System for creating multiple scaled videos from encoded video sources

• US 6,317,164 B1
• Filed: 01/28/1999
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ngai, Chuck, Hrusecky, David A., Lloyd, Bryan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US09/239,172
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.545, H04/N.5445, H04/N.5268, 348/563, 348/564, 348/565, 348/567, 348/569, 348/581, 348/583, 348/584, 348/586, 348/588, 348/705
• US Class Current: 348/581
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

Multiple scaled videos are created using a single video decoder. A plurality of digital video data streams may be displayed in scaled or full-size on a video display. A viewer may select one or more of the scaled videos for display using a remote control. Downsampled frames may be scrolled into view using the remote control. A viewer may select a video to view in real time at full size or in scaled format.

Claims

1. A system for creating multiple scaled videos from at least two encoded video sources each having a plurality of frames, said system comprising:

means for switching between at least two encoded video sources, each having a plurality of frames;

a digital video decoder, coupled to said means for switching, having an on screen display processor comprising a down-scaling function for generating downscaled frames from said plurality of frames and means for processing said downscaled frames as either a color mapped region or a direct color region; and

a frame buffer, coupled to said digital video decoder, having storage for one or more downscaled frames from each of said at least two encoded video sources.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display coupled to said video decoder for viewing one or more of said one or more downscaled frames.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a control means for selecting which of said one or more downscaled frames are shown on said display.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said control means is a remote control.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein said control means is adapted for scrolling said one or more downscaled frames into view on said display.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein said control means is adapted to select one of said at least two video sources for continuous decoding.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said control means is adapted to allow said one of said at least two video sources to be viewed on said display at full size.

8. A system for creating multiple scaled videos from at least two encoded video sources each having a plurality of frames, said system comprising:

a selecting switch having as inputs at least two encoded video sources each having a plurality of frames, and an output providing one of said at least two encoded video sources;

a digital video decoder, coupled to said output of said selecting switch, having an on screen display processor comprising downscaling circuitry adapted for generating downscaled frames from said plurality of frames and means for processing said downscaled frames as either a color mapped region or a direct color region; and

a frame buffer, coupled to said digital video decoder, having storage for one or more downscaled frames from each of said at least two encoded video sources.

9. A method of creating multiple scaled videos from at least two encoded video sources each having a plurality of frames, said method comprising the steps of:

switching between at least two encoded video sources, each having a plurality of frames;

decoding said video sources with a digital video decoder having a down-scaling function, including generating downscaled frames from said plurality of frames and processing said downscaled frames as either a color mapped region or a direct color region; and

storing one or more downscaled frames from each of said at least two encoded video sources in a frame buffer.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising viewing one or more of said one or more downscaled frames on a display coupled to said video decoder.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising selecting which of said one or more downscaled frames are shown on said display.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising selecting with a remote control which of said one or more downscaled frames are shown on said display.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising scrolling said one or more downscaled frames into view on said display.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising selecting one of said at least two video sources for continuous decoding.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising viewing said one of said at least two video sources on said display at full size.