Method, apparatus and machine-readable medium for handling interpolated video content

• US 8,830,393 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Glen, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold, Jefferey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rahman, Mustafizur
• Application Number:
  US12/338,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20090161009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,091 Days
• Field of Search: 348/441, 348/443, 348/448, 348/458, 348/558, 348/446, 348/449, 348/451, 348/452, 348/456, 348/460, 348/473, 348/474, 348/490, 348/407.1, 348/412.1, 348/415.1, 348/430.1, 348/431.1, 348/439.1, 348/513, 348/526, 348/538, 348/559, 348/575, 348/620, 348/636, 348/656, 348/669, 348/670, 348/680, 348/693, 348/305, 348/317, 348/333.3, 348/333.4, 348/352, 348/14.15, 348/154, 348/155, 348/220.1, 348/700, 386/232, 386/233, 382/236
• US Class Current: 348/441
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/012 Conversion between an interlaced and a progressive signal for graphics images G09G2310/0229
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0127 by changing the field or frame frequency of the incoming video signal, e.g. frame rate converter
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0147 the interpolation using an indication of film mode or an indication of a specific pattern, e.g. 3:2 pull-down pattern

Abstract

Spatial or temporal interpolation may be performed upon source video content to create interpolated video content. A video signal including the interpolated video content and non-interpolated video content (e.g. the source video content) may be generated. At least one indicator for distinguishing the non-interpolated video content from the interpolated video content may also be generated. The video signal and indicator(s) may be passed from a video source device to a video sink device. The received indicator(s) may be used to distinguish the non-interpolated video content from the interpolated video content in the received video signal. The non-interpolated video content may be used to “redo” the interpolation or may be recorded to a storage medium.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

interpolating source video content to create interpolated video content;

generating a video signal including said interpolated video content and non-interpolated video content;

generating at least one indicator for distinguishing the non-interpolated video content from the interpolated video content in said video signal; and

transmitting, with the interpolated video content and the non-interpolated video content, the at least one indicator for distinguishing the non-interpolated video content from the interpolated video content in the generated video signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said interpolating comprises spatially interpolating or temporally interpolating.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said non-interpolated video content comprises said source video content or a processed form of said source video content.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one indicator identifies either said non-interpolated video content or said interpolated video content.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said video signal comprises video frames, wherein said non-interpolated video content comprises a first subset of said video frames, and wherein said interpolated video content comprises a second subset of said video frames.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said video signal comprises video frames, wherein said non-interpolated video content comprises one of even lines or odd lines of said video frames, and wherein said interpolated video content comprises the other of the even lines or the odd lines of said video frames.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said interpolating comprises performing frame-rate conversion or de-interlacing video processing.

8. A method comprising, at a video sink device:

receiving a video signal comprising non-interpolated video content and interpolated video content;

receiving, with the non-interpolated video content and interpolated video content, at least one indicator for distinguishing the non-interpolated video content from the interpolated video content in said video signal; and

based on said at least one indicator, distinguishing the non-interpolated video content from the interpolated video content in said video signal.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said interpolated video content comprises spatially interpolated video content and said non-interpolated video content comprises non-spatially-interpolated video content, or wherein said interpolated video content comprises temporally interpolated video content and said non-interpolated video content comprises non-temporally-interpolated video content.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising recording the non-interpolated video content, but not the interpolated video content, to a storage medium.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising interpolating the non-interpolated video content to generate new interpolated video content.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising replacing said interpolated video content with said new interpolated video content.

13. A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a video source device, causes said device to:

interpolate source video content to create interpolated video content;

generate a video signal including said interpolated video content and non-interpolated video content;

generate at least one indicator for distinguishing the non-interpolated video content from the interpolated video content in said video signal; and

transmit, with the interpolated video content and the non-interpolated video content, the at least one indicator for distinguishing the non-interpolated video content from the interpolated video content in the generated video signal.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 13 wherein said non-interpolated video content comprises said source video content or a processed form of said source video content.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instruction that, when executed by a processor of a video sink device, cause said device to:

receive a video signal comprising non-interpolated video content and interpolated video content;

receive, with the non-interpolated video content and interpolated video content, at least one indicator for distinguishing the non-interpolated video content from the interpolated video content in said video signal; and

based on said at least one indicator, distinguish the non-interpolated video content from the interpolated video content in said video signal.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15 wherein said instructions further cause said device to record the non-interpolated video content, but not the interpolated video content, to a storage medium.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 15 wherein said instructions further cause said device to interpolate the non-interpolated video content to generate new interpolated video content.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17 wherein said instructions further cause said device to replace said interpolated video content with said new interpolated video content.

19. A video source device comprising a processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed by said processor, cause said device to:

interpolate source video content to create interpolated video content;

generate a video signal including said interpolated video content and non-interpolated video content;

generate at least one indicator for distinguishing the non-interpolated video content from the interpolated video content in said video signal; and

transmit, with the interpolated video content and the non-interpolated video content, the at least one indicator for distinguishing the non-interpolated video content from the interpolated video content in the generated video signal.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein said non-interpolated video content comprises said source video content or a processed form of said source video content.

21. A video sink device comprising a processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed by said processor, cause said device to:

receive a video signal comprising non-interpolated video content and interpolated video content;

receive, with the non-interpolated video content and interpolated video content, at least one indicator for distinguishing the non-interpolated video content from the interpolated video content in said video signal; and

based on said at least one indicator, distinguish the non-interpolated video content from the interpolated video content in said video signal.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein said instructions further cause said device to record the non-interpolated video content, but not the interpolated video content, to a storage medium.

23. The device of claim 21 wherein said instructions further cause said device to interpolate the non-interpolated video content to generate new interpolated video content.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein said instructions further cause said device to replace said interpolated video content with said new interpolated video content.