Abstract: A device for processing video and graphics data includes a component and a main random access memory containing video and graphics data. The component includes a processing unit, and a two-dimensional acceleration unit cooperating with the processing unit and the main random access memory to compose in real time images. The images include at least one video plane and at least one graphics plane, and are stored in the main random access memory. An output interface extracts the image data thus composed from the main random access memory for delivery to an image display.

Abstract: A device for processing video and graphics data includes a component and a main random access memory containing video and graphics data. The component includes a processing unit, and a two-dimensional acceleration unit cooperating with the processing unit and the main random access memory to compose in real time images. The images include at least one video plane and at least one graphics plane, and are stored in the main random access memory. An output interface extracts the image data thus composed from the main random access memory for delivery to an image display.

Abstract: A method is provided for displaying an OSD on a video image. According to the method, values of pixels of the OSD are stored, and pixels of lines of the OSD that are to be displayed without processing are displayed by making direct use of a color look-up table. Additionally, pixels of lines of the OSD that are to be displayed after processing with a mathematical filter and/or that are required for computations associated with the mathematical filter are processed. In the processing step, the pixels of the lines to be processed are stored in the form of addresses that designate the memory lines of the color look-up table, the values of the pixels of the lines to be processed are obtained by an addressing of the color look-up table, and a mathematical filter is applied to the obtained values of the pixels to be processed.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming an on-screen display (OSD) for overlay on a video image. According to the method, colors that are to be used to display the OSD are stored in a color look-up table, and a coefficient of transparency is assigned to each line of pixels of the OSD before overlaying the OSD on the video image. In a preferred method, the colors are stored in the color look-up table as three significant values representing chrominance and luminance for each pixel of the OSD, and the assigned coefficients of transparency are stored in a programmable register. This provides a substantial memory space gain in the color look-up table, and thus the range of available colors can be very wide. A device for forming an OSD for overlay on a video image is also provided. The device includes a color look-up table that stores a color for each pixel of the OSD, and a transparency programming register that assigns a transparency level to each line of pixels of the OSD.

Abstract: A device and associated methods for the storage and retrieval of data elements in a buffer circuit include each data element being transmitted to the buffer circuit through a transmission bus and a bus interface. A data element is stored in a memory when a first register is not empty. Additionally, when the first register is not empty, a data element is also stored in an additional register directly accessible by a decoding interface. The time of access to the data elements in the buffer circuit may be reduced.

Abstract: A microprocessor circuit having an external memory interface includes a transmission element for the transmission of binary data packets between the microprocessor and the interface. The interface includes a buffer with a determined capacity for storing the transmitted data elements. The circuit also includes a controller capable of computing the capacity of the buffer that is available or unavailable owing to the storage of the data elements and capable of reporting the status of availability of the buffer to receive an additional packet. A method is also provided for the control of the interface of such a circuit. The interface comprises a decoder for decoding format data of a packet. The format data of a packet being contained in the data packet and each format data decoding operation being given to the controller in order to optimize the use of the storage capacity of the buffer and the transmission between the microprocessor and the external memory.

Abstract: A method is provided for correcting flicker and flutter of an OSD on a video image. According to the method, values of pixels of the OSD are stored, pixels of lines of the OSD that are to be displayed without processing are substituted for pixels of the video image, and pixels of lines of the OSD that are to be displayed after processing are subjected to a mathematical filter. In the subjecting step, the value of another pixel of the video image is assigned to each pixel of the video image that is required by the mathematical filter but presently unavailable, with the other pixel belonging to the same column as the required pixel. In a preferred embodiment, the required pixel is a pixel of the video image that is not covered by the OSD, and the other pixel belongs to the closest line of the video image that is covered by the OSD. This makes it possible to simplify the use of mathematical filters associated with a unique equation for all of the lines of the overlaid OSD.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting a dial-in telephone poll prompts callers at remote terminals to participate in the poll by selectively dialing a telephone number corresponding to a specific response to the poll. Each call from a poll participant is received at a switch that is the originating switch for that call. The originating switch also receives caller data indicating the dialed number associated with the call. This caller data is forwarded to a processor associated with the originating switch for counting the number of calls placed to each telephone number associated with the poll. The associated processor may also include a polling table containing a list of telephone numbers associated with the poll and a corresponding list of message IDs. Upon receiving caller data from an originating switch, the associated processor increments a counter for the dialed number and returns a corresponding message ID to the originating switch.