Abstract: A programmable synchronizing system for selectively providing synchronizing signals at different rates, such as for incorporation in a video signal decompression system, includes an oscillator and a programmable counter. The programmable counter is conditioned to count pulses from the oscillator by alternate moduli in predetermined sequences to generate the synchronizing signals. The desired synchronization rate is effectively the average of the counter output resulting from counting by the alternate moduli.

Abstract: A method for compatibly tuning a video signal receiver to an image processing device involves generating a prompting message for display to prompt a user to initiate a command response. First and second signals are generated. Each signal incorporates the prompting message but only one of the signals is compatibly tuned to the display. The first and second signals are alternately provided to the display and the prompting message is legibly displayed when the compatibly tuned signal is provided. The signal that is compatibly tuned to the display is selected in response to the command.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a wipe sequence on a display device from incoming compressed video bitstreams, accomplishes the wipe function processing entirely in the compressed domain of the compressed video bitstreams. The old and new video bitstreams or sequences separately undergo a 2-dimensional convolution between its decoded DCT coefficients and stored DCT coefficients of a particular known wipe function. Each convolved bitstream is buffered with its quantization scale and then summed with the other. The summed output bitstream is used by a multiplexer along with each bitstream's decoded macroblock data to provide a seamed output bitstream. A controller controls the process such as frame correlation for convolution and output multiplexing of the summed bitstreams.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reformatting auxiliary information such as closed caption text that is extracted from a television signal. The apparatus reformats the text by removing redundant spaces, reorganizing the text to fit into an arbitrary sized closed caption window, converting any closed caption display mode (e.g., pop on, paint on or roll up) into a modified roll on display, and inserting speaker identifier prompts into the caption.

Abstract: An electron beam tends to slope downwardly as it is deflected horizontally to form a raster in a video display apparatus. The sloping of the beam can cause geometric errors in the raster, for example orthogonality and parallelogram errors. A raster correction circuit substantially offsets the downward slope of the electron beam by modulating a vertical deflection current with an induced horizontal-rate raster correction current, thereby substantially eliminating orthogonality and parallelogram errors in the raster. In respective embodiments of an inventive arrangement taught herein, the horizontal-rate raster correction current is induced in the vertical deflection coils by magnetically coupling a filament pulse waveform, a horizontal deflection voltage waveform, or a horizontal deflection current into the vertical deflection coils.

Abstract: An apparatus and concomitant method for constructing a valid OSD message bitstream from a plurality of stored character bitstreams. Each character of the OSD font set is initially scaled into a fixed block size, e.g., a block size of 16.times.16 pixels. Each character is then encoded into a "character bitstream" using the intra macroblock coding syntax. The character bitstream is stored within a storage medium. When a frame of OSD messages needs to be encoded, the character bitstreams are read from the storage medium and cascaded to form a valid OSD message bitstream which represents the frame of OSD messages.

Abstract: A projection television comprises a projection screen formed by a three dimensional hologram disposed on a film substrate. A projection tube has an optical path in a substantially orthogonal orientation with the screen and two other projection tubes have respective optical paths converging toward the first optical path at angles of incidence .alpha.. The hologram has a configuration effective for reducing color shift in the displayed images. The screen has a color shift less than or equal to approximately 5 for all angles .alpha., where 0.degree.<.alpha..ltoreq.30.degree., as determined by the maximum value obtained from at least one of the following expressions: ##EQU1## where .theta. is any angle within a range horizontal viewing angles, C(.theta.) is the color shift at angle .theta., red(.theta.) is the red luminance level at angle .theta., blue(.theta.) is the blue luminance level at angle .theta. and green(.theta.) is the green luminance level at angle .theta..

