Control of an image display based on a permission signal

• US 5,862,300 A
• Filed: 11/10/1997
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kato, Motoki, Yagasaki, Yoichi, Fujinami, Yasushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US08/967,078
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 386/94, 386/95, 386/96, 386/97, 386/46, 386/54, 386/75, 386/104, 360/18, 360/15
• US Class Current: 386/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/80 Details of filtering operations specially adapted for video compression, e.g. for pixel interpolation H04N19/635, H04N19/86 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440272 for performing aspect ratio conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0122 the input and the output signals having different aspect ratios
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

The display of an image in a mode which is against the intentions of the producer is made possible. An additional information decoder decodes timing information and edge_-- crop_-- flag from additional information codes supplied from a demultiplexer, and outputs them to a controller. The flag edge_-- crop_-- flag indicates whether or not a display in the edge cropped mode is permitted by the producer of the image. The controller turns on a horizontal filter and turns off a vertical filter when this flag indicates the permission in the edge cropped mode or when the edge cropped mode is instructed from an external control signal, and causes an image in the edge cropped mode to be displayed on a monitor having an aspect ratio of 4:3. When the edge cropped mode is prohibited, the horizontal filter is turned off, and the vertical filter is turned on, causing the image to be displayed in the letter box mode.

Claims

1. An encoder for encoding an image signal representing a plurality of images displayed in at least first and second predetermined modes, comprising:

a first coder for coding said image signal; and

a second coder for coding an additional information signal representing additional information corresponding to said image signal, said additional information including a flag for prohibiting said images to be displayed in said first predetermined mode, and including a time period during which said flag is effective such that said images are displayed only in said second predetermined mode if said flag is effective.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a multiplexor for multiplexing said image signal and said additional information signal.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said time period is operative to correspond to each image in said plurality of images.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each image has an aspect ratio, and wherein said first and second predetermined display modes are related to said aspect ratio.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second predetermined display modes include an edge cropped mode and a squeezed mode, respectively.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image signal is coded in accordance with a Motion Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) standard.

7. A data medium for recording an additional information signal and an image signal representing a plurality of images displayed in at least first and second predetermined modes, said image signal having been coded by a first coder and said additional information signal having been coded by a second coder, said additional information signal representing additional information that corresponds to said image signal and that includes a flag for prohibiting said images to be displayed in said first predetermined mode, said additional information further including a time period during which said flag is effective such that said images are displayed only in said second predetermined mode if said flag is effective, wherein said image signal and said additional information signal are multiplexed and recorded on said data medium.

8. The data medium according to claim 7, wherein each image has an aspect ratio, and wherein said first and second predetermined display modes are related to said aspect ratio.

9. The data medium according to claim 7, wherein said first and second predetermined display modes include an edge cropped mode and a squeezed mode, respectively.

10. Apparatus for decoding an input signal to provide an additional information signal and an image signal representing a plurality of images displayed in at least first and second predetermined modes, said image signal having been coded by a first coder and said additional information signal having been coded by a second coder, said additional information signal representing additional information that corresponds to said image signal and that includes a flag for prohibiting said images to be displayed in said first predetermined mode, said additional information further including a time period during which said flag is effective such that said images are displayed only in said second predetermined mode if said flag is effective, said apparatus comprising:

a demultiplexor for demultiplexing said image signal and additional information signal from said input signal;

a first decoder for decoding said image signal;

a second decoder for decoding said additional information signal; and

a controller for controlling display of said images defined by the decoded image signal based on the decoded additional information.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each image has an aspect ratio, and wherein said first and second predetermined display modes are related to said aspect ratio.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first and second predetermined display modes include an edge cropped mode and a squeezed mode, respectively.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a horizontal filter for modifying a horizontal length of an image.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a vertical filter for modifying a vertical length of an image.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means for inputting an external instruction for selectively specifying said first or second predetermined display mode, wherein if said flag is effective the specified display mode is prohibited regardless of said external instruction.

16. A method for decoding an input signal to provide an additional information signal and an image signal representing a plurality of images displayed in at least first and second predetermined modes, said image signal having been coded by a first coder and said additional information signal having been coded by a second coder, said additional information signal representing additional information that corresponds to said image signal and that includes a flag for prohibiting said images to be displayed in said first predetermined mode, said additional information further including a time period during which said flag is effective such that said images are displayed only in said second predetermined mode if said flag is effective, said method comprising the steps of:

demultiplexing said image signal and additional information signal from said input signal;

first decoding said image signal;

second decoding said additional information signal; and

controlling display of said images defined by the decoded image signal based on the decoded additional information.