Abstract: A method and an apparatus for performing the method of decoding and playing in reverse MPEG encoded content. The MPEG encoded content comprises a plurality of pictures frames. The picture frames are comprised of one or more picture frame types selected from the group of picture frame types including I-frames, P-frames, and B-frames. The method and the apparatus for performing the method comprise the steps of obtaining a group of MPEG picture frames (“GOP”), determining the total number of picture frames in the GOP, and setting an index value equal to the total number of picture frames in the GOP. Next, a picture frame F that has a display order equal to the index value is decoded and displayed, and the earliest B-frame that depends upon frame F is determined.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that allows a display device to adaptively and automatically control display contrast and color is disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for generating an interpolated pixel at a vertical position in a field of a video frame. The method comprises the steps of receiving at least two pixels vertically adjacent the vertical position in the field and at least three pixels from at least one adjacent field, detecting a degree of motion in the vicinity of the interpolated pixel, providing weighting factors based on the degree of motion, and calculating the interpolated pixel based on a combination of weighted contributions from the at least two pixels and the at least three pixels. The weighted contributions are derived from a combination of the weighting factors and at least vertical-temporal and temporal interpolation.

Abstract: Displaying the images encoded in a display signal which also contains synchronization signals and display enable (DE) signal. The DE signal indicates the time points at which the display data portion of the display signal contains active pixel data elements representing image frames. A display unit generates HDISP and VDISP signals (indicative of the active time in which active pixels and lines are respectively received) based on the DE signal. As the DE signal generally tracks (in the time domain) the active pixel data elements, the active pixel data elements forming image frames are accurately identified, and a superior image quality generally results.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that allows a display device to adaptively and automatically control display contrast and color is disclosed. The method and system in accordance with the present invention can be described by the following sequential process: 1. Separating an input image data value into its luma and chroma components. 2. Collecting the luma distribution data over the entire image or a specified window. 3. Analyzing the luma distribution. 4. Generating an appropriate contrast control response that modifies the input luma component to generate an output luma component, on a pixel by pixel basis. 5. Analyzing the input luma component and the output luma component, and an input chroma component, to generate an appropriate modification for the chroma component, on a pixel by pixel basis.

Abstract: A processor having a limited amount of local memory for storing code and/or data utilizes a program stored in external memory. The program stored in external memory is configured into blocks which can be loaded individually into the local memory for execution. Queuing the individual blocks of code allows the program to be executed by the processor and also facilitates loading of the subsequent code to be executed. A semaphore system can be utilized to indicate which blocks of local memory are available/unavailable. The system can support the interaction of multiple independent programs in external memory.

Abstract: A method for generating from an input signal with a predetermined input spatial resolution a high contrast rescaled image having a predetermined output spatial resolution which differs from the input spatial resolution, comprising the steps of generating output samples from input samples of the input signal, detecting predetermined ones of the output samples which occur in excess of a predetermined time threshold from nearest occurring ones of said input samples detecting image details in the input signal at the nearest occurring ones of the input samples, and shifting the predetermined ones of the output samples so as to substantially align with the image details and thereby enhance image contrast of the details.

Abstract: A monolithic integrated circuit for use in a digital display unit. The circuit may include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a scaler and a clock recovery circuit. The present invention enables the integration of at least these components into a single monolithic integrated circuit while maintaining reasonable display quality. Specifically, the monolithic integrated circuit is designed for substantial immunity from noise, which may otherwise result from integration.

Abstract: A processor having a limited amount of local memory for storing code and/or data utilizes a program stored in external memory. The program stored in external memory is configured into blocks which can be loaded individually into the local memory for execution. Queuing the individual blocks of code allows the program to be executed by the processor and also facilitates loading of the subsequent code to be executed. A semaphore system can be utilized to indicate which blocks of local memory are available/unavailable. The system can support the interaction of multiple independent programs in external memory.

Abstract: A processor having a limited amount of local memory for storing code and/or data utilizes a program stored in external memory. The program stored in external memory is configured into blocks which can be loaded individually into the local memory for execution. Queuing the individual blocks of code allows the program to be executed by the processor and also facilitates loading of the subsequent code to be executed. A semaphore system can be utilized to indicate which blocks of local memory are available/unavailable. The system can support the interaction of multiple independent programs in external memory.

Abstract: A method and system for scaling an image in accordance with the present invention is disclosed. The method utilizes a plurality of interpolators operating in parallel. Each interpolator operates with a different spatial offset with respect to the other. The final output is the average the output of each interpolator. Normally the initial value of the horizontal and vertical DDA's is zero. Offset is introduced by introducing an initial value in the DDA. Offset has the physical effect of manipulating the weights required for the averaging process in interpolation. Horizontal offset is the initial value in the Horizontal DDA while the vertical offset is the initial value in the Vertical DDA. The present invention relates to implementation in a semiconductor integrated circuit but the concepts can be used in software based image resizing (scaling) algorithms too.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a multi-processing unit system including a plurality of processing units in direct communication via a communication bus is presented. The system includes a communication bus arbiter having a communication packet multiplexer. Each of the processing units include a communication bus interface comprising a transmitter interface and a receiver interface. Each of the transmitter interfaces are connected to the communication packet multiplexer of the communication bus arbiter via separate 32-bit interfaces. Each of the receiver interfaces is connected to the communication packet multiplexer of the communication bus arbiter via a single 32-bit bus. The system may further comprise a first control signal connection means for communicating control signals between the transmitter interface and the communication bus arbiter and a second control signal connection means for communicating control signal between the receiver interface and the communication bus arbiter.

Abstract: A processor having a limited amount of local memory for storing code and/or data utilizes a program stored in external memory. The program stored in external memory is configured into blocks which can be loaded individually into the local memory for execution. Queuing the individual blocks of code allows the program to be executed by the processor and also facilitates loading of the subsequent code to be executed. A semaphore system can be utilized to indicate which blocks of local memory are available/unavailable. A group of transfer parameters as queue entries allow code and data for an algorithm to be transferred between both local and external memory.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for detecting a sub-pixel pair susceptible of producing a flicker event in an image from a video signal source displayed on a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit is described. A two dimensional flicker pattern analysis is performed on a selected group of sub-pixels some of which are included in a first plurality of sub-pixels that includes a first current sub-pixel and a first next sub-pixel included in a first video frameline and a remainder of which are included in a second plurality of sub-pixels included in a second video frameline that is received, in real time, from the video signal source that includes a second current sub-pixel and a second current sub-pixel.

Abstract: A system for processing information, such as audio/video information utilized in a DVD player, can be implemented without the need for a buffer, such as a track buffer, located between the source of audio/video information and the demultiplexer which parses a packet of data. The packet of data can then be parsed into audio, video, subpicture, or navigation, portions and stored for decoding. In one embodiment, a DVD player utilizes a circuit that is synchronized to the speed of the DVD drive rather than to the speed of the decoders for each portion of data.

Abstract: A computing system comprising a host device which includes a serial communication bus and a processor for controlling communication over the serial communication bus. The computing system further comprises one or more peripheral devices connected to the communication bus. Communication between the host device and the peripheral devices is facilitated by a communication protocol, which includes a procedure for discovering whether the configuration of peripheral devices connected to the communication bus has changed. The discovery procedure starts by the host device sending a first command to all peripheral devices connected to the serial communication bus to determine if the configuration of any of the peripheral devices has changed. If a new peripheral device has been added to the communication bus, the host sends a focus command to a first comm bus port on the communication bus to focus that particular port.

Abstract: A self-adaptive method for controlling a self-biased PLL system is disclosed. The method comprises providing an application-dependent input frequency; and providing an application-dependent number N representing the ratio between the output frequency and the application-dependent input frequency to the PLL system. In a system and method in accordance with the present invention, the bandwidth and damping factor are tracked, not only with the input frequency but with the divider ratio as well. Therefore, jitter is minimized for any operating condition (i.e., input frequency variations [N]). The charge-pump current is made to be proportional to the VCO current ID and inversely proportional to the frequency range N; and the loop filter resistor is made to be inversely proportional to the square root of the VCO current ID and proportional to N. In so doing, the bandwidth and damping factors can be tracked more comprehensively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus used to step and correct the position of raster lines in a sinusoidal or zig-zag deflection system. By combining the magnetic flux generated with a rotation “twister” coil and a vertical deflection coil, scan lines can be uniformly spaced and separated nearly to their ends. Accordingly, the magnetic flux generated with the twister coil is adjusted going in the left to right direction then reversed in polarity and readjusted while returning from right to left. It is this controlled twister flux that combines with the linear vertical deflection flux to straighten and then step each scan line to produce an aligned raster.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided whereby the motion between two video fields of opposite parity may be measured so as to discriminate between the presence of motion and lack thereof. The level of motion at a specified position is determined by comparing a first motion value derived from successive fields of opposite parity with a second motion value derived from successive fields of the same parity at the spatial location corresponding to that used to generate the first motion value. This determination is made with one field being common to the first and second motion values, and taking the minimum of the first and second motion values to be the motion value at that position.

Abstract: A method for measuring motion at a horizontal and vertical position between video fields of opposite parity comprising the steps of measuring the signal values of at least two vertically adjacent pixels from a video field of one parity and at least two vertically adjacent pixels from a video field of the opposite parity such that when taken together, the pixels represent contiguous samples of an image at said horizontal and vertical position, and determining whether the signal value of any of the pixels lies between the signal values of adjacent pixels in the field of opposite parity and in response outputting a zero motion value, otherwise, outputting a motion value equal to the lowest absolute difference between any of the pixels and its closest adjacent pixel in the field of opposite parity.