Abstract: The subject of the invention is a process for managing priorities of access of applications to resources of devices linked by a communication network. The process is characterized in that the said process comprises the steps: of allocating, to each application, a level of priority of access to the resources of the network, the said levels comprising at least the following levels: (a) a first access priority level for an application which is not under the direct control of a user, (b) a second access priority level for an application which can be commanded directly by a user, of authorizing preemption by a first application of access to a resource, which access was obtained previously by a second application, as a function of the respective access priorities of the first and second applications.

Abstract: An improved interactive network system is provided that allows the Network Operator to control the transfer of information to and from the network end users, the system preferably using triggers or markers embedded within the programming broadcast to users via the network. As a consequence of this system, the Network Operator is able to efficiently garner revenues from third parties transacting business over the network and to control the look and feel of programming offered to network users. Additionally the system can be used as a means of limiting network access, filtering programming, providing on-screen graphics or audible signals for particular programming types or providers, bookmarking programming, profiling network users, targeting advertising, and simplifying network transactions.

Abstract: The invention carries out a movement compensation of contouring defects. The movement compensation is carried out, for each subfield, by assigning, to each cell, the state which would correspond to a movement-compensating intermediate image located at the instant of said subfield. The method of the invention associates a single movement vector Vm with each cell Ci so as to constitute an intermediate image for each subfield.

Abstract: A system and method for processing program data are presented. Program data are received. A selection of a program is received. A request for recording of the selected program is also received. A determination is then made to see whether the selected program is already in progress, and if the selected program is already in progress, a choice is then provided to record a later occurrence of the selected program so that the entire selected program may be recorded.

Abstract: For stereoscopic displaying the new plasma display panels are providing promising results. When using shutter glasses that are controlled by the PDP, it is possible to display left and right image in short succession for stereoscopic displaying. However, there is the phosphor lag effect that is really disturbing and can totally impede the stereovision. The frame period of a stereoscopic picture is divided to at least one left period and at least one right period for the left picture and the right picture respectively. According to the invention both pictures are analyzed for similarities and the common part for a pair of corresponding pixels is determined. Sub-field code words for the left/right picture are determined having a part for the specific left/right sub-fields and a part for the common sub-fields. The common sub-fields are positioned at the end of each left/right field for the left/right picture so that the phosphor lag effect is no longer visible.

Abstract: Decoder system initialization involves scanning to associate a particular program guide with individual channels. A similar procedure is also performed upon introduction of a new channel. A system for acquiring program guide information conveyed on one of a plurality of broadcast channels involves scanning through received broadcast channels to identify program guides available on individual channels. A program guide of a selected program guide type (e.g. analog-VBI type, MPEG PSI type or ATSC PSIP type) is associated with a broadcast channel by updating a video decoder database. The program guide of the selected program guide type is acquired and used in capturing packetized program information comprising a program conveyed on an individual broadcast channel. In another feature, data received on an individual broadcast channel is examined to identify program guides of particular type in a predetermined order.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a device for time-managing the utilization of data detected in a data flow and constituting a data set. The device comprises a circuit (MP) for calculating a minimum duration of utilization of the detected data, which is proportional to the amount (L) of data contained in the data set. The invention applies more particularly to the case in which the detected data are digital data representing subtitles detected in a flow of data conveyed according to the MPEG 2 System transport standard. The utilization of the data then corresponds to the displaying of the subtitles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a channel entering method for a RF communication system, in particular an indoor network, comprising a plurality of subscriber stations), each of said subscriber stations having a transmitter and a receiver, whereby information can be exchanged between said subscriber stations using respective transmitters and receivers and a plurality of channels available for RF communication in said RF communication system.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for processing packetized signal having a plurality of channels carrying program information. The packetized signal also includes program guide information that includes channel identifier data. The program guide information comprises a sequence of data blocks including a segment map that includes information about the partitioning of the plurality of channels into segments and map block that includes information relating specific channels of the plurality of channels with respective channel identifier data.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for processing auxiliary data included in a video signal, in particular auxiliary data included in the vertical blanking interval of a television signal. The present invention recognizes that comb filtering of a television signal before processing the auxiliary data included in the television signal may cause corruption of the data. The present invention overcomes the problems associated with the data corruption by placing the takeoff point for the auxiliary data at a point in the signal path prior to the comb filtering. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention also provides for switching between one of a plurality of signal sources while ensuring that the signal provided to an auxiliary data processor corresponds to the displayed signal and minimizing the additional hardware and software required with regard to prior art arrangements.

