Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for denoising a video stream of a camera. A current frame of the video stream and a temporally adjacent frame of the video stream that has been previously spatially and temporally denoised are obtained. The current frame is first spatially denoised, while preserving edges in such current frame to generate a plurality of spatially denoised pixels for the current frame. A particular pixel of the current frame is then both spatially and temporally denoised based on a weighted averaging of the particular pixel's associated spatially denoised pixel from the current frame and a plurality of pixels from the temporally adjacent frame that have already been spatially and temporally denoised.

Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention includes an image capturing unit, a noise obtaining unit, a fixed noise calculating unit, and a noise eliminating unit. The image capturing unit generates image data by photoelectrically converting, pixel by pixel, a subject image formed on an available pixel area of a light-receiving surface. The noise obtaining unit reads a noise output from a partial area of the available pixel area. The fixed noise calculating unit calculates an estimation of fixed pattern noise of the available pixel area based on the noise output read from the partial area. The noise eliminating unit subtracts the fixed pattern noise from the image data.

Abstract: A video processing circuit capable of processing a composite signal and a non-composite signal, includes: a line buffer; a frame buffer; a video decoder for decoding the composite signal by utilizing the line buffer and the frame buffer as temporary buffers of the video decoder; a cross color suppressor for performing color suppression on the non-composite signal by utilizing the line buffer and the frame buffer as temporary buffers of the cross color suppressor; and a path controller, coupled to the video decoder and the cross color suppressor, for coupling the line buffer and the frame buffer to the video decoder or the cross color suppressor when utilizing the line buffer and the frame buffer is required.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for allowing channel surfing during the presentation of a commercial broadcast by returning the viewer to the desired program channel after the commercial broadcast has concluded. When a commercial broadcast is received that interrupts the presentation of a viewer's desired programming, channel surfing is facilitated based on increased audio volume levels broadcast with the commercial broadcast. During channel surfing, the present audio level of the primary channel presenting the undesired commercial broadcast is monitored. If the audio volume level drops below the level of the commercial broadcast or returns to the level set by the viewer for the desired program prior to receipt of the commercial broadcast, the desired program channel may be reselected to return the viewer to her desired program channel. The viewer may be notified that the commercial broadcast has ended prior to reselection of the desired program channel.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for processing auxiliary data included in a video signal, in particular auxiliary data included in the vertical blanking interval of a television signal. The present invention recognizes that comb filtering of a television signal before processing the auxiliary data included in the television signal may cause corruption of the data. The present invention overcomes the problems associated with the data corruption by placing the takeoff point (131) for the auxiliary data at a point in the signal path prior to the comb filtering (112). In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention also provides for switching between one of a plurality of signal sources (102, 104, 106) while ensuring that the signal provided to an auxiliary data processor (125) corresponds to the displayed signal and minimizing the additional hardware and software required with regard to prior art arrangements.

Abstract: An electronic programming guide (70) operates on a computing platform (12) associated with a television (40). The platform (12) accesses a program listing database (48) containing program listing information (6) for a plurality of television programs. The electronic programming guide (70) includes a profile database (80) that stores a viewer profile (84) and a suggest module (76) that is coupled to the profile database (80). The suggest module (76) accesses the viewer profile (84) and the program listing information (6) and, in response, generates a preferred schedule (100) according to the viewer profile (84) and the program listing information (6). The preferred schedule (100) indicates the desirability of a particular program relative to other programs.

Abstract: A composite video input signal is combined with a noise reduction signal to form a noise reduced first video signal which is delayed by multiple time periods of (i) one line less one-half color cycle, (ii) one line and (iii) one line plus one-half color cycle to form respective ones of first, second and third time delayed signals. The first and third delayed signals are combined to form an averaged signal from which a subtractor subtracts the composite video input signal. The resultant difference signal is limited to form the noise reduction signal. The noise reduced first video signal and the second delayed video signal are combined in an output circuit to provide noise reduced and separated chrominance and luminance output signals.