Abstract: An automatic gain control circuit is described including a state machine controller for adjusting intermediate frequency gain and radio frequency gain and a baseband demodulator, wherein the baseband demodulator receives information from the state machine controller regarding status of the state machine controller and further wherein the state machine controller receives correlation information from the baseband demodulator. Also described is a method including detecting a signal, providing state machine controller information to a baseband demodulator, reducing a radio frequency gain, reducing an intermediate frequency gain and receiving correlation information from the baseband demodulator.

Abstract: A settings controller for a multimedia content receiver is responsive to a control settings command. The settings controller saves a first set of control settings and loads a second set of control settings associated with the control settings command after saving the first set of control settings. It then reloads the first set of control settings when the control settings command is no longer valid. This allows for viewer settings to be automatically restored after an interruption.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are capable of masking a signal loss condition. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method includes steps of receiving a signal, detecting a period of loss of the signal, and enabling a received portion of the signal to be reproduced continuously and causing a portion of the signal lost during the period to be skipped.

Abstract: A method for detecting errors in a digital multimedia receiver system is disclosed including the steps of receiving a packetized bitstream representing a video program from at least one of a plurality of transponders in the receiver system, the packetized bitstream periodically including a marker packet having data relating to a continuity counter value, and counting each occurrence of the marker packet in a first counter. The continuity counter value is evaluated at the occurrence of each counting and a second counter is incremented if each continuity counter value is one higher than a previously evaluated continuity counter value. It is determined whether a valid bitstream is being received by comparing values of the first and second counters at predetermined time intervals.

Abstract: The invention provides an imager and imaging method for forming, on a plurality of photo -elements, an optical image of an object lying in a viewing plane defined by horizontal and vertical viewing axes. The imager comprises at least first, second and third video image sensors. Each video image sensor comprises a corresponding array of photoelements. The photoelements are arranged in rows and columns to define a first pixel resolution for each array. A lens is configured to focus at least a portion of light from the object onto the arrays. The arrays are arranged with respect to the lens such that the rows are aligned along avertical axis of the viewing plane. The columns are aligned along a horizontal axis of the viewing plane. An optical image of the object is formed. The image comprises a second pixel resolution higher than the first pixel resolution.

Abstract: An arrangement is described which reduces the number of phase locked loops (PLLs) required in a typical high speed serial interface system. A reference clock is sent from a transmitter on a main board to a receiver on a system board, which employs a PLL that also drives a transmitter on the system board. The transmitter on the system board transmits a data signal to a receiver on the main board which does not require a PLL. Rather, the receiver on the main board is clocked with a static-phase, master reference clock, and the phase of the reference clock sent from the main board is controlled so as to achieve synchronism of the data signal received by the main board receiver using the static-phase, master reference clock.

Abstract: A technique for film marking includes coding a print identifier into a binary-coded serial number; identifying particular frames (bit frames) that will be used to convey the bits (binary digits) of the binary-coded serial number and marking these bit frames in accordance with the particular bit values of the binary-coded serial number. The presence of a predefined mark on a bit frame is representative of a binary digit having a value of one, while the absence of the predefined mark on a bit frame is representative of a binary digit having a value of zero.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for anti-piracy protection and verification include a first projection device configured to project image frames onto a screen. A feedback device records a plurality of consecutive frames, an image analyzing module analyzes image properties of the recorded frames and a modulator creates anti-sampling system content to be projected contemporaneously with the image frames. The projected anti-sampling system content, while virtually invisible to the human eye, is detectable by sampling systems such as camcorders, thus rendering any such pirated recordings of the protected image content useless. The first projection device can include a security processor configured for comparing the recorded content with an expected content in real-time. A display enable/disable module is provided for disabling the projection of the content on the screen if the recorded content does not match the expected content.

Abstract: A technique for film marking includes coding a print identifier into a binary-coded bit-complement serial number; identifying particular frames that will be used to convey the bits of the binary-coded bit-complement serial number and marking these bit frames in accordance with the particular bit values of the binary-coded bit-complement serial number. The presence of a predefined mark on a bit frame is representative of a binary digit having a value of one, while the absence of the predefined mark on a bit frame is representative of a binary digit having a value of zero.

Abstract: A method and system for playing a video image including video frames and on-screen displays, and displaying an on-screen display associated with a video frame already played without interrupting the playing of the video frames. The displaying of the on-screen displays can be activated by the user commands received from a user. The user can select on-screen displays associated with frames of the video image played in a past pre-defined interval.

