Abstract: A communication system has a plurality of stations which communicate data in a data frame having a plurality of slots, wherein the plurality of slots are new message minislots NMS, expansion minislots EMS, and data slots DS. A master station determines a range parameter R which is based upon a number of slave stations transmitting reservation requests in a data frame. The master station also determines a slot parameter MAP according to a number of reservation requests in a queue waiting to be processed by the master station. The slot parameter MAP defines the new message minislots, the expansion minislots, and the data slots in an upstream data frame. The master station transmits the range parameter R and the slot parameter MAP to a plurality of slave stations. Each slave station independently determines a random transmission parameter RN.

Abstract: A web television includes a monitor, a communication bus, an internet module, a tuner, and a television controller. The internet module is coupled to the communication bus, and is arranged to provide internet video for display on the monitor. The internet video is derived from internet communications between the internet module and internet content providers. The tuner is arranged to select television video for display by the monitor. The television controller is coupled to the communication bus, and is arranged to switch the monitor between the internet video and the television video. Also, the television controller receives displacement information from a remote control device and transmits the received displacement information to the internet module over the communication bus.

Abstract: A digital television signal includes successive frames of two fields each comprising 313 data segments with the first data segment in each field functioning as a field sync. The field sync segment comprises a 511 PN sequence and three 63 pseudo-random number (PN) sequences, with the middle one of the 63 PN sequences alternating polarity in successive fields. A reference data segment is compared with the 511 PN sequence in each data segment and the data segment with the least number of errors is identified as the first data segment in the field. The corresponding portion of the reference segment is compared with the middle 63 PN sequences in the identified first data segments and that with the least number of errors is determined to be the first segment in the frame. Confidence counters are used to assure reliable determinations.

Abstract: A communication system has a plurality of stations which communicate data in a data frame having a plurality of slots, wherein the plurality of slots are data slots DS and/or minislots MS. A master station determines a range parameter R which is based upon a number of slave stations transmitting reservation requests in a data frame, the master station determines a minislot parameter MP according to a number of reservation requests in a queue waiting to be processed by the master station, and the master station transmits the range parameter R and the minislot parameter MP to a plurality of slave stations. Each slave station independently determines a random transmission parameter N. Each slave station transmits a reservation request to the master station if its random transmission parameter N corresponds to the minislot parameter MP and abstains from transmitting a reservation request to the master station if its random transmission parameter N does not correspond to the minislot parameter MP.

Abstract: A symbol sync acquisition circuit for a digital VSB signal finds sync pattern correlations in the incoming signal. Initially both positive and negative sync pattern correlations are accorded equal weight, with non sync pattern correlations being accorded a negative weight. Values are accumulated in a segment integrator and stored in a FIFO having a location for each symbol position in a segment. A comparator initially produces an output when sync pattern correlations are found that add to a given value. After a relatively small number of correlations, as tabulated in a confidence counter, a VCO is enabled to change its frequency under control of error pulses based upon the symbol sync. After a greater number of sync pattern correlations, the symbol position in the segment is fixed, sliding to a new symbol location in the FIFO is precluded, the signal polarity is determined and changed, if necessary, and a higher threshold is established for the comparator.

Abstract: A communication system has a plurality of stations which communicate data in a data frame having a plurality of slots including data slots DS, new message minislots MS0, and/or old message minislots MS1. A master station determines new and old message range parameters R0 and R1 which are based upon colliding reservation requests in a data frame. The master station determines the new and old message minislots MS0 and MS1 according to reservation request activity. The master station transmits the new and old message range parameters R0 and R1, and a MAP defining the new and old message minislots MS0 and MS1 to a plurality of slave stations. Each slave station independently determines transmission parameters N0 and N1 within the corresponding new and old message range parameters R0 and R1.

Abstract: A television receiver includes a removable panel that physically supports an integrated circuit board that provides for external control of certain of the receiver functions. A telephone jack and an antenna jack are secured to the removable panel for enabling external access. The television receiver has a separate communications microprocessor that communicates with the master microprocessor controller and a power supply that provides low voltage power for external use.

Abstract: A data transposition system reorders successive input groups of N data elements received in column order into corresponding output groups of data elements arranged in row order. The system includes a memory having N data element storage locations and a transposition address generator for repetitively generating a series of different sequences of address signals. The address signals of each sequence are sequentially applied to the memory for reading the data elements stored at the addressed storage locations for providing the output groups of data elements. Each read data element is replaced with the data element of the next input group corresponding in order to the order of the respective address signal within its associated sequence.

