349 results about "High-definition television" patented technology

A set-top media system is disclosed which can be combined with an open architecture personal computer (PC) to provide a feature-rich secure integrated media center while meeting security rules of most major conditional access and content protection industry rules such as Cable Labs DFAST and PHILA agreements; and DTLA agreements for 5C-DTCP for IEEE1394, USB, and IP. The set-top media center and PC share common resources such as high definition display, remote control, hard disk drive, and other external unsecure storage devices. All media content is available seamlessly using a PC user interface, including controlled-content media such as high definition TV, within a PC desktop window. All controlled-content media is manipulated and managed within the set-top media system in a seamless manner. A novel mechanism is disclosed to allow controlled-content media to be stored on unsecure devices in encrypted form while overcoming the disk cloning attack problem for move operations.

A wireless communication system is provided that has at least three nodes arranged in a multi-hop ultra wide band (UWB) communication network such that communications from a first node destined for a third node pass through a second node. Each of the devices in the system includes a radio and a media access control (“MAC”) module that is configured to establish multi-hop UWB wireless communications between the three or more wireless communication devices that enables high bandwidth applications such as Voice Over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”); multiplayer gaming; Wireless High Definition Television; and Internet Protocol Television (“IPTV”) among others. The MAC module is configured to avoid bandwidth reservation conflicts so that network performance does not degrade as the number of hops or the number of nodes in the wireless communication system increases. The MAC also facilitates utilization of multiple channels to maximize the available spectrum and is further configured to dynamically switch between channels to maximize throughput and meet or exceed quality of service (“QoS”) requirements such that QoS is guaranteed and network resources are efficiently utilized.

An architecture capable of stream parsing of the H.264 Content Based Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding (CABAC) format is disclosed. The architecture employs a two pass dataflow approach to implement the functions of CABAC bit parsing and decoding processes (based on the H.264 CABAC algorithm). The architecture can be implemented, for example, as a system-on-chip (SOC) for a video/audio decoder for use high definition television broadcasting (HDTV) applications. Other such video/audio decoder applications are enabled as well.

Improved decision feedback equalizer and decision directed timing recovery systems and methods suitable for use in connection with a dual mode QAM/VSB receiver system are disclosed. A trellis decoder operates in conjunction with a decision feedback equalizer circuit on trellis coded 8-VSB modulated signals. The trellis decoder includes a 4-state traceback memory circuit outputting a maximum likelihood decision as well as a number of intermediate decisions based upon the maximum likelihood sequence path. Any number of decisions, along the sequence, may be provided as an input signal to timing recovery system loops, with the particular decision along the sequence chosen on the basis of its delay through the trellis decoder. Variable delay circuitry is coupled to the other input of the timing recovery system loops in order to ensure that both input signals bear the same timestamp. Final decisions are output from the trellis decoder to a DFE in order to enhance the DFE's ability to operate in low SNR environments. A decision sequence estimation error signal is also generated and used to drive the tap updates of both the DFE and an FFE portion of the equalizer.

A MOS or CMOS sensor with a multi-layer photodiode layer covering an array of active pixel circuits. The multi-layer photodiode layer of each pixel is fabricated as continuous layers of charge generating material on top of the MOS and/or CMOS pixel circuits so that extremely small pixels are possible with almost 100 percent packing factors. The sensor includes special features to minimize or eliminate pixel to pixel crosstalk. A micro-lens array with a micro-lens positioned above each pixel directs light illuminating the pixel toward the central portion of the pixel and away from its edges. Also, preferably carbon is added to doped amorphous silicon N or P bottom layer of the multi-layer photodiode layer to increase the electrical resistivity in the bottom layer to further discourage crosstalk. In preferred embodiments each of the pixels define a tiny surface area equal to or larger than about 3.24 square microns and smaller than or equal to about 25 square microns. Detailed descriptions are provided for two general types of sensors. The first type has a pixel count of about 0.3 to 1.9 million pixels and are especially suited for sues such as cell phone cameras. The second type with pixel count of between about 1.9 million pixels to more than 5 million pixels is especially suited for high definition television cameras.

A multifunction display system is provided comprising a flat panel display screen; an electronic controller receiving video signal from an input and generating an output signal for displaying on the display screen; a power supply providing power to display screen and the electronic controller; a housing securing the display screen, the electronic controller and the power supply, wherein the housing includes a front shell and a rear shell that join together at a meeting line along a periphery of the display screen. The rear shell of the housing is a designed panel to receive multiple devices of specialized media playing capabilities in standardized boxes including but not limited to a regular or HD television tuner, a DVD and optical disc player, a digital video recorder, a hard drive player or an IPTV Divx player, mini PC and Internet and/or receiver router.

