Image digital processing based on edit status

A method for producing viewable output from an image record, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining one or more items of information about the image record, said determined items including a respective one of a plurality of different types of input unit supplying the image record;
• classifying the image record as one of a plurality of different edit statuses based on said information, said edit status being one of a plurality of edit statuses in an increasing sequence from unedited status to very-edited status;
• processing said image record using a respective one of a plurality of different sets of image processing transforms, each of said sets being associated with a respective one of said edit statuses, said processing with each of said sets including rendering the image record to match a predetermined display, said processing with said set associated with said very-edited status being relatively more constrained from material alterations in the image record than said set associated with said unedited status;
• and
• providing the viewable output of the image record following said processing.

A method for producing viewable output from an image record, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining one of a plurality of different types of input unit supplying the image record;
• classifying the image record in one of a plurality of edit statuses based on the determined type of input unit, said plurality of edit statuses having different levels in an increasing sequence from unedited status to very-edited status;
• rendering the image record to match a predetermined display;
• digitally enhancing the image record;
• and
• constraining material alteration of the image record during said enhancing, said constraining being inversely proportional to the respective level of said classified edit status, whereby said constraining is maximized when said edit status is very-edited status and said constraining is minimized when said edit status is unedited status.

A television system comprising:

• a display having an enclosure and a display panel in said enclosure;
• a set-top box;
• a control unit mounted in one of said display and said set-top box, said control unit having two or more physically distinct modules, each said module having a different image record processing path, each said path being operatively connected to said display panel, each said path including a plurality of image record processing transforms;
• a plurality of input units, each said input unit being operatively connected exclusively to only one of said paths, each said input unit having one or more input ports, each said input port being capable of transmitting the image record to a respective one of said paths.