Method and apparatus for temporally and spatially processing a video signal

• US 5,043,810 A
• Filed: 12/20/1988
• Issued: 08/27/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Begas, Henk W. A., Van Der Meer, Jan, Trew, Timothy I. P., Vreeswijk, Franciscus W. P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Application Number:
  US07/288,058
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 358/310, 358/330, 358/141, 358/133, 358/105, 358/140, 358/141, 358/11, 358/12
• US Class Current: 375/240.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/587 involving temporal sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. decimation or subsequent interpolation of pictures in a video sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0155 using pixel blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0157 with motion estimation, e.g. involving the use of motion vectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/12 Systems in which the television signal is transmitted via one channel or a plurality of parallel channels, the bandwidth of each channel being less than the bandwidth of the television signal H04N7/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/122 involving expansion and subsequent compression of a signal segment, e.g. a frame, a line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/24 Systems for the transmission of television signals using pulse code modulation H04N21/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A transmitting section of the system according to the invention has transmitting section signal paths for at least three classes of motion, each with a preprocessing circuit (143, 145 and 147) which are provided with means for individually sampling. These sampling means sample in accordance with separate sampling patterns so that each preprocessing circuit (143, 145 or 147) supplies a video signal which is suitable for a display with an optimum distribution of temporal and/or spatial resolution for the associated class of motion. Dependent on the class of motion determined, one of the preprocessing circuits (143, 145 or 147) is coupled to a channel (170). The video signal to be supplied to the channel (170) is therefore a video signal suitable for a display with an optimum distribution of temporal and/or spatial resolution for the given class of motion (FIG. 1A). A high-definition receiving section of the system according to the invention also has at least three receiving section signal paths comprising a postprocessing circuit (43, 45 and 47) which decodes a received video signl in accordance with a method associated with the relevant postprocessing circuit (43, 45 or 47). The correct postprocessing circuit (43, 45 or 47) is selected in accordance with the class of motion, so that in the receiving section of the system according to the invention a display with an increasing spatial resolution can be achieved in the case of a decreasing motion (FIG. 1B).

Claims

1. A method of transmitting or recording a television signal by way of a channel, said method comprising the steps of:

a) creating a television signal which comprises a video signal having a plurality of fields presented at a field rate;

b) selecting one of a plurality of operations for processing said video signal, said operations each comprising at least one mutually different distribution of qualities of resolution, said qualities comprising spatial and temporal resolution; and

c) controlling the consistency of an operation selected for a first part of an image provided by said video signal as compared to operations selected for neighboring parts of said image.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said consistency controlling step comprises the further step of:

selecting a route from a plurality of possible routes each comprising an operation, for a time sequence of a plurality of parts of said image presented in said fields.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said consistency controlling step comprises the further step of:

controlling the consistency between said selected routes.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said consistency controlling step comprises the further step of:

controlling the consistency between routes selected for spatially neighboring parts of said image.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a first operation provides high temporal resolution.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting step comprises the further step of:

arranging motion present in said video signal into a number of classes, said number being equal to the number of operations.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said selecting step comprises the further steps of:

a) measuring the magnitude of said motion;

b) comparing said magnitude to first and second thresholds;

c) providing a first signal if said magnitude is larger than said first threshold;

d) providing a second signal if said magnitude is larger than said second threshold; and

e) arranging said magnitude in a plurality of classes on the basis of said first and second signals.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein a first operation of said operations provides medium resolution and further comprises the step of determining a plurality of motion vectors for a plurality of displaced fields.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein a second operation provides high resolution and further comprises the step of determining a plurality of motion vectors for said plurality of displaced fields.

10. An apparatus for processing a video signal which is part of a television signal and which comprises an image presented as a plurality of fields, said apparatus comprising:

a) a video signal input;

b) means for selecting one of a plurality of video signal processing paths each providing an operation, each operation comprising at least one mutually different distribution of qualities of resolution, said qualities comprising spatial and temporal resolution; and

c) means for controlling the consistency of a selected path for a first part of an image provided by said video signal as compared to paths selected for neighboring parts of said image.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said controlling means further comprises means for selecting a route from a plurality of possible routes each comprising an operation, for a time sequence of a plurality of parts of said image presented in said fields.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said controlling means further comprises a route consistency control member for controlling the consistency between said selected routes.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said route consistency control member controls the consistency between routes selected for spatially neighboring parts of said image.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein one of said paths provides high temporal resolution and said apparatus further comprises means for avoiding the selection of said first path when said television signal is created from a film source.

15. An apparatus for receiving a television signal comprising a video signal provided by a channel, said apparatus comprising:

means for processing said video signal in accordance with a plurality of operations, each operation comprising at least one mutually different distribution of qualities of resolution, said qualities comprising spatial and temporal resolution, each operation responding to one of a plurality of sampling patterns; and

means for performing a first operation which converts a first sampling pattern of a block of pixels provided by said video signal to a second sampling pattern.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein one of said operations provides medium spatial resolution and further comprises means for providing motion compensated interpolation.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein one of said operations provides high spatial resolution and further comprises means for providing motion compensated interpolation.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said motion compensated interpolation means further comprises switchable delay means and averaging means.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said motion compensated interpolation means further comprises switchable delay means and averaging means.