Abstract: A stereoscopic display apparatus discriminates image signals for the left and right eyes by comparing the received image signals, and displays an image without adding special signals for discriminating the left and right eyes. A mechanical connection between an image pickup and an image display is not needed to properly distinguish left and right eye images.

Abstract: A video signal decoding apparatus according to the present invention includes a decoding unit for applying a variable length and run-length decoding to a compressed video signal to reconstruct blocks of quantized coefficients. An inverse quantizer is provided for inverse quantizing blocks of reconstructed quantized coefficients. An inverse DCT transforms the inverse quantized blocks of reconstructed quantized coefficients to produce a decoded block. An edge block detector determines whether decoded blocks are classified as an edge block. An adaptive edge enhancement filter removes the distortion in the decoded blocks when the edge block detector classifies decoded blocks as edge blocks. Thus, the video signal is decoded from the encoded video signal.

Abstract: A decoding method minimizes the use of incorrect program specific information (PSI) parameters across program boundaries and provides default video and audio outputs for reproduction during error conditions. Program representative packetized datastreams incorporating PSI suitable for use in recovering data content of the program are decoded. PSI packets in the datastream are identified and a parameter within the identified PSI data is used to determine whether the identified PSI data is to be used for decoding the program content, irrespective of previous PSI content. Current PSI is updated with the identified PSI data in response to the parameter. Program content packets are identified using the current PSI. The program content packets are assembled into a decoded datastream using the current PSI. The current PSI may also updated with the identified PSI data irrespective of the content of the identified PSI data, provided that there is an absence of a PSI content error indication.

Abstract: A decoder and decoding method is disclosed for real time decompression of coded picture-, video- and film information. The decoder provides an efficient implementation of the functions requiring an optimized processor comprising one multiplier having a minimized chip area. The process of decoding, frame reconstruction, block to raster conversion and color space conversion are combined using concurrent processing and resource sharing techniques. The processes IQ, IDCT, FR and optional CSC use one specialized processor comprising only one multiplier and further elements having no multiplier. The processor comprises process controls which are independent of each other for controlling the decompression.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for down-converting a digital video signal includes a synthesizer and a converter. The synthesizer receives a digital video signal including at least first and second DCT blocks of DCT coefficients, and synthesizes the first and second DCT blocks into a single synthesized DCT block having dimensions equal to the first and second DCT blocks. The converter converts the synthesized DCT block from the DCT domain to the spatial domain to produce an output digital video signal.

Abstract: Near on-demand delivery of digital signals is accomplished by first dividing the signals into sequences of N numbered fragments, where the length of each fragment is equal to the broadcast time interval. The fragments are broadcast so that the first fragment is repeated every broadcast time interval, the second fragment is repeated every two time intervals, and so forth until the Nth fragment is repeated at least every Nth time interval. A fractal channel packing algorithm is preferably used to sequence the fragments over a plurality of channels to reduce the variability in peak bandwidth caused by fragmentation. The fragments are locally downloaded and stored during successive time intervals in response to a subscriber's request so that the first fragment is available within one time interval from the request, and the higher numbered fragments are available within their respective periods. The fragments are read out in order and integrated to seamlessly deliver the requested signal.

Abstract: A decoding apparatus for use in decoding data encoded according to MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 standards. The decoding apparatus generates a signal indicating that received data is encoded according to the MPEG-2 standard if an expansion start code is contained in the input data, while a code standard signal indicating the MPEG-1 code standard is generated if no expansion start code is contained in the input data. A run level determiner outputs data from one portion of the input data as an escape code level, when the code standard signal indicates the MPEG-2 code standard, and determines the escape code level according to whether an absolute value of data within a specific bit interval contained in the portion of data is larger than or equal to, or less than, 128, when the code standard signal indicates the MPEG-1 code standard.

Abstract: A surveillance system comprises an infrared motion detector which generates a signal indicative of detected motion. An infrared signal reflecting surface directs an incident infrared signal to the infrared motion detector. A generator generates an infrared remote control encoded data responsive to the signal indicative of detected motion. An infrared emitter is coupled to the generator for modulation by the infrared remote control encoded data. A modulated infrared signal from the infrared emitter is directed to the infrared signal reflecting surface for transmission. In the surveillance system described, battery powered operating time is extended by powering only the motion detector during periods of inactivity. Recording media usage is conserved by only recording periods of detected motion and may be further conserved by recording only predetermined frames.

Abstract: A device for coding moving pictures includes a coding unit for applying intra-frame coding or inter-frame coding to the of blocks dividing each frame of the moving pictures. The device further includes a refresh-operation-control unit for controlling the coding unit to carry out the intra-frame coding as a refresh operation at predetermined intervals. The refresh-operation-control unit reschedules the predetermined intervals when the coding unit applies the intra-frame coding during one of the predetermined intervals, such that a timing of the intra-frame coding during the one of the predetermined intervals marks a start of a next one of the predetermined intervals.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus perform an inverse telecine procedure on a video sequence to eliminate redundant information introduced by the telecine process, so as to achieve more efficient data compression. The method and apparatus maintain synchronization between audio and video portions of the video sequence by ensuring that 20% of all frames, distributed substantially uniformly over the video sequence, are deleted. One embodiment of the present invention is provided in desktop computer system.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronized playback and control of a movie (also referred to as time-based digital media). The movie includes one or more data structures, called "tracks", containing time-based data that is intended to be played together in a synchronized manner at a given rate of speed. The system and method allows two or more participants that are operating on different playback systems at different locations to simultaneously view and control the playing of the movie. The image on each participants display is kept synchronized with the others, providing a virtual co-location.

