Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
  • H04N5/76—Television signal recording

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a repeater device for receiving apparatus, in particular video.
• the present invention also relates to a receiving device equipped with the repeating device.
• the invention relates to devices such as television receivers, decoders of encrypted broadcasts, telephones, videophones and more generally to devices which include at least one function for receiving in real time a signal transmitted by an external source, at least one function for processing this signal and at least one function for immediate restitution of the processed signal, by means of at least one interface, such as a TV screen or loudspeaker, with the user or spectator.
• devices such as television receivers, decoders of encrypted broadcasts, telephones, videophones and more generally to devices which include at least one function for receiving in real time a signal transmitted by an external source, at least one function for processing this signal and at least one function for immediate restitution of the processed signal, by means of at least one interface, such as a TV screen or loudspeaker, with the user or spectator.
• the documents GB-A-2 222 742 and 2 328 825 teach to equip a receiver, in particular a television set, with a device allowing by means of an internal memory and a command accessible to the user, a second reproduction. slightly delayed from the most recent fragment, of predetermined duration, of the sequence being received in real time.
• the second restitution - or repetition - can be done either in an inlaid image, or in place of the restitution in real time, momentarily interrupted for this purpose.
• sequence for example a complete broadcast or all of a cinema film, or more generally all of the signals received, processed and restored from the beginning until the end of a period of use of the receiving device by the user.
• fragment a part of the sequence, and in particular the part of the sequence which is memorized and continuously updated by a device having a function of 1
• a set of signals forming a minimum coherent whole, for example a video image, a piece of music or speech, will be called an "element” of a sequence or of a fragment.
• the element in the process of being received in real time by the reception function, and (in the case of restitution in real time), of being restored by the restitution function, is called "current element" of the sequence.
• Known rehearsal devices allow the listener-viewer to review / re-listen at least a second time to a fragment to which he has a particular interest or to which he would like to pay more attention than during real-time playback.
• Devices of this type include a memory of the "first in, first out” type (FIFO memory) which stores the current element and gradually erases the oldest element of the fragment recorded in this memory, depending on the maximum memory capacity, which corresponds for example to a fragment of approximately 30 seconds.
• FIFO memory first in, first out
• the repeater device for receiving apparatus comprising a memory of the first-in, first-out type for storing at each instant a fragment preceding in a substantially adjacent manner the current element of the sequence which is being processed in real time, repetition means for ensuring the repetition, in slight delay, of the restitution of the stored fragment, and control means for selectively activating the repetition means, is characterized in that that the control means comprise means for setting the delayed repetition.
• the repetition means typically comprise means for supplying the restitution means of the apparatus with signals coming from the memory instead of or in addition to those received at the current time.
• the configuration according to the invention can constitute an adjustment of the starting point of the repetition and / or an adjustment of the repetition speed.
• the control means may include a command to explore the fragment in accelerated reverse. This allows the spectator to go up in the recorded fragment to a point just upstream from the passage deemed interesting.
• the control means comprise a command for exploration element by element through the fragment, preferably with successive elements separated from each other by a predetermined interval along of the fragment.
• the exploration element by element for example image by image
• the exploration element by element is done by repeated pressing of a key, each pressing showing a new element separated, by a certain number of elements not restored, from the element viewed in consequence of the previous pressing of the key. The user can thus perform a fine marking to start the repeat precisely at the desired point.
• the setting means can make it possible to select the repetition speed from one or more accelerated speeds and / or one or more idle speeds, with respect to the normal restitution speed.
• control means are arranged in the form of a single key with multiple mobility allowing to enter into the repetition process, to configure the repetition and to trigger the repetition itself.
• the spectator can very quickly and very freely, at any time, benefit from a delayed repetition, both targeted and detailed to the maximum of performance of the device, with regard to a very precise part of the fragment of predetermined size which is systematically recorded just upstream of the current element.
• a viewer can for example review in detail a moment of a football match.
• a zoom function allowing a viewer to enlarge a desired part of the images of the repeated fragment.
• the device further comprises means for storing a next fragment, received in real time, but hidden during the repetition of the previous fragment in delayed mode, and for restore the concealed fragment in accelerated until the current element is caught up after the repetition process.
• the invention also relates to a video receiver apparatus, such as a television set, equipped with a device of one of the genres which has just been described.
• FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view, exploded, of a receiving apparatus according to the invention, with enlarged partial section of the control means accessible to the user;
• FIG. 2 is a front view of the remote control unit of the apparatus of Figure 1;
• the video reproduction device is a television set comprising a reception antenna 1, a signal processing unit 2 and reproduction means 3 comprising a screen 4 and speakers 6.
• the multi-wire output 7 of the signal processing unit 2 branches into a branch 8 which is normally connected to a signal input 9 of the rendering means 3 and into a branch 11 selectively connected to the input 12 of a first FIFO memory 13.
• the branch 8 is connected to a first input 14 of a first switch 16 whose common output 17 is connected to input 9.
• the branch 11 is connected to a first input 18 of a second switch 19 whose common output 21 is connected to the input 12 of the first FIFO memory 13.
• the first FIFO memory 13 comprises a control input 22 connected to a control unit 23, and a read output 24 connected to the other input 26 of the first switch 16.
• the signal output 7 of the processing unit 2 is also connected by the branch 11 to the input 28 of a second FIFO memory 29 which, for example, has the same capacity as the first FIFO memory 13.
• the second FIFO memory 29 has a control input 31 connected to the control unit 23 and a read output 32 connected to the other input 33 of the second switch 19.
• Each of the two switches 16 and 19 includes a respective pilot input 34, 36 connected to the pilot unit 23.
• the first switch 16 is in the state 16a where it directly connects the output 7 of the processing unit 2 with the restitution means 3 and the second switch 19 is in the state 19a where it connects the signal input 12 of the first FIFO memory 13 with the signal output 7 of the processing unit 2. Consequently, the two FIFO memories 13 and 29 have the same content, constantly updated to correspond to a fragment of predetermined duration which adjacent to the current element, being received and rendered live.
• control unit 23 switches the second switch 19 into an intermediate position 19b isolating the signal input 12 from the first FIFO memory 13 .
• the control unit 23 switches the first switch 16 to its position 16b shown in dotted lines connecting the read output 24 of the first FIFO memory 13 to the signal input 9 of the restitution means 3.
• control unit 13 transmits signals determined by control signals sent by the control unit 23 to the control input 22 of the memory 13.
• control unit control 23 selects in the FIFO memory 13 the elements which must be delivered to the output 24 for restitution by the restitution means 3.
• the real-time signals available at the output 7 of the processing unit 2 continue to 'be stored in the second FIFO memory 29.
• the control unit 27 switches the second switch 19 to its third position 19c connecting the signal input 12 of the first FIFO memory 13 with the signal output 32 of the second FIFO memory 29
• the first FIFO memory 13 starts again to be updated, but with signals chosen from the second FIFO memory 29 to be in correct chronological succession from the most recent signals stored in the first FIFO memory 13 just before the start of the process. rehearsal. This choice is made by the control unit 23 via the control input 31 in the second FIFO memory 29.
• this transient phase - or catch-up phase - the user is invited, for example by a sensory signal, to cause an accelerated restitution. All the elements prior to an element read in this catch-up phase are erased from the first memory 13 as long as the memory 29 contains elements which have not yet been transferred to the memory 13. 1
• the memory 13 is therefore updated in an accelerated manner with the content of the second memory 29, starting with the oldest part of this content. This process continues until the element read in the first FIFO memory 13 for restitution by the means 3 is the most recent which has entered there and the latter itself corresponds to the most recent element entered. in the second FIFO memory 29.
• the control unit 23 switches the two switches 16 and 19 to their respective respective first positions 16a, 19a. The live playback operation then starts again as described initially.
• the switches 16 and 19 and the control unit 23 are part of the repetition means within the meaning of the invention.
• the control unit can also have other functions for controlling the receiving device, not directly related to the invention, such as adjusting the volume, the image, the channel selection, etc.
• switch 16 and the first FIFO memory 13 also form part of the take-up means, in combination with the third state 19c of the switch 19 and with the second FIFO memory 29.
• the control unit 23 comprises an input 37 connected to the output of an infrared signal receiver 38 sensitive to the infrared signals 39 emitted by the transmitter 41 of a remote control unit 42.
• the remote control unit 42 which is that which also allows, conventionally, to control all the functions of the television set or alternatively, the remote control unit making it possible to control an encrypted program decoder, comprises conventionally many conventional keys 43 which will not be described in detail.
• the housing 42 further includes a multi-mobility key 44 allowing it alone to initiate the repetition process, to configure the repetition and to initiate the repetition proper, catching up, and finally returning to operation in direct restitution.
• the multi-mobility key 44 comprises a rocker 46 which can rock laterally in one direction or the other (see arrows 47 and 48 in FIG. 3) from a central rest position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4.
• the rocker 46 is itself mounted on a sliding carriage 49 which can slide laterally in one or the other direction (see arrows 51 and 52 in FIG. 4) from a central rest position shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.
• the carriage 49 includes lateral flanges 64 (FIG. 2) circulating in sliding slides 66 (FIG. 1) integral with the shell 67 of the remote control unit 42.
• rocker 46 There is between the rocker 46 and a bottom 53 of the carriage 49 a compression spring 54 for which the rest position of the rocker 46 corresponds to a state of least deformation.
• the rocker 46 is connected to the bottom 53 by a hinge 56 defining its tilting axis. Depending on whether the rocker 46 is tilted in one direction or the other (FIG. 3) from its rest position, it actuates one or the other of two microswitches 57 mounted on the bottom 53 of the carriage 49 .
• the carriage 49 is mounted between two compression expansion spring cylinders 58 with limited expansion, both of which are in their maximum expansion state when the carriage 49 is in the central position shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.
• a respective one of the jacks 58 (the left jack in FIG. 4) is compressed.
• the other jack 58 follows the movement of the carriage 49 without modifying its state of maximum expansion defined by pins 59 (figure
• the carriage 49 carries a cursor 68 whose position, determined by the position of the carriage 49 along its sliding movement, is transformed into an electrical signal by a converter 69, for example of the rheostat type.
• the output signals from the converter 69 and from the two microswitches 57 are picked up by a processing unit 71, which can also process the signals received from other keys 43 of the remote control unit, and which controls the transmitter 41.
• any action on the multiple mobility key 44 initiates the repetition process, that is to say the switching of the two switches 16 and 19 in their second position 16b, 19b; - Then, by pushing the carriage 49 to the left, the fragment captured in the first FIFO memory 13 is read in reverse, the speed being adjusted from idle to accelerated depending on whether the carriage is pushed more or less towards the left; - Any tilting of the rocker 46 to the left according to arrow 47 ( Figure 3) causes the appearance in fixed image of an image located at an interval corresponding to ten images upstream of the last image viewed; the tilting of the rocker 46 to the right (arrow 48 in FIG.
• the control unit 23 is indeed capable of distinguishing this situation, where the two switches 16 and 19 are each in their second state 16b, 19b, of the situation of live restitution, which also results from an absence of actuation of the key 44, but when the two switches 16 and 19 are in their first state
• FIFO 29 The user then releases the key 44 and the switches 16 and 19 switch one of the second to the first position, the other of the third to the first position to resume operation in direct restitution.
• a signal may appear on the screen to prompt the user.
• Reading in real time would be done from the element the most recent contained in the FIFO memory 13.
• the read output 24 would therefore be directly connected to the signal input 9 of the means 3.
• the invention is applicable to a device other than video, for example, a telephone or a radio device.
• a device other than video for example, a telephone or a radio device.
• one of the interlocutors having misunderstood the words of his correspondent can request from him an interruption of the conversation.
• Music on hold can be activated while the first interlocutor after having sought the unclear passage by the rapid search means of the genre described for the video device, listens as necessary to this passage.
• the memories and the switches have been represented in the form of physical and / or discrete elements.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
• Television Signal Processing For Recording (AREA)
• Indexing, Searching, Synchronizing, And The Amount Of Synchronization Travel Of Record Carriers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8850638

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2000
  • 2000-05-26 FR FR0006732A patent/FR2809574B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2001
  • 2001-05-25 AU AU2001262478A patent/AU2001262478A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-05-25 WO PCT/FR2001/001626 patent/WO2001093574A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2001-05-25 TW TW090112604A patent/TW512628B/zh active
  • 2001-05-25 EP EP01936604A patent/EP1300012A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-05-26 US US10/296,590 patent/US20030222972A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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