GB2255468A

GB2255468A - Video cassette recorder and recording method.

Info

Publication number: GB2255468A
Application number: GB9207752A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kwon-Pyo Hong
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 1991-04-12
Filing date: 1992-04-07
Publication date: 1992-11-04
Also published as: JPH05183857A; DE4212005A1; GB9207752D0; KR920020479A

Description

1 2 2 3 54613 VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDER AND RECORDING METHOD

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a video cassette recorder and a recording method in which, during a normal or programmed recording, data about a recorded program, such as recording time, recording date, channel number for the program to be recorded (such as television programme), or the like can be recorded so that it overlaps the first portion of the recorded program.

Generally, video cameras (camcorder) which are capable of photographing objects have functions for adding the recording time, the recording date and the like during the photographing. Such a conventional video cassette recorder is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,908,, 713 "VCR PROGRAMMER".

.I Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a conventional video cassette recorder.

As shown in Figure 1, this conventional video cassette recorder comprises a central digital controller 13, a programmed recording memory 41, a digital memory 42, a keypad pad 40, a tuner 16, a recorder 60, a clock generating means 30, an oscillator 31, a radio frequency generator 23, a radio frequency modulator 21,, and a television set 22.

Now the operation of this conventional video cassette recorder will be described referring to Figure 1. A command of a user, input through the key pad 40, is stored as a control signal, in response to the stored memory data, for controlling the recorder 60. The clock generating means 30 outputs a real time processing clock to the central digital controller 13 and to a character generator 50.

The character generator 50 is provided with output signals from the clock generating means 30 and output signals from the recorder 60 acting as video signal recording/playback means. Then the character generator 50 provides the signals to the radio frequency modulator 21, for modulating signals from the radio frequency signal generator 23 to display the data on the television set 22.

The conventional video cassette recorder that operates in the above described manner, however, can not record additional data about an intended programme conc = ently therewith, instead recording only the intended programme during normal recording or a programmed recording. Therefore, if the recorded programme is played back, the user is entirely ignorant of the contents of the recorded programme, due to the is lack of the recording date and the channel number, thereby requiring the user to review the contents of the recorded programme entirely.

The present invention is intended to overcome the above described disadvantages of the conventional technique.

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a video cassette recorder and a recording method thereof, in which character data indicative of e.g. recording time, the day and channel number is automatically recorded on the initial part concurrently with the video signals during normal or programmed recordings, thereby making it possible to identify recorded programmes in a convenient manner.

In achieving the above object, a video cassette recorder of the present invention, which utilizes an on-screen display, comprises a system controller 1, a key board 2, timer/function adjusting means 3, a digital display unit 4. a phase lock loop 5. a tuner 6.

an antenna 7, an on-screen display IC 8, a video synchronizing signal separator 9, a video signal recording part 10. a radio frequency modulator 11, and a television set 12.

According to a recording method of the present invention, when a recording key signal or a programmed recording start signal is detected,, character data for an on-screen display is output for a predetermined - 5 period of time indicating current date. current time. and receiving channel number. Such character data is concurrently recorded together with video signals provided through the channel for a predetermined period of time, e.g., 5 to 10 seconds, so as to conveniently identify the recorded program during playback.

An embodiment of thepresent invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the Figures. in which, Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a conventional video cassette recorder; is Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a video cassette recorder of the present invention for concurrently recording additional data indicative of the recording time, the recording date, and the channel number together with the video data; Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing the control operation for automatically and concurrently recording the current time.. the current date and the channel number during a normal recording operation according to the present invention; and is Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing the control operation for automatically and concurrently recording the current time.. the current date, and the channel number during a programmed recording according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematical block diagram showing the video cassette recorder of the present invention for concurrently recording the current time, the current date, and the channel number on the initial part of a program to be recorded for a predetermined period of time together with input video data.

Referring to Fig. 2,, a system controller 1 control electronic circuit and mechanism of the video cassette recorder according to inputs of function keys through a key board 2 or a remote controller.

The timer/function adjusting means 3 is provided with the key signals through the key board 2 or the remote controller to display a current operating function in characters or to control a digital display unit 4 for carrying out the function of a clock and a phase lock loop 6 for supplying a tuner 6 with tuning voltage for channel selection.

The tuner 6 is connected to an antenna 7 for selecting a relevant broadcasting channel according to the tuning voltage. Signals from such a selected broadcasting channel are supplied to the timer/function adjusting means 3.

Further,, the timer/function adjusting means 3 controls an on-screen display IC 8 for producing video signals to generate character data. A video synchronizing signal separator 9 outputs signals to the on-screen display IC 8.

Accordingly, the concurrent signals generated by the on-screen display IC 8 during the initial period of the recording are recorded on the video tape by a video signal recording part 10 and the signals modulated by a radio frequency modulator 11 are displayed on a television set 12.

Further, the timer/function adjusting means 3 is programmed for a normal recording or to set a programmed recording time. and this will now be described in detail referring to Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing a control operation for concurrently recording the recording time, the recording date, and the channel number on the initial part during a normal recording.

