EP0884908A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Terminal apparatus for storing and reproducing video signals for a high definition movie distribution service
Assignee: Alcatel Lucent SAS
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Filing: 1998-06-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2018-06-08
Abstract
Abstract A terminal apparatus is described for storing and reproducing video signal sequences for a high definition movie distribution service interfacing with the telecommunication network so as to receive, inter alia, the PDH, SDH and ATM protocols, and as to control and decode the different profiles and levels of the MPEG standard. The terminal carries out the local reproduction and a local storage of the video signal in order to allow the retransmission even off-line and also at a different rate from the received signal one, and further it carries out the transmission error detection and correction. The terminal storage can contain several films thus allowing the local choice of the most suitable projection at selected times and dates (Fig. 1).
Inventors
- 👤 Andrea Alati
- 👤 Claudio Zugno
- 👤 Giorgio Parladori
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:27
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/438; H04N21/4381; H04N21/20; H04N21/21; H04N21/214; H04N21/2143; H04N21/23; H04N21/234; H04N21/433; H04N21/434; H04N21/4341; H04N21/4382; H04N21/60; H04N21/63; H04N21/643; H04N21/64307; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/835; H04N21/8358; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17336
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
301 words
Terminal apparatus for storing and distributing films for a high definition
movie distribution service, comprising first decoding means (SDH/PDH) for receiving SDH or PDH digital signals and
outputting a digital signal in a format compatible with the ATM line signal; second decoding means for receiving and decoding an ATM line signal and
outputting a signal adapted to the multiplexed MPEG video service; third decoding means (DEMUX) for substantially performing the
demultiplexing function of the transport multiplexed MPEG signal received at its
input and for outputting a demultiplexed video signal; fourth decoding means (TVDEC) for receiving the multiplexed video signal
from said third decoding means (DEMUX) and performing an MPEG decoding
in order to output high definition HDTV and/or standard definition SDTV video
signals, fifth decoding means (AUDIODEC) for decoding the received signal from said
third decoding means (DEMUX) in order to produce an MPEG audio signal; a control and management unit (CNTRL) of all the terminal apparatus
functions, which, in cooperation with a local memory (MEM) and related
interfacing unit (MEMINT): a) allows the terminal apparatus to operate both as a local decoder for HDTV
and SDTV video signals and as an interactive receiver; b) drives in a bidirectional manner said first, second, third decoding means
(SDH/PDH, ATM, DEMUX) in such a way as to be able to receive and/or
retransmit video signals in their respective formats, through themselves in
cascade and/or from the outside; c) receives from the outside different video signals in HDTV and/or SDTV
formats and store them in said local memory (MEM) also at a different rate from
the original one; d) reproduces and/or retransmits through a local network, so that they can be
re-used by another terminal apparatus, said video signals in HDTV and/or
SDTV formats, at a rate equal or different from the original one.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
Terminal apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that said second decoding
means (ATM) further comprises: first means (ECATM) for correcting errors on the received signal from said
second decoding means (ATM), first error protection means (EPATM) for inserting, on the signal coming from
said first errors, codes for protection the signal from transmission errors; first bidirectional interface (SWATM) that, upon commands coming from said
control and management unit (CNTRL), allows an unidirectional interfacing
between said first decoding means (SDH/PDH) and said first error correction
means (ECATM), and a bidirectional interfacing between its input and said first
error correction means (ECATM), first error protection means (EPATM) and
local memory (MEM), so as to realize the following interfacing modes: a1) external or said first decoding means (SDH/PDH), date sources, connected
to said first error correction means (ECATM), while said first error protection
means (EPATM). date source, connected with the local memory (MEM), date
receiver; a2) local memory, date source, connected with the outside and to said first
error correction means (ECATM).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
172 words
Terminal apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that said third decoding
means (DEMUX) further comprise: second means (ECDEMUX) for the correction of errors on the received signal
from said third decoding means (DEMUX); second error protection means (EPDEMUX) that insert, on the signal coming
from said second error correction means (ECDEMUX), codes for signal
protection from transmission errors; second bidirectional interface (SWDEMUX) which, upon commands from said
control and management unit (CNTRL), allows an unidirectional interfacing
between said second decoding means (ATM) and said second error correction
means (ECATM), and a bidirectional interfacing between its input and said
second error correction means (ECDEMUX), second error protection means
(EPDEMUX) and local memory (MEM), so as to realize the following interfacing
modes: b1) external or said second decoding means (ATM), data sources, connected
to said second error correction (ECDEMUX), while said second error protection
means (EPDEMUX), data source, connected to the local memory (MEM), data
receiver; b2) local memory, data source, connected to the outside and to said second
error correction means (ECATM).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
Terminal apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that said fourth decoding
means (TVDEC) comprise: sixth means (HDSDD) for decoding HDTV and SDTV video signals from said
third decoding means (DEMUX), said decoding being applied on one signal at a
time or on both; means (HDSDP) for post-processing the output signal from said sixth
decoding means (HD SDD) which apply noise filtering techniques or format
changes and/or a watermarking criptography function, i.e. insertion of an
electronic signature for detecting unauthorized reproduction and use of the
video signal, and which output a display signal in the SDTV and/or HDTV
formats.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
Terminal apparatus as in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that
bidirectional interfaces (BINT1, BINT2, BINT3) are provided for the input/output
of transport multiplexed SDH/PDH, ATM video signals, which connect
respectively to the inputs of said first, second, third decoding means
(SDH/PDH, ATM, DEMUX).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
273 words
Terminal apparatus as in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that
said control and management unit (CNTRL) controls all the functions performed
by the other blocks so as to essentially perform: A,B) selection of the inputs/outputs from and over the network, through said
bidirectional interface (BINT1, BINT2, BINT3) C) selection of the terminal apparatus operation modes according to the
following possible functions: TR1: real-time decoding of the incoming video signal; TR2: real-time decoding of the incoming video signal and, at the same time,
storing the decoded signal in the local memory (MEM); OL1: storing the signal in the local memory (MEM) only; TR3: read-out of the video signal previously stored and simultaneous
retransmission towards the outside through said bidirectional interfaces (BINT1,
BINT2, BINT3); OL2: retransmission towards the outside only. D) selection of the decoding to be carried out on the received video signal
according to the mode of operation of point C) and contemporary selection of
the SDTV and/or HDT display format, so as to put into effect a display matrix
function, that performs the following functions: F1: signal decoding and display in SDTV standard format; F2: signal decoding and display in HDTV high definition format; F3: decoding of the received SDTV signal, transformation and display in the
HDTV format; F4: decoding of the received HDTV signal, transformation and display in the
SDTV format; F5: decoding and display of the signals simultaneously received in both
SDTV and HDTV formats; F6: decoding and display of the received SDTV signal, transformation and
display in the HDTV format; F7: decoding and display of the received HDTV signal, transformation and
simultaneous display in the SDTV format.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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