This paper describes a solution to the problems of implementing trick
play on a compressed digital VTR. Because of loss of data in the fast
forward/fast reverse playback, it is difficult to decode a useful imag
e from the data recovered, and image quality is poor. Our proposal res
erves an area on the tape which will be traversed during trick playbac
k; we record a subset of the bitstream which is specifically adapted t
o trick play in this track. Thus good quality trick play is achieved w
ithout impact on normal playback and without decoding and recording th
e compressed bitstream.