Method and system for enhanced modulation of video signals

• US 8,405,772 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2010
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advocado, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Koplar Interactive Systems International, LLC
• Inventors: Chupp, Christopher E., Gramelspacher, Michael S., Chounard, Jesse J. II, Withers, James G., Barsoum, Yousri H., Reynolds, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnael, Paulos M
• Application Number:
  US12/707,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20100141836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 348/473, 348/474, 348/469, 348/470, 375/240.01, 375/240.26, 375/240.27
• US Class Current: 348/473
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/44 Decoders specially adapted therefor, e.g. video decoders which are asymmetric with respect to the encoder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/85 using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2383 Channel coding or modulation of digital bit-stream, e.g. QPSK modulation arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by adapting the channel coding H04L1/0009; analogue front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/007 Systems with supplementary picture signal insertion during a portion of the active part of a television signal, e.g. during top and bottom lines in a HDTV letter-box system
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/081 the additional information signals being transmitted by means of a subcarrier

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system for signal modulation. A plurality of pixels are selected in a pattern such that a first pixel group of the plurality of pixels is unpaired with a second pixel group of the plurality of pixels throughout the pattern in a portion of a video signal. The intensity of the plurality of the pixels is altered at a constant magnitude in the portion of the video signal pursuant to the pattern in a substantially invisible way.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

accessing a matrix including a plurality of value adjustments, a value adjustment of the plurality of value adjustments being based on a pixel value of a corresponding pixel of a plurality of pixels of a frame of a video signal;

applying the plurality of value adjustments of the matrix to the frame to alter the pixel value of at least a portion of the plurality of pixels of the frame of the video signal;

determining the plurality of value adjustments;

applying a plurality of signal hiding techniques to the plurality of pixels of the frame, wherein determining the plurality of value adjustments is based on application of the plurality of signal hiding techniques; and

storing the plurality of value adjustments in the matrix, the plurality of value adjustments corresponding to the plurality of pixels of the frame, wherein application of the plurality of value adjustments to the frame creates a modulated video signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the value adjustment defines an amount of intensity to increase or decrease the pixel value of the corresponding pixel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the value adjustment is based on the pixel value of the corresponding pixel and an additional pixel of the plurality of pixels of the frame.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying a signal hiding technique and a signal limiting technique to the plurality of pixels of the frame, wherein determining the plurality of value adjustments is based on application of the signal hiding technique and the signal limiting technique.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the plurality of value adjustments further comprises:

transforming a three dimensional signal hiding matrix into a two dimensional signal hiding matrix, the two dimensional signal hiding matrix having a plurality of signal hiding positions that correspond to the plurality of pixels of the frame of the video signal, a particular signal hiding position having a particular signal hiding value defining a maximum amount of intensity adjustment to the pixel value of the particular pixel value;

transforming a three dimensional signal limiting matrix into a two dimensional signal limiting matrix, the two dimensional signal limiting matrix having a plurality of signal limiting positions that correspond to the plurality of pixels of the frame of the video signal, a particular signal limiting position having a signal limiting value indicating a ceiling amount of intensity adjustment to the pixel value of the particular pixel value; and

generating the matrix by selecting the maximum amount of intensity adjustment of the plurality of signal hiding values from the plurality of signal hiding positions subject to the ceiling amount of intensity adjustment of the plurality of signal limiting values from corresponding positions of the plurality of signal limiting positions.

6. A method comprising:

designating a first grouping of pixels of a frame of a video signal to receive an intensity increase;

designating a second grouping of pixels of the frame to receive an intensity decrease, the second grouping of pixels including a plurality of different pixels than the first grouping of pixels;

accessing a matrix including a first grouping of value adjustments that correspond to the first grouping of pixels and a second grouping of value adjustments that correspond to the second grouping of pixels; and

increasing the intensity of the first grouping of pixels of the frame based on the first grouping of value adjustments and decreasing the intensity of the second grouping of pixels of the frame based on the second grouping of value adjustments, wherein increasing the intensity and decreasing the intensity creates a modulated video signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first grouping of pixels of the frame does not include overlapping pixels from the second grouping of pixels and the second grouping of pixels of the frame does not include overlapping pixels from the first grouping of pixels.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

accessing on an encoder the video signal from a video source;

receiving on the encoder operator instructions from an operator; and

outputting the modulated video signal from the encoder to a broadcast source, wherein designation of the first grouping of pixels and the second grouping of pixels is based on receipt of the operator instructions.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first grouping of pixels includes a first plurality of horizontal lines in the frame and the second grouping of pixels includes a second plurality of horizontal lines in the frame.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

designate a first grouping of pixels of a frame of a video signal to receive an intensity increase;

designate a second grouping of pixels of the frame to receive an intensity decrease, the second grouping of pixels including a plurality of different pixels than the first grouping of pixels;

access a matrix including a first grouping of value adjustments that correspond to the first grouping of pixels and a second grouping of value adjustments that correspond to the second grouping of pixels; and

increase the intensity of the first grouping of pixels of the frame based on the first grouping of value adjustments and decrease the intensity of the second grouping of pixels of the frame based on the second grouping of value adjustments,

wherein increasing the intensity and decreasing the intensity creates a modulated video signal.

11. A system comprising:

an encoder to access a matrix including a plurality of value adjustments, a value adjustment of the plurality of value adjustments being based on a pixel value of a corresponding pixel of a plurality of pixels of a frame of a video signal, and to apply the plurality of value adjustments of the matrix to the frame to alter the pixel value of at least a portion of the plurality of pixels of the frame of the video signal, wherein application of the plurality of value adjustments to the frame creates a modulated video signal,

wherein the encoder receives instructions from an operator and designation of a first grouping of pixels and a second grouping of pixels that is based on receipt of the operator instructions on the encoder.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a video source to transmit the video signal to the encoder; and

a broadcast source, wherein the modulated video signal is transmitted from the encoder to the broadcast source.