← Back to Patent Explorer
US5563660A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Decoder for a compressed digital video signal using a common memory for decoding and 2/3 pull-down conversion

Assignee: Sony Corp
•
Filing: 1993-11-30
•
Granted: 1996-10-08
•
Expires: 2013-11-30
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An apparatus for expanding a compressed digital video signal representing a motion picture to provide a digital video output signal. The compressed digital video signal comprises plural interlaced frames with a frame rate of 24 Hz. The digital video output signal comprises plural pictures with a picture rate of at least 49 Hz. The apparatus includes a frame memory comprising no more than four pages, each page storing one frame. The apparatus also includes an expander for expanding the compressed digital video signal to derive a reconstructed interlaced frame from each frame of the compressed digital video signal. Finally, the apparatus includes a controller that controls writing of each reconstructed interlaced frame into one page of the frame memory. The controller also controls reading out of the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory to provide the pictures of the digital video output signal. Reading out is controlled to effect 2-3 pull down conversion of the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the frame memory with a frame rate of 24 Hz to provide the pictures of the digital video output signal with a picture rate of at least 49 Hz.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ikuo Tsukagoshi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 22:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/01; H04N7/0112; H04N19/00; H04N19/42; H04N19/423; H04N19/426; H04N19/427; H04N19/50; H04N19/503; H04N19/51; H04N19/577; H04N19/60; H04N19/61; H04N19/85; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/91; H04N5/93; H04N5/931; H04N5/92; H04N5/926; H04N5/9261; H04N5/9264

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim 409 words
Apparatus for expanding a compressed digital video signal representing a motion picture to provide a digital video output signal, the compressed digital video signal including plural interlaced frames and having a frame rate of 24 Hz, the digital video output signal being selectably one of interlaced and non-interlaced in response to an interlace/non-interlace control signal, and including plural pictures having a picture rate of at least 49 Hz, the picture rate being a field rate when the digital video output signal is interlaced and being a frame rate when the digital video output signal is non-interlaced, the apparatus comprising: expander means, receiving the compressed digital video signal, for expanding each of the frames of the compressed digital video signal to derive a reconstructed interlaced frame therefrom, the expander means deriving successive reconstructed interlaced frames at a frame rate of 24 Hz, and expanding ones of the frames of the compressed digital video signal using respective reference pictures; a frame memory comprising no more than four pages, each of the pages storing one reconstructed interlaced frame; writing means for writing each reconstructed interlaced frame from the expander means into one of the pages of the frame memory; reading means for reading out the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory to provide the pictures of the digital video output signal, and additionally for reading out the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory for feeding to the expander means for use thereby as the reference pictures; and control means for controlling the reading means, the control means: operating in response to the interlace/non-interlace control signal to cause the reading means to read out the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory to provide an interlaced video signal as the digital video output signal when the interlace/non-interlace control signal has a first state and to provide a non-interlaced video signal as the digital video output signal when the interlace/non-interlace control signal has a second state, and indicating to the reading means each of the pages of the frame memory wherefrom the reconstructed interlaced frame stored therein is to be read out more than once to effect 2-3 pull down conversion of the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory at the frame rate of 24 Hz to provide the pictures of the digital video output signal at the picture rate of at least 49 Hz.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 409 words
Apparatus for expanding a compressed digital video signal representing a motion picture to provide a digital video output signal, the compressed digital video signal including plural interlaced frames and having a frame rate of 24 Hz, the digital video output signal being selectably one of interlaced and non-interlaced in response to an interlace/non-interlace control signal, and including plural pictures having a picture rate of at least 49 Hz, the picture rate being a field rate when the digital video output signal is interlaced and being a frame rate when the digital video output signal is non-interlaced, the apparatus comprising: expander means, receiving the compressed digital video signal, for expanding each of the frames of the compressed digital video signal to derive a reconstructed interlaced frame therefrom, the expander means deriving successive reconstructed interlaced frames at a frame rate of 24 Hz, and expanding ones of the frames of the compressed digital video signal using respective reference pictures; a frame memory comprising no more than four pages, each of the pages storing one reconstructed interlaced frame; writing means for writing each reconstructed interlaced frame from the expander means into one of the pages of the frame memory; reading means for reading out the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory to provide