Abstract: For writing, flash memory devices are physically accessed in a page-oriented mode, but such devices are not error-free in operation. According to the invention, when writing information data in a bus write cycle in a sequential manner into flash memory devices assigned to a common data bus, at least one of said flash memory devices is not fed for storage with a current section of said information data. In case an error is occurring while writing a current information data section into a page of a current one of said flash memory devices, said current information data section is written into a non-flash memory. During the following bus write cycle, while the flash memory device containing that defective page is normally idle, that idle time period is used for copying the corresponding stored section of said information data from said non-flash memory to a non-defect page of that flash memory device.

Abstract: For writing, flash memory devices are physically accessed in a page-oriented mode, but such devices are not error-free in operation. According to the invention, when writing information data in a bus write cycle in a sequential manner into flash memory devices assigned to a common data bus, at least one of said flash memory devices is not fed for storage with a current section of said information data. In case an error is occurring while writing a current information data section into a page of a current one of said flash memory devices, said current information data section is written into a non-flash memory. During the following bus write cycle, while the flash memory device containing that defective page is normally idle, that idle time period is used for copying the corresponding stored section of said information data from said non-flash memory to a non-defect page of that flash memory device.

Abstract: Various applications record or handle uncompressed video, where the amount of information needed for each frame or field is constant, based on the video frame rate and color resolution of each pixel. Since various video frame rates and audio sample rates are defined and can be combined independently, the amount of audio samples per video frame may vary. The disclosed method allows packing audio samples and video samples into constant size containers, e.g. MXF containers, so that there is an integer amount of audio samples within the time period needed for one video frame, independent from the used video raster. The method includes generating constant length KLV encoded video packets, generating variable length KLV encoded audio packets corresponding to the same time period as the video packets, generating variable length KLV encoded data packets, wherein the sum of the lengths of the audio packet and the data packet are constant, and generating from said packets a constant size content package.

Abstract: For writing, flash memory devices are physically accessed in a page-oriented mode, but such devices are not error-free in operation. According to the invention, when writing information data in a bus write cycle in a sequential manner into flash memory devices assigned to a common data bus, at least one of said flash memory devices is not fed for storage with a current section of said information data. In case an error is occurring while writing a current information data section into a page of a current one of said flash memory devices, said current information data section is written into a non-flash memory. During the following bus write cycle, while the flash memory device containing that defective page is normally idle, that idle time period is used for copying the corresponding stored section of said information data from said non-flash memory to a non-defect page of that flash memory device.

Abstract: A wireless extension of the IEEE 1394 bus where two clusters of 1394 devices are linked by a wireless bridge. The device clusters communicate without being bridge-aware. The wireless bridge provides for a bus reset isolation. The wireless extension including a buffer memory for storing self-identification packets in the 1394 interfaces of both boxes of the wireless bridge. With these buffer memories the self-identification packets of the bus stations in the other cluster can be collected and they can be read out during the self-configuration phase of the network after a bus reset when the bus grant is assigned to the box of the wireless bridge that is also connected to the bus where the bus reset has occurred. The physical layer block of the 1394 interface transmits artificial self-identification packets for all bus stations of the other cluster.

Abstract: A method for determining a remote timeout parameter in a network comprising a link between a first bus and a third bus. The link is implemented through a first and a second bridge portal connected respectively to the first and the third bus, and is modelized as a second bus connected to the first bus and the third bus through bridges. Upon solicitation to provide its contribution to a timeout for a request subaction, the first bridge portal adds to the timeout contribution the first bridge portal's maximum request subaction processing time and either the link's maximum transmission time of half of the link's maximum transmission time, depending on the location of the destination node of the request subaction.

