METHOD FOR RECORDING, REPRODUCING OR PROJECTING DIGITAL OR ANALOGUE, SAMPLED OR CONNECTED AUDIO AND/OR VIDEO RECORDS

Abstract: The method is based on the fact that, in respect of audio and/or video signal recording, the synchronisation of at least one audio and/or video recording is carried out by means of real time. The real time of recording serves as the synchronising element of at least one image or sound sample during its reproduction or projection. Furthermore, audio and/or video recordings may be locally and functionally independent and may be assigned an identification code.

Description: Method for Recording, Reproducing or Projecting Digital or Analogue, Sampled or Connected Audio and/or Video Records Field of the Invention The invention relates to recording, reproducing, or projecting digital or analogue, sampled or connected audio and/or video recordings and is characterised by the unique matching of sound with image recordings or of at least two sound or two image records respectively. The invention can be utilised in filmmaking, security, commercial, professional and closed circuit television technology and, primarily, in video technology. Thus, the invention generally relates to recording and reproduction or projection audio and video technology. Prior Art At present, analogue VCRs are used on a limited scale in special security or monitoring systems to record image and sound information on continual medium. This automatically matches an image sample with the respective sound sample. Sampled recording by analogue VCRs only records image information. Recording sound associated with sampled images remains unresolved. Therefore, sound is either not recorded at all or is recorded separately and as such does not lend itself to synchronisation with respective image recordings. Digital VCRs are successfully used in professional filmmaking technology as well as in security and other control systems. Digital VCRs record image information only in the connected continuous recording mode together with sound. Sound and image information is typically recorded on the same recording medium such as HDD (hard disk). Image and sound are synchronised, which is mostly related to the start of recording. However, in the sampling recording mode digital video recorders do not enable to match continuously recorded sound to respective images. Lastly, in conventional filmmaking technology image and sound are only acoustically synchronised at the beginning using slapstick. As no method is currently available for applying sound to a separate image recording and as some recording systems are yet to resolve synchronisation of sound and image or of at least two image and two sound recordings respectively, the need has arisen to deal with the problem, ultimately leading to the present invention. Substance of the Invention The method for recording, reproducing or projecting digital or analogue, sampled or connected audio and/or video recordings in accordance with the invention to large extent eliminates the above deficiencies. The substance of the invention is in synchronising at least one audio and one video recording or an audio and audio recording or a video and video recording by means of the real time of recording where, in respect of at least one sample, the real time of recording serves as the synchronising element for reproduction or projection. The possibilities offered by the above method are further enhanced by the fact that synchronised audio and/or video recordings are locally independent. This means that in a closed or open local system it is possible, within a selected real time interval of a sound recording, to match corresponding image samples from any other closed or open local interior or exterior system. Another significant feature of an alternative embodiment of the method in accordance with the invention is the option of functional independence of synchronised audio and video recordings. This feature can primarily be utilised when the duration of playback or projection of a sound and image recording differ, including a playback or projection failure. Lastly, another significant feature of the method in accordance with the invention is the assignment of an identification code to dependent or independent matched audio and video recordings. The benefits of the method for the playback or projection of digital or analogue sampled or connected audio and/or video recordings consist in the unique matching of image samples and selected sound samples or of at least two image or sound samples respectively. Real time is the moment of a given recording, which is unique and uniquely associated with a given moment and recorded as such during the recording of the audio and video signal. The notion of 'real time' implies a moment of time complete with information about the year, month, hour, minute, second and fractions thereof. Real time is not an information value but a control element (a signal). The method in accordance with the invention solves in a fairly simple fashion the problem of image and sound synchronisation by controlling playback and projection by means of real time rather than by the start of the recording as in conventional systems. For the purposes of this invention: The notion of 'recording as an activity implies the recording (REC) of image and sound to any recording medium such as magnetic tape and disk, optical disk, hard disk, film tape or a semiconductor chip or other recording media; the notion of 'recording' as an object implies the outcome of recording, i.e. the recording medium already storing image and/or sound information; the notion of 'reproduction' as an activity implies the playing back of recorded image or sound information after it was recorded or the