnetic tape. Fig. 1 shows by way of a block diagram a video recorder 1, a set top box 2, a television set 3 and a satellite antenna 4. A satellite signal can be received by the satellite antenna 4 and applied to the set top box 2 as an antenna signal AS. An antenna signal AS may here contain a so-called DVB signal, which is in accordance with the European Telecommunication Standard ETS 300468. A DVB signal contains an MPEG transport stream (MPEG Standard (System): ISO/TEC 13.818/1) as well as further additional information for transmitting the MPEG transport stream. It may be observed that an MPEG transport stream is formed by transport stream packets and that video packets containing coded video data, audio packets containing coded audio data, data packets containing additional data, and table packets containing table data are laid down in the MPEG standard. An MPEG transport stream may contain one program stream or various program streams, while the table data define which video packets, audio packets and data packets can be assigned to a program stream. A program stream contains video information and audio information necessary for the optical display and acoustic reproduction of a television program. Data packets may contain additional information - so-called system information descriptors - for a television program, which additional information may be formed, for example, by the title of the television program or a table of contents of the television program. With the set top box 2 can be processed an antenna signal AS delivered to the set top box 2 by the satellite antenna 4, and a first MPEG transport stream MPl contained in the antenna signal AS can be delivered to an input terminal 5 of the video recorder 1 to record the first MPEG transport stream MPl. The video recorder 1 further includes an output terminal 6 from which a second MPEG transport stream MP2 reproduced by the video recorder 1 can be delivered to the set top box 2. The set top box 2 is arranged for processing a second MPEG transport stream MP2 and for delivering an analog television signal FS to the television set 3. Means corresponding to the set top box 2 for processing the first and the second MPEG transport streams MPl and MP2 have been known for a long time. The television set 3 is arranged for reproducing video information and audio information contained in the analog television signal FS and for obtaining video impressions and audio impressions of a television program at a user's. With a normal reproduction of a television program with a video recorder, video impressions are generally known that correspond to those when a received antenna signal AS is immediately delivered to the television set 3 as an analog television signal FS. Furthermore, video impressions of a television program reproduced by a video recorder in a playback search mode of the video recorder are generally known, which are visible in faster movements and have an overall shortened playback duration of the reproduced television program. The video recorder 1 forms a recording apparatus and a reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing digital signal data SD in normal-play reproduction areas and trick-play reproduction areas of a magnetic tape. The video recorder 1 is here arranged for recording and reproducing digital signal data SD in accordance with DVHS standard (D-VHS System Standard, January 1999, MPEG2 STD/HS/LS, Trick-Play Format). For recording and reproducing digital signal data SD, the video recorder 1 comprises scanner means 7, magnetic tape transport means 8, a recording stage 9 and a reproducing stage 10. With means discussed above, first digital signal data SD1 which contain the information of the first MPEG transport stream MPl, can be recorded in normal -play reproduction areas and trick-play reproduction areas of a magnetic tape and second digital signal data SD2, which contain the information of the second MPEG transport stream MP2, can be reproduced from normal-play reproduction areas and trick-play reproduction areas. The scanner means 7 comprise a scanner 11 to which is connected a head disc 12 which can be driven in a rotating fashion with a first pair of magnetic heads 13 and a second pair of magnetic heads 14. In the video recorder 1 can be inserted - in a manner not further shown in Fig. 1 - a video cassette which contains a magnetic tape 15. In a recording mode and a playback mode of the video recorder 1 the magnetic tape is led along the scanner 11 and the head disc 12 by means of tape guide rollers 16 and 17. In the playback mode of the video recorder 1, second digital signal data SD2 alternately reproduced by either of the magnetic heads of the pair of magnetic heads 13 and 14 can be delivered to a terminal 18 of the scanner means 7. In the recording mode of the video recorder 1, first digital signal data SD1 delivered to the terminal 18 can alternately be applied to either of the magnetic heads of the pair of magnetic heads 13 and 14 and be recorded in helical recording tracks of the magnetic tape 13. It may be observed that helical recording tracks according to the DVHS standard may comprise both normal-play reproduction areas and trick-play reproduction areas. The arrangement of normal-play reproduction areas and trick-play reproduction areas per helical recording track is repeated after every 48 helical recording tracks on the magnetic tape. With respect to the arrangement of normal-play reproduction areas and trick-play reproduction areas in helical recording tracks on a magnetic tape, reference may be made