Audio/video transceiver apparatus including compression means

Claim 2

An audio/video transceiver apparatus comprising: input means for receiving audio/visual source information; compression means, coupled to said input means, for compressing said audio/video source information into a time compressed representation thereof having an associated time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of said audio/video source information; random access storage means, coupled to said compression means, for storing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information; and output means, coupled to said random access storage means, for receiving the time compressed audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means for transmission away from said audio/video transceiver apparatus.

Claim 3

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising editing means, coupled to said random access storage means, for editing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means and for restoring the edited time compressed representation of said audio/video source information in said random access storage means; and wherein said output means is operative for receiving the edited time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means for transmission away from said audio/video transceiver apparatus.

Claim 4

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 2 further comprising monitor means for enabling the user to selectively identify the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means during editing.

Claim 5

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said output means comprises a fiber optic output port for coupling said audio/video transceiver apparatus to a fiber optic transmission line.

Claim 6

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said output means comprises a modem for coupling said audio/video transceiver apparatus to a telephone transmission line.

Claim 7

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said random access storage means comprises an optical disc.

Claim 8

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said random access storage means comprises a semiconductor memory.

Claim 9

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 1 wherein: said audio/video source information comprises analog audio/video source information; said audio/video transceiver apparatus further comprises analog to digital converter means for converting said analog audio/video source information to corresponding digital audio/video source information; said compression means is operative for compressing said corresponding digital audio/video source information into a digital time compressed representation thereof having an associated time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of said digital audio/video source information; and said random access storage means is operative for storing said digital time compressed representation of said corresponding digital audio/video source information.

Claim 10

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 1 wherein: said audio/video source information comprises digital audio/video source information; said compression means is operative for compressing said digital audio/video source information into a digital time compressed representation thereof having an associated time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of said digital audio/video source information; and said random access storage means is operative for storing said digital time compressed representation of said digital audio/video source information;

Claim 11

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said input means is coupled to an external television camera and said analog audio/video source information comprises information received from said external television camera.

Claim 12

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said input means is coupled to an external analog video tape recorder and said analog audio/video source information comprises information received from said external analog video tape recorder.

Claim 13

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said input means is coupled to an external television RF tuner and said analog audio/video source information comprises information received from said external television RF tuner.

Claim 14

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said input means comprises television RF tuner means coupled to an external television antenna and said analog audio/video source information comprises information transmitted by a remotely located television transmitter.

Claim 15

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said input means comprises television RF tuner means coupled to an external cable television system and said analog audio/video source information comprises information received from said external cable television system.

Claim 16

An audio/video transceiver apparats is in claim 9 wherein said input means is coupled to an external computer and said digital audio/video source information comprises computer-generated audio/video information.

Claim 17

An audio/video transevier apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said input means comprises a fiber optic input port coupled to a fiber optic transmission line and said digital audio/video source information comprises information received over said fiber optic transmission line.

Claim 18

An audio/video transceiver apparatus comprising: input means for receiving audio/video source information as a time compressed representation thereof, said time compressed representation of said audio/video source information being received over an associated burst time period that is shorter than a real time period associated with said audio/video source information; random access storage means, coupled to said input means, for storing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information received by said input means; and output means, coupled to said random access storage means, for receiving the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means for transmission away from said audio/video transceiver apparatus.

Claim 19

An audio/video transceiver apparatus comprising: input means for receiving audio/video source information as a time compressed representation thereof, said time compressed representation of said audio/video source information being received over an associated burst time period that is shorter than a real time period associated with said audio/video source information; random access storage means, coupled to said input means, for storing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information received by said input means; and output means, coupled to said random access storage means, for receiving the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means for transmission away from said audio/video transceiver apparatus.

Claim 20

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 17 wherein: said input means comprises a fiber optic input port; said input means is coupled, via a fiber optic transmission line, to a video library, said video library storing a multiplicity of items of audio/video source information in said time compressed representation for selective retrieval, in said associated burst time period over said fiber optic transmission line, by the user.

Claim 21

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 17 in combination with a video library, coupled via a communication link with said audio/video transceiver apparatus, said video library storing a multiplicity of items of audio/video source information in said time compressed representation for selective retrieval, in said associated burst time period over said communication link.

Claim 22

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising: decompression means, coupled to said random access storage means, for selectively decompressing said time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means; and editing means, coupled to said random access storage means and decompression means, for editing said selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information, and for storing said edited selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information in said random access storage means.

