Abstract: This invention relates to techniques to form an application specific presentation, such as a multimedia show that is sent from a sending terminal to a receiving terminal. The invention transmits the discrete components of the multi-media show during the playtime of the show in such a way that each of them is sent before the showtime. Preferably, each discrete component is sent just before the showtime.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling real-time searching of patterns over a shared media including the capability of simultaneously searching multiple logical streams over the shared media. Patterns found are reported to the host system using some pre-assigned messages. One particular application of this invention is to search an MPEG-2 program stream, indicating the points (e.g., start-codes) where a new picture starts.

Abstract: A full service channel access protocol that supports the integrated transport of voice, video and data communications is provided by dividing a communication channel into a plurality of frames, dividing each of the frames into a plurality of slots, and dividing some of the plurality of slots into a plurality of mini-slots. The mini-slots are provided for use by the multiple communication sources to request the establishment of a new voice, data, or video transmission connection over the communication channel. Additionally, a second one of the plurality of slots is divided into a plurality of second mini-slots for use by the multiple communication sources to request the establishment of a new voice, data, or video transmission connection over the communication channel and for use by the multiple communication sources to augment an existing video connection over the communication channel.

Abstract: On the side of a transmitter in a digital broadcasting system, a multiplexed picture is produced by multiplexing a plurality of pictures using a frame memory device. A video encoder encodes the multiplexed picture so as to realize a prescribed correspondence between a field type (even, odd) and a displaying order. Thus, a plurality of encoded pictures having the GOP structure are produced. The encoded pictures are transmitted to a receiver in the digital broadcasting system by using a one-channel transmission path. On the receiver side, decoding is carried out on a GOP basis and formatting is carried out according to the displaying order.

Abstract: A digital/analogue TV receiver having a function for displaying an EGP screen comprises a controller for displaying the EPG (electric program guide) screen including channels and TV program information on a display apparatus, and a memory for storing a channel map memorizing the TV program information correspondingly to the channels. The controller renews the channel map stored in the memory with using VCT (virtual channel table) information and EIT (event information table) information which are delivered with the TV broadcasting signals while image signals of a TV program is outputted to the display apparatus. The controller uses the TV program information memorized in the channel map stored in the memory when the EPG screen is displayed on the display apparatus.

Abstract: A digital headend architecture and full service network are provided to selectively demodulate and decode a variety of digital and analog feeds into baseband signals or pass digital programming through the headend. In accordance with one embodiment, the head end is provided with digital-turn-around capability to allow precompressed signals to passed through the head end with out any decompress or decoding into baseband signals. The head end includes at least one receiver for receiving signals sent by satellite, at least one antenna for receiving over-the-air signals as baseband composite video and audio signals, and a decoder connected to the at least one receiver for converting received satellite signals into baseband video and audio signals. At least one MPEG encoder is provided for encoding the baseband video and audio composite signals into multiplexed Single Program Transport Streams (SPTS).

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital video receiving apparatus for displaying a plurality of digital TV pictures on a plurality of receiving terminal apparatuses. The digital video receiving apparatus includes a tuner for extracting the received digital TV multiplexed signal, a demodulator for decoding the digital signals provided from the tuner, a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the multiplexed signals outputted from the demodulator to obtain a bit stream including a video signal, an audio signal and a data signal. The digital video receiving apparatus further includes a video decoder, an audio decoder and a data decoder for decoding signals outputted from the demultiplexer. The digital video receiving apparatus decodes the input multiplexed digital TV signal and outputs a video signal, an audio signal and a data signal corresponding to respective programs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a digital broadcasting transmission system which includes: a plurality of single program encoders for encoding and multiplexing respective single programs constituted with video/audio/data signals; a PSIP generator for generating PSIP that provides detailed information on video/audio/data broadcasting programs to be multiplexed in the single program encoders; a multiple program multiplexer for multiplexing digital broadcasting stream transmitted from the signal program encoders and the PSIP transmitted from the PSIP generator; and a transmission unit for transmitting digital broadcasting signals multiplexed in the multiple program multiplexer.

