Abstract: Processing functions in a communication device are partitioned into a sequence of operational levels having corresponding status indications which are captured prior to a fault or other abnormal condition and retained during re-cycling of the sequence of operations for use in status monitoring or fault diagnosis. In a modem performing a sequence of operations including groups of one or more individual operations having an associated status indication, a method is used for capturing an indication of system status. The method involves generating hierarchically ordered status indications reflecting the status of completion of sequentially performed groups of operations in which individual status indications are associated with corresponding groups of operations. The generated status indications are captured and retained following initiation of repetition of the groups of operations and are provided as identification of an attained operational status of the system for operation diagnosis (e.g.

Abstract: A method and device for decoding a packetized data stream comprising packets is disclosed. Each packet comprises a header and a payload encapsulating an elementary stream. The method includes selecting an object header in the elementary stream, inserting a packetized data stream packet header before the object header and transferring the inserted packet header, the object header, and data of the packetized data stream consecutive to the object header to a packetized data stream parser. This is applicable to digital video systems and in particular to digital television decoders.

Abstract: A scanning device optically scans picture information and further information provided on an original film and makes the information available as digitized data, the scanned information not being converted into the original information contents. A storage device stores the data obtained from the film scanner as digital data, and a display device separates data reproduced by the storage device in accordance with their original location on the original film and makes them available as separate data signals.

Abstract: An adaptive channel equalizer (50) for processing a demodulated VSB signal containing terrestrial broadcast high definition television information includes an adaptive feed forward filter (FFF 20) and an adaptive decision feedback filter (DFF 30). The equalizer is preceded by a demodulator/carrier recovery network (18) and does not include a carrier recovery function in the equalizer control loop. The equalizer FFF and DFF elements operate adaptively in blind, training, and decision-directed modes. A direct connection provided from the equalizer output to the DFF facilitates coarse signal acquisition and equalization during the blind operating mode.

Abstract: The interactive multimedia devices is based on network structures involving: a broadcasting network (120) and a return path network (140). On the broadcasting network, the interactive data are multiplexed with the broadcast audiovisual signals so as to offer interactivity to connected end-users on the return path network. To address specific sociological profiles, and to save bandwidth, a plurality of filters, let's say a number N, is associated with a single interactive application. In such case, the comparison continues until one of the N filters match the profile stored in the terminal permanent memory. If one of the filters matches the viewer's profile, the interactive application is executed, else the application is ignored. In this way, a plurality of categories of viewers can interact. A plurality of filters can be associated with an interactive application with different contents. To each filter corresponds a content.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for parameter borrowing for network address translator (NAT) configuration by receiving, at a first dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) device, a DHCP lease request from a client, determining, from the DHCP lease request, first communication parameters of the client, and enabling the determined first communication parameters to be used by a second DHCP device, the determined first communication parameters adapted for use in upstream DHCP lease requests by the second DHCP device.

Abstract: An FM broadcast transmitter transmits a broadcast signal having a carrier at a broadcast frequency and sidebands, able to be transmitted at full power, within a transmission band-width around the carrier. It includes a source of a modulated FM stereo signal having a carrier at the broadcast frequency and having sidebands with a bandwidth less than the transmission bandwidth representing a stereo signal. It also includes a source of a modulated IBOC signal, having carrier pulses spaced relative to each other to represent the IBOC digital data signal encoded as a variable pulse width encoded signal, and a bandwidth within the transmission bandwidth not overlapping the FM stereo signal sidebands. A signal combiner combines the modulated FM stereo signal and the modulated IBOC signal to form the broadcast signal.

Abstract: A variable aperture coding/decoding system suitable for use in a spread spectrum system provides multiple phase coding of an input NRZ bitstream. Each bit of a coded output signal is coded to encompass a predetermined different number of clock periods depending on the logic level of the input signal. A coded bit exhibits a predetermined reference number of clock periods, eg., 9, when the input signal does not exhibit a logic level transition. When the input signal exhibits a phase change from a 0 to a 1 logic level, the bit width of an associated coded bit is increased by 1 clock period, to 10 clock periods. When the input signal exhibits a phase change from a 1 to a 0 logic level, the bit width of an associated coded bit is decreased by 1 clock period, to 8 clocks periods. Thus the coded output signal may contain three types of information represented by a bit width change proportional to predetermined factor N.

Abstract: An electrical insulation device for bidirectional connecting lines is proposed which operates reliably at high frequencies and can be integrated easily on a chip. In accordance with a first embodiment, for the purpose of electrical isolation, two separate optocouplers are provided per bidirectional connecting line. A control unit evaluates the control signals which are output by one of the two circuit units, and thereupon activates one of the two optocouplers while the other optocoupler is simultaneously deactivated, in order, in this way, to allow transmission of signals via the associated connecting line in one direction. In a second embodiment of the invention, only a single optocoupler is provided per bidirectional connecting line.

