Multimedia time warping system

Abstract

A multimedia time warping system allows the user to store selected television broadcast programs while the user is simultaneously watching or reviewing another program. The system accepts television (TV) input streams in a multitude of forms that are converted to an encoded formatted stream for internal transfer and manipulation and are parsed. Events are recorded that indicate the type of component that has been found, where it is located, and when it occurred. The program logic is notified that an event has occurred and the data is extracted from the buffers. The encoded streams are stored on a storage device and a decoder converts the encoded stream into TV output signals. User control commands affect the flow of the encoded stream.

1 . An apparatus for storage and playback of audiovisual data, comprising: 
 a local storage device;    a first circuit, coupled to said local storage device, that parses an encoded stream of audiovisual data to generate event data, stores said event data, writes said encoded stream of audiovisual data to said local storage device, and utilizes said event data to facilitate reading said encoded stream of audiovisual data from said local storage device.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said local storage device is a hard drive.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first circuit includes a media switch.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said first circuit includes a media switch.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first circuit includes a central processing unit.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said first circuit includes a central processing unit.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said first circuit includes a central processing unit.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said first circuit includes a central processing unit.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for storage and playback of audiovisual data, comprising: 
 a local storage device;    a control unit; and    a first circuit, coupled to said local storage device and to said control unit, that accepts and parses an encoded stream of audiovisual data to generate event data, writes said event data into an event buffer, transmits said parsed encoded stream of audiovisual data to said local storage device, notifies said control unit when said event data are written into said event buffer, subsequently extracts said parsed encoded stream of audiovisual data from said local storage device, and transmits said extracted encoded stream of audiovisual data to a decoder, wherein said first circuit transmits said parsed encoded stream of audiovisual data to said local storage device autonomously with respect to said control unit.    
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for storage and playback of audiovisual data, comprising: 
 a local storage device;    a central processing unit; and    a first circuit, coupled to said local storage device and to said central processing unit, comprising means for accepting an encoded stream of audiovisual data, means for parsing said encoded stream of audiovisual data to generate event data, means for writing said event data into an event buffer, means for transmitting said parsed encoded stream of audiovisual data to said local storage device, means for notifying said control unit when said event data are written to said event buffer, means for subsequently extracting said parsed encoded stream of audiovisual data from said local storage device, and means for transmitting said extracted encoded stream of audiovisual data to a decoder, wherein said first circuit transmits said parsed encoded stream of audiovisual data to said local storage device autonomously with respect to said central processing unit.    
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of claims  25  or  26 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to claims  25  or  26 , wherein said local storage device is a hard drive.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to claims  25  or  26 , wherein said local storage device is a hard drive and said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         32 . An apparatus for storage and playback of audiovisual data, comprising: 
 a local storage device;    a central processing unit; and    a first circuit, coupled to said local storage device and asynchronously coupled to said central processing unit, comprising an input interface module for parsing an MPEG stream to generate event data and for writing said event data into an event buffer, a local storage device interface module for transmitting said parsed MPEG stream to said local storage device and for subsequently extracting said parsed MPEG stream from said local storage device, and an output interface module for transmitting said extracted MPEG stream to a decoder, wherein said first circuit transmits said parsed encoded stream of audiovisual data to said local storage device autonomously with respect to said central processing unit.    
     
     
         33 . The apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein said local storage device is a hard drive.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32  or  33 , wherein said central processing unit executes program logic and said first circuit communicates with said program logic via an interrupt mechanism.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 32 ,  33 , or  34 , further comprising a memory, wherein said first circuit further comprises a memory interface module for buffering said parsed MPEG stream into said memory.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         37 . A method for storage and playback of audiovisual data, comprising: 
 receiving an encoded stream of audiovisual data;    parsing said encoded stream of audiovisual data to generate event data;    writing said event data into an event buffer;    transmitting said encoded stream of audiovisual data from a first circuit to a local storage device;    transmitting said encoded stream of audiovisual data from said local storage device to said first circuit;    storing said encoded stream of audiovisual data in an output buffer; and    varying a flow of said encoded audiovisual data from said output buffer to an output device upon receipt of one or more control commands from a user.    
     
     
         38 . A method for storage and playback of audiovisual data, comprising: 
 receiving an encoded stream of audiovisual data;    parsing said encoded stream of audiovisual data to generate event data;    transmitting said encoded stream of audiovisual data from a first circuit to a local storage device; and    utilizing said event data to facilitate subsequently reading said encoded stream of audiovisual data from said local storage device.    
     
     
         39 . The method according to claims  37  or  38 , wherein said local storage device is a hard drive.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus according to claims  37  or  38 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus according to claims  39  or  40 , wherein said local storage device is a hard drive and said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein said control commands comprise any of: a reverse control command, a play control command, a fast forward control command, or a pause control command.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus according to  claim 41 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         45 . A method for storage and playback of audiovisual data, comprising: 
 receiving an encoded stream of audiovisual data;    parsing said encoded stream of audiovisual data to generate event data;    storing said event data in an event buffer;    transmitting said encoded stream of audiovisual data from a first circuit to a local storage device; and    utilizing said stored event data to facilitate subsequently reading said encoded stream of audiovisual data from said local storage device.    
     
