TELEVISION TRANSMISSION METHODS AND APPARATUS

• US 3,745,240 A
• Filed: 10/29/1970
• Issued: 07/10/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles A. Morchand, Don J. Dudley
• Original Assignee: Charles A. Morchand, Don J. Dudley
• Inventors: Morchand, Charles A., Dudley, Don J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stellar, George G.
• Application Number:
  US05/085,121
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 178/5.6,5.8R,DIG.23,DIG.35,DIG.3
• US Class Current: 348/473
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00098 via a television channel, e.g. for a series of still pictures with or without sound

Abstract

A television system transmits a general viewer television program and special viewer program on a common channel. As the fields of the general viewer television program are fed to the transmitter they are monitored for a scene cut. When the scene cut is sensed a field of the special viewer program is substituted for a field of the general viewer television program. Thereafter a special viewer program field is substituted for each same given number of general viewer television program fields.

Claims

1. A method for tranSmitting a general viewer television program and a special viewer program on a common channel wherein the general viewer television program includes at least one scene cut, said method comprising sequentially transmitting a plurality of related fields of the general viewer television program including a scene cut, sensing for the scene cut in the general viewer television program, transmitting a field of the special viewer program in response to the sensing of the scene cut and thereafter periodically transmitting a field of the special viewer program for a given number of fields of the general viewer television program.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of periodically generating and transmitting a clock signal for each same given number of fields of the general viewer television program.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of storing a value related to the number of fields of the general viewer television program occurring between a generated clock signal and the sensing of the scene cut for determining when to transmit a field of the special viewer program.

4. A method of transmitting and receiving a general viewer television program and a special viewer program on a common channel wherein the general viewer television program includes at least one scene cut, said method comprising sequentially transmitting a plurality of related fields of the general viewer television program with at least one scene cut, sensing for a scene cut in the general viewer television program, transmitting a field of the special viewer program in response to the sensing of the scene cut, receiving all the transmitted fields, locating the field of the special viewer program through the agency of the scene cut, replacing the field of the special viewer program by a gray field having a brightness level which is a function of the average brightness of the adjacent field of the general viewer television program and retransmitting the fields of the general viewer television program and the gray field. 5 A method of transmitting and receiving a general viewer television program and a special viewer program on a common channel wherein the general viewer television program includes at least one scene cut, said method comprising sequentially transmitting a plurality of related fields of the general viewer television program with at least one scene cut, sensing for a scene cut in the general viewer television program, transmitting a field of the special viewer program in response to the sensing of the scene cut, receiving all the transmitted fields, locating the field of the special viewer program through the agency of the scene cut, replacing the field of the special viewer program by an adjacent field of the general viewer television program and retransmitting the fields of the general viewer television program and said adjacent field of the general viewer information.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of retransmitting the replaced fields to a hard copier and activating the hard copier by signals associated with the transmitted fields.