Capture, editing and encoding of motion pictures encoded with repeating fields or frames

1. A computer-implemented method for processing data, the method comprising:

receiving an image sequence captured at a first image rate by an image capture device and encoded by a media encoder as an encoded image sequence having a second image rate with information in the encoded image sequence indicative of images that are repeated when decoded; and

creating image index information of the encoded image sequence, wherein the image index information includes at least one of a known amount of data for one or more images in the encoded image sequence and offset information, wherein the image index information is used to map a temporal position of an image in a decoded image sequence to a position of corresponding data in the encoded image sequence, wherein the temporal positions used with the image index information correspond to the first image rate.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first image rate is 23.976 images per second and the second image rate is 29.97 images per second.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first image rate is 24 images per second and the second image rate is 30 images per second.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first image rate is 24 images per second and the second image rate is 60 images per second.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first image rate is 23.976 images per second and the second image rate is 59.94 images per second.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the image sequence is encoded using intraframe compression.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the image sequence is encoded using both interframe and intraframe compression.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the temporal positions of images in the image sequence are in a different order than the positions of corresponding data in the encoded image sequence.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising clearing all information in the encoded image sequence indicative of images that are repeated when decoded.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the information in the encoded image sequence indicative of images that are repeated when decoded includes a repeat field flag associated with each image that is repeated when decoded.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the encoded image sequence is encoded according to the MPEG-2 standard.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the encoded image sequence is encoded according to the H.264 standard.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the first image rate is 23.976 images per second and the second image rate is 29.97 images per second.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the first image rate is 24 images per second and the second image rate is 29.97 images per second.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the first image rate is 24 images per second and the second image rate is 59.94 images per second.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the first image rate is 23.976 images per second and the second image rate is 59.94 images per second.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the image sequence is encoded using intraframe compression.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the image sequence is encoded using both interframe and intraframe compression.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the temporal positions of images in the image sequence are in a different order than the positions of corresponding data in the encoded image sequence.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein creating the image index information comprises:

receiving an original image index of the encoded image sequence that maps a temporal position of an image in a decoded image sequence to a position of corresponding data in the encoded image sequence, wherein the temporal positions used in the image index correspond to the second image rate; and

converting the original image index into a new image index of the encoded image sequence, wherein the image index information includes at least one of a known amount of data for one or more images in the encoded image sequence and offset information, wherein the image index information maps a temporal position of an image in a decoded image sequence to a position of corresponding data in the encoded image sequence, wherein the temporal positions used in the new image index correspond to the first image rate.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the data includes audio data associated with the encoded image sequence, the method further comprising:

separating the encoded image sequence and the audio data from the data into separate data files.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21 , wherein the audio data and the encoded image sequence are multiplexed together in the data and wherein the step of separating includes demultiplexing the audio data from the encoded image sequence.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the encoded image sequence is received and the method is performed during live recording of the data.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the method is performed by circuitry in the housing of a portable video camera.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the encoded image sequence is recorded and the method is performed after recording of the data.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein creating the image index information comprises:

receiving an original image index of the encoded image sequence that maps a temporal position of an image in a decoded image sequence to a position of corresponding data in the encoded image sequence, wherein the temporal positions used in the image index correspond to the second image rate; and

converting the original image index into a new image index of the encoded image sequence that maps a temporal position of an image in a decoded image sequence to a position of corresponding data in the encoded image sequence, wherein the temporal positions used in the new image index correspond to the first image rate.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the data includes audio data associated with the encoded image sequence, the method further comprising:

separating the encoded image sequence and the audio data from the data into separate data files.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 27 , wherein the audio data and the encoded image sequence are multiplexed together in the data and wherein the step of separating includes demultiplexing the audio data from the encoded image sequence.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the encoded image sequence is received and the method is performed during live recording of the data.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 29 , wherein the method is performed by circuitry in the housing of a portable video camera.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the encoded image sequence is recorded and the method is performed after recording of the data.

32. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

permitting an editor to create a sequence of segments of encoded image sequences at a temporal resolution corresponding to the first image rate; and

during playback of the encoded image sequence, decoding the encoded image sequence, using the image index information, to produce a decoded image sequence at the first image rate by not repeating images.

33. The method of claim 32 , wherein the temporal positions used with the image index information correspond to the first image rate.

