Rca Inc.

Hitachi America, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd.

Other

General Electric Company

John G Henderson

Jack S Fuhrer

Jill MacDonald Boyce

Frank Anton Lane

Michael Allen Plotnick

Robert J Maturo

Hiroo Okamoto

Takaharu Noguchi

Larry Alan Pearlstein

Masuo Oku

Masafumi Nakamura

Katsuo Mohri

Danny Chin

Charles M Wine

Joseph Ellis Augenbraun

Oakley M Woodward

Robert Morgan Rast

Stanley Paul Knight

Jack Selig Fuhrer

Rafael Torres

Methods and apparatus for improving the quality of images generated by reduced resolution video decoders and new and improved video decoders which produce reduced resolution images are described. Methods and apparatus for identifying conditions within an image which may significantly degrade image quality if particular portions of the image are used by a reduced resolution decoder as reference data are described. One specific embodiment is directed to a new video decoder which decodes portions of a single image, e.g., frame, at different resolutions. Areas of the image along high contrast vertical or horizontal edges are decoded at full resolution while other portions of the same image are decoded at reduced resolution. By decoding and storing portions of reduced resolution images at full resolution for reference purposes, the risk of prediction errors resulting from the use of downsampling on reference frames is reduced.

Methods and apparatus for representing different portions of an image at different resolutions

Methods and apparatus for improving the quality of images generated by reduced resolution video decoders and new and improved video decoders which produce reduced resolution images are described. Methods and apparatus for identifying conditions within an image which may significantly degrade image quality if particular portions of the image are used by a reduced resolution decoder as reference data are described. In particular, techniques for identifying blocks of pixels, referred to as constant block regions, having approximately the same intensity in terms of luminance values, are discussed. High contrast vertical and/or horizontal edges will cause significant prediction errors in images generated by reduced resolution decoders under certain conditions. Methods for assessing when such conditions exist and a significant prediction error is likely to occur are described. In addition methods and apparatus for minimizing the effect of such prediction errors in downsampling decoders are also described. One specific embodiment is directed to a new video decoder which decodes portions of a single image, e.g., frame, at different resolutions. Areas of the image along high contrast vertical or horizontal edges are decoded at full resolution while other portions of the same image are decoded at reduced resolution.

Methods and apparatus for decoding different portions of a video image at different resolutions

Methods and apparatus for improving the quality of images generated by reduced resolution video decoders and new and improved video decoders which produce reduced resolution images are described. Methods and apparatus for identifying conditions within an image which may significantly degrade image quality if particular portions of the image are used by a reduced resolution decoder as reference data are described. In particular, techniques for identifying blocks of pixels, referred to as constant block regions, having approximately the same intensity in terms of luminance values, are discussed. High contrast vertical and/or horizontal edges will cause significant prediction errors in images generated by reduced resolution decoders under certain conditions. Methods for assessing when such conditions exist and a significant prediction error is likely to occur are described. In addition methods and apparatus for minimizing the effect of such prediction errors in downsampling decoders are also described. One specific embodiment is directed to a new video decoder which decodes portions of a single image, e.g., frame, at different resolutions. Areas of the image along high contrast vertical or horizontal edges are decoded at full resolution while other portions of the same image are decoded at reduced resolution. Identified constant block areas found in multiple frames are decoded at even lower resolution than other image areas. By decoding and storing portions of reduced resolution images at full resolution for reference purposes, the risk of prediction errors resulting from the use of downsampling on reference frames is reduced.

Methods and apparatus for improving picture quality in reduced

Techniques for identifying blocks of pixels, referred to as constant block regions, having approximately the same intensity in terms of luminance values, are discussed. High contrast vertical and/or horizontal edges will cause significant prediction errors in images generated by reduced resolution decoders under certain conditions. Methods for assessing when such conditions exist and a significant prediction error is likely to occur are described. In addition methods and apparatus for minimizing the effect of such prediction errors in downsampling decoders are also described. One specific embodiment is directed to a new video decoder which decodes portions of a single image, e.g., frame, at different resolutions. Areas of the image along high contrast vertical or horizontal edges are decoded at full resolution while other portions of the same image are decoded at reduced resolution. By decoding and storing portions of reduced resolution images at full resolution for reference purposes, the risk of prediction errors resulting from the use of downsampling on reference frames is reduced.

