Abstract: A caption display device for a digital TV enables the users to adjust density of a caption window displayed on a screen of the digital TV.

Abstract: An array and row and column line architecture for a display is disclosed. The array consists of a plurality of row and column positions and a plurality of three-color pixel elements. A three-color pixel element can comprise a blue emitter, a pair of red emitters, and a pair of green emitters. Several designs for the three-color pixel element are contemplated. The drive matrix consists of a plurality of row and column drivers to drive the individual emitters. The row drivers drive the red, green and blue emitters in each row. The red and green emitters in each column are driven by a single column driver. However, a single column driver can drive two column lines of blue emitters, a first column line and a second column line of the next nearest neighboring three-color pixel element. Methods of driving a three-color pixel element are also disclosed.

Abstract: A video mixing apparatus carries out a chromakey process producing less degradation of picture quality by generating a key signal which separates a foreground object component from a screen component by using luminance information. In a three-dimensional color space, a smaller oval body surrounding a region where the foreground object is distributed and a larger oval body surrounding the smaller one are set. These two oval bodies and a distribution of a source video signal determine a key signal distribution. Key signal K=0 (zero) when the source video signal is inside the smaller oval body, and K=1 (one) when the signal is outside the larger oval body. 0<K<1 when the signal is between the smaller and the larger oval bodies. Based on the key signal K generated, the source video signal is mixed with the background video signal.

Abstract: A television system includes a television and an external media module. The television includes a television control unit capable of generating a control signal, apparatus for receiving a video signal, a media controller for generating a graphics signal, and a display unit for displaying either the video signal or a combined video and graphics signal. The external media module, external to the television, is connectable via an interface with the media controller, and performs a graphics on-screen display application in accordance with the television control signal.

Abstract: An icon representing a virtual player is displayed on a television screen, together with a real player in a current live event so that the progress of the real player can be compared by a viewer against the progress of the icon which can represent a previous performance.

Abstract: A technique for displaying advertising messages along the border of a conventional video display without obscuring any of the conventional video display. A video signal is received from a television station, satellite, cable, or video recording device and the effective size of the received video information is reduced so that the received information occupies only a portion of a display device thereby freeing another portion for other use. A locally stored message is introduced to occupy the other portion of the display. The message may, for example comprise one or more advertising banners extending along edges of the received information display. The message provider may sell advertising space to customers and pay the owner of the establishment in which the program and advertising message are displayed a fraction of the advertising revenue. The locally stored message may be periodically updated by the message provider from a remote source by way of a modem or similar communication link.

Abstract: A graphics processing device includes a graphic and video blender having an input operative to receive graphics or video data obtained from a frame buffer containing multiple formats of data for display on at least one of an RGB monitor and a television monitor. The processing device has an output and is operative to assign pixel type flags to output pixels in a blended image. A signal scaler is operatively coupled to receive the blended image from the graphic and video blender. A coefficient multiplexor selects coefficients for the signal scaler from a plurality of sets of coefficients in response to the assigned pixel type flag.

Abstract: A system (FIGS. 7 and 8) and method (FIG. 1) for video transmission of active events, for example sports events, having in the background physical images in designated targets, wherein the physical images are electronically exchanged with preselected virtual images, so that objects or shadows actually blocking the same portions of the virtual images, and the motion of players or a ball blocking the physical image will block corresponding regions of the exchanged virtual image, so that the exchanged electronic image will remain in the background of the event, exactly as the original image.

Abstract: A video display apparatus and method for displaying decoded video frames from an encoded video stream utilizes a display time difference determinator that detects a frame display time difference, on a per frame basis if desired, between a refresh rate based frame display time, and a video playback frame rate display time to generate frame display time difference data. This is done on a continuous basis to detect synchronization problems between video data that is to be displayed simultaneously with non-video data on a display device such as a progressive display screen. A pixel blender blends pixel data from an adjacent frame, such as an already reconstructed previous frame or next frame, to create a temporally adjusted frame based on the determined frame display time difference data.

