WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
`International Bureau
`
`PCT
`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`(51) International Patent Classification 5 : (cid:9)
`HO4N 5/781, HO4H 1/02, 7/00
`
`(11) International Publication Number: (cid:9)
`
`WO 92/22983
`
`A2
`
`(43) International Publication Date: (cid:9)
`
`23 December 1992 (23.12.92)
`
`(21) International Application Number: (cid:9)
`
`PCT/US92/04573
`
`(22) International Filing Date: (cid:9)
`
`9 June 1992 (09.06.92)
`
`(30) Priority data:
`713,142 (cid:9)
`
`11 June 1991 (11.06.91) (cid:9)
`
`US
`
`(81) Designated States: AT (European patent), BE (European
`patent), CA, CH (European patent), DE (European pa-
`tent), DK (European patent), ES (European patent), FR
`(European patent), GB (European patent), GR (Euro-
`pean patent), IT (European patent), JP, KR, LU (Euro-
`pean patent), MC (European patent), NL (European pa-
`tent), SE (European patent).
`
`(71X72) Applicants and Inventors: BROWNE, H., Lee [US/US];
`Two Soundview Drive, Greenwich, CT 06830 (US).
`YURI, Paul [US/US]; 446 W 47th St., Apt. 5D, New
`York City, NY 10036-2337 (US).
`
`(74) Agents: TURNER, John, B. et al.; Finnegan, Henderson,
`Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, 1300 I Street, N.W., Wash-
`ington, DC 20005-3315 (US).
`
`Published
`Without international search report and to be republished
`upon receipt of that report.
`
`(54) Tide: LARGE CAPACITY, RANDOM ACCESS, MULTI-SOURCE RECORDER PLAYER
`
`(-103
`(-102 (cid:9)
`RD CON (cid:9)
`COM-
`VERTERS PRESSORS
`
`14.
`
`(-113
`DEMOD-
`INPUTS ULATORS
`10.141
`p-1134
`101141N,
`1"113b1—.-
`1014>
`
`...Hr., (cid:9)
`
`
`
`MIXER &
`(-106 EFFECTS
`7-111
`DECOM- XPOINT
`OUTPUTS
`-109 PRESSORS (cid:9)
`407 rum
`CONVERT MODULATORS
`__.>111/2 .4111a ma,
`100...-118a
`
`rile (cid:9)
`
`109b. (cid:9)
`
`Aug
`
`101_9E.
``7Z.ZI
`
`109d. -7_
`
`Dim
`
`ftIC (cid:9)
`
`111b 112b,
`
`4111c 1120,
`1I2dr
`112e,
`1121,
`(cid:9) 4111d 112g.
`112h
`
`NEURAL NETWORK 114
`ANALYSIS CIRCUIT
`
`CONTROLLER
`INTERFACE
`
`
`(cid:9)105
`
`OPTIONAL
`STORAGE (cid:9)
`
`1D4b
`
`10th
`
`
`
`102
`
`(57) Abstract
`
`An audio/video recorder system receives a plurality of transmission signals each containing program information and si-
`multaneously stores the received transmission signals. The system can be controlled by user input to allow for automatic record-
`ing of selected programs simultaneously input from multiple sources, reconfiguration of stored programs, and routing of stored
`programs to selected outputs.
`
`Charter Ex. 1007, Page 1
`
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`

`

`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
`Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the fiont pages of pamphlets publishing international
`applications under the PCT.
`
`AT
`AU
`BB
`BE
`BF
`BC
`I3d
`BR
`CA
`CF
`CG
`CH
`CI
`CM
`CS
`DE
`UK
`ES
`
`Austria
`Australia
`Barbados
`Belgium
`Burkina Faso
`Bulgaria
`Benin
`Brazil
`'anada
`Central African Republic
`Congo
`Switzerland
`Cote divuire
`Cameroon
`Czechoslovakia
`Germany
`Denmark
`Spain
`
`Fl
`FR
`GA
`GB
`GN
`CR
`HU
`IE
`IT
`JP
`KP
`
`KR
`LI
`LK
`LEI
`MC
`MC
`
`Finland
`France
`Gabon
`Wiled Kingdom
`Guinea
`Greece
`Hungary
`Ireland
`Italy
`Japan
`Democratic People's Republic
`of Korea
`Republic of Korea
`Liechtenstein
`Sri Lanka
`Luxembourg
`Monaco
`Madagascar
`
`ML.
