Interactive video and audio controller

• US 4,839,743 A
• Filed: 09/21/1987
• Issued: 06/13/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Phyxation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Worlds of Wonder, Inc.
• Inventors: Best, Robert J., Claybaugh, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richardson, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US07/098,784
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 358/341, 358/343, 358/312, 358/903, 358/310, 358/335, 358/902, 358/93, 358/342, 340/706, 340/721, 340/734, 360/19.1, 360/72.1, 360/72.2, 360/10.1, 360/11.1, 360/37.1, 364/410, 364/521, 434/307, 434/308, 434/309, 434/315, 434/316, 434/321, 434/323, 434/335
• US Class Current: 386/307
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2587 Laser Discs; Optical disc using analog recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9206 the additional signal being a character code signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/802 involving processing of the sound signal H04N9/806, H04N9/835 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/877 by assembling picture element blocks in an intermediate memory

Abstract

An interactive video controller 10 for selecting between two or more tracks of video data responsive to the input of a player and for displaying the selected video track. The interactive video controller 10 displays and stores the selected track and then displays the stored track in place of the non-selected track.

Claims

1. An interactive video controller for selecting between two or more tracks of video image data responsive to the input of a player and for displaying the selected video track, comprising:

means for receiving a single video signal which is comprised of a predetermined series of successive video fields, said successive video fields having a first series of fields comprising a first track, and a second series of fields intermixed with said first series of fields and comprising a second track;

means responsive to the input of a player for selecting between one of said first and second tracks;

memory means for storing at least one most recent video field of the selected track;

means for outputting successive fields of the selected track onto a video screen, said last named means including means for outputting the at least one most recent video field of the stored track in substitution for the non-selected track until the next successive field to the selected track becomes available so as to provide for a continuous video image.

2. The interactive video controller of claim 1 wherein one or more of the fields contains a graphics request signal, including:

memory means for storing graphics data;

means responsive to the graphics request signal for selectively overlaying the graphics data onto the selected track displayed on the video screen.

3. The interactive video controller of claim 1 wherein the memory means stores the selected track, one field at a time.

4. The interactive video controller of claim 1 wherein the outputting means outputs the selected track onto a video screen one field at a time in substitution for fields of the non-selected track so as to provide a continuous video image.

5. The interactive video controller of claim 1 wherein:

said receiving means can receive a video signal having N tracks of separate data contained thereon, each of the N tracks including a series of fields.

6. The interactive video controller of claim 5 wherein:

a first track is comprised of a first field, and then the N+1 field, the 2N+1 field and the 3N+1 field;

a second track is comprised of the second field, and then the N+2 field, the 2N+2 field and the 3N+2 field;

a third track is comprised of a third field, and then the N+3 field, the 2N+3 field, and the 3N+3 field.

7. The interactive video controller of claim 1 wherein said player input responsive means includes:

a transducer which produces a player input signal;

means for sampling said player input signal.

8. The interactive video controller of claim 1 including:

means for separating the input video signal into a luminance signal and a chrominance signal;

means for digitizing the luminance signal prior to directly outputting and storing same;

means for digitizing the chrominance signal prior to directly outputting and storing same.

9. The interactive video controller of claim 8 wherein:

said memory means includes a luminance memory for storing the digitized luminance signal and a chrominance memory for storing the digitized chrominance signal.

10. The interactive video controller of claim 8 including:

means for demodulating the chrominance signal;

means for separating the remodulated chrominance signal into at least a first primary color signal and a second primary color signal;

means for multiplexing the first primary color signal with the second primary color signal; and

said means for digitizing the chrominance signal being a means for digitizing the multiplexed chrominance signal.

11. The interactive video controller of claim 9 including:

means for converting the directly output and the stored digitized luminance signal into an analog luminance signal;

means for converting the digitized chrominance signal into an analog chrominance signal;

means for adding, encoding and remodulating the luminance and chrominance signals.