to the document having European application no. 97 200 402.2, whose disclosure is considered to be included in this document. The magnetic tape transport means 8 are arranged for transporting the magnetic tape 15 in a first direction of transport RI and a second direction of transport R2 opposite to the first direction of transport RI, with respective different high transport speeds V. For this purpose, the magnetic tape transport means 8 comprise a motor 19, a capstan 20 and a pressure roller 21. In the recording mode and the playback mode the motor 19 is arranged for driving, via the connection 22, the capstan 20 on which the magnetic tape 15 is held down by the pressure roller 21. As a result, the magnetic tape 15 is transported with a transport speed that depends on the rotating speed of the motor 19 and a direction of transport R that depends on the direction of rotation of the motor 19. The magnetic tape transport means 8 are operating in the playback mode of the video recorder 1 arranged for transporting the magnetic tape 15 with a normal-play reproduction speed VI, which corresponds to a recording speed VI with which the magnetic tape 15 is transported in the recording mode of the video recorder 1. With the magnetic tape 15 transported with the normal-play reproduction speed VI and the recording speed VI, a respective one of either magnetic head pair 13, 14 scans a complete helical recording track of the magnetic tape 15. The magnetic tape transport means 8 are further arranged for transporting the magnetic tape 15 with a first trick-play reproduction speed V2, which corresponds to 24 times the normal-play reproduction speed VI, a second trick-play reproduction speed V3, which corresponds to 12 times the normal-play reproduction speed VI, a third trick-play reproduction speed V4, which corresponds to 6 times the normal-play reproduction speed VI and a fourth trick-play reproduction speed V5, which corresponds to 4 times the normal-play reproduction speed VI. The magnetic tape 15 is transported in the first direction of transport RI by the magnetic tape transport means 8 with the normal-play reproduction speed VI and above-mentioned trick-play reproduction speeds V2, V3, V4 and V5. The magnetic tape transport means 8 are further arranged for transporting the magnetic tape 15 in the second direction of transport R2 with a fifth trick-play reproduction speed V6, which corresponds to 12 times the normal-play reproduction speed VI - but in opposite direction of transport - and with a sixth trick-play reproduction speed V7, which corresponds to 24 times the normal-play reproduction speed - but in opposite direction of transport. The magnetic tape transport means 8 are further arranged for transporting the magnetic tape 15 in the first direction of transport RI with a winding speed VS and in the second direction of transport R2 with a rewinding speed RS. When the magnetic tape 15 is transported with one of the winding speeds, the scanner means 7 can reproduce only certain additional data from a linear track recorded on the magnetic tape 15, but no signal data from helical recording tracks. Additional data recorded as VASS data (Video Address Search System) in a linear track, may contain, for example, information about television programs recorded on the magnetic tape 15. Fig. 2 symbolically shows television programs recorded as digital signal data SD in helical recording tracks of the magnetic tape 15, which television programs were recorded in normal-play reproduction areas and trick-play reproduction areas of the magnetic tape 15 and can be reproduced by the scanner means 17 during transport of the magnetic tape 15 with the respectively indicated transport speed V of the scanner means 7. A magnetic tape position PI then features the start, and a magnetic tape position P12 the end of the magnetic tape 15. The video recorder 1 comprises recording means formed by the scanner means 7 and the recording stage 9, which recording means are arranged for recording first digital signal data SD1 in normal-play reproduction areas and in trick-play reproduction areas on the magnetic tape 15 transported by the magnetic tape transport means 8 with the recording speed VI. For this purpose, the recording stage 9 includes a time stamp stage 23, an insertion stage 24, a redundancy stage 25 and hard disk means 26. A first MPEG transport stream MPl delivered to the input terminal 5 can be applied from the input terminal 5 both to the time stamp stage 23 and the hard disk means 26. The hard disk means 26 have a storage capacity of 100 Gbytes and are arranged for storing three television programs contained in the first MPEG transport stream MPl. A first MPEG transport stream MPl stored with the hard disk means 26 in the recording mode of the video recorder 1 can be delivered to the time stamp stage 23 at a later time, depending on hard disk information HI that can be delivered to the hard disk 26. The hard disk means 26 are further arranged for delivering the first MPEG transport stream MPl processed at a later time to the time stamp stage 23, so that certain portions of television programs to be recorded and contained in the first MPEG transport stream MPl are additionally recorded in trick-play reproduction areas. This will be discussed in more detail hereinafter with the aid of the example of embodiment of the video recorder 1. In the time stamp stage 23, time stamp information is assigned to each transport stream packet contained in the first MPEG transport stream MPl, which information features the time spaces to