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: 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: 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 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 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: 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 field/frame conversion method for compressed digital video, especially MPEG type video, having mixed field/frame mode macroblocks in the DCT domain utilizes a 1-D IDCT/DCT approach rather than the conventional 2-D IDCT/DCT approach. A vertical 1-D IDCT is performed on the DCT domain mixed field/frame mode macroblock to obtain a horizontal 1-D DCT domain macroblock. Thereafter, field/frame conversion is performed on the horizontal 1-D DCT domain macroblock to yield a field or frame mode horizontal 1-D DCT domain macroblock, depending on the required conversion. Finally, a vertical 1-D DCT is performed on the field/frame converted horizontal 1-D DCT domain macroblock to yield a 2-D DCT domain macroblock.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) signal transmitter/receiver system comprises a pair of transmitter/receiver units. A microcomputer-based RF carrier detect system determines when an RF signal is present or absent. The RF carrier detect system is also responsive to noise interference signals at or near its currently-tuned receiving channel. In periods of inactivity, the RF signal receiver monitors its currently-tuned channel and upon detection of noise interference or upon a determination that the currently-tuned channel is occupied, initiates a fast scan operation to identify an unoccupied and relatively interference-free channel, and transmits a command to its paired transmitter/receiver unit causing it to tune to the newly-identified unoccupied channel.

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 light-absorbing matrix 23, having openings therein, is formed on an interior surface of a faceplate panel 12 of a cathode-ray tube 10 by providing a photoreceptor thereon, electrostatically charging the photoreceptor 72 to a substantially uniform level of charge, and exposing the photoreceptor to light through openings 33 in a color selection electrode 24 to selectively discharge the more intensely illuminated areas of the photoreceptor, without substantially discharging the less intensely illuminated areas. The photoreceptor 72 comprises a plurality of layers including a photoresist layer 56, a conductive layer 62, and a photoconductive layer 66. The openings 33 in the color selection electrode 24 have a dimension substantially greater than the dimension of the openings in the resultant matrix 23.The photoreceptor 72 is contacted with a liquid toner having charged pigment particles which form toner lines 84 on the less intensely illuminated areas of the photoreceptor.

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: 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: 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.