Adaptive video subscriber system and methods for its use
First Claim
1. A subscriber system adapted for receiving compressed data and for generating from the received data video and audio signals respectively adapted for producing a visible image and an audible sound, said subscriber system comprising:
- a control microprocessor for controlling the operation of the subscriber system;
a communication subsystem, responsive to commands from said control microprocessor, for receiving compressed data transmitted to said subscriber system, and for separating the compressed data into compressed video data and compressed audio data;
a programmable video data format conversion subsystem, responsive to commands from said control microprocessor, for receiving compressed video data directly from said communication subsystem and for converting received compressed video data into video data, said programmable video data format conversion subsystem operating under control of a video data conversion computer program selected from a plurality of video data conversion computer programs by said control microprocessor, each video data conversion computer program being capable of converting video data compressed in accordance with a particular pre-specified conversion standard into video data;
a video signal generation subsystem, responsive to commands from said control microprocessor, for receiving video data from said programmable video data format conversion subsystem, and for generating from the received video data a video signal adapted for producing a visible image;
a programmable audio data format conversion subsystem, responsive to commands from said control microprocessor, for receiving compressed audio data, and for converting received compressed audio data into audio data, said programmable audio data format conversion subsystem operating under control of an audio data conversion computer program selected from a plurality of audio data conversion computer programs by said control microprocessor, each audio data conversion computer program being capable of converting audio data compressed in accordance with a particular pre-specified conversion standard into audio data; and
an audio signal generation subsystem, responsive to commands from said control microprocessor, for receiving audio data from said audio data format conversion subsystem, and for generating from the received audio data an audio signal adapted for producing an audible sound.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The technical field of the invention generally concerns systems for receiving and transmitting compressed video and audio data. In particular, a subscriber system (10) includes a communication subsystem (12) to receive compressed data from and transmit compressed data to a ISDN primary access line (14) utilizing the "bandwidth on demand" feature of that communication channel. The communication subsystem (12) separates received compressed data into compressed video data and compressed audio data. Within the subscriber system (10), the compressed video data is transmitted to a programmable video data format conversion subsystem (28) for decompression and production of a visible image on a CRT (82). Similarly, compressed audio data is transmitted to a programmable audio data format conversion subsystem (192) for decompression and production of an audible sound on a speaker (262). Compressed data of visible images and audible sounds may also be obtained with and transmitted from the subscriber system (10).
41 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A subscriber system adapted for receiving compressed data and for generating from the received data video and audio signals respectively adapted for producing a visible image and an audible sound, said subscriber system comprising:
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a control microprocessor for controlling the operation of the subscriber system; a communication subsystem, responsive to commands from said control microprocessor, for receiving compressed data transmitted to said subscriber system, and for separating the compressed data into compressed video data and compressed audio data; a programmable video data format conversion subsystem, responsive to commands from said control microprocessor, for receiving compressed video data directly from said communication subsystem and for converting received compressed video data into video data, said programmable video data format conversion subsystem operating under control of a video data conversion computer program selected from a plurality of video data conversion computer programs by said control microprocessor, each video data conversion computer program being capable of converting video data compressed in accordance with a particular pre-specified conversion standard into video data; a video signal generation subsystem, responsive to commands from said control microprocessor, for receiving video data from said programmable video data format conversion subsystem, and for generating from the received video data a video signal adapted for producing a visible image; a programmable audio data format conversion subsystem, responsive to commands from said control microprocessor, for receiving compressed audio data, and for converting received compressed audio data into audio data, said programmable audio data format conversion subsystem operating under control of an audio data conversion computer program selected from a plurality of audio data conversion computer programs by said control microprocessor, each audio data conversion computer program being capable of converting audio data compressed in accordance with a particular pre-specified conversion standard into audio data; and an audio signal generation subsystem, responsive to commands from said control microprocessor, for receiving audio data from said audio data format conversion subsystem, and for generating from the received audio data an audio signal adapted for producing an audible sound. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for producing a visible image and an audible sound from compressed data, comprising the steps of:
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receiving compressed data; separating the compressed data into compressed video data and compressed audio data; converting the compressed video data into video data in a programmable video data format conversion subsystem that executes a video data conversion computer program selected by a control microprocessor from a plurality of video data conversion computer programs, each video data conversion computer program being capable of converting video data compressed in accordance with a particular pre-specified conversion standard into video data; generating a video signal adapted for producing a visible image from the video data; converting the compressed audio data into audio data in a programmable audio data format conversion subsystem that executes an audio data conversion computer program selected by the control microprocessor from a plurality of audio data conversion computer programs, each audio data conversion computer program being capable of converting audio data compressed in accordance with a particular pre-specified conversion standard into audio data; and generating an audio signal adapted for producing an audible sound from the audio data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification