Abstract: In an improved method of etching apertures in a thin metal sheet to form a shadow mask for a color picture tube, the metal sheet has a first acid-resistant stencil on one major surface thereof and a second acid-resistant stencil on the other major surface thereof. At least one of the stencils has openings therein at locations of intended apertures. The improvement comprises the steps of magnetically holding the metal sheet with a flat magnetic assembly, and moving the magnetic assembly magnetically holding the metal sheet thereon through an etching chamber. The magnetic assembly includes a magnetic layer that is supported on an acid-resistant board.

Abstract: A storage medium has recorded thereon a packetized digitally encoded image representative signal for forward and reverse direction reproduction. The digitally encoded signal comprises a plurality of groups of pictures, a group of the plurality of groups including at least an intra coded picture and a predicted picture. The intra coded picture type and the predicted picture type each comprise top and bottom fields. The predicted picture type has a first motion vector for decoding in the forward direction, and has a second motion vector for decoding in the reverse direction. In a further inventive arrangement a storage medium has recorded thereon a packetized digitally encoded image representative signal for forward and reverse direction reproduction. The digitally encoded signal comprises a plurality of groups of pictures, a group of said plurality of groups including at least an intra coded picture and a predicted picture.

Abstract: Video processing image manipulation and trick play modes provide seamless normal play and trick play functioning. Specifically, a system processes video data including encoded digital packetized data representative of a sequence of individual images and ancillary data identifying characteristics of the individual images. The system involves a pre-processor for parsing the ancillary data to determine characteristics of the individual images prior to storing the encoded digital packetized data. The system also includes a multiplexer for filtering the encoded digital packetized data based on the determined characteristics to identify particular images of the image sequence for storage in a memory and for excluding other images of the sequence from storage.

Abstract: A video display apparatus displays pictures from broadcast sources of standard or high definition pictures and may also display computer generated images. To display these sources a horizontal deflection signal generator is operable at a plurality of frequencies. The deflection signal generator comprises a controlled oscillator generating a output signal. A divider divides the output signal to form a horizontal frequency signal. A phase detector receives the horizontal frequency signal and a synchronizing signal and generates an analog signal for coupling to the oscillator. A digital to analog converter generates a voltage from a digital data word and couples the voltage to the oscillator. The voltage determines a center frequency of the oscillator and the analog signal controls the oscillator to synchronize with the synchronizing signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a disk medium, comprises a source of a bitstream representative of the digitally encoded signal. A processor is coupled to the bitstream for processing the bitstream to extract at least a first and a second data type represented therein. A memory is controllably coupled to the processor for storing one of the first and a second data types. A controller is coupled to control allocation of the memory, wherein a first reproducing mode the controller allocates the memory for storing the first data type, and in a second reproducing mode the controller allocates the memory for storing the second data type.

Abstract: A magneto-optic multitrack reading head which features a structure with plane layers deposited in a course of a same deposition procedure. These layers include a magnetic layer exhibiting a Kerr effect, an inter-iron gap layer and a magnetic layer for magnetic circuit closing. The magnetic layers define adjacent elementary heads, so as to be able to read multitrack media.

Abstract: Program channels are allocated first and second identification numbers in packetized program information used in video processing and storage medium formats. Packetized program information is decoded to provide data content of a program. Channel map information in the packetized program information is identified. The channel map includes a first identification number for use in identifying a first broadcast sub-channel and the first identification number is associated with a first broadcast source. The channel map also includes a second identification number for use in identifying the first broadcast sub-channel from among a group of sub-channels associated with the first identification number. The identified information is assembled to form a channel map suitable for use in identifying a program transmitted on the first broadcast channel using the first and second identification numbers in conjunction.

Abstract: Packetized video program information used in video processing and storage medium formats includes program related text messages. A decoder decodes packetized video program information including program related text messages. The decoder determines a broadcast programming time segment associated with a desired program related text message and identifies program related text message data occurring in the determined broadcast programming time segment. The decoder acquires the identified program related text message data and formats the text message data for display.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of estimation and of hierarchised coding of the motion of image sequences, consisting in partitioning the current image into macroblocks, the macroblocks into four blocks and so on, and then determining at each level a motion-vector field associated with this division, by using an iterative and recursive estimation algorithm initialised with motion vectors estimated at the previous level, and in determining a final motion-vector field from the p resulting motion-vector fields. The motion-vector field is determined using the differences in luminances between blocks corresponding in the successive images through the estimated displacement vectors of the p levels of division corresponding to each block of minimum size, and by choosing as motion vector associated with the block of minimum size the one for which the difference in luminance is a minimum over this block. The invention applies in particular to the coding of HD-MAC television images.

Abstract: A modem is included in a television receiver for transferring data, such as "pay per view" billing information, to a modem in a billing station during periodic callback operations. The television receiver modem monitors the telephone line for predetermined conditions, such as the presence of high frequency energy or a drop in the telephone line loop current, indicative of telephone use. The television receiver modem will ordinarily inhibit or terminate a callback in order to avoid interfering with normal telephone calls when the predetermined conditions are detected. However, the detection of the predetermined conditions may be caused by telephone network problems and not by normal telephone usage. Accordingly, the modem is controlled to ignore the detection of the conditions after a predetermined number of unsuccessful callbacks due to the detection of the conditions until a successful callback is achieved.