12. The interactiv video controller of claim 10 including:

means for converting the directly output and the stored digitized luminance signal into an analog luminance signal;

means for demultiplexing the directly output and the stored digitized first primary color signal and the digitized second primary color signal;

means for converting the directly output and the stored digitized first primary color signal into an analog signal;

means for converting the directly output and the stored digitized second primary color signal into an analog signal;

means for adding, encoding and remodulating the luminance signal and the first and second primary color signals.

13. The interactive video controller of claim 1 wherein at least one of the tracks of video data has audio data encoded thereon, including:

means for decoding the audio signal.

14. The interactive video controller of claim 1 wherein the two or more tracks contain two or more separate audio signals, including:

means responsive to track selection means for selecting one of the audio signals;

means for decoding the selected audio signal.

15. The interactive video controller of claim 1 including:

means for repeatedly outputting the stored selected track onto a video screen.

16. The interactive video controller of claim 1 including:

a microprocessor unit for generating a graphics display output responsive to the player input means.

17. The interactive controller of claim 2 wherein:

each field is comprised of an inactive vertical retrace interval, and

the graphics request signals are provided on the inactive vertical retrace interval.

18. The interactive controller of claim 1 wherein:

at least one of the tracks includes an audio signal;

at least each field of one of the tracks is comprised of a plurality of horizontal scan lines which have an active video interval and an inactive retrace interval; and

the audio signal is provided on the inactive retrace interval.

19. The interactive controller of claim 1 including:

a data processor; and

wherein

at least one track includes coded instructions for the data processor; and

wherein

each field is comprised of a first plurality of horizontal scan lines defining an active video vertical interval and a second plurality of horizontal scan lines defining an inactive blanked vertical interval; and

wherein

the coded instructions are provided on the second plurality of horizontal scan lines in the inactive blanked vertical interval.

20. The interactive controller of claim 18 wherein:

the audio signal is a digital signal.

21. The interactive controller of claim 18 wherein:

the audio signal is an analog signal.

22. An interactive video controller for selecting between at least first and second tracks of video data responsive to a player input which first and second tracks are formatted as interleaved fields in a single video signal and with the video data in each field organized into a plurality of horizontal scan lines, the controller comprising:

means for receiving a single video signal comprised of the first and second tracks of successive interleaved fields;

means responsive to the input of a player for selecting between one of said first and second tracks by selecting between interleaved fields;

means for outputting the selected track on a field by field basis;

memory means for simultaneously storing the selected track on a field by field basis;

means for blocking the output of the non-selected track on a field by field basis;

means for outputting the stored track on a field by field basis in substitution for the blocked non-selected track so as to provide for a continuous stream of video data until the next field of the selected track is outputted by said means for outputting the selected track on a field by field basis.

23. An interactive video controller for selecting between a plurality of video tracks of video data interleaved in a predetermined manner as a single predetermined and continuous input video signal containing video data of different tracks at different times comprising:

means for receiving said input video signal;

selection means for selecting one of said plurality of video tracks;

memory means responsive to said selection means for storing video data of the currently selected video track during the times said input video signal contains video data of the selected video track; and

means responsive to said memory means for providing a continuous output video signal consisting of video data from the currently selected video track.

24. The interactive video controller of claim 23 including:

means for separating the input video signal into a luminance signal and a chrominance signal;

means for digitizing the luminance signal prior to directly outputting and storing same;

means for digitizing the chrominance signal prior to directly outputting and storing same.

25. The interactive video controller of claim 24 wherein:

said memory means including a luminance memory for storing the digitized luminance signal and a chrominance memory for storing the digitized chrominance signal.

26. The interactive video controller of claim 24 including:

means for demodulating the chrominance signal;

means for separating the demodulated chrominance signal into a least a first primary color signal and a second primary color signal;

means for multiplexing the first primary color signal with the second primary color signal; and

said digitizing means for digitizing the multiplexed chrominance signal.

27. The interactive video controller of claim 24 including:

means for converting the directly output and the stored digitized luminance signal into an analog luminance signal;

means for converting the directly output and the stored digitized chrominance signal into an analog chrominance signal;

means for adding, encoding and remodulating the luminance and chrominance signals.

