Apparatus and method for processing audio and/or video data
View Patent ↗An apparatus and a method are provided for processing audio and/or video data comprising a module for displaying an element comprising at least one absolute time or at least one time indicator, wherein a sector or portion associated with the element indicates a duration or a length of the audio and/or video data, wherein time marks are displayed that are set automatically or by user interaction.
1. An apparatus for processing audio and/or video data, the apparatus operatively adapted for causing display of an element comprising at least one absolute time or at least one time indicator, wherein:
a sector associated with the element indicates a duration or a length of the audio and/or video data;
a total free space indicator of the element indicates total free space left on a storage medium;
the total free space indicator has a shape of a portion of a circle or a portion of a ring;
time marks are displayed that are set automatically or by user interaction;
said time marks are at least partially associated with picture and/or audio information;
the picture and/or audio information is at least temporarily displayed as thumbnails within a thumbnail bar;
the element has a shape of a portion of an analogue clock; and
sub-sectors of the sector present details of the audio and/or video data.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the picture and/or audio information is at least temporarily displayed.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
said thumbnail bar provides a sequence of scene snapshot information or any other bookmark related visual and/or audio information.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , said apparatus adapted to utilize thumbnail highlighting, wherein:
at least one thumbnail is correlated to a particular time mark within the audio and/or video data.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the apparatus is operably adapted for allowing a user to adjust a time base at which time marks are automatically set.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
a time mark is set upon detection of a scene change.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein:
the element has a disc-like representation.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the element displayed comprises a timebar.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the element has a 2- or 3-dimensional shape.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the element displayed shows an analogue clock.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the sector or the portion is arranged inside the element.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the sector or the portion indicates a length or a duration of a recording session and/or a length or a duration of stored program material.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the apparatus comprises at least one storage medium for storing the audio and/or video data.
14. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the apparatus is operatively adapted for causing display of at least one pointer that points to a position within the sector.
15. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
at least one time indicator is displayed, said time indicator in particular providing visual time information in a numerical format in conjunction with at least one line pointer.
16. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
at least one iconic state indicator is adapted to display trick play mode information comprising each of the following:
playback,
record,
pause,
slow/fast play,
fast forward speed,
slow reverse,
fast reverse speed.
17. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
a cache sector and/or a cache portion is displayed representing a recorded time interval of a program.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein:
the sub-sectors of the sector present details of the cache sector contents and attribute information of the audio and/or video data are provided by a zoom functionality, whereby a portion of the analogue clock is exploded.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein:
the zoom functionality is provided on request of a user.
20. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein:
the program recorded is stored to a logically assigned cache buffer that is preferably distinguishable from further cache sectors due to attribute information.
21. The apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein:
said attribute information comprises at least one of the following:
age rating level;
program channel;
source information;
other EPG information;
user defined information;
automatically generated bookmark information.
22. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the apparatus is operatively adapted for causing display of recording and play back relevant device resources.
23. The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein:
the apparatus is operatively adapted for providing information on available free storage resources.
24. The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein:
the apparatus is operatively adapted for providing an absolute rest of free storage medium or the free storage medium in proportion to the complete storage medium size.
25. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the apparatus is operatively adapted for providing interfaces and functionality of a Set Top Box connected to a TV to provide access to program material via satellite, cable network or IP network.
26. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the apparatus is operatively adapted for providing interfaces and functionality of a TV set providing access to program material via satellite, cable network or IP network.
27. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the apparatus is operatively adapted for causing display of a second sector associated with the element, said second sector indicating a duration of simultaneous audio and/or video data, and said element adapted to render more than one sector simultaneously over an interval of time.
28. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the apparatus is operatively adapted for causing display of:
a second sector associated with the element, said second sector indicating a duration of simultaneous audio and/or video data, said element adapted to render more than one sector simultaneously over an interval of time; and
at least one pointer that points to a position within the sector and also points to a position within the second sector.
29. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the apparatus is operatively adapted for causing display of:
a second sector associated with the element, said second sector indicating a duration of simultaneous audio and/or video data, said element adapted to render more than one sector simultaneously over an interval of time;
a first pointer that points to a position within the sector; and
a second pointer that points to a position within the second sector.
30. A method for processing audio and/or video data comprising:
displaying an element comprising at least one absolute time or at least one time indicator, wherein:
a sector or a portion of said element is associated with a duration or a length of the audio and/or video data;
a total free space indicator of the element indicates total free space left on a storage medium;
the total free space indicator has a shape of a portion of a circle or a portion of a ring;
time marks are displayed that are set automatically or by user interaction;
said time marks are at least partially associated with picture and/or audio Information;
the picture and/or audio information is at least temporarily displayed as thumbnails within a thumbnail bar;
the element displayed has a shape of at least a portion of an analogue clock; and
sub-sectors of the sector present details of the audio and/or video data.
31. The method according to claim 30 , wherein:
said audio and/or video data is analyzed and upon detection of a scene change a time mark is automatically set.