A residential access node (RAN) running a RAN platform 112 which includes means for interfacing a plurality of peripheral equipment such as analog (POTS) phones 114, standard televisions 116, computers 118, IP telephones 120, and high definition televisions 122 to a packet data network 100. The Network Access Provider RAN platform 124 manages sessions among Customer Premises RAN platforms 112 and Application Service Provider RAN platforms 110 over high bandwidth connections. The Customer Premises RAN platform 112 also determines the number and type of data packets entering or departing via the packet data network 100. Such an architecture allows for the efficient transfer of services (data content) from Application Service Providers to individual network access subscribers by seamlessly accommodating various data types and providing an integrated metering and billing mechanism managed by the Network Access Provider.

Techniques are discussed for providing mechanisms for coding and transmitting high definition video, e.g., over low bandwidth connections. In particular, foreground-objects are identified as distinct from the background of a scene represented in a plurality of video frames received from a video source, such as a camera. In identifying foreground-objects, semantically significant and semantically insignificant movement (e.g., repetitive versus non-repetitive movement) is differentiated. Processing of the foreground-objects and background proceed at different update rates or frequencies.

Broadcast methods and systems for simultaneously transmitting, processing and selectively displaying more than one video camera perspectives recorded at live entertainment venues on remote video monitors. Video recording can be from more than one entertainment venue or can be more than on synchronized video camera perspective of an activity at an entertainment venue. Remote video monitors can be venue-based hand held devices or video monitors used at home. Remote video monitors can include hand held devices and high definition televisions (e.g., HDTVs) including flat panel display screens therein. Within a venue, camera views can be processed and formatted for display on display screens associated with remote video monitor. A user can select from more than one view from video cameras that the user wants displayed on the remote viewer, enabling a user of the remote video monitor to view more than one camera view through the remote viewer at a time/simultaneously.

An electronic endoscope apparatus comprises: a processor unit; and an electronic endoscope having a solid-state pickup element, the electronic endoscopes being capable of connecting to the processor unit, so as to generate digital picture signals, wherein the processor unit comprises a differential signal outputting portion that generates digital picture signals corresponding to a pixel number of the solid-state pickup element and corresponding to a display standard for an external computer, parallel-serially converts the digital picture signals, and outputs the converted signals as differential signals, and wherein the electronic endoscope apparatus further comprises a high-definition television system converter that detects the pixel number of the digital picture signals based on the differential signals, converts the digital picture signals to high-definition television signals based on the detected number of pixels and outputs the high-definition television signals, the high-definition television system converter being detachably connected to the differential signal outputting portion.

The present invention enables software and firmware downloads to high definition television (HDTV) appliances via a television terminal. A download control message received at the terminal may comprise: (i) a first version identifier identifying a version of an available software or firmware download; (ii) a first type identifier identifying a particular type of HDTV appliance for which the download is intended; and (iii) a download object containing the software or firmware to be downloaded. The terminal obtains a second type identifier from the HDTV appliance that identifies a type of the HDTV appliance. If the type identifiers correspond, the terminal obtains a second version identifier from the HDTV appliance, which identifies a current version of software or firmware of the HDTV appliance. If the version identifiers do not correspond, the terminal may pass the download object to the HDTV appliance.

A method and system for displaying media in the otherwise blank spaces remaining when a standard television signal is viewed on a high definition television screen and vice versa. In one embodiment, two separate media are accessed by a set top box for a high definition television screen. A standard television broadcasting signal is accessed as well as second media signal. The second media signal may consist of for example advertisements, program guide information, an internet browser, other media, etc. The standard television signal is rendered on a main portion of the high definition television screen, while the second media occupies the remaining space.

A multi-format digital video production system enables a user to process an input video program to produce an output version of the program in a final format which may have a different frame rate, pixel dimensions, aspect ratio, or any combination thereof. An internal production format of 24 fps is preferably chosen to provide the greatest compatibility with existing and planned formats associated with HDTV standard 4:3 or widescreen 16:9 high-definition television, and film. Images are re-sized horizontally and vertically by pixel interpolation, thereby producing larger or smaller image dimensions so as to fill the particular needs of individual applications. Frame rates are adapted by inter-frame interpolation or by traditional schemes, including “3:2 pull-down” for 24-to-30 fps conversions. Simple speed-up (for 24-to-25 conversions) or slow-down (for 25-to-24 conversions) for playback, or by manipulating the frame rate itself using a program storage facility with asynchronous reading and writing capabilities. The step of converting the signal to a HDTV format is preferably performed using a higher sampling clock frequency and a resizing to HDTV format frame dimensions in pixels. An integrated system having digital television standard conversion capabilities is disclosed, wherein audio/video input signals are received in high-speed serialized form, transferred to a high-speed data bus, and fed to one or more standards converters operating according to the invention, thereby providing a variety of serial or parallel digital signal outputs. The system may further include a wide-/local-area network interface, mass storage, digital effects unit and workstations for multiple users.

Processes for selecting, manipulating and arranging data points or pixels derived from information bearing signals are useful to reduce the bandwidth of, or improve the perceived quality of, such a signal as transmitted and displayed. The techniques utilize time-varying sampling schemes and take into account the characteristics of the human visual system. For each information frame, a subset (3) of all possible data points (1) is selected (2). A further subset of active data points (5) is selected (4) for which data will actually be sampled. The active points (5) are further divided (6) into points for which a value will be transmitted (x-points) (7) and points which will be sampled but for which no separate value will be transmitted (o-points) (8). A mathematical association between the x-points and o-points is made (9) and new values to be transmitted are calculated for the x-points (10). The parameters of the selection and association processes are varied in a non-trivial manner and the, now modified, cycle repeated (11) for subsequent data frames. In particular, the techniques may be used to process a high-definition television signal prior to its storage, or transmission over a low-bandwidth channel.

Techniques that provide cost effective optical fiber communication links for HDCP transmission systems and the like are provided. A single fiber for bidirectional communication is enabled, without wavelength selective unit to achieve the HDCP transmission. One embodiment of the present invention has a forward channel using a light source (e.g., VCSEL at about 850 nm) in the GHz modulation level (e.g., 1 GHz or greater), and a corresponding photodetector. The backward channel has a light source (e.g., LED at 630 nm) in the MHz modulation level (e.g., 10 MHz or less), and a corresponding photodetector. One application is for realizing a home entertainment system (e.g., DVD player and high definition television) that employs an HDCP-enabled communication link to transmit copy restricted digital content.

The invention provides an intelligent mobile terminal television remote control system, the hardware frame of which comprises: (1) a intelligent handset terminal, used as a remote terminal for realizing multifunctional remote control operation, having a blue tooth communication function and equipped with Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 operation system; (2) a media center PC terminal, used as a server side for processing and controlling data, equipped with Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition operation system; (3) a high definition television terminal, used as display terminal for receiving television signals transmitted form the media centre PC terminal and displaying the signals on screen; the above hardware frame realizes the mentioned functions by the server side assembly, the intelligent mobile terminal assembly and a data transmitting assembly. The invention adopts blue tooth communication technology and utilizes intelligent handset terminal to completely realize the function of using handset to remote control television and displaying the sub channel program on the intelligent handset. The system has reliability, robustness, easy-maintainability and expansibility, and lays a good base for establishing more and better applications.

Methods and systems for communicating information in a network are disclosed herein and may include receiving, at a mobile terminal, a high definition television (HDTV) signal via a DVB-H downlink communication path. A standard definition television (SDTV) signal may be simultaneously received at the mobile terminal via a cellular downlink communication path. The SDTV signal and the HDTV signal may comprise the same media content. The HDTV signal received via the DVB-H downlink communication path and the SDTV signal received via the cellular downlink communication path may be selected in the mobile terminal for processing. The selection may be based on a preference indicated via the mobile terminal. The selection may also be based on at least one downlink channel condition indicator corresponding to the HDTV signal or the SDTV signal.

The invention discloses an HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) multiplexing method, an HDMI, and equipment provided with the HDMI, wherein the method comprises the following steps: one or more pins is (are) selected from pins for signal channel of the HDMI; function setting is directly performed to a reserved pin in the one or more pins according to the multiplexing function, and/or functional setting is performed on a non-reserved pin in the one or more pins in a multiplexing way; and a switch is arranged on a preset multiplexing pin, and then the functions of the multiplexing pin are switched through a control switch. By virtue of the technical scheme provided by the invention, that a terminal HDMI can carry out relevant function application on non-high-definition television when relevant external accessories are connected can be achieved.

There is disclosed a system and method for sending low rate data on a packet basis in an 8-VSB standard data packet stream. The system of the invention comprises an 8-VSB signal transmitter that is capable of transmitting either standard full rate data packets or low rate data packets. A low rate data packet contains less data than is normally contained in a standard data full rate data packet. Each data byte in a low rate data packet contains information bearing bits and non-information bearing bits. The system is capable of assigning appropriate bit values to the non-information bearing bits in each data byte of a low rate data packet so that each low rate data packet will be properly encoded for transmission within an 8-VSB standard data packet stream. High definition television signals composed of low rate data packets possess increased resistance to noise and multipath channels.