Abstract: An image processing method for processing an input image is provided. The image processing method includes: performing a plurality of first imaging processing operations on the input image to generate a first image; and performing a plurality of second imaging processing operations on the first image. Each of the first imaging processing operations is along a first direction, and the plurality of first imaging processing operations include a first scaling operation for increasing resolution. Each of the second imaging processing operations is along a second direction different from the first direction, and the plurality of second imaging processing operations include a second scaling operation for increasing resolution.

Abstract: An image processing circuit and a method thereof are provided herein. The image processing circuit has a first scaling circuit, one or more line buffers, a first sharpness circuit, a second scaling circuit, and a second sharpness circuit. The first scaling circuit enlarges an input image along a first direction to generate a first enlarged image. The one or more line buffers temporarily store the pixel values of a plurality of pixel rows of the first enlarged image. The first sharpness circuit vertically sharpens the first enlarged image to generate a first sharpened image. The second scaling circuit enlarges the first sharpened image along a second direction to generate a second enlarged image. The second sharpness circuit horizontally sharpens the second enlarged image to generate a second sharpened image. Accordingly, it is possible to use the one or more line buffers having shorter data lengths to perform the vertical sharpening.

Abstract: An image processing circuit and a method thereof are provided herein. The image processing circuit has a first scaling circuit, a plurality of line buffers, a first sharpness circuit, a second scaling circuit, and a second sharpness circuit. The first scaling circuit enlarges an input image along a first direction to generate a first enlarged image. The line buffers temporarily store the pixel values of a plurality of pixel rows of the first enlarged image. The first sharpness circuit vertically sharpens the first enlarged image to generate a first sharpened image. The second scaling circuit enlarges the first sharpened image along a second direction to generate a second enlarged image. The second sharpness circuit horizontally sharpens the second enlarged image to generate a second sharpened image. Accordingly, it is possible to use the line buffers having shorter data lengths to perform the vertical sharpening.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for transceiving an asymmetric point-to-point moving signal and securing an uplink channel using a horizontal blanking interval (HBI) in which a video signal transceiving apparatus can combine a plurality of HBIs and a plurality of active lines (ALs) into a single section, and when auxiliary data exists in a corresponding HBI, can change an order of the HBI to the last and transmit map information including arrangement information to a video signal display apparatus, and the video signal display apparatus can receive the map information and analyze the received map information to thereby acquire an uplink channel using HBI excluding auxiliary data and transmit control signal data via the acquired uplink channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, device and computer-program product for suppression of undesired temporal variations, notably flicker, in a sequence of video frames. Histogram-based and similar approaches generally do not remove all flicker. Features that are resolved only in portions of the flicker cycle will manifest themselves as residual flicker. This effect is near-universal in bright regions of a scene. The inventive solution is a mapping that aims to resolve in the output only those features that are resolved in all frames of the flicker cycle. Use of time-maximal quantile values may preserve non-resolution of such image features that are unresolved due to intermittent bright saturation. Thus, in one embodiment, a reduction of resolution is attained by means of a pixel-value mapping based on selecting, over a time window, maximal and minimal quantile values, with maximal values being used for bright spatial regions and minimal values for dark spatial regions.

Abstract: A signal-processing method adapted to perform predetermined signal processing based on a unit signal transmitted from a semiconductor device that includes at least two unit components arranged in a predetermined order, where each of the unit components includes a detection unit configured to detect change information responsive to a change in an incident physical quantity and a unit-signal-generation unit configured to generate the unit signal based on the change information, and that detects the distribution of the physical quantity is provided. The signal-processing method includes the steps of externally transmitting operation information that can specify an operation state of the semiconductor device from the semiconductor device and performing the predetermined signal processing based on the unit signal by referring to the operation information in a signal-processing unit provided outside the semiconductor device.

Abstract: An image display method includes increasing a horizontal blanking interval (HBI) data included in a scan line data corresponding to at least a scan line and accordingly generating an adjusted HBI data; and transmitting a non-HBI data included in the scan line data and the adjusted HBI data to a display screen. An image display system includes a display screen, an adjusting circuit, and an output circuit. The adjusting circuit is arranged for increasing an HBI data included in a scan line data corresponding to at least a scan line and accordingly generating an adjusted HBI data. The output circuit is arranged for transmitting a non-HBI data included in the scan line data and the adjusted HBI data to the display screen.

