Abstract: A subjective evaluator delineates regions of an information space to be encoded in a qualitatively preferential or non-preferential manner such that the encoded information space comprises one or more of normal, emphasized or de-emphasized information content.

Abstract: A digital video tape record/playback apparatus (FIG. 10) for processing a high definition television signal includes provision for controlling the occurrence of high priority (HP) image information. Such information is selectively recorded at normal speed in tape tracks within predetermined regions (HP1-HP5) so as to appear along a tape head scanning path associate with predetermined tape playback speeds greater than normal (e.g., 20× normal). Input high priority data cells may be reordered or duplicated for recording in the predetermined tape regions in other than received order. In either case, the input datastream is massaged to produce a viewable image in a fast playback mode. In an illustrated system for receiving an MPEG coded datastream, an output datastream at greater than normal playback speed comprises either intracoded I-frame data cells only, or a whole Group of Pictures (GOP).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for receiving a bitstream containing timing information and respective program information, the program information is processed and associated with locally generated timing information to form an output bitstream, the locally generated timing information is synchronized to the received timing information so that the timing relationships of the received program information are preserved even after the program information is processed.

Abstract: A tuning system for a television receiver includes a phase locked loop for tuning a local oscillator to the nominal local oscillator frequencies required to tune the receiver to RF carriers at standard broadcast frequencies allocated to the various channels a viewer may select. The tuning system also includes an automatic fine tuning (AFT) frequency discriminator for tuning the local oscillator to minimize any deviation between the frequency of an actual picture carrier and the nominal picture carrier frequency. If the receiver is coupled to a television distribution system which provides RF carriers having nonstandard frequencies arbitrarily near respective ones of the standard broadcast frequencies, when the phase locked loop has achieved lock at a nominal frequency, a mode control unit selectively couples the discriminator and a frequency drift control circuit to the local oscillator.