Television – Image signal processing circuitry specific to television – Special effects
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-20
2001-05-15
Hsia, Sherrie (Department: 2614)
Television
Image signal processing circuitry specific to television
Special effects
C348S595000, C348S715000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233021
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a method for replacing parts of a digitally coded picture and to a device for carrying out the method for replacing parts of a digitally coded picture, in particular a video picture.
PRIOR ART
The invention is based on a method for replacing parts of a digitally coded picture. In video technology, it is known to provide so-called sub-picture decoding devices in film playback devices, for example a DVD playback device, for displaying e.g. subtitles on the screen of a television set. DVD playback devices of this type are currently commercially available and contain the abovementioned sub-picture decoding devices. The DVD standard (Version 1.0) provides a number of explanations concerning such sub-picture decoding devices, which are designated as sub-picture decoders therein. All of the sub-pictures to be displayed are stored in a special format. In this case, the data of the individual pixels are stored in compressed form in a so-called sub-picture unit (SPU).
INVENTION
A possible way of changing the stored pixel data (PXD) in order to produce an altered sub-picture is not provided in the standard already mentioned. This gives rise to the problem that if frequent changing of the sub-pictures is necessary for certain applications, all of the possible sub-pictures have to be stored individually in the memory, even if they differ only slightly from one another. This leads to an increased memory outlay for the sub-pictures.
The object of the invention, therefore, is to specify a method for replacing parts of a digitally coded picture which enables specific replacements to be made even in the compressed pixel data of the previously described sub-pictures, with the result that the majority of the pixel data can remain unchanged and it is not necessary to provide a completely new sub-picture unit in the memory.
The method according to the invention has the advantage over the method known from the prior art that sub-picture units having compressed pixel data can be altered at least in parts, with the result that changes to the sub-picture can be effected without the necessity of providing a completely new sub-picture unit in a memory e.g. of a film playback device. Furthermore, it becomes possible for additional pixel data easily to be attached to the replaceable part of the sub-picture, or be inserted, without completely new coding of the pixels of the picture being necessary.
Today's customary television standards such as NTSC and PAL employ the known line interlacing method. In this case, each picture is divided into two fields that are interleaved in one another. This is also taken into account in the production of sub-picture units according to the DVD standard. A sub-picture is likewise divided into two fields. The pixel data (PXD) of the lines of each field are stored in separate memory areas. In this case, it is very advantageous for the method for replacing parts of the digitally coded picture if the field which is currently being decoded and displayed is signalled and a replacement of parts of the lines of the picture is allowed only in that field which is currently not being decoded and displayed. Memory access conflicts and incorrect displays are thereby prevented from the outset.
Advantageous measures for a device for replacing parts of a digitally coded picture are specified.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6144774 (2000-11-01), Arakage
patent: 95 35 625 A1 (1995-12-01), None
patent: 0725541 (1996-08-01), None
patent: 0734126 (1996-09-01), None
patent: 0741489 (1996-11-01), None
European Search Report dated Apr. 23, 1999.
Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
Herrmann E. P.
Hsia Sherrie
Shoneman D. T.
Tripoli J. S.
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