Television – Special applications – Manufacturing
Patent
1996-10-25
1998-07-14
Powell, Mark R.
Television
Special applications
Manufacturing
348595, H04N 7173
Patent
active
057812276
ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus for masking the effects of latency within an information distribution system. The apparatus comprises a set top terminal that requests and receives information from an information server within the information distribution system. The information is generally displayed upon a conventional television that is coupled to the set top terminal. The set top terminal contains a central processing unit and an information stream decoder that are programmed to implement the method. The method is a routine which is executed when a subscriber selects certain functions, usually via a remote control, that are available for the set top terminal to perform. Upon execution, the method recalls a predefined image from memory and begins to fade the presently displayed image into a predefined image, e.g., a white screen. Simultaneously, the presently playing sound is also faded into the predefined sound, e.g., no sound. The decoder within the set top terminal is reset to flush from its buffer and residual sound or video information from the previously decoded video. Lastly, once the new video stream has arrived and begins to be decoded, the set top terminal fades up from the pre-defined image to the new video stream and from the pre-defined audio to the audio stream that accompanies the video stream. At this point, the subscriber's selected function has been fully implemented without display of the detrimental affects usually associated with a latency delay.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3627914 (1971-12-01), Davies
patent: 5287187 (1994-02-01), Sato et al.
patent: 5477263 (1995-12-01), O'Callaghan et al.
patent: 5635978 (1997-06-01), Alten et al.
patent: 5635979 (1997-06-01), Kostreski et al.
Cole Brooks
Conover Mark D.
Goode Christopher
Gordon Donald
Illowsky Daniel
DIVA Systems Corporation
Le Uyen
Powell Mark R.
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for masking the effects of latency in an in does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for masking the effects of latency in an in, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for masking the effects of latency in an in will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1887233