`MN
`MR
`MW
`NI.
`NO
`PL
`RO
`RU
`SD
`SE
`SN
`SU
`TD
`TG
`US
`
`Mali
`Mongolia
`Mauritania
`Malawi
`Netherlands
`Norway
`Poland
`Rumania
`Russian Federation
`Sudan
`Sweden
`Senegal
`Soviet Union
`Chad
`Togo
`United States of America
`
`Charter Ex. 1007, Page 2
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`

`

`WO 92/22983 (cid:9)
`
`PC17US92/04573
`
`1
`
`LARGE CAPACITY, RANDOM ACCESS,
`MULTI-SOURCE RECORDER PLAYER
`Background of the Present Invention
`The present invention relates generally to a large
`capacity, random access, multi-source audio and video re-
`corder player which is capable of receiving a plurality of
`simultaneous input signals and which allows a user to view
`and/or to record selected ones of the plurality of input
`signals.
`Currently, television viewers for the most part have
`little flexibility with regard to when broadcast program-
`ming may be viewed. The broadcaster's schedule is the
`user's schedule. The video cassette recorder (VCR) is the
`only device which allows a user to control the recording of
`programs and the time of viewing programs, by replaying
`recorded programs. The VCR allows the user to pre-set re-
`cording for a specific program by selecting the specific
`date, time, and channel that the program is broadcast.
`Such features allow the user to record without being
`present and to replay the recorded material at another
`time.
`However, current VCRs have limited storage capacity
`and only single source capability and therefore do not pro-
`vide the user with a great degree of flexibility and con-
`trol over program recording. Moreover, conventional VCRs
`require constant attention for selection and recording of
`each program. Furthermore, a conventional VCR can only
`record one program at a time, while a typical household
`can receive many programs from multiple sources simulta-
`neously.
`
`Charter Ex. 1007, Page 3
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`It is therefore an object of the present invention to
`provide large capacity multiple source recording with ran-
`dom access, thus affording the user greater flexibility and
`control over the recording and replaying of programs.
`It is a further object of the present invention to
`provide a large capacity recorder player which allows con-
`tinuous recording of a program with automatic erasure, such
`that the material recorded first is automatically erased
`first when the multi-source recorder player storage reaches
`capacity. This feature greatly reduces the need for con-
`stant user attention and provides multiple viewing options.
`Another object of the present invention is to allow
`the user to record from multiple channels individually,
`serially, or simultaneously.
`Another object of the present invention is to allow
`the user to view programs while simultaneously recording
`one or more other programs.
`Yet another object of the present invention is to pro-
`vide a multi-source recorder player whereby the user can
`modify stored programs.
`Another object of the present invention is to allow
`the user to record from multiple channels and from multiple
`distribution sources simultaneously.
`Still another object of the present invention is to
`allow the recorder to adapt to the viewing habits of the
`user by analyzing selected criteria.
`A further object of the present invention is to record
`material continuously to allow random retention of chosen
`program segments.
`Yet another object of the present invention is to per-
`mit the user to mix multiple stored programs into a compos-
`ite form.
`
`Charter Ex. 1007, Page 4
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`PCT/US92/04573
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`3
`
`Additional objects and advantages of the invention
`will be set forth in the description which follows, and in
`part will be obvious from the description, or may be
`learned by practice of the invention. The objects and ad-
`vantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by
`means of the instrumentalities and combinations particu-
`larly pointed out in the appended claims.
`
`Summary of the Invention
`To achieve the objects in accordance with the purposes
`of the present invention, as embodied and described herein,
`the audio/video recorder system of the present invention
`comprises input port means for receiving a plurality of
`transmission signals each containing program information,
`and storage means, coupled to the input port means, for
`simultaneously storing the plurality of received transmis-
`sion signals.
