Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200 or 300) and system (100) for performing a trick mode operation on a video signal containing a plurality of progressively scanned original pictures. The method (200) includes the step of selectively skipping (214) at least one of the original pictures to convert the video signal to a trick mode video signal in response to a trick mode command and the step of selectively inserting (216) at least one dummy bidirectional predictive picture in the trick mode video signal. In addition, the method (300) can include the step of monitoring (316) the trick mode video signal so that the dummy bidirectional predictive picture is selectively inserted when the bit rate exceeds a predetermined threshold. Display indicators of certain pictures in the trick mode video signal can also be modified (226) (328) to reflect an intended display order.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing pixel interdependence errors in an imager caused by adjacent pixel drive interdependence. The method compares a first brightness control level for a first pixel to a brightness control level for at least one adjacent pixel of the imager. Based on the results of the comparing step, the system modifies the first brightness control level for the first pixel to compensate for the pixel interdependence effect. A modified brightness control level is determined for the first pixel that results in an actual brightness for the first pixel in the presence of pixel interdependence effect, which more closely approximates the actual brightness that would result from the un-modified first brightness control level in the absence of pixel interdependence effect.

Abstract: A circuit (10) for reducing errors due to adjacent pixel interdependence in a liquid crystal display includes a decomposer (12) for dividing an input signal into a plurality of signals having at least a high brightness signal and at least one low brightness signal, a delay match circuit (14) for the high brightness signal to provide a delay high brightness signal, one or more transient conditioner circuits (16 and/or 18) for processing the at least one low brightness signal to provide at least one transient conditioned low brightness signal, and a combiner (20) for combining the delay matched high brightness signal with the at least one transient conditioned low brightness signal to provide an output signal having reduced sparkle artifacts.

Abstract: A circuit (10) for reducing errors due to adjacent pixel interdependence in a liquid crystal display includes a decomposer (12) for dividing an input signal into a plurality of signals having at least a high brightness signal and a low brightness signal, a delay match circuit (14) for the high brightness signal a split low pass filter arrangement (25) for the low brightness signal, and a combiner (24) for combining the delay matched high brightness signal and the filtered low brightness signal to provide an output, wherein the output signal has reduced sparkle.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for generating a dummy bidirectional predictive picture which can be repeated during display with substantially no vibration in which the dummy bidirectional predictive picture contains at least two fields. The method includes the steps of setting (220) a parameter of the dummy bidirectional predictive picture to indicate that no encoding of a residual signal will occur and employing (216, 222, 224) field-based prediction to predict the at least two fields of the dummy bidirectional predictive picture. The setting step can further include setting the parameter of the dummy bidirectional predictive picture to indicate that no discrete cosine transform encoding of the residual signal will occur. The dummy bidirectional predictive picture can include a plurality of macroblocks, and each macroblock can contain at least a portion of the at least two fields and the parameter can be a macroblock parameter.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards detecting contouring artifacts in a received video signal and reducing the detected artifacts by dithering and/or by adding least significant bits to selected pixels in the video signal. The contouring artifacts are detected by applying a magnitude difference test and/or an averaging test to a predetermined pixel span. The artifacts are reduced by substituting a replacement pixel for a selected pixel in the pixel span. A replacement pixel is generated by calculating an average pixel value for the predetermined pixel span, by reducing (e.g., rounding or truncated) the average pixel value to a bit resolution that is greater than the bit resolution of the pixels in the predetermined pixel span, or by adding a dither signal to the average pixel value.

Abstract: Upon user selection of a particular trick mode, the number of pictures that are displayed can be accordingly adjusted to correspond with the selected trick mode speed based on a determined display time. Subsequently, the bandwidth usage can be can be determined to ensure that the channel capacity between a playback device (100) and a remote decoder (136) has not been exceeded. For forward trick modes, in a case where the bandwidth between the playback device (100) and the remote decoder (136) would be exceeded, B-pictures can be uniformly eliminated throughout the playback segment. Where B-pictures were present and they have been eliminated, they can be replaced by dummy B-pictures. Again, if there is still insufficient bandwidth available between the playback device (100) and remote decoder (136), then P-pictures can be eliminated from the playback segment and uniformly replaced by dummy P-pictures.

