Abstract: The application relates to a method of and devices for encoding an information stream (20) into a variable bit rate (VBR) encoded information stream (24). The application discloses a method of estimating the relation between the variable bit rate, the recording time and the storage capacity of a record carrier. The deviation of the estimated recording time from the true recording time is kept within predefined limits and it is prevented that deviations from several successive recordings accumulate.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, encoding and multiplexing a digital video picture are provided using intra-coded fields only at a relatively high bit-rate, with each picture being encoded as a sequence of slices from the video image field. The encoding suitably complies with MPEG or similar requirements, and the intra-coding is further constrained so that the maximum number of bits for each slice in the picture is limited, and the delivery schedule of the bits to a decoder is more tightly constrained than is implied by the MPEG decoding models. In this way it is possible to build a high quality, low cost MPEG (or similar) encoder and decoder for video communications over digital interconnection standards such as IEEE 1394.

Abstract: When a program of a certain duration is converted into compressed data (encoded), it is desirable for the total number of data to fit in an available data space, for example, when recorded on an information carrier. More particularly in variable bit rate compression such as a video signal via MPEG-2, this is hard to forecast. For this purpose, a recording device according to the invention comprises a compression unit (22) whose bit rate is influenced by a system controller (45) via a control input (26) during the encoding process in dependence on the remaining part of the vacant data space on the information carrier (1) and the remaining duration of the program. When parameters influencing the bit rate are set in the compression unit (22), the system controller will take the complexity of the program derived during a previously encoded part of the program into account.

Abstract: An information stream organized as a sequence of blocks is encoded according to a graceful degradation principle. The stream poses temporal non-uniform data processing requirements. In particular, with respect to a received block one or more blockwise defined control parameters and an associated blockwise processing load are detected (44). Under control (46) of a processing load for one or more previous blocks, one or more later blocks before processing thereof get an adjustment (48) of one or more of the control parameters. This lowers an expected load for the later block in case of an excessive load, and vice versa when detecting a sub-standard load.

Abstract: An information stream is encoded into a variable bit rate encoded information stream. The relation is estimated between the variable bit rate, the recording time and the storage capacity of a record carrier. The deviation of the estimated recording time from the true recording time is kept within predefined limits and accumulation of deviations from several successive recordings is prevented.

Abstract: The invention relates to the generation of a trick play information stream from a normal play information stream, so that they can be recorded together as a composite information stream on the record carrier, such that upon reproduction in a trick play reproduction mode, an information signal of sufficient quality, eg as regards visibility, can be obtained. One aspect of the invention lies in the generation of GOPs, each GOP comprising an I-frame retrieved from the original normal play information stream, and one or more so-called ‘empty P frames’.(FIG.

Abstract: A trick play information stream is generated from a normal play information stream, so that they can be recorded together as a composite information stream on the record carrier, such that upon reproduction in a trick play reproduction mode, an information signal of sufficient quality, e.g., as regards visibility, can be obtained. GOPs are generated, each GOP including an I-frame retrieved from the original normal play information stream, and one or more so-called ‘empty P frames’. Another aspect is the requirement of generating GOPs for the trick play information stream that have a constant bitcost per GOP. Again, another aspect lies in the retrieval of the I-frame for the trick play information stream from the normal play information.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for compressing an HDTV signal (1) in such a manner that it can be recorded and edited with SDTV equipment (4,5). More particularly, the HDTV signal is recorded on digital recorders (e.g. DVCPRO) which have been designed for recording compressed SDTV signals. A sub-sampled version of the HDTV signal is recorded in first locations (20) of compressed macroblocks in a manner complying with the relevant SDTV recording format. The HDTV signal is compressed (2) and formatted (3) for being recorded in further locations (21). Between said first and further locations, an end-of-block code (28) is recorded so that the recorder (4) will ignore the HDTV data. Upon playback, a recognizable version of the sub-sampled HDTV signal is displayed on an SDTV receiver (5). Readily available SDTV equipment can thus be used for HDTV editing. In one embodiment of the invention, the sub-sampled HDTV signal consists of selected DC coefficients.

Abstract: A device for receiving, storing and displaying television images. The device comprises a buffer (2) for storing television images. Television images having a first frame frequency are received at an input (4). Television images having a second frame frequency are supplied at an output (6). The buffer is adapted to store and read television images. A number of X consecutive television images stored in the buffer lie between a television image read at a given instant from the buffer and a television image stored at substantially the same instant. In a first state, X increases with time. In a second state, X decreases with time. The device further comprises a control device (12) for generating a first control signal (14) for bringing the device from the first to the second state, and a second control signal (16) for bringing the device from the second to the first state.

Abstract: An information stream organized as a sequence of blocks is encoded according to a graceful degradation principle. The stream poses temporal non-uniform data processing requirements. In particular, with respect to a received block one or more blockwise defined control parameters and an associated blockwise processing load are detected. Under control of a processing load for one or more previous blocks, one or more later blocks before processing thereof get an adjustment of one or more of the control parameters. This lowers an expected load for the later block in case of an excessive load, and vice versa when detecting a sub-standard load.