`The present invention further comprises an audio/video
`recorder system comprising input port means for receiving a
`plurality of transmission signals each containing program
`information; storage processing means, coupled to the input
`port means, for storing the program information in the plu-
`rality of received transmission signals; and playback
`means, coupled to the storage means, for retrieving and
`playing desired program information from the stored re-
`ceived transmission signals, for playing program informa-
`tion simultaneously with the storing of program information
`by the storage processing means, and for playing different
`program information simultaneously.
`The present invention further comprises an audio/video
`recording device for simultaneously storing information
`from a plurality of sources, the recorder comprising input
`
`Charter Ex. 1007, Page 5
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`WO 92/22983 (cid:9)
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`PCT/US92/04573
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`- 4
`
`port means for receiving a plurality of transmission sig-
`nals, and storage means, coupled to the input port means,
`for simultaneously storing the received transmission sig-
`nals.
`The present invention additionally comprises an audio/
`video routing device comprising input port means for re-
`ceiving a plurality of transmission signals; demodulator
`and a/d conversion means, coupled to the input port means,
`for transforming the received transmission signals into
`digital signals each corresponding to a different one of
`the received transmission signals; and routing means for
`controlling the forwarding of the digital signals.
`Brief Description of the Drawings
`The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in
`and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate the
`presently preferred apparatus and method of the invention
`and, together with the general description given above and
`the detailed description of the preferred embodiment given
`below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
`In the drawings:
`Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of
`the multi-source recorder player of the present invention;
`Fig. 2 is a diagram of the main menu control screen of
`the user control section of the multi-source recorder
`player;
`Fig. 3 is a diagram of the setup page screen option
`selected from the main menu control screen;
`Figs. 4A-4C are diagrams illustrating the calendar
`screen option selected from the main menu control screen;
`Figs. 5A-5E are diagrams illustrating the program se-
`lection option screen selected from the main menu control
`screen;
`
`Charter Ex. 1007, Page 6
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`- 5
`
`Fig. 6 is a diagram of the stored program list option
`screen selected from the main menu control screen;
`Fig. 7 is a diagram of the routing controller option
`selected from the main menu control screen;
`Fig. 8 is a diagram of the special effects screen op-
`tion selected from the main menu control screen;
`Fig. 9 is a diagram of the mix control screen selected
`from the special effects screen;
`Fig. 10 is a diagram of the wipe control screen se-
`lected from the special effects screen;
`Fig. 11 is a diagram of the database access option se-
`lected from the main menu control screen;
`Fig. 12 is a block diagram of a preferred voice con-
`trol system of the present invention;
`Fig. 13 is a flowchart of a preferred method of re-
`cording of the present invention; and
`Fig. 14 is a drawing of the remote control panel of
`the present invention.
`Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
`Reference will now be made in detail to the construc-
`tion and operation of preferred embodiments of the present
`invention which are illustrated in the accompanying draw-
`ings. In those drawings, like elements and operations are
`designated with the same reference characters.
`In the following description, the preferred embodi-
`ments described are examples of the present invention. The
`present invention, however, is not limited to these ex-
`amples, but may be realized in other embodiments.
`Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of
`the multi-source recorder player 100 of the present inven-
`tion. With the multi-source recorder player 100, a plural-
`ity of programs, consisting of audio and/or video signals,
`may be received simultaneously from a plurality of sources.
`
`Charter Ex. 1007, Page 7
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`WO 92/22983 (cid:9)
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`PCT/US92/04573
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`6
`
`The multi-source recorder player 100 preferably has mul-
`tiple input connections, each of which may receive an input
`signal 101a-101f from air and ground based broadcast
`sources, cable feeds, or digital distribution sources.
`Further, the multi-source recorder player 100 can prefer-
`ably receive and process compressed digital signals 101g
`and 101h. Receiving compressed signals expands the signal
`handling and storage capacity of the multi-source recorder
`player 100. Once signals are input, the multi-source re-
`corder player 100 can simultaneously record, process,
`route, and display the plurality of input video and/or au-
`dio signals.
`The multi-source recorder player 100 preferably in-
`cludes enough storage such that twenty or more hours of
`video with audio programming may be stored in a storage
`section 104. If audio only or video only programming is
`being retained, the storage times will increase correspond-
`ingly. The storage of audio and video only programming
`will utilize less storage than combined video and audio
`programming. The number of hours of recording which may be
`recorded, however, is not critical to this invention. To
`output the recorded programs, the multi-source recorder
`player 100 preferably includes a plurality of output con-
`nections including multiple rf, and digital and analog
`video and audio for outputting output signals 112a-112h to
`receiving devices, such as televisions and video recorders.