Claim 23

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising: decompression means, coupled to said random access storage means, for selectively decompressing said time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means; and editing means, coupled to said random access storage means an decompression means, for editing said selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information; wherein said compression means is operative for recompressing the edited selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information; and wherein said random access storage means is operative for storing the recompressed selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information.

Claim 24

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising: decompression means, coupled to said random access storage means, for selectively decompressing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means; and monitor means for enabling the user to view the selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information.

Claim 25

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 8 further comprising: decompression means, coupled to said random access storage means, for selectively decompressing the digital time compressed representation of said corresponding digital audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means; and editing means, coupled to said random access storage means and decompression means, for editing the decompressed digital time compressed representation of said corresponding digital audio/video source information and for then storing the edited decompressed digital time compressed representation of said corresponding digital audio/video source information in said random access storage means.

Claim 26

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 23 further comprising monitor means for enabling the user to selectively view the decompressed digital time compressed representation of said corresponding digital audio/video source information during editing.

Claim 27

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 8 further comprising: decompression means, coupled to said random access storage means, for selectively decompressing the digital time compressed representation of said corresponding digital audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means; and monitor means, coupled to said decompression means, for enabling the user to selectively view the decompressed digital time compressed representation of said corresponding digital audio/video source information.

Claim 28

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 9 further comprising: decompression means, coupled to said random access storage means, for selectively decompressing the digital time compressed representation of said digital audio/video source information stored in said random access memory means; and editing means, coupled to said random access storage means and decompression means, for editing the decompressed digital time compressed representation of said digital audio/video source information; said random access storage means thereafter being operative for storing the edited decompressed digital time compressed representation of said digital audio/video source information in said random access storage means.

Claim 29

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 26 further comprising monitor means for enabling the user to selectively view the decompressed digital time compressed representation of said digital audio/video source information during editing.

Claim 30

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 9 further comprising: decompression means, coupled to said random access storage means, for selectively decompressing the digital time compressed representation of said digital audio/video source information stored in said random access memory means; and monitor means, coupled to said decompression means, for enabling the user to selectively view the decompressed digital time compressed representation of said digital audio/video source information.

Claim 31

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 8 further comprising a video tape recorder for providing said analog audio/video source information.

Claim 32

An audio/video information transfer network comprising: a plurality of audio/video transceivers, coupled via one or more communication links, each of said audio/video transceivers comprising; input means for receiving audio/video source information; compression means, coupled to said input means, for compressing said audio/video source information into a time compressed representation thereof having an associated burst time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of said audio/video source information; random access storage means, coupled to said compression means, for storing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information; and output means, coupled to said random access storage means and to one of said one or more communications links, for receiving the time compressed format representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means for transmission in said burst time period to another one of said plurality of audio/video transceivers.

Claim 33

An audio/video information transfer network comprising: a plurality of audio/video transceivers, coupled via one or more communication links, each of said audio/video transceivers comprising; input means for receiving audio/video source information; compression means, coupled to said input means, for compressing said audio/video source information into a time compressed representation thereof having an associated burst time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of said audio/video source information; random access storage means, coupled to said compression means, for storing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information; and output means, coupled to said random access storage means and to one of said one or more communications links, for receiving the time compressed format representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means for transmission in said burst time period to another one of said plurality of audio/video transceivers.

Claim 34

An audio/video information transfer network as in claim 30 wherein said input means of one of said plurality of audio/video transceivers comprises a fiber optic input port, said output means of another one of said plurality of audio/video transceivers comprises a fiber optic output port, and one of said one or more communications links comprises a fiber optic transmission line coupled between said fiber optic input port and said fiber optic output port.

Claim 35

An audio/video information transfer network as in claim 30 wherein said output means of one of said plurality of audio/video transceivers comprises a modem and one of said one or more communications links comprises a telephone transmission line.

Claim 36

An audio/video information transfer network as in claim 30 wherein said random access storage means comprises an optical disc memory.

Claim 37

An audio/video information transfer network as in claim 30 wherein said random access storage means comprises a semiconductor memory.

Claim 38

An audio/video information transfer network as in claim 30 wherein said random access storage means of one of said plurality of audio/video transceivers stores a library comprising a multiplicity of items of audio/video source information in said time compressed representation for selective transmission in said associated burst time period to another on of said audio/video transceivers.

