Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for encoding a video signal. The method includes the steps of receiving (212) a progressive video signal, and encoding (214) the progressive video signal into at least one group of pictures having at least one prediction source picture and at least one non-prediction source picture. All the non-prediction source pictures are predicted from the prediction source picture such that no non-prediction source picture is predicted from another non-prediction source picture. The method also includes the step of, in response to a reverse trick mode command, altering (218) the display order of the group of pictures to permit the group of pictures to be displayed in a reverse order. Additionally, the method can include the step of modifying (220) at least the number of non-prediction source pictures in the group of pictures in response to the reverse trick mode command.

Abstract: A process for transmitting data in a network adapted for isochronous and asynchronous transmissions and comprising a sender and at least one receiver.

Abstract: There is provided a method for supporting a mobile host in a communication structure having a home agent. The mobile host is enabled to communicate with a Network Address Translation (NAT) server. A packet for the mobile host, incorporating data that includes at least an address and a port used on the mobile host, is translated by the home agent into a global address and a port used on the NAT server, respectively. The packet is sent from the home agent for modification so that the packet can be routed to the mobile host. The packet is compatible with the NAT server.

Abstract: An integrated, fully automated video production system provides a video director with total control over all of the video production devices used to produce and broadcast a show. Such devices include, but are not limited to, cameras, robotic pan/tilt heads, video tape players and recorders (VTRs), video servers and virtual recorders, character generators, still stores, digital video disk players (DVDs), audio mixers, digital video effects (DVE), video switchers, and teleprompting systems. The video production system provides an automation capability that allows the video director to pre-produce a show, review the show in advance of “air time,” and then, with a touch of a button, produce the live show. In one embodiment, the invention provides a video production system having a processing unit in communication with one or more of the video production devices. The processing unit also records the show or elements from the show following its production.

Abstract: A power supply with capacitive mains isolation, comprises a source of an input supply voltage developed between a first terminal and a second terminal. A first supply inductance is coupled to the first terminal, and a second supply inductance is coupled to a load circuit. A switch responsive to a periodic control signal applies the input supply voltage to the first supply inductance to generate a current in the first supply inductance at a first polarity, during a first portion of a period of the control signal when the switch is at a first switch state. A pair of capacitors operate to couple the first supply inductance to the second supply inductance during a second portion of the period of the control signal when the switch is at a second switch state. The pair of capacitors isolate the first and second terminals, respectively, from the second supply inductance at a range of frequencies that is lower than a frequency of the control signal.

Abstract: With the new plasma display panel technology new kinds of artefacts can occur in video pictures due to the principle that brightness control is done with a modulation of small lighting pulses in a number of periods called sub-fields. These artefacts are commonly described as ‘dynamic false contour effect’. To compensate for this effect motion estimators are used and with the resulting motion vectors corrected sub-field code words are calculated for the critical pixels. Today's motion estimators work with the luminance signal component of the pixels. This is not sufficient for plasma displays. It is therefore proposed to make the motion vector calculation separately for the color components and with either the sub-field code words as data input or with single bit data input for performing motion estimation separately for single sub-fields or for a sub-group of bits from the sub-field code words. The proposal also concerns apparatuses for performing the inventive method.

Abstract: A data player or a method in which a reading and/or writing head is positioned according to anyone of 3 methods or combinations thereof: Calculating a desirable speed curve to position the head from a first to a second position and adjust the speed of the head's movement to the desirable speed, calculating and outputting an amount of energy to a driving mechanism to move the head a determined number of steps, increasing the power applied to a driving mechanism until the head is moved for one step. The positioning may additionally be used to perform coarse positioning while the head is positioned on a track of a data medium using a fine positioning mechanism.

Abstract: In encoding and decoding video signals, a progressive video bitstream is received which has reference frames and non-reference frames, each having an initial temporal reference in accordance with an initial frame sequence structure. The temporal references of the only the reference frames are remapped, by ignoring the non-reference frames. The reference frames are packetized with a base packet-identifier (PID) and the non-reference frames with an enhancement PID, to provide base and enhancement transport bitstreams, respectively.

Abstract: A system for personalizing received transmissions includes a content source that provides multiple transmission streams over a transmission media. A plurality of receivers is included wherein each receiver selects portions of one or more of the transmission streams in accordance with a playlist for each user. The receiver renders the portions of the received transmissions in accordance with a schedule.

Abstract: A method and a device for coding and decoding a sequence of images or pictures is disclosed. One exemplary embodiment disclosed codes by dividing each picture into blocks of picture elements. Each element of a block being represented by a digital value. Two types of coding are utilized in order to reduce the amount of data; inter-coding, which takes into account a corresponding block in a previous picture and intra coding, which is independent from a previous picture. Blocks being thus coded so that a further reduction of data is obtained by transmitting high spatial frequencies with less weight than low spatial frequencies. This is accomplished with the use of weighting coefficients. Weighting coefficients are variable as a function of the quantity of information to be transmitted.