`Additionally, some of the output signals 112a-112h may in-
`clude control signals for recording and viewing control of
`external devices. These devices will be controlled by con-
`troller 105 via the corresponding output connection. Setup
`for the control output is achieved from the output setup
`section 302 of the setup page control screen 300.
`
`Charter Ex. 1007, Page 8
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`WO 92/22983 (cid:9)
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`PCT/US92/04573
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`7
`
`The multi-source recorder player 100 also preferably
`includes routing and compositing abilities affording a user
`control over the form and the destinations of the input
`signals 101a-101h. The multi-source recorder player 100
`may optionally include signal analysis circuitry, prefer-
`ably in the form of a neural network analysis circuit 114,
`for assisting the viewer in storing and retrieving desired
`programs and portions of desired programs.
`Users of the multi-source recorder player 100 option-
`ally have selectively filtered programming because a plu-
`rality of programs are received simultaneously, buffered in
`a temporary program FIFO buffer 104c, and scanned and se-
`lectively stored by the neural network analysis circuit
`114. The system preferably filters the incoming program-
`ming by scanning the input programs on bus 109, overwriting
`undesired programs, and retaining only desired programs.
`Such a feature is particularly useful in this era of in-
`creased channel capacity from cable, satellite, and digital
`distribution channels.
`Additionally, a portion of the storage section 104 of
`the multi-source recorder player 100 can be cycled. Memory
`is cycled when the multi-source recorder player 100 is set
`to operate a FIFO buffer for auto recording storage alloca-
`tion 104c in the storage section 104. The auto recording
`storage allocation FIFO buffer 104c temporarily caches pro-
`grams from a selection of channels on a FIFO basis and
`preferably retains certain of those programs as selected by
`the user, or as selected by the user's viewing patterns
`recognized by neural network analysis circuit 114. After
`user or neural network selection, the program is retained
`by being added to the stored program list 600. In this way
`data is retained by multi-source recorder-player into stor-
`age section 104. The memory is cycled because the FIFO
`
`Charter Ex. 1007, Page 9
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`WO 92/22983 (cid:9)
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`- 8
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`buffer 104c causes only selected desired programming to be
`stored in storage section 104 and listed in the stored pro-
`gram list 600. Preferably, all unchosen programs are over-
`written by the next auto recording storage allocation FIFO
`pass.
`Programs are not actually moved from the FIFO buffer
`104c to storage section 104 but rather the reference to
`them is added to the stored program list 600. The user or
`neural network decision determines the program starting
`point. When the first program buffered in the storage sec-
`tion 104 has been either stored or discarded, the next pro-
`gram becomes the first program. Additionally, programs may
`be erased from storage section 104 and new programs added
`from the FIFO buffer 104c.
`With auto-recording storage allocation enabled , the
`selection of a program for storage listing and retention
`can be performed some time after the programs or portions
`of the programs are received. For example, a user can se-
`lect a program for storage listing and retention after
`viewing the program, or the choice can be made while the
`program is being viewed. Alternatively, selection can be
`made automatically by the neural network analysis circuit
`114.
`The multi-source recorder player 100 can also prefer-
`ably access databases of compressed and non-compressed au-
`dio and video data. The multi-source recorder player 100
`can access databases through one or more of the input
`ports. For example, controller 105 can operate a com-
`munication session with a remote computer via signal path
`101g of the multi-source recorder player 100. The remote
`computer can be connected via an ISDN network connection,
`for example. The selected remote program data can be input
`to the multi-source recorder player 100 and stored in the
`
`Charter Ex. 1007, Page 10
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`WO 92/22983 (cid:9)
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`PCT/US92/04573
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`9
`
`storage section 104. This transfer process can preferably
`occur concurrently with other activities in the multi-
`source recorder player 100.
