METHODS FOR IMPROVED MODULATION OF VIDEO SIGNALS

• US 20060192893A1
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advocado, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Koplar Interactive Systems International, LLC
• Inventors: Withers, James G., Reynolds, Michael C., Chounard, Jesse J. II
• Granted Patent: US 7,602,443 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 a video signal. Frames are selected from a plurality of frames for modulation. Intensity of a plurality of pixels of a plurality of scan lines of a field of the selected frames is altered according to at least one pattern or as designated by an adjustment.

Claims

1. A method for modulating a video signal comprising:

selecting frames of a plurality of frames for modulation; and

alternatively altering intensity of a plurality of pixels of a plurality of scan lines of a field of the selected frames according to a first modulation pattern and a second modulation pattern.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first modulation pattern includes increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of a field and decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of odd scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of the field, and wherein the second modulation pattern includes decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of a field and increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of odd scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of the field.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first modulation pattern includes decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of a field and increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of odd scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of the field, and wherein the second modulation pattern includes increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of a field and decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of odd scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of the field.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first modulation pattern includes increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of a field, and wherein the second modulation pattern includes decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of a field.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first modulation pattern includes decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of a field, and wherein the second modulation pattern includes increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of a field.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first modulation pattern includes decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of a field, and wherein the second modulation pattern includes increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of a field.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first modulation pattern includes increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of a field, and wherein the second modulation pattern includes decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of a field.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second modulation pattern includes an inverse pattern of the first modulation pattern.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first modulation pattern includes a dashed pattern.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second modulation pattern includes an inverse dashed pattern.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising designating each scan line of a plurality of scan lines of a field as an up line or a down line.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the field includes a first field.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining a current value for a staggered flag;

determining whether the staggered flag is true;

designating a first modulation pattern to include increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of a field and decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of odd scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of the field and a second modulation pattern to include decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of a field and increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of odd scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of the field when the staggered flag is false; and

designating a first modulation pattern to include increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of a field and decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of odd scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of the field and a second modulation pattern to include decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of a field and increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of odd scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of the field when the staggered flag is true.

14. An encoding system comprising:

a source; and

an encoder configured to;

obtain a video signal from the source, the video signal comprising a plurality of frames, each of the plurality of frames each comprising a plurality of scan lines, each of the plurality of scan lines comprising a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels comprising an intensity,

select frames of the plurality of frames for modulation, and

alternatively alter the intensity of the plurality of pixels of the plurality of scan lines of a field of the selected frames according to a first modulation pattern and a second modulation pattern.

15. A method for modulating a video signal comprising:

selecting frames of a plurality of frames for modulation;

designating a first magnitude adjustment for a contiguous portion of a field of the selected frames;

designating a second magnitude adjustment for a remainder portion of the field of the selected frames, wherein the first magnitude adjustment is not the same value as the second magnitude adjustment; and

altering intensity of a plurality of pixels of a plurality of scan lines of the field of the selected frames as designated by either the first magnitude adjustment or the second magnitude adjustment.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the contiguous portion includes a center portion.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the contiguous portion includes an edge portion.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first magnitude adjustment is greater than the second magnitude adjustment.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the field includes a second field.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving special encode area instructions designating a contiguous portion of a field.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein altering intensity of a plurality of pixels includes altering intensity of a plurality of pixels of a plurality of scan lines of the field of the selected frames by an intensity pattern and as designated by either the first magnitude adjustment or the second magnitude adjustment.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the intensity pattern includes a dashed pattern.

23. An encoding system comprising:

a source; and

an encoder configured to;

obtain a video signal from the source, the video signal comprising a plurality of frames, each of the plurality of frames each comprising a plurality of scan lines, each of the plurality of scan lines comprising a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels comprising an intensity,

select frames of the plurality of frames for modulation,

designate a first magnitude adjustment for a contiguous portion of a field of the selected frames,

designate a second magnitude adjustment for a remainder portion of the field of the selected frames, wherein the first magnitude adjustment is not the same value as the second magnitude adjustment, and

alter the intensity of the plurality of pixels of the plurality of scan lines of the field of the selected frames as designated by either the first magnitude adjustment or the second magnitude adjustment.

24. A method for modulating a video signal comprising:

selecting frames of a plurality of frames for modulation; and

altering intensity of a plurality of pixels of a plurality of scan lines of a field of the selected frames according to an intensity pattern.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the intensity pattern includes a dashed pattern.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the intensity pattern includes a randomly dashed pattern.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the field includes a first field or a second field.

28. An encoding system comprising:

a source; and

an encoder configured to;

obtain a video signal from a source, the video signal comprising a plurality of frames, each of the plurality of frames each comprising a plurality of scan lines, each of the plurality of scan lines comprising a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels comprising an intensity,

select frames of the plurality of frames for modulation, and

alter the intensity of the plurality of pixels of the plurality of scan lines of a field of the selected frames according to an intensity pattern.