Video output signal format determination in a television receiver

• US 20040090556A1
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Simons, Robert, Piacentino, Matthew, Birnbaum, Jack, Zeidler, David E., Halgas, Joseph F. Jr., Kamieniecki, John
• Application Number:
  US10/292,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20040090556A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/558
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440272 for performing aspect ratio conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4621 Controlling the complexity of the content stream or additional data, e.g. lowering the resolution or bit-rate of the video stream for a mobile client with a small screen arrangements for using the results of monitoring on user's side in broadcast systems H04H60/65; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4854 for modifying image parameters, e.g. image brightness, contrast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/46 for receiving on more than one standard at will deflecting circuits of multi-standard receivers H04N3/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0122 the input and the output signals having different aspect ratios

Abstract

A technique is used for determining a video format for a video output signal generated by a television receiver. The technique includes acquiring a preferred output format that is one of a plurality of video formats and determining an aspect ratio of a selected television signal having one of a plurality of television signal formats. The video output signal is generated using one of the plurality of video formats having a 4:3 aspect ratio when the selected television signal has a television signal format having a 4:3 aspect ratio and the preferred output format is other than one that has only a 4:3 aspect ratio. A related technique additionally acquires an optional override output format for television signals having an aspect ratio of 4:3 that is used to determine when to use the stated the stated video format to generate the video output signal.

Claims

1. A method used for determining a video format for a video output signal generated by a television receiver that tunes a selected television signal that has one of a plurality of television signal formats and generates the video output signal having one of a plurality of video formats using the selected television signal, comprising:

acquiring a preferred output format that is one of the plurality of video formats;

acquiring an optional override output format for television signals having an aspect ratio of 4;

3;

determining an aspect ratio of a selected television signal having one of the plurality of television signal formats; and

generating the video output signal with a video format having a 4;

3 aspect ratio when the selected television signal has a television signal format having a 4;

3 aspect ratio and the preferred output format is other than one that has only a 4;

3 aspect ratio and the optional override output format indicates a 4;

3 aspect ratio.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

otherwise generating the video output signal using the preferred output format.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring of an optional override output format comprises:

enabling selection of the optional override output format only when an aspect ratio of the preferred output format is not 4;

3.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the television receiver is one of a cable set-top box and a satellite receiver/decoder and an over-the-air decoder.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selected television signal has one of a National Television Standards Committee defined format and an Advanced Television Standards Committee defined format.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the video output signal has one of a National Television Standards Committee defined format and an Advanced Television Standards Committee defined format.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the video output signal is generated as one of an RGB component signal and a YP_bP_r component signal.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of a menu driven selection technique and a switch selection is used for the acquiring of a preferred output format.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein one-of a menu driven selection technique and a switch selection and a television set input signal is used for the acquiring of an optional override output format.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the optional override output format has a state that is one of enabled and disabled, and wherein in the enabled state, the optional override output format has at least one value that identifies an aspect ratio.

11. A method used for determining a video format for a video output signal generated by a television receiver that tunes a selected television signal that has one of a plurality of television signal formats and generates the video output signal having one of a plurality of video formats using the selected television signal, comprising:

acquiring a preferred output format that is one of the plurality of video formats;

determining an aspect ratio of a selected television signal having one of the plurality of television signal formats; and

generating the video output signal using a video format having a 4;

3 aspect ratio when the selected television signal has a television signal format having a 4;

3 aspect ratio and the preferred output format is other than one that has only a 4;

3 aspect ratio.

12. A method used for determining a video format for a video output signal generated by a television receiver that tunes a selected television signal that has one of a plurality of television signal formats and generates the video output signal having one of a plurality of video formats using the selected television signal, comprising:

acquiring a user preferred output format having one of the plurality of video formats; and

enabling an optional override output format selection only when an aspect ratio of the user preferred output format is not 4;

3.

13. A television receiver that uses a selected television signal that has one of a plurality of television signal formats to generate a video output signal having one of a plurality of video formats using the selected television signal, comprising:

a control section that acquires a preferred output format that is one of the plurality of video formats, and acquires an optional override output format for television signals having an aspect ratio of 4;

3 and determines an aspect ratio of a selected television signal having one of the plurality of television signal formats; and

a video signal decoder that generates the video output signal from the selected television signal using a video format having a 4;

3 aspect ratio when the selected television signal has a television signal format having a 4;

3 aspect ratio and the preferred output format is other than one that has only a 4;

3 aspect ratio and the optional override output format indicates a 4;

3 aspect ratio.

14. The television receiver according to claim 13, wherein the video signal decoder generates the video output signal using the preferred output format when the condition “

the selected television signal has a television signal format having a 4;

3 aspect ratio and the preferred output format is other than one that has only a 4;

3 aspect ratio and the optional override output format indicates a 4;

3 aspect ratio”

is not true.

15. The television receiver according to claim 13, wherein the television receiver is one of a cable set-top box and a satellite receiver/decoder and an over-the-air decoder.

16. The television receiver according to claim 13, wherein the selected television signal has one of a National Television Standards Committee defined format and an Advanced Television Standards Committee defined format.

17. The television receiver according to claim 13, wherein the video output signal has one of a National Television Standards Committee defined format and an Advancedl Television Standards Committee defined format.

18. The television receiver according to claim 13, wherein the video output signal is generated as one of an RGB component signal and a YP_bP_r component signal

19. The television receiver according to claim 13, wherein one of a menu driven selection technique and a switch selection is used for acquiring the preferred output format.

20. The television receiver according to claim 13, wherein one of a menu driven selection technique and a switch selection and an television set input signal is used for the acquiring of the optional override output format.

21. The television receiver according to claim 13, wherein the optional override output format has a state that is one of enabled and disabled, and wherein in the enabled state, the optional override output format has at least one value that identifies an aspect ratio.

22. A television receiver that uses a selected television signal that has one of a plurality of television signal formats to generate a video output signal having one of a plurality of video formats using the selected television signal, comprising:

a control section that acquires a preferred output format that is one of the plurality of video formats; and

a video signal decoder that generates the video output signal from the selected television signal using a format having a 4;

3 aspect ratio when the selected television signal has a television signal format having a 4;

3 aspect ratio and the preferred output format is other than one that has only a 4;

3 aspect ratio.