Abstract: A method for calling up information about current radio and television programs wherein desired signals are transmitted together or separately with decodable additional information signals. The method includes the steps of selecting from the additional information signals that information which is directly or indirectly linked to time information. The selected information is compared with a time period which can be predetermined and within which the current time and/or the time assigned to the current program occurs. The information corresponding to this time period is then displayed on a display device of a receiving device which receives the desired signals and additional information signals.

Abstract: The switched-mode power supply contains a transformer, a switching transistor in series with the primary winding of the transformer, and a damping network on the secondary side, which has a connection for a further secondary winding via which energy is transferred from this damping network, by way of example, to a charge-storage capacitor which is coupled to this secondary winding. The connection is advantageously produced via a rectifying element, for example a diode, which is coupled after the rectifying diode (D5) for the second secondary winding. In a further exemplary embodiment, the diode in the series circuit, which is connected in parallel with the rectifier diode for the first secondary winding, is not coupled to the charge-storage capacitor for the first secondary winding, but is likewise coupled to the charge-storage capacitor for the second secondary winding.

Abstract: A power supply comprises a pair of first and second capacitors forming a capacitive voltage divider. A source of a periodic input supply voltage is coupled to the capacitive voltage divider for producing in the second capacitor, from a portion of the periodic input supply voltage, a second supply voltage that is coupled to a load circuit. A switch is coupled to the second capacitor for selectively coupling the first capacitor to the second capacitor in a manner to regulate the second supply voltage.

Abstract: The invention includes a system (100) and a method (200) for recording onto a storage medium (112) a video segment optimized for trick mode playback. The method can include the steps of: receiving (210) the video segment in which the video segment can contain at least one predictive picture; selectively forming (218) at least one shadow intro picture from at least one predictive picture; and inserting (222) at least one shadow intra picture into the video segment. Moreover, the shadow intra pictures can be ignored (236) during normal playback or a moderate speed trick mode playback.

Abstract: A method for operating a video processing system by receiving initial copyright information from a first source, storing the initial copyright information, receiving updated copyright information from a second source, and updating the stored copyright information in response to the updated copyright information. For example in one embodiment of the present invention, the initial copyright information for a program is received from an electronic program guide and updated copyright information is received along with the selected program. The video processing system may be programmed to operate in a first operating mode in response to the initial copyright information and the operating mode of the video processing system may be switched to a second operating mode in response to the updated copyright information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a process for the synchronization of broadcast audiovisual programs and of complementary information. The device comprises an image and/or sound sensing assembly, capable of retrieving at least a semantic element from the content of audio-visual programs being broadcast. It further comprises a unit identifying the semantic elements, connected to a program guide including one or several chronologically arranged lists of data sets respectively associated with the broadcast programs. The identifying unit selects for at least one of the programs being broadcast, the data set which is most probably correlated to the semantic elements. It carries out a prior learning session enabling to select the appropriate data sets from the semantic elements. A synthesizing unit synchronizes the audio-visual programs with the selected data sets.

Abstract: A method of extracting regions of homogeneous color from a digital picture divides the digital picture into blocks and generates a feature vector for each block as a set of moments of the data for the block. The distance between the feature vector of each block and the feature vectors of the nearest neighboring blocks are determined using either a weighted Euclidean distance metric or a probability mass function-based distance metric. The maximum distance is the gradient value for the block, and the set of gradient values over all the blocks form a color gradient field. The gradient field is digitized and smoothed, and then segmented into regions of similar color characteristics using a watershed algorithm.

Abstract: The invention concerns methods for testing a connection either between a central controller of a communication network and a terminal of the network, or between two terminals of the network. In both cases, a terminal sends test pattern data which is to be echoed back by another device over the connection to be tested. In certain circumstances, a terminal may register twice with the central controller, in order to be able to establish the required test connection without disturbing existing connections. The invention also concerns devices for implementing the methods. The invention can be used in a Hiperlan 2 network.

Abstract: A multi-user camera control system with automatic tracking capability for use in video conferencing and similar applications includes a plurality of personal controllers, one for each person utilizing the system. Each personal controller includes a micro-computer controlled keypad and associated communication circuitry as well as optional audio and tracking capability. The controller is programmed with the capability to send commands to the camera system. The system employs programmed, automatically trackable controllers for issuing commands to control most of the functions of a camera including lens operation. Personal locator devices are electrically connected and can be programmed as a master and as slaves. In addition, a master having override features may be provided, as well as a director's locator device for system wide control.

Abstract: A control arrangement and method includes a digital to analog converter and a mode controller that is operative to provide the digital to analog converter with a plurality of reference voltage ranges (Vref) under a respective plurality of operating modes.