U.S. Philips Corporation

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Richard Cees Spiero

Wiebe De Haan

Jan Van Der Meer

Marnix Claudius Vlot

Terence A Douglas

Bj&ouml;rn Bluthgen

Armand V Wemelsfelder

Henricus J Kunnen

Björn Bluthgen

Theodorus H Van Groningen

Bjorn Bluethgen

A record carrier stores information readable by a processor, where the information includes main data and sub data. The sub data includes coded text lines having a plurality of character codes, where the coded text lines includes control codes for controlling the processor to display characters representing the coded text lines on a display unit configured to display at least one line of characters. The at least one line has a predetermined number character positions which is less than a number of characters in the coded text lines. A selected number of the character codes are displayable at the predetermined number of character positions of the at least one line.

Information transfer system, a transmitter, a receiver and a record carrier for use in the system

An information transfer system includes a transmitter for transferring to a receiver an information signal having main data and sub data. The sub data includes coded text lines having a plurality of character codes. The receiver is provided with a character display unit for displaying characters corresponding with the character codes in the coded text lines. The number of character display positions is less than the number of character codes in the coded text line. The receiver is further provided with display control means for controlling the display of characters corresponding to the character codes included in the coded text line in dependence on serial control codes included in the coded text line. Parts of the text in the sub data may be shown on both a full multi-line display units for displaying full text lines and a 1-line display with a relative small number of digits.

Graphic images that overlay a transmitted video signal are provided in the form of bitmaps that allow any character or font size to be displayed. A color-look-up-table (CLUT) at a receiver is defined that maps 'm' inputs to a combination of color and luminance values for display. One or more map tables are provided that allow pixel colors to be encoded using fewer than 'm' bits, the map tables providing an &#x201c;m&#x201d; bit output for accessing the CLUT. The provider of the graphic images can also specify a required minimum number of CLUT colors for rendering the images; if this minimum is greater than &#x201c;m&#x201d;, the image is not rendered. The use of map tables provides compatibility between a variety of encoding techniques and a variety of rendering devices, without requiring different CLUTs to be transmitted for each different color encoding format.

Subtitling transmission system

The application relates to an information transfer system, comprising a receiver ( ) and a transmitter ( ) for transferring an information signal to the receiver ( ) via a transfer medium ( ). The information signal comprises main data and sub data. The sub data comprises coded text lines having a plurality of character codes. The receiver is provided with a character display unit ( ) for displaying characters corresponding with the character codes in the coded text lines. The number of character display positions is less than the number of character codes in the coded text line. The receiver is provided with display control means ( ) for controlling the display of characters corresponding to the character codes included in the coded text line in dependence on serial control codes included in the coded text line. The system enables that significant parts of the text information available in the sub data can be shown on both a full multi-line display units for displaying full text lines and a 1-line display with a relative small number of digits. The invention is very suitable for systems with small sized receivers, such as e.g. portable players and car radios, and receivers wit a display on its remote controller, because there is not much space available for a display unit.

A method of simultaneously transmitting a video signal and encoded data representing graphic images is disclosed. The invention is particularly applicable for transmitting multilingual subtitles with a video program. The graphic images are rectangular regions within the active video area. They are transmitted in the form of bitmaps. The invention not only allows any character font or size to be displayed, but also the definition of e.g. a program provider's logo. The encoded data includes a time stamp to specify the time at which a subtitle is to be displayed. Preferred embodiments of the invention include the transmission of color-look-up-table (CLUT) data and a compatibility code indicating a required minimum number of entries of said color-look-up-table. For receivers with a CLUT having more entries than necessary, a map table is a for mapping the pixel data width to the input witdh of the relevant CLUT. The method is applicable to Direct Video Broadcast systems wherein the video signal is MPEG2 encoded and the graphic images are accommodated in a private data stream of an MPEG2 Transport Stream.

An information transfer system which transmits and receives an information signal including a coded text line, and displays characters, defined by character codes included in the coded text line, on a display unit having a display capacity which is less than the number of character codes included in the coded text line. The system includes a transmitter for producing and transmitting the information signal, a record carrier for storing the information signal, and a receiver for receiving the information signal and displaying the characters on the display unit. The information signal includes main data and sub data, which sub data includes the coded text line. The coded text line includes the character codes and control codes. The receiver includes the display unit and a display control unit for controlling display of the characters in accordance with the control codes.

