Abstract: A system and method for transmitting program data including immersive content is provided. A generated immersive video stream is first choreographed. Then, based on this choreography, the relevant macroblocks of the immersive video stream can be identified and compressed. At this point, the compressed macroblocks of the immersive video stream are ready for transmission to a distribution system. In one embodiment, a plurality of immersive video streams can be choreographed and compressed. These compressed immersive video streams can be multiplexed for transmission and subsequently de-multiplexed for display. Before display, the relevant macroblocks can be decompressed. In one embodiment, one or more terminals can display a plurality of previews associated with at least one program, and at least one preview can include immersive content. The plurality of previews can be individually or simultaneously activated.

Abstract: A method for placing overlay elements in images of a digital video so that desirable viewing areas of the images are not occluded by the overlay element, the method includes extracting frames from the video, each of the frames defining an image which may have one or more desirable viewing areas. For each frame, an area is selected in the image for placing an overlay element and the percentage the overlay element overlaps the desirable viewing areas is determined for the selected area. The overlay element is placed in the selected area if the percentage is below a maximum allowed predetermined percentage of overlapping. If it is not, one or more other areas in the image are selected and/or the size, shape, aspect ratio of the overlay element is changed until a position and/or size, shape, aspect ratio is found which minimizes occlusion of the desirable viewing areas in the image.

Abstract: In an overlapped field detecting apparatus, a delay unit delays a video signal, and a subtracter calculates a difference between the video signal and an output signal of the delay unit on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Also, an absolute value circuit calculates an absolute value of the difference on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Further, at least one comparator compares the absolute value of the difference with a threshold value on a pixel-by-pixel basis, and at least one accumulator counts a number of pixels when the absolute value of the difference is larger than the threshold value. A determination unit determines whether or not the number of pixels is larger than a definite value, thus determining that corresponding fields of two successive frames of the video signal are non-overlapped.

Abstract: An image compositing apparatus of the present invention composites a video image and a plurality of graphical images together into a final composite image. The image compositing apparatus includes a first obtaining unit, a first compositing unit, a calculating unit, a second obtaining unit, and a second compositing unit. The first obtaining unit obtains the graphical images and composition information that includes an image compositing order and is used for calculating the composition ratios of the images to the final composite image. The first compositing unit composites the graphical images together into one composite graphical image according to the composition information. The calculating unit calculates the composition ratio of the video image to the final composite image according to the composition information. The second obtaining unit obtains frames of the video image. The second compositing unit composites the frames with the composite graphical image using the composition ratio of the video image.

Abstract: An apparatus and concomitant method for generating an OSD message by constructing an OSD bitstream defining a single field of OSD data. 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 including various pointers, that are used to provide instructions as to the treatment of the OSD data. If a top field pointer and a bottom field pointer are set to an identical value in the OSD header, then the OSD unit will repeat each OSD line in the other field for an OSD region.

Abstract: Motion information for an object and background information are broadcast-transmitted on a transmitting side. On a receiving side, the motion information and the background information are received, and one of a plurality of character models previously stored is selected. A character image is generated using the selected mode and the received motion information. The character image and the received background image are synthesized and displayed on one screen. The viewer can select a character of his or her own liking, and can view the broadcast-transmitted program as a program in which the particular character appears.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that can be used to enhance a video of an event. Sensors are used at the event to acquire information. For example, the system can include pan, tilt and zoom sensors to acquire camera view information. This information can be added to the video signal from a camera (e.g. in the vertical blanking interval) or otherwise transmitted to a central studio. At the studio, the sensor information is used to enhance the video for broadcast. Example enhancements include drawing lines or other shapes in the video, adding advertisements to the video or adding other graphics to the video.

Abstract: According to the signal processing apparatus of the present invention, in a text signal processing circuit, predetermined signal processes are executed to a luminance signal Y and color difference signals U and V in which a ratio of sampling clocks is equal to (4:4:4) and resultant signals are supplied to a mixing circuit. In a video signal processing circuit, predetermined signal processes are executed to the signals Y, U, and V in which a ratio of sampling clocks is equal to (4:1:1) or (4:2:2). The signal Y is supplied to the mixing circuit through a delay adjusting circuit and the high frequency components are removed from the signals U and V by a band limiting filter and, after that, the resultant signals are supplied to the mixing circuit. The signal mixed by the mixing circuit is supplied to a LPF through a D/A converter. In the LPF, the signal is demodulated by the band limiting filter according to (4:4:4).

Abstract: The compressed data of an auxiliary stream of data, defining an auxiliary image, is decoded on the fly during the display of each main image into which this auxiliary image is to be inset. The data is decoded to deliver luminance and chrominance values intended to be mixed with the luminance and chrominance values of the counterpart pixels of the main image being displayed, in succession during each decoding of the auxiliary image and for the successive pixels of this auxiliary image.

