AUDIO/VIDEO REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

The apparatus is connectable to a communications network for selectively reproducing items of audio/video material from a recording medium in response to a request received via the tele communications network. It may comprise a control processor which receives data representing the request for the audio/video material item via the communications network. A reproducing processor is operable in response to signals identifying the audio/video material items from the control processor to reproduce the audio/video material items. The data identifying the audio/video material items includes meta data indicative of the audio/video material items. The meta data may be one of UMID, tape ID and time codes, and a Unique Material Identifier the material items. It comprises an activity detector and a meta data generator coupled to the activity detector which is operable to generate sample images at temporal positions within the audio/video signal.