Recording/reproducing apparatus and method featuring reduced size image data generation

A recording/reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing at least video data, comprising:

• read means for reading out the video data successively at a predetermined interval;
• reduced display control means for executing, on a predetermined screen, simultaneous time-series display of reduced images obtained by dimensionally reducing the images which correspond to a predetermined number of video data read out by said read means;
• and
• alteration means for gradually altering, in a forward reproduction mode, each reduced image to the time-serially posterior reduced image, or gradually altering, in a reverse reproduction mode, each reduced image to the time-serially anterior reduced image.

A recording/reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing at least video data, comprising:

• designation means for selectively designating a reproduction speed;
• first read means for successively reading out the video data at a predetermined read interval;
• decision means for deciding, in accordance with the reproduction speed designated by said designation means, the interval at which said first read means reads out the video data;
• second read means for reading out incidental data indicative of the kind of the video data;
• and
• change means for changing the video-data reading interval of said first read means on the basis of the incidental data read out by said second read means and the reading interval corresponding to the reproduction speed decided by said decision means.

A recording/reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing video data of a plurality of channels in or from a recording medium, comprising:

• read means for reading out, at a predetermined interval, the video data recorded in a recording medium;
• reduction means for dimensionally reducing images corresponding to the video data read out by said read means;
• display control means for displaying the reduced images, which are obtained from said reduction means, on a plurality of small screens set on a predetermined screen;
• and
• storage means prepared equally in number to such small screens so as to store the video data corresponding to the reduced images to be displayed respectively on said small screens;
• wherein, when the video data corresponding to the next reduced images to be displayed on the relevant small screens are stored in said storage means, said display control means displays the reduced images, which correspond to the video data stored in said storage means and are to be displayed next, on the relevant small screens respectively.

A recording/reproducing method for recording and/or reproducing at least video data, comprising the steps of:

• reading out the video data;
• designating a data reproduction speed selectively;
• and
• controlling the video data reading interval in accordance with the designated reproduction speed.

A recording/reproducing method for recording and/or reproducing at least video data, comprising the steps of:

• reading out the video data successively at a predetermined interval;
• executing, on a predetermined screen, simultaneous time-series display of reduced images obtained by dimensionally reducing the images which correspond to a predetermined number of video data read out by said read means;
• and
• gradually altering, in a forward reproduction mode, each reduced image to the time-serially posterior reduced image, or gradually altering, in a reverse reproduction mode, each reduced image to the time-serially anterior reduced image.

A recording/reproducing method for recording and/or reproducing at least video data, comprising the steps of:

• designating a reproduction speed selectively;
• reading out the video data successively at a predetermined read interval;
• deciding the video data reading interval in accordance with the designated reproduction speed;
• reading out incidental data indicative of the kind of the video data;
• and
• changing the video data reading interval on the basis of the incidental data thus read out and the reading interval corresponding to the decided reproduction speed.

A recording/reproducing method for recording and/or reproducing video data of a plurality of channels in or from a recording medium, comprising the steps of:

• reading out, at a predetermined interval, the video data recorded in the recording medium;
• dimensionally reducing the images corresponding to the video data thus read out;
• displaying the reduced images on a plurality of small screens set on a predetermined screen;
• storing the video data corresponding to the reduced images to be displayed respectively on the relevant small screens;
• and
• when the video data corresponding to the next reduced images to be displayed on the relevant small screens are stored, displaying the reduced images, which correspond to the stored video data to be displayed next, on the relevant small screens respectively.