Method of and apparatus for editing annotation command data

A method of editing an annotation command data recorded on a medium, said annotation command data being in the form of an original data block including a first initial state for a to-be-annotated image and a first series of annotation commands and a starting time point of execution for each of the first commands, said first initial state being representative of a state of the to-be-annotated image at a first initial state recording time when recording of the first initial state is started and including an annotation on the to-be-annotated image existing at the first initial state recording time when the first initial state recording is started, said first commands being for annotating said to-be-annotated image having the annotation existing at the first initial state recording time, the method comprising the steps of:

• reproducing, on a display screen, said initial state of said to-be-annotated image having said annotation;
• executing a former part of said first series of commands at their associated starting points of execution to annotate said to-be-annotated image, and reproducing, on said display screen, a sequence of changes of a displayed image caused by the execution of said former part of the first series of commands;
• preparing, from said original data block, a former data block including a former initial state identical with said first initial state and a former series of commands identical with said executed former part of said first series of commands and a former starting time point of execution for each of said former series of commands identical with the starting time point of execution for each of said executed former part of said first series of commands;
• preparing an insertion data block including a second initial state and a second series of annotation commands and a second starting time point of execution for each of said second series of commands, said second initial state being identical with a state in which said former part of said first series of commands have been executed;
• executing said second series of commands at their associated starting points of execution of said insertion data block to annotate the displayed image in said second initial state and reproducing, on said display screen, a sequence of changes of the displayed image caused by the execution of said second series of commands;
• preparing, from said original data block, a latter data block including a latter initial state and a latter series of commands identical with the remaining part of said first series of commands and a latter starting time point of execution for each of said latter series of commands;
• and
• placing said former data block, said insertion block and said latter data block on said medium, said former data block, said insertion block and said latter data block being associated in their location with each other to form a data block unit in which said insertion data block is inserted between said former and latter data blocks prepared from said original data block, said latter time point of execution being adjusted in consideration of the insertion of said insertion data block, wherein the annotation command data includes such a command that the result of execution of said command is dependent upon another command that has an earlier starting time point of execution than said command.

A method of editing an annotation command data recorded on a medium, said annotation command data being in the form of an original data block including a first initial state for a to-be-annotated image and a first series of annotation commands and a starting time point of execution for each of the first commands, said first initial state being representative of a state to the to-be-annotated image at a first initial state recording time when recording of the first initial state is started and including an annotation on the to-be-annotated image existing at the first initial state recording time when the first initial state recording is started, said first commands being for annotating said to-be-annotated image, the method comprising the steps of:

• reproducing, on a display screen, said initial state of said to-be-annotated image having said annotation;
• executing a former part of said first series of commands at their associated starting points of execution to annotate said to-be-annotated image and reproducing, on said display screen, a sequence of changes of a displayed image caused by the execution of said former part of the first series of commands;
• preparing, from said original data block, a former data block including a former initial state identical with said first initial state and a former series of commands identical with said executed former part of said first series of commands and a former starting time point of execution for each of said former series of commands identical with the starting time point of execution for each of said executed former part of said first series of commands;
• preparing, from said original data block, a temporary data block including a temporary initial state identical with a state in which said former part of said first series of commands have been executed and a temporary series of commands identical with the remaining part of said first series of commands and a temporary starting time point of execution for each of said temporary series of commands;
• executing a former part of said temporary series of commands at said temporary starting time point of execution to annotate the displayed image in said temporary initial state and reproducing, on said display screen, a sequence of changes of the displayed image caused by the execution of said former part of the temporary series of commands;
• preparing, from said original data block, an intermediate data block including an intermediate initial state identical with a state in which said former part of said temporary series of commands have been executed and an intermediate series of commands identical with said executed former part of said temporary series of commands and an intermediate starting time point of execution for each of said intermediate series of commands identical with the starting time point of execution for each of said executed former part of said temporary series of commands;
• preparing, from said original data block, a latter data block including a latter initial state identical with a state in which said former part of said temporary series of commands have been executed and a latter series of commands identical with the remaining part of said temporary series of commands and a latter starting time point of execution for each of said latter series of commands;
• and
• placing said former data block and said latter data block on said medium, said former data block and said latter data block being associated in their location with each other to form a data block unit in which said intermediate data block has been deleted, said latter time point of execution being adjusted in consideration of the deletion of said intermediate data block, wherein the annotation command data includes such a command that the result of execution of said command is dependent upon another command that has an earlier starting time point of execution than said command.