Abstract: A method and system for decoding and storing encoded control data delivered via the horizontal overscan area of a video signal. An interactive device performs behavior defined by control data encoded into a video signal that can be broadcast or played-back from video tape. The interactive device is equipped with a non-volatile memory that permits the control data to be stored for performance subsequent to, or during, the transmission session. The control data is delivered as a series of control data words that include genus codes identifying the interactive device to which the data word is directed. During a transmission session, control data words will be repeated, so that an interactive device receives several control data words with the same sequence number. Based on the relative gradings, the interactive device will replace previously received control data words of lower quality than subsequently received data words having the same sequence number.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for transceiving an asymmetric point-to-point moving signal and securing an uplink channel using a horizontal blanking interval (HBI) in which a video signal transceiving apparatus can combine a plurality of HBIs and a plurality of active lines (ALs) into a single section, and when auxiliary data exists in a corresponding HBI, can change an order of the HBI to the last and transmit map information including arrangement information to a video signal display apparatus, and the video signal display apparatus can receive the map information and analyze the received map information to thereby acquire an uplink channel using HBI excluding auxiliary data and transmit control signal data via the acquired uplink channel.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system and machine-readable medium for generating a composite output image based upon multiple input images. In one embodiment, a first display location on a display panel is located. A first function is performed to generate a first pixel of the output image for display at the first display location if a first image and a second image are both active at the first display location. A second function is performed to generate the first pixel of the output image if only the first image or only the second image is active at the first display location. In one embodiment, the first image is active at the first display location if the first display location is located within a first display area on the display panel where the first image is to be displayed, the second image is active at the first display location if the first display location is located within a second display area on the display panel where the second image is to be displayed.

Abstract: A method and system for decoding and storing encoded control data delivered via the horizontal overscan area of a video signal. An interactive device such as a toy performs behavior defined by control data that can be encoded into a video signal. The toy is equipped with a decoder for extracting data from the horizontal overscan portion of the video signal, and a non-volatile memory that permits the control data to be stored for use after the video signal is no longer being received. The control data are delivered as a series of words that include genus codes and sequence codes. Genus codes identify the specific toy to which the word is directed, as more than one toy may receive the video signal. Error grading is used to minimize the effect of such signal deterioration, so the toy will replace previously received words if newer words are of higher quality.

Abstract: A method and system for decoding and storing encoded coupon data delivered via the horizontal overscan area of a video signal. An electronic coupon displays representations of coupons defined by coupon data that can be extracted from an encoded video signal that can be broadcast or played-back from video tape. The electronic coupon is equipped with a non-volatile memory that permits the coupon data to be stored for display subsequent to the transmission session (e.g., a televised program). The electronic coupon has a set-up mode which allows a user to pre-select types of coupons that the user would like to receive. Coupon data satisfying the user's selections will be stored in the electronic coupon, while coupon data not satisfying the user's selections will not be stored. A decoder extracts the coupon data from an encoded video signal and transmits the coupon data to the electronic coupon via a receiver of electronic contacts.

Abstract: A method and system for decoding and storing encoded control data delivered via the horizontal overscan area of a video signal. An interactive device such as an interactive toy performs behavior defined by control data that can be encoded into a video signal that can be broadcast or played-back from video tape. The interactive device is equipped with a non-volatile memory that permits the control data to be stored for performance subsequent to the transmission session (e.g., a televised program). The interactive device also may be equipped to perform behavior during the transmission session. The control data is delivered as a series of control data words that include genus codes and sequence codes. Genus codes identify the interactive device to which the data word is directed, so that a particular interactive device will respond (i.e., perform behavior) only in accordance with the control data words including the appropriate genus code.

Abstract: The adaptive timing module is configured for recovering data encoded in a field of a video signal, and further configured for counteracting horizontal phase or picture shift. An adaptive timing processor defines a timing window where the expected prescan portion video signal is expected to be in an encoded video signal. The timing window is divided into sub-portions with a set of sampling points. The adaptive timing processor conducts a sweeping operation over each sub-portion of the prescan portion of the encoded video signal for the presence of a pre-data encoding zone. When a pre-data encoding zone is detected, the adaptive timing processor stores the position of the sub-portion with the pre-data encoding zone, or sets a flag to indicate the presence of a pre-data encoding zone for that particular sub-portion in a particular field.

Abstract: Audio data of at least two audio data groups is embedded in an ancillary data space of a serial digital video data stream by multiplexing the audio data groups to provide a serial multi-group audio data stream, and inserting the serial multi-group audio data stream into the ancillary data space of the serial digital video data stream.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a leakage tagging signal includes inserting a tagging signal into a CATV television signal only during portions of the television signal in which control information is present. A method according to the present invention is a method of transmitting a tagging signal in a communication system, the communication system transmitting television signals comprising control information and program information. One step of the method includes generating a tagging signal that is detectable by corresponding leakage detecting equipment. The method also includes the step of identifying a portion of a television signal in which control information is present. Finally, the method of the present invention encompasses inserting the tagging signal into the television signal only during the portion of the television signal in which control information is present.

Abstract: A data transmission apparatus and a camera system for multiplexing serial data into horizontal blanking portions of video data for transmission between a CHU (1) and a CCU (2). On the transmitting side, resampled data is obtained by sampling the serial data using a clock signal of a frequency higher than that of the transmission rate of the serial data. A predetermined number of resampled data items are selected as multiplexing data from the resampled data obtained in each of the horizontal periods of the video data. The multiplexing data is multiplexed into the horizontal blanking portions of the video data for transmission. On the transmitting side, the multiplexing data is separated from the received video data. The separated multiplexing data is decoded so as to extract successively definite data constituting the initial serial data.

