Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting and remotely displaying the audio and visual portion of a person speaking so that the audio and visual signals are synchronized. The audio signal is constantly transmitted to the receiver and is also used to create a predicted image of the lips of the talking head. The actual lip image is compared to the predicted lip image. Based upon this comparison, it is determined which of three signals is to be transmitted to the receiver: no signal corresponding to the video signal, a signal corresponding only to the differences between the actual lip image and a predicted lip image, or the actual lip image. The receiver reconstructs a lip image based upon the audio signal received and the signal received, if any, corresponding to the video image and inserts it into the previously received video frame or modifies the previous frame accordingly.

Abstract: A multi-channel audio messaging system for cable television, installed at the headend, enables multiple different input audio messages to be supplied to multiple different channels of a cable television system. Multiple analog audio input message sources are supplied as a multiplexed audio input to a digitizer which outputs digitized audio signals which are switched and decoded, under the control of a microprocessor to provide different audio messages on desired channels.

Abstract: A video signal routing system includes a video signal carrying line arranged in a loop beginning and ending at a signal multiplexer, a plurality of video cameras electrically connected to the line at points spaced therealong, and a video output line connected to receive video signals from the multiplexer. A synchronization signal insertion device and a code signal insertion device are located in the video signal carrying line adjacent the beginning of the loop between the multiplexer and the cameras. A duplicate synchronization signal insertion device and a duplicate code signal insertion device are located in the video signal carrying line adjacent the end of the loop between the multiplexer and the cameras. A timing generator and interface receives signals from a synch detector and a video level detector in the video output line and is controlled by a microcontroller.

Abstract: A fusing system is provided in connection with an integrated circuit, which may be mounted within a semiconductor integrated circuit package having a plurality of external pins. The fusing system is provided with a fusing control circuit operable in an adjusting mode and in a fusing mode, which receives a serial data signal and uses that signal in one way when in an adjusting mode and in another way when in a fusing mode. A fusing circuit is provided for fusing selected ones of the fusible links when the fusing control circuit is in the fusing mode. The fusing system may be used as part of an automatic gain control system for automatically controlling the signal strength of a video signal output from a video processing circuit.

Abstract: A bidirectional cable network having a signal distribution system that prevents undesirable energy in the bidirectional cable network's return path from adversely effecting the entire network. The signal distribution system a first signal transmitted in a forward path direction over the bidirectional communication path from a headend to a plurality of remote points. Signals transmitted in a return path direction are time division multiplexed on a series of cyclically reoccurring time slots where at least one of the cyclically reoccurring time slots is assigned to each of the plurality of remote points.

Abstract: The present invention includes a capacitor, a charge/discharge circuit for generating a charging current having a value increasing with the increase of the frequency of the horizontal sync signal to charge the capacitor in a time period of the horizontal sync signal and a time period of the vertical sync signal. The charge/discharge circuit discharges the capacitor in other time periods to reduce a difference of the horizontal sync signal frequency. A comparator compares the voltage of the capacitor with a predetermined reference voltage to detect the vertical sync signal.

Abstract: Systems that distribute live television programs to passengers of an aircraft by way of satellites of a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) system when the aircraft is in range of the satellites and distributes time-delayed television programs when the aircraft is out of range of the satellites. The present invention provides for real-time reception and storage of live television programs in a storage medium (in compressed digital format) and presentation to passengers during that time when the aircraft is within the coverage area of satellites. The stored programming is distributed to the passengers later in the flight, when the aircraft is out of range of the satellites. The stored programming includes all channels transmitted by the satellites. Thus, a large number of programs are made available to the passengers on a time-delay basis. A low-cost system is disclosed that distributes a single television channel to overhead monitors and headphones.

Abstract: A video signal editing apparatus that can easily switch the entire apparatus to a predetermined setting.

Abstract: The cable television digital audio system of the present invention provides seamless reception and integration of analog video and audio programs and digital audio programs. The system comprises a settop terminal with a digital audio module for receiving an RF modulated digital data stream. The settop terminal permits the simultaneous reception of analog video and audio broadcasts and digital audio broadcasts. The digital audio module may include a separate frequency agile RF tuner enabling both the settop terminal and digital audio module to be tuned to and reproduce separate programs. A television monitor receiver displays normal video programming from the settop terminal and also provides on-screen display (OSD) of channel selection and program information.

Abstract: A two-way broadcasting system and method by which the amount of accesses from the reception side can be controlled with certainty by the broadcasting side and a receiving apparatus for use with the method wherein, information of a reply to a question from a broadcasting side is transmitted from a reception side to the broadcasting side by way of a telephone line. Each receiving apparatus on the reception side has individual identification information, and the broadcasting side broadcasts information regarding a reply destination and telephone call origination limiting information for limiting transmission of the information of a reply in a multiplexed condition with a broadcasting signal from the broadcasting side.