TRANSMITTER, RECEIVER AND/OR RECORD CARRIER FOR USE WITH AN INFORMATION SIGNAL INCLUDING A CODED TEXT LINE HAVING CHARACTER CODES AND CONTROL CODES FOR CONTROLLING DISPLAY OF CHARACTERS DEFINED BY THE CHARACTER CODES

A DAB receiver, an apparatus and a method for converting a first sequence of data having a fixed frame structure, wherein locations within the frame are reserved for predetermined data types, into a second sequence of data, having a different frame structure. The data belonging to the respective data types are grouped in separate sequences with a frame type identifier attached to the sequences for identifying the different sequences. This allows an easy identification of the different sequences of data within the second sequence without the need of prior knowledge of the exact location of the sequences within the second sequence. An example of such a conversion is the conversion of the channel decoder output of a DAB receiver into a format suitable for embedding in the IEC958 format.

DAB receiver, apparatus and method for a format conversion of a DAB data

An information display device with adaptive scroll speed receives at its input (1a, 1b) messages in the form of bursts of information units. The display device comprises presentation apparatus (2), coupled to the input, comprising a display area (2.1) for displaying the messages. The presentation apparatus can scroll the information units through the display area at a specific scroll speed. The information display device further comprises a control signal generator (3) that generates a control signal which is derived from the average rate at which information units are received. The presentation apparatus control the scroll speed in response to the control signal.

Information display device with adaptive scroll speed

A receiver and a method for adding a sequence, embedded in a digital sequence of data together with another sequence, separate of the other sequence to at least a part of the digital sequence of data. An example of such a sequence is the Program Associated Data (PAD) in a DAB digital sequence of data, this PAD being embedded in audio frames together with audio data. The DAB digital sequence of data is converted into a sequence according to the IEC958 format, wherein the retrieved PAD is inserted into the User Data channel in the IEC958 frames. This allows an easy retrieval of the PAD from the digital sequence of data, without the need for analyzing audio frames and retrieving the PAD therefrom.

Digital audio broadcast receiver having circuitry for retrieving

The apparatus includes first, second and third connectors, a control signal generator (5.11) and first and second switches (5.9, 5.10). The first and second connectors each have a signal input terminal, a signal output terminal and a control signal terminal. The third connector has a signal input terminal (5.7) and eventually a control signal terminal (5.8). The first and second switching means each have first (a), second (b) and third (c) terminals, the first terminal (a) of the first switches (5.9) being coupled to the signal output terminal (5.5) of the second connector, the second terminal (b) of the first switches (5.9) being coupled to the signal input terminal (5.1) of the first connector, the first terminal (a) of the second switching means (5.10) being coupled to the signal output terminal (5.2) of the first connector, the second terminal (b) of the second switching means (5.10) being coupled to the signal input terminal (5.4) of the second connector. The first and second switches (5.9, 5.10) are adapted to couple the second (b) or the third (c) terminal to the first terminal (a) under the influence of a first or second control signal respectively, supplied by the control signal generator (5.11). The control signal generator (5.11) has a first terminal (10) coupled to the control signal terminals (5.3, 5.6) of the first and second connectors, and an output terminal (12, 13) for supplying the first and second control signal for the first and second switches (5.9, 5.10) respectively. The signal input terminal (5.7) of the third connector is coupled to the third terminals (c) of the first and second switches (5.9, 5.10). The control signal generator (5.11) is further adapted to generate a control signal for at least one of the first and the second switches, in response to the control signal applied to a second terminal (11). Further an input-output circuit is provided for coupling a controller included in the control signal generator (5.11) to line 10 of the SCART cable.