the pictures of the digital video output signal, and additionally for reading out the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory for feeding to the expander means for use thereby as the reference pictures; and control means for controlling the reading means, the control means: operating in response to the interlace/non-interlace control signal to cause the reading means to read out the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory to provide an interlaced video signal as the digital video output signal when the interlace/non-interlace control signal has a first state and to provide a non-interlaced video signal as the digital video output signal when the interlace/non-interlace control signal has a second state, and indicating to the reading means each of the pages of the frame memory wherefrom the reconstructed interlaced frame stored therein is to be read out more than once to effect 2-3 pull down conversion of the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory at the frame rate of 24 Hz to provide the pictures of the digital video output signal at the picture rate of at least 49 Hz.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 90 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when the interlace/non-interlace control signal has the first state, to cause the control means to provide the interlaced video signal as the digital video output signal: each picture of the interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal is one field; and the control means causes the reading means to read out each reconstructed interlaced frame stored in the pages of the frame memory to provide at least two fields of the interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 126 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein, when the interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal has a field rate of about 50 Hz, the control means controls the reading out of the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory, and after the reading means has read out eleven consecutive reconstructed interlaced frames, each to provide two fields of the interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal, the control means indicates to the reading means that the page of the frame memory wherefrom the reading means is to read out a twelfth consecutive reconstructed interlaced frame is to be read out to provide three fields of the interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 123 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein, when the interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal has a field rate of about 60 Hz, the control means controls the reading out of the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory, and after the reading means has read out one reconstructed interlaced frame to provide two fields of the interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal, the control means indicates to the reading means that the page of the frame memory wherefrom the reading means is to read out a next reconstructed interlaced frame is to be read out to provide three fields of the interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 173 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when the interlace/non-interlace control signal has the second state, to cause the control means to provide the non-interlaced video signal as the digital video output signal: each picture of the non-interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal is one frame; the reconstructed interlaced frame stored in each of the pages of the frame memory includes an odd field and an even field, each field including plural lines; and the control means causes the reading means to read out the interlaced reconstructed frames stored in the pages of the frame memory such that each of the reconstructed interlaced frames is read out at least twice, each reading out providing one frame of the non-interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal, and causes the reading means to read out the lines of the odd field thereof alternately with the lines of the even field thereof to provide each of the pictures of the non-interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 131 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein, when the non-interlace video signal provided as the digital video output signal has a field rate of about 50 Hz, the control means controls the reading out of the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory, and, after the control means has determined that the reading means has read out eleven consecutive reconstructed interlaced frames, each to provide two frames of the non-interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal, the control means indicates to the reading means that the page of the frame memory wherefrom the reading means is to read out a twelfth reconstructed interlaced frame is to be read out to provide three frames of the non-interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 128 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein, when the non-interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal has a field rate of about 60 Hz, the control means controls the reading of the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory, and, after the control means has determined that the reading means has read out one reconstructed interlaced frame to provide two frames of the non-interlace video signal provided as the digital video output signal, the control means indicates to the reading means that the page of the frame memory wherefrom the reading means is to read out a next reconstructed interlaced frame is to be read out to provide three frames of the non-interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 93 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the control means is additionally for notifying the reading means of the pages of the frame memory wherefrom the reading means is to read out