Abstract: In a method of displaying graphics subdivided into areas with a foreground and a background, each of which is area-wise switchable to a selectable color, and in which graphics areas are transparently switchable to at least a different display plane, bits specially reserved in the memory for the foreground and background transparent switching can be saved in that a foreground color selected in the area and a background color selected in the area are compared area-wise, and in that those areas of the foreground and/or the background of the graphics are transparently switched in which a predetermined constellation of the selected foreground color and the selected background color is determined.

Abstract: A single chip system including a first input channel for receiving digital video input data, a second channel for receiving computer graphics data, means for synchronizing the two channels to one another utilizing timing signals which may be selected to provide the most accurate timing available, means for changing the rate of presentation of the computer graphics signals to match the rate of presentation of the video signals, means for adjusting the format in which the computer graphics signals are presented to the same format as the format in which the video signals are presented, and means for selectively blending the computer graphics and video signals furnished as video input data without modification for presentation on a single output display.

Abstract: An on-screen display system is adapted for displaying OSD information on an OSD background portion which is selectively filled with either an half tone video image or a background raster of a specific color selected by a user, or which is filled by superimposing the half tone video image and the half tone background raster selected by the user. Mixing and amplifying circuits are provided for each of three red/green/blue (R/G/B) channels. Each of the three mixing and amplifying circuits receives a video signal and an OSD signal of a respective channel, mixes the video signal and the OSD signal according to a video selection signal and an OSD selection signal, amplifies a mixed signal, and outputs an amplified image signal to a display. A selection signal generating circuit receives OSD signals for R/G/B channels, a video/OSD switching signal, a half tone signal, and OSD control signals generates and outputs the OSD selection signal and the video selection signal.

Abstract: A scheme for detecting telop character displaying frames in video image which is capable of suppressing erroneous detection of frames without telop characters due to instability of image features is disclosed. In this scheme, each input frame constituting the video data is entered, and whether each input frame is a telop character displaying frame in which telop characters are displayed or not is judged, according to edge pairs detected from each input frame by detecting each two adjacent edge pixels for which intensity gradient directions are opposite on some scanning line used in judging an intensity gradient direction at each edge pixel and for which an intensity difference between said two adjacent edge pixels is within a prescribed range as one edge pair, edge pixels being pixels at which an intensity value locally changes by at least a prescribed amount with respect to a neighboring pixel among a plurality of pixels constituting each input frame.

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: 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: To enable interlacing edge-generating means to be used for a progressive image signal that is separated into lines as two sequences of signals, the present invention comprises a pre-edge processing circuit (11) that executes appropriate pre-edge processing on the progressive image signal separated into lines depending on the condition of each of the two signals, and an edge generating circuit (18, 19) that executes on the two signals after pre-edge processing pre-edge generation processing similar to that for interlacing.

Abstract: In an effective display area, an additional information recognizing part 203 recognizes a standard of a broadcast wave, refers to a ROM 212 and selects a target value, and provides an internal clock of a video data reading part 205 and an internal clock of an OSD data reading part 206 with the target value. At a retrace interval, on the other hand, the additional information recognizing part 203 notifies an additional information synthetic position deciding part 210 of the standard of the broadcast wave. The additional information synthetic position deciding part 210 selects from a ROM 211 a target value for reading the additional information applicable to the notified standard, and outputs the target value to an additional information reading parts 207. When the standard of the broadcast wave is changed, target values corresponding to the changes are responsively selected from the ROM 212 and the ROM 211.

Abstract: A video signal processing system for processing a video data VIN and graphic data D&mgr;P includes a filter unit, which receives the video data VIN. The filter unit filters the video data VIN to convert the video data VIN into video pictures formated with a different number of columns and/or lines, and provides a filtered video signal indicative thereof. The filter unit buffers individual pixels and/or lines in a first memory device. A second memory device receives and stores the graphic data D&mgr;P and the filtered video signal and provides stored signals indicative thereof. A third memory device is connected to the second memory, and stores data received from the second memory device. A mixing unit receives and mixes the stored graphic data and the stored filtered video data to provide a video output signal VOUT.