Methods and apparatus for detecting scene conditions likely to cause

A device for transmitting digital packetized video and audio data is disclosed. The transmitter includes a video encoder, a prioritizer, and a packetizer. The video encoder receives video signals and encodes the video signals into a digital video data stream including codewords. The video encoder also generates motion vectors and fully intra-coded video frames for use by a video tape recorder during trick play operation. The prioritizer is coupled to the video encoder. The prioritizer receives the digital video data stream and prioritizes the video data according to a preselected prioritization scheme optimized for identifying data useful to video tape recorder trick play operation. The preselected prioritization scheme assigns the video codewords in the video data stream to a priority level according to the utility of each video codeword for video tape recorder recording and playback operation and outputs both the video codewords and a priority level signal. The video codewords and the priority level signal are supplied to a transport packetizer which packetizes the video codewords and associates a header with each packet. The headers contain information identifying the assigned priority level of the codewords in each packet. This makes it possible for a video tape recorder receiving the video packets to determine the utility of the codewords in a given packet from the priority level information in the packet headers.

Video recording device compatible transmitter

Method of operating a digital video tape recorder apparatus that receives encoded and packetized digital video data, depacketizes the received data and decodes the data to the extent necessary to select a subset of the data for use during trick play operation. In one embodiment, the digital video tape recorder includes a data prioritizer for prioritizing the video data according to a preselected prioritization scheme. The apparatus also includes an encoder and re-packetizer for forming the selected subset of received data into transport data packets. The received digital video data is recorded on a tape in tape locations from which data can be read during normal video tape recorder playback operation while the selected subset of the received data is recorded in tape locations from which data can be read during video tape recorder trick playback operation.

Method and apparatus for selecting encoded video data for use during

A digital video tape recorder ('VTR') that selects data useful for generating images during trick playback operation and records the data in trick play tape segments arranged on a tape to form fast scan tracks and multi-speed playback tracks. Each fast scan track comprises trick play tape segments located on a diagonal, relative to the length of the tape, of the same angle as the angle at which the heads of a VTR are expected to pass over the tape during trick play operation at a specific speed and direction of operation. Each multi-speed playback track comprises a plurality of trick play tape segments arranged parallel to the length of the tape. Data which is used for at least one mode of trick play operation is recorded in each trick play tape segment. Each fast scan track and multi-speed track crosses multiple normal play tracks. During playback at a wide variety of speeds and directions, the heads pass over enough trick play segments of the multi-speed playback track to generate recognizable images during trick play operation. Data is recorded in each trick play segment in a manner that optimizes the amount of data that can be routinely recovered during trick playback operation despite tracking errors.

Methods and apparatus for recording data on a digital storage medium in

Methods of operating a digital video recording and playback device to identify trick play data, e.g., data that is intended for use during trick play modes of video playback device operation such as fast forward and reverse, by recording headers containing specific trick play information along with the trick play data are described. In one embodiment, the recording of headers which identify data as data intended for use during trick play as opposed to normal play operation is described. In addition to identifying data recorded data as normal play or trick play data headers associated with recorded data may identify the speed and direction of video tape recorder operation during which the specific data associated with the header is intended to be displayed at. When a data block includes data packets, a header may be used to identify various ones of the data packets as being for use during one mode of trick play operation, e.g., a first fast forward speed of operation, and other packets in the same data block as being for use during a second mode of trick play operation.

