Motion video signal processing for recording or reproducing – Local trick play processing – With randomly accessible medium
Reexamination Certificate
1996-08-01
2003-03-18
Chevalier, Robert (Department: 2615)
Motion video signal processing for recording or reproducing
Local trick play processing
With randomly accessible medium
C386S349000, C386S349000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06535688
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to image data multiplexing, recording and display control apparatus and methods and an image data recording medium, and more particularly is directed to such apparatus, methods and a recording medium arranged so as to be able to display at correct aspect ratio image data produced, recorded and transmitted with different aspect ratios.
Television is broadcast in Japan, the United States and elsewhere using the so-called NTSC standard, for which an aspect ratio of 4:3 is established. For this reason, conventional display equipment, such as television receivers and monitors, mostly have their aspect ratios fixed at 4:3. However, with the recent increase in high quality or definition television broadcasts, typified by HiVision, which employ an aspect ratio of 16:9, television receivers with the wider aspect ratio of 16:9, the so-called wide screen televisions, are becoming increasingly popular.
As a result, the image sources that are produced and broadcast are also tending to have the wider 16:9 or other aspect ratios.
Image data for display on a screen having this 16:9 or other wider aspect ratio may undergo a change or correction of the aspect ratio prior to transmission, so that it can be shown on displays with a 4:3 aspect ratio.
For example,
FIG. 1A
shows a screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Image data intended for display on this screen is transmitted without alteration and, of course, can be displayed as received. However, in comparison, image data for a screen with a 14:9 aspect ratio is transmitted in the so-called letterbox mode, as shown in
FIG. 1B
, that is, is transmitted after dark or non-image portions are added above and below the active image region to provide an overall aspect ratio of 4:3. Alternatively, image data for a screen with a 14:9 aspect ratio may be compressed in the horizontal direction of the screen in the so-called squeeze mode, as shown in
FIG. 1E
, whereby it is converted to image data for a 4:3 aspect ratio screen before being transmitted.
Moreover, image data for a screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio may be transmitted in the letterbox mode, as shown in
FIG. 1C
, that is, after dark or non-image portions are added above and below the active image region having the aspect ratio of 16:9 to provide an overall aspect ratio of 4:3 for broadcast. The dark portions in this case are wider than in the case of the image data for a screen of 14:9 aspect ratio as in FIG.
1
B.
Alternatively, image data for a screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio can be transmitted in the squeeze mode whereby the image is compressed in the horizontal direction so as to become a 4:3 aspect ratio screen, as shown in FIG.
1
F.
Image data for a CinemaScope screen with approximately a 2:1 aspect ratio may be transmitted in the letterbox mode, as shown in
FIG. 1D
, with even wider dark or non-image portions added above and below the active image region than is the case for the screen shown in
FIG. 1C
with a 16:9 aspect ratio, before being transmitted so that the received signal can be displayed on a screen with an aspect ratio of 4:3.
Furthermore, image data for a CinemaScope screen with an approximately 2:1 aspect ratio, even if compressed in a squeeze mode in the horizontal direction with a compression ratio converting it from 2:1 to 4:3, has additional dark portions added above and below the active image region after the compression in the horizontal direction since it cannot otherwise be fitted to the 4:3 aspect ratio of the screen on which it is to be displayed, as shown in FIG.
1
G. The images shown in
FIGS. 1A-1G
, respectively, can be received and displayed without further adjustment on displays having a 4:3 aspect ratio. on the other hand, a display or television receiver or monitor
80
with a screen having a 16:9 aspect ratio may be comprised as shown in FIG.
2
. Video signals input via an antenna, cable or the like, after demodulation in a TV signal demodulator circuit
81
, are output for display to a CRT
85
having a 16:9 aspect ratio through a controllable horizontal filter
82
and a controllable vertical filter
83
. In accordance with instructions from the viewer provided by means of a remote controller or the like (not shown), a controller
84
is made to suitably operate horizontal filter
82
or vertical filter
83
.
More specifically, as shown in
FIG. 3A
, for example, when received images with a standard 4:3 aspect ratio (normal images) are demodulated and output from television signal demodulator circuit
81
, the viewer uses the remote control to switch on horizontal filter
82
and to switch off vertical filter
83
. By this means, on CRT
85
having a 16:9 aspect ratio, as shown in
FIG. 3D
, dark or non-image portions are added to the display at the left and right-hand sides of the active, image region having a 4:3 aspect ratio.
When data transmitted in the letterbox mode with the overall aspect ratio of 4:3, as shown in
FIG. 3B
, is provided as the video input in
FIG. 2
, the viewer uses the remote control to switch off horizontal filter
82
and switch on vertical filter
83
. At this time, vertical filter
83
performs a process whereby it removes the dark portions added above and below the active image region and selects only the active image region having, for example, the original aspect ratio of 16:9. By this means, image data having a 16:9 aspect ratio can be normally displayed on CRT
85
as shown in FIG.
3
E.
On the other hand, as shown in
FIG. 3C
, where images processed in the squeeze mode are transmitted with the 4:3 aspect ratio, the viewer uses the remote control to switch off both horizontal filter
82
and vertical filter
83
. As a result, an active image region with a 16:9 aspect ratio is normally displayed on CRT
85
, as shown in FIG.
3
F.
The manual switching of horizontal filter
82
and vertical filter
83
in this way is relatively inefficient. Therefore, there are some television sets where, for example, correction data corresponding to the corrections, if any, to be made in the aspect ratio are transmitted during the vertical blanking interval of the television signal being transmitted, and such correction data are separated out in television signal demodulation circuit
81
and output to controller
84
for automatically controlling filters
82
and
83
, as required.
In such case, controller
84
controls horizontal filter
82
and vertical filter
83
not only in response to user instructions from the remote controller but also in response to signals from television signal demodulator circuit
81
. In this way, the viewer no longer needs to always effect manual control, and the efficiency of the operation is improved.
However, the insertion of this kind of correction data into a specific line during the vertical blanking interval cannot be employed where the image transmitted or recorded has been digitized. In other words, where a video signal is digitized for transmission, since data in the vertical blanking interval are in effect mostly useless, the specification for such digitizing stipulates that data in the vertical blanking interval are not transmitted or recorded. As a result, even if correction data is inserted within the vertical blanking interval, this correction data is eliminated prior to transmission or recording if the data is digitized.
Furthermore, there are three potential variations for insertion of the dark or non-image portions in the letterbox mode, particularly in respect to the positions thereof relative to the active image region. For example as shown in
FIG. 4A
, the active image region may be positioned in the middle, that is, vertically centered between two dark portions; at the top, that is, above a single dark-portion, as on
FIG. 4B
; or at the bottom, that is, below a single dark-portion, as in FIG.
4
C.
Moreover, screens may be provided with subtitles, logos, symbols and the like, at various locations in respect to the active image region in the letterbox mode shown in FIG.
5
A. For example, subtitling (ABC) may be overlay
Fujinami Yasushi
Kawamura Makoto
Yagasaki Yoichi
Chevalier Robert
Frommer William S.
Frommer & Lawrence & Haug LLP
Smid Dennis M.
Sony Corporation
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