Method and apparatus for manipulating video image signals
AssigneeQuantel Limited
InventorsPaul R. N. Kellar, Neil R. Hinson, Alan L. Stapleton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for manipulating video image signals, in which digitized composite video signals (i.e. D2 digitally encoded PAL or NTSC) are converted to component video signals (i.e. luminance and color difference signals) allowing selected pixels to be modified. In addition, the unconverted composite video signals are also stored and a key signal is generated which indicates which of the converted (i.e. component) pixels have been modified. An output signal is then produced by combining the manipulated signals and the unmanipulated signals in proportions determined by said key signal.
Claims16
A method of effecting modifications to original digital composite video signals representing an original image in order to produce digital composite video signals representing a modified image, the method comprising:
- providing original composite video signals representing an original image;
- decoding the original composite video signals into corresponding component video signals and storing the component video signals in a first store;
- storing the original composite video signals in a second store;
- manipulating at least some of the component video signals in said first store;
- creating and storing in a key store, key signals related to manipulated component video signals;
- re-coding the component video signals from said first store into corresponding composite video signals;
- selecting, in response to said key signals form said key store, original composite signals form said second store or composite video signals resulting from said re-coding step;
- and
- forming a set of composite video signals representing a modified image from the video signals selected in said selecting step.
An apparatus for modifying original digital composite video signals representing an image in order to produce digital composite video signals representing a modified image, the apparatus comprising:
- a source of original composite video signals;
- a decoder coupled with the source and decoding original composite signals received therefrom into corresponding component video signals;
- a firs store coupled with the decoder and storing component video signals received therefrom;
- a second store coupled with the source and storing original composite video signals received therefrom;
- a manipulating circuit coupled with the first store and manipulating component video signals stored therein;
- a key signal creating circuit coupled with the manipulating circuit to receive information pertaining to component video signal manipulated thereby and creating key signals related to manipulated component video signals;
- `a key store coupled with the key signal creating circuit and storing key signal received therefrom;
- a coder coupled with the first store and re-coding component video signals stored therein into corresponding re-coded composite video signals;
- and
- a selecting circuit coupled with the key store, the coder and the second store and forming a set of composite video signals representing a modified image by selecting from among original composite video signals from the second store and re-coded composite signals from the coder depending on key signals form the key store.
A method of modifying composite video signals comprising storing an original composite video signal unaltered and, in addition, decoding the original composite video signal into a component signal form and storing the resulting signal in component signal form, manipulating at least selected portions of the signal which is in component signal form, crating a corresponding control signal during said manipulation, and re-coding at least the manipulated portions of the signal which is in component signal form into a composite form and combine the re-coded signal which is in the composite form with said unaltered original composite signal under control of said control signal.
Apparatus for use in modifying composite video signals, comprising:
- means for storing an original composite signal unaltered;
- means for decoding said original composite signal into a signal which is in composite signal form;
- means for storing said signal which is in component signal form;
- means for manipulating selected portions of said signal which is in component signal form and for creating a corresponding control signal during said manipulating;
- means for re-coding into composite form the manipulated portions of the signal which is in component signal form;
- and
- means controlled by said control signal for combining said manipulated portions re-coded into composite signal form with respect portions of said stored unaltered original composite signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.