Abstract: The invention includes a system and method 300 for changing a playback speed of a selected video segment having repeat fields. To achieve fast motion play a selected video segment can be modified to delete repeat fields 340. Further pictures can be deleted as required 360 to achieve a desired playback speed. To achieve slow motion play, a selected video segment can be modified by encoding repeat fields into conventional field pictures. Further pictures can be added as required to achieve a desired playback speed 330. Further, a repeat first field flag in the picture header of the picture containing the repeat field can be set to zero 325. Furthermore, a GOP structure of the modified video segment can be reencoded into a conventional 365 or a desired 367 GOP structure. Additionally, the modified video segment can be recorded exclusively on a desired portion of a storage medium 370.

Abstract: Compression and decompression apparatus and methods for producing fixed-length compressed data blocks with variable-length compression are described. The compression system receives an N-bit word from a data block and determines the variable compression length for the word. A bit counter keeps track of the number of bits remaining and determines if sufficient bits have been used to ensure that the fixed-length compressed data block will be filled. If so, the compressed word is output. If not, prior to output the compressed word is padded with an appropriate number of bits, which may be null bits.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and apparatus for displaying closed caption information during trick mode playback. A video processor (150) can be configured to delete one or more pictures in a segment of the video presentation that contains at least one picture having one or more NUL characters. A remaining portion of the segment of the video presentation containing the closed caption information can be displayed during playback at a trick mode speed. The segment of the presentation can include, but is not limited to, a group of pictures (GOP). The method can further include the step of determining pictures within GOP containing non-displayable control codes and deleting those pictures containing non-displayable codes. The Video processor provides to a display device a remaining portion of the GOP containing the closed caption information for display at a trick mode playback speed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and apparatus for playing an audio track during a faster than 1× speed video trick mode playback of a video presentation. The method begins with the step of retrieving from a storage medium information for producing at least a video portion and a corresponding audio portion of a presentation. The audio portion of the presentation, like most audio sound tracks, includes periods of relative silence. For example, these may occur between words or between dramatic pauses in the dialogue. Audio gating is used to selectively gate the audio portion of the presentation to remove at least a portion of the periods of relative silence. Finally, a remaining part of the audio portion of the presentation is concatenated for playback to remove any gaps after the portion of the periods of relative silence have been removed.

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 method for playing a digital audio recording at a speed other than 1×, the method comprises retrieving stored digital audio information represented in a plurality of audio frames. A portion of the plurality of audio frames are ranked according to an energy content in the portion of audio frames. Audio frames having least energy content in accordance with the ranking are deleted from the portion of the plurality of audio frames. Remaining ones of the portion of audio frames following deletion are selected to form an audio trick mode playback signal.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and apparatus for playing an audio track during a faster than 1X speed video trick mode playback of a video presentation. The method begins with the step of retrieving from a storage medium information for producing at least a video portion and a corresponding audio portion of a presentation. The audio portion of the presentation, like most audio sound tracks, includes periods of relative silence. For example, these may occur between words or between dramatic pauses in the dialogue. Audio gating is used to selectively gate the audio portion of the presentation to remove at least a portion of the periods of relative silence. Finally, a remaining part of the audio portion of the presentation is concatenated for playback to remove any gaps after the portion of the periods of relative silence have been removed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and apparatus for audio track playback during fast forward playback video trick modes. A storage medium reader is provided for reading digital data from a storage medium such as a DVD. The digital data represents a video presentation 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 presentation. Subsequently, a digital signal processor can convert the audio samples to their corresponding frequency domain equivalents and scale the frequency and amplitude of a playback audio frequency associated with the audio samples in accordance with trick mode video playback.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and apparatus for audio program playback during fast forward playback video trick modes. A storage medium reader can be configured to read coded digital data from a storage medium such as a DVD. The coded digital data can be a video presentation having correspondingly formatted video and audio frames. An audio processor can insert silence frames in a selected block of the audio frames and portions of the audio frames can be deleted to compensate for video trick mode playback. Resulting audio frames can be concatenated to create 1× audio for various video trick modes playback.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for searching for duplicate data. The method (200) includes the steps of: generating (212) at least one identifier from at least one portion of a first segment of data using a unique identifier function; generating (216) at least one identifier from at least one portion of a second segment of data using the unique identifier function; and comparing (220) at least one identifier associated with the first segment of data with at least one identifier associated with the second segment of data to determine whether the first segment of data is substantially identical to the second segment of data.

Abstract: An MPEG decoder in a high definition television receiver decodes and decompresses MPEG coded data to produce decompressed image pixel blocks, and includes a motion compensation network coupled to a frame memory to produce finally decoded pixel data for display. The decompressed MPEG data is recompressed by plural parallel recompressors prior to storage in frame memory. Each recompressor receives a datastream of interleaved pixel data, and predicts and compresses interleaved pixel values during each clock cycle, respectively. One of the recompressors is de-energized in a reduced data processing mode when pixel data is subsampled prior to recompression. Subsampled data is re-ordered prior to recompression. Multiple parallel decompressors coupled to the frame memory provide pixel data to the motion processing network. A control unit, insures an uninterrupted interleaved data flow to the decompressors by repeating last valid data when source data is interrupted.