neighboring transport stream packets of the first MPEG transport stream MPl. With the time stamp stage 23 it is possible to deliver a first MPEG transport stream MPl containing time stamp information as a first data stream DS1 to the insertion stage 24. The insertion stage 24 is arranged for inserting the information in blocks according to the DVHS standard and contained in video packets, audio packets and data packets of the first data stream DS1, in order to enable this information to be recorded in normal-play reproduction areas and trick-play reproduction areas of the magnetic tape 15. The insertion stage 24 is furthermore arranged for inserting first content data LDl applied thereto in pack-data blocks according to the DVHS standard. Additional information for television programs recorded on the magnetic tape 15 can be recorded in pack-data blocks which can be recorded on a helical recording track in a main code area or subcode area laid down in the DVHS standard. A second data stream DS2 can be delivered to the redundancy stage 25 by the insertion stage 24. The redundancy stage 25 is used for inserting redundancy information in the second data stream DS2 and for delivering first digital signal data SD1 to the terminal 18. The video recorder 1 furthermore includes reproducing means formed by the scanner means 7 and the reproducing stage 10, which reproducing means are arranged for reproducing second digital signal data SD2 from normal-play reproduction areas of the magnetic tape 15 transported by the magnetic tape transport means 8 with the normal-play reproduction speed VI, or from trick-play reproduction areas of the magnetic tape 15 transported by the magnetic tape transport means 8 with one of the reproduction speeds V2, V3, V4, V5, V6 or V7. For this purpose, the reproducing stage 10 includes an error correction stage 27, a reading stage 28 and a time stamp evaluation stage 29. Second digital signal data SD2 applied to the terminal 18 by the scanner means 7 in the playback mode of the video recorder 1 can be applied to the error correction stage 27. The error correction stage 27 is arranged for evaluating the redundancy information inserted by the redundancy stage 25 during the recording mode and for applying a third data stream DS3 to the reading stage 28. The reading stage 28 is arranged for reading correlated information from the third data stream DS3, which was recorded in varied reproduction areas on the magnetic tape 15 in blocks according to the DVHS standard. The reading stage 28 is arranged for applying a fourth data stream DS4 which contains transport stream packets and time stamp information to the time stamp evaluation means 29. The reading stage 28 is further arranged for reading pack- data blocks contained in the third data stream DS3 and for delivering second content data JD2 contained in these pack-data blocks, which content data LD2 will be described in more detail hereinafter. The time stamp evaluation stage 29 is arranged for evaluating the time stamp information assigned to each transport stream packet contained in the fourth data stream DS4 and for applying the respective transport stream packets to the output terminal 6 at the right time. This achieves that the chronological sequence of transport stream packets of a first MPEG transport stream MPl recorded as digital signal data SD by the video recorder 1 is re- established on playback of these digital signal data in a second MPEG transport stream MP2 reproduced by the video recorder 1. It may be observed that the hard disk means 26 also comprise each a time stamp stage and a time stamp evaluation stage, which are not represented in the drawing, however. These stages have the same functionality when storing and reading an MPEG transport stream MPl with the hard disk means 26 as the previously explained functionality of the time stamp stage 23 and of the time stamp evaluation stage 29 for recording and reproducing an MPEG transport stream MPl on the magnetic tape 15. The stored and recorded time stamp information signals, however, are different from each other. The video recorder 1 further includes assigning means 30 which comprise control means 31, a content stage 32 and a keyboard 33. The keyboard 33 has a plurality of keys by which, inter alia, modes of operation of the video recorder 1 can be activated. Respective activation information Al can be delivered to the control means 31 by the keyboard 33. The content stage 32 of the assigning means 30 can be supplied with second content data ID2 delivered by the reading stage 28. The content stage 32 is arranged for evaluating the information contained in the second content data ED2, which information features the predefined magnetic tape positions P and assigned trick-play reproduction speeds V and magnetic tape positions P of the start and end of each recorded television program. The content stage 32 is then arranged for delivering assigning information ZI to the control means 31, which will be further discussed hereinafter. By means of the keyboard 33 it is possible for a user of the video recorder 1 to activate a playback search mode of the video recorder 1 to transport the magnetic tape 15 fast to a magnetic tape position P predefined by the user, from where a television program recorded on the magnetic tape 15 is to be played back. In the playback search mode, which is activated in the video recorder 1, the control means 31 are arranged for controlling the magnetic tape transport means 8 to achieve a transport of the magnetic tape 15 until a predefined magnetic tape