Abstract: A method for archiving a motion picture film can include capturing in a digital format at least one reference image set corresponding to at least one image from the motion picture film. At least one reference image set can be created which includes an unprocessed image captured, in the digital format, from an original camera negative. The image set can also include a processed image, stored in said digital format, that is a modified version of the unprocessed image. Subsequently, the reference image set can be recorded on a reference film medium to form a key frame reel. The key frame reel can thereafter be used to create monochrome color separations.

Abstract: For a possibly flexible use of an arrangement (1) for mixing and/or processing one or more video signals, the arrangement (1) includes video hardware components (2) which are implemented for a dedicated purpose and, within the arrangement (1), are exclusively usable for said dedicated purpose, in that the arrangement (1) also includes video computers (3, 4) which can alternatively perform a plurality of functions and are thus usable within the arrangement (1) for different purposes, dependent on their need, the video hardware components (2) being implemented for uses which are computer-intensive and/or require a large bandwidth, the video computers (3, 4) being provided for uses which can be processed in real time by the video computers (3, 4), the arrangement (1) accommodating a control circuit (6) which assigns tasks to the video computers (3, 4), dependent on their need.

Abstract: There is provided an Ebook. The Ebook includes a memory device, a text-to-speech (TTS) module, and at least one speaker. The memory device stores files. The files include text. The TTS module synthesizes speech corresponding to the text. The at least one speaker outputs the speech.

Abstract: A step movement mechanism is provided, which comprises a driven member and driving means, which drives the driven member. The driven member is formed with a plurality of equally spaced first concave cambered surfaces and a plurality of equally spaced force-bearing surface pairs. The two surfaces of each surface pair face each other. The driving means comprise a drive source to rotate a cam gear. The cam gear carries a rotation pin and stop means both rotating with the cam gear. The stop means are in contact with one of the first concave cambered surfaces when the step movement mechanism is in a stop position so as to prevent the driven member from moving. The rotation pin is temporarily in contact with one surface of the force bearing surface pair so as to move the driven member by one step when the cam gear rotates one revolution in either direction.

Abstract: A game management center linked to at least one remote game terminal, sends the terminals to which it is linked, a message containing a game identifier and a question. The response from a player entered via a remote game terminal is transmitted in a form blinded with the aid of a secret to the game management center so as to guarantee the anonymity of the player. If the blinded response message is received before the instant of broadcasting of the response, the game management center sends an acknowledgement of receipt to said game terminal. The response in answer to the question is subsequently broadcast to all the remote game terminals. If the player has given the right answer, the terminal must, to claim its prize, send a message containing the acknowledgement of receipt and an item proving that it is in possession of the secret used to blind the response.

Abstract: A system and method for marking, coding and tracking a film print in an efficient, adaptive and customized manner for providing unique and robust identification of each individual film print and for facilitating accurate tracking of the origin of a pirated copy is described herein. A film print to be marked is calibrated and provided in computer-readable form for input to a prescreening device. The calibrated film print is reviewed and ideal locations on each frame of the film print are chosen for applying a mark. A unique coding scheme is generated for each desired print. If a pirate copy is found, all marks are located and a matching serial number (e.g., coding scheme) is determined for the pirated copy based on marks found in the pirate copy when compared to a database storing film print mark information generated during the marking and coding process.

Abstract: A data storage element comprising a substrate and a data track disposed on the substrate, the data track comprising a plurality of data sectors, each of the data sectors being formatted in accordance with a first digital data standard and comprised of a control data portion and a payload data portion, each of the payload portions including a plurality of data packets formatted in accordance with a digital television standard. In particular, the data packs correspond to program stream packs specified in the DVD standard and the data packets correspond to transport packets specified in the ATSC standard. The present storage element enables the data stored thereon to be read by a conventional DVD front end and provided to an ATSC receiver without processing the contents of the transport packets. Therefore, the present invention allows ATSC data to be stored on a DVD disc and to be provided in a manner that can fully realize the display capabilities of the ATSC receiver.

Abstract: Available storage media capacity for personal video recording increases continuously. metadata can be used to organize the recordings, search for content and access specific recordings. If metadata are embedded within the multimedia content itself, like DVB specific Service Information, which are multiplexed with the audio and video streams to form a MPEG-2 transport stream, a search based on this metadata would require an inefficient and time consuming search through all multimedia content stored. According to the invention metadata information is gathered, analyzed and processed to form metadata entities, which are amended by a reference to the content itself. A descriptor stream is formed from the resulting pairs of metadata entities and references to the content and is stored separately from the files comprising multimedia content. In this way, for data of an MPEG-2 transport stream the metadata can be accessed without a need to reparse the entire stream.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a system of receiving signals comprising a retransmission base to amplify signals captured at a point in a domestic environment and retransmit them at the same frequency to digital receivers of the said domestic environment. According to the invention, the retransmission base amplifies and retransmits up to N DVB-T channels the positions of which can be anywhere in the receive band and are chosen dynamically by the system users. Means are provided in the system to share the system's amplification resources between the system's various digital receivers.

