US4855827A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of providing identification, other digital data and multiple audio tracks in video systems
Assignee: Phyxation Inc
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Filing: 1987-07-21
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Granted: 1989-08-08
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Expires: 2007-07-21
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for imbedding digital data and multiple audio (analog) track information in a video signal in a manner compatible with ordinary broadcast TV and transparent to a conventional television receiver is disclosed. The method and apparatus may provide multiple independent audio tracks and a substantial level of interaction with a viewer utilizing special reception equipment, which equipment may be utilized to provide a fully interactive system from signal sources not required to be compatible with convention receivers. The method and apparatus includes the ability of imbedding both analog and digital signals in a video signal, and while advantageous for interactive TV systems, may be used for a multitude of purposes in various video systems.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Best
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:19
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/91; H04N5/92; H04N5/9201; H04N5/9206; G; G09; G09B; G09B5/00; G09B5/06; G09B5/065; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N9/00; H04N9/79; H04N9/80; H04N9/802
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of providing multiple analog signals in a composite signal of a video system comprising the steps of: (a) for each of a plurality of analog signals, sampling such analog signal a predetermined number of times for each video scan line to provide a plurality of sampled analog signals for each video field; (b) for each sampled analog signal, and for each video field, providing as a video signal for at least one predetermined video scan line associated with such analog signal, the sampled analog signal associated with such analog signal and such field at a rate wherein the sampled analog signal will be within the respective said at least one predetermined video scan line associated with said analog signal; whereby said plurality of analog signals may be recorded, transmitted and otherwise manipulated as video signals on a plurality of scan lines of each field of the composite signal of the video system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of providing multiple analog signals in a composite signal of a video system comprising the steps of: (a) for each of a plurality of analog signals, sampling such analog signal a predetermined number of times for each video scan line to provide a plurality of sampled analog signals for each video field; (b) for each sampled analog signal, and for each video field, providing as a video signal for at least one predetermined video scan line associated with such analog signal, the sampled analog signal associated with such analog signal and such field at a rate wherein the sampled analog signal will be within the respective said at least one predetermined video scan line associated with said analog signal; whereby said plurality of analog signals may be recorded, transmitted and otherwise manipulated as video signals on a plurality of scan lines of each field of the composite signal of the video system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) the rate at which the sampled analog signals are provided for each field is a rate referenced to the chroma subcarrier frequency of the video system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the rate at which the sampled analog signals are provided for each field is a multiple of the chroma subcarrier frequency of the video system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 3 wherein, in step (b) of claim 1, said at least one predetermined video scan line associated with such analog signal comprises two video scan lines associated with such analog signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3 wherein each of said predetermined video scan lines is in the field line range of 22 to 29.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of said predetermined video scan lines is in the field line range of 22 to 29.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of said predetermined video scan lines is above the normally viewable portion of the video image, whereby the analog signal will not be viewable on an ordinary television receiver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step (b), for the at least one predetermined video scan line associated with such analog signal, the sampled analog signals is provided as the video signal starting a predetermined time after a reference video signal reaches a predetermined reference level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the reference level is between the black and the white levels, and wherein video signal reaches the predetermined reference level from a whiter level a predetermined length of time after the horizontal blanking interval.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 1 further including providing digital signals in the signal of a video system comprising the additional step of: (c) for each predetermined video scan line associated with each analog signal, providing as a video signal for part of the respective video scan line, a plurality of digital signals, whereby the respective scan lines of the signal of the video system will contain both analog and digital signal information.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of providing multiple analog signals in a composite signal of a video system comprising the steps of: (a) for each of a plurality of analog signals, dividing the analog signal into signal segments, each having a time duration substantially equal to one field time of the video system; (b) for each analog signal, and for each video field, providing as a video signal for at least one predetermined video scan line associated with such analog signal, one of said analog signal segments at a substantially increased rate wherein the analog signal for each field will be within said at least one predetermined video scan line associated with said analog signal; whereby said plurality of analog signals may be recorded, transmitted and otherwise and otherwise manipulated as video signals on a plurality of scan lines of each field of the composite signal of the video system.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of providing multiple analog signals in a composite signal of a video system comprising the steps of: (a) for each of a plurality of analog signals, dividing the analog signal into signal segments, each having a time duration substantially equal to one field time of the video system; (b) for each analog signal, and for each video field, providing as a video signal for at least one predetermined video scan line associated with such analog signal, one of said analog signal segments at a substantially increased rate wherein the analog signal for each field will be within said at least one predetermined video scan line associated with said analog signal; whereby said plurality of analog signals may be recorded, transmitted and otherwise and otherwise manipulated as video signals on a plurality of scan lines of each field of the composite signal of the video system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 wherein, for each respective video scan line, the plurality of digital signals precedes the sampled analog signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the analog signals are audio signals.