Sarnoff Corporation

David Andrew Birks

Ragnar Hlynur Jonsson

Robert Norman Hurst

When logos or other imagery are to be added to compressed digital video bitstreams, certain constraints are applied to the encoder that generates the original compressed bitstream to enable a video logo processor (e.g., at a local broadcaster) to insert logo-inserted encoded data into the bitstream without placing substantial processing demands on the video logo processor. In one embodiment, areas where logos can be inserted are identified and the encoder is not allowed to use image data within those logo areas as reference data when performing motion-compensated inter-frame differencing for pixels outside of the logo areas. Preferably, the compressed data corresponding to the desired location for logo insertion are extracted from the compressed bitstream and replaced by logo-inserted encoded data. As a result, logos can be inserted into compressed digital video bitstreams without having to completely decode and re-encode the bitstreams, while maintaining the overall quality of the video display.

Logo insertion based on constrained encoding

The decoder method and apparatus receives an information stream comprising timing information and respective payload information. A substantially fixed frequency source is used to generate local timing information, which is used to decode the payload information. A difference signal representing the timing difference between the local timing reference and the received timing information is calculated and used to adjust the decoded payload information signal.

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Jackson, NJ, United States of America

David Andrew Birks