Patents Represented by Attorney Laurie E. Gathman
  • Patent number: 6839357
    Abstract: The invention provides a programmable network architecture for interconnecting several calculation modules in a receiver of a data transmission system with a very high data rate, which receiver comprises a forward and a return communication path. The architecture renders it possible to realize local communications between neighboring calculation modules and global communications between non-neighboring calculation modules. The network is formed by a sequence of programmable interconnection cells comprising memory means for storing the data which traverse between two non-neighboring modules which are present in the forward path and the return path, respectively. The role of these memories is to guarantee that the data pass through at most two successive multiplexers in one clock cycle, so that a high clock speed can be chosen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Olivier Gay-Bellile, Eric Dujardin
  • Patent number: 6832000
    Abstract: Pixels in a video image may be segmented based upon selected criteria, such as a common color, texture, shape, amplitude range or temporal variation. Color values for these pixels may be used to calculate a color probability function which indicates the probability that the color value of the pixel will lie within a designated range of values. The pixels are also used to calculate a texture probability function that indicates whether the pixel represents a designated texture. Pixels that are assigned to a given segment may then be further processed to improve the quality of an image. In this manner, pixels that identify grass, sky, human skin, etc. may be identified and processed in order to achieve a more pleasing appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Stephen Herman, Johan Janssen, Erwin Bellers, James Wendorf
  • Patent number: 6826230
    Abstract: The invention relates to an image sequence coding method comprising a segmentation of each image into partitions made of regions, an estimation and compensation of the motion of these regions between two partitions, and a region contour and texture coding step. The proposed motion estimation step of this method is carried out in a loop circuit (91, 92) in which, after a definition of the mode of transmission of the regions, a particular coded signal is generated for the background regions of the partition, said signal including an order information, indicating a priority between contiguous regions, and an associated updated motion information. The implementation of this method reduces drastically the computational load before the contour coding. The invention also relates to the corresponding decoding method and system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Philippe Salembier
  • Patent number: 6810082
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the selective peaking of portions of a video signal is provided. The video signals, such as those transmitted in compressed form, in accordance with MPEG Standards, can be presented as blocks of data encoded using Discrete Cosine Transforms (DCT). The Discrete Cosine Transform coefficients corresponding to the chrominance values of the signal can be obtained and analyzed. The analysis and corresponding amounts of enhancement (peaking) can be performed on a block-by-block, I-frame by I-frame, basis to selectively peak portions of a video signal. If the DCT coefficients for a portion of the signal exceed or fall within a pre-selected value or range, that portion of the signal can be subjected to peaking. For example, if the high frequency horizontal DCT coefficients exceed (or fall within) a pre-set threshold value or range, a horizontal peaking circuit can be set to peak that portion of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Richard Shen, Alan Cavallerano
  • Patent number: 6798912
    Abstract: A method of program classification based on syntax of transcript information includes receiving transcript information associated with the program wherein the transcript information has a plurality of sentences, determining characteristics of at least one of the plurality of sentences of the transcript information to identify at least the type and subject of the sentence, comparing the characteristics of the at least one of the plurality of sentences with a list of sentence characteristics having associated therewith a plurality of program types, and based on the comparing step, selecting a classification of program which is most closely associated with the characteristics of the at least one of the plurality of sentences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Kavitha Devara
  • Patent number: 6798919
    Abstract: There is disclosed an improved system and method for providing a scalable dynamic objective metric for automatically evaluating the video quality of a video image. The system comprises an objective metric controller that is capable of receiving a plurality of objective metric figures of merit from a plurality of objective metric model units. The system determines a scalable dynamic objective metric from a weighted average of the plurality of objective metric figures of merit. The scalable dynamic objective metric represents the best correlation of objective metric measurements of the video image with subjective measurements of the video image. The weight value of individual objective metric figures of merit may be increased or decreased depending upon the type of video image being evaluated. Individual objective metric figures of merit may be added to the system or deleted from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventors: Walid S. I. Ali, Cornelis Van Zon
  • Patent number: 6766098
    Abstract: A video indexing method and device for selecting keyframes from each detected scene in the video. The method and device detects fast motion scenes by counting the number of consecutive scene changes detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philip Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Thomas McGee, Nevenka Dimitrova
