Abstract: A method and system for synchronizing signals. First and second signals are sent (compressed or uncompressed) from a source to a receiving apparatus of a receiving system. The first signal has content of a first modality (e.g., audio) and the second signal has content of a second modality (e.g., video). The first and second signals are to be displayed on a display apparatus of the receiving system. The first and second signals have been time-synchronized at the source. If the first and second signals are not synchronized in time when received at the receiving apparatus, then the first and second signals may be time-synchronized at the receiving apparatus either manually or through timestamping of both signals at the source, in conjunction with use of a real-time clock at the receiving apparatus.

Abstract: A method for trick-mode play of an encrypted transport stream containing audio/video/data information comprising: extracting and decrypting data used as local metadata for programs in the encrypted transport stream; creating trick-mode pointers from the metadata; and storing the trick-mode pointers and the encrypted transport stream on a storage medium.

Abstract: A device for automatically providing program information to a television display upon detection of an event in the program. The event being a user definable event. The device also provides automatic PIP display of the program having the event and a delay of the event so that it is not missed by the viewer.

Abstract: A method for trick-mode play of an encrypted transport stream containing audio/video/data information comprising: extracting and decrypting data used as local metadata for programs in the encrypted transport stream; creating trick-mode pointers from the metadata; and storing the trick-mode pointers and the encrypted transport stream on a storage medium.

Abstract: A pixelated image display system comprising: a first panel including an array of pixel elements, each pixel element partially masked by an opaque region; one or more additional panels, each additional panel including an array of pixel elements, each pixel element partially masked by an opaque region; means for directing a different subset of pixel data from an image dataset to each the panel to control the pixel elements of each panel; and means for aligning and projecting interleaved pixel elements, in at least one of the horizontal and vertical directions, from each panel onto a screen to form a pixelated image.

Abstract: The invention relates in general to a television receiver that is capable of displaying two video programs and an electronic program guide (“EPG”) simultaneously. The EPG is displayed in a first portion of a split screen containing a picture-in-picture (PIP) display. Scanning of the electronic program guide causes different video programs to be displayed in the PIP display while the user is still able to watch the original video program on a second split screen.

Abstract: A device for automatically providing program information to a television display upon detection of an event in the program. The event being a user definable event. The device also provides automatic PIP display of the program having the event and a delay of the event so that it is not missed by the viewer.

Abstract: A device for automatically providing program information to a television display upon detection of an event in the program. The event being a user definable event. The device also provides automatic PIP display of the program having the event and a delay of the event so that it is not missed by the viewer.

Abstract: A display or projection of an image as an array of pixels is, effectively, a sampling process, and pre- and post-filtering must be applied to avoid aliasing and to properly reconstruct the image. Because the sampling is performed by the display/projection of the pixels forming the image, the pre-filtering must be applied to the video signal before it is formed into pixels, and the post-filtering must be applied, optically, after the pixels are formed. The pre-filtering process can also compensate for the non-uniform characteristics of the display or the post-filtering process. As such, the occurrence and severity of visual artifacts introduced into the display or projection of an image are reduced.

Abstract: A slow Phase Locked Loop (PLL) is utilized to prevent an abrupt change to a video display containing multiple images, when the source of the synchronization is changed. Such displays include Picture in Picture (PIP) television systems and computer displays. By appropriate buffering and memory management, visual disruptions can be minimized by slowly synchronizing the display synchronization signals to the new synchronization source. The slow synchronization also produces a less disruptive visual image when the source, or channel, of a single image display is changed, and allows for smooth visual transitions on displays having inertial elements, such as color wheels.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically synchronizing a video system to one of a plurality of composite synchronizing signals in accordance with a plurality of known video formats, includes a number of synchronizing signal stripper circuits, corresponding, respectively, to a number of types of composite synchronizing signals, a horizontal analyzer, having a plurality of horizontal standard identification circuits corresponding to a identification circuits for each known horizontal synchronizing signal rate for each type of composite synchronizing signal, for determining an approximate horizontal synchronizing signal rate and, a vertical analyzer, having a plurality of vertical rate identification circuits corresponding to the number of different known vertical rates, for determining the vertical synchronizing signal rate.

