Method and apparatus for converting analog video character signals into computer recognizable binary data

A method for communicating information via a conventional analog video signal carrying alphanumeric video characters by converting it into computer recognizable binary data comprising the steps of:

• receiving a standard composite video television signal containing alphanumeric character data in a predetermined location;
• decoding on a real time basis the received composite video signal into an analog video component signal representing the lines of a video frame, a horizontal sync component signal, and a vertical sync component signal;
• converting, on a real time basis, the sequential lines of the analog video component signal corresponding to the predetermined location of the alphanumeric character data to sequential streams of binary data;
• storing each stream of binary data in sequential memory locations to form a binary matrix corresponding to the predetermined sequential lines of the video component signal;
• comparing the stored binary data with stored data representing a known character reference set to determine the character data code;
• and
• uniquely identifying the binary character data for use by a computer as desired.

Apparatus for communicating information by converting a conventional analog video signal carrying alphanumeric video characters into computer recognizable binary data comprising:

• means for receiving a composite video signal containing alphanumeric character data in a predetermined location;
• means for decoding on a real time basis the received composite video signal into an analog video component signal representing the lines of a video frame, a horizontal sync component signal, and a vertical sync component signal;
• means for converting to binary data bits, on a real time basis, that portion of the analog video component signal corresponding to the alphanumeric character data
• means for storing the character binary data bits;
• means for comparing the binary data bits with stored data representing a known character reference set to determine a character data code;
• and
• means for uniquely identifying the binary character data for use by a computer as desired.