Audio and video signal recording and reproduction apparatus and method

Abstract

An audio and video recording and reproduction apparatus and method is described, which uses a movable storage memory such as a memory card, so that audio and video signals are easily accessed without separate editing devices. The apparatus uses a separable memory so that a deck is unnecessary, allowing small, lightweight constructions, and a compression algorithm results in longer playing time, while read/write operations robust to noise are achieved. Also, data desired by the user is easily accessible, and applications as a substitute for magnetic or disk media are also possible.

1. An audio and video signal recording and reproduction apparatus comprising:
 a data recording unit for recording audio and video signals;    a data reproduction unit for reproducing audio and video signals; and    a separable storage unit for storing data by said data recording unit and outputting stored data through said data reproduction unit;    
       wherein said data reproduction unit comprises:
 a keyed input unit for selecting a mode according to the function of a keyed input;  
 a microcomputer for encoding and decoding an input signal according to the output of said keyed input unit;  
 a filter unit for filtering audio signals output from said microcomputer; and  
 a data display for displaying data searched according to the output of said microcomputer.  
 
     
     
       2. An audio and video signal recording and reproduction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said data recording unit comprises:
 a data selector for selecting a mode and data according to the control of said microcomputer;    a system control for generating clock and control signals according to output of said data selector;    a data compressor for converting an input analog signal to a digital signal and compressing the resulting digital signal according to the control of said system control;    a memory control for generating memory control signals and addresses according to the control of said system control;    a memory for storing compressed data output by said data compressor according to the control of said memory control; and    an interface unit for performing data input/output operations between said memory and separable storage unit according to the control of said system control.    
     
     
       3. An audio and video signal recording and reproduction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said data reproduction unit additionally comprises:
 a video signal Digital/Analog converter for Digital/Analog converting video data output from said microcomputer; and    a display for displaying video data output from said video signal Digital/Analog converter.    
     
     
       4. An audio and video signal recording and reproduction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said filter unit comprises:
 a first low pass filter for filtering an audio left channel signal output from said microcomputer; and    a second low pass filter for filtering an audio right channel signal output from said microcomputer.    
     
     
       5. An audio and video signal recording and reproduction apparatus comprising:
 a data recording unit for recording audio and video signals;    a data reproduction unit for reproducing audio and video signals; and    a separable storage unit for storing data by said data recording unit and outputting stored data through said data reproduction unit;    
       wherein said separable storage unit comprises:
 a memory array for storing data;  
 an address generator for generating addresses for specifying regions of said memory array;  
 a data interface unit for performing input/output operations on data stored in said memory array; and  
 a control unit for controlling said address generator and data interface unit.  
 
     
     
       6. An audio and video signal recording and reproduction method comprising the steps of:
 reading a keyed signal when the keyed signal is input;    processing data when the input key signal is a record signal and storing the result in a separable storage unit;    reproducing and outputting data stored in said separable storage unit if the keyed input is determined as a reproduction signal; and    reading and displaying a content table of data stored in the separable storage unit if the keyed input is determined as a search signal;    
       wherein said processing step comprises the steps of:
 Analog/Digital converting input data;  
 encoding said Analog/Digital converted data; and  
 storing said encoded data in a separable storage unit.  
 
     
     
       7. An audio and video signal recording and reproduction method according to  claim 6 , wherein said encoding step comprises the steps of:
 encoding any audio data; and    encoding any video data.    
     
     
       8. An audio and video signal recording and reproduction method according to  claim 7 , wherein said step of encoding audio data comprises the steps of:
 subband-sampling said audio data;    quantizing and coding said subband-sampled data; and    packing said coded data.    
     
     
       9. An audio and video signal recording and reproduction method according to  claim 7 , wherein said step of encoding video data comprises the steps of:
 restructuring the frame of said video data;    detecting motion components of said restructured data;    motion estimating the data to form motion estimated data; and    transforming and coding said motion estimated data into data of specified frequencies.    
     