Abstract: An apparatus for re-rotating and deinterleaving data includes (i) a first memory for storing D elements of rotated and interleaved data in D storage locations, (ii) a first addresser for addressing the first memory in order to read de-rotated and interleaved data out of the D storage locations and to write rotated and interleaved data into the D storage locations, (iii) a second memory for storing mD elements of the de-rotated and interleaved data read out of the first memory, wherein the de-rotated and interleaved data read out of the first memory are stored in mD storage locations of the second memory, and (iv) a second addresser for addressing the second memory in order to read de-rotated and de-interleaved data out of the mD storage locations and to write de-rotated and interleaved data from the first memory into the mD storage locations. The first addresser may include an address counter, an offset generator, and a modulo adder.

Abstract: The disclosed data processor develops a data signal which has a plurality of multi-level symbols. The data processor, in response to each of the symbols, determines the lowest path metric characterizing the data signal, and selects one of a plurality of sets of slice values in response to the lowest path metric. A slicer responds to the selected set of slice values by slicing the multi-level symbols. There may be only two sets of slice values in the plurality of sets of slice values, wherein each of the only two sets has three slice levels. Alternatively, there may be only five sets of slice values in the plurality of sets of slice values, wherein each of the only five sets has five slice levels. As a still further alternative, there may be only two sets of slice values in the plurality of sets of slice values, wherein each of the only two sets has a minimum of six slice levels.

Abstract: A VCR tuning system wherein broadcast channels 3/4, used for VCR tuning, has a different frequency assignment in a different tuning band. A special VCR indicia is added to the active tuning list and is accessed when VCR tuning is selected. The indicia is mapped to the corresponding frequencies of broadcast channels 3/4 as determined by the VCR flag. Non VCR indicia channel selections access look up tables corresponding to the various tuning bands in the system in the usual manner.

Abstract: A high frequency partial transformer hybrid includes a first divided circular conductive element affixed to one side of an insulated substrate and a second split circular conductive element affixed to the other side of the substrate juxtaposed to the first element. Plated-through holes in the substrate interconnect pads on the first and second elements. Connection tabs on the elements are adapted to be connected to conductors on a printed circuit board when the substrate is orthogonally supported in a rectangular recess in the substrate. In a transformer hybrid embodiment, a third continuous circular conductive element is supported on an additional substrate in alignment with and insulated from the second element. The third element also includes connection tabs that are connectable to the conductors on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An MPEG multiplexed data transmission system accepts data from N program sources that are asynchronous and that have different data rates and multiplexes them into a common data stream. N buffers corresponding to the N program sources are provided along with a filler buffer that supplies a filler MPEG data packet when none of the N buffers includes a complete packet of data. An algorithm is described that modifies the fullness of the individual N buffers by a factor that comprises the program rate multiplied by an empirically determined constant K. The arrangement optimizes jitter introduced by multiplexing the programs.

Abstract: A sync suppression, phase inversion scrambling system for a television signal is modified to improve its anti-piracy attributes SAW filters are switched during horizontal intervals to introduce scrambling The switching is a function of a mode signal and framing code signals of two different widths A false framing code signal is inserted during the vertical interval to switch the filters.

Abstract: A Uni-Bipotential in-line electron gun for a color cathode ray tube includes a specially shaped G4 electrode for compensating the gun for comatic distortion. In the G4 electrodes the three apertures are oblong in shape, with the two outer apertures being horizontally displaced from the beam axis to inwardly displace the electron beams so that they substantially fall on the respective optical axes of symmetry of the main lens.

Abstract: An MPEG multiplexed data transmission system accepts data from a plurality of sources and supplies them, on a packet basis, to a common data stream. The non uniform jitter experienced by the packets is determined by subtracting the average delay for packets in a program from the current packet delay. PCR packets have their time base extracted, corrected for the calculated non uniform time delay and replaced as the PCR packet is supplied to the common data stream.

Abstract: A mirror for a rear projection television receiver is formed of stretched and heat-shrunk metallized plastic film A U-shaped aluminum frame is formed out of roll stock and cut and bent into the desired shape The frame has a flat front surface that includes a smooth raised inner edge in contact with the metallized plastic film, which is adhesively secured to the flat front surface of the frame. A rigid backing is secured in close proximity to the metallized plastic film by having its edges sandwiched by the U-shaped frame. The frame has support brackets affixed thereto.

Abstract: A method and system for converting an input signal into a dynamically-controlled digital output signal. A sensitivity and a threshold level of a digital input signal is adjusted. An absolute value or a constant polarity of the adjusted digital input signal is compared to a previous output signal and at least one state variable is modified to achieve a desired attack time of the filter. The adjusted digital signal is either then passed through or bypassed around the filter to produce the dynanically-controlled digital output signal.