Patent Publication Number: US-2006013558-A1

Title: Running time counter for a digital recording device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention relates generally to digital recording devices.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Camcorders are often used for recording sporting events. Some sports (like soccer) have a running clock and it is convenient to have a running display that can be stored with the sporting event&#39;s recording. Videographers may not want to record the entire game but may choose to record just the “live” play and stop the recording during dead time (ball out of bounds, substitutions) even though the master game clock is still running. The camcorder would have a button (or an easily accessible selection) to start the running time counter and it would run until the feature is turned off.  
      Current camcorders have the ability to turn on a time and date display. Some camcorders allow the time and date to be turned on during playback only. However, existing camcorders do not have the ability to provide the convenient “game” clock feature that displays the running time since the “Start button” was pressed.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention comprises a system embodied in a digital recording device that provides for a running time clock or counter. The running time clock or counter is displayed on a viewfinder and/or recorded on video tape when the digital recording device is in record mode. The running time clock or counter indicates the time during which video is recorded, starting from the beginning of a recording session. The running time clock may be reset at the discretion of the user.  
      Embodiments of the present invention may also employ an RF link between the digital recording device and a game clock for an event, so as to record the official game time of the event. The present invention may be used in time lapse filming or recording applications and usability studies, for example. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The various features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:  
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrate three views of an exemplary digital recording device in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Referring to the drawing figures,  FIGS. 1-3  illustrate angled, rear and top views, respectively, of an exemplary digital recording device  10  in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The exemplary digital recording device  10  that is illustrated is a digital camcorder  10 . The basic design and operation of the digital camcorder  10  is well-known and will not be discussed in detail. Also, while the present is particularly well-suited for use with digital camcorders  10 , for example, it may also be used with other digital recording devices  10  as well.  
      With regard to the present invention, the digital recording device  10  (camcorder  10 ) comprises a viewfinder  11  or display  11 , which presents an image scene to a user that is viewed by the device  10  and which may be recorded. The digital recording device  10  includes a record (REC) button  12  ( FIG. 3 ) that places the device in record mode and which is depressed when video is to be recorded by the device  10 . The digital recording device  10  also includes a start/stop recording button  13  ( FIG. 3 ) that is depressed to start and stop recording of video.  
      Depressing of the start/stop recording button  13  displays and/or records a running time counter (RTC)  20  in accordance with the present invention. The running time counter  20  records time from initiation of a recording session until recording is completed. Thus, the running time counter  20  is started when the record button is depressed and records elapsed recording time.  
      The camcorder  10 , or other recording device  10 , comprises a button  21  shown in  FIG. 3 , or a menu selection  22  shown in  FIG. 1 , that starts the running time counter  20 . When the feature is started, the running time counter  20  is started on the camcorder. Whenever the record (REC) button  12  is pressed, the running time counter  20  is displayed and/or recorded onto a digital video tape or other video recording medium. Alternatively, the running time counter  20  may be stored on the tape and be selectively displayed during playback. Even when the record (REC) function is turned off, the running time counter  20  continues to run so that it will accurately time a “game” clock  25 . The running time counter  20  may be reset by the user so that a new running time can be started.  
      Making and publishing quality video is becoming easier to provide as time goes by. Today, digital recording devices  10 , such as camcorders  10 , for example, are being used by amateur videographers to record many events. The video is then digitally downloaded to a computer, split into scenes and then combined into a video file. When performing this sequence of steps on certain types of events, having a running time counter can prove to be very useful. The present invention addresses this need.  
      The present invention solves a common problem created during the recording of certain types of events. Having the ability to turn on the running time counter  20  can be particularly useful for recording a soccer or other type of game, for example. When a user presses the start/stop button  13  on the digital recording device  10 , the running time counter  20  is stored along with the video recording. Because there may be significant time lapse between recorded scenes, it is very convenient to have the “game” clock time available. Also, for the soccer example, knowing what the “game” clock value is may be useful to know as the half or game is about ready to expire. For example, if the user records the first minute of the game, presses the start/stop recording button  13  to stop recording video, and then waits twenty minutes for the next recorded scene, the video recording will show a running time of “00:00:00” to “00:01:00” for the first scene and then “00:20:00” to “XX:XX:XX” for the next scene.  
      Additional embodiments of the present invention are discussed below.  
      For sports that have a game clock  25  that starts and stops during the game, including events such as football, basketball and soccer, for example, an RF link  26  between the digital recording device  10  and the official game clock  25  may be provided. In this embodiment, the digital recording device  10  records official game time transmitted by the game clock  25  instead of, or in addition to, using the arbitrary time of the running time counter  20  under the control of the user.  
      The present invention may be employed in instances and applications other than sporting events. For example, the present invention may be used in time lapse filming or recording situations using the digital recording device  10 , such as in filming plants growing or dying, solar eclipses, sunsets, or construction, and the like.  
      Another instance of use of the present invention relates to observing subjects for usability studies. In these situations, it is desired to make a determination as to how long it takes for a person to perform a particular task, such as set up a printer, for example. Upon initiation of the task, the running time counter  20  on the digital recording device  10  is started, which runs during performance of the task until recording is completed.. The time to complete the task may be used to analyze the person&#39;s performance relative to others performing the same task, along with evaluating problems encountered during performing the task. This allows the design of the printer, for example, to be evaluated, with a goal of improving its design.  
      Thus, digital recording devices that implement a running time counter have been disclosed. It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of some of the many specific embodiments that represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Clearly, numerous and other arrangements can be readily devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.