Abstract: An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) receiver that compensates for FFT window drift by extracting a training symbol from a fast Fourier transformed OFDM signal, and processing the extracted training symbol to derive an FFT window adjustment factor and an associated equalizer tap initialization value. The OFDM receiver controls the position of an FFT window and the initialization of equalizer taps using the FFT adjustment factor and equalizer tap initialization value. The OFDM receiver preferably filters the fast Fourier transformed OFDM signal to remove additive channel noise and increase the likelihood of reliable equalizer tap initialization in a low SNR environment.

Abstract: There is provided a method for providing ancillary information to a user of a telecommunications device. The ancillary information is received during a time period when the user of the telecommunications device is in a hold operating mode during a telecommunications device voice based teleconference. The ancillary information is at least one of audibly and visually reproduced for the user, wherein the category of ancillary information is preselected by the user.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for calculating a least mean square algorithm using an N-tap filter. A modified least mean square algorithm is used for the calculation. In a first calculation step, calculation is effected using a first, wide bit width in the N taps. In a second step, depending on the result of the first calculation step, a second, smaller number of bits is selected for the further method steps.

Abstract: Described is a TV system that uses a single pixmap across multiple video rasters having different raster sizes. In general, the TV system uses at least two headers to select different portions of a single pixmap to be displayed based on different raster sizes. Specifically, each of the two headers points to a single pixmap. In the TV system, the size of the central portion is fixed while the size of the sidepanel portion can be adjusted depending on the displaying mode. In response to different displaying modes, the TV system selectively invokes one of the two headers to select a respective portion to be displayed in the pixmap. By doing so, a single pixmap can be used across multiple video rasters having different raster sizes.

Abstract: A method of indexing and searching a video database having a plurality of video shots uses 3-D camera motion parameters. For each video shot the 3-D camera motion parameters are estimated, rates of tracking, booming, dollying, panning, tilting, rolling and zooming are computed, and the results are indexed in a metadata index file in the video database according to the types of camera. The video database is searched by selecting one of the types of camera motion and submitting a query. The query is processed to identify those video shots in the video database that satisfy the query in order of priority. The highest priority video shots are displayed for the user.

Abstract: An output packet stream generator in a remodulator system includes a source of a stream of input transport packets and a source of additional packets. A multiplexer is coupled to the input transport packet stream source and the additional packet source and generates the output packet stream. A control signal has a variable characteristic having a first state when an input transport packet should be inserted into the output packet stream and a second state when additional packets should be inserted into the output packet stream. A multiplexer controller conditions the multiplexer to insert an input transport packet into the output packet stream when the control signal has the first state, and an additional packet into the output packet stream when the control signal has the second state.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a system for encoding grey levels which makes it possible to reduce the problems of contouring by increasing the number of subscans using subscans common to several rows, thereby remedying the error due to the difference between the grey levels of simultaneously scanned cells. The invention provides a method and a device which make row groupings dynamically according to the content of the image.

Abstract: In a system for receiving a signal containing digital data representing HDTV image information in the form of multilevel symbols formatted into groups of successive fields, each field comprising a field segment, a plurality of data segments, and associated sync components, the received signal is demodulated to produce a demodulated signal. The demodulated signal is comb-filtered to reject NTSC co-channel interference to produce a filtered signal. The filtered signal is trellis decoded with a trellis decoder employing a recursive non-Euclidean metric.

Abstract: A digital data modulator is coupled to a source of a digital data signal having a data bit period, and a source of an auxiliary data signal. An encoder encodes the digital data using a variable pulse width code having edges occurring in an interval within the data bit period. A pulse signal generator, generates respective pulses representing the edges of the encoded digital data signal. A carrier signal generator generates a carrier signal having carrier pulses corresponding to the respective pulses during the interval, and modulated by the auxiliary data signal otherwise. A digital data demodulator is coupled to a source of a modulated signal including successive bit periods, each having a first interval containing a carrier pulse, spaced relative to other carrier pulses, to represent a variable pulse width encoded digital data signal, and a second interval during which the carrier is modulated with an auxiliary data signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an error-correction method for use in a process of decoding cross-interleaved Reed-Solomon code (CIRC) that corrects errors in data stored as C1 code words and C2 code words in a memory with several locations, each of said locations containing a data byte of said data, and an apparatus performing said method. The new method implies specific regulations for defining which data words are to be used for C1 and C2 decoding and for the processing order. The system memory for a deinterleaver implementation can be of a smaller size as compared to conventional memories. In addition, only a single CIRC decoder needs to be used for performing the process of decoding cross-interleaved Reed-Solomon code.

Abstract: An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) receiver detects and corrects sampling offsets in the time domain. The OFDM receiver oversamples a training sequence or symbol in a received OFDM signal, correlates the oversampled training sequence with a stored copy of a truncated version of the training sequence, locates a correlation peak, and derives a sampling offset by calculating a difference in magnitude of correlation samples in the vicinity of the correlation peak.