subsequent processing of such information. In sound technology, for example, this relates to the playback of a recorded acoustic signal using reproduction equipment. The same applies to image technology (with the exception of conventional film technology). With regard to conventional film technology, where the recording medium for image and sound information is represented by conventional film tape, with film tape recording image and a separate magnetic tape recording sound, the relevant notion is called 'projection' and is used for the playback of image signals using specialised reproduction equipment (a film projector). The benefit of the method in accordance with the invention is its simple implementation in digital systems by means of software. In analogue video and television systems, the method can be implemented either entirely or in part by software as well as hardware. In conventional filmmaking technology, the method can only be implemented by means of hardware that inserts time markings in between images, for example, in the form of bar codes, or by using part of the track to record a time value. The method can be beneficially used in sampled recordings, particularly in security systems; however, it can certainly be applied to connected audio and video recordings. Another major advantage consists in easy sound and image synchronisation when a part of data from either the audio or video recording is missing or lost, enabling to continue viewing images. If, for example, the capacity of a recording medium such as one used to record sound is exhausted and the operator does not insert another medium until after a delay, the proposed solution will not require a special start but images will be launched during playback (reproduction) when the sound time mark matches the time mark of the respective image etc. Under the proposed method, images from another recording with a different real time feature will not be launched during playback, as the respective day and time are unique and nonrecurrent. The only condition is the matching of the system (real) time of the audio and video systems during recording. As image and sound synchronisation is secured by real time, a selected audio signal can be associated with one or several video recordings, even those that are locally independent. The advantage of the method consists in its versatility as it can be primarily applied in video systems that separately record sound and image. The method, however, can also be used in filmmaking technology (i.e. applied to conventional film) and television technology. An advantage useful in special applications, for example in systems comprising several cameras and several microphones, is the assignment of an identification code to audio and video channel recordings (signals) where an audio recording is matched to the respective pair of video recordings so as to make the playback of several recordings transparent and unequivocal. The method also enables intermittent image recording while sound is recorded continuously. It is maintained that the method in accordance with the invention enables to synchronise an unlimited number of audio and video recordings, including those made at different locations commencing at a different moment in time that is associated with a particular event, i.e. the launching of the recording is not time-dependent and is synchronised during playback as the real time of the recordings match. The recording of any event can be interrupted (for example during scenes not deemed to deserve recording) and restarted later. During playback, the recording will be started again in a synchronised mode as the recorded real time markings are matched. The method in accordance with the invention can also be used as a monitoring system in government and private businesses. Embodiments of the Invention Embodiment 1 This example describes the recording and playback of a single digital sampled audio and video recording by a digital video recorder with a single CCD camera, microphone and monitor. This mode is particularly useful for security or control systems. Image records are sampled at a rate of one image a minute, with the image record capturing real time information Sound is recorded in a connected continuous fashion, also capturing real time information To reproduce image and sound, i e to play back the recording, e.g in order to examine it, the real time of the audio recording selected by the operator serves as the synchronisation signal Supposing the operator chooses the real time interval from 1999-07-10 18 32 24 to 1999-07- 10 18 50 00, then for a selected real time moment during the playback of the required connected sound recording the monitor will gradually display a sequence of 18 images of the monitored space from the selected time interval and associated with replayed sound Embodiment 2 This example describes another mode of recording and playback of a sampled audio and video recording made using a digital recording system with a single CCD or CMOS camera featuring a motion detection function and a microphone This mode is particularly appropriate in security and surveillance systems Sound is recorded in a connected (continuous) fashion, as it does not require excessive recording medium capacity Image is sampled every tenth second or continuously on detecting motion In this instance, the real time of the audio recording serves as the synchronisation element during playback In other words, while replaying a time interval, the operator listens to sounds in the surveyed area (such as a conversation between two and more people who remain static) On making a motion, the persons automatically activate the motion detection function and the system continuously records the image, enabling