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: The present invention utilizes a graphics layout language that is defined by the broadcaster or the studio to control the layout of graphic overlays in relation to corresponding images presented on a display. Each user interface component is divided into objects that define their individual behaviors and presentations. Data files using the hypertext markup language, HTML, layout these objects on the screen. By varying the HTML data files, control is provided to the broadcaster over what objects are displayed on the screen, where they are placed on the screen, and to a limited effect, their behavior. This can be accomplished without re-writing the executables as would be necessary in other television type user interface implementations.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 composite image generator for generating a multi-image composite from a plurality of individual compressed images is disclosed. Multi-image composites are generated from static images or from a video stream with significantly reduced computation, reduced latency for video processing and reduced storage requirements. The individual images may be compressed with a JPEG image encoder or another suitable intraframe image encoder, such as those implementing the MPEG-II standard. In the illustrative embodiment, four (4) individual images of equal size, compressed using the JPEG standard, are combined into a multi-image composite with a single individual image in each quadrant of the composite image. Multi-image composites are created without fully decoding each individual compressed image, by partially decoding the individual compressed images and only fully decoding a small portion of each image.

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 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 system for converting digital television signals encoded according to an MPEG standard into standardized analog video signals. The system includes means for generating graphic images and for inserting corresponding image signals in a decoded digital flow of main image signals, a digital decoding unit, and an analog coding unit. The digital decoding unit includes means for providing a flow of multiplexed image signals including a first flow of main image signals and of a second flow of image signals that contains, in addition to the main image signals, possible graphic image signals. The analog coding unit includes a demultiplexer of the flow of multiplexed image signals and two encoders. The two encoders respectively receive the first and second flows, and each respectively provide a digital flow of images encoded according to a color television standard to digital-to-analog converters respectively associated therewith, the digital-to-analog converters providing the standardized analog video signals.

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 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: According to this character display apparatus, a limit of a frequency band of a character display signal is removed and small characters, etc., also can be displayed satisfactorily. A sync signal from a sync separating circuit (4) is supplied to a character generating circuit (8) in which a display signal of arbitrary characters or the like is formed by RGB three primary color signals in synchronism with predetermined dot clocks. The thus formed display signal is supplied to a line memory (9) and dot clocks are supplied to the line memory (9) and thereby the display signal is written in the line memory (9). Further, dot clocks are supplied to a multiplying circuit (10) and clock multiplied with an arbitrary multiplying ratio are supplied to the line memory (9) so that the written display signal is read out from the line memory (9).

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: A video-signal processing device is connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output at least one kind of video signal, and comprises a character-information signal producer for producing a character-information signal on the basis of character-code data, and an adder for adding the character-information signal to the video signal outputted from the electronic endoscope, whereby the video signal carrying the character-information signal is fed outside from the device. When the endoscope further outputs a control signal in response to a turning-ON of a function switch thereof, the device comprises a memory for storing fixed character-code data; and a memory-reader for reading the fixed character-code data from the memory in response to the control signal outputted from the endoscope. The character-information signal producer produces a fixed character-information signal on the basis of the fixed character-code data read from the memory.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a preamplifier including inputs for receiving input video signals representative of an image to be displayed on a screen, inputs for receiving logic signals representative of information to be displayed in superimposition on the screen, and outputs for supplying output video signals generated based on the input signals or the logic signals. An input receives a control signal to select which signals are used to generate the output video signals. In a first display mode, the signals used are the input signals, and in a second display mode, the signals used are the logic signals. Decoders and controllers allow monitoring of the state of the logic signals which select, in the second display mode, the input video signals to generate the output video signals.

Abstract: An image control device for use in a computer system which includes a microprocessor, a bus coupled to the microprocessor, a video memory coupled to the bus and a display device. A write controller is also provided which is coupled to the bus and which controls writing of an image signal into the video memory by supplying a write address to the video memory. The write controller operates to change a range of the write address according to a plurality of write address parameters set by the microprocessor so that a memory area of the video memory into which the image signal is to be written is changed according to the range of the write address. Further, a size of an image represented by the image signal to be written into the video memory is changed.

Abstract: The OSD includes a plurality of holding circuits for outputting to a mixing circuit pixel data for characters or patterns synchronously with a horizontal synchronization signal, wherein the pixel data for the characters or patterns to be displayed are supplied to the holding circuits by a memory through a plurality of channels, the number of which is equal to the number of the holding circuits, so that a display signal for displaying the pixel data in a plurality of display areas is generated by the mixing circuit.

Abstract: The subtitle data encoding apparatus according to the present invention is used in a video image transmission system. The apparatus creates loading blocks from relative position information by sampling an input bit stream at a frame interval. The loading block corresponds to a pixel data block and contains changeover position information which updates a change position, delays the update operation and sets the length of the delay. The address used to access a color lookup table for displaying subtitle data is changeable at the change position to access different display data stored therein. The pixel data block is encoded from subtitle data and the loading blocks and pixel data blocks are combined for transmission. The changeover position information can also be used to progress a color-wipe operation.

Abstract: Apparatus processes mixed YUV and color palettized video signals for display on an interlaced NTSC or PAL television receiver by storing first and second fields of one or more sprites in a graphic memory. Each sprite is stored as YUV or color palettized data and given a priority. A higher priority sprite overwrites pixel data of sprites of a lower priority when sprites overlap. First and second adjacent horizontal lines of pixel data in the first and second fields, respectively, are concurrently stored in respective first and second double buffers of a pixel assembly buffer during each line period. A delay buffer and the first and second double buffers generate first, second, and third adjacent horizontal lines, respectively, of pixel data at the output of the pixel assembly buffer while third and fourth adjacent horizontal lines of pixel data are inputted to the first and second double buffers.

Abstract: Encoding and decoding of subtitle data is performed in real time. A buffer regulates a flow rate of the subtitle data to ensure that the appropriate subtitles are superimposed with the correct video picture. In encoding, subtitles are generated in correspondence to a video picture. The subtitles are separately encoded and multiplexed with the video picture for transmission. Upon decoding, the subtitles are selected at a time which corresponds to the display of the corresponding video picture. Since the subtitles are processed separately from the video data, the subtitles may be manipulated with great control; thus providing more flexibility in encoding and decoding.

Abstract: A method and system produces a digital video with comments. The system controls play of a digital video and pauses the video in response to contemporaneous reviewer request to comment on a frame currently being played in the video. In response to user input of comments for the current or paused frame, the system displays the comments with the paused frame, stores the comments and links the comments to the current or paused frame. In response to reviewer request to continue play of the video after the pause, the system continues play of the video without the comments. The system also pauses the video when the comments are displayed during the subsequent play of the digital video.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a computer graphics system identifies the format of video pixel data in a data stream having a plurality of data formats including a first pixel data format and a second pixel data format, the second pixel data format being a YUV format. The method comprises the steps of (a) receiving pixel data; (b) selecting an output channel in response to at least one particular value of at least one bit of each received pixel datum wherein the particular value identifies the data format as either the first pixel data format or the YUV format; and (c) providing the pixel data to the selected output channel. Also provided is a circuit in a video graphics controller and a computer system having such circuit according to the method.

Abstract: A television receiver includes a caption data display control circuit for controlling display of caption data contained an image of input standard video signal on a display screen for a wide aspect ratio in a full screen display mode for displaying the image on the entire display screen. In the caption data display control circuit, a luminance signal contained in the input standard video signal is converted into a first set of pixel values corresponding to all of the pixels consisting of the image. The second set of pixel values representing the caption data from values of pixels is then automatically detected by a detection circuit thereof from a first predetermined image region within the image. The detected second set of pixel values is converted into a caption signal denoting the caption data which is combined with the luminance signal in order to be displayed on a visible area of the display screen.

Abstract: A title can be easily inserted in a video image while taking a video picture. A touch panel is provided on a display screen of an LCD panel. An analog switch section supplies coordinate values Vx, Vy representative of a position of a touch panel pressed by a pen to a microcomputer. The microcomputer adjusts and processes the coordinate values Vx, Vy such that they match a picture angle of the LCD panel and a dot appears at the position pressed by the pen and writes the dot data in the corresponding address of an SRAM. A RAM controller reads the dot data from the SRAM in synchronism with a pick-up video signal under control of the microcomputer and controls selection of switches in response to the dot data. A white level signal corresponding to the dot data is superimposed on the pick-up video signal to generate a display video signal and a recording video signal.

Abstract: A video effect is created with a video processing machine having a plurality of functions, each of which has a state that is selectively variable in response to change in an associated function parameter. The method comprises selecting a set of functions, specifying a starting keyframe containing a starting value for each of the parameters, specifying an ending keyframe containing ending values for the parameters associated with the functions of the selected set and vacancies for the other parameters associated with other functions, and specifying a number of video frames. The starting keyframe is used to place the machine in a starting state, in which each function has the status defined by the value of its associated parameter in the starting keyframe, and a first video frame is processed with the processing machine in the starting state.

Abstract: A device for displaying characters in a video system, the characters being able to be displayed transparently against a background consisting of the normal television image. The device inserts the text into the original video signal, then forms the weighted average of the signal including the text and the original video signal.

Abstract: An image control device for use in a computer system which includes a microprocessor, a bus coupled to the microprocessor, a video memory coupled to the bus and a display device. A write controller is also provided which is coupled to the bus and which controls writing of an image signal into the video memory by supplying a write address to the video memory. The write controller operates to change a range of the write address according to a plurality of write address parameters set by the microprocessor so that a memory area of the video memory into which the image signal is to be written is changed according to the range of the write address. Further, a size of an image represented by the image signal to be written into the video memory is changed.