  • Patent number: 6760376
    Abstract: For use in a video image upconversion unit of the type that uses motion compensation to generate an interpolated field using motion vectors, an improved method of motion compensation is disclosed that calculates a first correlation value from the values of corresponding neighbor pixels of a previous frame and from the values of causal neighbor pixels of a generated field. The first correlation value is compared with a first threshold value. The value of a pixel to be created within the generated field is set to be equal to the value of a corresponding pixel of the previous frame if the first correlation value is less than the first threshold value. The method also calculates a second correlation value from the values of corresponding neighbor pixels of a next field and from the values of causal neighbor pixels of a generated field. The second correlation value is compared with a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Nehal R. Dantwala
  • Patent number: 6757305
    Abstract: The transmission system comprises a transmitter (10) and a receiver (14). The transmitter (10) can transmit a number of multiplex signals (12) to the receiver (14). The receiver (14) comprises storage means (20) for storing data sections included in the multiplex signals (12) in dependence on information present in the multiplex signals (12). The information for the complete set of multiplex signals (12) is contained in a single information section in at least one of the multiplex signals (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Gerrit H. Soepenberg, Ronald M. Tol, Edwin A. Montie
  • Patent number: 6754294
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing a precursor ISI signal in a receiver that receives an incoming stream of symbols distorted by intersymbol interference (ISI) includes: 1) a first forward filter for receiving the incoming stream of distorted symbols and generating a first equalized output signal (Y′k); 2) a first decision feedback equalizer (DFE) stage for receiving the Y′k signal and generating a first decided symbol sequence (Ŝk−d), wherein the first DFE stage generates from Ŝk−d a first postcursor cancellation signal that reduces postcursor ISI in the Y′k signal and generates from the Y′k signal a first symbol estimate signal (vk) in which postcursor ISI is at least partially reduced; and 3) a second decision feedback equalizer (DFE) stage for receiving the Y′k signal and generating a second decided symbol sequence (Ŝk−2d), wherein the second DFE stage comprises a soft symbol estimator that receives the vk signal and generates a soft decision sequen
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Srihari Adireddy, Lang Tong
  • Patent number: 6747854
    Abstract: Multi-channel magnetic head having a high channel density, provided with a head face (1) which extends in a first direction (I) in which a record carrier is relatively movable with respect to said magnetic head, and in a second direction (II) transverse to the first direction. The magnetic head has a structure of layers which, viewed in the first direction, are situated one on top of the other and extend substantially in the second direction and in a third direction (III) transverse to the first and the second direction. Viewed in the second direction, adjacent magnetoresistive sensors (S1, S2, S3) are distinguishable in the structure, each comprising a magnetoresistive measuring element (5), a first magnetic element (7) and a second magnetic element (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Jacobus J. M. Ruigrok, Gerardus H. J. Somers
  • Patent number: 6741617
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for deriving an ancillary signal from a compressed digital video signal (e.g. MPEG). The ancillary signal comprises selected parts of the main signal, for example, the DC coefficients of I-pictures, or the unscrambled parts. The ancillary signal thus obtained can be used for display in a (multi-) picture-in-picture television receiver, or as an “appetizer” in order to encourage the user to pay a subscription fee. The ancillary signal can separately be recorded in digital video recorders so as to assist the user in finding the beginning of a scrambled program on tape. The ancillary signal can also be generated at the transmitter end and transmitted at a low bit rate. A decoder for decoding such an ancillary signal is considerably simpler and less expensive than a full-spec MPEG decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Jürgen F. Rosengren, Ronald W. J. J. Saeijs
  • Patent number: 6741277
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for the automated testing of digital television receivers. The automated test system comprises a digital video signal unit capable of sending a digital video test pattern to a digital television receiver. The digital video signal unit is capable of receiving from the digital television receiver a reconstructed digital video signal representing the digital video test pattern as displayed by the digital receiver television receiver. The automated test system comprises a test processing unit that is capable of comparing the digital video test pattern with the reconstructed digital video signal to determine the video quality of operation of the digital television receiver. The system and method of the present invention compares the digital video test pattern and the reconstructed digital video signal by 1) comparing the amount of jitter, and 2) comparing the signal to noise ratio, and 3) computing percentage similarity between an image block of each of the two video signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Arun N. Rau
  • Patent number: 6735164
    Abstract: A device for reading information stored on an information disc (2), and perhaps for writing information to the disc (2) as well. The device includes at least one position switch (1) for recognizing the position of the information disc (2), each position switch (1) comprising at least two detection elements for detecting two reference points disposed along the circumference of a circle whose center corresponds to the center of the information disc (2) when it is in a reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Norbert Kunze, Stefan Müller, Horst Rumpf
