Glitch detector

A method for detecting glitches in video signals comprising:

• humanlessly sampling pattern information from a frame of video signals, said frame being characterized by known pattern information and also comprising a video signal from a video source;
• comparing sampled pattern information from said frame to said known pattern information;
• detecting a glitch if said sampled pattern information differs from said known pattern information;
• and
• modifying said known pattern information from one said frame to another said frame so as to at least partially prevent diminishment of data of said known pattern information due to video compression.

A video inserter for inserting a test pattern into an input video signal, the video inserter comprising:

• input apparatus for receiving an input video signal;
• a pulse separator which separates said input video signal into vertical and horizontal synchronization signals;
• programmable apparatus which inserts a test pattern into the input video signal to produce an output signal comprising the input video signal and the test pattern;
• and
• an output circuit which outputs said output signal.

A glitch detector comprising:

• a sampler which humanlessly samples pattern information from a frame of video signals, said frame being characterized by known pattern information and also comprising a video signal from a video source;
• a comparator which compares sampled pattern information from said frame to said known pattern information;
• and
• a glitch detecting unit which detects a glitch if said sampled pattern information differs from said known pattern information.

A method for detecting glitches in input video signals that comprise known pattern information which is modified from one frame of said input video signal to another frame of said input video signals so as to at least partially prevent diminishment of data of said known pattern information due to video compression, said input video signals also comprising a video signal from a video source, the method comprising:

• sampling, from said input video signals, pattern information that corresponds to said known pattern information, thereby producing sampled pattern information;
• comparing said sampled pattern information to said known pattern information;
• and
• detecting a glitch in said input signal if said sampled pattern information differs from said known pattern information.

A testing method for enabling detection of glitches in input video signals, the testing method comprising:

• transmitting, from a transmitting end, input video signals comprising known pattern information and also comprising a video signal from a video source, said known pattern information being modified from one frame of said input video signals to another frame of said input video signals so as to at least partially prevent diminishment of data of said known pattern information due to video compression;
• receiving said input video signals at a receiving end;
• sampling, from said input video signals received at the receiving end, pattern information that corresponds to said known pattern information, thereby producing sampled pattern information;
• comparing said sampled pattern information to said known pattern information;
• and
• detecting a glitch in said input video signals if said sampled pattern information differs from said known pattern information.

A method for generating a test pattern for use in detection of glitches in video signals comprising a video signal from a video source, the method comprising:

• inserting known pattern information in said video signal from said video source;
• modifying said known pattern information from one frame of said video signals to another frame of said video signals so as to at least partially prevent diminishment of data of said known pattern information due to video compression;
• and
• outputting said known pattern in formation modified from one frame of said video signals to another frame of said video signals.

A glitch detector comprising:

• a receiver operative to receive input video signals that comprise pattern information corresponding to known pattern information which is modified from one frame of said input video signals to another frame of said input video signals so as to at least partially prevent diminishment of data of said known pattern information due to video compression, said input video signals also comprising a video signal from a video source;
• a sampler operatively associated with the receiver and operative to sample said pattern information corresponding to said known pattern information thereby producing sampled pattern information;
• and
• a comparator operatively associated with the sampler and operative to compare said sampled pattern information to said known pattern information and to output an output indicating existence of a glitch if said sampled pattern information differs from said known pattern information.

A testing system for enabling detection of glitches in video signals, the system comprising:

• a transmitting unit operative to transmit video signals comprising known pattern information and also comprising a video signal from a video source, said known pattern information being modified from one frame of said video signals to another frame of said video signals so as to at least partially prevent diminishment of data of said known pattern information due to video compression;
• and
• a receiving unit comprising:
• a receiver operative to receive said video signals;
• a sampler operatively associated with said receiver and operative to sample, from said video signals received at the receiver, pattern information that corresponds to said known pattern information thereby producing sampled pattern information;
• and
• a comparator operatively associated with said sampler and operative to compare said sampled pattern information to said known pattern information and to output an indication of existence of a glitch if said sampled pattern information differs from said known pattern information.