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of providing multiple analog signals in the signal of a video system comprising the steps of: (a) for each analog signal, dividing the analog signal into signal segments, each having a time duration substantially equal to one field time of the video system; (b) for each analog signal, and for each video field, providing as a video signal for at least one predetermined video scan line associated with such analog signal, one of said analog signal segments at a substantially increased rate wherein the plurality of analog signals for each field will each be within the video signal of said at least one predetermined video scan line associated with said analog signal; whereby a plurality of analog signals may be recorded, transmitted and otherwise manipulated as video signals on a plurality of scan lines of each field of the signal of the video system.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of providing multiple analog signals in the signal of a video system comprising the steps of: (a) for each analog signal, dividing the analog signal into signal segments, each having a time duration substantially equal to one field time of the video system; (b) for each analog signal, and for each video field, providing as a video signal for at least one predetermined video scan line associated with such analog signal, one of said analog signal segments at a substantially increased rate wherein the plurality of analog signals for each field will each be within the video signal of said at least one predetermined video scan line associated with said analog signal; whereby a plurality of analog signals may be recorded, transmitted and otherwise manipulated as video signals on a plurality of scan lines of each field of the signal of the video system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said at least one predetermined video scan line associated with such analog signal comprises two video scan lines associated with such analog signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14 wherein each of said predetermined video scan lines is in the field line range of 22 to 29.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 14 wherein each of said predetermined video scan lines is above the normally viewable portion of the video image, whereby the analog signal will not be viewable on an ordinary television receiver.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 17 wherein in step (b), for the at least one predetermined video scan line associated with such analog signal, the analog signal segment is provided as the video signal starting a predetermined time after a reference video signal reaches a predetermined reference level.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the reference level is between the black and the white levels, and wherein video signal reaches the reference level from a whiter level a predetermined length of time after the horizontal blanking interval.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 14 further including providing digital signals in the signal of a video system comprising the additional step of: (c) for each predetermined video scan line associated with each analog signal, providing as a video signal for part of the respective video scan line, a plurality of digital signals, whereby the respective scan lines of the signal of the video system will contain both analog and digital signal information.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the rate at which the plurality of digital signals is provided is a rate referenced to the chroma subcarrier frequency of the video system.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 20 wherein, for each respective video scan line, the plurality of digital signals precedes the sampled analog signals.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for detecting any of multiple analog signals in a video signal comprising: first means responsive to the video signal for recovering the chroma subcarrier therefrom; second means responsive to the video signal for detecting the occurrence of predetermined lines of each video field third means coupled to said first and second means and responsive to the video signal for providing predetermined portions of said predetermined lines as at least one of said multiple analog signals.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for detecting any of multiple analog signals in a video signal comprising: first means responsive to the video signal for recovering the chroma subcarrier therefrom; second means responsive to the video signal for detecting the occurrence of predetermined lines of each video field third means coupled to said first and second means and responsive to the video signal for providing predetermined portions of said predetermined lines as at least one of said multiple analog signals.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 23 further including fourth means for extending the time base of said predetermined portions of said predetermined lines to occupy one full video field time, whereby each of said multiple analog signals is extended in time to provide a continuous analog signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
95 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said third means is a means for sampling the video signal at a sample rate referenced to the chroma subcarrier frequency and said fourth means comprises an analog to digital converter, means for converting said samples to digital samples, a memory means for temporary storage of said digital samples at said sample rate and for providing the stored digital samples to a digital to analog converter at a much slower rate, said digital to analog converter being a means to convert said digital samples to a continuous analog signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said third means is a means for sampling the video signal at a sample rate which is a multiple of the chroma subcarrier.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said second means is a means for detecting the occurrence of predetermined lines of each video field above the normally viewable lines of each field.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said second means is a mean for detecting the occurrence of predetermined lines of each video field in the range of 22 to 29.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said third means is a means for providing said predetermined portions of said predetermined lines a predetermined time after said video signal passes through a predetermined reference level.