34. The method of claim 33 , further comprising, prior to decoding, clearing the information in the encoded image sequences indicative of images that are repeated when decoded.

35. The method of claim 34 , further comprising creating the image index information.

36. The method of claim 32 , wherein decoding includes ignoring the information in the encoded image sequences indicative of images that are repeated when decoded.

37. The method of claim 32 , wherein the temporal positions used with the image index information correspond to the second image rate.

38. The method of claim 37 , wherein decoding includes ignoring the information in the encoded image sequences indicative of images are repeated when decoded.

39. The method of claim 37 , further comprising, prior to decoding, clearing the information in the encoded image sequences indicative of images that are repeated when decoded.

40. The method of claim 32 , wherein the encoded data includes audio data associated with the encoded image sequence, the method further comprising:

separating the encoded image sequence and the audio data from the encoded data into separate data files.

41. The method of claim 40 , wherein the audio data and the encoded image sequences are multiplexed together in the encoded data and wherein separating includes demultiplexing the audio data from the encoded image sequence.

42. The method of claim 32 , wherein the information in the encoded image sequences indicative of images that are repeated when decoded includes a repeat field flag associated with encoded data for each image that is to be repeated when decoded.

43. The method of claim 42 , wherein the encoded image sequence is encoded according to the MPEG-2 standard.

44. The method of claim 32 , wherein the encoded image sequence is encoded according to the H.264 standard.

45. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the image index information for the encoded image sequence;

permitting an editor to create a sequence of segments of encoded image sequences at a temporal resolution corresponding to the first image rate; and

decoding the encoded image sequence, during playback of the encoded image sequence, using the image index information, to produce a decoded image sequence at the first image rate by not repeating images.

46. An apparatus for processing data, the apparatus comprising:

an input for receiving an image sequence captured at a first image rate and encoded as an encoded image sequence having a second image rate with information in the encoded image sequence indicative of images that are repeated when decoded; and

a processor programmed to create image index information for the encoded image sequence, wherein the image index information includes at least one of a known amount of data for one or more images in the encoded image sequence and offset information, wherein the image index information is used to map a temporal position of an image in a decoded image sequence to a position of corresponding data in the encoded image sequence, wherein the temporal positions used with the image index information correspond to the first image rate.

47. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

computer program instructions stored on the computer readable medium that, when processed by a computer, instruct the computer to perform a method for processing data, the method comprising:

receiving an image sequence captured at a first image rate and encoded as an encoded image sequence having a second image rate with information in the encoded image sequence indicative of images that are repeated when decoded; and

creating image index information for the encoded image sequence, wherein the image index information includes at least one of a known amount of data for one or more images in the encoded image sequence and offset information, wherein the image index information that is used to map a temporal position of an image in a decoded image sequence to a position of corresponding data

in the encoded image sequence, wherein the temporal positions used with the image index information correspond to the first image rate.

48. A computer system for processing data, the computer system comprising:

an input for receiving an image sequence captured at a first image rate and encoded as an encoded image sequence having a second image rate with information in the encoded image sequence indicative of images that are repeated when decoded; and

a processor programmed to create image index information for the encoded image sequence, wherein the image index information includes at least one of a known amount of data for one or more images in the encoded image sequence and offset information, wherein the image index information is used to map a temporal position of an image in a decoded image sequence to a position of corresponding data in the encoded image sequence, wherein the temporal positions used with the image index information correspond to the first image rate.

49. A computer-implemented method for processing data, the method comprising:

receiving an image sequence captured by an image capture device and encoded at a first image rate by a media encoder as an image sequence having a second image rate with information in the encoded image sequence indicative of images that are repeated when decoded;

clearing all information in the encoded image sequence indicative of images that are repeated when decoded;

receiving image index information for the encoded image sequence that is used to map a temporal position of an image in a decoded image sequence to a position of corresponding data in the encoded image sequence wherein the temporal positions used with the image index information correspond to the first image rate;

permitting an editor to create a sequence of segments of encoded image sequences at a temporal resolution corresponding to the first image rate; and

decoding the encoded image sequence, during playback of the encoded image sequence, using the image index information, to produce a decoded image sequence at a second image rate different from the first image rate by repeating fields according to a cadence based on the difference between the first image rate and the second image rate.