Apparatus and a record carrier for, and a method of recording a sequence of video data signals

摘要

An apparatus for recording a sequence of video data signals on a record carrier has been proposed. The apparatus comprises input means (1) for receiving video data signals, generating means (100) for generating characteristic point information signals, processing means (100) for processing the characteristic point information signals for a plurality of characteristic points into a sequence of characteristic points information signals (CPI) and writing means (102) for writing the sequence of video data signals and the sequence of characteristic points information signals on the record carrier. The characteristic point information signals identify a characteristic point in the sequence of video data signals. Various measures are proposed in relation to the CPI aiming at improving quality of trickplay and random access playback operations.

主权项

1. An apparatus for recording a sequence of video data signals on media, the sequence of video data signals comprising pictures of an intra-picture type coded without reference to other pictures and pictures of an inter-picture type coded with reference to other pictures, the apparatus comprising:
an input for receiving video data signals; a signal generator to produce characteristic point information signals for a plurality characteristic points, the characteristic point information signals identifying a characteristic point in the sequence of video data signals, the characteristic point being associated with one of a picture selected from the pictures of the intra-picture type and a picture selected from pictures of the inter-picture type, the characteristic point information signals comprising a block of information, the block of information comprising: position data identifying the position of the characteristic point in the sequence of video data signals; the position data comprising a single packet number specifying an address where the characteristic point is located in the sequence of video data signals; and identification data identifying the characteristic point;
the identification data comprising a sequence header presence indicator indicating whether a sequence header precedes the intra-picture type picture or associated inter-picture type picture associated with the characteristic point;the block of information further comprising a presentation time stamp specifying a time when the associated picture is to be presented in the sequence of video data;a processor to process the characteristic point information signals for a plurality of characteristic points into a sequence of characteristic points information signals; anda media writer to write the sequence of video data signals and the sequence of characteristic points information signals on the media in a combined data stream.