Abstract: A closed-caption broadcasting and receiving method and apparatus. According to the closed-caption broadcasting method and apparatus, character information and control information are inputted, and a control code of 2 words and a character code of 2 words including a syllable character completion type code are produced. The control code is obtained by combining the control information with a mode control bit and a parity bit, and the character code is obtained by combining the character information with a mode control bit and a parity bit. A digital-modulated caption signal is produced by inputting the control code and the character code, and is coded on a scanning line which does not affect a television video signal to be transmitted.

Abstract: Display source memories of resolutions according to image formats are prepared. The image format is discriminated from an extracted video packet. A font or a bit map is read out from the display source memory corresponding to the image format. The font or bit map corresponding to the image format is developed in an OSD plane memory and synthesized to a video signal by a mixing circuit. Thus, a character or a bit map picture plane of similar quality and size can be always seen irrespective of the received image format.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compressing a sequence of frames having at least first and second information-bearing media components selects a plurality of representative frames from among the sequence of frames. The representative frames represent information contained in the first information-bearing media component. A correspondence is then formed between each of the representative frames and one of a plurality of segments of the second information-bearing media component. The representative frames, the plurality of segments of the second information-bearing media component and the correspondence between them are recorded for subsequent retrieval. If the first information-bearing media component is a video component composed of a plurality of scenes, a representative frame may be selected from each scene. Additionally, if the second information-bearing media component is a closed-caption component, a printed rendition of the representative frames and the closed-caption component may be provided.

Abstract: A chromokeying panel for use in conjunction with a chromakeying system includes a plurality of first and second location. Each of the first and the second locations has a color within the color of a color keying spectrum of the chromakeying system. In addition, each of the first and the second locations are arranged to define a coded pattern for a computation of a perspective of the chromakeying panel with respect to a camera independently in each video field produced by the camera. The coded pattern may include a plurality of straight lines that intersect to define vertices. The plurality of straight lines may be spaced apart from each other so that for a given vertex, a ratio of the distance of one of the lines extending from the given vertex to a first adjacent vertex, to the distance of another of the lines from the given vertex to a second adjacent vertex is unique.

Abstract: A video encoding system combines the processing of image data and closed caption data in the formation of a raster television signal. By combining the processing of image data and closed caption data, a single discrete time oscillator (DTO) can be used to generate oscillation signals that are required for each process. In a preferred embodiment, the DTO generates the 500 kHz signal that is used as the “run in” clock for closed caption data, and also generates the subcarrier signal that is used for the modulation of the chrominance components of a composite video signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide multiple on-screen displays in a signal processing unit capable of processing terrestrial, cable, and satellite broadcast signals. Also, a method and apparatus, for use in a settop box(STB), can provide quality OSD's(On-Screen Displays) to be displayed together with analog broadcast signals. The OSD's are processed at a digital signal processing module in the STB. While the analog broadcast signal is being displayed on the screen, the viewer can use an improved GUI processed by the digital signal processing module. The digital signal processing module includes a digital broadcast signal demodulator, a first and a second detectors, an A/D convertor, a microprocessor, an OSD buffer, an OSD generator, a video decoder, a mixing circuit, an NTSC/PAL encoder, switches, a first and a second AND gate, an inverter, and an OR gate.

Abstract: A device and method for generation of digital advertisement displays in real time in digital TV-transmissions. In such digital TV-transmissions, a digital coding of the image material is made before the transmission is made; this coding compresses the content of the image as much as possible to minimize necessary bandwidth utilization at transmission of the signals. In connection with this coding and by means of pattern recognition, different patterns are identified for predefined objects in the image material, such as for example identifying an object with an unique coloring. Via the pattern identification, the image coder obtains information via a table of what the original object looks like. Also included in the table is information about which advertisement display is to be placed inside the identified object.

Abstract: A local language is pre-stored in permanent memory (24). Equivalent data is transmitted in the vertical blanking interval (VBI) to television receivers (17). Each equivalent data set comprises a unique language identifier (38) and a foreign language translation (36) of, or graphical representative of, the local language pre-stored in permanent memory. The viewer selects the language to be displayed from an on screen menu with a remote controller (23). The selected equivalent data is retrieved from the VBI and stored in a RAM (18) for future display. When the microprocessor calls up the text of a command for display, the equivalent data is substituted for the local language data so the foreign language version of the command can be displayed in a seamless manner. If no equivalent data is stored in the RAM, the local language pre-stored in permanent memory is displayed on the television screen in accordance with the normal operation of the microprocessor.