`In a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
`the multi-source recorder player 100 preferably includes
`input demodulator section 113. In the preferred embodi-
`ment, input demodulator section 113 includes a plurality of
`input demodulators 113a-113g. The number of input demodu-
`lators 113a-113g corresponds directly to the number of
`modulated input signals 101a-101g which are received by the
`multi-source recorder player 100 and which may be simulta-
`neously demodulated. The number of input demodulators
`113a-113g may vary but there should be at least two. The
`input demodulators 113a-113g are preferably chosen to re-
`ceive signals from one or more of the following: a VHF an-
`tenna input, an FM antenna input, an AM antenna input, a
`cable television input, a Direct Broadcast Satellite input,
`a digital signal input, and an audio and video direct in-
`put.
`The input demodulators 113a-113g demodulate signals
`from the following sources: VHF TV broadcasting, UHF TV
`broadcasting, FM radio broadcasting, AM radio broadcasting,
`cable television, satellite broadcasting, ISDN or other
`digital distribution sources and a VCR or audio recorder.
`Moreover, of the plurality of input demodulators 113a-113g,
`more than one may preferably receive the same type of sig-
`nal. Thus, for example, a plurality of cable television
`input signals may be received simultaneously by the multi-
`source recorder player 100.
`Each of the plurality of input demodulators 113a-113g
`respectively receives an input signal 101a-101g comprising
`audio and/or video information. The signals are received
`
`Charter Ex. 1007, Page 11
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`WO 92/22983 (cid:9)
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`PCT/US92/04573
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`- 10 -
`
`via an input connector located on the rear of the multi-
`source recorder player 100. Input signals 101a-101g are
`demodulated separately by each of the plurality of demodu-
`lators 113a-113g. After demodulation by input demodulators
`113a-113g, the audio and video signals are separately con-
`verted to digital signals by analog to digital (a/d) con-
`version section 102. Conversion section 102 preferably
`comprises a plurality of a/d converters 102a-102f. In the
`preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1, input signals 101a-
`101f are analog signals. Therefore, there is one a/d con-
`verter 102a-102f for each simultaneously viewable and re-
`cordable analog input signal 101a-101f.
`Once the signals are a/d converted, they are passed to
`digital compression section 103 for data reduction. Digi-
`tal compression section 103 preferably includes a plurality
`of compressors 103a-103f. There is one compressor
`103a-103f for each non-compressed input signal 101a-101f
`which may be input to the multi-source recorder player 100.
`Compression may be performed simultaneously in each of the
`compressors 103a-103f. The data quantities in the con-
`verted signals are preferably reduced by a factor of ap-
`proximately 200 for video signals, and a by factor of ap-
`proximately 8 for audio signals. Compression performed by
`compressors 103a-103f increases the storage capacity and
`the signal handling capacity of the multi-source recorder
`player 100. By routing and storing signals in their com-
`pressed form, the multi-source recorder player 100 can
`store and distribute large quantities of programming simul-
`taneously.
`Once compressed in compression section 103, the data
`is preferably input to storage section 104 via bus 109.
`The storage section 104 preferably employs high speed,
`
`Charter Ex. 1007, Page 12
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`WO 92/22983 (cid:9)
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`large capacity random access devices which may include op-
`tical and magnetic disks, RAM memory, and very high density
`floppy disks. The storage section 104 may also be config-
`ured to include a primary storage section 104a, and an op-
`tional storage section 104b, which may be connected to the
`multi-source recorder player 100 via a high speed digital
`connection using interface 105a. The optional storage sec-
`tion 104b may include removable media for long term storage
`of compressed data. With optional storage section 104b,
`users have control over the total amount of "on-line" stor-
`age capacity of the multi-source recorder player 100.
`Alternatively, certain input signals, such as signals
`101g and 101h, may be pre-compressed. For example, the
`multi-source recorder player 100 may receive digital ISDN
`data as input signal 101g, which is digitally modulated and
`distributed in a compressed format. The input signal 101g
`is passed directly to the demodulator section 113 and by-
`passes the converter section 102 and compression section
`103. Multi-source recorder player 100 may also receive
`demodulated compressed data as input signal 101h, which is
`passed directly to storage section 104.
`It is desirable to permit direct storage of pre-
`compressed data because compressed program distribution is
`becoming more common. Compression is especially desired
`when distributing high information content signals such as
`high definition television (HDTV) signals and improved
`definition television (IDTV).