Abstract: Television apparatus includes first and second auxiliary data decoders for simultaneously extracting auxiliary data from respective first and second television signals to produce first and second auxiliary data. The data decoders can selectably extract data from one or more auxiliary data intervals, e.g., one or more line intervals during vertical blanking within a television signal. The first and second auxiliary data is coupled to a controller such as the main microprocessor of the television system. The second auxiliary data is coupled to the controller via an auxiliary data buffer and an I.sup.2 C serial data bus. The television signal from which the second auxiliary data is extracted can be provided by a second television signal source such as a second tuner or an external signal source (e.g., video cassette recorder, video disk player, and the like).

Abstract: A data transfer system is disclosed which includes a plurality of nodes coupled together by a ring bus transmitting at least a bit of a control channel in each of successive bus cycles. Nodes compete for access to the control channel according to the following method. First, an encoded preamble is generated, having a number of successive states, each state being one of a superior and an inferior state. Second, the control channel bit in a bus cycle is set to a superior state, representing a first state of the encoded preamble. Then, for each of succeeding bus cycles a control channel bit is received. If the preceding control channel bit was set to an inferior state, and the state of the received control channel bit is a superior state, then the node drops out of contention for the control channel and for the remainder of the arbitration cycle sets the control channel bit to the state of the received control channel bit.

Abstract: A video recording and playback device has a control track recorder for recording a control track signal including timing edges recorded on a tape or other storage medium together with the video program. A decoder is coupled to the control track signal and to the tape drive for switching among a forward play mode, a forward skip mode and a rewind mode, as a function of play, skip and rewind codes inserted into the control track as phase variations of edges other than those used for timing, or preferably as pulses with sloping edges distinct from the timing edges. In addition to selectively skipping sections of the video program preceded by a skip code and followed by a play code, such as commercial breaks, the device permits user editing of play and skip codes and selective multiple replays of sections of the video program preceded by a play code and followed by a rewind code.

Abstract: Image signals are transcoded from a first format to a second format, by employing multi-tap horizontal and vertical filters. The first format has higher horizontal and vertical resolution than the second format. The multi-tap horizontal filter filters lines of the image signals to convert the horizontal resolution of the first format into the horizontal resolution of the second format, wherein the horizontal filter has a filter tap ratio selected in accordance with the horizontal ratio of the first format to the second format. The multi-tap vertical filter for filtering columns of the image signals to convert the vertical resolution of the first format into the vertical resolution of the second format, wherein the vertical filter has a filter tap ratio selected in accordance with the vertical ratio of the first format to the second format.

Abstract: A receiver/recorder for television transmissions whereby continuous recording of television transmission occurs from at least one channel onto a random-access rewritable recording medium. At each of a plurality of predetermined locations a binary code is periodically written to represent a filling of predetermined portions corresponding respectively to the predetermined locations. An indexing device responds to the binary code in order to automatically distinguish between a first in time recorded transmission on the medium from a second in time recorded transmission on the medium at a particular one of the predetermined locations.

Abstract: A method and system of magnetic recording of information elements on several parallel tracks whereby the recording of information elements on a track is accomplished by inducing a magnetic field having a predetermined direction in a zone on the track and, during this recording, inducing a magnetic field with a reverse direction in zones of the neighboring tracks. A winding (L0, L1, L2) of each head is coupled to at least two winding of neighboring heads. A control current transmitted to the head provides at least one current diverted towards the neighboring heads.

Abstract: A filtering circuit suitable for use in a video sample rate converter provides a constant direct current (DC) gain irrespective of realization errors, and reduces hardware requirements. The circuit includes an input terminal for receiving an input signal. A first delay unit delays the input signal to generate a first delayed signal. A subtracting unit subtracts the input signal from the first delayed signal to generate a difference signal. A second delay unit delays the difference signal to generate a second delayed signal. A reference delay unit delays the first delayed signal by a predetermined reference time period to generate a reference signal. A filtering unit filters the second delayed signal to generate a filtered signal. An adding unit adds the reference signal to the filtered signal to generate an output signal.

Abstract: A transactional server system for transferring subscriber information requests to information service providers, and methods of operating the same result in discouraging reconstruction of the subscriber information. The transactional server system comprises a subscriber platform which transfers an encrypted identification and a message request block. A transaction server is coupled to the subscriber platform to initiate a subscriber information request in response to the message request block and the encrypted identification, and transfer the message request block to the information service providers in response to subscriber information. A database server coupled to the transaction server and having a plurality of subscriber information receives the subscriber information request and decrypts the encrypted identification to provide the subscriber information to the transaction server.

Abstract: System for recording/writing on a recording medium in which there are distributed, on the tracks, groups (G0) of tracks with positive continuous components and groups (G1) of tracks with negative continuous components. In reading, the values of the different signals are integrated for each track. Then, on the one hand, a first addition circuit S1 adds up the results of integration of the first tracks of each group of tracks and, secondly, a second addition circuit S2 adds up the results of integration of the last tracks of each group of tracks. A comparison circuit (CD) compares the results of additions of the two addition circuits to correct the track-following operation.