Abstract: An electronic billboard replacement system for use in a TV broadcast system including electronic billboard storage device for storing a plurality of replacement billboards and an electronic sequencer device for controlling the time period that each one of the plurality of billboards is displayed to a TV viewer.

Abstract: An apparatus and concomitant method for generating an OSD message by constructing an OSD bitstream having a plurality of “one-bit” pixels. The OSD bitstream contains an OSD header and OSD data. An OSD unit retrieves pixel control information from the OSD header which is programmed by a processor of a decoding/displaying system. The OSD header contains information that is used to program a color palette of the OSD unit and to provide instructions as to the treatment of the OSD data. If the “Compressed Pixel Mode” is enabled in the OSD header, then the OSD unit will treat each bit of the OSD data as a “one-bit” pixel.

Abstract: Field or frame memories are often used in television receivers for video signal processing functions, such as noise reduction and/or flicker reduction. Television receivers also have graphic features such as teletext, menu-driven control systems, multilingual subtitling, an electronic TV-Guide, etc. In a method of processing television picture signals including both video (VID) and graphic (GFX) information, the video and graphic signals are individually compressed in accordance with different (lossy and loss-less, respectively) compression algorithms (22;24), stored in the same field or frame memory (21), and decompressed (23;25) after processing (20). As such, a significant reduction of memory capacity is achieved without adversely affecting the graphics quality. The method is not only applicable to locally generated graphic signals (TXT,OSD) but also to graphic information which is detected (26) as being embedded in a received television signal.

Abstract: A system for enhancing the television presentation of an object at a sporting event includes one or more sensors which are used to determine the location of the object. Based on the location of the object and the field of view of a broadcast camera, a processor determines the position of the object in a video frame of the broadcast camera. Once knowing where the object is positioned within the video frame, the television signal can be edited or augmented to enhance the presentation of the object.

Abstract: A system and method for anti-aliasing of text overlays on electronic images comprises a text-font manager for loading background color and selected font data which includes font type, font size, and font color, and for obtaining a text string for overlay on the electronic image. The invention also includes a graphics manager for retrieving bit-mapped data for the selected font data and text string and for retrieving current pixel information from the bit-mapped data. The invention further comprises an anti-aliasing module for adjusting the inactive pixels of each character of the character text string based upon the surrounding pixels in the bit-mapped data. The anti-aliasing module overlays the electronic image with the active and adjusted text character pixels. The image merged with text is saved in memory and/or displayed on the electronic imaging display device.

Abstract: In a digital still camera, a character font readout control circuit (20) has the character constituted by 46 lines read out from a font memory (23) into a display memory (8) when the monitor device complies with the NTSC system, and the number of lines of the character increased to 54 lines and then written into the display memory (8) when the monitor device complies with the PAL system. The memory capacity can be reduced since the font for only the NTSC system, and not the PAL system,needs to be stored.

Abstract: A closed-caption broadcasting and displaying method and apparatus. According to the closed-caption broadcasting method and apparatus, a caption signal including character information and control information is encoded in a scanning line of each field of a television broadcasting signal to be transmitted, which does not affect the television broadcasting signal. Control information on the writing direction and display position among the control information is repeatedly transmitted at predetermined intervals.