`Once an input signal reaches bus 109, certain prede-
`termined criteria of the input signal may be assessed, if
`this option is chosen. Analysis is controlled by the user
`and will be discussed in greater detail below with respect
`to the user control section, shown and described with re-
`spect to Figs. 2-il. Such analysis is preferably performed
`
`Charter Ex. 1007, Page 13
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`WO 92/22983 (cid:9)
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`
`The neural
`by a neural network analysis circuit 114. (cid:9)
`network analysis circuit 114 is connected by the bus 109
`and the controller 105. The controller 105 selects which
`of the input signals 101a-101h are input to the neural net-
`work analysis circuit 114. With this configuration the
`neural network analysis circuit 114 may scan one or more of
`the input signals 101a-101h.
`The neural network analysis circuit 114 is designed to
`"learn" the user's preferences for programs by analyzing
`the user's viewing patterns. Neural network analysis cir-
`cuit 114 operates recognition processing operations on the
`compressed data output from compressors 103a-103f and is
`configured to recognize program segments of interest to
`users of the multi-source recorder player 100. To do so, a
`user, by viewing program segments, automatically "teaches"
`the neural network analysis circuit 114 program elements
`which are of interest to that user.
`Additionally, a user may manually assist the neural
`network "learning" by selecting the "interesting" button
`1411 or "uninteresting" button 1412 on the remote control
`panel 1400, shown in Fig. 14. The "interesting" button 1411
`and "uninteresting" button 1412 aid the neural network
`analysis circuit 114 in quickly learning the viewing inter-
`ests of a user. If the neural network analysis circuit 114
`finds programing with patterns of interest to the user, the
`programing will be stored in storage section 104 for future
`playback. Thus, with the neural network analysis circuit
`114, the user can maximize the storage capacity of storage
`section 104 by teaching the multi-source recorder player
`100 which programs are of interest and which are not of
`interest so that only programs of interest are automati-
`cally retained for future viewing and scanning.
`
`Charter Ex. 1007, Page 14
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`
`Further, with automated recording, described below
`with respect to the user control section in Figs. 2-11, the
`neural network analysis circuit 114 can use the learned
`criteria to scan any number of channels and to retain any
`program which meets the learned criteria. This capability,
`combined with continuous FIFO buffering of incoming pro-
`graming in FIFO buffer 104c, allows for retention of pro-
`grams analyzed to be of interest after analysis is per-
`formed. The analysis preformed by the neural network
`analysis circuit is optional.
`Program viewing typically involves retrieving a pro-
`gram stored in the storage section 104 and/or viewing an
`incoming program from sources 101a-101h. The user of the
`multi-source recorder player 100 communicates with control-
`ler 105 in order to control the multi-source recorder
`player 100 and to retrieve data, stored as programs, in
`storage section 104.
`Controller 105 is a microprocessor which preferably
`runs a user control program and allows a user to access and
`control the multi-source recorder player 100. The user
`control section, which is described in greater detail with
`respect to Figs. 2-11, preferably acts similarly to,the
`graphical interface provided by the Windows product sold by
`Microsoft, Inc. Selections are made via a remote control
`with a cursor positioning device such as a mouse or
`trackball.
`The controller 105 generates a virtual control screen
`which may be placed on any screen to control of any one or
`more playback or recording processes. If a user wishes to
`view programs on several monitors simultaneously, the con-
`troller 105 can either operate multiple virtual control
`screens, one or more for each output monitor, or for each
`program window. Alternatively, the user may control all
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`screens from one controller, portions of which may be
`dragged between screens, such as in an Apple Macintosh com-
`puter with multiple screens. The user control program
`preferably includes a stored program list, shown in Fig. 6.
`The stored program list contains a index of programs stored
`in storage section 104, and held in the memory of the con-
`troller 105. The controller 105 can thereby address a de-
`sired program and output it to decompression section 106.