Apparatus for use in an interconnection system

The apparatus includes first, second and third connectors, a control signal generator (5.11) and first and second switches (5.9, 5.10). The first and second connector each have a signal input terminal, a signal output terminal and a control signal terminal. The third connector has a signal input terminal (5.7) and eventually a control signal terminal (5.8). The first and second switches each have first (a), second (b) and third (c) terminals, the first terminal (a) of the first switches (5.9) being coupled to the signal output terminal (5.5) of the second connector, the second terminal (b) of the first switches (5.9) being coupled to the signal input terminal (5.1) of the first connector, the first terminal (a) of the second switches (5.10) being coupled to the signal output terminal (5.2) of the first connector, the second terminal (b) of the second switches (5.10) being coupled to the signal input terminal (5.4) of the second connector. The first and second switches (5.9, 5.10) are adapted to couple the second (b) or the third (c) terminal to the first terminal (a) under the influence of a first or second control signal respectively, supplied by the control signal generator (5.11). The control signal generator (5.11) has a first terminal (10) coupled to the control signal terminals (5.3, 5.6) of the first and second connectors, and an output terminal (12, 13) for supplying the first and second control signal for the first and second switches (5.9, 5.10) respectively. The signal input terminal (5.7) of the third connector is coupled to the third terminals (c) of the first and second switches (5.9, 5.10). The control signal generator (5.11) is further adapted to generate a control signal for at least one of the first and the second switches, in response to the control signal applied to a second terminal (11). Further an input-output circuit is provided for coupling a controller included in the control signal generator (5.11) to line 10 of the SCART cable.

A video system comprises a video signal generating device (1') and no less than one video signal receiving device (2') coupled to each other by means of a signal bus (4'). The video signal generating device (1') is capable of generating at an output (13) one or a plurality of video signals having each a different signal format (CVBS, Y/C, MAC bb, . . . ). The video signal receiving device(s) is (are) arranged for processing one or a plurality of video signals having mutually different formats. It is an object to establish which video signal format the devices (1', 2', 3') have in common (Y/C) and to adjust the devices so that the video signal generating device generates at its output (13) just the video signal that has the common signal format concerned and the video signal receiving device(s) is (are) capable of processing the video signal that has the common signal format concerned and is applied to the input (24, 33). If two or more video signal formats appear to be common to the devices a choice is made in favor of one of these formats, preferably the video signal format having the highest video signal quality.

Video system

A video tuner (1), a video signal (recording and) reproducing arrangement (7) and a picture display unit (35) are coupled to each other via a switching circuit (9). The video tuner (1) can supply first and second video signals on its output (3), representing pictures having a first and a second aspect ratio respectively (4:3 and 16:9, respectively). These signals can be recorded and reproduced by the video signal (recording and) reproducing arrangement (7) and can be displayed with the correct aspect ratio by the picture display unit (35). In order to realize this, a control signal line (55) is arranged between a control signal output (4) of the tuner (1), a control signal input and output terminal (10) of the video signal (recording and) reproducing arrangement (7) and control signal inputs (36) of the picture display unit and (46) of the switching circuit and control signal detector (9, 45). The video tuner (1) produces a first or a second control signal (S1 and S2) on the output (4) depending on the aspect ratio of the pictures in the supplied video signal while the video signal (recording and) reproducing arrangement (7) produces a third or a fourth control signal on the control signal input and output terminal (10) depending on the aspect ratio of the pictures in the video signal being reproduced. The switching circuit and detector (9, 45) select between the control signals in such a way that if the first or the second control signal is applied, the output signal of the video tuner (1) is selected, and if the third or the fourth control signal is applied, the output signal of the video signal (recording and) reproducing arrangement (7) is transferred to the picture display unit (35). The picture display unit (35) selects between the control signals in such a way that video signals applied to the input (37) are displayed with the correct aspect ratio on the display screen (39).

Combination of a video tuner, a video signal reproducing arrangement and

A video recorder which is adapted to reproduce video signals recorded on a record carrier in the form of a tape in tracks which are parallel to each other and which are inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the record carrier at a speed which deviates from the nominal speed. The video recorder comprises tracking-error detection means for detecting the deviation of the read head from the center of the track to be followed. The generated tracking-error signal is applied to the tape-transport control loop. For the purpose of tracking-error detection a reference-signal generator generates reference signals which form an identification for the track to be followed. For reproduction with a deviating speed these reference signals are generated in such a pattern that this pattern corresponds to the sequence of tracks which the head would scan in the case of a free uniform motion with a constant-tape transport speed which deviates from the nominal speed, so that when such a pattern is generated the tape-speed control will establish a tape-transport speed corresponding to this pattern.

Apparatus for reproducing video signals at a speed which deviates from a

An optical end-of-tape detection device comprises a photodiode and a phototransistor. In order to distinguish the light emitted by the photodiode from the ambient light, the photodiode is operated in a pulsating fashion. Moreover, the low-frequency component of the photo current supplied by the photo-transistor is suppressed by negative current feedback.

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Richard Cees Spiero