position P is reached at a higher than normal-play reproduction speed VI and, subsequently, a transport of the magnetic tape 15 at the normal-play reproduction speed VI. For this purpose, the control means 31 can apply motor control information MSI to the motor 19. Position information can be applied to the control means 31 by a tape counter not shown in Fig. 1, which information features the magnetic tape position P that is being scanned by the magnetic heads of the magnetic head pairs 13 and 14. Such a tape counter has been known for a long time. The control means 31 in the recording mode that can be activated in the video recorder 1 are arranged for feeding first contents data LD1 to the insertion stage 24 and for delivering hard disk information HI to the hard disk means 26 and receiving same from the hard disk means 26, which will be further discussed with reference to the examples of embodiment of the video recorder 1. In accordance with the first example of embodiment of the video recorder 1, the television programs "MOVIE 1", "MOVIE 2" and "MOVIE 3" are recorded on the magnetic tape 15 of the video cassette inserted in the video recorder 1 in normal-play reproduction areas, as this is symbolically shown in Fig. 2. Furthermore, video information D is recorded on the magnetic tape 15 in normal-play reproduction areas, which represent a table of contents of the television programs, their reproduction time and further additional information, if any. On the magnetic tape 15 are furthermore recorded from the magnetic tape position PI to a magnetic tape position PI 1 in trick-play reproduction areas that can be reproduced with the first trick-play reproduction speed V2 the digital signal data SD of the beginning of the television program "MOVIE 3", recorded in normal-play reproduction areas of the magnetic tape 15 from a magnetic tape position P9 to the magnetic tape position Pll. The respective video information, audio information and additional information of the beginning of the television program "MOVE 3" is here recorded in the trick-play reproduction areas, so that, in spite of the transport of the magnetic tape 15 with the first trick- play reproduction speed V2, the viewer gets the same video impressions and audio impressions as if the beginning of the television program "MOVE 3" had been reproduced from the normal-play reproduction areas. Similarly, the beginnings of the television programs recorded on the magnetic tape 15 are recorded on the magnetic tape 15 in trick-play reproduction areas that can be played back with the trick-play reproduction speeds V3, V4, V5, V6 and V7, as this is symbolically shown in Fig. 2. Content data ID, which contain an assignment of subsequent trick-play reproduction speeds V with subsequent predefined magnetic tape positions P: V2 = P11; V3«>P7; V4«P10; V5 P3; V5Φ*P7; V5«»P10; V6^>P3; V6«-P7; V7«>P4 are recorded in pack-data blocks on the magnetic tape 15. Further content data LD, which feature the start and end magnetic tape positions PI, P2, P5, P6, P8, P9 and P12 of the video information D and television programs recorded in normal-play reproduction areas of the magnetic tape 15, are also recorded in pack-data blocks on the magnetic tape 15. In accordance with the first example of embodiment of the video recorder 1, the magnetic heads of the magnetic head pairs 13 and 14 scan the magnetic tape 15 from the beginning of the tape -by which effort the magnetic tape 15 is wound to the magnetic tape position PI - and the user actuates a key of the keyboard 33 to obtain a table of contents of the video cassette inserted in the video recorder 1 near the television set 3. Subsequently, respective activation information Al is fed to the control means 31 by the keyboard 33. The control means 31 apply respective motor control information MSI to the motor 19 to provide a reproduction of the video information D recorded from the magnetic tape position PI to the magnetic tape position P2 on the magnetic tape 15. The set top box 2 applies the second MPEG transport stream MP2 produced in response by the reproducing means of the video recorder 1 to the television set 3 as an analog television signal FS. The user of the video recorder 1 then sees a table of contents on the television set 3, which contains the three titles of the television programs "MOVE 1", "MOVIE 2" and "MOVE 3" recorded on the magnetic tape 15. During the reproduction of the video information D of the table of contents, content data ID mentioned previously are read out by the reading stage 28 from reproduced pack-data blocks and applied to the content stage 32. The content stage 32 in response thereto applies respective assigning information ZI to the control means 31. In accordance with a first example of embodiment of the video recorder 1 it is assumed that the user of the video recorder 1 would like to watch the television program "MOVE 3" and actuates a respective key of the keyboard 33. Activation information Al applied to the control means 31 via the keyboard 33 activates the playback search mode in the control means 31 and, subsequently, in the video recorder 1. In the playback search mode activated in the video recorder 1, the control means 31 are arranged for determining 15 from the assigning information ZI the start magnetic tape position P9 from where the television program "MOVE 3" is recorded on the magnetic tape. The control means 31 are furthermore - by evaluation of position information applied to the control means 31 - arranged for determining the current magnetic tape position P which in this case lies in the area between the magnetic tape position PI and the magnetic tape position P2. Subsequently, the control means 31 are arranged for further evaluating the assigning information ZI applied thereto and for assigning the first trick-play reproduction speed V2 and the magnetic tape position Pll. This assignment is made because the current magnetic tape position lies in the neighborhood of the reproduction area start position PI of the trick-play reproduction areas that can be reproduced with the first trick-play reproduction speed V2 and from these trick-play reproduction areas the start of the desired television program "MOVE 3" can be reproduced. In response hereto, the control means 31 can apply respective motor control information MSI to the motor 19 to cause the magnetic tape 15 to be transported in the direction of transport RI with the first trick-play reproduction speed V2. A second MPEG transport stream MP2 can then be produced by the display means of the video recorder 1, which contain video information, audio information and additional information of the first minutes of the television program "MOVIE 3". This second MPEG transport stream MP2 can be applied from the output terminal 6 to the set top box 2, which then applies an analog television signal FS2 to the television set 3. This advantageously achieves that the user of the video recorder 1, immediately after one of the keys of the keyboard 33 has been actuated for watching the television program "MOVE 3" recorded on the magnetic tape 15, sees the beginning of the television program "MOVE 3". The user therefore need not wait for the beginning of the reproduction of the television program "MOVE 3" while a rewinding operation is being executed. When, during the playback search mode activated in the video recorder 1, the magnetic tape position PI 1 as the current magnetic tape position is reached, the control means 31 apply respective motor control information MSI to the motor 19 to transport the magnetic tape 15 with the normal-play reproduction speed VI. In response, the reproducing means of the video recorder 1 deliver information of the television program "MOVIE 3" recorded in normal-play reproduction areas as a second MPEG transport stream MP2 to the output terminal 6 from the magnetic tape position PI 1 on, and this is shown on the television set 3. Here the end position PI 1 of the reproduction area of the trick-play reproduction area that can be reproduced with the first trick-play reproduction speed V2 corresponds with the predefined magnetic tape position Pll. This offers the advantage that the reproduction of the start of the television program "MOVIE 3" from trick-play reproduction areas goes over smoothly into the continued reproduction of the television program "MOVE 3" from normal-play reproduction areas and the user is practically unaware of this. With video information D and content data LD recorded in normal-play reproduction areas, the advantage is furthermore obtained that separate storage means for storing this information in the video recorder 1 may be omitted. Additionally, this provides the advantage that the video information D of the table of contents of the magnetic tape 15 and the content data ID are recorded on the magnetic tape 15 and can also be evaluated by another video recorder that comprises respective assigning means. In accordance with a second example of embodiment of the video recorder 1, the magnetic heads of the magnetic head pairs 13 and 14 are positioned at a magnetic tape position between the magnetic tape positions P4 and P5, just short of magnetic tape position P5. Furthermore, it is assumed that the user of the video recorder 1 actuates a respective key of the keyboard 33 to maintain the display on the television set 3 of the table of contents of the television programs recorded on the magnetic tape 15. Respective activation information Al is applied to the control means 31 via the keyboard 33, which control means apply respective motor control information MSI to the motor 19 to transport the magnetic tape 15 with the winding speed VS to the magnetic tape position P5. When the magnetic tape position P5 of the magnetic tape 15 transported with the winding speed VS has been reached, the control means 31 send respective motor control information MSI to the motor 19 to transport the magnetic tape 15 with the normal-play reproduction speed. Subsequently, video information D of the table of contents and content data ID recorded in pack-data blocks from digital signal data SD recorded in normal-play reproduction areas and the table of contents of the magnetic tape 15 is shown by the television set 3. According to the second example of embodiment of the video recorder 1, it is assumed that the user of the video recorder 1 would like to watch the television program "MOVE 1" and actuates a respective key of the keyboard 33. Subsequently - as explained above - the control means 31 evaluate the current magnetic tape position, the start tape position PI of the television program "MOVE 1" and assigning information ZI applied to the control means, and sends respective motor control information MSI to the motor 19 to transport the magnetic tape 15 with the fifth trick-play reproduction speed V6. Subsequently, digital signal data SD of the start of the television program "MOVE 1" and recorded in trick- play reproduction areas that can be reproduced with the fifth trick-play reproduction speed V6 are reproduced by the reproducing means and a respective television signal FS is displayed by the