Abstract: A channel selecting method and apparatus. In addition to selecting a current viewing channel by using one of two tuners, a channel predicted to be selected is selected by using the other tuner. If a channel change to the channel predicted to be selected is requested, a signal of the selected channel is selected as a signal of the viewing channel.

Abstract: An image mode selecting method and apparatus for a television receiver which can display n images corresponding to n image modes on a screen utilizing a picture-in-picture (PIP) display function, so that a user can easily select an optimum image among the displayed images. According to the method and apparatus, the n images corresponding to the n image modes are displayed on the n PIP regions of the screen, respectively, by pressing an image selection key, and then the optimum image among the n displayed images can be selected by pressing a numeral key corresponding to the selected image.

Abstract: The system enables listeners and viewers of a broadcast to access additional information associated with a broadcast. Listeners and viewers utilize a user device to connect to a database containing program descriptions (e.g. audio, text, video, or combination thereof) further describing the programming and ancillary information. The database is indexed by the broadcast's program list or schedule thereby allowing a user of the system to search and select a particular program description of interest. Hearing or viewing program descriptions enables users to preview excerpts and review a broadcast before purchasing an item heard or viewed on a broadcast.

Abstract: A method for displaying an enhanced multimedia presentation including personalized supplementary audio, video, and graphic content selectable by a user and rendered by a receiving device, comprises the steps of: communicating a multimedia presentation file to the receiving device, the multimedia presentation file comprising base multimedia presentation content and, frame-synchronized information including starting frame timing identifier, ending frame timing identifier, starting frame spatial coordinates, ending frame spatial coordinates, and motion vector specifications for describing frame-accurate location, motion and timing of the personalized supplementary audio, video, and graphic content, the frame-synchronized information indicating one or more free areas of the multimedia presentation absent significant base multimedia content; extracting the frame-synchronized information from the multimedia presentation file; retrieving the personalized supplementary content from the receiving device; decoding the

Abstract: A picture processing apparatus for picture-in-picture applications where the number of pixels n in the horizontal direction of an original picture, the number of pixels m in the vertical direction thereof, the number of pixels N in the horizontal direction of the converted picture, and the number of pixels M in the vertical direction thereof are supplied to a dividing device. Thus, ratios A=N/n and B=M/m are obtained. The inverse number 1/A of the value A is cumulated by circuits. An address generating circuit generates addresses at four points for calculating a density value a of a converted pixel corresponding to the integer part of a cumulated value &Sgr;(1/A). These addresses are supplied to memories. The pixel data at the four points that are read from the memories are supplied to respective multiplying devices. The decimal part of the value &Sgr;(1/A) is supplied as an interpolating coefficient p to a multiplying device. A coefficient (1−q) is supplied to a multiplying device.

Abstract: The invention provides an information providing apparatus and method by which the amount of data to be transmitted when data of a program table composed of characters and images or the like are to be transmitted is reduced and it is made possible to cope with a change in contents of data rapidly. Data of an electronic program guide to be provided is hierarchized into data (A1 data) which may possibly be changed such as the broadcasting date, the start time and the end time, data (A2 data) which are not changed at all such as a program name, and data (A3 data) composed of still pictures, moving pictures, voice and so forth which have comparatively large data amounts, and for each medium, data of a hierarchy suitable for the medium is provided. Each A3 data is referred to by one or a plurality of A2 data, and each A2 data is referred to by one or a plurality of A1 data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating the source of noise ingress into a CATV system return path by coupling a filter having a passband in the noise frequency bandwidth to the nodes between adjacent return path amplifiers. The filter is sequentially coupled to the nodes, working away from the CATV system headend. A signal level meter or the like monitors the effect on the noise of coupling the filter to the nodes. When a node is reached at which coupling of the filter to the node no longer has any effect on the signal level in the node, the source of the noise is isolated in the node immediately preceding the node under test.

Abstract: One embodiment of a de-interlacing device has a decoder that extracts decoding motion vector data for use in de-interlacing of decompressed picture data, from an MPEG-2 type compressed data stream containing interlaced decompressed picture data made up of macroblock of data. The de-interlacing device also has a video rendering device for receiving the extracted decoding motion vector data from the decoder. The decoder has a determinator for determining whether the macroblock of data contains motion based on the decoding motion vector data and at least a subset of the block of data. The decoder generates motion vector based de-interlacing information containing information indicating whether each macroblock contains motion or no motion and if desired, a level of confidence that the referenced data is suitable for a particular method of de-interlacing.

Abstract: Methods of testing circuits for degradation of electrical signals and compensating for this degradation are disclosed. One such method involves visually comparing a visual representation of a reference signal generated by a test signal source, which can be made substantially identical to an original signal, and a degraded signal generated by another test signal source after passing through a video system. The degraded image is then adjusted to visually match the reference image. Another disclosed method involves converting a degraded signal that has passed through a video system into two substantially identical copies of said degraded video signal and then adjusting one of the two substantially identical copies of said degraded video signal to compensate for the degradation of the system while comparing it with the other substantially identical copy of said degraded signal which remains uncompensated.

