Methods for improved modulation of video signals

• US 20050083436A1
• Filed: 10/04/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advocado, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Koplar Interactive Systems International, LLC
• Inventors: Barsoum, Yousri H., Koplar, Edward J., Withers, James G., Reynolds, Michael C., Chounard, Jesse J. II
• Granted Patent: US 7,075,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/473
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/025 Systems for the transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame transmission of digital non-picture data during the vertical blanking interval only H04N7/088
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for modulating one or more fields of video signal (18) with auxiliary signal (20) by use of an encoding improvement, the one or more fields having one or more sub-fields, the one or more sub-fields having a plurality of odd and even scan lines, the plurality of odd and even scan lines having a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels each having an intensity comprising obtaining on encoder (12) the video signal from signal source (10), selectively designating on encoder the plurality of odd and even scan lines as up lines or down lines for at least one of the one or more sub-fields for at least one of the one or more fields, calculating an amount of intensity adjustment for the pixels of the plurality of odd and even scan lines on encoder, and adding intensity to the up lines and subtracting intensity from the down lines according to the amount of intensity adjustment for the pixels of the scan lines of video signal on encoder.

Claims

1. A method for modulating one or more fields of a video signal with an auxiliary signal by use of an encoding improvement, the one or more fields having one or more sub-fields, the one or more sub-fields having a plurality of odd and even scan lines, the plurality of odd and even scan lines having a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels each having an intensity subject to adjustment, the method comprising:

selectively designating the plurality of odd and even scan lines as up lines or down lines for at least one of the one or more sub-fields for at least one of the one or more fields;

calculating an amount of intensity adjustments for the plurality of pixels of the plurality of odd and even scan lines; and

adding the intensity adjustments to the plurality of pixels on the up lines and subtracting the intensity adjustments from the plurality of pixels on the down lines thereby creating a modulated video signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more fields is a plurality of fields.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of selectively designating is by alternating designation of the plurality of odd scan lines as up lines and the plurality of even scan lines as down lines with designation of the plurality of odd scan lines as down lines and the plurality of even scan lines as up lines for the plurality of fields.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating the amount of intensity adjustments comprises:

using an increased amount of intensity adjustments for the pixels in a special encode area designated by special encode area instructions; and

using a normal amount of intensity adjustments for the pixels not in the special encode area.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of increasing the amount of intensity adjustments on the up lines for a first pixel of the plurality of pixels when the intensity of the first pixel is greater than the intensity of a next pixel of the plurality of pixels and an edge threshold and decreasing the amount of intensity adjustment on the down lines for the first pixel when the intensity of the first pixel is less than the intensity of the next pixel and the edge threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sub-fields is a plurality of sub-fields.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of calculating the amount of intensity adjustments comprises the steps of:

increasing an amount of intensity adjustments of the plurality of pixels on the up lines located in a transition area by a lesser amount and the plurality of pixels on the up lines not located in a transition area by a normal-amount; and

decreasing the amount of intensity adjustments of the pixels on the down lines located in the transition area by the lesser amount and the pixels on the down lines not located in a transition area by the normal amount.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of an operator defining a transition area for the one or more fields of the video signal.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of calculating the amount of intensity adjustments comprises the steps of:

altering the intensity of the plurality of pixels of the plurality of odd and even scan lines in a phasing area according to a phasing pattern, and

for the plurality of odd and even scan lines not in the phasing area, increasing an amount of intensity adjustments of the plurality of pixels on the up lines and decreasing the amount of intensity adjustments of the plurality of pixels on the down lines.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the phasing pattern is an increasing phase-in of the amount of intensity adjustments over the plurality of odd and even scan lines.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the phasing pattern is a decreasing phase-out of the amount of intensity adjustments over the plurality of odd and even scan lines.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more fields is three or more fields.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

dictating an intensity multiplier for each of the three or more fields, and

modifying the amount of intensity adjustments for the plurality of the pixels of the plurality of the odd and even scan lines according to the intensity multiplier.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the intensity multiplier is a value that tracks a number of times to repeat a modulation pattern by gradually increasing and then decreasing magnitude of the amount of intensity adjustments to the plurality of pixels over the number of times to repeat the modulation pattern.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of altering the amount of intensity adjustments according to a dashed encoding pattern.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of altering the amount of intensity adjustments according to a randomly dashed encoding pattern.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary signal relays a benefit and a timing instruction defining when the benefit should be provided.

18. A method for providing to a signaled device a benefit and a timing instruction defining when the benefit should be provided, the method comprising:

transmitting a modulated video signal from a broadcast source to a detector;

receiving the modulated video signal via a video signal input means of the detector;

detecting an auxiliary signal modulated within the modulated video signal by use of a detector processor of the decoder;

decoding by use of the detector processor of the decoder a plurality of signal presences and signal absences present within the auxiliary signal; and

providing the benefit and the timing instruction for the benefit from receiving the signal presences and signal absences to the signaled device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the timing instruction is a delayed amount of time for which the benefit is made available to the signaled device.

20. An apparatus for modulating one or more fields a video signal with an auxiliary signal by use of an encoding improvement, the one or more fields having one or more sub-fields, the one or more sub-fields having a plurality of odd and even scan lines, the plurality of odd and even scan lines having a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels each having an intensity subject to adjustment, the apparatus comprising:

a means for obtaining the video signal from a signal source;

a means for selectively designating the plurality of odd and even scan lines as up lines or down lines for at least one of the one or more sub-fields for at least one of the one or more fields;

a means for calculating an amount of intensity adjustments for the pixels of the plurality of odd and even scan lines on the encoder; and

a means for adding intensity to the up lines and subtracting intensity from the down lines according to the amount of intensity adjustments for the pixels of the scan lines of the video signal on the encoder.