Abstract: A data transmission bus system is disclosed which includes a plurality of nodes coupled together by a ring bus. The ring bus transmits data in successive bus cycles, each bus cycle containing a plurality of bus words. One of the bus words in the bus cycle is a bus cycle synchronization word and the remainder of which are data words. The plurality of data words are allocated to a plurality of data channels.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for acquiring a program from a packetized signal in response to ancillary information included in the packetized signal. The packetized signal includes a plurality of program signals and ancillary information associated with the plurality of program signals. The apparatus includes means for identifying the ancillary information from the packetized signal, the ancillary information including master guide information for use in identifying and acquiring special guide information, and special guide information for use in acquiring program information associated with the plurality of program signals. The program signals may be acquired using identifier information that may be derived from the ancillary information. The apparatus includes means responsive to the ancillary information for acquiring a selected program from the packetized signal.

Abstract: A VCR includes apparatus for controlling a cable converter unit. In a preferred embodiment, infrared (IR) transmission of commands from the VCR to the cable converter unit is employed. An LED assembly holds the LEDs in a predetermined orientation and provides first and second IR ports through which different amounts of IR signals are transmitted.

Abstract: Apparatus for combining an auxiliary image and a main image includes a source of a main image signal and a source of samples representing an auxiliary image signal. A subsampler selectively subsamples the auxiliary image samples in either a quincunx subsampling pattern or a rectangular subsampling pattern. A signal combiner combines the main image signal and a signal representing the subsampled auxiliary image samples to generate a combined image signal. A control circuit generates a freeze control signal for the subsampler which conditions it to take samples in the rectangular subsampling pattern during a freeze frame operation, and in the quincunx sampling pattern otherwise.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for using a wide screen television receiver operating at 2f.sub.H as a VGA or SVGA monitor. The VGA or SVGA board in a computer is programmed to generate an RGB video signal representing a picture having fewer than a normal number of horizontal lines than a conventional VGA or SVGA picture having a 4:3 format display ratio, in order to define a picture having a wide format display ratio, for example 16:9. The separate synchronizing signals of the RGB video signal are converted in polarity and phase, as necessary, to a form recognizable by a video processing circuit of the wide screen television receiver.

Abstract: A controller and media-reader are used to identify various physical or logical characteristics of data stored on a pre-recorded medium. These characteristics may include, e.g., the kind of medium, the kind of data, the way the data is segmented or separated, the size of any data segments, the total amount of data or physical size of the medium carrying the data. A controller then compares the identified set of characteristics to stored sets of characteristics which are associated with respective content-identifiers. A successful comparison yields content-identifiers applicable to the data stored on the pre-recorded medium. These content identifiers may be, e.g., information identifying the titles and length of audio or video programs included on the media. The stored sets of characteristic and content identifiers may be located at a remote site.

Abstract: The absence of MPEG processing in a consumer digital recorder player may preclude on-screen message display of recorder status. Various methods are disclosed which facilitate the on-screen display of recorder player status messages. A first embodiment returns a reproduced decoded, analog video signal (102) to the digital recorder player (200) for insertion of status messages. In a further embodiment recorder message data (221) is coupled to the digital signal decoder (100,117,520) for inclusion with the decoded analog video signal (102). In a another embodiment a recorder message command (TAG/CMD) is coupled to the decoder (100,510) to access recorder specific graphical messages. In yet a further embodiment, recorder message data (221) is tagged and coupled to the decoder (100,510) to select recorder specific graphical messages if available or to display recorder message data.

Abstract: Packetized program information used in video processing and storage medium formats includes multiple text strings. A decoder decodes packetized program information containing multiple text strings associated with a program. The decoder determines from a first indicator in the packetized program information a type of coding and compression employed in encoding a first text string. The decoder decodes the first text string with a decoding function selected in accordance with the determined type of coding and assembles decoded text string elements to form an output text string.

Abstract: A selection or display feature of a jukebox containing a plurality of storage media, such as CDs, is automatically programmed by determining a content-related profile of information stored on a medium and, utilizing the profile, retrieving content-descriptive information and utilizing the content-descriptive information. A screen display generator performs diskography on, e.g., an audio or video disk, to determine a disk profile, compares the disk profile to those stored in either a local or remote database, receives associated program descriptive data and incorporates the program descriptive data into a menu for display and selection.