Abstract: Data that is an MPEG program stream (PS) read out from a disc is supplied to a PS/TS converter via a variable rate control section. The PS/TS converter converts the PS MPEG data into a transport stream (TS) and transmits it to a presentation device via a 1394 transmission/reception section. Data received by a 1394 transmission/reception section of the presentation device is classified by a DEMUX section. An audio decoder and a video decoder decode the TS MPEG data. D/A converters convert resulting digital data into analog signals and output the analog signals.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus is provided which can reproduce data for decoding without overflowing or underflowing the decoder. Time information contained in the reproduced data is extracted, compared to a reference time and, depending upon such comparison, the reproduction and temporary holding of such data is controlled. Timing of the writing and reading of a temporary storage device (e.g. a FIFO buffer) and timing of the decoder are resettable simultaneously if discontinuous data are reproduced.

Abstract: A transmitting apparatus and method, and a receiving apparatus and method for communicating a pack of 2,048 bytes using the digital interface in accordance with the IEEE 1394 standard. A 4-byte time stamp is added to a 2,048-byte pack of MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group)-PS (program stream) data. Also, 124 bytes of padding data is added to this pack in order that the overall byte length of data be a multiple of 16. Then the data is divided into a number of fractions which is a multiple of 2 (e.g., 32), thereby being converted into a number of data blocks equal to the number of fractions. Each data block has a byte length of a multiple of 4 (e.g., 68 bytes). A CIP header and the like are added to a predetermined number of the data blocks to form a packet.

Abstract: Methods and systems for data compression and decompression are disclosed. Specifically, the method for data compression of the present invention receives eight inputs representing pixel information of an image and performs a combination of an 8-point discrete cosine transform (DCT) and weighting function to obtain eight outputs representing digital representations of an image. The method for data decompression receives eight inputs representing digital representations of an image and performs a combination of an inverse weighting function and an 8-point inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) to obtain pixel components of an image. The methods and systems of the present invention may be used in optimizing digital video encoders and decoders.

Abstract: DVD reproducing apparatus which transmits variable-bit rate data on a digital serial bus having a predetermined transmission rate. The apparatus employs a reproducing device to reproduce data from a record medium in accordance with a control signal to produce variable rate data. The control signal is generated on the basis of at least two buffer storage state indicators corresponding to respective data buffers, one of which is incorporated into the reproducing device. The peak data rate of the variable rate data is detected, a rate of transmission of the variable rate data is established in accordance with the detected peak data rate, and the variable rate data is transmitted in accordance with the established transmission rate.

Abstract: Methods and systems of the present invention obtain a motion vector between two frames of video image data. Specifically, methods and systems of the present invention may be used to estimate a motion vector for each macroblock of a current frame with respect to a reference frame in a multi-stage operation. In a first stage, an application implementing the process of the present invention coarsely searches a first search area of the reference frame to obtain a candidate supermacroblock that best approximates a supermacroblock in the current frame. In a second stage, the supermacroblock is divided into a plurality of macroblocks. Each of the macroblocks is used to construct search areas which are then searched to obtain a candidate macroblock that best appropriates a macroblock in the current frame. Additional stages may be used to further fine-tune the approximation to the macroblock.

Abstract: Methods and systems for obtaining a motion vector between two frames of video image data are disclosed. Specifically, methods and systems of the present invention may be used to perform a block-matching algorithm over a two-dimensional search area in a manner that reduces number of comparisons. In particular, the method determines a best candidate block for each strip based by searching in a first dimension of a two-dimensional search area and based on a predetermined difference criterion. The method then determines a second set of best candidate blocks by performing a limited search in the other direction based on the results from the search in the first dimension. The method then determines a motion vector for the best candidate block. Integral projection arrays may be used to further optimize the search. The methods and systems of the present invention may be used in optimizing digital video encoders, decoders, and format converters.

Abstract: When a transport packet of the MPEG2 signal is recorded, a tape speed is reduced to 1/2 or 1/4 of that used to record standard data in accordance with the bit rate of the program. Two heads (A and B) having different azimuths are provided in close proximity with each other at the same height on a drum. If the 1/2 tape speed mode is selected, the recording is performed by head A during the first scan of the tape and by head B during the next scan. Even when the tape speed is a fraction of an even number of the standard tape speed, the azimuth angles of adjacent tracks are different and azimuth recording is performed to reduce crosstalk.

Abstract: A system and method to decode encoded video images in such a manner as to maintain high quality images while reducing the computation time needed to decode the images. The system takes into account that the resultant display generated may only have a fraction (1/4) of the resolution of the original image. Thus, optimizations are realized by modifying and combining the inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) and inverse weighting (IW) processes to process only the portion of the image to be displayed.