Abstract: An MPEG decoder in a high definition television receiver decodes and decompresses MPEG coded data to produce decompressed image pixel blocks, and includes a motion compensation network coupled to a frame memory to produce finally decoded pixel data for display. The decompressed MPEG data is recompressed by plural parallel recompressors prior to storage in frame memory. Each recompressor receives a datastream of interleaved pixel data, and predicts and compresses interleaved pixel values during each clock cycle, respectively. One of the recompressors is de-energized in a reduced data processing mode when pixel data is subsampled prior to recompression. Subsampled data is re-ordered prior to recompression. Multiple parallel decompressors coupled to the frame memory provide pixel data to the motion processing network. A control unit insures an uninterrupted interleaved data flow to the decompressors by repeating last valid data when source data is interrupted.

Abstract: A device for sensing unauthorized use of an electronic security device has a host device and a detector with a loop antenna associated with the port that receives the electronic security device, such as a smart card. The host device comprises a housing having the port formed therein. In one embodiment, the port detector senses radiation emitted from unauthorized use of the electronic security device by attachment of hot-wire conductors to the security device, which conductors carry currents through the port and the detector. In an alternate embodiment, the dielectric constant of the electronic security device is measured and compared to a predetermined value for distinguishing a nominal device from one with attached hot wiring.

Abstract: Panel including a transparent front plate and a rear plate that leave between them discharge spaces, the walls of which are at least partly coated with a layer of a phosphor capable of emitting green, blue or red light; the green phosphor is formed from a mixture of two aluminates having a spinel structure, one A doped with manganese and the other B doped with cerium and with terbium; preferably, the blue phosphor is based on an aluminate of the same structure. The static charges of the various phosphors are homogenized and the risks of phosphor performance degradation during manufacture of the panel are limited.

Abstract: A color video display signal processor comprises a source of a color difference signal and an analog to digital converter for converting the color difference signal to a digital signal. A potential divider is coupled to reference voltages of the analog to digital converter for generating a clamp voltage. A clamp arrangement is coupled to the color difference signal and to the analog to digital converter and receives the clamp reference voltage. In response to a clamp pulse the clamp arrangement couples said clamp voltage to said color difference signal.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for performing a trick mode on a video signal containing a plurality of original pictures. The invention includes the steps of, in response to a trick mode command, selectively repeating (216) at least one of the original pictures to convert the video signal to a trick mode video signal having the original pictures and at least one repeated original picture and selectively displaying (218) at least a portion of the original picture and at least a portion of the repeated original pictures in accordance with a predetermined sequence to avoid a vibration artifact. Each original picture and each repeated original picture can contain at least two fields.

Abstract: A non-linear video edit system has first, second and third play modes which are selectable at time of playing a video for an edit. In the first play mode (EP TRIM), it plays a first cut scene (scene A) before an edit point and plays a second cut scene (scene B) after the edit point according to a play list. In the second play mode (PREV TRIM), it successively plays the first cut scene (scene A) before and after the edit point. In the third play mode (NEXT TRIM), it successively plays the second cut scene (scene B) before and after the edit point. These play modes allows to change the play speed in an arbitrary direction by a dial, and to switch the play mode with one touch of the corresponding three buttons with aligning current positions.

Abstract: An inventive method provides various reproduction modes by controlled selection of replay locations. Selection within a video stream or between separate video streams derived for selected trick-play speeds may be facilitated. The method allows selections to be decoded and displayed independently from a previously video stream selection.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for processing programs indicated by the associated program description to be audio-only programs, including the following. A respective program description for programs is received. Upon user selection of a program, a determination is made as to whether the selected program is an audio-only program. If the selected program is an audio-only program, then preprogrammed on-screen display information is displayed while the selected audio-only program is played to provide additional visual entertainment for users.

Abstract: A process for switching television programs is wherein it detects (8, 9) and then stores (10) the appended data of intra type of programs other than the selected program, selects (10) and decodes (12), upon a command (14) for the switching over to a new program, the stored appended data relating to this new program, and temporarily transmits (13), while awaiting the decoding and transmission of the current data of the new program, the decoded appended data. Applications relate for example to the perusing of programs.

Abstract: With the new plasma display panel technology new kinds of artifacts can occur in video pictures. These artifacts are commonly described as dynamic false contour effect, since they correspond to disturbances of grey levels and colors in the form of an apparition of colored edges in the picture when the observation point on the PDP screen moves. According to the invention such an artifact is compensated by analyzing the motion in the pictures assigning to each block of a picture a corresponding motion vector and performing a re-coding step in which a sub-field code word entry of a current pixel are calculated. For this purpose the motion vector is defined to point from a pixel in a previous picture to a pixel in the current picture. The sub-field code word entries for a current pixel (P8) are determined by dragging sub-field entries of the pixels lying on the motion vector trajectory.