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.

Abstract: A satellite television system that provides live television programming to passengers by integrating direct broadcast satellite services into an in-flight aircraft entertainment system. The system 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 encoded RF signals to provide encoded left hand circularly polarized RF signals and right hand circularly polarized RF signals that contain different sets of television channels. The downconverted encoded RF signals are processed by a receiver to provide encoded video and audio signals of different television channels. The receiver does not decode or D/A convert the downconverted signals.

Abstract: A horizontal synchronizing apparatus includes a source for providing a horizontal synch. signal, a horizontal deflection circuit for generating a deflection current having scanning intervals and blanking intervals repetitively successing in response to driving pulses and having retrace pulses which delay from the driving pulses as a function of a load on the horizontal deflection circuit, a phase locked loop having an input, an output and a first feedback path, for producing from the output a substantial bi-level signal synchronized to the horizontal synch. signal applied to the input, and a phase controlled loop having an input, an output and a second feedback path, for maintaining the retrace pulses synchronous with the bi-level signals.

Abstract: A multiplex frame format for transmitting digital data in a data transmission system comprises a PACKETS portion comprising a highly error-protected region and a region having only Reed Solomon encoding as an error protection measure, the PACKETS portion including low speed data. The frame format also comprises portions for transmitting medium (AUDIO) and high speed (VIDEO) data streams following the PACKETS portion. Prior to transmission, the composed frame comprising the PACKETS, AUDIO and VIDEO portions is interleaved and the BLOCK SYNC and FRAME SYNC are added. A multiplex structure control packet word of the PACKETS portion immediately follows FRAME SYNC. Thus, the FRAME SYNC word defines where interleaving begins. A demultiplexer in concert with a microcontroller of a decoder decodes the multiplex structure control word and related PACKETS and outputs digital data streams to related output peripheral processors.

Abstract: Portions of multimedia program (presentation) are repetitively broadcast to receiving stations with subsequent portions being broadcast less frequently than preceding portions. Blocks of at least one of the portions are broadcast in varying permutations from one repetition to a next repetition. Further, each portion is of a length which is proportional to a sum of the lengths of all preceding portions. A receiver is provided with selects blocks to be skipped (in a pyramid type broadcast) based on information indicative of the permutation selected by the server. The receiver determines the number of blocks to skip before buffering the next block for the video being viewed.

Abstract: An automotive video display of a scene from a camera has a graphics window to display vehicle information. A video graphics controller has a programmable synchronous generator for the graphics window which is synchronized or gen-locked with the camera or external video signal. A digital sync separator provides digital external sync signals. A start circuit monitors the external sync signals to detect the start of a video frame and starts the sync generator which is initially in synchronism with the external signal. A phase locked loop maintains the synchronism. A crystal oscillator circuit includes an inductor and a varactor which is tuned to vary the oscillator frequency enough to track the external video signal.

Abstract: The invention provides an image data communication system of a simple construction wherein wasteful processing is eliminated so that desired image data can be transmitted rapidly to a terminal of a source of a request for the image data. A server and a plurality of terminals are interconnected so as to allow communication of image data. A terminal information retrieval section provided in the server discriminates whether or not image data requested from a first terminal have already been transmitted to a second terminal. An image data transfer section provided in the server requests, when a result of the discrimination is that the data have been transmitted already, the second terminal for transmission of the image data and transfers the image data received from the second terminal to the first terminal.

Abstract: A system for estimating listening audience characteristics in response to radio broadcast programming includes a central office, a plurality of remote survey sites, and a plurality of remote access sites. The survey sites collect survey data describing radio stations to which vehicle-mounted tuners are tuned. The survey data is downloaded to the central office, where the survey data is associated with a radio program broadcast by a radio station. The survey data and the radio program are presented at the remote access sites in a substantially synchronous format such that audience responses to specific radio programming can be observed.