Abstract: An apparatus and concomitant method for generating an OSD message by constructing an OSD bitstream defining a plurality of "true color" pixels. The OSD bitstream contains an OSD header and OSD data. An OSD unit retrieves pixel control information from the OSD header which is programmed by a processor of a decoding/displaying system. The OSD header contains information that is used to program a color palette of the OSD unit and to provide instructions as to the treatment of the OSD data. If the "True Color Mode" is enabled in the OSD header, then the OSD unit will bypass the palette and treat the OSD data as true color pixels. Since the same chrominance components are shared between a pair of successive pixels, each successive set of four OSD data bytes represents the actual chrominance and luminance levels for two OSD pixels.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for encoding and decoding digital video data having subtitle data included therewith and which is operable to remove noise from the subtitle data utilizing correlations between a pixel of the subtitle represented by the subtitle data and adjacent pixels of the subtitle. Particularly, subtitle pixels that represent noise in the subtitle are changed to background level pixels when vertically or horizontally aligned pixels adjacent to the noise pixels are background level pixels. During decoding of the digital video data, the subtitle represented by the subtitle data having the noise removed therefrom is superimposed on the video image represented by the digital video data.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method of selecting for further processing (e.g., display) a desired television channel suitable for use in a television receiver capable of receiving both analog (e.g., NTSC, PAL or SECAM) and digital (e.g., ATSC or DTB) television signals. The method provides appropriate user feedback such that channel selection is effected in a relatively rapid manner utilizing one of a direct channel selection, an electronic program guide selection process, a picture in picture montage selection process or a combination thereof. One embodiment of the invention implements a method for masking the channel selection latency period inherent in ATSC-like television systems.

Abstract: A computerized switching system for coupling a workstation to a remotely located computer. A signal conditioning unit receives keyboard and mouse signals generated by a workstation and generates a data packet which is transmitted to a central crosspoint switch. The packet is routed through a crosspoint switch to another signal conditioning unit located at a remotely located computer. The second signal conditioning unit applies the keyboard and mouse commands to the keyboard and mouse connectors of the computer as if the keyboard and mouse were directly coupled to the remote computer. Video signals produced by the remote computer are transmitted through the crosspoint switch to the workstation. Horizontal and vertical sync signals are encoded on to the video signals to reduce the number of cables that extend between the workstation and the remote computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reformatting auxiliary information such as closed caption text that is extracted from a television signal. The apparatus reformats the text by removing redundant spaces, reorganizing the text to fit into an arbitrary sized closed caption window, converting any closed caption display mode (e.g., pop on, paint on or roll up) into a modified roll on display, and inserting speaker identifier prompts into the caption.

Abstract: To provide an OSD circuit needing little load for the control command transfer for displaying a background color, a OSD circuit of the invention comprises a background color control circuit (4) for out-putting three color signals and a blanking signal generated by a character generator (3), when a background control signal supplied from the command processor is inactive, said background control signal made active when the video picture is to be replaced with a background color, and outputting the three color signals generated by the character generator during the blanking signal is active and background color signals for displaying the background color during the blanking signal is inactive, together with a background blanking signal for suppressing signals of all of the video picture instead of the blanking signal, when the background control signal is active.

Abstract: An apparatus and concomitant method for constructing a valid OSD message bitstream from a plurality of stored character bitstreams. Each character of the OSD font set is initially scaled into a fixed block size, e.g., a block size of 16.times.16 pixels. Each character is then encoded into a "character bitstream" using the intra macroblock coding syntax. The character bitstream is stored within a storage medium. When a frame of OSD messages needs to be encoded, the character bitstreams are read from the storage medium and cascaded to form a valid OSD message bitstream which represents the frame of OSD messages.

Abstract: A local communication system has a number of stations (10,12,13,14) connected for the communication of messages by one or more data channels (16). One of the stations (14) comprises a display device operable to display messages sent by other stations (10,12) in separate ones of a plurality of fields. A station (10,12) sending a display command and message to the user output subdevice (41) of the display device includes field separators identifying discrete parts of the message to be displayed in successive fields of the display and the message portions may be sent as separate messages.

Abstract: A lyrics display apparatus wherein a display condition of the words of a song on a display device is gradually changed in accordance with a progression of a piece of music, the display condition of the song words is started to change on a basis of a memorized production timing data of each of the song words and changed in a predetermined amount at a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: An image composing and displaying apparatus includes frame memory constituent elements of an identical structure, a video input section, a video output section, a controller for selecting connection of each element to the video input or output section, and an image drawing section for reading and writing video data from and in the elements. The memory elements can be used for the input and output operations and hence the size thereof can be easily expanded; moreover, the numbers of the elements respectively connected to the video input and output sections can be adaptively varied.

