Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing the tune-time delay in a television appliance having a PVR subsystem are provided. A first signal path provides a desired television signal for display without a PVR associated tune-time delay. The first signal path includes a first buffer for buffering the television signal and a decoder for decoding the buffered television signal for display. The second signal path includes a storage device for storing a copy of the buffered television signal, and a second buffer for buffering the stored television signal when a trick play mode is selected. The decoder decodes the buffered television signal to provide the requested trick play mode. A switch is provided under control of the processor for switching between display of the television signal via the first path and display of the trick play mode via the second path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting a video signal from a set-top box to a display. Steps of the method include: receiving a raw signal, processing the raw signal into a ready-for-HDTV signal, compositing the ready-for-HDTV signal with at least one graphic element, encoding the composited signal using a video codec employing a protocol such as an MPEG-2 SP@HL protocol, transmitting the encoded signal to a television receiver, receiving the transmitted signal at the television receiver, decoding the received signal, and displaying the decoded signal. The apparatus includes: either an existing or a custom set-top box, the set-top box including external or internal circuitry, respectively, for processing raw video from a video source and circuitry for compositing graphic elements with a video signal, and external or internal circuitry for encoding a processed video signal using a video codec such as an MPEG-2 SP@HL protocol, and circuitry for transmitting the video signal to a television.

Abstract: Progressive I-slice refreshed MPEG data streams are transcoded to I-frame based MPEG data streams to enable trick play modes on a television appliance, such as pause, scan forward, scan backward, jump, or still frame displays for use, e.g., in film indexing (chapters). A progressive I-slice refreshed MPEG data stream 10 having I-slices distributed over multiple P-frames is received by a television appliance 300. The P-frames are decoded at decoder 220 to recover the I-slices which make up a complete I-frame. The recovered I-slices are assembled (e.g., by processor 230) into a complete I-frame. The complete I-frame is encoded at an encoder 250. A selected P-frame in the MPEG data stream is replaced with the encoded I-frame (e.g., via multiplexer 255) to provide an encoded I-frame based data stream 200. The I-frame based data stream is stored (e.g., in memory 240) for trick play mode use.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing the tune-time delay in a television appliance having a PVR subsystem are provided. A first signal path provides a desired television signal for display without a PVR associated tune-time delay. The first signal path includes a first buffer for buffering the television signal and a decoder for decoding the buffered television signal for display. The second signal path includes a storage device for storing a copy of the buffered television signal, and a second buffer for buffering the stored television signal when a trick play mode is selected. The decoder decodes the buffered television signal to provide the requested trick play mode. A switch is provided under control of the processor for switching between display of the television signal via the first path and display of the trick play mode via the second path.

Abstract: Progressive I-slice refreshed MPEG data streams are transcoded to I-frame based MPEG data streams to enable trick play modes on a television appliance, such as pause, scan forward, scan backward, jump, or still frame displays for use, e.g., in film indexing (chapters). A progressive I-slice refreshed MPEG data stream 10 having I-slices distributed over multiple P-frames is received by a television appliance 300. The P-frames are decoded at decoder 22 to recover the I-slices which make up a complete I-frame. The recovered I-slices are assembled (e.g., by processor 230) into a complete I-frame. The complete I-frame is encoded at an encoder 250. A selected P-frame in the MPEG data stream is replaced with the encoded I-frame (e.g., via multiplexer 255) to provide an encoded I-frame based data stream 200. The I-frame based data stream is stored (e.g., in memory 240) for trick play mode use.