US5451982A
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US
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Still store system and method with simple image access
Assignee: TOMAS RECORDINGS LLC
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Filing: 1992-06-23
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Granted: 1995-09-19
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Expires: 2012-06-23
Abstract
Abstract A digital still store system (10) receives composite digital 4:2:2 D1 video signal inputs in parallel at (12) or serially at (14). The signals are supplied in component form selectively to one of framestores (18) and (20). The component signals are supplied from the framestores (18) and (20) to hard disks (22) through a buffer store (24) and disk input/output (I/O) circuits (26). Each of the hard disks (22) stores still video images as either 525 or 625 line digital frames for either NTSC or PAL composite signal inputs and outputs. Y and C fields of component video signal information are supplied from the hard disks (22) through the buffer store (24) and one of the frame stores 18 and 20 to a compositor (28) for output as digital 4:2:2 video signals. The buffer store (24) obtains the video signal fields for either full size images or 1/4 size images, when an array for browsing and selection is desired. When the 1/4 size images are desired, the field video signals are obtained by addressing every fourth pixel of the field for readout.
Inventors
- 👤 John Stern
- 👤 Luigi Gallo
- 👤 Douglas J. George
- 👤 Junaid Sheikh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 00:41
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/60; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/21; H04N1/2166; H04N1/46; H04N1/64; H04N1/646
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
454 words
A system for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames consisting of a plurality of pixels, which comprises at least one framestore for storing frames of video signals connected to a video image signal input, at least one bulk video image signal store for a plurality of video images, a buffer store connected to supply video image signals between said at least one framestore and said at least one bulk video image signal store, said buffer store being connected to receive video image signals from said at least one framestore, said buffer store having an address control for storing video image signals in said at least one bulk video image signal store in a predetermined manner in a plurality of pixel storage locations and selectively retrieving video image signals, from said at least one bulk video image signal store, for supply to said framestore, for full-size video image frames by addressing sequential pixel storage locations and reduced-size images by addressing one out of a given number of sequential pixel storage locations for the plurality of pixels in full-size video image frames, to provide output video signals selectively for full-size video image frames and reduced-size images as an image frame without image data processing to modify video image signals, said address control being configured to store the video image signals in said at least one bulk video image signal store in the predetermined manner with a storing operation by dividing a video image frame into N subregions, storing one of every X pixels from a given starting point of the video image signals in the video image frame in a first one of the N subregions contiguously in said at least one bulk video image signal store, incrementing from the given starting point of the video image signals by one pixel to a new starting point of the video image signals in the video image frame, storing one of every X pixels from the incremented starting point of the video image signals in the video image frame in a second one of the N subregions contiguously in said at least one bulk video image signal store, and repeating the incrementing and storing until the Nth one of the N subregions is reached, where N and X are integers, said address control being further configured to provide the output video signals for full sized video image frames from said at least one bulk video image store by reversing the storing operation, said address control being further configured to provide the output video signals for the reduced size images by retrieving one of the N subregions stored in said at least one bulk video image store for each of the reduced size images.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
454 words
A system for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames consisting of a plurality of pixels, which comprises at least one framestore for storing frames of video signals connected to a video image signal input, at least one bulk video image signal store for a plurality of video images, a buffer store connected to supply video image signals between said at least one framestore and said at least one bulk video image signal store, said buffer store being connected to receive video image signals from said at least one framestore, said buffer store having an address control for storing video image signals in said at least one bulk video image signal store in a predetermined manner in a plurality of pixel storage locations and selectively retrieving video image signals, from said at least one bulk video image signal store, for supply to said framestore, for full-size video image frames by addressing sequential pixel storage locations and reduced-size images by addressing one out of a given number of sequential pixel storage locations for the plurality of pixels in full-size video image frames, to provide output video signals selectively for full-size video image frames and reduced-size images as an image frame without image data processing to modify video image signals, said address control being configured to store the video image signals in said at least one bulk video image signal store in the predetermined manner with a storing operation by dividing a video image frame into N subregions, storing one of every X pixels from a given starting point of the video image signals in the video image frame in a first one of the N subregions contiguously in said at least one bulk video image signal store, incrementing from the given starting point of the video image signals by one pixel to a new starting point of the video image signals in the video image frame, storing one of every X pixels from the incremented starting point of the video image signals in the video image frame in a second one of the N subregions contiguously in said at least one bulk video image signal store, and repeating the incrementing and storing until the Nth one of the N subregions is reached, where N and X are integers, said address control being further configured to provide the output video signals for full sized video image frames from said at least one bulk video image store by reversing the storing operation, said address control being further configured to provide the output video signals for the reduced size images by retrieving one of the N subregions stored in said at least one bulk video image store for each of the reduced size images.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 1 in which said at least one framestore includes a first framestore and a second framestore, said system having control means for accessing said first framestore and said second framestore selectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 1 in which said at least one bulk video image signal store comprises a disk store.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 1 in which the video image signals are digital signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 1 additionally comprising a control means for supplying video image signals as a frame comprising at least a first image and a second image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 5 in which said control means is further for supplying an electronic comparison of a portion of the first image and a portion of the second image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 5 in which said control means includes a plurality of modal keys for selecting from a plurality of operating modes for said system, a plurality of keys for entering values identifying image frames, a system control display, and a means for moving a cursor in the image frames when displayed on a video display.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 7 in which said means for moving the cursor further is for scrolling selections in said system control display.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 1 in which said address control is configured to provide the reduced-size images as an array.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 1 additionally comprising an input for external control of said system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 10 in which said input for external control of said system includes means for providing additional information for storage with video image signals.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
359 words
A method for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames consisting of a plurality of pixels, which comprises receiving video image signals defining the video image frames in at least one framestore, storing the video image signals in a bulk storage means in a predetermined manner in a plurality of pixel storage locations, retrieving the video image signals from the bulk storage means, applying the video image signals to the at least one framestore and supplying the video image signals from the at least one framestore selectively as full-size video image frames by addressing sequential pixel storage locations and reduced-size images by addressing one out of a given number of sequential pixel storage locations for the plurality of pixels in the full-size video image frames, and providing output video signals selectively for the full-size video image frames for the reduced-size images as an image frame, the video image signals being stored in the bulk storage means with a storing operation by dividing a video image frame into N subregions, storing one of every X pixels from a given starting point of the video image signals in the video image frame in a first one of the N subregions contiguously in the bulk storage means, incrementing from the given starting point of the video image signals by one pixel to a new starting point of the video image signals in the video image frame, storing one of every X pixels from the incremented starting point of the video image signals in the video image frame in a second one of the N subregions contiguously in the bulk storage means, and repeating the incrementing and storing until the Nth one of the N subregions is reached, where N and X are integers, said address control being further configured to provide the output video signals for full sized video image frames from the bulk storage means by reversing the storing operation, said address control being further configured to provide the output video signals for the reduced size images by retrieving one of the N subregions stored in the bulk storage means for each of the reduced size images.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
359 words
A method for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames consisting of a plurality of pixels, which comprises receiving video image signals defining the video image frames in at least one framestore, storing the video image signals in a bulk storage means in a predetermined manner in a plurality of pixel storage locations, retrieving the video image signals from the bulk storage means, applying the video image signals to the at least one framestore and supplying the video image signals from the at least one framestore selectively as full-size video image frames by addressing sequential pixel storage locations and reduced-size images by addressing one out of a given number of sequential pixel storage locations for the plurality of pixels in the full-size video image frames, and providing output video signals selectively for the full-size video image frames for the reduced-size images as an image frame, the video image signals being stored in the bulk storage means with a storing operation by dividing a video image frame into N subregions, storing one of every X pixels from a given starting point of the video image signals in the video image frame in a first one of the N subregions contiguously in the bulk storage means, incrementing from the given starting point of the video image signals by one pixel to a new starting point of the video image signals in the video image frame, storing one of every X pixels from the incremented starting point of the video image signals in the video image frame in a second one of the N subregions contiguously in the bulk storage means, and repeating the incrementing and storing until the Nth one of the N subregions is reached, where N and X are integers, said address control being further configured to provide the output video signals for full sized video image frames from the bulk storage means by reversing the storing operation, said address control being further configured to provide the output video signals for the reduced size images by retrieving one of the N subregions stored in the bulk storage means for each of the reduced size images.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 12 in which the video image signals are selectively received by a first framestore and a second framestore comprising the at least one framestore.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 12 in which the video image signals are supplied as a frame comprising at least a first image and a second image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 14 additionally comprising supplying an electronic comparison of a portion of the first image and a portion of the second image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 12 in which the reduced-size images are provided as an array in an image frame.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 12 in which additional information for an image is stored with the video image signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 1 in which N is equal to X squared.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 18 in which N is 16 and X is 4.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 12 in which N is equal to X squared.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method for storing and retrieving information representing a multiplicity of video image frames of claim 20 in which N is 16 and X is 4.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-09-18 | 1999-03-20 | 1999-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-18 | 2003-03-20 | 2003-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-18 | 2007-03-20 | 2007-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |