Abstract: A closed circuit television communication system for the transmission and reception of original video signals over wires is provided in which separated horizontal sync pulses of the original video signal are pulse width modulated by an audio signal, enabling the video signal to carry additional information which can be recovered on reception. The horizontal sync pulses are separated from the original video signal which are pulse width modulated to form a pulse which varies linearly with an audio input signal. The horizontal sync pulses are replaced in the original video signal with the pulse width modulated pulses while preserving the original video signal levels surrounding the replaced video area. The reconstituted video signal is transmitted over wire, received and the pulse width modulated pulses from the reconstituted video signal are separated and demodulated to produce an audio output signal along with the original video signal.

Abstract: In a method of transmitting digitally coded information in a television sound channel, the digitally coded information is inserted on an existing frequency-modulated RF sound carrier as a channel-coded signal above the television audio-frequency base spectrum in the base band. The modulation amplitude is selected so that disturbances during reproduction of the television sound are excluded in the receiver. The spectrum of the channel-coded signal is evenly distributed over the available frequency range using a pseudo-signal during modulation intervals. The clock frequency of the channel-coded signal is coupled with the line frequency.

Abstract: Unique digital codes are encoded on a video signal, the codes are retrieved at receivers and precise information concerning the time of occurrence, length, nature and quality of a monitored broadcast at a frame by frame level, is generated. The codes are inserted on scan lines of the video, and vary either on a field-to-field or frame-to-frame basis. The code has a repeating first part having a unique program material identifier indicating the time, date and place of encoding, and has a second portion that varies in a predetermined non-repeating sequence which varies along the entire length of the tape, thereby uniquely identifying each frame of the video program material. Also encoded upon successive frames is a cyclic counter code with a count corresponding to the sequence of the identifier data on successive frames.

Abstract: An encoder disconnects video data between a video source and a video using device only during 21H in the vertical blanking interval. During 21H, it applies locally generated coded data signals, in a format detectable by conventional data decoding devices, to the video using device. The video source may be a camera or tape playback, and the using device may be a TV set or a video tape recorder.

Abstract: A video display control system automatically controls a video display responsive to detection of letterbox format input video signals having varying format display ratios. A detection circuit continuously detects the first and last lines of active video in a video signal. A memory stores scan line numbers corresponding to the first and last lines of active video. The height of the picture is determined from the scan line numbers of the first and last lines of active video. The picture height is indicative of the format display ratio of the letterbox input. A comparator circuit compares the picture height to a threshold corresponding to the widest expected format display ratio of a letterbox input signal.

Abstract: In an Enhanced Definition Television (EDTV) system, an assistance signal is transmitted to enable a suitably equipped receiver to choose from a number of predetermined deinterlacing modes. The modes represent interpolation options for estimating lines missing in a current interlaced image field, thereby enhancing the vertical resolution of a display. For example, five options may be provided for as follows: (1) intra-frame linear interpolation, (2) use of information from a preceding frame, (3) use of information from a succeeding frame, (4) combining the results of (1) and (2), and (5) combining the results of (1) and (3). Preferably, interpolation options are derived on a block basis and transmitted with coded motion vectors which may be compressed to make maximum use of the available bandwidth. The assistance signal may be transmitted within the vertical and/or horizontal blanking intervals of an interlaced television broadcast.

Abstract: A slice circuit for a data signal includes a clamp for clamping the data signal and a comparator having a first input coupled to the clamp, a second input coupled to a filter and an output coupled to a D/A converter. The output of the D/A converter is coupled to the filter such that a pulse width modulated signal is developed in the comparator output which is converted to a DC voltage by the D/A converter and filter for controlling the data slice level. The pulse width modulated signal is the sliced data.

