Abstract: A computer-based method for media composition of a family of related time-based media programs. The method involves creating a master program with time-based elements of video and/or audio as well as time-based and non-time-based metadata, creating a derivative program that includes derivative elements, defining an inheritance relationship between the master program and the derivative program that specifies elements of the master program to be inherited by the derivative program, and causing the derivative program to inherit the specified elements from the master program in accordance with the inheritance relationship. User interfaces are provided for creating, editing, and viewing hierarchical trees of related programs.

Abstract: A computer-based method for media composition of a family of related time-based media programs. The method involves creating a master program with time-based elements of video and/or audio as well as time-based and non-time-based metadata, creating a derivative program that includes derivative elements, defining an inheritance relationship between the master program and the derivative program that specifies elements of the master program to be inherited by the derivative program, and causing the derivative program to inherit the specified elements from the master program in accordance with the inheritance relationship. User interfaces are provided for creating, editing, and viewing hierarchical trees of related programs.

Abstract: A computer-based method for media composition of a family of related time-based media programs. The method involves creating a master program with time-based elements of video and/or audio as well as time-based and non-time-based metadata, creating a derivative program that includes derivative elements, defining an inheritance relationship between the master program and the derivative program that specifies elements of the master program to be inherited by the derivative program, and causing the derivative program to inherit the specified elements from the master program in accordance with the inheritance relationship. User interfaces are provided for creating, editing, and viewing hierarchical trees of related programs.

Abstract: A computer-based method for media composition of a family of related time-based media programs. The method involves creating a master program with time-based elements of video and/or audio as well as time-based and non-time-based metadata, creating a derivative program that includes derivative elements, defining an inheritance relationship between the master program and the derivative program that specifies elements of the master program to be inherited by the derivative program, and causing the derivative program to inherit the specified elements from the master program in accordance with the inheritance relationship. User interfaces are provided for creating, editing, and viewing hierarchical trees of related programs.

Abstract: An automatic testing method and device is described that can test a video sequence coder/decoder system and either assess the quality of decoded sequences or rate the fidelity of the coding chain. The device produces synthetic test patterns that induce the appearance of known artifacts, then tracks and evaluates such artifacts. Based on this evaluation, it can rate the system's performance in a way that correlates well with human assessments. In our testing device, the quality estimation module performs this function.

Abstract: A video server for providing Video-On-Demand is disclosed. A plurality of data sources are coupled individually to a first and second bi-directional data/instruction switch. The first switch is additionally coupled to a data storage system and the second switch is coupled to a network interface. A real time controller is coupled to the data sources and the switches and can couple any part of the data storage system to any selected data source and any given network channel to any selected data source. A control system coupled to the real time controller and the second switch provides support services to the real time controller and acts as a gateway to third party services and products. The data storage system is largely comprised of disk drive arrays. Video data is striped across the individual arrays, each video data program that a user requests being striped across one array. Each array provides video data to many users through the data sources.

Abstract: A video server for providing Video-On-Demand is disclosed. A plurality of data sources are coupled individually to a first and second bi-directional data/instruction switch. The first switch is additionally coupled to a data storage system and the second switch is coupled to a network interface. A real time controller is coupled to the data sources and the switches and can couple any part of the data storage system to any selected data source and any given network channel to any selected data source. A control system coupled to the real time controller and the second switch provides support services to the real time controller and acts as a gateway to third party services and products. The data storage system is largely comprised of disk drive arrays. Video data is striped across the individual arrays, each video data program that a user requests being striped across one array. Each array provides video data to many users through the data sources.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to reversing the trend in conventional video printing by providing a cost-effective, flexible device which is independent of the printing device such that it can be used with any conventional computer printing device to provide plain paper prints of video images. By focusing on optimizing cost-effectiveness and system flexibility rather than providing high resolution photographic quality prints, the present invention can provide video printing features never before realized. Generally speaking, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing an input video data stream by selecting at least a portion of a frame of the input video data stream as printable image data, and by processing the selected a frame to correlate the frame to said input video data stream using at least one identifier.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to reversing the trend in conventional video printing by providing a cost-effective, flexible device which is independent of the printing device and which can respond to any of numerous highly accurate trigger signals for capturing a video image. Exemplary embodiments can be used with any conventional computer printing device to provide plain paper prints of video images. By focusing on optimizing cost-effectiveness and system flexibility rather than providing high resolution photographic quality prints, the present invention can provide video printing features never before realized. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus for processing an input video data stream by receiving the input video data stream, and by automatically controlling processing of at least a portion of a video frame in response to a predetermined condition of the input video data stream.

Abstract: A novel waveform synthesizer that generates a select output waveform, through simulating the multiplication of the components of the output waveform, is disclosed. One embodiment of this synthesizer is based on the following equation:Sin(Sin.sup.-1 V+Cos.sup.-1 U)+Sin(Sin.sup.-1 V-Cos.sup.-1 U)=2*U*V.The components U, V of the select output waveform are generated in parallel by at least three different ways. They can be fed in externally or they can be read from pre-stored waveforms in Read-Only-Memories or they can be the outputs of phase accumulators. The components or their trigonometrically transformed versions are then added together or subtracted from each other to generate intermediate waveforms. These intermediate waveforms or their trigonometrically transformed versions are then added together to generate the selected output waveform. Therefore the product of any two waveforms can be generated without the need of multiplying them together.

Abstract: In direct digital synthesizers in the prior art, the output signal maintains a phase continuity whenever it switches, or hops, frequency. This phase continuity shows up as a smooth change in phase from one frequency to the next; the phase of the last frequency transitions into the phase of the new frequency without any discernable disruption. Thus, whenever the output signal returns to a switched frequency that it previously has, the output signal at the newly returned switched frequency has a new phase relative to its previous one at that frequency. For some applications, like simulating continuous different frequency sources, this phase continuity is not desirable. To overcome this disadvantage, the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides phase memory to a direct digital synthesizer so that regardless of the frequency that the output signal switches to, the output signal at that frequency is able to maintain a constant phase relative to a reference system clock pulse.

Abstract: A sine wave generator uses a phase-to-amplitude converter (PAC) which functions with a novel multiplier. By using pipelined adders, intermediate amplitude and slope data from storage are combined to get an output amplitude which is equivalent to that from a prior art multiplier but without the objectionable through-put delays inherent in prior art multiplier PAC's.

Abstract: A novel signal synthesizer provides high frequency synthesized waveforms for the user. By converting phase information into digital outputs in parallel and by selectively coupling these digital outputs, an ordered digital output is formed to provide the high frequency waveforms. This ordered digital output, which represents points on a sine function, is converted to an analog signal for the synthesizer output. Furthermore, frequency and phase modulations of the synthesized waveforms are easily implemented with this novel signal synthesizer; the modulation information is simply added to the digital outputs prior to selectively coupling. Thus when the ordered digital output is converted to an analog signal, the analog signal contains the modulation information.

Abstract: Utilizing the method and circuit described herein regulated power is provided by controlling the duty cycle of p. fixed frequency signal as a function of the amplitude of unregulated D.C. voltage applied. A thin film thermal printer utilizing this power regulator is also described herein.

Abstract: The quality of thermally printed characters is enhanced by controlling the time at which and the time for which power is applied to the resistive printing elements in a battery-operated moving-head thermal dot matrix printer. By sequentially strobing the elements in the pattern of the character to be formed as the print head moves across thermal sensitive paper, a high-quality slanted character is printed and parasitic losses are reduced. By inversely varying the time power is supplied to each dot as battery voltage varies, character quality is maintained and useful battery life is extended.