Abstract: A system that provides live television programming to passengers by integrating direct broadcast satellite services into an in-flight aircraft entertainment system. The present invention is a satellite television system that has an antenna disposed on the aircraft that is pointed at a plurality of satellites that are part of a direct broadcast satellite system. The antenna is controlled by an antenna controller and antenna interface unit that send control signals and process status signals to steer the antenna. The antenna is steered to lock it onto RF signals transmitted by the satellites. The antenna interface unit downconverts the received RF signals to provide left hand circularly polarized RF signals and right hand circularly polarized RF signals that contain different sets of television channels. The downconverted RF signals are processed by a receiver/decoder that decodes them to provide video signals corresponding to different television channels.

Abstract: An information on demand system provides a user of a terminal (subscriber) information through a network such as CATV such that the user pays an adequate charge to a server (information provider). According to the information on demand system, the received information can be recorded in a recording medium under control of the terminal equipment. Cases in which 1) the subscriber merely watches a program on a television receiver and; 2) the subscriber records the program and watches it by reproducing the recorded information at another time are distinguished and the subscriber is charged a different amount by the server accordingly.

Abstract: An arrangement for stabilizing a horizontal synchronization signal, serving as an input signal for a phase-locked loop (PLL) for generating a clock signal, by separating the horizontal synchronization signal from a composite synchronization signal including both horizontal and vertical synchronization signals. A horizontal synchronization gate signal is generated for outputting a pulse signal approximately in phase with the horizontal synchronization signal and having at least the pulse width of the horizontal synchronization signal in accordance with the composite synchronization signal and a clock pulse signal having a predetermined frequency. The horizontal synchronization signal is retrieved from the composite synchronization signal in accordance with a logical product when matching the polarity of the horizontal synchronization gate signal with the polarity of the composite synchronization signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically identifying a program broadcast by a radio station or by a television channel, or recorded on a medium, by adding an inaudible encoded message to the sound signal of the program, the message identifying the broadcasting channel or station, the program, and/or the exact date. In one embodiment the sound signal is transmitted via an analog-to-digital converter to a data processor enabling frequency components to be split up, enabling the energy in some of the frequency components to be altered in a predetermined manner to form an encoded identification message, and with the output from the data processor being connected via a digital-to-analog converter to an audio output for broadcasting or recording the sound signal. In another embodiment, an analog bandpass filter is employed to separate a band of frequencies from the sound signal so that energy in the separated band may be thus altered to encode the sound signal.

Abstract: The improved settop terminal of the present invention utilizes a subscriber's television as the preferred graphical interface to simultaneously provide channel in-band and out-of-band program information to a subscriber. A subscriber may tune, view and select from among a plurality of digital audio channels and analog video channels. In-band and out-of-band information is integrated into a multi-page program guide displayed on a subscriber's television. This integration permits subscribers to visually scan and view information about currently playing selections available on other channels without having to switch to them. While listening to a music selection, the subscriber may navigate through the program guide. Program information such as the title of a song, artist and record label are also displayed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device which generates a vertical synchronizing signal of video signals according to digital methods.

Abstract: A method for producing a digital video signal from an analog video signal, the analog video signal including an analog video data signal that is raster scanned in lines across a CRT screen to form consecutive frames of video information, the raster scanning controlled by use of a horizontal synchronizing signal (H.sub.sync) that controls a line scan rate, and a vertical synchronizing signal (V.sub.sync) that controls a frame refresh rate, to produce consecutive frames of video information, wherein the digital video signal is produced by generating a pixel clock signal with pixel clocks for repetitively sampling instantaneous values of the analog video data signal, and digitizing the analog video data signal based on the pixel clock sampling. An expected width E, measured in number of pixel clocks, of a video image producible by the analog video signal is estimated, and an actual width W, measured in number of pixel clocks, of the video image producible by the analog video signal is calculated.

Abstract: Bandwidth is increased and noise may be reduced in a shared hybrid fiber-coax transmission system (10) by digitally modulating upstream information onto a high frequency band (e.g., 750-1000 MHz) and thereafter digitally regenerating the high frequency upstream information.

Abstract: A vertical deflection control circuit includes a double-speed counter (18) for counting a clock with a frequency of 2f.sub.H, f.sub.H representing a horizontal frequency of an inputted video signal, in synchronism with a vertical sync signal, timing generating means (20) for judging even-field/odd-field of the input video signal and generating a timing signal based on a judged result, and offset signal adding circuitry (28) for adding an offset value to an output of the double-speed counter (18) at a timing of the timing signal, thereby a video signal in a vertical deflection system can be double-scanning-converted with a simple arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method (200) and an apparatus (100) for spatially adaptive filtering for video encoding. The apparatus filters a video sequence prior the encoding process. The apparatus comprises a noise variance determiner (102), a local variance determiner (104), a noise visibility function determiner (106), a Gaussian kernel determiner (108), and a convolver (110). The apparatus removes noise directly from a Displaced Frame Difference, DFD, signal. This novel approach removes noise and miscellaneous high frequency components from the DFD signal without the introduction of the filtering artifacts characteristic of current techniques. By reducing the miscellaneous high frequency components, the present invention is capable of reducing the amount of information that must be encoded by the video encoder without substantially degrading the decoded video sequence.