Abstract: The invention deals with a physical layer circuit for the IEEE1394 bus. Considered is a scenario where two clusters of 1394 devices are linked to each other by means of a wireless bridge. The devices of one cluster shall communicate with devices of the other cluster without being bridge aware. Under this scenario there are two different types of 1394 devices existing in each cluster. One device is a bridge portal and will have the bridge functionality. All the other 1394 devices in the cluster will not have the bridge functionality. As the device having the bridge functionality needs to have a specific buffer memory for buffering node-ID packets, usually there are two different types of physical layer circuits required for the different types of 1394 devices. The invention deals with the problem of how it can be realized to use in both different types of 1394 devices the same type of physical layer circuit. The invention solves the problem by means of configuration means in the physical layer circuit.

Abstract: Various applications record or handle uncompressed video, where the amount of information needed for each frame or field is constant, based on the video frame rate and color resolution of each pixel. Since various video frame rates and audio sample rates are defined and can be combined independently, the amount of audio samples per video frame may vary. The disclosed method allows packing audio samples and video samples into constant size containers, e.g. MXF containers, so that there is an integer amount of audio samples within the time period needed for one video frame, independent from the used video raster. The method includes generating constant length KLV encoded video packets, generating variable length KLV encoded audio packets corresponding to the same time period as the video packets, generating variable length KLV encoded data packets, wherein the sum of the lengths of the audio packet and the data packet are constant, and generating from said packets a constant size content package.

Abstract: The invention deals with a physical layer circuit for the IEEE1394 bus. Considered is a scenario where two clusters of 1394 devices are linked to each other by means of a wireless bridge. The devices of one cluster shall communicate with devices of the other cluster without being bridge aware. Under this scenario there are two different types of 1394 devices existing in each cluster. One device is a bridge portal and will have the bridge functionality. All the other 1394 devices in the cluster will not have the bridge functionality. As the device having the bridge functionality needs to have a specific buffer memory for buffering node-ID packets, usually there are two different types of physical layer circuits required for the different types of 1394 devices. The invention deals with the problem of how it can be realized to use in both different types of 1394 devices the same type of physical layer circuit. The invention solves the problem by means of configuration means in the physical layer circuit.

Abstract: The invention deals with a wireless extension of the IEEE 1394 bus. Considered is a scenario where two clusters of 1394 devices are linked to each other by means of a wireless bridge (9). The devices of one cluster shall communicate with devices of the other cluster without being bridge-aware. The wireless bridge, however, provides for a bus reset isolation. This causes a problem each time a bus reset occurs in one of the clusters. To solve this problem it is proposed to implement a buffer memory (22) for self-identification packets in the 1394 interfaces (11) of both boxes of said wireless bridge (9). In particular these buffer memories (22) shall be implemented in the physical layer section (21) of the 1394 interfaces (11).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for determining a remote timeout parameter in a network comprising a link between a first bus and a third bus, wherein the link is implemented through a first and a second portal connected respectively to the first and the third bus, and wherein the link is modelized as a second bus connected to the first bus and the third bus through respective bridges; the method comprising the steps, at the level of the first bridge portal of, upon solicitation to provide its contribution to a timeout for a request subaction:

Abstract: In case of a loss of power supply a short-circuit between the corresponding pins of the two IEEE 1394 connectors of a device is established. Preferably this will be achieved by a relay controlling switches. If power is available, the relay is powered and the switches are open. The device then behaves like without this extension. If power is lost, the relay is not powered any longer, and the switches are closed. By this way, the device simply disappears from the cluster, which will then be reorganised according to IEEE 1394 rules.

Abstract: A block of picture elements is DCT transformed and coded to produce a corresponding data block of variable length codewords having an average length. The data blocks are apportioned among fixed length transport blocks as needed to produce full transport blocks. The transport blocks include a direct (DC) component and alternating components at prescribed locations, as well as an address information flag indicating whether or not block data is longer or shorter than the average length, and an address pointer, to facilitate recovery and synchronization of apportioned data blocks at a decoder.

Abstract: A television camera includes an acceleration correction device for correcting for sudden movements of the camera, to prevent blurring of the resulting television picture. The correction device changes the starting point on an image target depending upon the amount and direction of the acceleration. This correction does not occur until the acceleration exceeds a threshold value.