  • Patent number: 6732324
    Abstract: A receiver for receiving digital signals comprises a front end (18) for receiving RF signals and converting them into an input signal for an de-interleaver 22 for obtaining a de-interleaved signal. The output of the de-interleaver is connected to a decoder (24) which can be a Reed-Solomon decoder. The decoder (24) is able to use erasure information which indicates possible positions of errors in the de-interleaved signal for increasing the number of errors the decoder (24) can correct. In order to improve the error correcting capabilities of the receiver, this receiver comprises error prediction means (26) which predict the position of errors in the next codewords due to error bursts from the errors found in the present codeword. Such a predicted error is handled as an erasure by the decoder (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Arie Geert Cornelis Koppelaar
  • Patent number: 6718307
    Abstract: A speech input based input device (100) has a standby mode in which it can only recognize its activation instruction and an operational mode in which it can recognize commands for control of an apparatus. When the device (100) recognizes in the speech input its activation instruction it switches into the operational mode. The device remains in the operational mode for as long as commands are recognized and returns to the standby mode if no commands are recognized for a given period of time. The device according to the invention may have a signaling module (126) for producing audible signals to inform the user about the mode or mode changes of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Vincentius P. Buil, Paul A. P. Kaufholz, Lucas J. F. Geurts
  • Patent number: 6701128
    Abstract: The transmission system according to the invention comprises a transmitter (10) and a receiver (12). The transmitter (10) can transmit a multicarrier signal (11) to the receiver (12). The receiver (12) comprises an interference absorption circuit (20), which interference absorption circuit (20) comprises interference detection means (26) for detecting interference components, e.g. impulsive noise components, included in the multicarrier signal (11) and interference removal means (28) for substantially removing the interference components from the multicarrier signal (11). The interference detection means (26) are arranged for generating and supplying to the interference removal means (28) an interference presence signal (27) which is indicative of the presence of the interference components in the multicarrier signal (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Arie Kuehn, Efthimios Tsilioukas
  • Patent number: 6687908
    Abstract: An interactive television system for selectively retrieving video images or teletext pages from a remote transmitter (1). User requests are communicated to the transmitter through the telephone network (5). The selected images (e.g. teletext pages) are provided with an image address (a personal teletext page number) and transmitted through a broadcast medium (4). A broadcast receiver (6) captures, stores and displays images having a particular address in a further autonomous manner. In order to prevent co-viewers from tracing the image address and thus watching personal information intended for an individual user on their broadcast receivers (3), the service provider sends a control command (the teletext “stop” command) to the receiver through the network whenever a new image has been transmitted. Then, the provider broadcasts a different image having the same image address. In view of the stop command, the individual receiver will ignore this “pseudo-image” while this image will.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Daniele Santilli
  • Patent number: 6674484
    Abstract: The two dimensional sample rate conversion capabilities of a video display system are used to produce three-dimensional effects. Linear and non-linear scaling is applied to a video image to convey a sense of depth. The three dimensional effects are used to increase the visual appeal of existing and new feature sets in display systems. A multi-faceted object representation, such as a representation of a cube or a pyramid, can be used to display different video images on each facet of the representation. By appropriately scaling each image on each facet, an impression of depth is achieved. The images on the different facets can be selected to represent different aspects of a common theme, such as datacast information related to a primary source of information. Channel changing on a television can be presented as a rotation of the multifaceted object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Liza G. Boland, Johan G. Janssen
  • Patent number: 6670942
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sampler (2) and a method for converting a signal (S1) into a multiple signal (S220 . . . S222), comprising a stage (22) of sample & hold circuits (220 . . . 222). The sampler (2) comprises an input circuit (20) having means (201) for applying a signal (S1) in bursts (S20) to the stage (22). Successive bursts are separated by a time interval (&Dgr;t1, &Dgr;t2). In this way, an increased sample time of the signal (S222) in the last channel is provided for a display panel (3) or a subsequent sample & hold circuit. In general, use of the invention ensures that the number of stages in a sampler can be reduced. The resulting, more compact design is very suitable for integration because the power consumption can be kept low. The arrangement requires less buffering, which makes it simpler to avoid uniformity problems and ghost images. A signal input in bursts requires memories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Cornelis G. M. Van Asma, Matheus J. G. Lammers