the reconstructed interlaced frames for feeding to the expander means; and the expander means includes: motion compensation means for deriving the respective reference pictures from the reconstructed interlaced frames received from the reading means, and means for reconstructing the reconstructed interlaced frames from the frames of the compressed digital video signal and the respective reference pictures derived by the motion compensation means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 68 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: the compressed digital video signal additionally includes motion vectors; the apparatus additionally comprises demultiplexing means for extracting the motion vectors from the compressed digital video signal; and the motion compensation means derives the reference pictures from the reconstructed interlaced frames received from the reading means in response to the motion vectors extracted from the compressed digital video signal by the demultiplexing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 221 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the control means comprises: first converter means for: generating a write mode signal indicating the one of the page of the frame memory wherein to each reconstructed interlaced frame received from the expander means is to be written; and generating a read mode signal indicating the one of the pages of the frame memory wherefrom each reconstructed interlaced frame is to be read out to provide at least one of the pictures of the digital video output signal, and second converter means, coupled to the first converter means, for controlling timing of the write mode signal and the read mode signal for each of the pages of the frame memory; the control means is additionally for feeding the write mode signal to the writing means to cause the writing means to write each reconstructed interlaced frame received from the expander means into the one of the pages of the frame memory indicated by the write mode signal; and the control means is additionally for feeding the read mode signal to the reading means to cause the reading means to read out, as at least one of the pictures of the digital video output signal, the reconstructed interlaced frame stored in the one of the pages of the frame memory indicated by the read mode signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 47 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first converter means is for generating the read mode signal more than once to indicate to the reading means the pages of the frame memory wherefrom the reconstructed interlaced frame stored therein is to be read out more than once.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 48 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first converter means is additionally for generating a signal for feeding to the reading means to cause the reconstructed interlaced frame stored in the one of the pages of the frame memory to be read out as more than two pictures.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 497 words
A system for compressing a digital video input signal representing a motion picture to provide a compressed digital video signal including plural interlaced frames having a frame rate of 24 Hz, and for expanding the compressed digital video signal to provide a digital video output signal, the digital video output signal being selectably one of interlaced and non-interlaced in response to an interlace/non-interlace control signal, and including plural pictures having a picture rate of at least 49 Hz, the picture rate being a field rate when the digital video output signal is interlaced and being a frame rate when the digital video output signal is non-interlace, the system comprising: an encoder, including: deriving means for deriving an interlaced digital video signal having a frame rate greater than 24 Hz from a motion picture film source comprising plural frames having a frame rate of 24 Hz, the deriving means performing 2-3 pull-down conversion, and compressor means for compressing the interlaced digital video signal having a frame rate of greater than 24 Hz to provide the compressed digital video signal with the frame rate of 24 Hz; and a decoder, including: expander means, receiving the compressed digital video signal, for expanding each of the frames of the compressed digital signal to derive a reconstructed interlaced frame therefrom, the expander means deriving successive reconstructed interlaced frames at a frame rate of 24 Hz, and expanding ones of the frames of the compressed digital video signal using respective reference pictures, a frame memory comprising no more than four pages, each of the pages storing one reconstructed interlaced frame, writing means for writing each reconstructed interlaced frame from the expander means into one of the pages of the frame memory, reading means for reading out the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory to provide the pictures of the digital video output signal, and additionally for reading out the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory for feeding to the expander means for use thereby as the reference pictures, and control means for controlling the reading means, the control means: operating in response to the interlace/non-interlace control signal to cause the reading means to read out the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory to provide an interlaced video signal as the digital video output signal when the interlace/non-interlace control signal has a first state and to provide a non-interlace video signal as the digital video output signal when interlace control signal has a second state; and indicating to the reading means each of the pages of the frame memory wherefrom the reconstructed interlaced frame stored therein is to be read out more than once to effect 2-3 pull down conversion of the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory at the frame rate of 24 Hz to provide the pictures of the digital video output signal at the picture rate of at least 49 Hz.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 497 words