Abstract: A caption VCR having a caption decoder, therein, for detecting a caption signal from a broadcasting signal or detecting a caption signal recorded on a VCR tape. The caption VCR normally operates to display a video signal having no caption signal. However, if the caption signal including character and screen data is detected by the caption decoder, the caption VCR displays the caption signal including the character and screen data. Also, a method of displaying the caption signal from the caption decoder together with an audio signal and a video signal in the caption VCR is provided. Therefore, it is convenient for the deaf person or foreign language learner to watch a desired image containing the caption signal on the screen utilizing the caption decoder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modulating and demodulating an MCM television signal is described which is particularly useful in proposed "simulcast" HDTV terrestrial broadcasting. The MCM spectrum of the television signal is shaped using weighting coefficients which are derived from either an idealized NTSC signal or an actual NTSC co-channel signal. These coefficients are used to shape the respective MCM carriers to provide an energy distribution in the MCM signal which provides greater degree of robustness with a minimum degree of co-channel interference to and from an NTSC co-channel signal. The instant invention further takes advantage of the interference characteristics of composite television signals described above, to position the placement of the MCM carriers in frequency, to minimize interference with an NTSC co-channel signal.

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.

Abstract: A duo-binary and/or binary data slicer has a data input (10) coupled via a capacitor (C1) to a d.c. restoring circuit (A2 to Q6 and Q9 to Q13) d.c. reference level is superimposed on the data signal. A sample and hold circuit (C2, Q15 to Q22) is arranged to sample the data signal and provide a voltage related to the upper and lower peak value. A divider (R16-R19) is coupled between the d.c. reference level and the voltage related to the upper and lower peak value and provides intermediate output voltages (DU, DL, B) relating to duo-binary and/or binary level for determining the slicing levels.

Abstract: An NTSC bandwidth-compatible HDTV system employs multiple quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). A first suppressed QAM carrier is modulated with high priority information including predominantly low frequency information. A second suppressed QAM carrier is modulated with low priority information including predominantly high frequency information. The high priority QAM signal exhibits a larger amplitude and narrower bandwidth than the low priority QAM signal, and is disposed in the lower portion of the multiple QAM frequency spectrum normally occupied by the vestigial sideband of a standard NTSC television signal. The frequency spectrum of the multiple QAM signal exhibits signal attenuation at frequencies associated with high energy information in a standard NTSC signal, e.g., frequencies around the NTSC picture and sound carriers.

Abstract: An electronic redeemable coupon generating system includes: an encoder for encoding coupon-related data in a television signal transmission, the transmission including picture information for display on a television monitor screen; a decoder for receiving the television signal transmission and extracting the coupon-related data therefrom; and a recording device for recording the extracted coupon-related data on a recording medium for subsequent readout and redemption. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the decoder includes a display driver for displaying indicia on a television monitor screen responsive to coupon-related data being encoded in the television signal transmission. Upon observing the indicia on the television monitor screen, the user can manually and selectively extract the coupon-related data from the television signal transmission. After an optional editing function, the extracted coupon-related data is stored on a recording medium such as a magnetically striped card.

Abstract: A two-stage television signal distribution system, useful for distribution where the first stage of the television distribution occurs over satellite, has a distribution control center for encoding system control information in the vertical blanking interval of a television signal to be broadcast over a first transmission medium to at least one receive station, each receive station being provided with a plurality of video cassette recorders for storing incoming television signals under control of the system control information contained in the television signal. The system further includes a second transmission medium having multiple television channel capacity for transmitting television signals from a receive station to a plurality of terminations (i.e. the audience) where the television signals carried on the second transmission medium include television signals previously stored at the receiving station and may also include the television signal carried on the first transmission medium.

Abstract: A noise-reduced method of transmitting a video signal including separating the video signal into a plurality of frequency subbands representing a corresponding plurality of subband images, each of which is made up of a corresponding array of blocks of samples; for a preselected one of the subband images, measuring the busyness of each of the blocks of that subband image; for the preselected subband image, assigning each of the blocks of that subband image to one of a plurality of groups, the plurality of groups including a group of more busy blocks and a group of less busy blocks; adaptively modulating the samples of the selected subband image by multiplying the selected subband image by a set of adaptive modulation factors, wherein a greater quantity of adaptive modulation factors is used for the blocks assigned to the group of more busy blocks as compared to the blocks assigned to the group of less busy blocks; and transmitting the adaptively modulated selected subband image along with the set of adaptive m