Abstract: When a program of a certain duration is converted into compressed data (encoded), it is desirable for the total number of data to fit in an available data space, for example, when recorded on an information carrier. More particularly in variable bit rate compression such as a video signal via MPEG-2, this is hard to forecast. For this purpose, a recording device includes a compression unit whose bit rate is influenced by a system controller via a control input during the encoding process depending on the remaining part of the vacant data space on the information carrier and the remaining duration of the program. When parameters that influence the bit rate are set in the compression unit, the system controller will take the complexity of the program derived during a previously encoded part of the program into account. Furthermore, a separate encoding device receives time information and data space information.

Abstract: An information stream organized as a sequence of blocks is encoded according to a graceful degradation principle. The stream poses temporal non-uniform data processing requirements. In particular, with respect to a received block one or more blockwise defined control parameters and an associated blockwise processing load are detected (44). Under control (46) of a processing load for one or more previous blocks, one or more later blocks before processing thereof get an adjustment (48) of one or more of the control parameters. This lowers an expected load for the later block in case of an excessive load, and vice versa when detecting a sub-standard load.

Abstract: An audio and/or video information stream organized as a sequence of pictures is encoded through an at least partly software-based procedure. The sequence includes Intrapictures, Predictive pictures, and Bidirectional predictive pictures. In particular, for a substantial and predictively located selection (77) among said Bidirectional predictive pictures only one prediction direction is used (76). For any remaining Bidirectional predictive picture both prediction directions are maintained.

Abstract: Encoding device for encoding a program and recording device. When a program of a certain duration is converted into compressed data (encoded), it is desirable for the total number of data to fit in an available data space, for example, when recorded on an information carrier. More particularly in variable bit rate compression such as a video signal via MPEG-2, this is hard to forecast. For this purpose, a recording device according to the invention comprises a compression unit (22) whose bit rate is influenced by a system controller (45) via a control input (26) during the encoding process in dependence on the remaining part of the vacant data space on the information carrier (1) and the remaining duration of the program. When parameters influencing the bit rate are set in the compression unit (22), the system controller will take the complexity of the program derived during a previously encoded part of the program into account.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, encoding and multiplexing a digital video picture are provided using intra-coded fields only at a relatively high bit-rate, with each picture being encoded as a sequence of slices from the video image field. The encoding suitably complies with MPEG or similar requirements, and the intra-coding is further constrained so that the maximum number of bits for each slice in the picture is limited, and the delivery schedule of the bits to a decoder is more tightly constrained than is implied by the MPEG decoding models. In this way it is possible to build a high quality, low cost MPEG (or similar) encoder and decoder for video communications over digital interconnection standards such as IEEE 1394.

Abstract: In a method for recording video images and the associated sound with a reduced resolution, in such a manner that the recorded information can be reproduced by means of standard equipment, video frames are filtered so as to derive browse sets having a reduced number of pixels. A number of 16 browse sets are stored in a frame memory in order to form a mosaic frame of 4×4 browse sets, after which the mosaic frame is recorded. Audio samples are processed to form audio browse samples: the most significant half (MSH) of the bits of a first audio sample is used as the MSH of an audio browse sample and the MSH of a ninth audio sample is used as the least significant half (LSH) of the bits of this audio browse sample, which is subsequently recorded. In this way, the information required to edit a recording is reduced by a factor of 16.

Abstract: A system encodes an input video signal by subjecting the input video signal to noise reduction to obtain a noise-reduced signal, and encoding a difference between the noise-reduced signal and a prediction signal to produce an encoded signal. The system then decodes the encoded signal to obtain the prediction signal. In the system, the noise-reduction step comprises arithmetically combining the input video signal with the prediction signal.

Abstract: To be able to transmit television pictures in a digital form through a medium having a limited bandwidth, the pictures are subjected to picture transform and to variable-length coding. The picture to be transmitted is converted in this manner into a bit stream comprising code words of variable length. This bit stream is converted into a channel bit stream which is less sensitive to transmission errors. To this end the most significant code words (representing the average luminance and the coarse picture details) of sub-pictures of 8*8 pixels are accommodated at fixed bit positions of the channel bit stream. These code words can be retrieved by simple count-down of the bit positions. The other code words are distributed over the other bit positions. The decoder is relatively simple because the length of each block comprising significant code words is also transmitted. This length is preferably adapted to the extent of picture detail in the sub-picture.

Abstract: The invention aims at recording a data reduced digital video signal on a longitudinal record carrier (40) by a recording apparatus of the helical scan type. The apparatus is adapted to generate signal blocks of information of the trick play video signal and to generate signal blocks of information of the data reduced digital video signal. A signal block of information of the data reduced digital video signal comprising a first frame (I-frame) and at least one second frame (B- or P frame) of the data reduced digital video signal. The apparatus is adapted to record each time after each other a signal block of information of the digital trick play video signal and a signal block of information of the data reduced digital video signal on the record carrier. A signal block of information of the trick play video signal is recorded in n subsequent tracks (T.sub.2) on the record carrier, where n is a constant integer for which holds n.gtoreq.

Abstract: By compressing HDTV pictures, they can be recorded on digital SDTV video recorders. Such recorders are widely used in professional studios. The invention relates to a device for formatting the compressed HDTV signal in such a way that the DC values of successive 8*8 picture blocks are processed by SDTV recorders as a smaller but recognizable SDTV sub-picture. Low-cost editing of HDTV programs with standard equipment (SDTV recorders and receivers) is possible with such a device, while the edited final result can be transmitted as a HDTV signal without any further processing operation.