Abstract: In the apparatus for processing a color image, a data signal representing another information differs from the color image is generated by a generating means. The another information is embedded into the color image by varying one of a color difference and a chroma of the color image in accordance with the data signal by an image processing means.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for segmenting a multiple program multimedia digital data stream for transmission over a distribution communications network. Each program multimedia digital data stream includes sequential transport system (TS) packets with program clock references (PCRs) at a set time interval and a program identification (PID) associated with the PCRs. The multiple program multimedia digital data stream is received. The TS packets are decoded to identify the program clock references (PCRs). A selected number N of TS packets are identified. The multimedia digital data stream into frames responsive to both the identified number N of TS packets and the identified PCRs. A program identification (PID) associated with one of the PCRs is selected for timing the transmission of segmented multiple program multimedia digital data stream.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a bidirectionally coded picture, i.e., a B frame, from two reference pictures, e.g. I or P frame pictures. The method utilizes a single memory fetch of each reference picture, and interpolation of the estimated motion of each picture. This is accomplished by identifying a full pixel closest match from three full pixel boundary searches, calculating half pixel reference picture data therefrom, interpolating the half pixels to form bidirectionally coded pictures, and finding the closest match at the half pixel boundary. The intermediate results are stored in an 18.times.18.times.11 bit buffer holding a 7 bit partial sum for each pixel, said partial sum formed by adding the six most significant bits of corresponding I and P frame pixels. In this buffer four bits of each word in the buffer are the two Least Significant Bits of the corresponding I and P frame pixels.

Abstract: Device and method for transmitting tuning data (transmission frequency, channel number) of broadcasting transmitters to receivers for user-friendly installation of the receivers. To this end, the device transmits tuning data packets. Each tuning data packet includes the tuning data of the transmitters which are receivable in a given area. Moreover, a reference packet (FIG. 3) is transmitted, in which the corresponding tuning data packet (32) is fixed for each area (34). In order to automate the installation without user interaction, the reference packet for each area incorporates the tuning data (31) of a transmitter which can be received only in that area using the tuning data. Where necessary, the tuning data is supplemented with a recognition label (33).

Abstract: A program receiver for displaying a graphical interactive picture by receiving a program transmitted from a program transmitter, the program receiver comprising: a storage unit for storing a plurality of basic picture elements in advance, the plurality of basic picture elements being figures composing the graphical interactive picture manipulated by a user; a signal receipt unit for receiving a signal transmitted from the program transmitter, the signal being a multiplex signal including a program and data specifying a structure of the graphical interactive picture; a signal separation unit for separating the signal received by the signal receipt unit into a program signal and a graphical-interactive-picture-structure specification data signal; a first graphical interactive picture generation unit for generating the graphical interactive picture by combining the basic picture elements stored in the storage unit based on the graphical-interactive-picture-structure specification data signal from the signal sepa

Abstract: A television receiver including a teletext decoder is adapted to search and display a teletext subtitling page in response to a display command supplied for this purpose. If there are more subtitling pages, their page numbers are stored in a memory from which they can be selectively requested. For each receivable television station the page number used by said station is fixed in a non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A television cable system includes a headend and a decoder coupled by an in-band communication link and an out of band communication link. The headend controller includes conventional transmission systems for providing a plurality of program channels to the decoder via the in-band communication link. In addition, the headend system includes a plurality of controller inputs which provide data to a download executive circuit which in turn organizes data and transfer it to a transmitter coupled to the out of band data link. Within the decoder, a pair of processors are operative via a communication link therebetween. One processor is of predefine capability and is used to operate a user keyboard as well as conventional tuning and signal processing and descrambling systems to provide television display. The remaining processor includes a memory manager coupled to an out of band transmission receiver which receives downloaded interpretive execution data.

Abstract: A table contains codes for consecutive decimally numbered pages and pages whose numbers contain hexadecimal digits. Codes for all the pages having decimal units numbers are arranged in rows and columns such that a column contains codes for pages having a same units number, and codes for pages having a same tens number (whether decimal or hexadecimal) are in the same row. Codes for pages having a hexadecimal units number are arranged in a continuation of the rows and columns, hexadecimal units being arranged in the columns under the corresponding decimal units.

Abstract: A multilingual display device is provided with a plurality of video signal processors for processing a video signal according to a broadcasting system, and a plurality of sound multiplex processors for processing an audio signal according to a sound multiplex mode. A microcomputer automatically generates OSD signals in a language of a broadcast receiving area by means of broadcasting system information and sound multiplex mode information provided from the plurality of video signal processors and the plurality of sound multiplex processors, thereby providing the advantage of interchangeability with respect to output of OSD signals in a television. This can be used in a television having an OSD function.