Abstract: A method for format conversion includes providing a first interlaced video signal including non-progressive video of a first resolution, downconverting fields of the first resolution to fields of a second resolution, and combining and interlacing the fields at a third resolution. The video signal is transmitted at the third resolution. The video signal of the third resolution is deinterlaced to form a progressive format video. The progressive format video is converted to the first non-progressive resolution by alternately adjusting position of the progressive format of the third resolution up and down to make upper and lower fields, respectively, of the first resolution for display.

Abstract: A video processing system adaptively generates and processes volume/file structure and navigation data of different data format in distinct modes including (a) pre-processing, (b) contemporaneous and (c) post-processing modes for decoding, recording and other applications. The system processes a video program comprising encoded digital packetized data representative of a sequence of individual images and ancillary file structure and navigation data supporting navigation through image sequences. The system parses the packetized data to determine characteristics of individual images prior to storage and uses the characteristics for generating navigation information. The generated navigation information includes a predetermined element constrained to a selected sub-set of elements to reduce subsequent processing. The system also generates a menu including an item enabling User selection and initiation of a function associated with the video program using the generated navigation information.

Abstract: A method (200) and system (100) for performing a trick mode on a video signal. The method includes the steps of receiving (210) a trick mode command, in response to the trick mode command, repeating (212) a picture in the video signal to form a trick mode video signal in which the picture contains a display indicator; setting (214) the display indicator of the picture being repeated to a predetermined value; and setting (216) the display indicators of subsequent repeated pictures of the picture being repeated to the predetermined value. In one arrangement, the trick mode can be a freeze trick mode, and the picture to be repeated can be a bidirectional predictive picture. In addition, the display indicator can be a temporal reference field having an integer value.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) or (300) and system (100) for performing a trick mode on a video signal containing a plurality of progressively scanned original pictures. The method (200) includes the steps of: selectively repeating (214) at least one of the original pictures to convert the video signal to a trick mode video signal in response to a trick mode command; and the step of selectively inserting (216) at least one dummy predictive picture in the trick mode video signal. In addition, the method (300) can include the step of monitoring (316) the trick mode video signal so that the dummy predictive picture is selectively inserted when the bit rate exceeds a predetermined threshold. Certain pictures in the trick mode video signal can also be modified (220) (328) to reflect an intended display order.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200, 300) and system (100) for performing a trick mode on a video signal containing a plurality of original pictures. The method includes the steps of receiving a trick mode command (212, 312) and selectively inserting (214, 324) at least one dummy bidirectional predictive picture in the video signal using field-based prediction to form a trick mode video signal. In one arrangement, each dummy bidirectional predictive picture can be a one-directional predicted picture, and the method can further include the step of predicting each dummy bidirectional predictive picture from a reference picture. In another arrangement, the predicting step can further include predicting each dummy bidirectional predictive picture from a single field associated with the reference picture.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200 or 300) and system (100) for performing a trick mode operation on a video signal containing a plurality of progressively scanned original pictures. The method (200) includes the step of selectively skipping (214) at least one of the original pictures to convert the video signal to a trick mode video signal in response to a trick mode command and the step of selectively inserting (216) at least one dummy bidirectional predictive picture in the trick mode video signal. In addition, the method (300) can include the step of monitoring (316) the trick mode video signal so that the dummy bidirectional predictive picture is selectively inserted when the bit rate exceeds a predetermined threshold. Display indicators of certain pictures in the trick mode video signal can also be modified (226) (328) to reflect an intended display order.

