Multi-format video processing

• US 6,791,620 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2000
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avica Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Avica Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Maltz, Andrew H., Elswick, William E., Schnuelle, David L., McGill, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Trang U.
• Application Number:
  US09/551,929
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 348/554, 348/555, 348/556, 348/558, 348/659, 348/705, 348/706, 348/722, 348/441-459
• US Class Current: 348/441
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/01 Conversion of standards , e.g. involving analogue television standards or digital television standards processed at pixel level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0125 one of the standards being a high definition standard
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution

Abstract

Video signals in different video formats are managed by inputting and outputting video signals via multiple channels and inputting a user selection of a video format for each channel. Then, a video signal input via a first channel is automatically converted into the video format selected for a second channel, and the video signal, in the video format selected for the second channel, is output via the second channel. Also, video signals in different video formats are managed by inputting and outputting video signals through multiple channels, with each such channel having an associated video format. A user designation is input that an output of a user-designated first channel should provide an output video signal corresponding to an input video signal input via a user-designated second channel. The input video signal is then automatically converted to the video format associated with the user-designated first channel, so as to obtain the output video signal, and the output video signal is output via the user-designated first channel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for managing video signals in different video formats, said apparatus comprising:

plural channel means for inputting and outputting video signals, each said channel means having an associated video format;

user interface means for inputting a user designation that an output of a user-designated first channel means should provide an output video signal corresponding to an input video signal input via a user-designated second channel means;

conversion means for automatically converting the input video signal to the video format associated with the user-designated first channel means so as to obtain the output video signal; and

output means for outputting the output video signal via the output of the user-designated first channel means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each channel means includes an input and an output.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising storing means for storing the input video signal into a storage means that is capable of storing a plurality of similar types of video signals.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the output for a selected channel means can be set, via said user interface means, to output either:

a video signal input into said selected channel means, a video signal input into a different channel means, or a video signal previously stored by said storing means, and wherein in each case said conversion means performs any necessary format conversion to insure that the video signal output via said selected channel means is in the video format associated with said selected channel means.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said plural channel means includes formatting means for processing the input video signal to obtain an unpacked non-subsampled bitmap image.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said conversion means processes the unpacked non-subsampled bitmap image corresponding to the input video signal to create a second unpacked non-subsampled bitmap image in the video format associated with the user-designated first channel means.

7. An apparatus for managing video signals in different video formats, said apparatus comprising:

plural channel means for inputting and outputting video signals;

user interface means for inputting a user selection of a video format for each of said channel means and for inputting a user designation that an output of a user-designated first channel means should provide an output video signal corresponding to an input video signal input via a user-designated second channel means;

conversion means for automatically converting the input video signal to the video format selected for the user-designated first channel means so as to obtain the output video signal; and

output means for outputting the output video signal via the output of the user-designated first channel means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a user is permitted to select from a set of pre-defined high definition video formats for each channel means designed to accommodate high definition video signals and is permitted to select from a set of pre-defined standard definition video formats for each channel means designed to accommodate standard definition video signals.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each channel means includes an input and an output.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising storing means for storing the input video signal into a storage means that is capable of storing a plurality of similar types of video signals.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising capture means for capturing a single frame of a video signal input via one of said channel means, wherein the output for a selected channel means can be set, via said user interface means, to output either:

a live video signal input into said selected channel means, a single frame captured from the live video signal input into said selected channel means, a single frame captured from a live video signal input into a different channel means, or a single frame previously stored by said storing means, and wherein in each case said conversion means performs any necessary format conversion to insure that the video signal output to said selected channel means is in the video format previously selected for said selected channel means.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the output for the selected channel means can be set, via said user interface means, to output a composite video signal comprising a combination of at least two of:

the live video signal input into said selected channel means, a single frame captured from the live video signal input into said selected channel means, a single frame captured from the live video signal input into a different channel means, or a single frame previously stored by said storing means, and wherein in each case said conversion means performs any necessary format conversion to insure that the composite video signal is in the video format previously selected for said selected channel means.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the output for a selected channel means can be set, via said user interface means, to output either:

a video signal input into said selected channel means, a video signal input into a different channel means, or a user-selected video signal previously stored by said storing means, and wherein in each case said conversion means performs any necessary format conversion to insure that the video signal output to said selected channel means is in the video format previously selected for said selected channel means.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the output for the selected channel means can be set, via said user interface means, to output a composite video signal comprising a combination of at least two of:

the video signal input into said selected channel means, the video signal input into a different channel means, or a user-selected video signal previously stored by said storing means, and wherein in each case said conversion means performs any necessary format conversion to insure that the composite video signal is in the video format previously selected for said selected channel means.

15. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising capture means for capturing a single frame of a video signal input into one of said channel means.

16. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each of said plural channel means includes hardware abstraction means for performing hardware-specific format processing on video signals.

17. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each of said plural channel means includes formatting means for processing the input video signal to obtain an unpacked non-subsampled bitmap image.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said conversion means processes the unpacked non-subsampled bitmap image corresponding to the input video signal to create a second unpacked non-subsampled bitmap image in the video format selected for the user-designated first channel means.

19. An apparatus for managing video signals in different video formats, said apparatus comprising:

plural channel means for inputting and outputting video signals;

capture means for capturing a single frame of an input video signal;

user interface means for inputting a user selection of a video format for each of said channel means and for inputting a user designation that an output of a user-designated first channel means should output frames captured from a video signal input into a user-designated second channel means;

conversion means for automatically converting frames captured from the video signal input into the user-designated second channel means into the video format selected for the user-designated first channel means; and

output means for outputting said captured frames, in the video format selected for the user-designated first channel means, via the output for the user-designated first channel means.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising storing means for storing captured frames into a storage means.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein an output for a selected channel means can be set, via said user interface means, to output either:

a live video signal input into said selected channel means, a single frame captured from the live video signal input into said selected channel means, a single frame captured from a live video signal input into a different channel means, or a single frame previously stored by said storing means, and wherein in each case said conversion means performs any necessary format conversion to insure that the video signal output to the selected channel means is in the video format previously selected for said selected channel means.

22. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein each of said plural channel means includes hardware abstraction means for performing hardware-specific format processing on video signals.

23. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein each of said plural channel means includes formatting means for processing a captured frame to obtain an unpacked non-subsampled bitmap image.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said conversion means processes the unpacked non-subsampled bitmap image corresponding to one of the captured frames to create a second unpacked non-subsampled bitmap image in the video format selected for the user-designated first channel means.

25. An apparatus for managing video signals in different video formats, said apparatus comprising:

plural channel means for inputting and outputting video signals;

user interface means for inputting a user selection of a video format for each of said channel means;

conversion means for automatically converting video data input via a first channel means into the video format selected for a second channel means; and

output means for outputting the video data, in the video format selected for the second channel means, via the output for the second channel means.