US 2003/0194221 A1 · Player and disc system for producing video signals in different formats

Abstract

A system for playing a selected one of multiple audio tracks recorded in synchronized fashion with a motion picture on an optical disk. The optical disk has encoded on it a mixing master music and effects (“M&E”) track, or a switching master M&E track. Individual audio tracks are provided for language-specific versions of the same motion picture, but these tracks have data recorded in them only where there is dialog. In this way, for many a motion picture, all tracks but masters will have data recorded for well less than half of the running time of the motion picture. When a mixing master is used, it is mixed with a language-specific track when the latter has dialog; the mixing master contains no dialog. If a switching master is used, it may contain dialog recorded with the M&E; when a language-specific track has dialog recorded in it, it also contains M&E and the track is played to the exclusion of the switching master.

Claims80

Dependent claims

A system for controlling play of the audio tracks of a software carrier, said software carrier having recorded thereon

(i) an image program,
(ii) a plurality of audio tracks synchronized with said image program, and
(iii) a code for each of said audio tracks identifying its use as either a switching master, a mixing master, a track to be switched with a switching master, or a track to be mixed with a mixing master,
comprising:
(a) means for playing said software carrier and deriving therefrom said audio track codes, an image signal, and audio track signals,
(b) means for processing said audio track codes to determine how said audio track signals should be mixed or switched, and
(c) control means for mixing or switching said audio track signals in accordance with said audio track codes to derive an audio signal synchronized with said image signal.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Player and disc system for producing video signals in different formats

Life of this patent

Player and disc system for producing video signals in different formats

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims80