Video division detection methods and systems

• US 7,034,776 B1
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Love, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad, Amr A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHENG, TOM V
• Application Number:
  US10/409,507
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/1.3, 345/2.1, 345/2.2, 345/9, 345/5.01, 348/564, 348/565, 715/765
• US Class Current: 345/2.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/30 characterized by output arrangements for receiving control signals generated by the game device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 1/007 Circuits for displaying split screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/10 Special adaptations of display systems for operation with variable images

Abstract

Various embodiments provide means by which a video signal, associated with a multi-region visual display intended for presentation on a single display screen, can be processed in a manner that enables separate regions to be ascertained, and then split off onto different display screens. Detection algorithms can process the video signal in a manner that detects the divisions between the different regions that are intended for display on a single display screen. Once the divisions are detected, the video signal is processed to split the separate regions onto different display screens.

Claims

1. A method comprising;

receiving an analog video signal that is intended for presentation on a single display screen;

digitizing the analog video signal to provide a digital video signal;

ascertaining whether the digital video signal is associated with one or more of a number of known modes of operation, where individual modes of operation are associated with particular ways in which a visual display can be divided up into multiple regions for display on a single display screen; and

in an event that the digital video signal is associated with a particular mode of operation, processing the digital video signal in a manner that permits individual regions of the multiple regions to be presented on different display screens.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of receiving the analog video signal is performed by receiving a signal produced by a multi-player game console.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of receiving the analog video signal is performed by a stand alone component interposed between a multi-player game console that produces the analog signal and the different display screens.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of ascertaining comprises evaluating the video signal for one or more horizontal screen divisions within one or more allocated regions associated with locations where horizontal screen divisions typically occur.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of ascertaining comprises evaluating the video signal for one or more vertical screen divisions within one or more allocated regions associated with locations where vertical screen divisions typically occur.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of ascertaining comprises:

evaluating the video signal for one or more horizontal screen divisions within one or more allocated regions associated with locations where horizontal screen divisions typically occur; and

evaluating the video signal for one or more vertical screen divisions within one or more allocated regions associated with locations where vertical screen divisions typically occur.

7. A stand alone component configured to implement the method of claim 1.

8. A method comprising:

receiving an analog video signal that is intended for presentation on a single display screen;

digitizing the analog video signal to provide a digital video signal;

with a knowledge of rules that are used to divide visual displays, ascertaining whether the digital video signal is associated with one or more of a number of known modes of operation, where individual modes of operation are associated with particular ways in which a visual display can be divided up into multiple regions for display on a single display screen;

in an event that the digital video signal is associated with a particular mode of operation, processing the digital video signal in a manner that permits individual regions of the multiple regions to be presented on different display screens.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the act of receiving the analog video signal is performed by receiving a signal produced by a multi-player game console.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the act of receiving the analog video signal is performed by a stand alone component interposed between a multi-player game console that produces the analog signal and the different display screens.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the act of ascertaining comprises evaluating the video signal for one or more horizontal screen divisions within one or more allocated regions associated with locations where horizontal screen divisions typically occur.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the act of ascertaining comprises evaluating the video signal for one or more vertical screen divisions within one or more allocated regions associated with locations where vertical screen divisions typically occur.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the act of ascertaining comprises:

evaluating the video signal for one or more horizontal screen divisions within one or more allocated regions associated with locations where horizontal screen divisions typically occur; and

evaluating the video signal for one or more vertical screen divisions within one or more allocated regions associated with locations where vertical screen divisions typically occur.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein one rule divides a visual display using a black bar.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein one rule divides a visual display without using a black bar.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein one rule divides a visual display in an edge-to-edge fashion.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein one rule divides a visual display using a black bar and another rule divides a visual display in an edge-to-edge fashion.

18. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving an analog video signal that is intended for presentation on a single display screen;

means for digitizing the analog video signal to provide a digital video signal;

means, with a knowledge of rules that are used to divide visual displays, for ascertaining whether the digital video signal is associated with one or more of a number of known modes of operation, where individual modes of operation are associated with particular ways in which a visual display can be divided up into multiple regions for display on a single display screen; and

means, in an event that the digital video signal is associated with a particular mode of operation, for processing the digital video signal in a manner that permits individual regions of the multiple regions to be presented on different display screens.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for receiving the analog video signal comprises means for receiving a signal produced by a multi-player game console.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for receiving the analog video signal comprises a stand alone component interposable between a multi-player game console that produces the analog signal and the different display screens.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for ascertaining comprises means for evaluating the video signal for one or more horizontal screen divisions within one or more allocated regions associated with locations where horizontal screen divisions typically occur.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for ascertaining comprises means for evaluating the video signal for one or more vertical screen divisions within one or more allocated regions associated with locations where vertical screen divisions typically occur.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for ascertaining comprises:

means for evaluating the video signal for one or more horizontal screen divisions within one or more allocated regions associated with locations where horizontal screen divisions typically occur; and

means for evaluating the video signal for one or more vertical screen divisions within one or more allocated regions associated with locations where vertical screen divisions typically occur.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein one rule divides a visual display using a black bar.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein one rule divides a visual display without using a black bar.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein one rule divides a visual display in an edge-to-edge fashion.

27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein one rule divides a visual display using a black bar and another rule divides a visual display in an edge-to-edge fashion.

28. A method comprising:

receiving, from a multi-player game console, an analog video signal that is intended for presentation on a single display screen, said receiving being performed by a stand alone component interposed between the game console and multiple different display screens;

digitizing, with said stand alone component, the analog video signal to provide a digital video signal;

with a knowledge of rules that are used to divide visual displays, using the stand alone component to ascertain whether the digital video signal is associated with one or more of a number of known modes of operation, where individual modes of operation are associated with particular ways in which a visual display can be divided up into multiple regions for display on a single display screen, and wherein one of said rules divides a visual display using a black bar, and another of said rules divides a visual display in an edge-to-edge fashion; and

in an event that the digital video signal is associated with a particular mode of operation, processing the digital video signal in a manner that permits individual regions of the multiple regions to be presented on different display screens.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein at least some of the known modes of operation horizontally and vertically divide a visual display.

30. A system configured to implement the method of claim 28.

31. A method comprising:

digitizing an analog video signal associated with a visual display that is intended for presentation on a single display screen, said digitizing providing digital values that correspond to individual pixel colors;

analyzing the digital values to identify one or more patterns that are characteristic of one or more of horizontal and vertical screen divisions;

determining whether the digital values satisfy a relationship that indicates a screen division; and

in an event that one or more relationships are satisfied, processing the digital values in a manner that permits different regions of an associated visual display to be presented on different respective display screens.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the act of analyzing is performed by ascertaining whether a certain number of values occur adjacent one another in certain allocated regions in which screen divisions typically occur.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the act of analyzing is performed by calculating difference parameters associated with individual pixel values.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the act of analyzing is performed by calculating difference parameters associated with individual pixel values in certain allocated regions in which screen divisions typically occur.

35. An apparatus comprising:

a video decoder component for digitizing an analog video signal associated with a visual display that is intended for presentation on a single display screen;

a timing extraction component for processing a digital video signal associated with the analog video signal to provide timing information;

a division detection component configured to receive the timing information and process the digital video signal to identify screen divisions that are intended to be presented on the single display screen, the division detection component being configured to output information associated with an identified screen division; and

a screen division component configured to receive information output from the division detection component and use the information to process the digital video signal in a manner which can present different regions of the visual display on different display screens.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the division detection component comprises a horizontal detection component for detecting horizontal screen divisions, and a vertical detection component for detecting vertical screen divisions.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the division detection component comprises:

a horizontal detection component for detecting horizontal screen divisions;

a vertical detection component for detecting vertical screen divisions; and

a rules cache that contains rules that are used to evaluate results produced by the horizontal and vertical detection components.

38. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the division detection component is configured to identify screen divisions within certain allocated regions where screen divisions typically occur.