Keyed, true-transparency image information combine

Claim 1

A method for generating an image information signal combine, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of image information signals, each image signal (V i ) being received from a respective one of a corresponding plurality of channels, receiving a plurality of input key signals, each input key signal (Bk i ) being received from a respective one of the corresponding plurality of channels, ranking the channels in a defined order to obtain a prioritized order among the channels, responsive to the input key signals, producing a respective processed key signal (Pk i ) for an i-th channel such that the processed key signal (Pk i ) is produced by the i-th respective one of a plurality of substantially identical keyer units where the i-th keyer unit is adapted to modify the value of its input key signal Bk i with the values of the input key signals Bk j from higher priority channels to generate a true transparency processed key signal Pk i for the i-th priority channel, switchably interchanging the plurality of keyer units to obtain the prioritized order among the channels, responsive to the respective produced processed key signal, cutting the respective image signal, repeating the producing step and the cutting step for the plurality of image signals, and combining the plurality of cut image signals to generate an image information combine.

Claim 2

A system for generating an image information signal combine, the system including: means for receiving a plurality of image information signals, each image signal V i being received from a respective one of a corresponding plurality of channels, means for receiving a plurality of input key signals, each input key signal Bk i being received from a respective one of the corresponding plurality of channels, means for ranking the channels in a defined order to obtain a prioritized order among the channels, means, responsive to a respective input key signal, for producing a respective processed key signal Pk i for a respective signal channel, means, responsive to the respective produced processed key signal, for cutting the respective image signal, means for combining a plurality of cut image signals to generate an image information combine, and wherein the improvement comprises the means for producing a processed key signal further including: means for generating the respective processed key signal such that the respective processed key signal Pk i for an i-th channel is produced by the i-th respective one of the plurality of substantially identical keyer units where the i-th keyer unit is adapted to modify the value of its input key signal Bk i with the values of the input key signals Bk j from the higher priority channels to generate a true transparency processed key signal Pk i for the i-th priority channel, and switchably changeable means for rank ordering the plurality of keyer units to obtain the prioritized order among the channels.

Claim 6

A system according to claims 4 or 5 wherein the means for combining a plurality of cut image signals further comprises: means, responsive to the produced processed key signals and responsive to the plurality of N image information signals V i and responsive to a background signal V B , for generating an image combine V C so that: V C = Pk₁V₁ + Pk₂V₂ + ... + Pk N V N + Pk B V B .

Claim 12

A method for generating a processed key signal, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of input key signals, each input key signal Bk i being received from a respective one of a corresponding plurality of N prioritized channels, each channel for providing a respective one of a corresponding plurality of image information signals V i , switchably interchanging a plurality of a substantially identical keyer units to obtain a prioritized order among the channels, responsive to the input key signals, producing a respective processed key signal Pk i for an i-th channel such that the processed key signal Pk i is produced by the i-th respective one of the plurality of keyer units where the i-th keyer unit is adapted to modify the value of its input key signal Bk i with the values of the input key signals Bk j from higher priority channels to generate a true transparency processed key signal Pk i for the i-th priority channel.

Claim 13

A method for generating a true transparency special video effect, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of video signals and a corresponding plurality of input key signals; rank ordering the video signals for a special effect combine; switchably interchanging a plurality of keyer units to obtain the rank order among the video signals, responsive to the input key signals, producing a respective processed key signal Pk i for a respective video signal such that the produced processed key signal for the i-th channel is produced by a respective one of the keyer units by modifying the value of the input key signal Bk i in the i-th channel with the values of the input key signals Bk j from higher priority channels to generate a true transparency processed key signal Pk i for the i-th priority channel, and combining the video signals and their respective produced processed key signals to generate the true-transparency special effect.

Claim 14

A method for generating an image information combine, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of image information signals, each image signal being received from a respective one of a corresponding plurality of channels, receiving a plurality of input key signals, each input key signal being received from a respective one of a corresponding plurality of channels, ranking the channels in a defined order to obtain aprioritized order among the channels, responsive to a respective input key signal, generating a respective key-requested signal, receiving a key-available signal, responsive to the input key signals, generating a respective key-taken signal and a respective key-now-available signal for a respective image signal: (a) such that the key-taken signal is generated by multiplying the key-requested signal and the key-available signal, and (b) such that the key-now-available signal is generated by algebraically subtracting the key-taken signal from the key-available signal, responsive to the key-taken signal, producing a processed key signal: (c) such that the produced processed key signal Pk i for the i-th channel is dependent upon the input key signals Bk j for one or more channels, which have a priority that is not lower than the priority of the i-th channel, and (d) such that the produced processed key signal is not dependent upon other processed key signals, and (e) such that the produced processed key signal Pk i for the i-th image signal is produced so that: where B₀ = 0, responsive to the respective produced processed key signal, cutting the respective image signal, and combining a plurality of cut image signals to generate the image information combine.

Claim 15

A method for generating an image information signal combine, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of image information signals, each image signal being received from a respective one of a corresponding plurality of channels, receiving a plurality of input key signals, each input key signal being received from a respective one of a corresponding plurality of channels, ranking the channels in a defined order to obtain a prioritized order among the channels, responsive to a respective input key signal, generating a respective key-requested signal, responsive to the input key signals, generating a respective key-taken signal and a respective key-now-available signal for a respective image signal: (a) such that the key-taken signal is generated by algebraically subtracting a key-now-available signal from a key-available signal, and (b) such that the key-now-available signal is generated by multiplying the key-available signal and another key signal, which other key signal is equal to one minus the key-requested signal, responsive to the key-taken signal, producing a respective processed key signal: (c) such that the produced processed key signal Pk i for the i-th channel is dependent upon the input key signals Bk j for one or more channels, which have a priority that is not lower than the priority of the i-th channel, and (d) such that the produced processed key signal is not dependent upon other processed key signals, and (e) such that the produced processed key signal Pk i for the i-th image signal is produced so that: where B₀ = 0, responsive to the respective produced processed key signal, cutting the respective image signal, and combining a plurality of cut image signals to generate an image information combine.

Claim 18

A system for generating an image information signal combine, the system including: means for receiving a plurality of image information signals, each image signal being received from a respective one of a corresponding plurality of channels, means for receiving a plurality of input key signals, each input key signal being received from a respective one of a corresponding plurality of channels, means for ranking the channels in a defined order to obtain a prioritized order among the channels, means, responsive to the input key signals, for producing a respective processed key signal for a respective image signal, means, responsive to the respective produced processed key signal, for cutting the respective image signal, and means for combining a plurality of cut image signals to generate an image information combine, wherein the improvement comprises: means, responsive to a respective input key signal, for generating a respective key-requested signal, and means for receiving a key-available signal from a higher priority channel, means, responsive to the input key signals, for generating a respective key-taken signal and a respective key-now-available signal for a respective image signal: (a) such that the key-taken signal is generated by multiplying the key-requested signal and the key-available signal, and (b) such that the key-now-available signal is generated by algebraically subtracting the key-taken signal from the key-available signal, and means, responsive to the key-taken signal, for generating the produced processed key signal: (c) such that the produced processed key signal Pk i for the i-th channel is dependent upon the input key signals Bk j for one or more channels, which have a priority that is not lower than the priority of the i-th channel, and (d) such that the produced processed key signal is not dependent upon other processed key signals, and (e) such that the produced processed key signal Pk i for the i-th image signal is produced so that: where B₀ = 0.

Claim 19

A system for generating an image information signal combine, the system including: means for receiving a plurality of image information signals, each image signal being received from a respective one of a corresponding plurality of channels, means for receiving a plurality of input key signals, each input key signal being received from a respective one of a corresponding plurality of channels, means for ranking the channels in a defined order to obtain a prioritized order of the channels, means, responsive to the input key signals, for generating a respective processed key signal for a respective image signal, means, responsive to the respective produced processed key signal, for cutting the respective image signal, and means for combining a plurality of cut image signals to generate an image information combine, wherein the improvement comprises: means, responsive to a respective input key signal, for generating a respective key-requested signal, and means for receiving a key-available signal from a higher priority channel, means, responsive to the input key signals, for generating a respective key-taken signal and a respective key-now-available signal for a respective image signal: (a) such that the key-taken signal is generated by algebraically subtracting a key-now-available signal from the key-available signal, and (b) such that the key-now-available signal is generated by multiplying the key-available signal and a key signal, which is equal to one minus the key-requested signal, responsive to the key-taken signal, generating the produced processed key signal: (c) such that the produced processed key signal Pk i for the i-th channel is dependent upon the input key signals Bk j for one or more channels, which have a priority that is not lower than the priority of the i-th channel, and (d) such that the produced processed key signal is not dependent upon other processed key signals, and (e) such that the produced processed key signal Pk i for the i-th image signal is produced so that: where B₀ = 0.

Claim 22

A method for generating a processed key signal, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of input key signals, each input key signal being received from a respective one of a corresponding plurality of prioritized channels, each channel providing a respective one of a corresponding plurality of image information signals, responsive to a respective input key signal, generating a respective key-requested signal, and receiving a key-available signal from a higher priority channel, responsive to the input key signals, generating a respective key-taken signal and a respective key-now-available signal for a respective image signal: (a) such that the key-taken signal is generated by multiplying the key-requested signal and the key-available signal, and (b) such that the key-now-available signal is generated by algebraically subtracting the key-taken signal from the key-available signal, and responsive to the key-taken signal, generating a produced processed key signal: (c) such that the produced processed key signal Pk i for the i-th channel is dependent upon the input key signals Bk j for one or more channels, which have a priority that is not lower than the priority of the i-th channel, and (d) such that the produced processed key signal is not dependent upon other processed key signals, and (e) such that the produced processed key signal Pk i for the i-th image signal is produced so that: where B₀ = 0.

Claim 23

A method for generating a processed key signal, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of input key signals, each input key signal being received from a respective one of a corresponding plurality of prioritized channels, each channel providing a respective one of a corresponding plurality of image information signals, responsive to a respective input key signal, generating a respective key-requested signal, receiving a key-available signal from a higher priority channel, responsive to the input key signals, generating a respective key-taken signal and a respective key-now-available signal for a respective image signal: (a) such that the key-taken signal is generated by algebraically subtracting a key-now-available signal from the key-available signal, and (b) such that the key-now-available signal is generated by multiplying the key-available signal and a key signal, which is equal to one minus the key-requested signal, and responsive to the key-taken signal, generating a produced processed key signal: (c) such that the produced processed key signal Pk i for the i-th channel is dependent upon the input key signals Bk j for one or more channels, which have a priority that is not lower than the priority of the i-th channel, (d) such that the produced processed key signal is not dependent upon other processed key signals, and (e) such that the produced processed key signal Pk i for the i-th image signal is produced so that: where B₀ = 0.

Claim 24

A system for processing digital video signals, which system includes a combiner and a keyer for controlling a video combine produced by the combiner, adapted to receive a plurality of image information signals and a corresponding plurality of input key signals respectively, the image signals being dynamically ranked in an order of priority and the keyer comprising a plurality of keyer units which can be dynamically and switchably interchanged in accordance with changes in the order of priority of the image information signals and which are adapted to process key signals in accordance with a true-transparency algorithm.