Abstract: A system and method to decode encoded video images in such a manner as to maintain high quality images while reducing the computation time needed to decode the images. The system takes into account that the resultant display generated may only have a fraction (1/16) of the resolution of the original image. Thus, optimizations are realized by modifying the inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) and inverse weighting (IW) processes to process only the portion of the image to be displayed.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus for reproducing recorded encoded picture data from a recording medium in varying speed without picture disruption. The recorded picture data are read from the recording medium and stored in a buffer memory. A detection circuit detects a picture header in the stored picture data and, depending upon the results of such detection, may or may not supply a clock signal therefrom. If a picture header is not detected, the detection circuit supplies the clock signal to the buffer memory and a delaying circuit. In response thereto, the stored picture data are read out from the buffer memory and supplied to the delaying circuit so as to be delayed by a predetermined amount prior to being supplied therefrom. If a picture header is detected during varying speed reproduction by the detection circuit, the clock signal is not supplied to the buffer memory and the delaying circuit, whereupon the delaying circuit outputs "0"s for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus for reproducing recorded encoded picture data from a recording medium in varying speed without picture disruption. The recorded picture data are read from the recording medium and stored in a buffer memory. A detection circuit detects a picture header in the stored picture data and, depending upon the results of such detection, may or may not supply a clock signal therefrom. If a picture header is not detected, the detection circuit supplies the clock signal to the buffer memory and a delaying circuit. In response thereto, the stored picture data are read out from the buffer memory and supplied to the delaying circuit so as to be delayed by a predetermined amount prior to being supplied therefrom. If a picture header is detected during varying speed reproduction by the detection circuit, the clock signal is not supplied to the buffer memory and the delaying circuit, whereupon the delaying circuit outputs "0"s for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A digital VTR is capable of reproducing a recorded picture image in a normal mode and a variable speed reproduction mode. During normal speed reproduction, the digital VTR reproduces a recorded picture from data that has been recorded in a normal play area of a recording medium. When the digital VTR is in a variable low speed reproduction mode, it reproduces a picture from data recorded in a first trick play area. When the digital VTR is in a variable high speed reproduction mode, it reproduces a picture from data recorded in a second trick play area. The first and second trick play areas are located at respective tracks that correspond to different azimuths.

Abstract: A recording method and apparatus and a reproducing apparatus for digital signals in which data produced by encoding video signals by MPEG system, can be directly recorded and reproduced pictures having a superior picture quality may be obtained on variable-speed reproduction. According to the recording method and apparatus, each track is divided into a first area and a second area. The input data is directly recorded in the first area, and sequentially variable-speed playback data is recorded in the second area of each track. These variable-speed playback data are data among the input data which is obtained on intra-picture recording and which is collected from plural regions divided from a full frame.

Abstract: Digital video tape recorder which operates to receive an advanced television (ATV) signal to be recorded, provide a portion such as a low-band coefficient of an intra-coded frame of the ATV signal as variable-speed data, and record the digital video data and the variable-speed data in a main and a marginal area, respectively, of successive tracks on the record medium in which the marginal area is located on each track at a position which is reproducible in a fast-speed reproducing mode. The digital video tape recorder reproduces the recorded data in the fast-speed reproducing mode by reproducing the portion of the signal stored from the marginal area of each track which is located at specific reproducible areas.

Abstract: The television signal recording/reproducing system digitally records and reproduces television signals composed of a luminance signal, a chrominance signal and a resolution compensation signal included in predetermined television scanning lines. The system includes a Y/C separating circuit for separating the luminance signal Y from the chrominance signal C. The luminance signal Y and the resolution compensation signal are combined onto a first signal line. A demodulating circuit demodulates the chrominance signal into a color difference signal and outputs the demodulated signal to a second signal line. A digital video signal recorder digitally process the signals on the first signal line separately from the signals on the second signal line and records the digitally processed signals. In this manner, the resolution compensation signal is processed with the luminance signal and the resolution compensation signal can be accurately recorded.

Abstract: Recording and reproducing a television signal with a DC shifter prevents compression distortion of a PAL plus television signal. The PAL plus television signal includes a vertical resolution signal for enhancing vertical resolution which vertical resolution signal is included in the same compression blocks as some of the component video signals. Such compression blocks are shifted to a DC set up value so that the signals within those compression blocks do not have varying DC offsets which otherwise could result in compression distortion. Similarly, upon reproduction, the DC set up value is removed after decompression and the original television signal is restored with complete vertical resolution.

Abstract: The television signal recording/reproducing system digitally records and reproduces television signals composed of a luminance signal, a chrominance signal and a resolution compensation signal included in predetermined television scanning lines. The system includes a Y/C separating circuit for separating the luminance signal Y from the chrominance signal C and a decoder for decoding the color signal into color difference signals C.sub.B, C.sub.R. One of the color difference signals C.sub.B, C.sub.R is combined with the resolution compensation signal, and a digital video signal recorder digitally records the combined resolution signal and the color difference signal. In this manner, the resolution compensation signal is accurately recorded.

Abstract: An improved digital signal processor is provided, and includes a tuner for selecting a single transport stream containing a plurality of multiplexed channels from a plurality of transmitted transport streams, a demultiplexer for separating video data and audio data corresponding to a single program contained in the selected transport stream by referring to supplementary data in the selected transport stream, a decoder for decoding the separated video and audio data, an input connected to an external device for receiving video data, audio data and supplementary data from the external device, and for sending video data, audio data and supplementary data to the demultiplexer, and a controller for receiving a program discontinuity data contained in the supplementary data received from the external device, and initializing the decoder in response to the program discontinuity data. A method of applying the digital signal processor is also provided.

Abstract: The television signal recording/reproducing system digitally records and reproduces television signals composed of a luminance signal, a chrominance signal and a resolution compensation signal included in predetermined television scanning lines. The system includes a Y/C separating circuit for separating the luminance signal Y from the chrominance signal C and a decoder for decoding the color signal into color difference signals C.sub.B,C.sub.R. One of the color difference signals C.sub.B,C.sub.R is combined with the resolution compensation signal, and a digital video signal recorder digitally records the combined resolution signal and the color difference signal. In this manner, the resolution compensation signal is accurately recorded.