Time-shifted video signal processing

• US 7,020,892 B2
• Filed: 09/03/1999
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jin, Song, Levesque, Alain P., Vehling, Tim, Recker, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoye, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US09/390,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20030170003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,398 Days
• Field of Search: 725 88- 90, 725/102, 725/134, 725/142, 725/93, 725115-116, 725145-146, 725/55, 386/35, 386/68, 386 45- 46, 386/70, 386125-126, 386/124, 348/705, 348/731, 369/704, 369174-175
• US Class Current: 725/89
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440281 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. by frame skipping television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

A time-shifted video method has a real-time mode during which real-time video frames are delivered for display. In a time-shifted mode, time-shifted video frames are delivered for display. The time-shifted video frames are delayed relative to the real-time video frames. A real-time frame is paused during a transition from the real-time mode to the time-shifted mode.

Claims

1. A time-shifted video method comprising the steps of:

a first buffering of an input signal having a digital video format;

compressing said input signal in parallel with said first buffering, said compressing including a second buffering of said input signal;

in a real-time mode, delivering a plurality of real-time video frames along a first processing path to an output for display in response to said input signal as first buffered;

in a time-shifted mode, delivering a plurality of time-shifted video frames along a second processing path to said output for display in response to said input signal as compressed, said time-shifted video frames being delayed relative to said real-time video frames; and

pausing at a particular one of said real-time frames during a transition from said real-time mode to said time-shifted mode, wherein said time shifted mode comprises a fast forward or a fast rewind.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said transition is between said particular real-time frame and a time-shifted version of said particular real-time frame.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said transition is seamless to a viewer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said transition is caused by a single command of a viewer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time video frames are derived from uncompressed video.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said real-time video frames are derived from said input signal having a compressed video format.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said real-time video frames are provided from a decoder that decompresses said input signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said input signal comprises MPEG video.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time mode, the time-shifted mode, and the transition are provided by a single codec chip.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein (i) information is stored identifying said particular real-time video frame and (ii) before the time-shifted mode occurs, a next frame of said time-shifted video frames in display sequence after said particular real-time video frame is queued up for display such that said transition is from said particular real-time video frame to said next frame of said time-shifted video frames.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said transition is triggered by an event generated by software.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a real-time decoder configured to (i) generate a first output signal by decompressing a compressed digital video input signal and (ii) pause a frame of said first output signal during a transition from a first mode to a second mode;

a frame storage system configured to store said compressed digital video input signal separately from said real-time decoder;

a time-shifted decoder (i) coupled to said frame storage system and (ii) configured to generate a second output signal in response to said compressed digital video input signal stored in said frame storage system; and

a controller configured to generate a command configured to control presenting (i) said first output signal when in said first mode and (ii) said second output signal when in said second mode, wherein said second mode comprises a fast forward or a fast rewind.

13. An apparatus comprising:

an input for receiving a video signal in an uncompressed format;

a frame buffer directly connected to said input and configured to (i) generate a first output signal by buffering said video signal and (ii) pause said first output signal at a frame during a transition from a first mode to a second mode;

an encoder configured to generate a first intermediate signal by compressing said video signal;

a controller separate from said encoder and configured to (i) receive said first intermediate signal and (ii) present a second intermediate signal;

a frame storage system directly connected to said controller and configured to (i) store said first intermediate signal and (ii) generate said second intermediate signal; and

a time-shifted decoder separate from said controller and configured to generate a second output signal by decompressing said second intermediate signal, wherein said controller is further configured to generate a command configured to control presenting (i) said first output signal when in said first mode and (ii) said second output signal when in said second mode, wherein said second mode comprises a fast forward or a fast rewind.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the encoder and the time-shifted decoder are provided in a single codec.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said encoder receives said video signal from said frame buffer.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to receive (i) a first command and (ii) a video input signal in a compressed format;

a real-time decoder configured to (i) generate a first output signal in response to decompressing said video input signal and (ii) pause a frame of said first output signal during a transition from a first mode to a second mode;

a frame storage system coupled to said controller to exchange said video input signal; and

a time-shifted decoder coupled to said controller and configured to generate a second output signal in response to (i) said video input signal received from said controller and (ii) said first command;

wherein said controller is further configured to generate a second command to control presenting (i) said first output signal when in said first mode and (ii) said second output signal when in said second mode, wherein said second mode comprises a fast forward or a fast rewind.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said real-time decoder and said time-shifted decoder are provided in a single codec.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a demultiplexer configured to demultiplex said video input signal to said real-time decoder and said controller.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a first frame buffer configured to (i) generate a first signal and a second signal by buffering an input signal, (ii) pause said first signal at a frame during a transition from a real-time mode to a time-shifted mode and (iii) buffer a third signal;

a controller connected to said first frame buffer to receive said third signal;

a buffer connected to said controller to store said third signal;

an encoder connected to said first frame buffer and configured to generate said third signal by compressing said second signal;

a decoder configured to generate a fourth signal by decompressing said third signal as retrieved from said buffer; and

a switch connected to said first frame buffer and configured to present an output signal comprising (i) said first signal when in said real-time mode and (ii) said fourth signal when in said time-shifted mode, wherein said time shifted mode comprises a fast forward or a fast rewind.

20. The apparatus of claim 19;

having a first processing path for said real-time mode and a second processing path for said time-shifted mode.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the apparatus comprises a set-top box.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said output signal is viewable by an analog television.

23. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a second frame buffer disposed between said controller, said time-shifted decoder and said switch and configured to (i) buffer said third signal retrieved from said buffer and (ii) buffer said fourth signal prior to said switch.