Method and apparatus for adaptively superimposing bursts of texts over audio signals and decoder thereof

• US 5,212,551 A
• Filed: 10/16/1989
• Issued: 05/18/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Virgilio D. Conanan
• Original Assignee: Virgilio D. Conanan
• Inventors: Conanan, Virgilio D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harvey, David E.
• Application Number:
  US07/425,687
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 358/147, 358/142, 358/143, 358/198
• US Class Current: 348/484
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/31 using in-band signals, e.g. subsonic or cue signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/081 the additional information signals being transmitted by means of a subcarrier

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for adaptively superimposing bursts of text over audio signals comprising an encoder and a decoder wherein said encoder comprises means for separating unencoded audio signals into discrete passbands; means for measuring power levels contained in each discrete passband; a time delay; a plurality of power level comparators; means for generating concatenated bursts of digital header, digital text and digital footer signals; a frequency modulator; a modulator output power adjusting means; means for combining time delayed unencoded audio signals with modulator output level; and, means for transmitting or recording resultant encoded sound signals; wherein said decoder comprise means for separating received encoded sound into discrete passbands; an FM demodulator; a text separator; a television modulator; and sound reproduction means.

Claims

1. An apparatus for adaptively superimposing bursts of digital data with analog sound signals, comprising an encoder and decoder, wherein said encoder comprise:

means for entering original, unencoded audio program input signals;

means for dividing said unencoded audio program input signals into three portions;

means for time delaying a first portion of said unencoded input signals;

a variable high-pass filter means for generating an upper passband of said unencoded input signals;

a variable low-pass filter means for generating a lower passband of said unencoded input signals;

means for generating clock timing synchronization pulses;

means for measuring a first sound power level found at a predetermined narrow bandwidth of said upper baseband of second portion of said unencoded input signal;

means for measuring a second sound power level found at a predetermined bandwidth of said lower passband of third portion of said unencoded input signal;

means for measuring a plurality of power levels of said unencoded sound signals at a plurality of frequencies and at a plurality of bandwidths;

means for comparing said measured first power level with a predetermined first reference signal and subsequently generating first binary control signals therefrom;

means for comparing said measured second power level with a predetermined second reference signal and subsequently generating second binary control signals therefrom;

means for logically comparing said first binary control signals with said second binary control signals and subsequently triggering the generation of bursts of concatenated digital header signals, digital text signals, and digital footer signals therefrom;

means for modulating a frequency-modulator with said bursts of concatenated digital header signals, digital text signals, and digital footer signals;

means for bandlimiting said frequency-modulated signal resulting from said modulation means;

means for adaptively adjusting the output power level of said bandlimited frequency-modulated signal;

means for transmitting or recording said encoded signals;

wherein, said decoder comprise;

means for receiving said transmitted encoded signals;

means for dividing said received input signals into three portions;

means for bandlimiting the first portion of said received divided input signals;

means for amplifying and amplitude-limiting said bandlimited first portion of received input signals;

means for demodulating said amplified and amplitude-limited signal;

means for separating desired digital text from said demodulated digital signals;

means for converting said desired digital text into baseband video signals;

means for modulating the picture and sound carriers of a standard television modulator with said converted baseband video signals; and

,

displaying said video signals containing said desired text concurrently with the received reproduced input sound signals using television reproduction means;

thereby allowing adaptive conveyance of text information with analog sound signals.

2. The apparatus for adaptively superimposing bursts of digital data with analog sound signals as recited in claim 1, wherein said time delay means comprise a programmable arrangement of digital shift registers capable of adjusting a time delay.

3. The apparatus for adaptively superimposing bursts of digital data with analog sound signals as recited in claim 1, wherein said encoder further comprises:

a 3-way audio signal splitter having an input connected to a source of original, unencoded audio program input signals and having three outputs;

a first bandpass filter having a variable center frequency and said filter having a variable bandwidth and having an input coupled to first output of said signal splitter;

a first linear amplifier having an input coupled to output of said first bandpass filter;

a first peak detector having an input coupled to output of said first linear amplifier;

a first sample-and-hold having an input coupled to said first peak detector;

a second bandpass filter having a variable center frequency and having a variable bandwidth and having an input coupled to second output of said signal splitter;

a second linear amplifier having an input coupled to output of said second bandpass filter;

a second peak detector having an input coupled to output of said second linear amplifier;

a second sample-and-hold having an input coupled to output of said second peak detector;

wherein said first and second level measuring means produce analog positive DC components corresponding with the power level of the sound contained in frequency band of said first bandpass filter and the power level of the sound contained in frequency band of said second bandpass filter.

4. The apparatus for adaptively superimposing burst of digital data with analog sound signals as recited in claim 1, wherein said encoder further comprises:

a first analog comparator having an input coupled to first analog positive DC component and having a second input coupled to a first adjustable voltage reference;

a second analog comparator having an input coupled to second analog positive DC component and having a second input coupled to a second adjustable voltage reference;

a first dual-input AND gate having a first input coupled to output of said first analog comparator, and having a second input coupled to output of said second analog comparator;

a clock timing synchronization generator having a plurality of outputs coupled to a logical inverter, a first and second sample-and-hold, and a digital text buffer;

a logical inverter having an input coupled to said clock generator;

a second dual-input AND gate having a first input coupled to output of said first AND GATE, and having a second input coupled to output of said logical inverter;

wherein output of said second AND gate is coupled to a triggering means.