A system for compressing a digital video input signal representing a motion picture to provide a compressed digital video signal including plural interlaced frames having a frame rate of 24 Hz, and for expanding the compressed digital video signal to provide a digital video output signal, the digital video output signal being selectably one of interlaced and non-interlaced in response to an interlace/non-interlace control signal, and including plural pictures having a picture rate of at least 49 Hz, the picture rate being a field rate when the digital video output signal is interlaced and being a frame rate when the digital video output signal is non-interlace, the system comprising: an encoder, including: deriving means for deriving an interlaced digital video signal having a frame rate greater than 24 Hz from a motion picture film source comprising plural frames having a frame rate of 24 Hz, the deriving means performing 2-3 pull-down conversion, and compressor means for compressing the interlaced digital video signal having a frame rate of greater than 24 Hz to provide the compressed digital video signal with the frame rate of 24 Hz; and a decoder, including: expander means, receiving the compressed digital video signal, for expanding each of the frames of the compressed digital signal to derive a reconstructed interlaced frame therefrom, the expander means deriving successive reconstructed interlaced frames at a frame rate of 24 Hz, and expanding ones of the frames of the compressed digital video signal using respective reference pictures, a frame memory comprising no more than four pages, each of the pages storing one reconstructed interlaced frame, writing means for writing each reconstructed interlaced frame from the expander means into one of the pages of the frame memory, reading means for reading out the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory to provide the pictures of the digital video output signal, and additionally for reading out the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory for feeding to the expander means for use thereby as the reference pictures, and control means for controlling the reading means, the control means: operating in response to the interlace/non-interlace control signal to cause the reading means to read out the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory to provide an interlaced video signal as the digital video output signal when the interlace/non-interlace control signal has a first state and to provide a non-interlace video signal as the digital video output signal when interlace control signal has a second state; and indicating to the reading means each of the pages of the frame memory wherefrom the reconstructed interlaced frame stored therein is to be read out more than once to effect 2-3 pull down conversion of the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory at the frame rate of 24 Hz to provide the pictures of the digital video output signal at the picture rate of at least 49 Hz.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 93 words
The system of claim 13, wherein, when the interlace/non-interlace control signal has the first state, to cause the control signal to provide the interlaced video signal as the digital video output signal: each picture of the interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal is one field; and in the decoder, the control means causes the reading means to read out each reconstructed interlaced frame stored in the pages of the frame memory to provide at least two fields of the interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 177 words
The system of claim 13, wherein, when the interlace/non-interlace control signal has the second state, to cause the control means to provide the non-interlaced video signal as the digital video output signal: each picture of the non-interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal is one frame; and in the decoder: the reconstructed interlaced frame stored in each of the pages of the frame memory includes an odd field and an even field, each field including plural lines, and the control means causes the reading means to read out the interlaced reconstructed frames stored in the pages of the frame memory such that each of the reconstructed interlaced frames is read out at least twice, each reading out providing one frame of the non-interlace video signal provided as the digital video output signal, and causes the reading means to read out the lines of the odd field thereof alternately with the lines of the even field thereof to provide each of the pictures of the non-interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 96 words
The system of claim 13, wherein, in the decoder: the control means is additionally for notifying the reading means of the pages of the frame memory wherefrom the reading means is to read out the reconstructed interlaced frames for feeding to the expander means; and the expander means includes: motion compensation means for deriving the respective reference pictures from the reconstructed interlaced frames received from the reading means, and means for reconstructing the reconstructed interlaced frames from the frames of the compressed digital video signal and the respective reference pictures derived by the motion compensation means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 86 words
The system of claim 16, wherein: in the encoder, the compressor means includes means for generating motion vectors and for including the motion vectors in the compressed digital video signal; the decoder additionally comprises demultiplexing means for extracting the motion vectors from the compressed digital video signal; and in the decoder, the motion compensation means derives the reference pictures from the reconstructed interlaced frames received from the reading means in response to the motion vectors extracted from the compressed digital video signal by the demultiplexing means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 223 words