Abstract: In a regulation of a total image quality for an encoded picture, parameter conversion data which define applicable coding bit rates and coding frame rates for each image format are previously stored in a storage 13. An image quality regulating parameter is input through a parameter input section 11 and is used as a key in an image quality regulator 12 to make a reference to the parameter conversion data in the storage 13 in order to determine a coding frame rate and an image format. By delivering the coding frame rate and the image format to picture encoding means, a regulation of a total image quality is achieved through a single operation without independently operating two parameters, the image format and the frame rate.

Abstract: In a transmission system for digital symbols, such as used for DVB, source symbols are encoded by a block coder (4), subjected to an interleaving operation in an interleaver and subsequently encoder in a channel encoder (8) according to one out of a plurality of possible channel codes. The output symbols of the channel encoder (8) are applied to transmit means (10). These output symbols are modulated on a carrier and applied to an antenna (12). An antenna (14) connected to a receiver (16) receives the signal transmitted by the antenna (12). Receive means (18) are arranged for amplifying and demodulating the signal received from the antenna (14). The output of the receive means (18) are applied to quantizing means (20) which convert its input signal into a quantized digital signal, before applying it to a Viterbi decoder 22. The complexity of the Viterbi decoder 22 depends on the number of quantization levels at the output of the quantization means (20).

Abstract: A system and method for the simultaneous transmission and rendition of multiple encoded digital video signal streams in an interactive television application are disclosed. Simultaneous transmission and rendition of multiple encoded digital video signal streams in an interactive television application generally comprises modifying at least one of the multiple encoded video streams broadcast from a broadcast center for repositioning the at least one of the multiple encoded video stream for display, interleaving the modified multiple encoded video streams comprising the at least one modified encoded video stream into a single composite interleaved video stream, and outputting the single composite video stream. The method may further comprise receiving the multiple encoded video streams from a broadcast center. Each of the multiple encoded video streams is preferably encoded using MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 compression technology.

Abstract: An adaptive region-based, multi-scale, motion compensated video compression algorithm design for transmission over hostile communication channels. The algorithm is embodied in a video encoder that extracts spatial information from video frames to create video regions that are then decomposed into sub-bands of different perceptual importance before being compressed and transmitted independently. The system further uses unequal error protection, prioritized transmission and reconstruction to guarantee a minimum spatial and temporal resolution at the receiver. In particular, the region segmented frames bound both spatial and temporal error propagation within frames. A connection-level inter-region statistical multiplexing scheme is also employed to ensure optimal utilization of reserved transmission bandwidth.

Abstract: An apparatus in a digital network receives at least one input transport stream having a plurality of PID streams and outputs at least one transport streams. The apparatus demultiplexes the at least one input transport streams and determines whether to: decrypt packets included in the at least one input transport stream; statistically multiplex a group of PID streams included in the at least one input transport stream; and encrypt packets included in the at least one input transport stream.

Abstract: In a data communication system such as a high capacity DBS system, dynamic mapping of broadcast resources is provided to exploit occasional redundancy in the program content of two or more input data streams, freeing at least one broadcast resource to carry alternate bitstreams, such as additional programs or existing programs at higher quality. Transmission maps defining the correspondence between input data streams and broadcast resources, and reception maps defining the correspondence between broadcast resources and output data streams, are updated as needed to dynamically modify broadcast resource mapping to increase effective utilization of available bandwidth. Beneficial n:n-y:m mapping in a high capacity consumer DBS entertainment system is provided. Apparatus and methods for efficiently generating, maintaining and updating allocation maps with reduced overhead requirements, are disclosed.

Abstract: The multiplexer device comprises a multiplexing means for multiplexing a plurality types of media information and outputting a multiplexed bit stream, a priority deciding means for deciding priority corresponding to each of the media information, and a multiplexing controller for controlling multiplexing of each of the media information according to the multiplexing means based on the priority decided by the priority deciding means. In addition the priority in each information is multiplexed.

Abstract: A multiple picture composing method for composing video signals from a plurality of video signal sources which operate asynchronously to each other includes the steps of (a) successively selecting the video signals from the video signal sources, (b) reading the selected video signals in units of frames while maintaining horizontal and vertical synchronization of the selected video signals, (c) reducing the video signals in the units of frames in correspondence with areas allocated for each of pictures to be composed in a composed picture, (d) writing the reduced video signal in blocks of a picture composing memory corresponding to the areas allocated for each of the pictures to be composed, and (e) composing the video signals stored in the picture composing memory to obtain a composed video signal related to a composed picture and subjecting the composed video signal to at least one of an encoding process and a transmission process.

Abstract: Primary programs (P1, P2, . . . ) and commercials (=secondary programs C1, C2, . . . ) are transmitted alternately and, in the “normal mode” of a display system according to the invention, they are applied directly to a display (3). Tertiary programs (C1*, C2*, . . . ) with commercials are transmitted in parallel and expanded in time, i.e. with a small-bandwidth, and are continuously stored in a memory (4). When the user presses “pause” during the “normal mode”, the tertiary programs (commercials C1*, . . . ) that have been recorded until then will be shown, and the program (P3, . . . ) itself will be delayed, i.e. stored in a buffer (5). When the user resumes watching, he can start with the primary program (P3) where he left off and (some of the) the commercials (C3, C4, . . . ) broadcast at the end of the program will not be shown.

Abstract: A method for multiplexing compressed video data streams where the time for sending portions of a video frame are adjusted to reduce latency. If a compressed frame cannot be delivered in the appropriate frame time, due to bandwidth limitations, the frame is broken into parts and a part is sent in an earlier frame time. This method allows complete frames to be available at a receiver at the correct time. Accurate methods of deriving clock signals from the data stream are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of processing a digital video data signal (DVS) in order to insert binary shape data into the digital video data signal. Such a method is used for processing the digital video data signal containing data relating to rectangular pictures, and segmented video data signals (SVS) provided by a segmentation step (SEG) of the digital video data signal, a segmented video data signal containing a video object (VO) which is a region of the rectangular picture. Said method of processing comprises the steps of identifying (ID) with an identifier to which video object of the segmented video data signals (SVS) a pixel of the rectangular picture belongs, inserting (INS) the identifiers into the digital video data signal so as to form a modified digital video data signal (DVSm), and encoding (ENC) the modified digital video data signal using a video-object-based encoding framework so as to obtain an encoded data signal (ES).

Abstract: A device for simultaneously transmitting a plurality of television signals comprises an adjusting circuit (5) for adjusting the bitrate for each television signal in dependence upon the complexity of this signal with respect to the joint complexity of the plurality of television signals. The device provides improvement of quality in Digital Video Broadcast systems. It has also been found to be possible to transmit extra signals through a given channel while maintaining the picture quality. Use of the device in optical recording provides the possibility of a longer playing time.

Abstract: A program selection system for a consumer digital television receiver includes a numeric keypad and scrolling keys for selecting a channel through which a multi-program bit-stream is received. The numeric keypad and the scrolling keys may also be used to select an individual program from the multi-program bit-stream. In one embodiment of the invention, the numeric keypad is used first to select a channel and then to select a program within the channel. According to another embodiment of the invention, the numeric keypad is used to select the channel and another key is used to step through the programs that are contained in the multi-program stream that is carried by the channel. In a third embodiment, scrolling keys are used to select the next channel or the next program within the channel depending on whether the currently selected program is the last program in the bit-stream that is carried by the channel.

Abstract: A method is proposed that is used for terrestrial transmission of at least one digital signal, in particular a digital radio and/or TV broadcasting signal. In this method, the at least one digital signal, reduced in its data quantity by coding, is modulated, preferably by the OFDM method, and converted into the frequency position of at least one channel, adjacent to at least one occupied or unoccupied channel (30, 32) for transmitting an analog TV broadcasting signal, and is broadcast in this frequency position. The dynamic scope and the amplitude of the spectrum (41) of the at least one digital signal must undershoot a respectively predetermined value that is markedly less than the dynamic scope or amplitude of the video carrier of the spectrum (35, 36) of the analog TV broadcasting signal, so that there will be only slight intermodulation and cross modulation with other digital signals or with analog signals of other channels.

Abstract: A video transmission apparatus in which an n (the n represents an integer of 2 or more) number of different video data (13), (15), (17), (19) are transmitted via a single transmission line (8) from a plurality of video signal output sections (14), (16), (18), (20) to a video display device (5) and on the video display device (5), the video data that is indicated by a video data switching device (1) is selectively displayed, wherein the video display device (5) comprising; a latch signal generation circuit (40) for generating a latch signal (27) for latching either one of the n number of different video data (13), (15), (17), (19) on the transmission line (8) in accordance with a video switching signal output (2) from the video data switching device (1), and a latch circuit (37) for latching a prescribed video data on the transmission line (8) by the latch signal (27).

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital video receiving apparatus for displaying a plurality of digital TV pictures on a plurality of receiving terminal apparatuses. The digital video receiving apparatus includes a tuner for extracting the received digital TV multiplexed signal, a demodulator for decoding the digital signals provided from the tuner, a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the multiplexed signals outputted from the demodulator to obtain a bit stream including a video signal, an audio signal and a data signal. The digital video receiving apparatus further includes a video decoder, an audio decoder and a data decoder for decoding signals outputted from the demultiplexer. The digital video receiving apparatus decodes the input multiplexed digital TV signal and outputs a video signal, an audio signal and a data signal corresponding to respective programs.

Abstract: The invention relates, in encoding/decoding systems, to an improved method of switching from a first coded video sequence to a second one. In order to avoid underflow or overflow of the decoder buffer, a transcoding of the input streams IS1 and IS2 is used to shift the temporal position of the switching point and to obtain at the output of the provided transcoders (11, 12) streams TS1 and TS2 containing an identical entry point and the same decoder buffer characteristics.

Abstract: Device and method for decoding a plurality of video bitstreams on the same time by using one decoder by making time multiplexing decoding of bitstreams in different frame rates and film modes in frames, which facilitates simultaneous processing of multiple video bitstreams for PIP, POP, multi-channel broadcasting, and the like by using, not numerous video decoder, but only one HD class video decoded, a required memory size can be reduced significantly, and an IC size can be reduced further if the present invention is applied to an ASIC, that enhances competitiveness.

Abstract: Plural n number of encoders 21, 22 . . . 2n carry out reading in advance of parameter information PAR. #1, #2 . . . #n with respect to respective n number of programs prog. 1, 2 . . . n to allow a controller 3 to estimate encoding difficulty related information “difficulty” when picture is encoded, and to compression-encode the plural n number of programs on the basis of target encoding rate that the controller 3 has calculated on the basis of the parameter information. The controller 3 calculates allocation code quantities target_rate #1, #2 . . . #n every respective programs from the parameter information PAR. #1, #2 . . . #n. A multiplexer 4 multiplexes streams “stream” #1, #2 . . . #n that the encoders 21, 22 . . . 2n have encoded in correspondence with the allocation code quantities target_rate #1, #2 . . . #n.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for communication between a plurality of stations. The method includes selecting a master station, which becomes responsible for building and broadcasting at least one service information table (such as the tables defined in MPEG or DVB), and communicates with the (N−1) to the other stations, known as slave stations, in a limited number of situations corresponding to modifications of the content of the tables and according to a specific table management, where the master station is always in one of three states that are either a waiting state, or a building state, or a transferring state, and specific communication rules for the slave stations and the master station.

Abstract: Decoding method and device with which it is proposed, in order to reduce the switching time from one among n input digital video bitstreams corresponding to n programs to another one, to use under the supervision of control means (30) including a control unit (31) and a switch (32), while a selected digital video bitstream is presented for decoding and display, (n-1) buffers (22, 23) for the (n-1) extra bitstreams, these extra buffers being dimensioned so that they always comprise at least an intra frame, and preferably the most recent one, of each incoming extra bitstream. In a simpler embodiment where the next program switched to is one up or one down, only one or two extra buffers are necessary, subject to the knowledge of an information on how the incoming programs may be accessed, i.e. according to some defined order.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for processing video data signals to generate a time division multiplexed video signal which incorporates a maxima number of fields from successive selected video input signals. The invention provides dual video decoder channels associated synchronisation circuits for generating an early synchronisation signal. The early synchronisation signals are applied to control inputs of the video decoders to enable reading of their output earlier than would normally be possible, avoiding delays in the combining of successive fields of video information in the video TDM signal. The provision of dual channels avoids delays due to lack of synchronisation between the different video sources.