     
       10. An audio and video signal recording and reproduction method according to  claim 6 , wherein said data reproducing step comprises the steps of:
 memory accessing said stored data in a separable storage unit;    decoding said accessed data stored in a separable storage unit;    Digital/Analog converting said decoded data; and    outputting said Digital/Analog converted data.    
     
     
       11. An audio and video signal recording and reproduction method according to  claim 10 , wherein said decoding step comprises the steps of:
 decoding any audio data stored in a separable storage unit; and    decoding any video data stored in a separable storage unit.    
     
     
       12. An audio and video signal recording and reproduction method according to  claim 11 , wherein said step of decoding audio data comprises the steps of:
 unpacking any accessed compressed audio data stored in a separable storage unit;    restructuring said unpacked data to form restructured data; and    inverse-subband-sampling said restructured data.    
     
     
       13. An audio and video signal recording and reproduction method according to  claim 11 , wherein said step of decoding video data comprises the steps of:
 inverse-transforming and decoding said accessed compressed video data stored in a separable storage unit into a time domain data; and    storing and restructuring the frame of said decoded data.    
     
     
       14. A method for reproducing compressed digital data using a reproducing device, the method comprising the steps of:
   accessing, by the reproducing device, the compressed digital data from a detachable storage unit, wherein the compressed digital data is transferable from an external device directly to the detachable storage unit, and the external device when attached to the detachable storage unit, but detached from the reproducing device, cannot reproduce data from the detachable storage unit; and        decompressing the accessed compressed digital data.     
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein said accessing step includes:
   generating data select signals indicating which of the compressed digital data in the detachable storage unit to select;        generating control signals according to the data select signals; and        accessing certain digital data from the detachable storage unit based on the control signals.     
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein, in the generating step, the data select signals are generated based on user input. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , wherein, in the accessing step, said compressed digital data includes at least audio data. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein, in the accessing step, the detachable storage unit is a memory device other than a disk medium or a tape medium. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14 , wherein, in the accessing step, the external device is a recording device and transfers the compressed digital data stored therein to the detachable storage unit as long as the external device is attached to the reproducing device. 
     
     
       20. A method for recording an analog signal using a reproducing device, the method comprising the steps of:
   receiving the analog signal by the reproducing device; and        encoding and compressing the received analog signal into compressed digital data, and transferring the compressed data from the reproducing device directly to a detachable storage unit, so that an external device can access the compressed digital data from the detachable storage unit, wherein the external device when attached to the detachable storage unit, but detached from the reproducing device, cannot reproduce data from the detachable storage unit.     
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
   receiving, by the reproducing device, user input indicating a mode to record an analog signal, wherein the encoding, compressing and transferring steps are performed in response to the use input.     
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20 , wherein, in the transferring step, said compressed digital data includes at least audio data. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 20 , wherein, in the transferring step, the detachable storage unit is a memory device other than a disk medium or a tape medium. 
     
     
       24. A method for transferring compressed digital data from a recording device, the method comprising the steps of:
   providing the compressed digital data in the recording device; and        transferring the compressed digital data from the recording device directly to a detachable storage unit, so that an external device can access the compressed digital data from the detachable storage unit, wherein the recording device when attached to the detachable storage unit, but detached from the external device, cannot reproduce data from the detachable storage unit.     
     
     
       25. A method for transferring compressed digital data in a recording and reproducing system including a recording device and a reproducing device, the method comprising the steps of:
   receiving, by the recording device, a command for indicating a mode of the reproducing device; and        transferring the compressed digital data from a detachable storage unit directly to the reproducing device based on the indicated mode, wherein the recording device when attached to the detachable storage unit, but detached from the reproducing device, cannot reproduce data from the detachable storage unit.     
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
   providing the compressed digital data in the recording device;        receiving, by the recording device, a second command indicating a mode of the recording deice; and        prior to the transferring step, transferring the compressed digital data from the recording device to the detachable storage unit, so that the reproducing device can access the compressed digital data from the detachable storage unit.     
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 25 , wherein the transferring step includes:
   generating data select signals indicating which of the compressed digital data in the detachable storage unit to select;        generating control signals according to the data select signals; and        accessing certain digital data from the detachable storage unit based on the control signals.     
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27 , wherein, in the step of generating the data select signals, the data select signals are generated based on user input. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 25 , wherein, in the transferring step, the detachable storage unit is a memory device other than a disk medium or a tape medium. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 25 , wherein the transferring step is performed via wire- interface.   
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 25 , wherein the compressed digital data includes at least audio data. 
     
