Method and apparatus for processing time code

A method for processing a time code such that time code data that accompanies picture information of a first system having a frame frequency a is mapped onto picture information of a second system having a frame frequency b when converting picture information of the first system into that of the second system, wherein the picture information of frame frequency a is obtained by changing the reproducing speed of the picture information by n % compared to its recording, a method for mapping the time code when converting picture information comprising the steps of:

• converting time code data accompanying the picture information of said first system into a total frame number x;
• calculating a total frame number y of the converted time code data from said total frame number x, the step of calculating the total frame number being executed to define a relationship between the total frame number x of the time code data added to each frame of the picture information of said frame frequency a and the total frame number y of the converted time code data added to each frame of the picture information of said frame frequency b as per the following expression:
• y/b=x/(a/(1+n/100))
• wherein;
• 0.ltoreq..times..ltoreq.((24*60*60*a)-1)*(1+n/100);
• and
• 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.((24*60*60*b)-1);
• and
• generating the converted time code from the total frame number y.