Ucentric Systems, Inc.

Ucentric Holdings, Inc.

Peter A Kaczowka

Carlton J Sparrell

John Andrew Watlington

Alexander D Vasilevsky

Sergio Parise

A centralized Digital Video Recording (DVR) and reproduction system links several reproduction and control units (such as television receivers, etc.) and a centralized server via a home area network. This allows programming to be distributed throughout the premises, and novelly allows live-pause recording and playback to be effected from more than one reproduction and control unit in a seamless manner. For example, during a live-pause episode, a viewer can pause a program from one control and reproduction unit, and resume viewing the program from the same pause point at another control and reproduction unit on the premises. The present invention also allows a viewer to view multiple programs from the server on the same monitor using a multiple picture-in-picture display.

Centralized digital video recording and playback system accessible to multiple reproduction and control units via a home area network

A system is disclosed for generating a video signal defining an image for display by a video display device, the video display device displaying at least one image on a video display screen providing a plurality of pixels generally arranged in a plurality of rows. The system comprises a frame buffer, an averaging device, a video signal generator, and a control module. The frame buffer has a plurality of storage locations each configured to store a pixel value, respective storage locations being associated with pixels displayed by the video display device. The averaging device, which in one embodiment is a flicker filter, is configured to receive pixel values from a plurality of storage locations and generate therefrom an average pixel value according to a predetermined function. The video signal generator is configured to receive the average pixel value and generate the video signal therefrom for use by the video display device. The control module is configured to (i) enable pixel values to be stored in the frame buffer, the pixel values comprising, (a) outside of a translucent region to be displayed on the video display screen, image information for the image, and (b) within the translucent region, in storage locations associated with alternating rows of pixels, image information for the image, and in storage locations associated with rows between the alternating rows of pixels, a predetermined pixel value; and (ii) enable pixel values to be retrieved from the frame buffer for use by the averaging device, the control module being configured to enable, for each average pixel value to be generated, pixel values from proximate rows to be retrieved so that, when an average pixel value is generated for a pixel within the translucent region, the average pixel value is the predetermined function of a pixel value comprising image information for the image and the predetermined pixel value, thereby to provide the translucent region.

Growing community of inventors

Townsend, MA, United States of America

Peter A Kaczowka