Abstract: An interactive entertainment apparatus and a method for controlling the same are described, in which the apparatus presents to the user a branch structured narrative (90), and user input determines which path (A,B) is followed at at least one narrative branch point (92). The user is enabled to selectively capture predetermined pieces of narrative information at interaction points (72) and subsequently reintroduce them at a later interaction point (73). Branch point selection is then handled by the apparatus in dependence on which information was reintroduced and at what point in the narrative. On-screen guidance is provided to the user in terms of interaction point indicators, and reminder artefacts for captured information in the form of miniaturised still pictures from the narrative.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cable television system including a broadcasting center and terminal devices. When a notification data is to be transmitted to each terminal device, the broadcasting center transmits a channel data indicating a channel through which the notification data is transmitted. The terminal device, upon receipt of the channel data, stores the channel data in a memory. When the terminal device is turned OFF, the last viewed channel number is stored in the memory. When, the terminal device is turned ON, if the channel data transmitted from the broadcasting center is stored in the memory, the terminal device is tuned in the channel indicated by the channel data, while if the channel data is not stored in the memory, the terminal device is tuned in the last viewed channel.

Abstract: A system for providing an interactive look-and-feel in a digital video broadcast via an X-Y protocol is provided. At a head-end, video information is digitized and associated with private data, such as event identifications, X-Y coordinates, link event identification and synchronization data. This information is then transmitted to a receiving end and is input into a set-top box. The set-top box receives the broadcast digital signal and includes a member for receiving the broadcast digital signal and generating a playable signal including indicia of the link data. The playable signal is then played on a playing device. The user is provided with a remote control or similar input device for selecting from the indicia. Upon selection of a desired indicia, the user may exercise the predetermined link associated with the selected indicia in order to obtain the desired playable signal.

Abstract: A method of simultaneously displaying two pictures on a screen of an Internet-functional television receiver (TV) capable of improving the information utility of the Internet-functional TV and providing convenience in use. The method includes the steps of determining whether or not the number of total lines of home-page data inputted from Internet to the TV exceeds a predetermined number of lines, displaying the home-page data as a single picture on the screen if the number of total lines of the home-page data is less than the predetermined number of lines as a result of determination, and dividing the home-page data into two pictures if the number of total lines of the home-page data exceeds the predetermined number of lines as a result of determination, and simultaneously displaying the two divided pictures on the screen.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method for removing noise by distinguishing between edge and non-edge pixels and applying a first noise removal technique to pixels classified as non-edge pixels and a second noise removal technique to pixels classified as edge pixels. The methodology operates on images while in a Color Filter Array (CFA) domain prior to color interpolation, and uses techniques suited to the classification, whether edge or non-edge.

Abstract: A convectional 2-1 interlaced (nominally 50 Hz field rate or nominally 60 Hz field rate) television signal is converted to a form suitable for display on a progressively-scanned variable-frame-rate high-resolution computer-type monitor. First, a succession of progressively-scanned video frames is derived from the interlaced television signal and each frame is repeated at least twice in succession When the interlaced television sign is derived from a motion picture source, the progressively scanned frames are derived by merging opposite polarity fields derived from tho same motion picture frame. For other sources, other interlace-to-progressive scan techniques, such as line duplication or line interpolation, are employed. The sequences of repeated progressively-scanned frames are written into a two frame memory at rate derived from the timing of the progressively-scanned video frames and are read out at a rate derived from the timing of the monitor's frame rate.

Abstract: Multi-channel Electronic Program Guide acquisition and soft picture-in-picture system for use with digital television receiver. The digital television receiver uses its central processing unit (CPU) to perform a software decode of packets received from a main tuner and/or a picture-in-picture. This allows the CPU to display video from pictures within the same RF channel or within another channel simultaneously with video information decoded in real-time by a hardware decoder. Also, in the case of a digital television with two tuners, the CPU can acquire and accumulate EPG data from multiple channels.

Abstract: An institutional television receiver includes parental content controls for selectively blocking television signals based upon encoded ratings therein. The television receiver is coupled to a control center via a communications path. User preferences regarding the parental content controls are set, enabled, and disabled from the control center. User commands are supplied from the television receiver to the control center which, in turn, sends appropriate commands back to the receiver for controlling it.

Abstract: A wideband signal distribution unit for receiving a plurality of inputs and having a plurality of outputs is provided. The distribution unit features a first combiner having an output and being connected to a first subset of the plurality of inputs. A second combiner having an output is connected to a second subset of the plurality of inputs. A phase shifting combiner having inputs each connected to the outputs of the first and second combiners supplies a combined signal to an output connected to a splitter which is connected to the plurality of signal distribution unit outputs. The phase shifting combiner is designed to apply a phase shift to one of its inputs.