Abstract: A matrix display of light reflecting elements is capable of displaying images represented by data codes received from a variety of different sources at different respective frame rates. The codes are stored at whatever frame rate they are received, but are read at a subframe rate which is an integral multiple of each of the different frame rates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding a television source signal having a first bandwidth, into a frequency multiplexed signal having a narrower bandwidth and comprising a plurality of subcarriers modulated with digital information. Each of said subcarriers has an amplitude, bandwidth and coding characteristic which reflects the relative importance of the digital information provided thereby. The frequency multiplexed signal is suitable for use in a broadcasting environment wherein a conventional television signal is also used and wherein said subcarriers are disposed in frequency, in positions which are least likely to result in interference to or from said conventional signal. The invention also includes a receiver for decoding the frequency multiplexed signal and for providing a high definition display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating and receiving a high definition television signal suitable for use in a broadcasting environment wherein a conventional television signal is also used, having multiple frequency multiplexed subcarriers placed within the frequency spectrum of the signal so as to minimize interference with and from the conventional television signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for digital encoding are described for compressing the augmentation channel signals (chrominance and luminance signals for panel information and high frequency luminance and line difference signal) so that this information can be transmitted in a 3 MHz wide RF channel using a digital transmission scheme such as QPSK. Analog signal components are sampled and converted to digital signals. Each of the signals is fed into a separate coder which reduces the number of bits/pixel required to reconstruct the original signal. Compression is achieved by quantization and removal of redundancy. The compression scheme is based on the use of DCT together with VLC. Each augmentation signal has its own coder, which is adapted to the unique statistics of this signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding a television source signal having a first bandwidth, into a frequency multiplexed signal having a narrower bandwidth and comprising a plurality of subcarriers modulated with digital information. Each of said subcarriers has an amplitude, bandwidth and coding characteristic which reflects the relative importance of the digital information provided thereby. The frequency multiplexed signal is suitable for use in a broadcasting environment wherein a conventional television signal is also used and wherein said subcarriers are disposed in frequency, in positions which are least likely to result in interference to or from said conventional signal. The invention also includes a receiver for decoding the frequency multiplexed signal and for providing a high definition display.

Abstract: Each line of a wide aspect ratio television signal is divided into a main panel component and two augmentation panel components for transmission or storage. The two augmentation panels are transmitted in a multiplex analog format on the same channel. They are transmitted adjacent to one another so that additional signals such as audio signals will occupy the same time slots regardless of the respective widths of the panels. (The sum of the panel widths remains constant even in pan and scan operations). Weighted transition augmentation samples effect a transition from the last redundant pixel of one augmentation panel component to the first redundant pixel of the second augmentation panel component.

Abstract: Each line of a wide aspect ratio television signal is divided into a main panel component and an autmentation panel component joined to the main panel component at a stitch point for transmission or storage. At the transmitter, a first signal is extracted from the horizontal line signal, the first signal including the main panel component, a plurality of main panel redundant pixels extending from the main panel into the augmentation panel component, and a multiplicity of weighted main panel transition samples extending further into said augmentation panel component from the redundant samples. Similiarly, a second signal includes the augmentation panel component, a plurality of augmentation panel redundant samples extending into the main panel and a plurality of transition augmentation samples extending from the redundant augmentation samples further into the main panel and weighted to create a predetermined transition curve.

Abstract: A high definition television signal with a sequential scan with the standard number of lines per frame and double the frame frequency is processed to generate a single MAC line having a duration substantially equal to that of four sequential lines of standard duration. Each MAC line has two luminance components having different compression ratios. For the remaining two lines, compressed line difference signals are transmitted, thereby allowing reconstruction of all luminance lines at the receiver. Each MAC line further has a U chrominance component and a V chrominance component, alternatively compressed 1:4 and 1:2. The remaining parts of each MAC line are taken up by data signals and audio as well as the necessary clamping. The luminance and chrominance signals are prefiltered to prevent artifacts. The filtering is geared to the visual characteristics of the human visual system, i.e.

Abstract: A high definition television system to provide an efficient use of bandwidths, derives from a high definition television source signal, composite main signals and composite line differential signals. These signals are divided into main center components and main panel components and line differential center components and line differential panel components. The line differential center components and main center components are then quadrature modulated and transmitted as a vestigial sideband signal over a first transmission path. The main panel components and the line differential panel components are quadrature modulated and formed into a vestigial sideband signal which is then time multiplexed with the high frequency luminance signal forming a time multiplexed signal. The time multiplexed signal is then frequency multiplexed with a digital sound and synchronization signal in order to form an augmentation signal which is transmitted over a portion of a second transmission path.