Abstract: A satellite receiver includes a signal cancellation tuner for processing a plurality of different transponder signals to simultaneously provide a plurality of different bit streams. The signal cancellation tuner includes (a) a demultiplexer for demultiplexing a received signal representing the plurality of transponder signals into a number of decimated signals, each transponder signal conveying a bit stream, and (b) a transform element operative on the number of decimated signals for providing at least two of the bitstreams simultaneously.

Abstract: The invention relates to RF bandpass filters with pseudo-elliptic response. In a filter comprising a dielectric substrate placed in E position in a rectangular waveguide and comprising inserts on one of the surfaces of the substrate are placed conductors linked electrically to the walls of the guide, and on the other surface of the substrate opposite these conducting inserts are placed electrically floating inserts that make it possible to determine zeros in the transmission curve of the filter. This yields a filter exhibiting a response curve of pseudo-elliptic type which improves the rejection of spurious frequencies without increasing the dimensions of the filter.

Abstract: A trellis decoding system for use in processing a High Definition Television signal. The trellis decoding system includes a traceback unit that identifies a sequence of antecedent trellis states in accordance with a state transition trellis. A branch metric computer includes eight discrete subunits, one for each possible trellis state. Each subunit generates two output bits indicative of the two trellis branches exiting the trellis state represented by that particular subunit. An add-compare-select unit includes eight discrete subunits, each associated with a particular trellis state. Each subunit includes as an input two bits received from the branch metric computer and as an output two bits. Bit 31 is chosen from 28 and 29. Bit 6 is chosen from the branch metric information input to each subunit. A traceback control memory unit includes an N to 1 multiplexer which receives as an input the output bits from the add-compare-select unit. The present system offers a hardware reduction from prior art.

Abstract: A circuit for automatically biasing a common electrode of a liquid crystal on silicon imager comprising an imager with a common electrode and a plurality of cells. A varying voltage signal is provided to the plurality of cells. A low pass filter is coupled between the varying voltage signal and a common junction coupled to the common electrode such that a bias voltage is formed at the common electrode having a value that approximates an average of the varying voltage signal.

Abstract: A system and method for initializing a SNMP agent in SNMPv3 mode. In one aspect of the invention, a method is provided that allows an operator to securely enter the initial SNMPv3 privacy and authentication keys into a SNMPv3 device and cause the device to enter in SNMPv3 mode. The SNMP manager and SNMP agent both generate an associated random number and public value. The SNMP manager passes its public value to the SNMP agent in a configuration file, which causes a proprietary MIB element in the SNMPv3 device to be set with the public value of the SNMP manager. The SNMP manager reads the public value of the SNMP agent through a SNMP request using an initial valid user having access to the public value of the SNMP agent. The SNMP agent and SNMP manager each independently compute a shared secret using the Diffie-Hellman key exchange protocol.

Abstract: The process is characterized in that it performs: counting of the number of motion vectors, at least one component of which is greater than a predetermined value less than the maximum value, comparision of this number with at least one predetermined threshold, and in that the motion vector field is declared saturating if this number is greater than the predetermined threshold. Application relates to image interpolation.

Abstract: A method for uniquely identifying a copy of a motion picture disposed on a medium. A first sequence and a second sequence of the motion picture each can be selectively marked with an identifier mark to collectively define a uniquely identifiable marking pattern. A third sequence of the motion picture can be selectively marked with an error correction mark correlating to the uniquely identifiable marking pattern. The uniquely identifiable marking pattern is determinable absent at least one of the identifier marks by processing the error correction mark and remaining ones of the identifier marks. The error correction mark can be determined from values correlating the identifier marks.

Abstract: A variable-gain RF amplifier arrangement whose input impedance is essentially independent of the selected gain is proposed, which has a large number of selectable elementary amplifiers, with an input signal being scaled and the input impedance being set to be the same by means of switchable current limiting elements upstream of the elementary amplifiers, which are associated with the elementary amplifiers. The circuit also has a low noise level, which is largely independent of the selected gain, and good linearity. A broadcast radio receiver as well as a receiver for receiving data signals using an amplifier according to the invention are also proposed.

Abstract: A method of controlling a system for processing stored information on a storage medium includes the following steps. Stored information is played back during a play mode of operation. A user is provided an opportunity to select a bookmark representing a corresponding location within the stored information, from among a plurality of bookmarks, responsive to user input. Playback is changed to from the location corresponding to the selected bookmark during the play mode of operation. Apparatus for processing information stored on a storage medium includes playback circuitry for retrieving information from the storage medium during a play mode of operation. A user control device receives user input.

Abstract: An HDTV receiver coupled to a terrestrial antenna displays real-time signal strength of terrestrial digital television signals. A graphical user interface preferably displays various data relating to all terrestrial television signals in a scrollable grid format. The grid is displayed within an active video display of a selected television signal from the grid. Audio for the selected channel is also active. A list of all channels tuned or selected is maintained to aid in searching. Channel lists are updated during certain channel searches.

Abstract: A method for bit recovery in an asymmetric data channel, the method comprising the steps of: providing a non-linear equalization filter with two coefficient sets; using the non-linear equalization filter with a first coefficient set for compensating defects of a first type of transition between different storage states; and using the non-linear equalization filter with a second coefficient set for compensating defects of a second type of transition between different storage states.