Claim 39

An audio/video information transfer network as in claim 30 wherein at least one of said audio/video transceivers further comprises recording means, including a removable recording medium, coupled to said random access storage means, for storing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means onto said removable recording medium.

Claim 40

An audio/video information transfer network as in claim 30 wherein at least one of said audio/video transceivers further comprises: decompression means, coupled to said random access storage means, for decompressing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means; and recording means, including a removable recording medium coupled to said decompression means, for storing the decompressed time compressed format representation of said audio/video source information onto said removable recording medium.

Claim 41

An audio/video information transfer network as in claim 36 wherein said recording means comprises a video tape recorder and said removable recording medium comprises magnetic tape.

Claim 42

An audio/video information transfer network as in claim 37 wherein said recording means comprises a video tape recorder and said removable recording medium comprises magnetic tape.

Claim 43

An audio/video information transfer network as in claim 36 wherein said recording means comprises a write once read many (WORM) optical disc drive and said removable recording medium comprises one or more WORM discs.

Claim 44

An audio/video information transfer network as in claim 37 wherein said recording means comprises a write once read many (WORM) optical disc drive and said removable recording medium comprises one or more WORM discs.

Claim 45

An audio/video information transfer network as in claim 36 wherein said recording means comprises an erasable optical disc drive and said hard copy storage medium comprises one or more erasable optical discs.

Claim 46

An audio/video information transfer network as in claim 37 wherein said recording means comprises an erasable optical disc drive and said hard copy storage medium comprises one or more erasable optical discs.

Claim 47

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising recording means, including a removable recording medium coupled to said random access storage means, for storing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means onto said removable recording medium.

Claim 48

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 2 further comprising recording means, including a removable recording medium, coupled to said random access storage means, for storing the edited time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means onto said removable recording medium.

Claim 49

An audio/video transceiver apparats as in claim 45 further comprising monitor means for enabling the user to selectively view the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored on said removable recording medium.

Claim 50

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 17 further comprising recording means, including a removable recording medium, coupled to said random access storage means, for storing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means onto said removable recording medium.

Claim 51

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 2 further comprising recording means, including a removable recording medium, coupled to said random access storage means, for storing the edited decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means.

Claim 52

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising: decompression means, coupled to said random access storage means, for selectively decompressing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means; and recording means, including a removable recording medium, coupled to said decompression means, for storing the selectively decompressed tome compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means.

Claim 53

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 22 further comprising: recording means, including a removable recording medium, coupled to said decompression means, for storing the selectively decompressed tome compressed representation of said audio/video source information on said hard copy storage medium; and wherein said monitor means is operative for enabling the user to view the selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored on said removable recording medium.

Claim 54

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 9 further comprising CD-ROM means for providing said digital audio/video source information.

Claim 55

An audio/video transceiver apparats as in claim 9 further comprising erasable optical disc means for providing said digital audio/video source information.

Claim 56

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 17 wherein: said input means comprises television RF tuner means; and said audio/video source information comprises a time compressed representation thereof transmitted by a remotely located television transmitter.

Claim 57

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising external video tape recorder means, coupled to said output means, for storing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means onto magnetic tape.

Claim 58

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 2 further comprising external video tape recorder means, coupled to said output means, for storing the edited time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means onto magnetic tape.

Claim 59

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 17 further comprising external video tape recorder means, coupled to said output means, for storing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means onto magnetic tape.

Claim 60

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 52 further comprising external video tape recorder means, coupled to said output means, for storing the edited decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means onto magnetic tape.

Claim 61

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising: decompression means, coupled to said random access storage means, for selectively decompressing the time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means; and external video tape recorder means, coupled to said output means, for storing the selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means.

Claim 62

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 22 further comprising external video tape recorder means, coupled to said output means, for storing the selectively decompressed time compressed representation of said audio/video source information onto magnetic tape.

Claim 63

An audio/video transceiver apparatus comprising: input means for receiving analog and/or digital audio/video source information; analog to digital converter means for converting analog audio/video source information received at said input means to corresponding digital audio/video source information; digital to analog converter means for converting digital audio/video source information received at said input means to corresponding analog audio/video information; compressor/decompressor means for compressing digital audio/video source information received at said input means or said corresponding digital audio/video source information received from said analog to digital converter means into a time compressed representation of said digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information, said time compressed representation having an associated time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of said digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information, said compressor/decompressor means being further operative for decompressing said time compressed representation into a decompressed real time representation of said digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information; central processing unit means for controlling operation of said compressor/decompressor means; random access storage means for storing said time compressed representation of said digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information and for storing said decompressed real time representation of said digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information; controller means for enabling communication between said compressor/decompressor means, said central processing unit means, and said random access memory means; and output means for receiving said time compressed representation of said digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means for transmission away from said audio/video transceiver apparatus.

