Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for recording coded digital audio-visual data. On recording coded digital audio-visual data a problem occurred that predictions about the remaining available recording time on a mass storage medium being used were not possible because the applied coding causes the data rate of the digital audio-visual data to vary considerably. According to the invention, the problem may be avoided, by determining mean data rates for program sections which enables a prediction of the amount of data storage capacity to be expected for each program section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for the time-synchronised relaying of signals, whereby various signals from at least one signal source are relayed over various signal paths to at least one signal receiver, with time markers overlaid on the various signals. The delays occurring in the various signal paths are determined, a minimum total delay is calculated from the determined delays and information as to the minimal total delay is inserted in the various signals in the form of time-markers. A time-synchronous relaying of the signals is guaranteed in each signal path by means of an individual signal delay, the delay value of which corresponds to the difference between the minimal total delay and the delay caused by signal processing imposed on the signal in each signal path.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for controlling and/or exchanging data for multimedia appliances and an appliance suitable therefor According to prior art, methods and systems for controlling and exchanging data for multimedial appliances have the disadvantage that said methods, systems and appliances are very simple with regard to the requirements and the possibilities at hand and involve considerable hardware requirements. The invention is based upon the fact that each appliance which is integrated into the system sends a message at regular intervals and by means of the bus as soon as said appliance has been activated The type of the appliance can be detected by means of said message which also reveals that the appliance is switched on, i.e. active. All the remaining active appliances in the system evaluate said messages and send such messages themselves as long as said appliances are active.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for noise reduction in a pulse-width controlled image display device. A monitoring of whether the brightness of several sequential image points is brighter than a given brightness threshold value occurs. If not the case, the delayed but otherwise unchanged input signal is supplied to the display. If, on the other hand, the brightness of several sequential image points is less than the given threshold brightness value, a mean value generation for the brightness values of several sequential image points occurs and said mean value is supplied to the display.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for selecting a sound algorithm for processing an audio signal. The audio signal is analyzed and the type of audio signal is ascertained based on the analysis. The audio signal is classified as a music signal or another signal, and different sound algorithms are used for the further processing and subsequent output of the audio signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a receiving station for satellite television signals. The inventive system comprises an external unit, satellite receivers and television units for receiving both satellite signals and VHF/UHF signals under control of a common channel selection unit and a control module assigned to each television receiver. The control module is provided for generating control signals for the satellite receiver, so that satellite image signals can be received when selecting certain channels that would otherwise be available for VHF and UHF reception.

Abstract: A multichannel full-duplex audio signal transmission system, comprising an adaptive filter (2) provided for multichannel acoustic echo cancellation. A channel combining device (5) is provided between the preprocessing units (V1, . . . VD) and loudspeakers (L1, . . . ,LD), in which several (C>D) loudspeakers can be connected to one and the same preprocessing unit and by means of which the remaining D-C preprocessing units can be separated from the loudspeakers (L1, . . , LD). The channel combining device permits an optimization of the convergence ratio of the adaptive adjustment of filter coefficients in said adaptive filter (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to a reading device for types of different-sized cards. The aim of the invention is to be able to use the types of cards in a selective manner. At least two identical trays (4,5) comprising readers (11,12) are provided for both types of cards. An adapter (20) having outer dimensions corresponding to the largest-size type of card is used to introduce a smaller-size card.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transmitting time-critical data packets in digital wireless transmission systems. Time-critical data packets are used e.g., in the transmission of MPEG-coded signals, since information about the temporal positions of the data packets in relation to each other must be known in the MPEG decoder. The aim of the invention is to enable data packets of this type to be transmitted via a propagation time-constrained transmission link. To this end, time information relating to the temporal position of a particular data packet is tagged onto said data packet at the sender end. This time information is then used at the receiver end to re-establish the original temporal positions of the individual data packets in relation to each other.