Abstract: To provide a sub-picture unit generation apparatus for generating a plurality of sub-picture units that compose a sub-picture stream which is interleaved with a video stream into a system stream, each sub-picture unit including a subtitle image that is to be superimposed on moving images reproduced from the video stream.

Abstract: Since the corner detection means (7, 9) to detect each position of the blue board area from video signal, the conversion address generation means (11) to generate the conversion address based on the position information detected and the position information showing each corner position of the image area of video signal to be inserted and the image conversion means (16) to form conversion source video signal based on the conversion address are provided and the source video signal is to be inserted to the video signal, the operator's operation adjustment as the conventional device becomes unnecessary when inserting the source video signal into the prescribed frame of the video signal, and the operation of the operator can be further decreased. Thus, a video signal processing device capable of further decreasing the operator's operation can be realized.

Abstract: An image communication system for displaying a subject image imaged by a camera unit locally and at a remote location for discussion of the subject image via telephone or other communication device. The image communication system includes an image transmission device to form mesh image data representing a mesh image and to synthesize the mesh image data with subject image data representing the image of the subject to form synthesized image data for transmission to a remote location. The mesh image data is set by a mesh setting device and synthesized with the subject image data by an image synthesis circuit such that the mesh image is superimposed upon the subject image. The mesh image may be set and synthesized with the subject image at either of the subject image transmission location or the remote location. Further, the mesh image may be modified at either the transmission location or the remote location.

Abstract: A system and methods that provide a simple, but effective, technique for generating aliased and anti-aliased fonts while minimizing both processor and memory requirements are described. For each character of a font, a source pixel representation of the character is generated and stored in memory. Preferrably, the pixels of each anti-aliased character are divided among at least three non-overlapping regions which provide a color/intensity transition between the character and the background to produce an anti-aliased effect. Three of the regions are identified as the foreground region, middle region and background region. To generate a character of the font on a display the source pixel representation of the character described by the three regions is referenced from memory. If the character is to be aliased the middle and background regions are coded to the background color and the foreground region is coded to the foreground color of the character.

Abstract: A boundary position detection apparatus in which the position of an imageless part (containing no meaningful image information) lying at the upper part or/and the lower part of a picture is precisely detected from a video signal. A line decision circuit decides whether each of lines constituting the picture belongs to an image part (containing meaningful image information) or to the imageless part. A boundary decision circuit decides the boundary between the image part and the imageless part. A time integration circuit integrates the detected boundary positions temporally, and determines a final boundary position. A detection control circuit finds an image-part region from the final position, detects the average luminance of the region and controls the integrating time interval of the time integration circuit with the average luminance.

Abstract: A method and device for configuring a multimedia message for presentation. A multimedia message is formatted for presentation. First a formatted choice menu is presented for various multimedia categories in parallel. Upon one or more user selections in series, to each selection a monomedium item space is offered for enabling to enter an item for to the associated monomedium into that space. After termination of all selections, the message is formatted for transfer. In particular, the choice menu has various selector spots, each associated to a respective monomedium. After entering a particular user item into the associated space, a symbolizer of that item is displayed at a predetermined position next to any remaining selector spot in the menu.

Abstract: A closed-caption scrolling method and apparatus suitable for displaying a closed caption including syllable characters and capable of reducing the memory capacity. According to the method, the caption signal is encoded in a line of each field of a broadcasting television signal which does not affect the broadcasting signal, and then transmitted to be displayed on a screen of a receiver. A control code for controlling the size of a scroll region and the scrolling direction is produced, so that character information following the control code is displayed on the predetermined scroll region, being scrolled in a predetermined direction, by the control code.