The system of claim 13, wherein, in the decoder: the control means comprises: first converter means for: generating a write mode signal indicating the one of the pages of the frame memory whereinto each reconstructed interlaced frame received from the expander means is to be written; and generating a read mode signal indicating the one of the pages of the frame memory wherefrom each reconstructed interlaced frame is to be read out to provide at least one of the pictures of the digital video output signal, and second converter means, coupled to the first converter means, for controlling timing of the write mode signal and the read mode signal for each of the pages of the frame memory: the control means is additionally for feeding the write mode signal to the writing means to cause the writing means to write each reconstructed interlaced frame received from the expander means into the one of the pages of the frame memory indicated by the write mode signal; and the control means is additionally for feeding the read mode signal to the reading means to cause the reading means to read out, as at least one of the pictures of the digital video output signal, the reconstructed interlaced frame stored in the one of the pages of the frame memory indicated by the read mode signal.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 409 words
A method of using a frame memory comprising no more than four pages, each page storing one frame, to expand a compressed digital video signal representing a motion picture to provide a digital video output signal, the compressed digital video signal including plural interlaced frames having a frame rate of 24 Hz, the digital video output signal being selectably one of interlaced and non-interlaced in response to an interlace/non-interlace control signal, and including plural pictures having a picture rate of at least 49 Hz, the picture rate being a field rate when the digital video output signal is interlaced and being a frame rate when the digital video output signal is non-interlaced, the method comprising steps of: expanding each of the frames of the compressed digital video signal to derive therefrom a reconstructed interlaced frame, successive reconstructed interlaced frames being derived at a frame rate of 24 Hz, ones of the frames of the compressed digital video signal being expanded using respective reference pictures; writing each reconstructed interlaced frame into one of the pages of the frame memory; reading out the reconstructed interlaced frames written in the pages of the frame memory to provide the pictures of the digital video output signal, and additionally reading out the reconstructed interlaced frames written in the pages of the frame memory for use as the reference pictures in the expanding step; selecting the page of the frame memory whereinto each reconstructed interlaced frame is written in the writing step, and selecting the page wherefrom each reconstructed interlaced frame is read out in the reading step; controlling the reading step in response to the interlace/non-interlace control signal to cause the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory to be read out to provide an interlaced video signal as the digital video output signal when the interlace/non-interlace control signal has a first state and to provide a non-interlaced video signal as the digital video output signal when the interlace/non-interlace control signal has a second state; and additionally controlling the reading step by indicating each of the pages of the frame memory wherefrom the reconstructed interlaced frame stored therein is to be read more than once to effect 2-3 pull down conversion of the reconstructed interlaced frames written in the pages of the frame memory at the frame rate of 24 Hz to provide the pictures of the digital video output signal at the picture rate of at least 49 Hz.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 409 words
A method of using a frame memory comprising no more than four pages, each page storing one frame, to expand a compressed digital video signal representing a motion picture to provide a digital video output signal, the compressed digital video signal including plural interlaced frames having a frame rate of 24 Hz, the digital video output signal being selectably one of interlaced and non-interlaced in response to an interlace/non-interlace control signal, and including plural pictures having a picture rate of at least 49 Hz, the picture rate being a field rate when the digital video output signal is interlaced and being a frame rate when the digital video output signal is non-interlaced, the method comprising steps of: expanding each of the frames of the compressed digital video signal to derive therefrom a reconstructed interlaced frame, successive reconstructed interlaced frames being derived at a frame rate of 24 Hz, ones of the frames of the compressed digital video signal being expanded using respective reference pictures; writing each reconstructed interlaced frame into one of the pages of the frame memory; reading out the reconstructed interlaced frames written in the pages of the frame memory to provide the pictures of the digital video output signal, and additionally reading out the reconstructed interlaced frames written in the pages of the frame memory for use as the reference pictures in the expanding step; selecting the page of the frame memory whereinto each reconstructed interlaced frame is written in the writing step, and selecting the page wherefrom each reconstructed interlaced frame is read out in the reading step; controlling the reading step in response to the interlace/non-interlace control signal to cause the reconstructed interlaced frames stored in the pages of the frame memory to be read out to provide an interlaced video signal as the digital video output signal when the interlace/non-interlace control signal has a first state and to provide a non-interlaced video signal as the digital video output signal when the interlace/non-interlace control signal has a second state; and additionally controlling the reading step by indicating each of the pages of the frame memory wherefrom the reconstructed interlaced frame stored therein is to be read more than once to effect 2-3 pull down conversion of the reconstructed interlaced frames written in the pages of the frame memory at the frame rate of 24 Hz to provide the pictures of the digital video output signal at the picture rate of at least 49 Hz.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 159 words
The method of claim 19, wherein, when the interlace/non-interlace control signal has the first state, to cause the control means to provide the interlaced video signal as the digital video output signal: each picture of the interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal is one field; in the step of writing each reconstructed interlaced frame into one of the pages of the frame memory, each reconstructed interlaced frame is written as an odd field and an even field; in the step of additionally controlling the reading step, each field of each reconstructed interlaced frame is read out at least twice; and in the step of controlling the reading step in response to the interlace/non-interlace control signal, the reading step is controlled to read out the odd field and the even field of each reconstructed interlaced frame sequentially each to provide at least two fields of the interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 190 words
The method of claim 19, wherein, when the interlace/non-interlace control signal has the second state, to cause the control means to provide the non-interlaced video signal as the digital video output signal: each picture of the non-interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal is one frame; in the step of writing each reconstructed interlaced frame into one of the pages of the frame memory, the reconstructed frame is written as an odd field and an even field, each field including plural lines; in the step of additionally controlling the reading step, each reconstructed interlaced frame is read out at least twice, each reading out of the reconstructed interlaced frame providing a respective frame of the non-interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal; and in the step of controlling the reading step in response to the interlace/non-interlace control signal, the reading step is controlled to read out the lines of the odd field of each reconstructed interlaced frame alternately with the lines of the even field thereof to provide each of the pictures of the non-interlaced video signal provided as the digital video output signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 101 words
The method of claim 19, wherein: the method additionally comprises a step of identifying the pages of the frame memory wherefrom the reading step is to read out the reconstructed interlaced frames for use as the reference pictures in the expanding step; and the step of expanding the compressed digital signal includes steps of: deriving the respective reference pictures from the reconstructed interlaced frames read out by the reading step for use as the reference pictures, and reconstructing the reconstructed interlaced frames from the frames of the compressed digital video signal and the respective reference pictures derived in the deriving stop.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 86 words
The method of claim 22, wherein: the compressed digital video signal additionally includes motion vectors; the method additionally comprises a step of extracting the motion vectors from the compressed digital video signal; and in the step of deriving the respective reference pictures from the reconstructed interlaced frames, the reference pictures are derived from the reconstructed interlaced frames read out by the reading step for use as the reference pictures in response to the motion vectors extracted from the compressed digital video signal by the extracting step.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 184 words
The method of claim 19, wherein: the selecting step comprises steps of: generating a write mode signal indicating the one of the pages of the frame memory whereinto each reconstructed frame derived in the expanding step is to be written, generating a read mode signal indicating the one of the pages of the frame memory wherefrom each reconstructed frame is to be read out to provide at least one picture of the digital video output signal, and controlling timing of the steps of generating the write mode signal and generating the read mode signal for each of the pages of the frame memory; in the step of writing each reconstructed interlaced frame, each reconstructed interlaced frame derived by the expanding step is written into the one of the pages of the frame memory indicated by the write mode signal; and in the step of reading out the reconstructed interlaced frames, each reconstructed interlaced frame is read out as at least one picture of the digital video output signal from the one of the pages of the frame memory indicated by the read mode signal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4633293A Cited
US4901161A Cited
US4881125A Cited
US4998287A Cited
US4982280A Cited
US4998167A Cited
US5187575A Cited
WO1991013520A1 Cited
US5174641A Cited
US5337154A Cited
US5317398A Cited
US5461420A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-10-08 2000-04-08 2000-10-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-10-08 2004-04-08 2004-10-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-10-08 2008-04-08 2008-10-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag