Methods for improved modulation of video signals

• US 7,602,443 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advocado, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Koplar Interactive Systems International, LLC
• Inventors: Withers, James G., Reynolds, Michael C., Chounard, Jesse J. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, JEAN WICEL
• Application Number:
  US11/383,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20060192893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 348/473, 348/460, 348/475, 348/461, 348/474, 348/724, 348/471, 348/472, 345/690, 345/694, 345/696, 345/695, 345/698, 345/63, 345/77, 725/136
• US Class Current: 348/473
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/025 Systems for the transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame transmission of digital non-picture data during the vertical blanking interval only H04N7/088
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for modulating a video signal. Frames are selected from a plurality of frames for modulation. Intensity of a plurality of pixels of a plurality of scan lines of a field of the selected frames is altered according to at least one pattern or as designated by an adjustment.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

altering intensity of a first plurality of pixels on a first set of frames of a plurality of frames of a video signal based on a first modulation pattern; and

altering the intensity of a second plurality of pixels on a second set of frames of the plurality of frames based on a second modulation pattern,

wherein the second modulation pattern is different from the first modulation pattern and complements the first modulation pattern to reduce encoding visibility in the video signal,

the plurality of frames included in the first set of frames and the second set of frames being modulated by either the first modulation pattern or the second modulation pattern, and

the second set of frames are in an alternating frame arrangement with the first set of frames in the video signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first modulation pattern includes increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of a plurality of even pixel lines of a particular frame of the plurality of frames and decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of a plurality of odd pixel lines of the particular frame, and wherein the second modulation pattern includes decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of the plurality of even pixel lines of an alternating frame to the particular frame and increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of odd pixel lines of the plurality of scan lines of the alternating frame.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first modulation pattern includes decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of a plurality of even pixel lines of a particular frame and increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of a plurality of odd pixel lines of the particular frame, and wherein the second modulation pattern includes increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of the plurality of even pixel lines of an alternating frame to the particular frame and decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of odd pixel lines of the plurality of scan lines of the alternating frame.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first modulation pattern includes increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of a plurality of even scan lines of a field of a particular frame of the plurality of frames, and wherein the second modulation pattern includes decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of the plurality of even scan lines of the field of an alternating frame to the particular frame.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first modulation pattern includes decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of a plurality of even scan lines of a field of a particular frame of the plurality of frames, and wherein the second modulation pattern includes increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of the plurality of even scan lines of the field of an alternating frame to the particular frame.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second modulation pattern includes an inverse modulation pattern of the first modulation pattern.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first modulation pattern includes a dashed pattern.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second modulation pattern includes an inverse dashed pattern.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

designating each scan line of a plurality of scan lines of a field of a particular frame of the plurality of frames as an up line or a down line,

wherein the altering of the intensity of the plurality of pixels is in accordance with the designating of each of the plurality of scan lines.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining a current value for a staggered flag;

determining whether the staggered flag is true;

designating a first modulation pattern to include increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of a field of a particular frame of the plurality of frames and decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of odd scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of the field of the particular frame and a second modulation pattern to include decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of the field of an alternating frame to the particular frame and increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of odd scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of the field of the alternating frame when the staggered flag is false; and

designating a first modulation pattern to include increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of the field of the particular frame and decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of odd scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of the field of the particular frame and a second modulation pattern to include decreasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of even scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of the field of the alternating frame and increasing the intensity of the plurality of pixels of odd scan lines of the plurality of scan lines of the field of the alternating frame when the staggered flag is true.

11. An encoding system comprising:

a source; and

an encoder configured to;

obtain a video signal from the source, the video signal including a plurality of frames, and

altering the intensity of a first plurality of pixels on a first set of frames of the plurality of frames of a video signal based on a first modulation, and

altering the intensity of a second plurality of pixels on a second set of frames of the plurality of frames based on a second modulation pattern,

wherein the second modulation pattern is different from the first modulation pattern and complements the first modulation pattern to reduce encoding visibility in the video signal,

the plurality of frames included in the first set of frames and the second set of frames being modulated by either the first modulation pattern or the second modulation pattern, and

the second set of frames are in an alternating frame arrangement with the first set of frames in the video signal.

12. A method for modulating a video signal comprising:

selecting frames of a plurality of frames for modulation;

designating a first magnitude adjustment for a contiguous portion of a field of the selected frames;

designating a second magnitude adjustment for a remainder portion of the field of the selected frames, wherein the first magnitude adjustment is not the same value as the second magnitude adjustment; and

altering intensity of a plurality of pixels of a plurality of scan lines of the field of the selected frames as designated by either the first magnitude adjustment or the second magnitude adjustment.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the contiguous portion includes a center portion.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the contiguous portion includes an edge portion.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first magnitude adjustment is greater than the second magnitude adjustment.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the field includes a second field.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving special encode area instructions designating a contiguous portion of a field.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein altering intensity of a plurality of pixels includes altering intensity of a plurality of pixels of a plurality of scan lines of the field of the selected frames by an intensity pattern and as designated by either the first magnitude adjustment or the second magnitude adjustment.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the intensity pattern includes a dashed pattern.

20. An encoding system comprising:

a source; and

an encoder configured to;

obtain a video signal from the source, the video signal comprising a plurality of frames, each of the plurality of frames each comprising a plurality of scan lines, each of the plurality of scan lines comprising a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels comprising an intensity,

select frames of the plurality of frames for modulation,

designate a first magnitude adjustment for a contiguous portion of a field of the selected frames,

designate a second magnitude adjustment for a remainder portion of the field of the selected frames, wherein the first magnitude adjustment is not the same value as the second magnitude adjustment, and

alter the intensity of the plurality of pixels of the plurality of scan lines of the field of the selected frames as designated by either the first magnitude adjustment or the second magnitude adjustment.

21. A method comprising:

selecting frames of a plurality of frames of a video signal for modulation; and

altering intensity of a plurality of pixels of an encoding area of the selected frames according to an inconsistent line intensity pattern, wherein one or more pixels of the plurality of pixels on a particular line of a particular frame within the encoding area are being altered and one or more remaining pixels on the particular line of the particular frame within the encoding area are being unaltered in accordance with the inconsistent line intensity pattern

wherein the encoding area is in an active portion of the video signal.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the line-varied intensity pattern includes a dashed intensity pattern.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the dashed intensity pattern includes a randomly dashed intensity pattern.

24. An encoding system comprising:

a source; and

an encoder configured to;

obtain a video signal from a source, the video signal comprising a plurality of frames,

select frames of the plurality of frames for modulation, and

alter intensity of the plurality of pixels of an encoding area of the selected frames according to an inconsistent line intensity pattern, wherein one or more pixels of the plurality of pixels on a particular line of a particular frame within the encoding area are being altered and one or more remaining pixels on the particular line of the particular frame within the encoding area are being unaltered in accordance with the inconsistent line intensity pattern,

wherein the encoding area is in an active portion of the video signal.