Abstract: Upon user selection of a particular trick mode, the number of pictures that are displayed can be accordingly adjusted to correspond with the selected trick mode speed based on a determined display time. Subsequently, the bandwidth usage can be can be determined to ensure that the channel capacity between a playback device (100) and a remote decoder (136) has not been exceeded. For forward trick modes, in a case where the bandwidth between the playback device (100) and the remote decoder (136) would be exceeded, B-pictures can be uniformly eliminated throughout the playback segment. Where B-pictures were present and they have been eliminated, they can be replaced by dummy B-pictures. Again, if there is still insufficient bandwidth available between the playback device (100) and remote decoder (136), then P-pictures can be eliminated from the playback segment and uniformly replaced by dummy P-pictures.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200 or 300) and system (100) for performing a trick mode operation on a video signal containing a plurality of progressively scanned original pictures. The method (200) includes the step of selectively skipping (214) at least one of the original pictures to convert the video signal to a trick mode video signal in response to a trick mode command and the step of selectively inserting (216) at least one dummy predictive picture in the trick mode video signal. In addition, the method (300) can include the step of monitoring (316) the trick mode video signal so that the dummy predictive picture is selectively inserted when the bit rate exceeds a predetermined threshold. Display indicators of certain pictures in the trick mode video signal can also be modified (226) (328) to reflect an intended display order.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for trick mode playback of an MPEG video presentation recorded on a storage medium (106). In response to a command requesting a trick mode playback for a portion of the MPEG video presentation, an information file (400) for the video presentation can be accessed. Information for performing the requested trick mode command can be retrieved from the information file (400). The retrieved information can include parameters identifying at least a location of an I-picture for the playback portion of the video presentation from the information file. A picture flag (565) identifying a picture as a progressive or non-progressive picture can also be retrieved from the information file. A parameter (540) in the information file (400) can also define the number of bytes contained in a GOP for the playback portion of the video presentation. The information in the information file (400) can be used to facilitate fast forward and reverse trick mode playback.

Abstract: A method (200) or (300) and system (100) of performing a trick mode on a video signal. The method includes the steps of receiving (212) a trick mode command, searching (214) for a picture in the video signal compatible with the trick mode, and initiating (216) the trick mode once the compatible picture is located. The compatible picture can be an intra or a predictive picture. The trick mode can be a freeze trick mode, and the method can further include the step of repeating the compatible picture for the duration of the trick mode to form a trick mode signal. The repeating step can further include the step of repeating the compatible picture for the duration of the trick mode by inserting (218) into the video signal dummy pictures predicted from the compatible picture to form the trick mode video signal. The dummy pictures can be dummy predictive pictures.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for producing an optimal slow forward trick mode playback of a portion of video containing a plurality of pictures wherein at least a portion of the plurality of pictures are predictive pictures. The invention includes the steps of: receiving (210) a slow forward trick mode command; and inhibiting (216) the display of an initial set of the plurality of pictures prior to obtaining a properly decoded predictive picture from the initial set of the plurality of pictures. The invention can also include the steps of: selectively decoding (214) the plurality of pictures to obtain the properly decoded predictive picture from the initial set of the plurality of pictures; and decoding (218) subsequent pictures in the portion of video using the properly decoded predictive picture to obtain subsequent properly decoded pictures.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (10) for recording onto a storage medium (26) a video segment. The method includes the steps of: receiving the video segment (210) in which the video segment contains at least one predictive picture; and selectively converting the at least one predictive picture into an intra picture thereby replacing the at least one predictive picture with the intra picture. In one arrangement, the video segment can contain at least one introductory predictive picture, and the converting step can further include selectively decoding a predetermined number of the introductory predictive pictures to obtain a properly decoded predictive picture (212).

Abstract: A system (10) and method (500) of black line insertion for overly tall imagers having random row access includes the step (502) of periodically writing in a predetermined number of input video lines into a memory (12) and the step (504) of speeding up the reading of the predetermined number of input video lines out from the memory to provide a time enhancement. The method further includes the step (506) of multiplexing (14) a black input line with the sped-up predetermined number of input video lines during the time enhancement to provide an output image. The method can include the step (508) of presenting on the overly tall imager (16) the output image using the random row access to place the lines in the correct vertical position.