Abstract: Teletext page signals are transmitted in a format providing only basic characters and colors, along with extension signals enlarging the character set, colors, and other presentation information which is used by decoders and display systems having more extensive capabilities. Decoders ignore extension signals intended for a higher level display than the associated apparatus. A code is added identifying the level of display for which extension signals are intended, so that extension signals can be transmitted for use only by a display of a given capability, without undesired use by a higher level display.

Abstract: A multicast network system comprises a data network which provides a medium for data transfer. A media source having a control packet and media packets coupled to the data network broadcasts the control packet and the media packets to the data network and rebroadcasts the control packet in conjunction with the media packets to the data network. A media receiver is coupled to the network and receives the control packet and the media packets from the data network to process the control packet and the media packets to produce a media output.

Abstract: A secondary signal is processed and injected into a primary video signal. The injection level of the secondary signal is dynamically controlled to reduce transmission errors in the secondary signal, and to minimize interference and power level limitations. The injection level of the secondary signal may be based on video analysis of the primary signal or on error information fed back from a receiver which receives the transmitted secondary signal.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding video signals for identification, editing, modifying, cuing, routing, distributing, switching, activating and controlling the video signals. One of the many applications is a television program distribution system including a plurality of units through which the television programs flow, by operating a first signal processing unit connected within the system for adding signal elements to the video signal of a program in order to add patterns of symbols to the television picture such that the symbols are disposed at predetermined locations of the television picture and a plurality of successive patterns constituting a code uniquely identifying the program; and a second signal processing unit connected within the system for detecting signal elements previously added to a video signal and for producing, in response to such detection, an identification of the program which included the video signal.

Abstract: A method and system in which television-program table information is transmitted using teletext formats in a coding transmission system. On the reception side, reservation of video recording with an image recording apparatus is effected by making use of the transmitted television-program table information. Reserving a recording time is accomplished using a program recognition device 9 which detects that the television-program table information has been transmitted. Further, a program update recognition device 10, a channel information processing device 11, a date information processing device 12, a time information processing device 13, a program code information processing device 14, and a title information processing device 15 serve to process their respective information in order to display the television program table on a display unit. Once displayed, a television program desired for video recording is selected by a cursor display device and selection device 19.

Abstract: Television programming information comprising an electronic programming guide is compressed by more than fifty percent, and decompressed in environments with only moderate processing power and storage space. The coding scheme of the present invention is based on Huffman coding of characters comprising the electronic programming guide and replacement character strings occurring in the data that have high savings values. A look-up table and binary tree are constructed from the Huffman codes for use in compressing and decompressing the electronic programming guide, and a set-top box for use in the decompression operation is provided.

Abstract: A multimedia network system (10) for connection to a computer (12) and a computer network (28). Asynchronous transmission mode cells on the network (28) are processed by a network interface board (22) with synchronous signals routed to an ISOBUS (26) and asynchronous signals routed through a packet memory (54) to the computer (12). Asynchronous signals are routed through the ISOBUS (26) to a video board (24) and converted for output to one or more audio/video output devices (36). Signals originating at one or more audio/video input devices (34) are processed through the video board (24) and the network interface board (22) to the network (28).

Abstract: The method and device of the present invention provide a mechanism at a network node to compensate for variable delays or delay jitters of video packets transported over a packet-switched network, such as an ATM network, and generate a continuous bitstream to an external decoder. The received video packets with variable delays are first depacketized and stored in a video information buffer and then are sent to the external decoder through another constant or variable bit-rate channel. Based on a hypothetical decoder buffer verifier condition, stuffing bits are inserted into the output video bitstream to prevent the decoder buffer from overflowing. Stuffing bits are sent if one of the following two cases occurs: A) the condition of the hypothetical decoder buffer verifier is violated; B) the video information buffer is empty.

Abstract: In an interactive video-on-demand system, real-time programs are encoded as a transport stream including a plurality of transport stream packets. Some of the transport stream packets include timing signals indicating the real time of the program. The transport stream packets are formatted into transport cells for transport over an asynchronous transfer mode network from a source to a destination. The cells are transported at a transport rate which is determined by a network clock. The transport rate is chosen to deliver the transport stream faster than the real time of the program. While transporting the transport stream, it is determined if the transport stream is being transported ahead of the real time of the program. In this case, idle cells are injected into the transport stream to have the program arrive at the destination in the real time of the program.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for transmitting a stream of multimedia digital data over a distribution communications network. A multimedia stream server segments the multimedia digital data stream into data blocks on a first boundary and a second boundary. The first boundary is a set number of transport system data packets and the second boundary is a transport system data packet including a timestamp. A scheduler schedules the segmented data blocks for transmission. The multimedia stream server decodes the segmented data blocks to locate the timestamps and matches the transmission of the located timestamp data block with a time value indicated by the timestamp. The set number of transport system data packets can be determined at connection setup and is not a predetermined value for all sessions. At the receiver, batch processing of received multimedia data can be provided.

Abstract: A method for encoding bitstream headers in a processor where templates for the bitstream header are stored in a processor buffer. The templates are addressable by programmable instructions, and the processor has a status register containing a bit for each header type. The status register is modifiable during the encoding process with a data pattern indicating the headers needed for encoding with the bitstream. In this way when a bit is set to 1 the predefined header type is generated and shipped to the bitstream. The header is generated by processing the header buffer template entries associated with the header type.

Abstract: A multi-level encoded signal monitoring system and a universal broadcast code are provided. A plurality of encoders are provided for encoding a predetermined program source signal. The program source signal has a plurality of sequential segments. Each encoder is arranged for selectively encoding information on uniquely specified segments. A plurality of unique source information message data are selectively encoded on the uniquely specified segments to define the universal broadcast code with each unique encoded source information message data being representative of a level of distribution of the program signal. The predetermined program source signal is received and the encoded information on selected specified segments is decoded.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of data assembly for distribution of the data via a mass audience distribution system, comprised of storing in a random access memory packets of data which are to be transmitted to the audience, storing in a first address table a sequence of memory addresses of the data for transmission of the data in the sequence, progressively reading the first table to retrieve the addresses of those packets of data that are to be transmitted to the audience in the sequence, reading the memory to retrieve the packets of data in the sequence, and transmitting the read packets to the audience in real time.

Abstract: A method of decoding data for a language having the Roman alphabet or a language having a syllabic alphabet from a television data stream includes the steps of receiving the data in the form of data packets and determining from bit values stored at particular bit positions whether the data is control data or represents printable character data comprising a head code or a tail code. Once it is determined that the data represents either a head code or a tail code of a printable character, the data bytes are valued for parity and, from that determination, a letter component is generated which points to a letter component or complete character for one or the other alphabet. Because characters of a syllabic language may be quite complex, the step of displaying the syllabic language character includes the steps of overlaying two or more letter components to form the syllabic character image.

Abstract: A teletext system provides teletext services and teletext support services in a multiservice communication system. Multiplexed data streams for a plurality of services, including teletext data, are transmitted in a sequence of frames between a transmitter location and a receiver location. Teletext information is transmitted in the format of a header packet and a data packet. The header packet contains information identifying the teletext information according to page number as well as other filter fields, such as language, time zone, etc. By appropriate selection of the values of the filter fields, the operator is afforded greater flexibility in providing a variety of classes of service and service support to subscribers. In addition, the system may be easily be reconfigured to support the addition of services or the cancellation of services.

Abstract: A video decompression processor acquires video data for a desired service from a packetized data stream. The data stream includes transport packets carrying different components of the desired service. Each component is identified by a unique packet identifier (PID). One of the components includes a program clock reference (PCR) providing timing information for the desired service. The PIDs of the transport packets are monitored to recover video packets. Header information from the recovered packets is processed to recover packetized elementary stream (PES) packets having a PES header and picture information. Time stamp information obtained from the PES header is appended to the picture information for storage in a video memory. Picture information can subsequently be read from the memory and decoded using the appended time stamp information without having to reaccess the PES header. Various schemes for detecting, masking and recovering from transmission errors are disclosed.

Abstract: Video signal processing apparatus comprises means for generating data signals representing the physical status of a video camera with respect to a fixed frame of reference, the physical status being the position, orientation, height, altitude or speed, means for receiving video signals from the said camera and means for combining the said data signals with the said video signals whereby to produce a composite signal by which the data information and the video information contained in the video signals can be displayed simultaneously, and means for transmitting the combined signal to a remote location or means for recording the composite signal.

Abstract: A video system for processing compressed video data into composite video data, the composite video data corresponding to a standard composite video signal type selected from a plurality of standard types, the plurality of standard types including at least one of an NTSC composite video signal type and a PAL video signal type, includes a processor, a standard video decompressor and a video interface. The standard video decompressor processes the compressed video data into decompressed video data and user data, the user data having VBI data encoded therein. The processor culls the VBI data from the user data. The video interface processes the decompressed video data and the VBI data into the composite video data with the VBI data encoded therein.

Abstract: A method for translating the generic, raw information of a broadcast on-screen program guide service into a displayable screen signal that can drive TV electronics, utilizing the step of building a virtual generic screen before creating the displayable screen signal in order to ease the translation burden from generic to TV specific information.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for encoding and decoding video signals to facilitate identification of, editing, modifying, queuing, routing, distributing, switching, activating and controlling the video signals.Within a television program distribution system containing a plurality of units through which the television programs flow, the flow of television programs is tracked by operating a first signal processing unit connected within the system for adding signal elements to the video signal of a program in order to add patterns of symbols to the television picture such that the symbols are disposed at predetermined locations of the television picture and a plurality of successive patterns constituting a code uniquely identifying the program, and a second signal processing unit connected within the system for detecting signal elements previously added to a video signal and for producing, in response to such detection, an identification of the program which included the video signal.

Abstract: A high efficient encoding/decoding system has processor for processing a sub-macro block having at least one collection of blocks as an encoding unit of input data, and a macro block having a macro block length data for indicating the length of the macro block itself in its head position and at least one of the sub-macro blocks.

Abstract: A multi-level encoded signal monitoring system and a universal broadcast code are provided. A plurality of encoders are provided for encoding a predetermined program source signal. The program source signal has a plurality of sequential segments. Each encoder is arranged for selectively encoding information on uniquely specified segments. A plurality of unique source information message data are selectively encoded on the uniquely specified segments to define the universal broadcast code with each unique encoded source information message data being representative of a level of distribution of the program signal. The predetermined program source signal is received and the encoded information on selected specified segments is decoded.

Abstract: A compression/decompression system includes a source of (1:1 60 Hz) non-interlaced scanned video signal. A preprocessor constructs (2:1 60 Hz) interlaced scanned video signal from the non-interlaced scanned video signal by selection of alternate lines of successive non-interlaced image signals. The interlaced scanned video signal is compressed according to an MPEG protocol of I, P and B frame compression algorithms. I, P and B frame compression is performed such that there are an odd number, greater than one, of B-frames between successive I/P frames (for example the sequence of compressed frames may conform to I, B1, B2, B3, P, B1, B2, B3, P, B1, B2, B3, I, B1, . . . etc). The I compressed frames, the P compressed frames and alternate B compressed frames (the frames B2 in the exemplary sequence) selectively form a primary compressed (2:1 30 Hz) interlaced video signal for reproduction by interlaced scanned receivers. The intervening B-frames selectively form a secondary compressed video.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding image data. After encoding, the image data has an OPERATING SYSTEM header, a BITSTREAM header, a Y-COMPONENT DATA field, a U-COMPONENT DATA field, and a V-COMPONENT DATA field. Each of the DATA fields has a four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field, an MC VECTORS field, and an ENCODED DATA field that has interleaved binary tree codes and region codes.

Abstract: In order to compatibly transmit teletext data in the form of special characters, fine textures and color hues at higher WST levels, complementary data in the form of one or more associated complementary pages are transmitted for each page of teletext by the broadcaster in addition to the basic teletext data of conventionally structured teletext pages (level 1). The complementary data for some or all teletext pages are transmitted preferably in at least one complementary page. In the receiver, the complementary page(s) associated with a selected teletext page are temporarily stored separately from the corresponding teletext page(s) and processed so that the characters associated with the basic data are displayed in those character positions where there is no complementary data present. The characters associated with the basic data in cooperation with the complementary data are displayed in those character positions where complementary data is present.

Abstract: A X-MAC encoder enables a plurality of components to be encoded, each having a sequence of packets, with the packets being distributed in successive bursts each occupying a predetermined fraction of a television frame line. It comprises a plurality of blocks each having at least one packet encoder provided with a buffer memory for storing digital data coming from a source, and an encoder for distributing the packets in bursts of adjustable duration not greater than the duration of one television line. A base encoder assembly contains a programmable device for allocating a determined window of the television frame to each block. It calls a burst of length corresponding to the width within the window that is allocated by the programmable device, on the basis of the respective block burst encoder, at the beginning of each window in a line.

Abstract: A digital compressed video signal transmission system includes a transport processor for segmenting compressed data into transport cells for transmission. Particular portions of the compressed data are formatted into further transport cells, which further transport cells are interspersed with normally occurring transport cells. The further transport cells include redundant video signal data which may be utilized to resynchronize a compressed video signal decoder after loss or corruption of transmitted data.