Abstract: A performance problem is caused by network transmission frames being only partially filled with I/O request packets from the on-line transaction processing applications. This problem is solved by programming the host processor to join the I/O request data packets from different applications in the same network transmission frames to more completely fill the frames. For example, the I/O request data packets are joined into the frames and each data packet is transmitted in a frame after a delay of no more than a certain time interval. At least some of the frames are transmitted once these frames are filled with some of the data packets so that each of these frames cannot contain an additional data packet. Preferably the certain time interval is adjusted based on network loading so that the certain time interval is increased for increased loading.

Abstract: A performance problem is caused by network transmission frames being only partially filled with I/O request packets from the on-line transaction processing applications. This problem is solved by programming the host processor to join the I/O request data packets from different applications in the same network transmission frames to more completely fill the frames. For example, the I/O request data packets are joined into the frames and each data packet is transmitted in a frame after a delay of no more than a certain time interval. At least some of the frames are transmitted once these frames are filled with some of the data packets so that each of these frames cannot contain an additional data packet. Preferably the certain time interval is adjusted based on network loading so that the certain time interval is increased for increased loading.

Abstract: Temporal changes in an object are detected by focusing light from preselected spatial locations of the object on associated first and second regions of a light sensitive target at first and second times, respectively, and by comparing the light intensity focused on the regions. The focusing apparatus includes a Ronchi grating located at an image plane between the object and a light sensitive target. At the first time, light from the object passes through the clear portions of the grating to illuminate alternate parallel stripes on the target, while at the second time, the light passing through the clear portions is shifted to illuminate the regions between the first parallel stripes. The target is then scanned, and information from associated stripes is compared to detect changes. In one embodiment, the shaft can be brought about by the use of a birefringent crystal and polarized light; alternatively, a beam splitter and a shutter arrangement can be used.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for selecting video frames indicative of still pictures from successive video frames, a portion of which are indicative of moving objects and the remaining frames are indicative of still objects. The input and output video signal paths of a frame memory are completed through switches. A speed measurement circuit utilizes the signals at the input and output of the frame memory as the video signal is applied thereto to identify frames indicative of still objects. A logic circuit that operates the switches responds to the output of the speed measurement circuit by changing the position of the switches to retain the content of the frame memory and apply same to the output signal path. Timing circuits are also advantageously utilized to slow down the selection rate of frames indicative of still objects and force the selection of a more recent video frame when the speed of movement fails to fall below a predetermined value.

Abstract: Video conferencing, wherein the outputs of a plurality of television cameras at one location are transmitted to a second location so that parties at the first location are perceived as present by parties at the second location, has received some attention directed toward bandwidth reduction. The subject invention relates to an improved video conferencing system for reducing bandwidth by advantageously applying temporal resolution and spatial reduction to a video picture provided by each camera. The temporal resolution of a picture from one or more of the cameras can be automatically adapted to a control signal, for example, to a speech level control signal so as to advantageously interleave and to give priority to a picture from one camera over a picture from other television cameras. The spatial reduction of each picture obtains by transmitting and displaying less than the total picture, illustratively the middle two-thirds of the picture from each camera.

Abstract: Alternate lines of a 526 line video signal are time-stretched and transmitted over a transmission channel of limited bandwidth. At the receiver, the lines are compressed back to their original duration and displayed in an interlaced manner on a conventional receiver by blanking alternate lines in each field. In another embodiment of the invention, adjacent transmitted lines of the video signal are averaged at the receiver and the resultant signals are substituted for the non-transmitted lines of the video signal.