System requirements and considerations for visual table of contents in PVR

With the introduction of non-tape-based digital video recorders also known as personal video recorders (PVR), consumers can expect alternative navigation methods to the well-known trick-play modes found on analog and digital tape-based systems. In this paper, we explore the system requirements and aspects of a visual table of contents (VTOC). A primary advantage of implementing a VTOC search mode is that it provides a much higher visual performance at high search speeds (50 times or higher) than the conventional search techniques. We present a solution for generating a video signal for visual search that is based on reusing MPEG-2 compressed video data. The video search signal is composed of a set of MPEG-2 compressed subpictures, resulting in a mosaic screen. An efficient strategy is introduced, that allows either full or partial reuse of the compressed sub-pictures via motion compensation of earlier reference sub-pictures to allow the generation of a new mosaic screen

System design of advanced video navigation reinforced with audible sound in personal video recording

This paper presents an advanced video navigation concept based on a picture in picture (PiP) allowing combined rendering of fragments of normal-play video and fast search video simultaneously. Loss of audio during conventional fast search trick-play is eliminated, by adding the sound of the normal play fragment. The normal-play fragments provide detailed information, whereas the fast-search signal presents a course overview. The audio associated to the normal-play fragments enhances the navigation process, allowing the viewer to concentrate on either the normal play or the fast search window. Efficient signal processing in the MPEG-2 domain permits re-use of the standard MPEG-2 decoding path for decoding the normal play audiovisual fragments. Applying a scalable MPEG-2 decoder for decoding the fast search signal enables a low-cost implementation for personal video recording (PVR)