Trick play data indentification methods and apparatus for use with

Digital video recording device with trick play capability

Methods of operating a digital video recording and playback device, such as a video tape recorder, to arrange trick play data into one or more groups, to generate error correction bits for each group of trick play data, e.g., a group of trick play data blocks, and to correct the data after being read back using the error correction bits is disclosed. The trick play data blocks are made to be smaller than normal play data blocks with multiple trick play data blocks being equal in size to a single normal play data block. By making a group of trick play data blocks equal in size to a single normal play data block, the group of trick play data blocks may be processed as a unit by the same error correction circuitry and in the same manner used to process individual normal play data blocks. In accordance with one embodiment, the error correction bits for a group of trick play data blocks are calculated treating the data in the group of trick play data blocks as a single unit. The error correction bits are appended to the last data block in the group of trick play data blocks. During trick play operation the trick play data blocks are read back and combined according to trick play data groups. Each group of trick play blocks is then processed using the same error correction circuitry used to process a normal play data block.

Digital recording and playback device error correction methods and

Digital video tape recorder apparatus that generates commands to instruct a television receiver to perform special processing, e.g., processing designed to enhance image quality, on video data received from the digital video tape recorder during trick play operation is disclosed. The commands from the video tape recorder inform the television receiver that the video tape recorder is operating in trick play mode and that video processing not performed on normal play video data output by the video tape recorder during normal play operation should be performed on the trick play video data which is output during trick play operation. The video data output during trick play operation is a subset of the normal play video data. The video processing commands output during trick play operation instruct a receiver to perform video processing intended to compensate for normal play data intentionally omitted by the video tape recorder from the trick play video data because of, e.g., data limitations resulting from the limited amount of data that can be accurately read from a tape during trick play operation. Method of generating the video processing commands which are output to a receiver during trick play video tape recorder operation are also disclosed.

Method and apparatus directed to processing trick play video data to

A video recorder compatible receiver for receiving video data from a video recorder such as a video tape recorder ('VTR'). The receiver includes an error concealment circuit, a digital VTR port adapted for coupling to a VTR and/or a tuner module. The receiver receives digital video data from the VTR by either the digital VTR port or the tuner module. VTR commands may also be received from a VTR. Upon receiving a VTR command indicating that the VTR is operating in trick play mode or upon detecting video data that is indicative of VTR trick play operation, the error concealment circuit of the receiver disables normal play error concealment and enables trick play error concealment. The error concealment circuit may perform temporal and spatial filtering on the video data received from the VTR when trick play error concealment is enabled.

Digital video recorder compatible receiver with trick play image

A work lamp of type known as trouble lamps or drop lights, with components including a handle defining an axis for the lamp and opposed first and second ends, a socket for a light source in the second end, a cage for the light source attached to the handle, a hook, and a power connection for the light source, and with an improvement which is a member or element comprising a shank on and extending away from the handle near the first end and at a right or obtuse angle to the axis. As to holding means with a channel or hole, the shank implements the lamp to be received and adjustably retained in a channel or hole of such means in a wide range of dispositions and other than an enabled by the hook. The shank may be embodied as a demountable fitting for the handle. Holding means with a channel or hole, including a holder with a magnetic base and a channeled slab wherein the shank may be received, are disclosed.

Work lamp, with holder therefor

In a system for processing a widescreen television signal containing center and side panel components, low frequency side panel information is time compressed before being disposed in a horizontal image overscan region. The compressed side panel low frequency information is frequency modulated onto an FM subcarrier to improve the noise characteristics of the compressed side panel information when transmitted over a noisy channel.

Noise reduction apparatus for a widescreen video signal processing system

As a signal seeking tuner tunes through a number of channels to locate the next active (useable) channel, the display screen of a television receiver is blanked when the receiver is tuned between channels or to an inactive (unuseable) channel for which video signal information is substantially absent. Superimposed over the blanked screen background is a moveable tuning indicator bar, the position of which indicates the channel to which the receiver is tuned. The blanking of the screen prevents the tuning indication from being obscured by background noise.

Growing community of inventors

Princeton, NJ, United States of America

John G Henderson