     
       32. A reproducing device for reproducing compressed digital data, the reproducing device comprising:
   a microcomputer accessing the compressed digital data from a detachable storage unit, wherein the compressed digital data is transferable from an external device directly to the detachable storage unit, and the external device when attached to the detachable storage unit, but detached from the reproducing device, cannot reproduce data from the detachable storage unit; and        a data processor decompressing the accessed compressed digital data.     
     
     
       33. The reproducing device of  claim 32 , wherein the microcomputer generates data select signals indicating which of the compressed digital data in the detachable storage unit to select, generates control signals according to the data select signals, and accesses certain digital data from the detachable storage unit based on the control signals. 
     
     
       34. The reproducing device of  claim 33 , wherein the microcomputer generates the data select signals based on user input. 
     
     
       35. The reproducing device of  claim 32 , wherein the detachable storage unit is a memory device other than a disk medium or a tape medium. 
     
     
       36. A reproducing device for recording an analog signal, the reproducing device comprising:
   a microcomputer receiving the analog signal input to the reproducing device; and        a data processor encoding and compressing the received analog signal into compressed digital data,        wherein the microcomputer transfers the compressed data from the reproducing device directly to a detachable storage unit, so that an external device can access the compressed digital data from the detachable storage unit, and        wherein the external device when attached to the detachable storage unit, but detached from the reproducing device, cannot reproduce data from the detachable storage unit.     
     
     
       37. The reproducing device of  claim 36 , further comprising:
   a user input unit receiving user input indicating a mode to record an analog signal, wherein the data processor encodes and compresses the analog signal in response to the use input.     
     
     
       38. The reproducing device of  claim 36 , wherein the detachable storage unit is a memory device other than a disk medium or a tape medium. 
     
     
       39. A recording device for transferring compressed digital data, the recording device comprising:
   an internal memory storing the compressed digital data in the recording device;        a controller controlling the internal memory and an interface unit; and        the interface transferring the compressed digital data from the recording device directly to a detachable storage unit, so that an external device can access the compressed digital data from the detachable storage unit, wherein the recording device when attached to the detachable storage unit, but detached from the external device, cannot reproduce data from the detachable storage unit.     
     
     
       40. A system for transferring compressed digital data, the system comprising:
   a reproducing device;        a detachable storage unit storing the compressed digital data therein; and        a recording device receiving a command for indicating a mode of reproducing device,        wherein the reproducing device accesses directly the compressed digital data from the detachable storage unit based on the indicated mode, and        wherein the recording device when attached to the detachable storage unit, but detached from the reproducing device, cannot reproduce data from the detachable storage unit.     
     
     
       41. The system of  claim 40 , wherein the recording device includes:
   an internal memory storing the compressed digital data therein;        a controller controlling the internal memory and an interface unit, and receiving a second command indicating a mode of the recording device; and        the interface unit transferring the compressed digital data from the recording device to the detachable storage unit, so that the reproducing device can access the compressed digital data from the detachable storage unit.     
     
     
       42. The system of  claim 41 , wherein the reproducing device includes:
   a microcomputer generating data select signals indicating which of the compressed digital data in the detachable storage unit to select, generating control signals according to the data select signals, and accessing certain digital data from the detachable storage unit based on the control signals.     
     
     
       43. The system of  claim 42 , wherein the microcomputer generates the data select signals based on user input. 
     
     
       44. The system of  claim 41 , wherein the interface unit is a wire- interface.   
     
     
       45. The system of  claim 40 , wherein the detachable storage unit is a memory device other than a disk medium or a tape medium.