General Instrument Corporation

General Instrument Corportion

Robert M Simons

David E Zeidler

Qiang Zhu

Steven Corso

Joseph Petry

Wayne D Woodruff

William A Frezza

Richard Westerfer

Constance J Borges

Levi Campbell

Michael Ellsworth

Richard Chu

William Frezza

Madhusudan Iyengar

The present invention provides an on-screen graphics (OSD) subsystem for overlaying OSD graphic images onto analog or digital video source signals. The OSD system has a video graphics bypass path and graphics bypass switch for directing an analog video channel around the OSD subsystem during time intervals when the OSD subsystem is not required to insert graphics into the source signal.

Graphics subsystem bypass method and apparatus

Advanced recording options are provided on a personal versatile recorder (PVR) or similar recording device. Television signals and associated electronic programming guide (EPG) data are received at a receiver (). Recorded program material is stored in a storage device (). A processor () provides for automatic suspending of recording, based on predetermined criteria, for at least a portion of time during which the one or more television programs would otherwise be recorded. Recording may be suspended when non-programming specific content (e.g., a commercial or emergency broadcast) is received at the PVR (). Non-program specific content can be identified through the use of EPG data or Advanced Television Enhancement Forum (ATVEF) triggers. End of program notifiers may be provided which enable the PVR () to record the entire program, regardless of whether the program runs beyond its scheduled time. Recording may be optionally suspended where the program is a rerun.

Methods and apparatus for advanced recording options on a personal versatile recorder

Methods and apparatus for reducing the artifacts associated with still frame display and video capture of interlaced video are provided. Tuner receives an interlaced video signal having an image frame with first and second fields. Motion detector detects whether motion is present between the first and second fields. Memory stores one or both of the fields for processing when motion is detected. Processor processes the stored field(s) to provide an image frame with reduced artifacts. Various processing techniques are provided to generate the image frame from the stored field(s), without duplicating the stored field for use as the other field. Memory stores the image frame. If motion is not detected, the first and second fields are both stored to provide the image frame. The stored image frame can then be continuously displayed to provide still frame display, or can be captured for subsequent use.

Methods and apparatus for providing video still frame and video capture features from interlaced video signals

A circuit for providing a sufficiently accurate clock signal for reconstruction of an image from a video signal can function with or without receiving an incoming video signal containing clock data. In this way, a clock signal for supporting an on-screen display can be created in the absence of an incoming video signal. Control data used to control a voltage controlled oscillator generating a clock signal is recorded when the control logic of the oscillator is locked to the timing data in an incoming video signal. In the absence of an incoming video signal, the recorded control data is retrieved and resubmitted to the control logic so that the oscillator can be made to output an appropriate clock signal even in the absence of an input video signal.

Method and apparatus for providing a timing signal with high frequency accuracy in video equipment for supporting an on-screen display in the absence of a video signal

A system for overlaying digital character signals on an analog video source signal including a predetermined color subcarrier includes a digital character generating device, a digital video encoder, and a switching device. The digital character generating device detects horizontal and vertical timing of pixel information in the analog video source signal, and generates digital character signals that are to be overlaid in predetermined pixels of the analog video source signal. The digital video encoder is responsive to the color subcarrier signal for generating a separate color subcarrier which is locked to the predetermined color subcarrier of the analog video source signal. The digital video encoder also converts the digital character signals from the digital character generating device into an analog video output signal that includes the color subcarrier generated in the digital video encoder. The swithching device directs the analog video output signal from the digital video encoder or the analog video source signal to an output of the system during pixels times when a digital character is to be overlaid or not overlaid, respectively, on the analog video source signal.

Method and apparatus for overlaying digitally generated graphics over an

A system for overlaying digital character signals on an analog video source signal including a predetermined color subcarrier includes a subcarrier phase lock loop, a digital character generating device, a digital video encoder, and a switching device. The subcarrier phase lock loop separately generates a color subcarrier and a system clock signal which are locked to the color subcarrier of the analog video source signal. The digital character generating device detects horizontal and vertical timing of pixel information in the analog video source signal, and generates digital character signals that are to be overlaid in predetermined pixels of the analog video source signal. The digital video encoder is responsive to the color subcarrier and system clock signals for generating a separate color subcarrier which is locked to the color subcarrier of the analog video source signal. The digital video encoder also converts the digital character signals from the digital character generating means into an analog video output signal that includes the color subcarrier generated in the digital video encoder. The switching means directs the analog video output signal from the digital video encoder or the analog video source signal to an output of the system during pixels times when a digital character is to be overlaid or not overlaid, respectively, on the analog video source signal.

A method and apparatus prevent unauthorized programming viewing via a downloadable cable television converter. A booter checksum is computed from data contained in a downloaded booter image. A valid checksum is extracted from tag data associated with a scrambled program signal transmitted on the cable system. The booter checksum is compared to the extracted valid checksum. If the booter checksum and valid checksums match, a descrambler is enabled to descramble the scrambled program signal. If the checksums do not match, the descrambler is not enabled. In this manner, a pirate is prevented from downloading a false booter image to defeat the integrity of the converter.

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Lansdale, PA, United States of America

Robert M Simons