Claim 64

An audio/video transceiver apparatus comprising: input means for receiving analog and/or digital audio/video source information; analog to digital converter means for converting analog audio/video source information received at said input means to corresponding digital audio/video source information; digital to analog converter means for converting digital audio/video source information received at said input means to corresponding analog audio/video information; compressor/decompressor means for compressing digital audio/video source information received at said input means or said corresponding digital audio/video source information received from said analog to digital converter means into a time compressed representation of said digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information, said time compressed representation having an associated time period that is shorter than a time period associated with a real time representation of said digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information, said compressor/decompressor means being further operative for decompressing said time compressed representation into a decompressed real time representation of said digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information; central processing unit means for controlling operation of said compressor/decompressor means; random access storage means for storing said time compressed representation of said digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information and for storing said decompressed real time representation of said digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information; controller means for enabling communication between said compressor/decompressor means, said central processing unit means, and said random access memory means; and output means for receiving said time compressed representation of said digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means for transmission away from said audio/video transceiver apparatus.

Claim 65

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 60 further comprising time bas generator means for supplying timing information for association with said time compressed representation of said digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information.

Claim 66

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 60 further comprising audio/video recording means, including a recording medium, for recording said analog or corresponding analog audio/video source information onto said recording medium.

Claim 67

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 60 further comprising audio/video recording means, including a recording medium, for recording said digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information onto said recording medium.

Claim 68

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 62 wherein said recording medium comprises magnetic tape.

Claim 69

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 63 wherein said recording medium comprises magnetic tape.

Claim 70

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 63 wherein said recording medium comprises a CD-ROM.

Claim 71

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 63 wherein said recording medium comprises a WORM optical disc.

Claim 72

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 63 wherein said recording medium comprises an erasable optical disc.

Claim 73

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 60 further comprising audio/video recording and playback means coupled to said input means for providing said analog and/or digital audio/video source information.

Claim 74

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 60 further comprising high speed bus means coupled to said input means, and wherein said input means comprises auxiliary digital input means for receiving said digital audio/video source information.

Claim 75

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 70 wherein said high speed bus means comprises an optical bus.

Claim 76

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 60 further comprising high speed bus means coupled to said input means, and wherein said input means comprises fiber optic input means for receiving said digital audio/video source information.

Claim 77

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 60 further comprising high speed bus means, and wherein said analog to digital converter means, digital to analog converter means, compressor/decompressor means, central processing unit means, and controller means are coupled to said random access storage means via said high speed bus means.

Claim 78

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 60 further comprising: digital control unit means, said digital control unit means comprising: additional central processing unit means; read-only memory means coupled to said additional central processing unit means for storing microinstructions defining a plurality of selected editing functions; and additional controller means for enabling communication between said additional central processing unit means and said read-only memory means; said additional central processing unit means being operative for selectively executing the microinstructions stored in said read-only memory means to perform one or more of said plurality of selected editing functions.

Claim 79

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 74 wherein said digital control unit means is coupled to said random access storage means.

Claim 80

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 73 further comprising RGB converter means for converting information stored in said random access storage means to an RGB format, and wherein said output means comprises RGB output means for receiving RGB format information from said RGB converter means.

Claim 81

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 73 wherein said output means comprises audio/video transmitter/receiver means coupled to said high speed bus for receiving said time compressed representation of said digital or corresponding digital audio/video source information stored in said random access storage means for transmission away from said audio/video transceiver apparatus.

Claim 82

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 77 wherein said audio/video transmitter/receiver means comprises a modem for coupling to a telephone transmission line.

Claim 83

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 77 wherein said audio/video transmitter/receiver means comprises a fiber optic transceiver for coupling to a fiber optic transmission line.

Claim 84

An audio/video transceiver apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising editing means, coupled to said random access storage means, for editing said time compressed representation of said audio/video source information and for then storing the edited time compressed representation of said audio/video source information in said random access storage means.