television set 3. When the predefined magnetic tape position P3 of the magnetic tape 15 transported with the fifth trick-play reproduction speed V6 is reached, the control means 31 apply respective motor control information MSI to the motor 19 to have the magnetic tape 15 transported with the normal-play reproduction speed VI. Subsequently, the reproduction of the television program "MOVE 1" is continued from the magnetic tape position P3 with digital signal data SD reproduced from normal-play reproduction areas. This offers the advantage that a television program selected by the user for being watched is reproduced practically independently of the current magnetic tape position, immediately after the selection by the user and the user therefore need not wait. It should be pointed out that, for example, the predefined magnetic tape position Pll of the magnetic tape 15 transported with the first trick-play reproduction speed V2 lies after the predefined magnetic tape position P10 on the magnetic tape transported with the third trick-play reproduction speed V4, although with both trick-play reproduction speeds the beginning of the television program "MOVE 3" can be reproduced. This is caused by the fact that from the magnetic tape position PI of the magnetic tape 15 transported with the first trick- play reproduction speed V2 until the magnetic tape position PI 1 is reached, already a larger part of the television program "MOVE 3" was reproduced than from the magnetic tape position P5 of the magnetic tape 15 transported with the third trick-play reproduction speed V4 until the magnetic tape position P10 is reached. According to a third example of embodiment of the video recorder 1, it is assumed that the user of the video recorder 1 would like to record three television programs "MOVE 1 ", "MOVIE 2" and "MOVE 3" on the magnetic tape 15 of the video cassette inserted in the video recorder 1, which programs can be received by the satellite antenna 4 on the night of the same day. The user of the video recorder 1 for this purpose carries out a timer programming of the video recorder 1 by using the keyboard 33, as this is generally known. It is furthermore assumed that prior to this no television programs were recorded on the magnetic tape 15 and that the video recorder 1 is to record digital signal data SD in normal-play reproduction areas and trick-play reproduction areas, as this is symbolically shown in Fig. 2. Finally, it is assumed that the television programs "MOVIE 1" and "MOVE 2" are transmitted simultaneously, each in a program stream of an MPEG transport stream in a DVB signal that can be received by the satellite antenna 4. The third television program "MOVE 3" is transmitted at a later time in a program stream of an MPEG transport stream of a DVB signal that can be received by the satellite antenna 4 and delivered by the set top box 2 to the input terminal 5 in the first MPEG transport stream MPl. When the control means 31 establish that the start time of the recording indicated in the timer programming has been reached, the control means 31 feed hard disk information HI to the hard disk means 26 for storing the program streams of the television programs "MOVE 1" and "MOVE 2". When the end time of the recording indicated in the timer programming has been reached, the control means 31 deliver hard disk information HI to the hard disk means 26 to end the storing of received program streams. In the same manner the hard disk means 26 also store the television program "MOVE 3". When the programmed television programs to be recorded by the hard disk means 26 have been stored, the control means 31 of the assigning means 30 are provided for determining predefined magnetic tape positions P to enable a recording of the starts of the television programs in trick-play reproduction areas and a smooth transition of the reproduction from trick-play reproduction areas and normal-play reproduction areas, as this has been explained previously. Respective hard disk information HI can be delivered to the hard disk means 26. Furthermore, the control means 31 of the assigning means 30 are arranged for assigning the following trick-play reproduction speeds V with predefined magnetic tape positions P: V2<= P11; V3<=>P7; V4<=>P10; V5<=>P3; V5 =»P7; V5 ΦP10; V6ΦΦP3; V6»P7; V7«P4. Respective hard disk information HI can be delivered to the hard disk means 26. Titles of the television programs to be recorded on the magnetic tape 15 may be derived either from additional information contained in data packets of the first MPEG transport stream MPl, or be entered by the user of the video recorder 1 by the keyboard 33. By the video recorder 1 can be generated - in a manner not further shown in Fig. 1 - video information D and, what can be stored on the hard disk means 26, the titles, start and end positions of the magnetic tape and additional information for television programs to be recorded on the magnetic tape 15. Subsequently, the control means 31 are arranged for activating the recording mode in the video recorder 1 for recording the video information D read from the hard disk means 26 and television programs "MOVIE 1", "MOVE 2" and "MOVE 3" in normal-play reproduction areas of the magnetic tape 15. At the same time, the information symbolically represented in Fig. 2 is recorded in trick-play reproduction areas of the magnetic tape 15. The control means 31 then form content recording means. As a result, digital signal data SD can be recorded by the video recorder 1 in normal-play reproduction areas and trick-play reproduction areas, which digital signal data enable an immediate reproduction of a television program recorded on the magnetic tape 15. A video recorder according to a second example of embodiment of the invention in essence corresponds to the video recorder 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, while the video recorder according to the second example of embodiment of the invention includes storage means for storing content data LD and video information D of a table of contents of the television programs recorded on the magnetic tape 15. Fig. 3 symbolically shows television programs recorded as digital signal data SD, which broadcasts were recorded on a magnetic tape of a video cassette inserted in a video recorder in accordance with the second example of embodiment with the video recorder according to a second example of embodiment of the invention in normal-play reproduction areas and trick-play reproduction areas of the magnetic tape. In normal-play reproduction areas, no video information D of a table of contents and no content data LD were recorded in pack data blocks, because this information is stored in storage means discussed previously. The magnetic tape transport means of the video recorder according to the second example of embodiment of the invention are additionally arranged for transporting the magnetic tape with a seventh trick-play reproduction speed V8, which is equal to 48 times the normal-play reproduction speed VI, and an eighth trick-play reproduction speed V9, which is equal to 48 times the normal -play reproduction speed VI - but in opposite direction of transportation. It is furthermore observed that in trick-play reproduction areas that can be reproduced with the second and fifth trick-play reproduction speeds, digital signal data SD do not record a start of a television program recorded in normal-play reproduction areas, but trick-play data as this is generally done. Trick-play data reproduced in a playback search mode of the video recorder provide video impressions that are shown in faster movements and result in an overall shortened playback time of the reproduced television program. If the user of the video recorder according to the second example of embodiment would like to select a television program from the table of contents, the respective video information D can advantageously be read directly from the storage means. Similarly, predefined magnetic tape positions and assigned trick-play reproduction speeds can be read from the storage means and, advantageously, need not be determined by a reading stage and a content stage according to the first example of embodiment of the invention. Fig. 4 symbolically shows television programs recorded as digital signal data SD, which programs were recorded by the video recorder according to the third example of embodiment in normal-play reproduction areas and trick-play reproduction areas of the magnetic tape of a video cassette inserted in a video recorder according to a third example of embodiment. The video recorder according to the third example of embodiment of the invention uses only trick-play reproduction areas that can be reproduced with the first trick- play reproduction speed to enable an immediate reproduction of a television program. Assigning means of the video recorder according to the third example of embodiment of the invention are therefore very simple, which is advantageous. It may be observed that during the playback search mode activated in the video recorder, digital signal data SD reproduced from trick-play reproduction areas may also contain a so-called trailer of a television program, subsequently reproduced from normal-play reproduction areas. A trailer shows scenes of a television program and provides background information to the television program. Furthermore, trick-play reproduction areas may contain digital signal data SD of commercials which are reproduced during the playback search mode activated in the video recorder until the initial magnetic tape position is reached from where the desired television program is recorded. It may be observed that digital signal data of television programs symbolically represented in normal-play and trick-play reproduction areas in accordance with Figs. 2, 3 and 4 may be recorded on so-called prerecorded tapes and a video recorder only needs to have reproducing means including assigning means according to the invention to realize an advantageous playback search mode described above. It may be observed that magnetic tape transport means may be arranged for transporting a magnetic tape with, for example, six different trick-play reproduction speeds, but the beginning of the television programs can be recorded, for example, only in trick-play reproduction areas that can be reproduced with only two of these six trick-play reproduction speeds. Trick-play reproduction areas that can be reproduced with the other trick-play reproduction speeds can record trick-play data or other information. It may be observed that also an insertion stage can be arranged for processing the first MPEG transport stream MPl, so that certain portions of television programs to be recorded which are contained in the first MPEG transport stream MPl are additionally recorded in trick-play reproduction areas to enable an advantageous playback search mode described previously.