the operator to view an image (moving persons) while continuing to monitor sounds After the persons become static, the system reverts to sampling at a rate of one image every ten seconds, while the sound continues to be recorded uninterrupted Embodiment 3 This example is derived from Embodiment 2, however, the motion detection function can be replaced by the system operator switching on continuous recording, image being sampled every two seconds and sound recorded in a connected fashion For example, if a security officer responsible for a secured area views on screen and listens to what goes on in the secured area, the officer has the option of activating continuous image recording to capture in detail the action in a given time interval During playback, sound is reproduced continuously and image is sampled Starting at the moment when the officer activated continuous image recording, image is also displayed continuously after which it is sampled again Sound invariably remains continuous The advantage is that images, be it sampled or continuously recorded, are synchronised with sound during playback, as an image/images is/are displayed at the moments when recorded real time of image matches the recorded real time of sound Embodiment 4 This example describes an alternative way of recording and playing back several digital locally dependent connected audio and video recordings In particular, this mode can be used in the film industry, during filmmaking and to create film effects For example, a unique nonrecurring scene is being filmed by four cameras from four angles, recording image and sound and capturing real time During editing at a later stage, the real time of audio and/or video recordings serves as the synchronising element, enabling the selection of image and its association with, for example, non-matching sound with identical real time, for example when an image is selected with a different angle of image or sound recording. Embodiment 5 This example describes an alternative way of recording and playing back several locally independent digital audio and video recordings. This version is derived from Embodiment 1. Here, the security system has been enhanced, for example by a set of 10 cameras. Sound is recorded by an independent system with six armed microphones built into the monitored nodes of the secured facility. Thus, theses systems and their audio and video recordings are functionally independent. Monitoring or examining audio and video recordings enables to survey, by choosing the respective real time of recording, the secured nodes of the facility. A local sound signal with a selected real time can be associated with an image or several images with the same real time but recorded at different locations; it is possible to switch between these images, as all recordings can be played back in a synchronised fashion synchronised using their real time. Embodiment 6 This example describes a way of recording and playing back several independent sampled analogue audio and video recordings in closed circuit television systems. In substance, the method is derived from one in Embodiment 5 and adjusted to suit the needs of closed circuit television transmission. Furthermore, the method enables to match audio and video recordings designated using identification codes. The apparent benefit is that the method in accordance with the invention can be implemented in existing closed circuit television networks by means of simple software or hardware modifications. Embodiment 7 This example describes a way of recording and projecting analogous connected audio and video recordings in conventional filmmaking technology, where image and sound are optically recorded on conventional film tape. Here, the method in accordance with the invention can be applied, for example by recording, such as by means of bar code or other means, real time information onto film tape in between images or onto the marginal segments of the recording medium, enabling unique matching of image and sound (if recorded separately) or of several image signals. Industrial Applications The method of recording, playing back or projecting digital or analogue sampled or connected audio and/or video recordings in accordance with the present invention can be generally applied in every recording and reproduction audio and video system and projection technology.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Method for recording, reproducing or projecting digital or analogue, sampled or connected audio and/or video records characterised by the synchronisation of at least one audio and video or audio and audio or video and video recording by the real time of the recording where the real time of recording serves as the synchronising element for at least one recording sample during its reproduction. 2. Method for recording, reproducing or projecting digital or analogue, sampled or connected audio and/or video records in accordance with Claim 1 characterised by the fact that synchronised audio and/or video recordings are locally independent. 3. Method for recording, reproducing or projecting digital or analogue, sampled or connected audio and/or video records in accordance with Claim 1 characterised by the fact that synchronised audio and/or video recordings are functionally independent. 4. Method for recording, reproducing or projecting digital or analogue, sampled or connected audio and/or video records in accordance with Claim 1 characterised by the fact that dependent or independent matched audio and/or video recordings are assigned an identification code.

Inventors: KELLYER JURAJ, KELLYER, JURAJ
Applicants: KELLYER JURAJ, KELLYER, JURAJ
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H04N5
IPC codes: H04N5, H04N9