Abstract: A communication data format conveys digital ancillary data in a vertical blanking interval of a video signal. The format employs a reference symbol including a plurality of digital pulses for indicating the start of the ancillary data and also includes a header byte following the reference symbol. The header byte contains an identifier identifying a destination service for a payload of the ancillary data or an address identifying a destination of the payload. The format also conveys multiple payload bytes, following the reference symbol in which individual bits have a period substantially comprising, a first integral multiple of a first clock period associated with a first data format, and a different second integral multiple of a second clock period associated with a second data format.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for generating VBI data coding waveforms. The present invention utilizes a single look-up table that stores sampled values of sine waves in direct waveform synthesis for both color burst processing and VBI data coding processing. Furthermore, the present invention utilizes a 2T pulse as a signalling waveform in direct synthesis to overcome the problem of overlap for conventional unit pulse durations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding data encoded in the horizontal overscan portion of a video signal. A video data detector is configured to decode data encoded in a video signal in a first type of video signal format, such as NTSC. When the detector receives the video signal, it enters a “fast acquisition” loop in which it attempts to decode a sequence of valid data from several consecutive frames of the video signal. If the detector cannot decode a sequence of valid data from the consecutive frames of the video signal, the detector is reconfigured to decode data encoded in the video signal in a second type of video signal format, such as PAL. The detector then attempts to decode a sequence of valid data from the next several consecutive frames of the video signal. If the detector is unable to decode a sequence of valid data from the consecutive frames, the detector is reconfigured for the first type of video signal format and the above process repeats.

Abstract: An ancillary data distribution display presents a graphic display in Cartesian coordinates of the video line numbers for a video frame from a serial digital video data stream along one axis and a data count for each line along the other axis for ancillary data extracted from the serial digital video data stream. The data count may represent packets of data, words of data or normalized delta values based upon the average number of data words per line for the video frame. The axis representing the data count is adaptive according to the maximum data count for the data type per video frame displayed. A particular line of the serial digital video data stream may be selected, with the graphical representation being highlighted as a cursor and the selected line number and the corresponding data count being displayed alphanumerically. The video frame may be split to provide two halves of the frame side-by-side on the display.

Abstract: A data transmission apparatus and a camera system for multiplexing serial data into horizontal blanking portions of video data for transmission between a CHU (1) and a CCU (2). On the transmitting side, resampled data is obtained by sampling the serial data using a clock signal of a frequency higher than that of the transmission rate of the serial data. A predetermined number of resampled data items are selected as multiplexing data from the resampled data obtained in each of the horizontal periods of the video data. The multiplexing data is multiplexed into the horizontal blanking portions of the video data for transmission. On the transmitting side, the multiplexing data is separated from the received video data. The separated multiplexing data is decoded so as to extract successively definite data constituting the initial serial data.

Abstract: A system for including audio data within a video signal. The number of frames of video data transmitted is reduced, thereby allowing greater time for each individual frame, thereby allowing the breezeway of each line of each frame to be lengthened. The breezeway resides between the horizontal synch pulse for the line, and the color burst signal. Samples of digitized audio are placed into the breezeways.

Abstract: A video security system (10) capable of monitoring and recording fixed and moving targets and recording management information into a video signal such that the text can be removed from the video image produced by the video signal at playback of the recorded video signal. The VSS (10) allows a camera (70b) to switch (toggle) between two or more view positions of interest and to set the view positions into memory by pressing a single switch. The cameras (70b) are controlled to move rapidly, but accurately, between the positions within controlled parameters of speed and acceleration--including a period of substantially zero acceleration between changes in the rate of acceleration.

Abstract: A controlled element for spectrum attenuation or a controlled filter is disclosed that is used to aid in the insertion of a secondary signal into a video signal without distorting the blanking intervals or close captioned data contained in the blanking interval of the video signal.

Abstract: A video data transmitter includes: chrominance-data multiplexer which multiplexes parallel data obtained by digitizing a chrominance signal Pb, which is a component signal of an analog HDTV video signal, with parallel data obtained by digitizing a chrominance signal Pr; a word multiplexer which multiplexes parallel data obtained by digitizing a luminance signal Y, which is a component signal of analog HDTV video signal, with the output data of the chrominance-data multiplexer, and a parallel-to-serial converter which converts the parallel data output from the word multiplexer. A video data receiver includes a serial-to-parallel converter which converts received serial data into parallel data and a word separator which separates the output data of the serial-to-parallel converter into parallel data in the Y channel and parallel data in the Pb/Pr channel.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the reception of video signals in accordance with the program content of the signals is disclosed. In accordance with the invention, a digital program code is simultaneously transmitted along with the audio and video information in an unused portion of the composite video signal, such as the so-called back porch region of the blanking interval. Circuitry is interposed between the video signal and the display generating circuitry of a television receiver which extracts such program code and either passes or blocks the reception and display of the video signal in accordance with a comparison between the extracted program code and a stored program code. The stored program code indicates those types of programs which are desired to be blocked from reception and display by the television receiver, such as programs containing violence, nudity, or strong language.