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said third means is responsive to said video signal passing through said predetermined reference level a predetermined length of time after the horizontal blanking interval.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said third means is responsive to said video signal through a fourth means, said fourth means being responsive to predetermined portions of said video signal to provide a video signal to said third means adjusted in offset and scale factor.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 24 for also detecting multiple digital signals in a video signal further comprised of fifth means coupled to said first and second means and responsive to the video signal for sampling at a predetermined sample rate, predetermined portions of said predetermined lines to recover digital data therefrom.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 32 wherein, for each respective predetermined line, said fifth means samples the video signal at a predetermined rate prior to said third means providing predetermined portions of said predetermined lines as at least one of said multiple analog signals.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said third means is a means for sampling the video signal at a sample rate which is a multiple of the chroma subcarrier frequency, and said fifth means is a means for sampling the video signal at a rate which is a submultiple of the chroma subcarrier rate.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said fourth means comprises an analog to digital converter, means for converting said samples to digital samples, a memory means for temporary storage of said digital samples at said sample rate and for providing the stored digital samples to a digital to analog converter at a much slower rate, said digital to analog converter being a means to convert said digital samples to a continuous analog signal.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
197 words
Apparatus for detecting digital data and any of multiple analog signals in predetermined lines of a video signal comprising first means responsive to the video signal for recovering the chroma subcarrier therefrom; second means responsive to the video signal for detecting the occurrence of at least some of said predetermined lines of each video field; third means for providing a timing reference signal responsive to the video signal passing through a predetermined reference level within a predetermined time window after the horizontal blanking interval, at least for said at least some of said predetermined lines; fourth means responsive to said first, second and third means for sampling the video signal a first predetermined number of chroma subcarrier cycles after the occurrence of said timing reference signal to provide a digital data bit, and for sampling the video signal each N chroma subcarrier cycles thereafter for a second predetermined number of times to provide for the respective predetermined line, a plurality of digital data bits; and fifth means responsive to said first, second and third means for providing predetermined portions of said at least some of said predetermined lines as at least one of said multiple analog signals.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
197 words
Apparatus for detecting digital data and any of multiple analog signals in predetermined lines of a video signal comprising first means responsive to the video signal for recovering the chroma subcarrier therefrom; second means responsive to the video signal for detecting the occurrence of at least some of said predetermined lines of each video field; third means for providing a timing reference signal responsive to the video signal passing through a predetermined reference level within a predetermined time window after the horizontal blanking interval, at least for said at least some of said predetermined lines; fourth means responsive to said first, second and third means for sampling the video signal a first predetermined number of chroma subcarrier cycles after the occurrence of said timing reference signal to provide a digital data bit, and for sampling the video signal each N chroma subcarrier cycles thereafter for a second predetermined number of times to provide for the respective predetermined line, a plurality of digital data bits; and fifth means responsive to said first, second and third means for providing predetermined portions of said at least some of said predetermined lines as at least one of said multiple analog signals.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 36 further including sixth means for extending the time base of said predetermined portions of said predetermined lines to occupy one full video field time, whereby each of said multiple analog signals is extended in time to provide a continuous analog signal.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
95 words
The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said fifth means is a means for sampling the video signal at a sample rate referenced to the chroma subcarrier frequency and said sixth means comprises an analog to digital converter, means for converting said samples to digital samples, a memory means for temporary storage of said digital samples at said sample rate and for providing the stored digital samples to a digital to analog converter at a much slower rate, said digital to analog converter being a means to convert said digital samples to a continuous analog signal.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the sample rate referenced to the chroma subcarrier frequency is an integer times the chroma subcarrier frequency.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said fourth and fifth means are responsive to said video signal through a sixth means, said sixth means being responsive to predetermined portions of said video signal to provide a video signal to said fourth and fifth means adjusted in offset and scale factor.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 36 wherein N is 4, and the total number of samples per line is 8.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said predetermined lines are in the range of field lines 22 through 29.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
108 words
The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the number of field lines for each analog signal is two, and wherein said fifth means is a means for sampling the video signal at a sample rate referenced to the chroma subcarrier frequency and said sixth means comprises an analog to digital converter, means for converting said samples to digital samples, a memory means for temporary storage of said digital samples at said sample rate and for providing the stored digital samples to a digital to analog converter at a much slower rate, said digital to analog converter being a means to convert said digital samples to a continuous analog signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-07 | 1993-02-06 | 1993-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-07 | 1997-02-06 | 1997-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-07 | 2001-02-06 | 2001-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |