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 Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS) receiver performs slot synchronization using a received primary synchronization channel (PSCH). Subsequent to completion of slot synchronization, the UMTS receiver performs frame synchronization using a received secondary synchronization channel (SSCH) in such a way that the UMTS receiver uses the received primary synchronization channel (PSCH) to detect a change in channel conditions.

Abstract: In an arrangement for processing video signals provided as interlaced video signals generated in the interlaced scanning mode, in which two fields constitute one frame, and/or as pseudo-interlaced video signals derived from non-interlaced video signals obtained by means of progressive scanning, flexible use of the arrangement with a minimal number of components for this arrangement is achieved in that at least one video signal-processing unit (1) is provided which receives at least an interlaced video signal or at least a pseudo-interlaced video signal and processes these video signals in dependence upon control data generated by means of a control unit (2), and in that a clock generator (4) is provided which controls the control unit (2) and/or the video signal-processing unit (1) in such a way that, when processing an interlaced video signal or a pseudo-interlaced video signal, possibly new control data are generated and/or taken into account as from the start of its next field or its next frame, respective

Abstract: The invention concerns an image display system comprising: a light source emitting an illuminating laser beam, a spatial light modulator controlled by control video signals corresponding to a succession of image frames; a matrix filter consisting of an array of different elementary color filters, illuminated by said illuminating beam and transmitting a spatially color-filtered beam to the spatial light modulator, an image of said filter being produced on an input surface of the spatial light modulator; means for displacing the filter image on the input of the spatial light modulator; and a control device for controlling at least one sequence of displacements of the filter image upon each image frame display.

Abstract: A method and interface for linking terms in an electronic message to program information, are provided. The method of linking terms in an electronic mesage to program information in an electronic program guide (EPG) comprises the steps of receiving an electronic message, comparing terms in the electronic message to terms in the program information of the EPG, and displaying the electronic message so that any terms in the electronic message which have a match in the program information based on the step of comparing terms, are distinguishable from terms which have no such match. The electronic message interface is adapted to link terms in an electronic message to program information in an electronic program guide (EPG). The electronic message interface comprises a receiver, a comparison unit, and a display device. The receiver is adapted to receive an electronic message.

Abstract: In a circuit for reception of signals which have been modulated onto electromagnetic waves, an antenna arrangement (11) having a variable resonant frequency, a tunable oscillator, a variable gain amplifier, an evaluation circuit (14) and a decoder (13) are provided. The evaluation circuit (14) is supplied with the control signals of the oscillator (VT) and of the amplifier (VAGC) and with an error rate signal (BER) from the decoder (13). The resonant frequency of the antenna arrangement (11) is varied as a function of the signals which are applied to the evaluation circuit (14), such that the resonant frequency of the antenna arrangement (11) is matched to the respective reception conditions. This makes it possible to compensate for changes in the reception conditions, such as those which are caused, for example, by people or objects in the vicinity of the antenna arrangement (11).

Abstract: A satellite communications system comprises a transmitting ground station, including a transmitter and a receiver, a satellite transponder and a receiving ground station. The transmitter transmits an uplink signal to the satellite transponder, which broadcasts the received uplink signal as a downlink signal to the receiving ground station. The transmitting ground station monitors the downlink signal through the receiver and calculates log-likelihood ratios (LLRs) as a function of the monitored downlink signal. These LLRs are illustratively stored in a look-up table, which are then transmitted to the receiving ground station for use in recovering data from a received data signal.

Abstract: An active pull up configuration for data bus lines unaffected by integral pull up resistors within subsystems. The present application generally relates to digital systems comprising a plurality of power supply levels and data buses. More particularly, this invention relates to digital system comprising subsystems connected by common buses that require automatic charging of certain buses or lines.

Abstract: A method for determining a remote timeout parameter in a network comprising a link between a first bus and a third bus. The link is implemented through a first and a second bridge portal connected respectively to the first and the third bus, and is modelized as a second bus connected to the first bus and the third bus through bridges. Upon solicitation to provide its contribution to a timeout for a request subaction, the first bridge portal adds to the timeout contribution the first bridge portal's maximum request subaction processing time and either the link's maximum transmission time of half of the link's maximum transmission time, depending on the location of the destination node of the request subaction.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for adjusting the frequency characteristic of a digital audio processor having adjustable parameters including at least low frequency gain, high frequency gain and volume gain. The invention is also related to an audio device executing the inventive method every time the characteristic frequency response curve is adjusted. Today's audio devices frequently offer the feature that the user can select among a group of different sound characteristics. Typically the user may want to adapt the sound characteristic of the device to the kind of music he is listening, e.g. rock, jazz, or classic music. In technical terms the sound characteristic is widely determined by the characteristic frequency response curve of the audio signal processing. Those characteristic curves are essentially defined by a gain value in the low, middle and high frequency range. Normally, a 3-band audio processor, which allows adjusting these three parameters independently is used for this purpose.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively configuring, in a router, physical ports to either a Wide Area Network (WAN) or a Local Area Network (LAN). Method steps include receiving a message to configure a physical port for use with either the LAN or WAN; associating, in response to receiving the message, a set of mapping assignments for using the physical port to access the network; and implementing the mapping assignments, in response to associating the mapping assignments, to configure the physical port for coupling to the network.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for information transfer using a cache server are disclosed. A user requests a file via a file requesting device, over a network, from a host. The host transfers the file to a cache server over a connection at a first scheduled time. The cache server then transfers the file, over a second network, to a file receiving device at a second scheduled time.

Abstract: A television apparatus according to the principles of the invention supports two or more display windows but accepts channel changing control signals for changing channels in all windows only from one set of keys from a remote control. The television apparatus includes at least two tuners with respective windows and a processor for receiving control signals for instructing the two tuners to change channels. When the processor receives a first control signal, the processor displays and selects a first window for future channel changing. If the first window has been displayed when the first control signal is received, the processor selects a window no currently selected for channel changing. Advantageously, no additional key in the remote is used to share the same set of channel changing keys among multiple windows supported by the television apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a system and a method for selecting an item in a list of items and associated products. The selecting system comprises means for repeatedly and simultaneously providing at least two sub-lists of items of the list for displaying on a screen, means for controlling an orderly displaying of the items of each of those sub-lists side by side on the screen, simultaneously and in different scrolling zones for the respective sub-lists, means for scrolling at least partly the list of items on the screen in the various scrolling zones, by repeatedly modifying the items of the sub-lists through cancelling firstly introduced items in the sub-lists and introducing new items from the list of items, and means for enabling a user to select at least one of the items of at least one of the sub-lists being displayed in a given selection area. Applications to STB and interactive TV EPG and to music files retrieval.

Abstract: A television signal processing apparatus is capable of receiving emergency alert signals and providing alert outputs to notify individuals of emergency events. According to one exemplary embodiment, the television signal processing apparatus includes a tuner operative to tune a frequency including emergency alert signals indicating an emergency event. A processor is operative to cause the television signal processing apparatus to be switched from an off/standby mode to an on mode responsive to the emergency alert signals.

Abstract: In bitstream recording presentation data is organized into Video Object Units. These have a variable size but have also a variable duration. To allow access to any Video Object Unit in the bitstream a housekeeping address table is used which is based on pieces of the bitstream of constant size per piece. The address table additionally contains for each of these pieces a specific delta duration which indicates the time difference between the arrival time of the first packet of a piece and the arrival time of the packet following immediately the last packet of that piece. The computation of the target VOBU address includes the following steps: accumulate the delta durations until the given time value is most closely reached towards the target VOBU; the running index of this table entry multiplied by the constant piece size directly results in the address value to be accessed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for transmitting service information in a television system. The invention relates more particularly to the providing of an upgradeable summary tied to the broadcasting of an event. Versions of the summary are transmitted at certain moments in the service information. These versions are concatenated in the receiver so that the result of the concatenation constitutes a summary of that part of the event which has already been broadcast. The invention also relates to a receiver for receiving service information in such a television system, to the process for processing this service information at the level of this receiver and to the transmitter implementing the transmission process according to the invention.

Abstract: An architecture for automatically optimizing audio and video modes available from interconnected multimedia devices. When one multimedia device is connected with another multimedia device, the devices communicate with each other to determine the modes available from both devices. The devices then compare the different combinations of available audio and video modes and determine which mode combination yields the optimal operating efficiency for outputting a media service.

Abstract: A television signal receiver having an emergency alert function provides a masked list of emergency events during a user setup process for the emergency alert function which makes the setup process easier for users, and also ensures that the emergency alert function will be activated when certain important emergency events occur. According to an exemplary embodiment, the television signal receiver includes a memory operative to store data associated with the emergency alert function. A processor is operative to receive an input representing a geographical area and to enable generation of a masked list of emergency events responsive to the input using the data in the memory. The masked list of emergency events represents a subset of all emergency events associated with the emergency alert function.

Abstract: In order to avoid rounding errors as a result of restricted accuracy of the processing unit in a video processing arrangement, a comparison is carried out between processed image data and unprocessed image data. For this purpose, the unprocessed image data is buffer-stored in a memory and is supplied together with the processed image data to a comparator, which compares the difference between the processed image data and the unprocessed image data with a threshold value. Either the processed image data or the unprocessed image data is produced at the output of the arrangement, by means of a multiplexer, as a function of the result of the comparison. A rounding element between the processing unit and the multiplexer rounds the processed image data before it is emitted, if the processing stage has not itself carried out a rounding process.