Abstract: A method for editing source video in a DVD media for a slow motion recording special effect. According to the method, the DVD device receives a source video signal comprised of a plurality of source pictures. Each of the source video pictures is recorded in a selected picture frame on the DVD media. Subsequently s?1 copies of the selected source video picture on the DVD media in s?1 frames adjacent to the selected picture frame. For the purposes of the invention as described herein, s can be an integer value determined by a user selected motion speed. The user selected motion speed will be 1/s times slower relative to a normal motion speed. In an alternative embodiment, the method can be used for editing source video in a DVD media for a fast motion record special effect. In that case, the DVD device receives a source video signal comprised of a plurality of source pictures. Only one out of every n of the source video pictures is chosen as a selected source video picture.

Abstract: An automatic gain control circuit is described including a state machine controller for adjusting intermediate frequency gain and radio frequency gain and a baseband demodulator, wherein the baseband demodulator receives information from the state machine controller regarding status of the state machine controller and further wherein the state machine controller receives correlation information from the baseband demodulator. Also described is a method including detecting a signal, providing state machine controller information to a baseband demodulator, reducing a radio frequency gain, reducing an intermediate frequency gain and receiving correlation information from the baseband demodulator.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and apparatus for audio content playback during fast forward playback video trick modes. A storage medium reader is provided for reading coded digital data from a storage medium such as a DVD. The coded digital data comprises a video programming and a corresponding audio programming. A decoder decodes from a portion of the digital data comprising the audio programming a plurality of digital audio samples corresponding to a selected portion of the video programming. Subsequently, an audio processor key shifts a playback audio pitch associated with the audio samples to compensate for the higher pitched audio associated with the fast forward video playback mode.

Abstract: A system for processing data stream content in a multi-channel broadcast multimedia system including a packet processor having an input control having a filter module for detecting at least one priority data stream from an input data stream, and an output control including a format module for displaying the priority data streams in real-time. The system can include an alarm detector for checking a rate of the priority data stream and issuing an alarm in the event of an alarm condition of the priority data stream.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a global pause function in a broadcast multimedia system during a pause mode including an input module having an incoming timestamp counter for providing a time-based marker value to mark when each incoming packet arrives from a tuner and an outgoing timestamp counter for providing a time-based marker value for each outgoing packet to a receiver(s), the outgoing counter being configured for controlling when to release each outgoing packet to the receiver(s). At least one global memory device is provided for storing each received packet. The input module is configured to stop the outgoing counter from incrementing in response to activation of a global pause signal for the duration of the pause mode.

Abstract: A notification system for satellite broadcasts is provided, the system comprising a database that is a depository for notification information, an encoder that encodes notification information from the database for satellite broadcasts, and a data linker that associates encoded notification information with at least one packet identifier (PID) for transmission to at least one satellite system transponder. Additionally, a receiver is described that can decode notification information from any multimedia content stream source utilizing a detector, a decoder and a notification information lookup.

Abstract: A global program guide pause function in a broadcast multimedia system including a first main control configured to process multimedia content received from a packet processor, the first main control including an analyzer module for acquiring and analyzing program guide data to determine multiple time-delayed start content, a filtration module for filtering undesired content and enabling desired data streams to be saved in at least one global memory device, and a guide module for creating a program guide comprising only non-filtered programs being offered at time-delayed start times. The guide module is further configured to create multiple listings in the program guide showing a real-time versus a delayed-start time for each non-filtered program. A popular stream packet processor can be provided for saving data content corresponding to popular programs.

Abstract: A system for providing content stream filtering in a broadcast multimedia system having a global pause function includes a pre-pause controller configured for processing audio and video data content prior to the global pause function, the data content being received from a packet processor. The pre-pause controller includes an analyzer module for acquiring and analyzing program guide data to apply selection criteria to determine desired content to be stored in a pause function memory device, a filtration module for filtering out undesired content and enabling desired data content comprising primary filtered content to be saved in at least one pause function memory device, and a guide module for creating a program guide comprising only primary filtered content to be offered to viewers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are capable of masking a signal loss condition. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method includes steps of receiving a signal, detecting a period of loss of the signal, and enabling a received portion of the signal to be reproduced continuously and causing a portion of the signal lost during the period to be skipped.

Abstract: A pausable system that processes multi-channel, multimedia content including a multimedia content delivery device having a priority detector for determining priority multimedia content and a decoder that can decode the priority content while the system is in a paused state. The system can also output an indicator if a priority multimedia content becomes disrupted based on a received rate compared to an embedded rate. The priority detector can also determine if the priority content is intended for a particular recipient before processing by the multimedia content delivery device.