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A reproducing apparatus (1) comprising magnetic tape transport means (8) for transporting a magnetic tape (15) with a normal-play reproduction speed (VI), at least one trick-play reproduction speed (V2-V9) and a winding speed (VS, VR), the at least one trick-play reproduction speed (V2-V9) and the winding speed (VS, VR) being higher than the normal-play reproduction speed (VI), and comprising reproducing means (7, 10) for reproducing digital signal data (SD) from normal-play reproduction areas of the magnetic tape (15) transported with the normal-play reproduction speed (VI) by the magnetic tape transport means (8), or from trick-play reproduction areas of a magnetic tape (15) transported with a trick-play reproduction speed (V2-V9) by the magnetic tape transport means (8), and comprising control means (31) for controlling the magnetic tape transport means (8) in a playback search mode, to obtain a transport of the magnetic tape (15) until a predefined magnetic tape position (P3, P4, P7, P10, PI 1) is reached with a higher than normal-play reproduction speed (VI) and, subsequently, a transport of the magnetic tape (15) with the normal-play reproduction speed (VI), characterized in that assigning means (30) are arranged for assigning at least one predefined magnetic tape position (P3, P4, P7, P10, Pll) with an at least one trick-play reproduction speed (V2-V9) and in that the control means (31) are provided for reaching a predefined magnetic tape position (P3, P4, P7, P10, PI 1) for controlling the magnetic tape transport means (8) to realize a transportation of the magnetic tape (15) until the predefined magnetic tape position (P3, P4, P7, P10, Pll) is reached with the trick-play reproduction speed (V2-V9) assigned to the predefined magnetic tape position (P3, P4, P7, P10, Pll). 2. A reproducing apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the assigning means (30) are arranged for assigning a predefined magnetic tape position (P3, P4, P7, P10, Pll) with a trick-play reproduction area of a magnetic tape (15) which has a reproduction area start position (PI, P5, P6, P7, P8, P9) and a reproduction area end position (P3, P4, P7, PIO, Pll), which reproduction area end position (P3, P4, P7, P10, Pl l) corresponds to the predefined magnetic tape position (P3, P4, P7, P10, Pll). 3. A reproducing apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that in the playback search mode activated in the reproducing apparatus (1) and with a magnetic tape (15) transported with the trick-play reproduction speed (V2-V9), digital signal data (SD) containing video information and audio information can be reproduced, which signal data relative to the video impressions and audio impressions that can be achieved with the video information and audio information correspond to the video impressions and audio impressions that can be realized with digital signal data (SD) which can be reproduced from the magnetic tape (5) transported with the normal-play reproduction speed (VI) from normal -play reproduction areas of the magnetic tape (15). 4. A reproducing apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the assigning means (30) contain a content stage (32) by which content data (LD) reproduced by the magnetic tape (15) can be evaluated that feature predefined magnetic tape positions (P3, P4, P7, P10, Pll) and assigned trick-play reproduction speeds (V2-V9). 5. A reproducing apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the reproducing means (7, 10) are arranged for reproducing an MPEG transport stream (MPEG standard (system): ISO/EC 13.818-1) in accordance with the DVHS standard (D-VHS System Standard, January 1999, MPEG2 STD/HS/LS, trick-play format). 6. A recording apparatus (1) comprising magnetic tape transport means (8) for transporting a magnetic tape (15) with a normal recording speed (VI), and recording means (7, 9) for recording digital signal data (SD) in normal-play reproduction areas and trick-play reproduction areas on a magnetic tape (15) transported by the magnetic tape transport means (8) with the normal recording speed (VI), characterized in that assigning means (30) are provided for assigning at least one predefined magnetic tape position (P3, P4, P7, P10, PI 1) with at least one trick-play reproduction speed (V2-V9), while the at least one trick-play reproduction speed (V2-V9) is higher than the normal recording speed (VI). 7. A recording apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the assigning means (30) are arranged for assigning a predefined magnetic tape position (P3, P4, P7, PIO, PI 1) with a reproduction area start position (PI, P5, P6, P7, P8, P9) and a reproduction area end position (P3, P4, P7, P10, Pll) in a trick-play reproduction area of a magnetic tape (15), whose reproduction area end position (P3, P4, P7, P10, PI 1) matches the predefined magnetic tape position (P3, P4, P7, P10, Pll). 8. A recording apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the assigning means (30) contain content recording means (31) by which content data (LD) can be recorded on the magnetic tape (15), which data feature predefined magnetic tape positions (P3, P4, P7, P10, Pll) and assigned trick-play reproduction speeds (V2-V9). 9. A recording apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the recording means (7, 9) are arranged for recording an MPEG transport stream (MPEG standard (system): ISO/EC 13.818-1) according to the DVHS standard (D-VHS system standard, January 1999, MPEG2 STD/HS/LS, trick-play format).

Inventors: PROIDL ADOLF, PROIDL, ADOLF
Applicants: KONINKL PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV, KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G11B15
IPC codes: G11B15, G11B20, G11B27, H04N5