Abstract: An apparatus and method for customizing a pre-existing signal that includes at least a video signal. The video signal is received at a video interface, and data used for customizing the video signal is received at a data interface. The data is applied to the video signal to generate a customized video signal.

Abstract: Triggers for interactive television display are incorporated into a video stream in coordination with graphics associated with the triggers. Graphic sources such as channels (16,18) of a character generator (21) supply graphics associated with the triggers to graphic signal inputs (26,28) of a switch. When a channel supplies a graphic, a message denoting the associated trigger and associating the trigger with the channel is forwarded to a gateway computer (60). The gateway computer monitors connections between graphic signal inputs (26,28) and the video output (32) of the switch, and forwards triggers associated with a particular channel to an inserter (40) only if such channel is connected to output (32).

Abstract: Triggers for interactive television display are incorporated into a video stream in coordination with graphics associated with the triggers. Graphic sources such as channels (16, 18) of a character generator (21) supply graphics associated with the triggers to graphic signal inputs (26, 28) of a switch. When a channel supplies a graphic, a message denoting the associated trigger and associating the trigger with the channel is forwarded to a gateway computer (60). The gateway computer monitors connections between graphic signal inputs (26, 28) and the video output (32) of the switch, and forwards triggers associated with a particular channel to an inserter (40) only if such channel is connected to output (32).

Abstract: A computer hardware system for editing a video signal includes, a first signal bus employing a first bus interface, and a second signal bus employing a second bus interface and adapted to carry at least one video signal. The system desirably further includes a general purpose computer connected to the first bus and operating according to a first operating system; and a video graphics computer connected to the first signal bus and the second signal bus. The video graphics computer operates according to a second operating system. The video graphics computer is adapted for editing the video signal transmitted along the second signal bus according to commands from the general purpose computer.

Abstract: Graphics metadata is embedded in an input video signal at a first system, to form a processed video signal which is distributed to a plurality of second systems, typically cable or broadcast systems. Each individual second system can edit the metadata and insert graphics into the video based on the edited metadata so as to form a final signal for broadcast or other distribution to viewers. Thus, each second system can provide a final signal with an appearance consistent with the brand identity of that individual second system. The metadata facilitates storage and retrieval of the video.

Abstract: A content distribution system provides the ability for a user to select content from one location and, if problems develop in streaming the content to the user, to automatically fallback to a second location for the content. In particular, the system comprises a client-side computer, a management server, a reporting server, and an asset server. The client-side computer comprises a player for playing content to a user. The player initially selects a provider for providing the content as a function of previous service data associated with the provider, via the management server. If problems are encountered with providing the content from the selected provider, the player dynamically falls back to another provider of the content.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for providing an automated edit procedure between film and video formats is provided wherein a video edit becomes within one video field the exact replica of a film edit. Film frames (1/24th of a second) are read by video scans (1st and 2nd fields in 1/30th of a second) in a 3:2 pull down wherein successive movie frame scans are provided with four classes of video scans. These classes of video scans include (Class A) odd/even scans; (Class B) odd/even/odd scans; (Class C) even/odd/scans; and, finally (Class D) even/odd/even scans. All edits are limited to film frame edits. Each time a film frame edit is converted to a video edit decision, the system looks at the edit out frame type and/or the edit in frame type and the cumulative current overall time differential between the video run time and the film run time for the edit. Frames are added or subtracted to keep the total error within + or - one field and a new cumulative error calculated for the next sequential edit.

Abstract: A video display system has a color display driven by a color generator for generating multicolor segments on a multiline television raster of the display. In this system, a method controls the color and the length of the lines by serially generating an array of color bytes, each being of a first class or a second class, the period being indicated by the value of a particular bit position in the line. Each of the bytes of the first class is divided into a first field and a second field, the first field being a coded-combination of bits representing a color, the second field being a coded-combination of bits representing a length, while the second class has only one field, that representing a length. By examining the particular bit it is determined whether to change the color or extend the color for the distance indicated by the length value which for the second class can now be much greater than for bytes of the first class.

Abstract: A video switching method for switching between two video signal sources for display on a monitor is employed by intensity modulating a video signal on a television raster lines and frames. Digital values representing pixel positions on the field when a switch is to occur from one source to another are stored. The representations of the pixels during the generation of the raster are counted and compared with the stored representations to effect switching when a equality between the two representatives occurs.

Abstract: In a symbol-display system which includes a keyboard for entering codes related to the symbols to be displayed and a memory for storing the codes associated with a line of symbols to be displayed, the symbols being from a font which includes at least one character represented by a set of symbols wherein the actual symbol to be used of the set is determined by the presence or absence on the displayed line of a space symbol immediately adjacent the character, there is disclosed the method of loading the codes in the memory for the display of a line of symbols by providing the keyboard with a key for each character that may be displayed as one of the symbols of the associated set wherein each of the keys represents a base symbol of the set, generating when one of the keys is depressed a base coded-combination of bits and modifying the base coded-combination of bits by changing at least one of the two least significant bits when any immediately adjacent key generated character is a space symbol.

Abstract: A scene which is divided into a plurality of pixels is raster scanned. During each scan an analog signal derived from a binary number and representing a given light intensity is compared against other analog signals representing the light intensity of each of the pixels. At any time when the light intensity of a pixel is greater than the given light intensity, the binary number associated with that given light intensity is stored in a register of a multiregister memory whose registers are assigned to the respective pixels. After each scan the given light intensity is increased.

Abstract: A color display system has a color encoder which receives intensity signals via a video generator from a graphics generator as well as color signals. The color encoder processes the color and video signals for transmission to a display monitor which then displays the graphics in color. Such a system is provided with apparatus for selecting from a palette set of colors a working subset of the color signals for use in the display of colored graphics. The apparatus includes a palette memory for storing sets of groups of indicia wherein each of the groups of indicia represents a different color signal of the set. Means are provided for sequentially transferring the groups of indicia from the palettememory to the display monitor for displaying the colors associated with the groups. A working memory stores a subset of groups of indicia. Selection means transfer from the palette memory to the working memory groups of indicia in accordance with the desired colors displayed on the display monitor.