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US5539465A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus, systems and methods for providing multiple video data streams from a single source

Assignee: Nvidia Corp
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Filing: 1995-06-07
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Granted: 1996-07-23
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Expires: 2015-06-07
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Abstract

Abstract A method is provided for generating a plurality of displays from a composite video data stream comprising a plurality of frames each including two portions, a first portion of each frame containing data defining even fields of respective first and second displays and a second one of the portions of each frame containing data defining odd fields of the first and second displays. During first and second phases of a set of processing phases, data defining the odd and even fields of the first display are extracted from each received frame. Also during the first and third phases, the extracted data defining the odd and even fields of the first display are written into a first object buffer. During second and fourth phases of the set of processing phases, data defining the odd and even fields of the second display are extracted from each received frame. Also during the second and fourth phases, the extracted data defining the odd and even fields of the second display is written into a second object buffer. During the third and fourth phases, the first display data stored in the first object buffer is retrieved to drive a display device for generating the first display. During the second and fourth phases, the second display data stored in the second object buffer is retrieved to drive a display device for generating the second display.

Inventors

  • 👤 Frank Xu
  • 👤 Robert M. Nally

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 14:41
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N7/0806; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/91; H04N5/92; H04N5/9201; H04N5/9205

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 208 words
A method of generating a composite video data stream comprising the steps of: receiving a first data stream composed of a sequence of frames of video data each having an x-dimension of a preselected number of pixels and a y-dimension of a preselected number of pixels; receiving a second data stream composed of a sequence of frames of video data each having an x-dimension of a preselected number of pixels and a y-dimension of a preselected number of pixels; downscaling the x and y dimensions of the frames of the first data stream to produce a sequence of first blocks of pixels; downscaling the x and y dimensions of the frames of the second data stream to produce a sequence of second blocks of pixels; writing the first blocks into a first object buffer associated with a first memory space during first and third ones of four processing phases; storing the second blocks of data into a second object buffer associated with a second memory space during second and fourth ones of the four processing phases; and outputting each pair of blocks as a field of the composite video data stream; wherein the first and second blocks are disposed horizontally adjacent each frame of the composite data stream.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 208 words
A method of generating a composite video data stream comprising the steps of: receiving a first data stream composed of a sequence of frames of video data each having an x-dimension of a preselected number of pixels and a y-dimension of a preselected number of pixels; receiving a second data stream composed of a sequence of frames of video data each having an x-dimension of a preselected number of pixels and a y-dimension of a preselected number of pixels; downscaling the x and y dimensions of the frames of the first data stream to produce a sequence of first blocks of pixels; downscaling the x and y dimensions of the frames of the second data stream to produce a sequence of second blocks of pixels; writing the first blocks into a first object buffer associated with a first memory space during first and third ones of four processing phases; storing the second blocks of data into a second object buffer associated with a second memory space during second and fourth ones of the four processing phases; and outputting each pair of blocks as a field of the composite video data stream; wherein the first and second blocks are disposed horizontally adjacent each frame of the composite data stream.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 221 words
A method for generating a plurality of displays from a composite video data stream comprising a plurality of frames each including two portions, a first of the portions containing data defining even fields of respective first and second displays, and a second of the portions containing data defining odd fields of the first and second displays, the method comprising the steps of: during first and third phases of a set of phases, extracting the data defining the odd and even fields of the first display from each received frame; during the first and third phases, writing the extracted data defining the odd and even fields of the first display into a first object buffer; during second and fourth phases of the set of phases, extracting the data defining the odd and even fields of the second display from each received frame; during the second and fourth phases, writing the extracted data defining the odd and even fields of the second display in a second object buffer; during the third and fourth phases, retrieving the first display data stored in the first object buffer to drive a display device for generating the first display; and during the second and fourth phases, retrieving the second display data stored in the second object buffer to drive a display device for generating the second display.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 221 words
A method for generating a plurality of displays from a composite video data stream comprising a plurality of frames each including two portions, a first of the portions containing data defining even fields of respective first and second displays, and a second of the portions containing data defining odd fields of the first and second displays, the method comprising the steps of: during first and third phases of a set of phases, extracting the data defining the odd and even fields of the first display from each received frame; during the first and third phases, writing the extracted data defining the odd and even fields of the first display into a first object buffer; during second and fourth phases of the set of phases, extracting the data defining the odd and even fields of the second display from each received frame; during the second and fourth phases, writing the extracted data defining the odd and even fields of the second display in a second object buffer; during the third and fourth phases, retrieving the first display data stored in the first object buffer to drive a display device for generating the first display; and during the second and fourth phases, retrieving the second display data stored in the second object buffer to drive a display device for generating the second display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the first and second display data generates first and second display windows on a display screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the first display data generates a plurality of windows on a display screen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the second display data generates a plurality of windows on a display screen.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 190 words
A method for generating a display from a composite video data stream comprising a plurality of frames each including two fields, a first one of the fields including data defining first and second displays and a second one of the fields including data defining third and fourth displays, the method comprising the steps of: during first and third phases of a set of phases, extracting the data defining the first and second displays from each received frame; during the first and third phases, writing the extracted data defining the first and second displays into a first object buffer; during second and fourth phases of the set of phases, extracting the data defining the third and fourth displays from each received frame; during the second and fourth phases, writing the extracted data defining the third and fourth displays in a second object buffer; during the third and fourth phases, retrieve the first and second display data stored in the first object buffer for driving a display device; and during the second and fourth phases, retrieve the third and fourth data stored in the second object buffer for driving the display device.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 190 words
A method for generating a display from a composite video data stream comprising a plurality of frames each including two fields, a first one of the fields including data defining first and second displays and a second one of the fields including data defining third and fourth displays, the method comprising the steps of: during first and third phases of a set of phases, extracting the data defining the first and second displays from each received frame; during the first and third phases, writing the extracted data defining the first and second displays into a first object buffer; during second and fourth phases of the set of phases, extracting the data defining the third and fourth displays from each received frame; during the second and fourth phases, writing the extracted data defining the third and fourth displays in a second object buffer; during the third and fourth phases, retrieve the first and second display data stored in the first object buffer for driving a display device; and during the second and fourth phases, retrieve the third and fourth data stored in the second object buffer for driving the display device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 6 and further comprising the step of driving the display device with the first and second display data to generate first and second horizontally disposed windows on a display screen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 6 and further comprising the step of driving the display device with the third and fourth display data to generate a corresponding pair of horizontally disposed windows on a display screen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 6 and further comprising the step of driving the display device with the first, second, third and fourth data to generate four corresponding windows on a display screen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 9 wherein first and second windows are horizontally disposed with respect to each other and third and fourth windows are horizontally disposed with respect to each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the first and third windows are vertically disposed with respect to each other and the second and fourth windows are vertically disposed with respect to each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 215 words
A display control system comprising: input circuitry for receiving a composite video data stream composed of a plurality of frames each including two portions, a first of the portions containing data defining even fields of respective first and second displays, and a second of said portions containing data defining odd fields of said first and second displays; a frame buffer memory; and processing circuitry operable to: during first and third phases of a set of phases, extracting the data defining the odd and even fields of the first display from each received frame; during the first and third phases, writing the extracted data defining the odd and even fields of the first display into a first object buffer; during second and fourth phases of the set of phases, extracting the data defining the odd and even fields of the second display from each received frame; during the second and fourth phases, writing the extracted data defining the odd and even fields of the second display in a second object buffer; during the third and fourth phases, retrieve the first display data stored in the first object buffer to drive a display device; and during the second and fourth phases, retrieve the second display data stored in the second object buffer to drive a display device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 215 words
A display control system comprising: input circuitry for receiving a composite video data stream composed of a plurality of frames each including two portions, a first of the portions containing data defining even fields of respective first and second displays, and a second of said portions containing data defining odd fields of said first and second displays; a frame buffer memory; and processing circuitry operable to: during first and third phases of a set of phases, extracting the data defining the odd and even fields of the first display from each received frame; during the first and third phases, writing the extracted data defining the odd and even fields of the first display into a first object buffer; during second and fourth phases of the set of phases, extracting the data defining the odd and even fields of the second display from each received frame; during the second and fourth phases, writing the extracted data defining the odd and even fields of the second display in a second object buffer; during the third and fourth phases, retrieve the first display data stored in the first object buffer to drive a display device; and during the second and fourth phases, retrieve the second display data stored in the second object buffer to drive a display device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 21 words
The system of claim 12 and further comprising a VCR coupled to said input circuitry for providing said composite data stream.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 29 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said system further comprises a display device, said first and second data driving said display device to generate corresponding first and second windows.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 32 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said system further comprises first and second display devices, said first data driving said first display device and said second data driving said second display device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 195 words
A display control system comprising: input circuitry for receiving a composite video data stream comprising a plurality of frames each including two fields, a first one of the fields including data defining first and second displays and a second one of the fields including data defining third and fourth displays; a frame buffer memory; and processing circuitry operable to: during first and third phases of a set of phases, extracting the data defining the first and second displays from each received frame; during the first and third phases, writing the extracted data defining the first and second displays into a first object buffer; during second and fourth phases of the set of phases, extracting the data defining the third and fourth displays from each received frame; during the second and fourth phases, writing the extracted data defining the third and fourth displays in a second object buffer; during the third and fourth phases, retrieve the first and second display data stored in the first object buffer to drive a display device; and during the second and fourth phases, retrieve the third and fourth data stored in the first object buffer to drive the display device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 195 words
A display control system comprising: input circuitry for receiving a composite video data stream comprising a plurality of frames each including two fields, a first one of the fields including data defining first and second displays and a second one of the fields including data defining third and fourth displays; a frame buffer memory; and processing circuitry operable to: during first and third phases of a set of phases, extracting the data defining the first and second displays from each received frame; during the first and third phases, writing the extracted data defining the first and second displays into a first object buffer; during second and fourth phases of the set of phases, extracting the data defining the third and fourth displays from each received frame; during the second and fourth phases, writing the extracted data defining the third and fourth displays in a second object buffer; during the third and fourth phases, retrieve the first and second display data stored in the first object buffer to drive a display device; and during the second and fourth phases, retrieve the third and fourth data stored in the first object buffer to drive the display device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 20 words
The system of claim 16 and further including a VCR for providing said composite data stream to said input circuitry.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 21 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said first, second, third and fourth data generate corresponding windows on a single display screen.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4027333A Cited
US4743965A Cited
US5115304A Cited
US4975771A Cited
US5430474A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-07-23 2000-01-22 2000-07-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-07-23 2004-01-22 2004-07-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-07-23 2008-01-22 2008-07-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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