Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus and method of providing information using an information appliance coupled to a network. The method includes storing text files in a database at a remote location and converting, at the remote location, the text files into speech files. A portion of the speech files requested are downloaded to the information appliance and presented through an audio speaker. The speech files may include audio of electronic program guide (EPG) information, weather information, news information or other information. The method also includes converting the text files into speech files at the remote location using an English text-to-speech (TTS) synthesizer, a Spanish TTS synthesizer, or another language synthesizer. A voice personality may be selected to announce the speech files.

Abstract: Apparatus that transfers program identifying data of the video signal delivered by video equipment such as satellite and cable set-top boxes accesses program-related information from an electronic program guide or from the received television signal and encodes the information into the VBI of the received video signal before transmitting the signal to a video recorder. Apparatus according to the present invention includes a tuner which receives the video signal and circuitry which receives electronic program guide (EPG) information. The apparatus also includes a processor and an XDS encoder. The processor extracts selected EPG information for the program currently being received and, using the XDS encoder, inserts the selected information into the XDS data area of the received signal.

Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus and method of providing information using an information appliance coupled to a network. The method includes storing text files in a database at a remote location and converting, at the remote location, the text files into speech files. A portion of the speech files requested are downloaded to the information appliance and presented through an audio speaker. The speech files may include audio of electronic program guide (EPG) information, weather information, news information or other information. The method also includes converting the text files into speech files at the remote location using an English text-to-speech (TTS) synthesizer, a Spanish TTS synthesizer, or another language synthesizer. A voice personality may be selected to announce the speech files.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for requesting, receiving, processing, and providing local information from a single local source to a television viewer. A local information provider is accessed via a communications link and specific data, which is separate and distinct from video signals received by the television receiver, is downloaded to the television receiver. The data provided by the local source is minimally formatted without any graphical overhead. Requests for information from the local source may be on demand or at a predetermined time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for requesting, receiving, processing, and providing information from a single source to a television viewer. An information provider is accessed via a communications link and specific data, which is separate and distinct from video signals received by the television receiver, is downloaded to the television receiver. The data provided by the information provider is database information with minimal formatting and does not contain any graphical overhead. Requests for information from the information provider may be on demand or at a predetermined time. The information provided may be filtered by the information provider and/or television receiver based on selected program categories and/or a user provided profile.

Abstract: An apparatus or transforming the resolution of an image from a first image resolution to a second image resolution using operations in the spatial frequency domain. The apparatus converts the bit-stream format which defines the first image and can be used to, for example, change the resolution of an MPEG encoded video signal by converting the MPED bitstream. The apparatus generates converted macroblocks from original macroblocks. During conversion, the apparatus determines whether the converted macroblock is (1) intra or non-intra coded, (2) P-coded or B-coded, and (3) in field format or frame format. The apparatus may also include the selection of a motion vector for the converted macroblock from the original macroblocks. Further, the apparatus may also map a first group of transform values which represent the image at the first image resolution to a second group of transform values which represent the image the second image resolution in the spatial frequency domain.

Abstract: A decoder for a video signal encoded according to the MPEG-2 standard processes either interlace scan signals or progressive scan signals by dynamically reconfiguring a single high-bandwidth memory. The memory is used to hold 1) the input bit-stream, 2) first and second reference frames used for motion compensated processing, and 3) image data representing a field that is currently being decoded. The decoder includes circuitry which stores and fetches the bit-stream data, fetches the reference frame data, stores the image data for the field that is currently being decoded in block format and fetches this image data for conversion to raster-scan format. This circuitry also detects whether the signal is in interlace or progressive format from the input data stream. When an interlace format signal is being decoded, the memory is partitioned in one configuration and when a progressive format signal is being decoded, the memory is partitioned in another configuration.

Abstract: A transport decoder 110, for receiving and processing a transport data stream using MPEG-2 formats, includes connections to a physical layer channel interface (channel interface) 112, a buffer memory 114, a host microprocessor 116, audio and video decoders 118/120, and clock signal circuitry 122. Upon receipt of a discontinuity indicator, the transport packet headers are parsed and transport packet payloads are stored in memory. Subsequently, upon receipt of a next program counter reference (PCR) value, a counter is loaded with the received program counter reference value. Next, the data stored in memory is searched for a time stamp and, when one is found, the time stamp is retrieved. Finally, a timer interrupt is set for a point in time approximately one frame time before the time stamp value, and, when the timer interrupt occurs, the program counter reference value is sent to the decoders, thereby providing sufficient time for the decoders to process data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method, applicable to variable bit rate video and constant bit rate video, is disclosed for replacing "stuffing bytes" with private data. The invention takes advantage of the otherwise wasted resources dedicated to "stuffing" in a data stream in order to insert private data. This is accomplished by inserting useful private data in a Transport Stream instead of the stuffing bits. That is, effectively, a re-multiplexing operation occurs where, based on the existence of certain conditions in a Transport Packet (e.g., stuffing bytes exist), the information necessary to replace stuffing bytes with private data yet still comply with established standards is accomplished. This data generally is referred to as privatestuff data in order to distinguish it from typical private data which may otherwise be encoded into a Transport Stream. The stuffing bytes removed from the Transport Packet may come from an adaptation field in the Transport Header or directly from the Transport Payload or both.

Abstract: A system records a single program from a multi-program transport stream that is encoded according to the MPEG-2 standard. The system demultiplexes transport packets from the multi-program transport stream and records the demultiplexed packets on a digital video cassette recorder (DVCR). The system includes circuitry in the encoder which emulates a buffer in the digital recorder that is used to hold the packets to convert the bursty packet data into constant rate data for recording. This emulated buffer controls the overall rate at which packets of the selected program are inserted into the multi-program transport stream by the encoder. As each packet is recorded, a time stamp value, representing when the packet was demultiplexed and a clock count value, representing a number of pulses of a high-frequency system clock signal that occurred during a predetermined number of bytes of the demultiplexed packet are recorded with the demultiplexed packet.

