Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating images from a multi camera system is proposed, the multi camera system comprising a main camera for generating a main image and at least two satellite cameras for generating at least a first and a second satellite image. The cameras can be orientated to a common observation area. The apparatus is operable to estimate a combined positional data of a point in the 3D-space of the observation area corresponding to a pixel or group of pixels of interest of the main image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling access to multiple applications which are each implemented as a client application in an operating system environment of a data processing device from a shared memory system. The problem addressed by the invention is that of providing an improved method and an improved device for controlling access to multiple applications which are each implemented as a client application in an operating system environment of a data processing device from a shared memory system, which allow an efficient exchange of data for input/output. In particular, interaction with multimedia data in such an operating environment should be optimized.

Abstract: A method for modifying data read from read-only media during playback time comprises logically merging the on-disc directory tree and an associated off-disc directory tree. A logical directory tree is constructed from the data retrieved from the read-only medium, wherein the structure of the logical directory tree is identical with the structure of the directory tree of the medium. The method allows replacing content on the disc through downloaded content, e.g. replacing an out-dated trailer stored on the disc through a downloaded trailer for a new movie. The method further allows complementing or upgrading content on the disc, e.g. by downloading a new subtitle track from the internet.

Abstract: Compression parameter sets are stored in files separate from the main AV or transmitted separately and prior to any subsequent transmission of AV data. The scope of parameter set identifiers is limited to not more than a Program Chain. Either existing files are extended by including the compression parameter sets directly, or separate files containing the compression parameter sets are created. In order to support easy authoring of compound content, it is proposed to amend each compression parameter set or groups of such parameter sets with scope period information, which can be based on time stamps, on file names, or on sector numbers on the disc. It is additionally proposed to employ an indirect referencing mechanism, where parameter set identifiers are referring to secondary tables, and where the entries of secondary tables are defined to be themselves identifiers referring in turn to entries of a common parameter set table provided once.

Abstract: Movies are produced in 24 Hz frame frequency and progressive scanning format (denoted 24p) for projection in film theatres, adhering to a worldwide standard for 35 mm film. However, the major TV systems in the world use interlaced scanning and either 50 Hz field frequency (denoted 50i) or 60 Hz field frequency (denoted 60i). Content providers would prefer providing single-picture-frequency single-audio-speed AV discs that can be replayed in most parts of the world. A 24p audio/video data stream is supplemented with additional 50i format data items thereby allowing 24p and 50i format replay of that data stream.

Abstract: Multimedia content of exchangeable storage media, such as optical discs, may be extended by bonus content that is downloaded via Internet connection and stored on a local storage device. An improved method for integration of different menu items relating to on-disc content and downloaded content provides flexibility and a simple, low cost solution. The method for integration of downloaded bonus content into a menu comprises defining one or more placeholders within a menu, determining a storage location or naming convention for bonus content, declaring for each placeholder an attribute providing a unique association to a specific type of bonus content, providing a button image, detecting presence of bonus content data, replacing the associated placeholder by the associated button image and enabling an associated action to be taken when said button is selected.

Abstract: The major TV systems in the world use interlaced scanning and either 50 Hz field frequency or 60 Hz field frequency. However, movies are produced in 24 Hz frame frequency and progressive scanning, which format will be used for future digital video discs to be sold in 50 Hz countries. In 50 Hz display devices the disc content is presented with the original audio pitch but with repeated video frames or fields in order to achieve on average the original video source speed. However, the frame or field insertion is not carried out in a regular pattern but adaptively in order to reduce visible motion judder.

Abstract: Consumer electronic devices, such as e.g. high-definition movie players for removable storage media such as optical discs, may provide possibilities for advanced interactivity for the user, implemented as software applications. A question arising generally with such software applications is what the life cycle of such an application is, and who may control it. The invention provides a method for executing software applications within a playback device for audio-video data, wherein data from a first removable storage medium are read for a software application to be executed within said playback device, and the data comprise an indication defining a termination condition for the application. Based on said termination code and depending on how the medium holding the application is ejected, the application is terminated or may survive.

Abstract: Local storage on player instruments provides the ability for adding further amendments and most recent supplements to the optical disc content. A problem arising with this technically applicable possibility is the protection of copyrights bound to disc and supplement data. The present invention describes a technique to ensure a security framework that is able to handle this, by creating a virtual file system by merging optical disc data and local storage data based upon a common identifier.

Abstract: Method for automatically selecting a software application being a program for execution on a virtual machine, including the steps of receiving an exit status value from a terminating software application; translating the exit status value to an identifier for the next software application to be executed, wherein a mapping table is used; executing on the virtual machine the next software application (J4) program that is represented by the identifier.

Abstract: There are DVD discs that provide a recorded video sequence with different viewing angles. However, because it takes some time to start decoding of an encoded video sequence and the different angle views each relate to corresponding differently encoded video streams, such switching causes a delayed response to a user's angle change request. It is proposed to reduce the original video resolution in favour of fast response time to video angle change requests. The available pixels within a video frame are used to store two or more video signals side by side, each one representing a different viewing angle, but the full picture area video signal is anyway decoded. The selected viewing angle video signal is re-scaled to full-size presentation.