Abstract: A time division, multiplexed, shared bandwidth, high speed data system for use over CATV and broadcast equipment, which allows transmission rates to be adjusted on a per receiver basis in both forward (downstream) and return (upstream) directions, utilizes a time division multiplexed method to transmit information from a service provider to a plurality of users (downstream) using the equivalent of horizontal sync pulses to define the start and end of a period of transmission assigned to a specific user. The transmission is grouped into frames which typically contain five hundred to several thousand transmission periods. In each frame, at least one transmission period is reserved for each actively connected user which is used as a connection control channel. The remaining transmission periods are shared by all users and are dynamically allocated to transfer data. Hence, each user is allocated a small fixed bandwidth control channel and is provided with additional shared bandwidth for data transfers as needed.

Abstract: A program recording system is provided to allow a user of an interactive viewing system to record a preselected program. The interactive viewing system includes at least one program guide that allows user selection of a program for recording. In response to the user selection, the system sets a record tag that is associated with the selected program and identifies the selected program for recording. The record tag is monitored and, at the appropriate time, prompts the system to control the recording of the selected program.

Abstract: A demultiplexer receives an MPEG1 system stream obtained by multiplexing encoded data of video and audio and separates the stream into elementary streams (ES) of video and audio. A packetizer forms packetized elementary streams (PES) of MPEG2. Finally, a multiplexer divides the stream into transport packets each having a prefixed length of 188 bytes and, after that, converts the stream to an MPEG2 transport stream (TS).

Abstract: A method and system for detecting the approaching of a target object into a monitoring zone wherein the target object is scheduled to enter the zone is provided. The method includes providing motion image data continuously taken as an image from the monitoring zone, initially setting a plurality of monitoring areas in an image plane of the monitoring zone on a track along which the target object moves, extracting the image data of these monitoring areas from the motion image data, detecting an image variation of the respective monitoring areas through the processing of the image data of the monitoring areas for each monitoring area and deciding, based on the detection sequence of the monitoring areas corresponding to a detected image variation, whether of not the target object approaches into the monitoring zone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for differential video data encoding which utilizes a reduced number of bits per pixel to encode chroma and luma components of a video data stream. A 4-bit absolute code is determined for a given 8-bit luma or chroma component in the data stream. The determined absolute code is indicative of a particular one of a plurality of ranges into which the given component falls. The given component is encoded using the determined absolute code if the absolute code produces a lower encoding error than a 4-bit delta code which encodes the component as a difference relative to a previously-encoded component. If the delta code produces a lower encoding error than the determined absolute code, the given component is encoded using the delta code. In a situation in which the given component is the first component of its type on a line of video, an absolute code may be used regardless of whether or not the absolute code produces a higher encoding error than the delta code.

Abstract: A method capable of improving the image quality comprises the steps of (a) detecting a motion vector for each search block in the current frame by using a block matching algorithm, (b) dividing a search block into a central region positioned at the center of the search block and a boundary region located outside the central region, (c) determining the motion vector for the search block as an optimum motion vector for the central region, and (d) determining a multiplicity of optimum motion vectors for the boundary region of the search block based on motion vectors for the search block and its one or more adjacent search blocks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for simultaneously estimating a set of frame-to-frame motions between two frames and a set of field-to-field motions between two fields.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating region frames from video frames are disclosed which employs an industry standard encoder to lessen the negative impact on the quality of the transmitted video sequence while consuming fewer bits. The method and apparatus utilizes image segmentation and color replacement techniques to create the region frames. Each region frame includes a subject region, zero or more previously segmented regions and zero or more non-subject regions. The subject region is defined by the pixels of the original video frame. The previously segmented regions and non-subject regions are assigned replacement pixels P.sub.n,y and C.sub.n, respectively. The replacement pixel C.sub.n is chosen to indicate a color that is not likely to be confused with any color in the subject region R.sub.n. The replacement pixels P.sub.n,y are chosen such that the compression ratio of the region frame data is maximized.

Abstract: A left eye image signal and a right eye image signal which constitute a three-dimensional image are produced from a two-dimensional image signal. The horizontal phase of the produced left eye image signal is shifted, and the horizontal phase of the produced right eye image signal is shifted. Character signals are respectively mixed with the left eye image signal and the right eye image signal. A composite image comprising the three-dimensional image and the character signal is displayed on the basis of the left eye image signal with which the character signal is mixed and the right eye image signal with which the character signal is mixed.