     
         46 . A method for storage and playback of audiovisual data, comprising the steps of: 
 accepting an encoded stream of audiovisual data;    parsing said encoded stream of audiovisual data to generate event data;    storing said event data in an event buffer;    transmitting said parsed encoded stream of audiovisual data to a local storage device;    extracting said parsed encoded stream of audiovisual data from said local storage device;    transmitting said extracted encoded stream of audiovisual data to a decoder;    communicating asynchronously via an interrupt mechanism with program logic executed by a central processing unit to control said storage and playback of said audiovisual data.    
     
     
         47 . The method according to claims  45  or  46 , wherein said local storage device is a hard drive.  
     
     
         48 . The method according to claims  45  or  46 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         49 . The method according to claims  45  or  46 , wherein said local storage device is a hard drive and said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         50 . The method according to claims  45  or  46  further comprising the step of buffering said parsed encoded stream of audiovisual data into a memory.  
     
     
         51 . The method according to claims  45  or  46 , wherein said local storage device is a hard drive and said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream, and further comprising the step of buffering said parsed encoded stream of audiovisual data into a memory.  
     
     
         52 . The method according to  claim 48 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         53 . The method according to  claim 49 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         54 . The method according to  claim 51 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         55 . An apparatus for storage and playback of audiovisual data, comprising: 
 a local storage device;    a central processing unit executing program logic; and    a first circuit, coupled to said local storage device and to said central processing unit, for accepting an encoded stream of audiovisual data, parsing said encoded stream of audiovisual data to generate event data indicating the start of video or audio components within said encoded stream of audiovisual data, writing said event data into an event buffer, transmitting said parsed encoded stream of audiovisual data to said local storage device, subsequently extracting said parsed encoded stream of audiovisual data from said local storage device, transmitting said extracted encoded stream of audiovisual data to a decoder, and notifying said program logic when said event data are written into said event buffer, wherein said event data contains the location of said video or audio components in said event buffer.    
     
     
         56 . An apparatus for storage and playback of audiovisual data, comprising: 
 a local storage device;    a central processing unit executing program logic; and    a first circuit, coupled to said local storage device and to said central processing unit, comprising means for accepting an encoded stream of audiovisual data, means for parsing said encoded stream of audiovisual data to generate event data indicating the start of video or audio components within said encoded stream of audiovisual data, means for writing said event data into an event buffer, means for transmitting said parsed encoded stream of audiovisual data to said local storage device, means for subsequently extracting said parsed encoded stream of audiovisual data from said local storage device, means for transmitting said extracted encoded stream of audiovisual data to a decoder, and means for notifying said program logic when said event data are written into said event buffer, wherein said event data contains the location of said video or audio components in said event buffer.    
     
     
         57 . The method according to claims  55  or  56 , wherein said local storage device is a hard drive.  
     
     
         58 . The method according to claims  55  or  56 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         59 . The method according to claims  55  or  56 , wherein said local storage device is a hard drive and said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         60 . The method according to claims  55  or  56 , further comprising the step of buffering said parsed encoded stream of audiovisual data into a memory.  
     
     
         61 . The method according to claims  55  or  56 , wherein said local storage device is a hard drive and said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream, and further comprising the step of buffering said parsed encoded stream of audiovisual data into a memory.  
     
     
         62 . The method according to  claim 58 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         63 . The method according to  claim 59 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         64 . The method according to  claim 61 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         65 . An apparatus for storage and playback of audiovisual data, comprising: 
 a local storage device; and    a first circuit, coupled to said local storage device, that parses an encoded stream of audiovisual data to generate event data, stores said event data in an event buffer, writes said encoded stream of audiovisual data to said local storage device, subsequently transmits said encoded stream of audiovisual data from said local storage device to an output buffer, and varies a flow of said encoded audiovisual data from said output buffer to an output device upon receipt of one or more control commands from a user.    
     
     
         66 . The apparatus according to  claim 65 , wherein said local storage device is a hard drive.  
     
     
         67 . The apparatus according to  claim 65 , wherein said first circuit includes a media switch.  
     
     
         68 . The apparatus according to  claim 66 , wherein said first circuit includes a media switch.  
     
     
         69 . The apparatus according to  claim 65 , wherein said first circuit includes a central processing unit.  
     
     
         70 . The apparatus according to  claim 66 , wherein said first circuit includes a central processing unit.  
     
     
         71 . The apparatus according to  claim 67 , wherein said first circuit includes a central processing unit.  
     
     
         72 . The apparatus according to  claim 68 , wherein said first circuit includes a central processing unit.  
     
     
         73 . The apparatus according to  claim 65 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         74 . The apparatus according to  claim 66 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         75 . The apparatus according to  claim 67 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         76 . The apparatus according to  claim 68 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         77 . The apparatus according to  claim 69 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         78 . The apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         79 . The apparatus according to  claim 71 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         80 . The apparatus according to  claim 72 , wherein said stream of audiovisual data is an MPEG stream.  
     
     
         81 . The apparatus according to  claim 73 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         82 . The apparatus according to  claim 74 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         83 . The apparatus according to  claim 75 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         84 . The apparatus according to  claim 76 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         85 . The apparatus according to  claim 77 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         86 . The apparatus according to  claim 78 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         87 . The apparatus according to  claim 79 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         88 . The apparatus according to  claim 80 , wherein said event data comprises data indicating the start of a video I-frame.  
     
     
         89 . The apparatus according to  claim 65 , wherein said control commands comprise any of: a reverse control command, a play control command, a fast forward control command, or a pause control command.