Abstract: An attention model enhanced video waveform monitor for identifying and measuring problem areas in a video signal weights the problem areas according to an attentional mapping/masking model. An input video signal is analyzed to produce measurement errors that identify the problem areas. These errors are qualified against a visually masked area and attentional map derived from the video signal. The errors that occur outside the visually masked area within the attentional map are highlighted for an operator on a picture monitor as being significant problem areas for a viewer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the detection of repeated and frozen frames in a video signal obtains the absolute differences between pixels in corresponding fields of consecutive frames and generates a logic bit-map based on a threshold that is related to a maximum absolute difference for the field. The logic “1”s in the logic bit-map are counted to determine a normalized distribution count for the field and to determine an actual count in each of a plurality of segments of the logic bit-map. The actual counts are compared with bounds generated from the normalized distribution count and, if all the actual counts for the field are within the bounds, a repeated frame is reported. Alternatively in the absence of noise the actual counts are compared with a minimum value and, if all of the actual counts are below the minimum value, a repeated frame is reported.