EPG-conditioned letterbox-to-anamorphic conversion

• US 6,965,415 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2002
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lundblad, James, Carpenter, J. Wiltse, Walters, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/039,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20030128293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N00.5/46, 348/556, 348/555, 348/554, 348/558, 348/913, 348/445, 348/460, 348/474, 348/468, 348/569, 725/39, 725/40
• US Class Current: 348/556
• 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 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440272 for performing aspect ratio conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0122 the input and the output signals having different aspect ratios
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

Designed for use with widescreen TVs or high-end TVs with a mode for accommodating anamorphic programs, an EPG client is equipped with an electronic program guide (EPG) and a letterbox-to-anamorphic converter. The EPG client evaluates EPG data to determine whether programs are in the letterbox format. When a letterboxed program is selected for viewing, the EPG client vertically stretches the program by a ratio of M/N, where M>N (e.g., 4/3), to convert the program from the letterbox format to an anamorphic format prior to delivery to the television. The converted anamorphic program is output to the television, where it is horizontally expanded to fit the screen.

Claims

1. A method for operating a client device that interfaces a television with a television network, comprising:

receiving a viewer request for a program;

examining program data in an electronic program guide executing at the client device to ascertain whether the program requested by the viewer is in letterbox format;

determining whether the television is capable of supporting anamorphic programs; and

in an event that the program is in letterbox format and the television is capable of supporting anamorphic programs, converting the program from the letterbox format to anamorphic format prior to output to the television.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the examining comprises checking a format field in the program data to identify whether programs are marked as being anamorphie.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining comprises ascertaining from user settings whether the television is capable of supporting anamorphic programs.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the convening comprises vertically stretching the program by a ratio of 4/3.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the converting comprises vertically stretching the program by a ratio of M/N, where M>

N.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the converting comprises using multiple polyphase filters to resample the program.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving the program data as part of a broadcast feed.