As shown in Fig. 3, if the power key is pressed through the key board 2, the timer/function adjusting means 3 checks current operating state of the video cassette recorder (step 100),, and also checks whether other function keys are pressed on the key board 2.

If any other keys than the recording key such as volume adjusting key, channel selecting key, play key, FF key, REW key or the like are pressed, first the recording mode is detected by the program (step 102)., and then, the task designated by the function key is carried out (step 103). The timer/function adjusting means 3 provides data signals to the system controller 1. for controlling the circuits and the mechanisms.

Meanwhile, in the case where the currently pressed key is a recording key REC, the timer/function adjusting means 3 supplies information indicative of the recording mode to the system controller 1 to carry out the recording mode and also supplies data about the is recording such as the selected broadcasting channel, the current time and the current date to the on-screen display IC 8 (step 104).

The on-screen display IC 8 generates characters indicative of the current time and the broadcasting channel number. so that the video signal recording part 10 should concurrently record the current time and the broadcasting channel number on the initial part of the video tape.

At the same time,, the timer/function adjusting means 3 initializes the time by activating an internal timer (step 105), and judges whether the time T of the timer has elapsed for a predetermined period of time TA' e.g., 5 to 10 seconds. After the predetermined time TA, the timer/function adjusting means 3 stops providing the character data to the on-screen display IC 8 and deactivates the timer (step 108), so that, the program returns to step 101 to repeat the above described steps.

During a recording of a predetermined channel, e.g., channel 7, if the user shifts the channel to channel 9 by pressing up- channel key (CH). then the current time and the channel 9 are displayed in the above described manner.

Thus when recording a predetermined broadcasting program,, the relevant broadcasting channel and the - 11 current time are recorded on the first part of the recording concurrently with the video data, so that,, during playback, the user can identify the recorded programme simply by looking at such character data.

Meanwhile, when playing back a video tape using an external line, only the current time is recorded in the above described manner,, and no broadcasting channel is recorded due to the non-selection of a broadcasting channel. In this case, the characters "video playback,' can be concurrently recorded by programming the timer/function adjusting means 3 in advance.

rig. 4 is a flow chart showing the control operation for automatically and concurrently recording the relevant channel number, the current time and the current date during a programmed recording according to the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 4, the timerlfunction adjusting means 3 operates in the above described manner by receiving key signals through the key board 2. However, first a judgment is made as to whether a programmed recording 12 key, a recording completion time key,, a channel number key are pressed in order to set a programmed recording mode (step 200). If the programmed recording to carry out the normal operation, while if a programmed recording is set, the programmed recording starting time and the current time are checked (step 202).

During such a checking, if the programmed recording starting time arrives (step 203), the timer/function adjusting means 3 supplies the data to record to the system controller 1, and also supplies the current time, the channel data and a clock signal to the on-screen display IC 8 (step 204).

Then, as shown in Fig. 3, the timer/function adjusting means 3 drives the timer for a predetermined period of time, so that the on-screen display IC 8 add the relevant channel and the current time to the video signals concurrently to record all the data on the video tape., thereby carrying out steps 105 to 108.

- 13 After carrying out steps 200 to 204(A). and thent steps 105 to 108 of Fig. 3 are carried out before entering into (B) to carry out the program.

During such a programmed recording operation, the timer/function adjusting means 3 checks the recording completion time (step 205), and, when it is the recording completion time, the time/function adjusting means 3 outputs a recording termination signal to the system controller 1, and decrements the number of programmed recording programs stored in the memory by one (step 206).

Then the time/function adjusting means 3 checks the existence of other programmed recording programs. if any programmed recording program remains, the operation is returned from step 207 to step 202 to repeat the above steps, while if there is no more programmed recording program, the power is turned off, thereby completing the programmed recording (step 208).

- 14 According to the present invention as described above, character data such as the recording time and the relevant channel is concurrently recorded on the first part of the recording for a predetermined period of time together with the video signals during a normal or programmed recording operation, so that the user can easily identify the content of the recorded program by the recording time and the relevant channel number during a later playback.

A - is -

Claims

1. A video cassette recorder comprising:

key board for providing function key signals; system controller for controlling electronic circuits and mechanisms of the video cassette recorder to carry out an intended operation according to output data from said key board; timer/function adjusting means connected to said system controller to be provided with output signals from said key board, so as for said system controller to exchange said data in order to output a currently operating function in the form of character data, said timer/function adjusting means having a timer, and generating control signals to carry out input function key functions; an on-screen display IC for providing concurrent signals of video signals and character data signals from said timer/function adjusting means; a video synchronizing signal separator connected to - 16 said on-screen display IC for being providing with video signals to supply synchronized signals to said on-screen display IC; digital display unit for carrying out the function of clock according to control signals from said timer/function adjusting means; a phase lock loop for providing a tuning voltage according to control signals from said timer/function adjusting means; a tuner for providing broadcasting signals of a selected channel to said timer/function adjusting means. corresponding to a selected broadcasting channel according to tuning voltage of said phase lock loop; an antenna connected to said tuner for being provided with broadcasting waves; a radio frequency modulator for providing modulated signals after receipt of output overlapped signals from said on-screen display IC; a television set for displaying said modulated signals 20 so as for the user to watch pictures; and a video recording part connected to said on-screen display IC for recording said overlapped signals onto a video tape so as to simultaneously display character - 17 data together with video data of said relevant channel on a screen of a television set.