28. The interactive video controller of claim 24 including:

means for converting the directly output and the stored digitized luminance signal into an analog luminance signal;

means for demultiplexing the directly output and the stored digitized first primary color signal and the digitized second primary signal;

means for converting the directly output and the stored digitized first primary color signal into an analog signal;

means for converting the directly output and the stored digitized second primary signal into an analog signal;

means for adding, encoding and remodulating the luminance signal and the first and second primary color signals.

29. The interactive video controller of claim 23 wherein at least one of the tracks has audio data encoded thereon, including:

means for decoding the audio signals.

30. The interactivve video controller of claim 23 wherein the two or more tracks contain two or more separate audio signals, including:

means responsive to track selection means for selecting one of the audio signals;

means for decoding the selected audio signal.

31. The interactive video controller of claim 23 including:

a microprocessor unit for generating a graphic display output responsive to the player input means.

32. The interactive controller of claim 23 wherein:

at least one of the tracks includes an audio signal;

at least each field of one of the tracks is comprised of a plurality of horizontal scan lines which have an active video interval and an inactive retrace interval; and

the audio signal is provided on the inactive retrace interval.

33. The interactive controller of claim 23 including:

a data processor; and

wherein

at least one track includes coded instructions for the data processor; and

wherein

each field is comprised of a first plurality of horizontal scan lines defining an active video vertical interval and a second plurality of horizontal scan lines defining an inactive blanked vertical interval; and

wherein

the coded instructions are provided on the second plurality of horizontal scan lines in the inactive blanked vertical interval.

34. The interactive controller of claim 32 wherein:

the audio signal is a digital signal.

35. The interactive controller of claim 32 wherein:

the audio signal is an analog signal.

36. The interactive video controller of claim 23 wherein said predetermined and continuous input video signal is comprised of fields of the plurality of video tracks interleaved in a predetermined manner, each field of all video tracks also containing sound information for a plurality of audio tracks, and further comprised of audio means coupled to said means for receiving said single input video signal for providing an audio signal of one of said audio tracks comprised of the corresponding sound information from all video track fields and responsive to the selected video track.

37. The interactive video controller of claim 36 wherein said predetermined and continuous input video signal is comprised of a plurality of video tracks equal to (N) and wherein each track (n) is comprised of the n, N+n, 2N+n, 3N+n . . . fields of said predetermined and continuous input video signal, when n ranges from 1 to N.

38. The interactive video controller of claim 36 wherein the number of audio tracks and video tracks are equal.

39. The interactive video controller of claim 36 wherein the number of audio tracks and video tracks are unequal.

40. The interactive video controller of claim 23 for selecting between a plurality of video tracks of video data comprising interleaved fields of the plurality of video tracks.

41. The interactive video controller of claim 40 wherein said means responsive to said memory means for providing an output continuous video signal is also responsive to said means for receiving said single input video signal and said selection means to provide, as part of said continuous output video signal, fields of the selected video track from said means for receiving said single input video signal during the times said input video signal contains video data of the selected track.

42. The interactive video controller of claim 41 further comprised of means for converting said fields of the selected video track during the times said input video signal contains video data of the selected track to a form directly storable in said memory means, and for converting said fields back to the form of said continuous output video signal, whereby all fields of said continuous output video signal have been subjected to substantially the same processing prior to forming part of the output continuous video signal.

43. The interactive video controller of claim 40 further comprised of graphics means for adding graphics information to the video data of said continuous output video signal.

44. The interactive video controller of claim 43 wherein said graphic means is responsive to a manual controller.

45. The interactive video controller of claim 23 further comprised of graphics means for adding graphics information to the video data of said continuous output video signal.

46. The interactive video controller of claim 45 wherein said graphics means is responsive to a manual controller.

47. The interactive video controller of claim 23 wherein said means for receiving said video signal is a receiver means for receiving an over the air signal.

48. The interactive video controller of claim 47 further comprised of a video tape playback unit coupled to said means for receiving said input video signal to provide said single predetermined and continuous input video signal thereto.