Abstract: A method (200) and apparatus (100) for displaying in a remote display device a user command, or status information, in a digitally encoded video signal containing a plurality of pictures transmitted from the apparatus to a remote display device. The method comprises the steps of: generating (216 or 220) at least one digitally encoded indicia representing the user command, or status information; and in response to the user command, modifying (218) at least one picture from a plurality of pictures being sent to the display device for decoding and display by replacing at least a portion of the picture with the digitally encoded indicia such that the indicia is decoded and displayed (220) when the picture is decoded and displayed by the display device. The method can further include reading the digitally encoded signal from a storage medium contained in the apparatus, and the generating step and the modifying step can be performed during the reading step.

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: The invention includes a system and method 300 for changing a playback speed of a selected video segment having repeat fields. To achieve fast motion play a selected video segment can be modified to delete repeat fields 340. Further pictures can be deleted as required 360 to achieve a desired playback speed. To achieve slow motion play, a selected video segment can be modified by encoding repeat fields into conventional field pictures. Further pictures can be added as required to achieve a desired playback speed 330. Further, a repeat first field flag in the picture header of the picture containing the repeat field can be set to zero 325. Furthermore, a GOP structure of the modified video segment can be reencoded into a conventional 365 or a desired 367 GOP structure. Additionally, the modified video segment can be recorded exclusively on a desired portion of a storage medium 370.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for detecting defects in a recordable storage medium including the steps of: accessing (212) a segment of multimedia data that has been recorded onto a first portion of the recordable storage medium; selectively examining (214) the segment to determine whether the first portion contains a defect; and taking (222) corrective measures if a defect is detected, wherein the corrective measures are one or more of the corrective measures selected from the group including: generating a defect message; storing the address of the first portion of the recordable storage medium in a table; writing the segment of multimedia data onto a second portion of the recordable storage medium; or modifying the selectively examining step.

Abstract: The invention includes a system and method for changing a playback speed of a selected video segment containing field pictures which has been recorded onto a portion of a storage medium. A selected video segment can be modified for a changed playback speed and the modified video segment can be recorded exclusively on the portion of the storage medium. A plurality of non-video packs in the selected video segment can be deleted to reduce the amount of data contained in the modified video segment. The video segment can be modified by adding at least one field picture. Alternatively, the video segment can be modified by removing at least one field picture contained in the video segment. In either arrangement, the video segment can be reencoded to produce a smoother trick mode and playback performance.

Abstract: The invention includes a system and method for changing a playback speed of a selected video segment having a non-progressive frame structure which has been recorded onto a portion of a storage medium. A selected video segment can be modified for a changed playback speed and the modified video segment can be recorded exclusively on the portion of the storage medium. A plurality of non-video packs in the selected video segment can be deleted to reduce the amount of data contained in the modified video segment. The video segment can be modified by decoding the frames in the video segment, reencoding such frames into their associated field pictures and adding at least one field picture. Alternatively, the video segment can be modified by removing at least one frame or field picture contained in the video segment. In either arrangement, the video segment can be reencoded to produce a smoother trick mode and playback performance.

Abstract: The invention includes a system and method for changing a playback speed of a selected video segment having a progressive frame structure which has been recorded onto a portion of a storage medium. A selected video segment can be modified for a changed playback speed and the modified video segment can be recorded exclusively on the portion of the medium. A plurality of non-video packs in the selected video segment can be deleted to reduce the amount of data contained in the modified video segment. Alternatively, the resolution of at least one frame in the modified video segment can be reduced. The video segment can contain intra and non-intra frames and can be modified by adding at least one picture. Alternatively, the video segment can be modified by removing at least one picture. The video segment can also be re-encoded for smoother trick mode and playback performance.

Abstract: An MPEG decoder in a high definition television receiver decodes and decompresses MPEG coded data to produce decompressed image pixel blocks, and includes a motion compensation network coupled to a frame memory to produce finally decoded pixel data for display. The decompressed MPEG data is recompressed by plural parallel recompressors prior to storage in frame memory. Each recompressor receives a datastream of interleaved pixel data, and predicts and compresses interleaved pixel values during each clock cycle, respectively. One of the recompressors is de-energized in a reduced data processing mode when pixel data is subsampled prior to recompression. Subsampled data is re-ordered prior to recompression. Multiple parallel decompressors coupled to the frame memory provide pixel data to the motion processing network. A control unit insures an uninterrupted interleaved data flow to the decompressors by repeating last valid data when source data is interrupted.

Abstract: A method for controlling MPEG compatible data reproduced in sectors by a digital video disk player. The method comprises the steps of transducing groups of sectors including requested sectors having MPEG compatible data required for processing, and unrequested sectors having MPEG compatible data not required for processing. Coupling the requested sectors exclusive of the unrequested sectors to a data processor for processing. Processing the requested data sectors to extract the required MPEG compatible data representative of video information.