Method and apparatus for synchronization of ancillary information in film conversion

Abstract

A digital processor to synchronize ancillary information with film images during a film conversion session is described. The ancillary information includes metadata information and audio information. The digital processor advantageously processes the ancillary information at a speed to support faster than real-time film conversion. The ancillary information can come from various sources and in various forms. Information from analog sources is digitized for processing using digital technology. A pitch adjuster frequency shifts digitized analog signals and digital input signals to achieve a selected data rate that matches the rate of film conversion. Digitally encoded input data can be decoded and re-encoded to achieve the selected data rate. A formatter manipulates the ancillary information at the selected data rate to conform to a standard format and combines the formatted ancillary information with film images conforming to a standard motion picture format.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A digital audio processor for sequential image conversion, the digital audio processor comprising: 
 a data buffer configured to temporarily store a portion of a digitized audio signal;    a pitch adjuster coupled to the output of the data buffer and configured to frequency shift the digitized audio signal to match a sequential image conversion rate; and    a formatter coupled to the output of the pitch adjuster and configured to manipulate the digitized audio signal to conform to an audio standard format.    
     
     
         2 . The digital audio processor of  claim 1 , further comprising an analog-to-digital converter configured to receive an analog audio signal and to produce the corresponding digitized audio signal.  
     
     
         3 . The digital audio processor of  claim 1 , wherein the formatter further comprises a digital-to-analog converter configured to present the digital audio processor output as an analog signal.  
     
     
         4 . The digital audio processor of  claim 1 , wherein the formatter is further configured to combine the audio signal in the audio standard format with images in a standard video, motion picture or multimedia format.  
     
     
         5 . The digital audio processor of  claim 4 , wherein the digital audio processor operates at a selected speed to support faster than real-time sequential image conversion.  
     
     
         6 . The digital audio processor of  claim 4 , wherein the digital audio processor operates at a selected speed to support faster than 24 frames-per-second image conversion.  
     
     
         7 . A digital processor to process ancillary information with images during a sequential image conversion session, the digital processor comprising: 
 means for synchronizing the ancillary information with the images; and    means for formatting the ancillary information at a selected data rate and combining the formatted ancillary information with the images in a standard video, motion picture or multimedia format.    
     
     
         8 . The digital processor of  claim 7 , wherein the synchronization means comprise means for adjusting a data rate of the ancillary information in the form of a digital signal to achieve the selected data rate.  
     
     
         9 . The digital processor of  claim 7 , wherein the synchronization means comprise means for frequency shifting a digital signal to achieve the selected data rate that matches a sequential image conversion rate.  
     
     
         10 . The digital processor of  claim 7 , wherein the synchronization means comprise: 
 means for frequency shifting a digital signal to achieve the selected data rate that matches a sequential image conversion rate; and    means for adjusting a data rate of the ancillary information in the form of a digital signal to achieve the selected data rate.    
     
     
         11 . The digital processor of  claim 7 , wherein the synchronization means comprise means for converting the ancillary information in the form of an analog signal to a digital signal.  
     
     
         12 . The digital processor of  claim 7 , wherein the synchronization means comprise means for decoding the ancillary information in the form of encoded data and re-encoding the decoded data to achieve the selected data rate.  
     
     
         13 . The digital processor of  claim 7 , wherein the ancillary information is read from a peripheral device.  
     
     
         14 . The digital processor of  claim 7 , wherein the digital processor processes the ancillary information at a speed to support faster than real-time sequential image conversion.  
     
     
         15 . The digital processor of  claim 7 , wherein the digital processor processes the ancillary information at a speed to support faster than 24 frames-per-second film conversion.  
     
     
         16 . The digital processor of  claim 7 , wherein the ancillary information is sound.  
     
     
         17 . The digital processor of  claim 7 , further comprising means for converting the combination of ancillary information and images to analog domain.  
     
     
         18 . The digital processor of  claim 7 , wherein the digital processor is used to synchronize selected metadata information with the images.  
     
     
         19 . A method of synchronizing audio with images during a sequential image conversion session, the method comprising: 
 converting an analog input signal to a digital signal;    buffering the digital signal for processing;    frequency shifting the digital signal to achieve a selected data rate to match a sequential image conversion rate;    formatting the digital signal at the selected data rate to produce a digital audio file conforming to a standard audio format; and    combining the digital audio file with digital images conforming to a standard video, motion picture or multimedia format.    
     
     
         20 . A method of synchronizing audio with images during a sequential image conversion session, the method comprising: 
 buffering a digital audio signal for processing;    formatting the digital audio signal at a selected data rate to produce a digital audio file conforming to a standard audio format; and    combining the digital audio file with digital images conforming to a standard video, motion picture or multimedia format.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising frequency shifting the digital audio signal to achieve the selected data rate to match a sequential image conversion rate.