Abstract: An improved real time frame grabbing system for substantially instantaneously providing a continuous video display of a selectable predetermined video frame of information on a video display means from continuously transmittable video information comprises a plurality of means for transmitting the video information as a plurality of pseudo video scan lines with means being provided for selectively combining and interleaving corresponding identical out of phase digital information content containing pseudo video scan line portions of the plurality of transmission means corresponding pseudo video scan lines to provide an in phase composite combined interleaved pseudo video scan line to the video display means.

Abstract: An information retrievel system includes a video display terminal controlled by a local microcomputer which controls the major functions thereof and is connectable in a network with other such video display terminals which function as selected purpose variable function terminals by utilizing the instructions for the local microcomputer which come from a remote central data source as data so that the user can request a particular function, that is a program or set of instructions for the microcomputer as well as being able to request certain data from the data source. This set of instructions is transmitted over the same media as data and has the same format as the data, such as a pseudo video digital scan line when utilized with a row grabbing video display terminal transmitted over cable. The set of instructions is locally stored until erasure at the terminal, such as in a RAM, for locally controlling the functioning of the microcomputer.

Abstract: A real time frame grabbing system for substantially instantaneously providing a continuous video display of a selectably predetermined video frame of information on a video display means from continuously transmittable video information which is transmitted as a plurality of pseudo video scan lines wherein the selected frame being grabbed is updateable on a displayable-row-by-displayable-row basis. Each of the pseudo video scan lines has a television scan line format and comprises a complete self-contained packet of digital information sufficient to provide an entire displayable row of video data characters, the pseudo video scan line having an associated transmission time equivalent to that of a television video scan line. The packet of digital information comprises at least address information for a displayable row and data information for the displayable characters in the row.