2. A recording method of a video cassette recorder comprising a key board, a system controller, timer/function adjusting means, an on-screen display IC, a video synchronizing separator, a digital display unit, a phase lock loop, a tuner, an antenna, a radio frequency modulator, a television set, and a video signal recording part, said recording method for a normal recording comprising the steps of: checking current state of said video cassette recorder by said timer/function adjusting means during a normal recording; checking whether other function keys of said key board of said video cassette recorder are pressed; recognizing recording mode from when recording key is pressed; supplying data signals to said system controller by 20 said timer/function adjusting means to said system controller when any other function key is pressed to carry out said relevant task and activate said system controller to control circuits and mechanisms for said - 18 is key function; supplying data indicative of current time and relevant channel number to said on-screen display IC upon encountering a recording mode; initializing current time by activating a timer of said timer/function adjusting means; counting operating time by said timer during said recording; judging whether a predetermined period of time is elapsed in the operation of said timer; and blocking supply of said character data to said on-screen display IC, and stopping said operation of said timer, when said predetermined period of time is elapsed in the operation of said timer of said timer/function adjusting means, and proceeding to next tasks after checking pressing of any other function keys, so as to conc = ently record said character data together with said video data of said relevant channel.

3. A recording method of a video cassette recorder comprising a key board, a system controller, timer/function adjusting means, an on-screen display IC, a video synchronizing separator, a digital display unit, a phase lock loop, a tuner. an antenna, a radio frequency modulator, a television set, and a video signal recording part. said recording method for a programmed recording comprising the steps of: judging whether a programmed recording is being carried out by pressing keys and inter-keys such as a programmed recording key, a recording starting time. a recording completion time and a channel number; providing a control signal upon encountering no programmed recording mode so as for a normal operation to be carried out; checking programmed recording starting time and current time by said internal timer of said timer/function adjusting means upon encountering a programmed recording; recognizing the arrival of a programmed recording starting time during the timer checking; supplying said data to be recorded to said system controller,, and providing said current time, channel data and a clock signal to said on- screen display IC; checking the current time by activating said timer; counting the operating time by said timer during said recording operation; j 1 - 20 judging the elapsing of a predetermined period of time in the operation of said timer; blocking the supply of the character data to said on-screen display IC, and stopping the operation of said timer, upon recognizing the elapsing of said predetermined period of time in the operation of said timer of said timer/function adjusting means, and checking whether any other function key is pressed to proceed to next operation; judging whether it is recording completion time by checking the recording completion time as pre-set by a function key; providing a recording operation stopping signal by said timer/function adjusting means to said system controller, decreasing number of programmed recordings as stored in said memory by 1, when it is said recording completion time; checking existence of other programmed recording in said memory,, and, upon finding the existence of other programmed recording in the memory, checking the programmed recording starting time and the c = ent time in order to resume another programmed recording by repeating said timer checking step to said memory - 21 checking step; and terminating said programmed recording by turning off the power, if any further programmed recording is not present.

is

4. A video cassette recorder for recording television programmes, including; means to cause the recorder to start recording a video signal; a character generator means operable for adding video character signals to the video signal as it is recorded; control means to cause the character generator means to add video character signals, representing recording circumstance data, to the video signal for a predetermined period from the start of recording.

5. A video cassette recorder according to claim 4. wherein the means to cause the recorder to startrecording is programmable with a recording start time for unattended operation.

1 1 1 1 1 1

6. A video cassette recorder according to claim 4 or 5.. wherein the recording circumstance data includes the recording start time.

7. A video cassette recorder according to claim 4. 5 or 6, wherein the recording circumstance data includes the recording date.

8. A video cassette recorder according to any one of claims 4 to 7, including a receiving means for receiving broadcast television signals for producing the video signal.

9. A video cassette recorder according to claim 8, wherein the recording circumstance data includes the channel to which the recording means is tuned.

10. A method of recording a video signal comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting a record command signal; (b) adding a video character signal, representing recording circumstance data, to a video - 23 signal to produce a combined signal; and (c) recording the combined signal onto a recording medium, wherein steps (b) and (c) are pipelined for a predetermined period after detection of the record command signal, whereafter step (b) is omitted.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the recording circumstance data includes the recording start time.

12. A method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the recording circumstance data includes the recording date.

13. A method according to claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein the video signal is a television program.

14. A method according to claim 13. wherein the recording circumstance data includes the channel of the television program.

i - 24

15. A video cassette recorder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of recording a video signal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.