PICTURE RETRIEVAL SYSTEM, AND RECORD CARRIER AND DEVICE FOR USE IN THE SYSTEM

摘要

A picture retrieval system is disclosed which comprises a record carrier (70) and a read device. A coded picture (4TV, 16TV, 64TV, 256TV) composed of consecutive coded picture lines is recorded in a continuous track (71) of the recorded carrier. The read device comprises means which scan the track by means of a read head to read coded picture lines recorded in the track and means for moving the read head to a track portion having a selected address with a certain search accuracy. Together with the coded picture lines (APDB) a line number (LN) and a line synchronisation are recorded in the track (71). The line number specifies the sequence number of the relevant picture line in the coded picture. The line synchronisation specifies the beginning of the relevant picture line. Moreover, addresses (ADLN#1,..., ADLN#1009) for a number of coded picture lines of the coded picture are recorded in a portion (IIDB) of the track, to specify the positions where the relevant picture lines have been recorded in the track. The device further comprises means for searching a coded picture line on the basis of the addresses read from the track portion (IIDB).