Abstract: A signal processing system for a high resolution digital video tape recorder (VTR) includes circuitry which processes the high resolution video signal to produce a relatively low resolution video signal which may be recorded on the tape with the high resolution video signal. The low resolution video signal is encoded using intra-frame techniques and recorded in fixed-length segments which appear at predetermined locations in the tape tracks. Low resolution segments representing images in different frames may be recovered and combined to produce an image which is suitable for display in trick-play modes. During normal play modes, the data stream representing the high resolution image is recovered in sequence. Accordingly, this high resolution image may be encoded using predictive coding techniques as well as intra-frame techniques.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a video signal during the delay time between when a new channel is selected and when the digital picture is acquired and displayed is disclosed. In particular, the system provides an NTSC-like analog video signal along with a conventional digital television signal such that when a user initially makes a new channel selection, the analog video signal, which can be quickly and easily decoded, is presented for display until the digital television signal is completely decoded and acquired. As soon as the digital television signal is ready for display, the displayed signal switches from the analog video signal to the digital television signal. For purposes of conserving frequency spectrum, the analog video signal is a simple NTSC-like monochrome (i.e., black and white) signal and limited to a 1 MHz band of the available 6 MHz spectrum allocated for each channel.

Abstract: A parallel decoder for an MPEG-2 encoded video signal includes a deformatter which separates the input bit stream into multiple portions, each representing a respectively different section of the HDTV image. The separate portions are processed in parallel by respective decoders. In order to perform motion compensated processing, each of the four decoders includes a memory that holds data representing the entire image. Each decoder provides its decoded output data to all of the decoders to maintain the data in the respective memories.

Abstract: A system and method for filtering a digital signal having a relatively high data rate uses circuitry which operates at a lower data rate. The filter includes an input section which receives the input signal and which divides the input signal into a plurality of contiguous segments. The system also includes a first filter which receives samples representing one of the plurality of segments and adjacent samples from the next contiguous one of the segments and which filters all of the received samples to produce a first filtered signal. A second filter receives samples of the next contiguous segment and filters those samples to produce a second filtered signal. The filtered signals are combined by providing the samples of the second filtered signal immediately after the samples of the first filtered signal to produce a filtered output signal.

Abstract: A high-definition television receiver includes circuitry to decode a received high-definition television signal to produce a digital data stream representing the corresponding high-definition television image. In addition, the receiver includes circuitry which generates a signal representing a reduced resolution image from the decoded data stream. The receiver provides both the high-definition television signal and the reduced resolution signal at an output port. A video tape recorder (VTR) receives the two signals, segments them and formats them onto the tape in a manner which allows a majority of the reduced resolution segments to be recovered and displayed in at least one of the VTR's trick-play modes. The reduced resolution image may be from the same channel or from a different channel and may also be displayed as an inset picture (PIX-IN-PIX) in the main high-definition image.

Abstract: A system for improving motion-sensitive processing in a television receiver generates motion vectors for video images in a studio environment, encodes the motion vectors and then combines the encoded motion vectors with the video signal for transmission. A receiver decodes the motion vectors and applies them to the motion-sensitive processing apparatus to improve its performance. The motion vector information is encoded during the active portion of the video signal in a manner that does not produce significant distortion when the video signal is processed for display. According to one embodiment of the invention, the motion vectors are encoded in a band of frequencies surrounding the color subcarrier signal as a 16 quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) signal using Fukinuki-type modulation.

Abstract: Apparatus for selecting a block of data in a previous frame to be used as a predicted block for a given block in a current frame in a system that reduces the bit rate by codifying the difference between the predicted block and the given block in a given manner by deriving the differences between the given block in the current frame and a plurality of blocks in the previous frame and selecting as the predicted block that block for which the codification of its differences with the given block requires the least number of bits. The apparatus can also select a predicted block from a number of blocks selected in accordance with ABD or SBD techniques.

Abstract: An NTSC compatible television system capable of enhanced resolution images with an appropriate receiver is described. The video transmission associated with this system may be received by a standard NTSC television receiver and displayed in letter box format. The added information required to achieve enhanced resolution in an 16 by 9 format is bit reduced and transmitted either during the mask areas present when viewing the signal on an NTSC standard receiver and/or in a quadrature channel typically not detectable without a special decoder by the NTSC receiver. The digital information transmitted during the mask areas, the NTSC image, and the digital information transmitted via the quadrature channel are combined to arrive at the enhanced resolution television display.

Abstract: A motion adaptive vertical filter is used to filter an interlaced video signal on a frame basis in areas of the image that are not in motion and on a field basis in areas that are in motion. A soft switch mixes the field filtered data and the frame filtered data in areas where there is relatively little motion to prevent artifacts which may be caused by abruptly switching between the two vertical filtering schemes. The frame vertical filter reduces the vertical resolution of still NTSC images to 180 cycles per picture height (CPH) while the field filter reduces the vertical resolution to 90 CPH.

Abstract: A noise component of a video signal is reduced by using a three dimensional discrete cosign transform (3-D DCT) to determine the time frequency spectrum of both the video signal and the noise component, subtracting the time frequency spectrum of the noise component from the time frequency spectrum of the video signal, and converting the time frequency spectrum of the modified video signal back to the spatial time domain by using an inverse 3-D DCT.