Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-30
2002-08-06
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C386S349000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06429879
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to content customization schemes usable in devices with integrated multiple functional modalities, which devices can operate, for example, with a host of video sources. More particularly, the present invention is drawn to schemes for individualized content censoring and for setting various user preferences to customize content presentation in a convergence device system having a Digital Versatile/Video Disc (DVD) source.
2. Description of Related Art
Achieving convergence of various information, entertainment and communications technologies has become a much sought-after goal. A highly visible example of this trend is the attempt to integrate computer technologies (such as, for example, personal computer technologies) with consumer/home electronics technologies (such as, for example, television technologies, video game technologies, video telephony, video/laser disc technologies, et cetera). It is hoped that one of the products of this convergence will be a single integrated device for information, entertainment and communications, which device can, at least in part, utilize the available communications bandwidth, mass storage and graphics handling capabilities of the personal computer (PC) to deliver, store and display a variety of applications so as to provide a seamlessly unified audio-visual environment to consumers.
In spite of many recent advances in this area, several problems persist. One of the more significant problems is the difficulty of providing to a consumer (alternatively, a user or viewer) means for effective content control and engaging interactivity, preferably all in one machine, with the option of selectable content customization. It can be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the need to address and obviate this problem is especially pronounced in cases wherein currently available advanced storage technologies such as, for example, the Digital Versatile/Video Disc (DVD) technology, are integrated with a highly converged device that offers multiple modes of “functionalities.” In simple terms, there are so many factors involved that providing easy but effective control is difficult in highly converged devices. A commonly-owned, pending U.S. patent application entitled “DEVICE WITH CONVERGED FUNCTIONALITY”, filed Mar. 31, 1997 (Docket No. 27757-00098; inventors: Mark P. Vaughan, Thomas J. Brase, Drew S. Johnson, Kevin J. Brusky, and Brian V. Belmont) describes subject matter related to such a highly converged device in greater detail and is incorporated herein by reference.
Because the teachings of the present invention are exemplified in relation to various aspects of DVD technology, particularly when integrated with a convergence device, a brief description thereof is deemed appropriate and is provided immediately hereinbelow.
The DVD technology is an advanced, digital storage technology for video, audio, data, and any combination thereof, and is centered around a new medium (a laser-readable disc) capable of storing up to about 17 Gigabytes of information. As is known in the art, the copious amount of digital information is provided on the disc in accordance with a standardized format. Analogous to current consumer electronics formats, it is useful to visualize the DVD format technology as a total system that comprises a mastering facility, a physical storage/distribution medium (the disc itself) and a player. The mastering process may typically comprise several steps which include inserting various codes for controlling the presentation of video/audio information (also known as content); compressing the raw video information into a known format (for example, the Motion Picture Experts Group-2, or, MPEG-2, format) using a process called variable bit rate encoding; compressing the audio information also into a known format such as, for example, the Dolby® AC3 Surround Sound format; and combining the compressed audio and video information into a single, encoded data stream for producing a “master” and generating copies (i.e., laser-readable discs) therefrom.
FIG. 1
depicts a block diagram of a typical DVD mastering system
100
for effectuating some of the steps described above. Inputs from a master video tape
102
and a master audio tape
104
are provided to a variable bit rate (VBR) encoder
106
and a suitable audio encoder
108
, respectively. The encoders
106
and
108
, in turn, are managed via content/quality control block
110
so as to provide compressed and encoded video and audio to a multiplexer/formatter
112
for generating a combined audio/video data stream. An emulator
114
is provided to simulate the playback of the data stream. A master disc
116
is then created using the “image” of the DVD data steam which may have been written to a data tape beforehand. Using replicators, a content provider may mass-produce DVD discs for market consumption by “pressing” the master
116
.
The digital information on a DVD disc is organized in a well-known hierarchical file structure comprising such levels as program chains (PGCs), chapters, group of pictures (GOPs), et cetera, which allows not only a plethora of desirable features such as, for example, multiple aspect ratios, multiple language tracks and subtitles, multiple camera angles, and rudimentary forms of parental control, but also a presentation technique for allowing and facilitating user interactivity via an overlaid graphics tool, called an on-screen display (OSD) tool.
FIG. 2
depicts the block diagram of a typical DVD player
200
for the playback of a DVD disc
202
. A disc reader mechanism is provided with the player
200
, which mechanism comprises a motor
204
for spinning the disc
202
and a laser
206
that reads the digital information therefrom. Typically, the laser
206
is operable in the “red” portion of the visible light spectrum. A DVD-compliant digital signal processor (DSP)
208
is provided in a feedback arrangement with the disc reader mechanism for translating the laser pulses generated from the laser
206
back into electrical form.
At the heart of the player
200
is a digital audio/video (AV) decoder
210
that receives electrical signals from the DSP
208
for further processing. The AV decoder
210
comprises several important functional blocks which act on the received electrical signals at various stages of processing. The composite signal information is initially separated by a demultiplexer
212
which provides video content stream to a video decoder
214
, compressed bitmaps to a subpicture processor
216
, and audio content stream to an appropriate audio decoder
218
. The subpicture processor
216
provides the processed subpicture information to an OSD graphics tool
220
. A video multiplexer
222
controllably presents the decoded video information from the video decoder
214
and the output from the OSD graphics tool
220
to an appropriate TV signal encoder
224
(compliant with, for example, the National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) signal format, or the Phase Alternate Line (PAL) signal format), which then provides a suitable TV signal to a TV (not shown) for playback. The decoded audio information from the audio decoder
218
may be provided to an appropriate audio system which may or may not be integrated with the TV. A microcontroller
226
is provided as part of the DVD player
200
for supervising the operation thereof. As can be readily seen, the microcontroller
226
may be engaged by the user via a remote control or front panel
228
for translating user inputs into commands for the audio/video decoder
210
and/or the disc reading mechanism of the player
200
.
It can be appreciated that the DVD technology comprising the DVD discs and suitable players therefor provides significant advances over conventional media for content presentation to viewers. However, it is also known that while the DVD mastering standards have been extant for some time, the content providers who typically supply the DVD-compliant content in the for
Sturgeon Derrill L.
Zickefoose Donald K.
Bayerl Raymond J.
Compaq Computer Corporation
Hailu Tadesse
Sharp Comfort & Merrett P.C.
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