5. The encoder of an apparatus for adaptively superimposing bursts of digital data with existing analog sound signals as recited in claim 1, wherein said modulating means include a frequency and having a variable modulation index.

6. The encoder of an apparatus for adaptively superimposing bursts of digital data with existing analog sound signals as recited in claim 1, wherein said modulator output power level adjustment means include a voltage divider and means for maintaining the difference in power level between the modulator output power level and the power level of the original unencoded input signals at 10 decibels or greater;

wherein the absolute power level is maintained 10 decibels lower than the peak power level of the original unencoded input signal.

7. The encoder of an apparatus for adaptively superimposing bursts of digital data with existing analog sound signals as recited in claim 1, wherein each said burst of concatenated digital header signals, digital text signals, and digital footer signals is transmitted in less than one millisecond.

8. The apparatus for adaptively superimposing bursts of digital data with existing analog sound signals as recited in claim 1, wherein said decoder for receiving said transmitting or recorded encoded signal comprises:

an audio input connector coupled to a source of transmitted or recorded encoded signals;

a three-way signal divider having an input connected to said audio input connector and having three outputs;

as bandpass filter having an input coupled to a first output of said signal divider;

a limiting audio amplifier having an input connected to output of said bandpass filter;

a frequency discriminator having an input connected to output of said limiting audio amplifier;

a text signal separator having an input connected to output of said frequency discriminator;

a data output connector coupled to output of said text signal separator and having two outputs;

a text-to-video converter having an input connected to said text signal separator;

a baseband video connector coupled to said text-to-video converter;

a video monitor coupled to said baseband video connector;

a television modulator having an audio section whose input is coupled to the second output of said 3-way signal divider, a video section whose input is coupled to a second output of said text-to-video converter, an RF section and the corresponding standard local oscillator;

an RF output connector that is coupled to RF section of said television modulator;

a baseband audio output connector that is coupled to a third output of said 3-way signal divider;

a television receiver coupled to said RF output connector;

a peripheral sound amplifier coupled to said baseband audio output connect having transducers; and

, a housing.

9. The apparatus for adaptively superimposing burst of digital data as recited in claim 8, wherein said television modulator, video monitor, and television receiver are capable of receiving, processing and displaying television signals.

10. The apparatus for adaptively superimposing bursts of digital data with existing analog sound signals as recited in claim 1, wherein decoder baseband video signals containing recovered desired text are displayed on a television screen concurrently with the reproduced sound.

11. A system for conveying digital text with existing analog sound signals, comprising an encoder and decoder, wherein said encoder comprises:

means for entering an original, unencoded audio program input signal;

time delay means;

means for generating a plurality of discrete passbands;

means for measuring specific power levels contained in said discrete passbands;

means for comparing said measured power levels with reference power levels and subsequently generating control signals responsive to said comparing means;

means for generating a bursts of concatenated digital header signals, digital text signals, and digital footer signals responsive to said comparing means;

means for modulating a frequency-modulator with said bursts of concatenated digital signals;

means for bandlimiting the frequency-modulated signals;

means for adaptively adjusting the power level of said frequency-modulated signals;

means for combining said adaptively power-adjusted signals with time delayed unencoded input signals;

means for transmitting or recording said combined signals;

wherein, said decoder comprises means for receiving said transmitted combined signals;

means for generating a plurality of discrete passbands of said received signals;

means for measuring specific power levels contained in said discrete passbands of said received signals;

means for demodulating frequency-modulated signals found in passbands of said received signals;

means for converting demodulated digital text into baseband video signals;

means for modulating television modulators;

television reproduction means; and

,

sound reproduction means;

thereby allowing adaptive conveyance of text information with analog sound signals.

12. The encoder of an apparatus for adaptively superimposing bursts of digital data with existing analog sound signals as recited in claim 11, wherein said means for measuring power levels at a plurality of predetermined frequencies and plurality of predetermined bandwidths is digitally implemented by means of a programmable microprocessor.

13. The encoder of an apparatus for adaptively superimposing bursts of digital data with existing analog sound signals as recited in claim 11, wherein said means for comparing the power levels said means for triggering are digitally implemented by means of a programmable digital microprocessor.

14. The method and apparatus for adaptively superimposing bursts of digital data with existing analog sound signals as recited in claim 11, wherein said decoder for receiving said transmitted or recorded encoded signals comprise:

an audio input connector coupled to a source of transmitted or recorded encoded signals;

a three-way signal divider having an input connected to said audio input connector;

a data output connector coupled to output of said text signal separator;

a text-to-video converter having an input connected to said text signal separator;

a baseband video connector having an input connected to said text-to-video converter;

a video monitor having an input connected to said baseband video connector;

a television modulator having an audio section whose input is coupled to the second output of said 3-way signal divider, a video section hose input is coupled to a second output of said text-to-video converter, an RF section and the corresponding standard local oscillator;

an RF output connector that is coupled to output of said television modulator;

a baseband audio output connector that is coupled to a third output of said 3-way signal divider;

a television receiver having an input connected to said RF output connector;

a peripheral sound amplifier having suitable transducers; and

, a suitable housing;

a programmable integrated circuit digital microprocessor which is well known in the art which performs the equivalent functions of;

a bandpass filter having an input coupled to a first output of said signal divider;

a limiting audio amplifier having an input connected to output of said bandpass filter;

a frequency discriminator having an input connected to output of said limiting audio amplifier;

a text signal separator having an input connected to output of said frequency discriminator;

thereby allowing a digital implementation of the a decoder of a method and apparatus for adaptively superimposing bursts of digital data with existing analog sound signals.