Abstract: The invention concerns a method and digital recording device for faster than normal playback of a 24 fps presentation without any loss of program information. A 24 fps playback signal is produced from a storage medium. Subsequently, a pull-down process can be performed to reformat the 24 fps playback signal for a video display, for example at 30 fps. Finally, redundant field pictures produced by the pull-down process can be selectively dropped to increase a playback speed of the presentation. The method can further include the step of selectively controlling a number of the redundant field pictures that are dropped responsive to a user input. This step can be performed automatically by calculating the rate at which the redundant field pictures must be dropped responsive to a user input.

Abstract: When recording packetized real-time streaming data, e.g. multimedia data, it is in general not possible to know in advance the size of the data stream, and thus the required storage area. Therefore the storage device may be full before the data stream is completely stored. The disclosed method for storing and retrieving the remaining part of the data stream on another storage device uses metadata tags (10,11) and data buffers (IB1,IB2) to split a data stream seamlessly into chunks while recording it, and distribute the chunks in real-time to different connected storage devices (D1,D2), so that the chunks can be seamlessly concatenated again in real-time for replaying the stream. The metadata tags (10,11) contain identifiers for the successive storage node (N2) and/or the preceding storage node (N1) and for the last stored application packet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a broadband monopole antenna comprising a “cup”-shaped radiating element mounted on an earth plane forming support of annular shape. This antenna can be used in the field of portable television apparatuses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical recording medium having at least two information carrier layers, on which information can be written by means of a focused light beam. In this case, a separating layer is arranged between the information carrier layers and a respective transparent covering layer is arranged between the information carrier layer and the surface of the recording medium, the thickness of which covering layer substantially exceeds that of the information carrier layer. One object of the present invention is to propose an optical recording medium in the case of which it is possible to write to both information carrier layers using a low optical power. Further objects of the invention are to specify an apparatus and also a suitable method for writing to a recording medium of this type. A recording medium according to the invention has information carrier layers which are both semi-transparent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a driver for a plasma display panel. According to the invention, in order to reduce the current loops during the sustain of the display cells, a novel driver architecture is proposed. The switches of the sustain circuit, together with the switches, are disposed next to one another on the circuit board. In addition, the connectors accessing the display electrodes are placed, at the periphery of the board, on the same edge.

Abstract: A digital audio player and a method for processing encoded digital audio data, wherein the digital audio data is encoded using one of a plurality of encoding formats. The exemplary audio data player includes a hard disk or other data storage medium for storing data files, a microcontroller, buffer memory for anti-skip protection, and an audio decoder. The encoded audio data files and associated decoder files are downloaded from a personal computer or similar device to the audio data player hard drive. The player provides a menu-driven user interface for selection, sorting, and playback of stored audio data files. The audio decoder, generally a digital signal processor, provides various preset equalization modes. The preset modes are specific to audio genres such as jazz, pop, and rock.

Abstract: The generation of metadata shall be simplified. Therefore, a method is presented in which a metadata-template is filled with selected essence and MD-links obtained from a list of links to essence and/or a list of current metadata. Furthermore, it is possible to obtain the MD-links from further metadata or essences directly or indirectly linked with the selected essence.

Abstract: A method for DVD-ROM backwards-compatible defective sector management in recordable DVD media can include the following steps. Initially, a first block of logically contiguous sectors can be allocated in which indivisible data can be written to the recordable DVD media. In particular, the allocation step can occur prior to or during a write process. Additionally, the allocation step can occur as part of the write process. In any case, a defective sector can be detected and located in the first block of sectors. Notably, in the preferred embodiment, the step of detecting and locating can include consulting a defect list in the recordable DVD media. In particular, the defect list can contain a list of sectors determined to be defective. Finally, responsive to detecting and locating the defective sector, the indivisible data can be shifted from the first block to a second block of logically contiguous sectors in the recordable DVD media.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for synchronizing a transmitter memory area in a transmitter memory in a transmitter apparatus with a receiver memory area in a receiver memory in a receiver apparatus, and to a receiver apparatus. The transmitter memory area stores transmission data as transmission-data packets and the receiver memory area stores received data as received-data packets with associated error status data which respectively indicate an error status for the received-data packets. Before a reference identification is generated in the receiver apparatus, which, following transmission using a feedback message in the transmitter apparatus, is used for memory area synchronization, the error status data for a plurality of the received-data packets are checked in the receiver apparatus until a first received-data packet is ascertained for which the error status data indicate no error status.

Abstract: A combined de-interlacing and frame doubling system (114, 114? and 114?) advantageously serves to de-interlace successive lines of Present Field Video data at twice the field rate to yield an output bit stream suitable for display on display device that utilizes progressive scanning. The de-interlacing and frame doubling system in accordance with present principles includes a frame memory mechanism (116, 116? and 116?) for storing at least one frame of interlaced video having a prescribed field rate. At least one de-interlacing circuit (11401, 1140?1, 1140?) pulls at least two fields of video data from the memory mechanism at a rate of at least twice the field rate for performing a full de-interlacing function in half of a field period to generate the a progressive, frame doubled signal for receipt at the display device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optimized tracking of an optical scanner along a track of an optical recording medium, the track having information markings arranged in dense succession, and also having fundamental changes in properties in significantly lower density. The method has the following steps: formation of a track error signal, detection of the occurrence of fundamental changes in properties of the track, formation of an offset value from the comparison of the value of the track error signal that occurs shortly before and shortly after the fundamental change in properties, formation of the track error signal, taking account of the offset value and repetition of the aforementioned steps.

Abstract: A system is described for establishing timing synchronism between a local receiver symbol clock and a transmitter symbol clock. A prescribed number of offset values are calculated for desired symbol timing range, the offset values being grouped substantially symmetrically about a central offset value. Each of the preselected offset values are tested to see if symbol timing recovery lock can be achieved by starting at the central offset value and gradually moving away from such value. Finally, two timing detection algorithms are used and switched between the two algorithms is carried out as desired to maximize the possibility of STR lock.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a technique for selecting one of several antennas or channels in a receiver based on the quality of the channel response at each of the antennas in a multicarrier system employing convolutional forward error-correction coding. Channel estimates are computed for each subcarrier and monotonic weights are assigned to each subcarrier based on the relative strength of the channel response for that subcarrier. The monotonic weights are mapped to each bit in a symbol for each subcarrier and bits are de-interleaved, if needed. A sliding window evaluation is performed to determine an overall channel quality metric for each channel. The antenna or channel having the highest overall CQM is selected to receive data.

Abstract: A method for protecting the digital output signal of a security module, comprising the steps of: receiving a scrambled digital signal from a source external to said security module, recovering at least one transport scramble control flag from the scrambled digital signal, descrambling said received scrambled signal to generate a descrambled signal, monitoring the at least one transport scramble control flag, generating a scrambling key in response to said monitored at least one transport scramble control flag, and scrambling said descrambled signal using said scrambling key to generate a re-scrambled signal. The present invention also includes a conditional access system comprising a host device and a security device coupled to the host device, such that the security device includes at least one transport scramble control flag modification circuit. By monitoring the transport scramble control flag as content passes through the security module, protection of the content can be securely maintained.

Abstract: An apparatus for adding red light to a polarized light system includes a first light source and a second light source. A polarizing beam splitter combines S-polarized-light from the first light source and P-polarized light from the second light source. A first multi-layer filter means rotates the polarization state of the green light from the first light source to the P-polarization state. A second multi-layer filter means rotates the first light source red light to the P-polarization state and rotates the second light source red light to the S-polarization state. Finally, a reflective cleanup polarizer reflects the P-polarized-light back to the respective first and second light source and passes the S-polarized-light.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for reducing flicker disturbances in a video signal having a temporal median filter and a filter connected downstream. The temporal median filter serves for compensating for brightness fluctuations in the video signal. The filter connected downstream separates high-frequency signal components from the output signal of the temporal median filter and suppresses high-frequency signal components with a high amplitude.

Abstract: A single conversion tuner suitable for receiving RF signals having different requirements as to selectivity, linearity and image rejection is presented. Tuners of this kind are particularly useful for digital terrestrial as well as cable reception, where different modulation schemes require very high image rejection ratios on one hand and high linearity or pass band flatness on the other hand. The inventive tuner features a double-tuned tuneable filter in combination with an image reject mixer. The double-tuned filter provides excellent pass band flatness, while the image reject mixer provides a high intrinsic image rejection. The image rejection ratio of the combination of image reject mixer and tuneable filter is very high and fulfils the requirements of commonly used modulation schemes such as 8VSB, while the pass band flatness is compliant with the requirements for modulation schemes such as QAM.

Abstract: A video encoder and corresponding method are provided for mixed inter/intra encoding of a macroblock having a plurality of partitions, where the encoder includes a reference picture weighting applicator coupled with a reference picture weighting factor unit for assigning weighting factors corresponding to each of the inter and intra coded partitions, respectively; and the corresponding method for encoding a macroblock with several partitions includes inter-coding at least one partition and intra-coding at least a second partition.

Abstract: A signal-processing circuit for a dual-axis vibratory rotation-rate sensor has a digitally programmable bandwidth. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converts analog sense signals to digital signals at a high sampling rate. The results of successive ADC conversions are accumulated for a user-programmable number of conversions. By accumulating a number of samples, the sense signals are averaged which improves the signal-to-noise ratio and smoothes the output signal. Alternatively, accumulating a smaller number of samples allows the user to improve the response time of the sensor, allowing the user to set the number of samples that are averaged enables the user to control the effective bandwidth of the sensor. The accumulated conversions are also are scaled by unit-specific calibration factors in order to accommodate for unit to unit variations, so that the rate output will be consistent across a number of sensors.

Abstract: To transmit digital data representing a content from a source to a receiver through a digital communication channel, the data being scrambled by at least one control word, the method includes the following steps. The source generates an encryption key which it stores temporarily. It encrypts the control word with the encryption key and transmits to the receiver the scrambled digital data and the encrypted control word, the latter being transmitted through an encrypted communication channel. The receiver then performs an operation of authentication of the source. When the source is authenticated by the receiver, it transmits the encryption key to it. The receiver then decrypts the control word and descrambles the data so as to present them to a user. The encryption key is then erased from the memories of the source and the receiver when the content has been entirely transmitted.