Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a television system having an internal microphone for implementing a voice-messaging system. Using the microphone, the television system detects a message spoken by a user of the television system, and records the message to a memory. Some embodiments of the invention may also record metadata about the message. Embodiments of the invention alert an intended recipient of the message using the audio output or video output of the television system, and subsequently reproduce the message using the audio output of the television system. Other embodiments of the invention are described in the specification and the claims.

Abstract: A plural-source-capable, broadcast-reception, audio/video system and methodology which freely enable the simultaneous display, on a single television receiver screen, of different categories of these broadcast-information components which may be being broadcast at the same time from two different broadcast sources.

Abstract: A plural-source-capable, broadcast-reception, audio/video system and methodology which freely enable the simultaneous display, on a single television receiver screen, of different categories of these broadcast-information components which may be being broadcast at the same time from two different broadcast sources.

Abstract: A first device includes a processor, a first memory, and a memory manager. A second device includes a second memory and a first application program, and a third device includes a third memory and a second application program. The first application program is loaded into the first memory to be executed by the processor. Application program variables related to the first application are stored in the first memory. The second application program to be executed by the processor is loaded into the memory in at least a partially overlapping manner of the first application program. The creation of second application program variables related to the second application program in the first memory is in a region not occupied by the first application program. Alternatively, the first and second application programs may be in the same device and/or memory.

Abstract: A real-time video production technique using recursive techniques adds an output framestore, a feedback storage unit and a synchronized controller to a pipelined video processing system. Partial composites are stored in the feedback storage unit while complete composites are stored in the output framestore. The output framestore provides a preview video during the video processing. For automatic assembly where the feedback storage unit has a length of many frames the complete composites are stored also in the feedback storage unit and a multiplexer is used to select the complete composites either from the output framestore for each new complete composite or from the feedback storage unit otherwise.

Abstract: A crosspoint matrix with integrated matte generators includes double buffered internal storage registers which may be serially loaded with mode and selection data to enable the crosspoint matrix to operate in a crosspoint mode wherein a selected input bus is directed to selected output bus. Further, the crosspoint matrix may be operated in a matte generator mode wherein the stored data is supplied to the output bus as a matte signal. The matte signal may be selectively toggled through a series of values to enable operation with both D1 and D2 signals. The data is latched in response to a vertical pulse which enables data values to be written in non-real time as a background task while the actual switch of data is accomplished only upon receipt of a vertical pulse.

Abstract: A switcher with depth processing includes a depth processor module. External depth data, or internally generated depth data, are input to the depth processor to generate a priority signal for combining key video signals as layers between a background and a foreground video signal. Further a composite depth signal is generated for the combined key video signals for subsequent processing so that additional key video layers may be intersected and intertwined with the key video layers in the combined video signals.

Abstract: A method of pattern generation for a screen using a wipe solid generator and a recursive memory includes generating from operator inputs a wipe solid. An extent of the generated wipe solid is measured to produce maximum and minimum values. These maximum and minimum values are extended to encompass a desired border size and softness. A lever-arm scaling function is selected based upon whether a change in operator input causes a reversal in pattern and/or causes the pattern to "breathe." The selected lever-arm scaling function uses prior values from the recursive memory to generate new values that are stored in the recursive memory. From the stored values clip levels are determined such that completion of lever-arm movement to a limit position coincides with completion of the pattern without distortion of the size of the pattern.

Abstract: An inverse hyperbolic comb filter decodes an encoded signal by subtracting a vertically filtered and horizontally filtered version of the encoded signal from a delayed version of the encoded signal whereupon the resulting output is further horizontally filtered to provide a first decoded output. A twice delayed version of the input signal then has the first output signal subtracted therefrom to provide a second output. Optional further vertical filtering may be employed to vertically filter the output of the first subtractor before the final horizontal filtering is performed. The filter may also be employed in encoding signals wherein the components to be encoded are first filtered prior to combining. The inverse hyperbolic comb filter is applicable to any system employing combining of two-dimensional signals via quadrature modulation and may also be employed in three-dimensional systems.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing improved adaptive control signals for a luminance and chrominance separation circuit employing adaptive filtering of a chrominance signal includes a vertical difference detector, a horizontal difference detector, and a combiner. The vertical difference detector contains upper difference detector and lower difference detector, each of which receives a horizontally filtered next line signal (L.sub.N), a horizontally filtered present line signal (L.sub.P), and a horizontally filtered last line signal (L.sub.L), and which produce, respectively, an upper difference signal and a lower difference signal. In a preferred embodiment, the lower and upper difference detectors implement, respectively, the expressions .vertline.2L.sub.L +L.sub.P -L.sub.N .vertline. and .vertline.2L.sub.N +L.sub.P -L.sub.L .vertline..

Abstract: A chrominance filtering system reduces chrominance detail when sufficient luminance detail is present, but limits how much chrominance detail is reduced when insufficient luminance detail is present. The chrominance input signal is applied to a high pass filter and a suitable delay circuit. The output of the high pass filter, C.sub.hp, is a signal indicative of chrominance detail. It is applied to the input of a bipolar clipping circuit that also receives a control signal, .vertline.Y.sub.hp '.vertline..sub.clipped indicative of luminance detail. The control signal is derived by high pass filtering, rectifying and low pass filtering the luminance signal to produce a signal, .vertline.Y.sub.hp .vertline., that is absolute value of high pass filtered luminance activity. This signal is then scaled by multiplication by a first constant and then offset by addition to a second constant to produce .vertline.Y.sub.hp '.vertline.. .vertline.Y.sub.hp '.vertline.

Abstract: An improved apparatus is provided for minimizing cross-color artifacts in the encoding and decoding of quadrature modulated color television signals during the encoding process, so that when the encoded video signals are decoded,s uch artifacts are minimized while a maximum amount of picture detail is preserved. A luminance signal is applied to both a delay element and an adaptive filter. The output of the delay element, a delayed luminance signal, is applied to a subtractor circuit. The output of the adaptive filter, an adaptive compensation signal, is applied to a variable limiter. Within the variable limiter, the adaptive compensation signal is applied to a rectifier/intergrator and a limiter circuit. The output of the rectifier/integrator, a cross-color activity signal, is sent to a scaler/combiner circuit top which is also optionally applied a chrominance activity signal. The scaler/combiner circuit weights these inputs with different factors before summing them.