Communication of HBI data in digital television data streams

Claim 3

A method in accordance with claim 1 comprising the further step of: supplementing said user data syntax with a start sample value indicative of a sample point at which a transition into a first luma PAM symbol is to commence in a counterpart television signal reconstructed from said digital television data stream.

Claim 4

A method in accordance with claim 2 comprising the further step of: supplementing said user data syntax with a first amplitude value indicative of an amplitude at which luma PAM symbols are to appear in said counterpart television signal reconstructed from said digital television data stream.

Claim 5

A method in accordance with claim 3 comprising the further step of: supplementing said user data syntax with a pulse shape value indicative of a pulse shape that is to be provided for said luma PAM symbols in said counterpart television signal reconstructed from said digital television data stream.

Claim 6

A method in accordance with claim 4 comprising the further step of: supplementing said user data syntax with a field number indicative of a television field in which corresponding HBI data is to be inserted in said counterpart television signal reconstructed from said digital television data stream.

Claim 7

A method in accordance with claim 5 comprising the further step of: supplementing said user data syntax with a second amplitude value indicative of a second amplitude level of said luma PAM symbols.

Claim 8

A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said timing reference value comprises a luma PAM symbol clock increment value and a luma PAM modulus value, said symbol clock increment and modulus values being related to said PAM symbol rate and said reference clock as follows: increment   value modulus   value = symbol   rate reference   clock .

Claim 9

A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said count value comprises a word count indicating an integer number of luma PAM words that follow and a remainder count indicating a number of luma PAM bits totaling less than a full luma PAM word that follow; said syntax thereby providing an efficient use of bandwidth by enabling remainders of less than a full PAM word to be communicated.

Claim 10

A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said luma PAM words are each 22 bits in length, said method comprising the further step of: inserting a marker bit after each luma PAM word to guard against a false MPEG start code.

Claim 11

A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein: said user information is carried according to said user data syntax as luma PAM words and luma PAM bits; each luma PAM word comprises a string of luma PAM symbols with the first bit corresponding to a first luma PAM symbol to be reconstructed on video lines as displayed from left to right and then top to bottom; and each luma PAM bit represents a luma PAM symbol to be reconstructed on said video lines; said luma PAM bits being provided in the order in which their symbols are to be reconstructed on said video lines subsequent to symbols reconstructed from any luma PAM words, as displayed from left to right and then top to bottom.

Claim 12

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said PAM data is carried in a luminance (luma) portion of said television signal; and said timing reference value comprises a luma PAM symbol clock increment value and a luma PAM symbol clock modulus value, said symbol clock increment and modulus values being related to said PAM symbol rate and said reference clock as follows: increment   value modulus   value = symbol   rate reference   clock .

Claim 13

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said PAM data is carried in a luminance (luma) portion of said television signal; and said count value comprises a word count indicating an integer number of luma PAM words that follow and a remainder count indicating a number of luma PAM bits totaling less than a full luma PAM word that follow; said syntax thereby providing an efficient use of bandwidth by enabling remainders of less than a full PAM word to be communicated.

Claim 14

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said PAM data is carried in a luminance (luma) portion of said television signal; said user information is carried according to said user data syntax as luma PAM words and luma PAM bits; each luma PAM word comprises a string of luma PAM symbols with the first bit corresponding to a first luma PAM symbol to be reconstructed on a video line as displayed from left to right and then top to bottom; and each luma PAM bit represents a luma PAM symbol to be reconstructed on said video line; said luma PAM bits being provided in the order in which their symbols are to be reconstructed on said video lines of said field, starting on said first horizontal television field line subsequent to symbols reconstructed from any luma PAM words, as displayed from left to right and then top to bottom.

Claim 15

Receiver apparatus for decoding, from a digital television data stream, user information of a type conventionally carried as PAM data in a horizontal blanking interval (HBI) waveform or video overscan region of an analog television signal, said digital television data stream transporting data according to a convention that includes a user data syntax, comprising: a syntax processor for detecting information carried in accordance with said user data syntax, said information including: a first value identifying first horizontal television line(s) in which particular user information is carried in a counterpart television signal, a second value identifying a relationship between a PAM symbol rate of said counterpart television signal and a digital television data reference clock, a third value indicating an amount of user information carried in the digital television data stream, and said user information; a reconstruction processor responsive to said first, second and third values for formatting said user information into HBI PAM data; and a HBI inserter for inserting said HBI PAM data into a television signal reconstructed from said digital television data stream.

Claim 16

Receiver apparatus for decoding, from a digital television data stream, user information of a type conventionally carried as PAM data in a horizontal blanking interval (HBI) waveform or video overscan region of an analog television signal, said digital television data stream transporting data according to a convention that includes a user data syntax, comprising: a syntax processor for detecting information carried in accordance with said user data syntax, said information including: a first value identifying first horizontal television line(s) in which particular user information is carried in a counterpart television signal, a second value identifying a relationship between a PAM symbol rate of said counterpart television signal and a digital television data reference clock, a third value indicating an amount of user information carried in the digital television data stream, and said user information; a reconstruction processor responsive to said first, second and third values for formatting said user information into HBI PAM data; and a HBI inserter for inserting said HBI PAM data into a television signal reconstructed from said digital television data stream.

Claim 17

Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein: said syntax processor detects a start sample value indicative of a sample point at which a transition into a first PAM symbol is to commence on each line in said reconstructed television signal; and said HBI inserter is responsive to said start sample value for inserting said PAM data into said reconstructed television signal.

Claim 18

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein: said syntax processor detects a first amplitude value indicative of an amplitude at which PAM symbols are to appear in said reconstructed television signal; and said reconstruction processor is responsive to said first amplitude value to provide said HBI PAM data at said amplitude.

Claim 19

Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein: said syntax processor detects a pulse shape value indicative of a pulse shape that is to be provided for said PAM symbols in said reconstructed television signal; and said reconstruction processor is responsive to said pulse shape value to provide said HBI PAM data with said pulse shape.

Claim 20

Apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein: said syntax processor detects a field number indicative of a television field in which corresponding HBI data is to be inserted in said reconstructed television signal; and said HBI inserter is responsive to said field number for inserting said corresponding HBI data into a proper field.

Claim 21

Apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein: said syntax processor detects a second amplitude value indicative of a second amplitude at which PAM symbols are to appear in said reconstructed television signal; and said reconstruction processor is responsive to said first and second amplitude values to provide said HBI PAM data at said first and second amplitudes.