Abstract: Video signal processing apparatus provides for blanking main and auxiliary images in a multi-image display, e.g., a PIP or POP display, independently. The blanking may be part of a V-chip feature in which blanking occurs in response to auxiliary information, such as XDS data, that is included in a video signal to indicate the content of television programming. Main image blanking occurs only during active video intervals to prevent corrupting sync information. In a system that produces the main image from various types of video signals, e.g., composite video and s-video, that require separate signal processing paths, main image blanking capability is provided in one signal path only, such as the composite video path. The blanking capability is activated and the associated signal path is selected to provide main picture blanking regardless of which type of signal is providing the main picture.

Abstract: A system for inserting text data (e.g., closed caption data) contained In a user data or image data of an MPEG stream into the scanning line H21 of the Image signal recovered from the MPEG stream through a simplified process. In case of text data in the user data, the image data is decoded compressed image data on the video-CD is expended and stored as video data in the first memory location, and the closed caption data in the user data area is NRZ-modulated and stored in the second memory location. The caption data is read out of the second memory location and output to a bit map pixel data channel during a period of H21 of the output video data stream, and the video data Is read out of the first memory location and output to an video pixel data channel in the periods after H22 of the output video data stream. Thus, the two data are multiplexed on a bus.

Abstract: An interactive video menu system provides an economical method for the storage, transmission, and reception of data necessary for interactive video sessions, which allows high-resolution images to be broadcast to end users along with all the control information necessary to display and navigate through these images. A simple interpretive script is run on the end user's device which traps the broadcast information and allows rapid response time and control of the interactive session without requiring expensive high-bandwidth facilities. Buffer equalized coding is used so that still, picture-in-a-still; and moving video images can be compressed at rates below those typically used with the MPEG-2 standard and continuously transmitted as video backgrounds in a seamless loop saving bandwidth without degradation in video quality.

Abstract: A video segment on a preselected subject is captured by recognizing a graphic associating the video segment with the subject and capturing the video segment upon such recognition. In an embodiment, one or more graphics to be recognized are pre-identified.

Abstract: A multi-language closed captioning system is provided including a television having a speaker for transmitting audio signals. The television further has a screen for depicting various images upon receipt of television signals and depicting alphanumeric characters upon the receipt of a sub-carrier channel. A source of closed captioning is adapted to deploy a plurality of sub-carrier channels each for transmitting a string of alphanumeric characters corresponding to audio signals transmitted by the television. Such alphanumeric characters are representative of one of a plurality foreign languages. A selector unit is connected to the television and the source of closed captioning. An array of language buttons is situated on the selector unit and adapted to allow the transmission of one of the sub-carrier channels to the television upon the depression thereof.

Abstract: In a television receiver having a function of picture-in-picture, a character caption on a sub-screen is displayed at an easy-to-see position to enable the content of the sub-screen to be easily understood while looking at the main screen, wherein when either one or multiple sub-screens are displayed in the main screen, the character caption corresponding to the displayed sub-screen is displayed at a proper position to the main screen or on a position displaced from the main screen, it may also be displayed with a character having a shade or displayed with a blanched character or the like, thereby even while watching the main screen, the content of the sub-screen projected may easily be understand through the character caption.

Abstract: An improved television guide system. According to one embodiment of the invention, television guide information is provided that includes multiple occurrences of a single show. The guide system of the present invention allows the user to identify a show and, thereafter, identify when the identified show will be played again. Accordingly, the user may more easily select shows for viewing or recordation.

Abstract: A system for enhancing the television presentation of an object that can display the object even if the object is not visible to a camera. The system determines whether the object is visible to the camera broadcasting the event. If the object is not visible to the camera, the video image captured by the camera is edited to show the object, not show the object or enhance the video in a different manner. The object is placed in the captured video image at the position the object would be in the camera's field of view if there was no barrier between the object and the camera.

Abstract: An audio-visual work and method of its creation which work has writings placed on the pictures of the work so that as each word or other utterance is heard a writing to be associated with the hearing is coordinated with seeing by emphasis or otherwise of the writing such that the future presentation of either the utterance or the writing shall evoke the other in the mind of the original viewer-listener. Each word will when appropriate appear in a legible perspective adjacent to the mouth of the utterer. The work can be displayed linearly or under computer control of the viewer-listener along with additional educational materials. Selected use of groups of words highlighted or not may be used.