Abstract: Normally, digital PIP video signals are directly edited into the main video signal and then encoded jointly into a single coded video stream. However, in order to give a user full control over the PIP presentation of the encoded video signals, each PIP signal requires a separate encoding, and in a receiver one video decoder is required for each video stream displayed. According to the invention, a PIP-like presentation of timeline-related auxiliary video signals is enabled, achieving this with only one coded video stream and therefore a single video decoder. When encoding, the video plane is logically split into a main video area and a side panel area that carries one or more PIP windows. After decoding, the main video area is displayed centred or stretched to the full display size. The content of the side panel is not displayed directly but, depending on side information, some portions of that side panel are overlaid on the main video window.

Abstract: A method for generating multi-language menus comprises grouping language-dependent menu resource files on a storage medium, and selecting only those menu resource files from a group that are labeled with an indication that matches the preferred menu language of the respective player.

Abstract: Motion compensated temporal prediction is well-known for redundancy reduction in video signal compression. A prediction error signal and a motion vector for a current block are transmitted, describing the location of the predictor block in the reference picture. A problem solved by the invention is to encode and decode video signals using less or no motion vector data side information. This is achieved through a temporal prediction which exploits common knowledge available in both encoder and decoder, requiring that the decoder performs a motion estimation, too. A common baseline motion estimation process is used at both encoder and decoder on the same set of video data that have already been compressed before and, hence, are available at both encoder and decoder, leading to identical motion parameters being generated in the decoder. These common motion parameters are used for generating a default temporal prediction without the need to transmit related motion vectors from the encoder to the decoder.

Abstract: A method for generating an on-screen menu comprising menu buttons and other menu items, e.g. help text, comprises one or more groups of menu buttons or menu items are defined, wherein a group comprises one or more menu buttons or menu items and has associated a defined area on the screen. A state is assigned to a button, the state being “enabled” or “disabled”, wherein only an enabled button or item may be displayed, and wherein within a group not more than one button or item may be enabled. The state of a button can be changed by commands associated with other buttons.

Abstract: Playback devices, e.g. DVD players, for removable mass storage media used for the distribution of multimedia content contain a lot of firmware to control its functions. Typically, such firmware may be updated several times during the lifetime of the device. For playback devices that are already at a consumer's site and cannot be updated online, it is possible to update the firmware without using separate media, such as update-CDs, by storing firmware update data on removable storage media such as DVDs or Blu-ray discs that contain primarily audio-visual contents. Thus, it is possible to utilize unused storage space on e.g. optical discs, and to distribute and install firmware updates easily without requiring separate media or technical knowledge of the user.

Abstract: Optical disc players are today connectable to the Internet, and may contain local storage capability, e.g. ADD. Additional post-production content can be downloaded and locally stored. It is difficult to include downloaded additional post-production material in menus for keeping a menu always consistent with the actually available data. Ideally, the menu should reflect the available data even if certain content is deleted or replaced with e.g. Another version. A ‘linked-list’ approach for menu pages generates a dynamic menu structure. The menu consists of basic menu pages, which are retrieved from the disc, and additional pages that are downloaded together with the additional content. Page ranges may be reserved for e.g. audio, video or subtitles. The linked-list is implemented by an implicit link from each page to the next higher or lower page number.

Abstract: A method for generating an interactive electronic menu on a display, the menu comprising menu items, wherein a menu item may be in a deselected, selected or activated state, and the menu being coded into a menu data segment, comprises that at least a first and a second menu item are connected by a parent-child relationship, wherein the second menu item being a child of the first menu item can only be selected when the first menu item is selected, and further comprises that the first and the second menu item are coded into the same data segment. The method is preferably usable for menus relating to content of digital storage media, such as optical discs, in particular read-only Blu-ray discs.

Abstract: A method for modifying data read from read-only media during playback time comprises logically merging the on-disc directory tree and an associated off-disc directory tree. A logical directory tree is constructed from the data retrieved from the read-only medium, wherein the structure of the logical directory tree is identical with the structure of the directory tree of the medium. The method allows replacing content on the disc through downloaded content, e.g. replacing an out-dated trailer stored on the disc through a downloaded trailer for a new movie. The method further allows complementing or upgrading content on the disc, e.g. by downloading a new subtitle track from the internet.

Abstract: Removable media such as optical discs may carry valuable audio-visual data representing movies or the like, which are sold by content providers or studios. To prevent pirate copies, data on these media are often encrypted for copy protection. This copy protection may use a disc specific electronic decryption key, which is stored on the disc itself. Supplementary data such as games, subtitle or audio streams that are regarded as being closely related to disc contents, but are not stored on the disc itself, are encrypted so that decryption is only possible with a decryption key retrieved from the disc, or in particular the same decryption key that is used for the disc contents. The method is particularly effective for copy protection or cross usage exclusion of supplementary data when the decryption key is prevented from being accessible to the user.