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Apparatus for inserting data into the vertical blanking interval of a video signal

  • US 6,064,440 A
  • Filed: 01/08/1998
  • Issued: 05/16/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for inserting digital data into selected lines of a video signal, the apparatus receiving a plurality of video signals each corresponding to a programming channel and having vertical and horizontal synchronization pulses disposed therein for identifying individual lines of the signal, the apparatus comprising:

  • a parallel interface for receiving the digital data to be inserted;

    a digital signal processor coupled to receive the digital data from the parallel interface, the digital signal processor including a bus structure and being constructed and arranged to monitor at least the vertical synchronization pulses of each received video signal;

    a dual port memory structure having a first port and a second port, the dual port memory structure being connected through the first port to the bus structure for receiving and temporarily storing digital data from the digital signal processor;

    at least one autobuffer unit associated with the dual port memory structure, the at least one autobuffer unit connected to the second port of the dual port memory structure for receiving digital data stored therein and to the bus structure so as to permit the digital signal processor to load instructions into the autobuffer unit; and

    a switch associated with each received video signal, each switch connected to receive its corresponding video signal and further coupled to an autobuffer unit so as to receive digital data temporarily stored in the dual port memory structure,wherein the digital signal processor is constructed and arranged to receive digital data to be inserted into a given video signal via the parallel interface, transfer that data via the bus structure to a predetermined location in the dual port memory structure and load the at least one autobuffer unit with a pointer identifying the location of the data within the dual port memory structure and the switch coupled to the given video signal, andwherein the autobuffer unit is constructed and arranged to identify the selected lines for data insertion in the given video signal by monitoring at least the horizontal synchronization pulses and, in response, to retrieve the temporarily stored data at the predetermined location in the dual port memory structure from the second port and transfer the data to the identified switch whereby the switch inserts the received data into the selected lines of the selected video signal.

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