`Decompression section 106 preferably comprises a plu-
`rality of decompressors 106a-106d wherein one of the
`decompressors 106a-106d decompresses a selected stored pro-
`gram. Storage section 104 can output a plurality of pro-
`grams stored therein simultaneously, each to a respective
`one of decompressors 106a-106d. The number of
`decompressors corresponds to the number of simultaneously
`viewable programs. With four decompressors 106a-106d, it
`is possible to view four simultaneous programs at one or
`more of the outputs 112a-112h.
`The decompressed data from decompressors 106a-106d is
`input to the digital crosspoint 107. The digital cross-
`point 107 comprises a high speed data bus with decoding
`logic allowing any source to be connected to any destina-
`tion. The digital crosspoint 107 routes the decompressed
`digital data to the mixing and effects processing section
`108.
`Mixing and effects processing section 108 preferably
`contains high speed video and audio processors which per-
`form digital signal processing. Fig. 1 shows three sepa-
`rate processors 108a-108c corresponding to three possible
`separate output signals simultaneously available. Proces-
`sors 108a-108c may preferably operate on one or more sig-
`nals. The mixing and effects processing section 108 allows
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`a plurality of input signals to be added, subtracted, dis-
`solved, faded, zoomed, windowed, panned, tilted, and swept,
`for example. The mixing and effects processing performed
`in the mixing and effects processing section 108 is con-
`trolled by the user and will be discussed in greater detail
`below with respect to the user control section.
`After data is processed in the mixing and effects pro-
`cessing section 108, the data is output to d/a converter
`section 110. The d/a converter section 110 preferably com-
`prises d/a converters 110a-110c. The d/a converters 110a-
`110c preferably include audio and video converters and
`buffering amplifiers which follow the converters and are
`used for driving the modulators.
`After d/a converting, the data is sent to modulation
`section 111. The modulation section 111 preferably in-
`cludes modulators 111a-11d. Although Fig. 1 shows four
`modulators, there is preferably one modulator for each
`modulated output signal.
`After modulation in the modulation section 111, sig-
`nals may be output to various receivers. The multi-source
`recorder player 100 preferably has a plurality of outputs,
`shown as 112a-112h in Fig. 1. With multiple outputs 112a-
`112h, different users can be playing the same program from
`the multi-source recorder player 100 at different receiv-
`ers. Multiple outputs also make it possible to off-load
`one program to a VCR, while other programs stored in stor-
`age section 104 are being scanned.
`Each of outputs 112a-112h preferably includes a sepa-
`rate audio and video output. In Fig. 1, the multi-source
`recorder player 100 may have eight video and eight stereo
`audio outputs. In the preferred embodiment of the inven-
`tion shown in Fig. 1, outputs 112a-112h preferably include
`analog baseband modulated and rf modulated outputs. Output
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`112a is a rf modulated version of the same signal available
`at output 112d as a baseband signal, and baseband outputs
`112b and 112c correspond to rf modulated outputs 112e and
`112f, respectively, as shown in Fig. 1. There are two
`digital outputs 112g and 112h. Output 112g may be used for
`sending decompressed digital data, for example, to a digi-
`tal television receiver. Output 112h may be used to output
`modulated or non-modulated compressed program data, for
`example, to a remote location via common carrier channels,
`such as the telephone or ISDN networks, or to any receiver
`with decompression circuitry. The three primary outputs
`include external device control connectors and signals,
`thus allowing controller 105 to control external devices
`such as VCRs.
`Of the three analog outputs, output 112a may be set by
`default in the setup page 300, shown in Fig. 3, to receive
`the control screens which are described below with respect
`to the user control section shown in Figs. 2-11. Control
`screens are used to set the desired functions of the multi-
`source recorder player 100. The remaining analog outputs,
`output 112b and output 112c, may be set in the setup page
`300 to receive programs from storage section 104 without
`overlapping control screens. Output 112a may preferably be
`sent to a primary monitor device, and outputs 112b and 112c
`are preferably connected to one or more audio/video record-
`ers or secondary monitors. The control screen output may
`be changed by the user to output 112b or 112c.
`Each video output from outputs 112a-112h is capable of
`outputting multiple programs simultaneously. In order to
`output multiple programs simultaneously, the user selects
`the format of the output. The output format is controlled
`by controller 105 and is performed in the mixing and ef-
`fects processing section 108. (cid:9)
`For example, a plurality
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`Charter Ex. 1007, Page 18
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