Donald G Willis

US Patent:

6377748, Apr 23, 2002

Filed:

Feb 17, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/024399

Inventors:

Mark Alan Schultz - Carmel IN
Donald Henry Willis - Indianapolis IN
Jianlei Xie - Carmel IN
John Alan Hague - Indianapolis IN
Steven Anthony Barron - Fishers IN
Barth Alan Canfield - Indianapolis IN

Assignee:

Thomson Licensing S.A. - Boulogne Cedex

International Classification:

H04N 752

US Classification:

386124, 386 46, 386125

Abstract:

An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a medium, comprises a transducer for transducing the digitally encoded signal and generating a bit stream therefrom. A processor is coupled to receive the bit stream for controllably processing the bit stream. A memory is coupled to the processor for storing the processed bit stream information. A controller is coupled to control the memory and the processor for controlling identification of information within the bit stream, wherein the controller controls the processor to identify a specific sector type in the bit stream and responsive to the specific sector identification the controller controls the memory for storing the identified specific sector.

US Patent:

6453114, Sep 17, 2002

Filed:

Feb 17, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/024400

Inventors:

Mark Alan Schultz - Carmel IN
Donald Henry Willis - Indianapolis IN
Jianlei Xie - Carmel IN
John Alan Hague - Indianapolis IN
Steven Anthony Barron - Fishers IN
Barth Alan Canfield - Indianapolis IN

Assignee:

Thomson Licensing SA - Boulogne Cedex

International Classification:

H04N 591

US Classification:

386 68, 386 82

Abstract:

An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a disk medium, comprises a transducerwhich transduces the digitally encoded signal. A memory is coupled to the transducer for storing the digitally encoded signal. A decoder is responsive to the digitally encoded signal for decoding a picture therefrom. A controller for the memory, wherein a first operational mode the controller controls the memory to read the stored digitally encoded signal from the memory responsive to a first sequence and in a second operational mode the controller controls the memory to read the stored digitally encoded signal from the memory in a second sequence.

US Patent:

6463209, Oct 8, 2002

Filed:

Feb 17, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/024555

Inventors:

Mark Alan Schultz - Carmel IN
Donald Henry Willis - Indianapolis IN
Jianlei Xie - Carmel IN
John Alan Hague - Indianapolis IN

Assignee:

Thomson Licensing SA - Boulogne Cedex

International Classification:

H04N 5781

US Classification:

386125, 386111, 386126

Abstract:

A method for controlling MPEG compatible data reproduced in sectors by a digital video disk player. The method comprises the steps of transducing groups of sectors including requested sectors having MPEG compatible data required for processing, and unrequested sectors having MPEG compatible data not required for processing. Coupling the requested sectors exclusive of the unrequested sectors to a data processor for processing. Processing the requested data sectors to extract the required MPEG compatible data representative of video information.

US Patent:

6573941, Jun 3, 2003

Filed:

Apr 22, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/127743

Inventors:

Donald Henry Willis - Indianapolis IN
Shu Lin - Indianapolis IN

Assignee:

Thomson Licensing SA - Boulgone Cedex

International Classification:

H04N 701

US Classification:

348448, 348446, 348459

Abstract:

A method for format conversion includes providing a first interlaced video signal including non-progressive video of a first resolution, downconverting fields of the first resolution to fields of a second resolution, and combining and interlacing the fields at a third resolution. The video signal is transmitted at the third resolution. The video signal of the third resolution is deinterlaced to form a progressive format video. The progressive format video is converted to the first non-progressive resolution by alternately adjusting position of the progressive format of the third resolution up and down to make upper and lower fields, respectively, of the first resolution for display.

US Patent:

6577809, Jun 10, 2003

Filed:

Aug 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/211803

Inventors:

Shu Lin - Indianapolis IN
Donald Henry Willis - Indianapolis IN

Assignee:

Thomson Licensing S.A. - Boulogne-Cedex

International Classification:

H04N 591

US Classification:

386 68, 386 82

Abstract:

Upon user selection of a particular trick mode, the number of pictures that are displayed can be accordingly adjusted to correspond with the selected trick mode speed based on a determined display time. Subsequently, the bandwidth usage can be can be determined to ensure that the channel capacity between a playback device ( ) and a remote decoder ( ) has not been exceeded. For forward trick modes, in a case where the bandwidth between the playback device ( ) and the remote decoder ( ) would be exceeded, B-pictures can be uniformly eliminated throughout the playback segment. Where B-pictures were present and they have been eliminated, they can be replaced by dummy B-pictures. Again, if there is still insufficient bandwidth available between the playback device ( ) and remote decoder ( ), then P-pictures can be eliminated from the playback segment and uniformly replaced by dummy P-pictures.

US Patent:

6647152, Nov 11, 2003

Filed:

Jan 25, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/056595

Inventors:

Donald Henry Willis - Indianapolis IN
John Alan Hague - Indianapolis IN

Assignee:

Thomson Licensing S.A. - Boulogne Cedex

International Classification:

G06K 940

US Classification:

382275, 382266

Abstract:

The present invention is directed towards detecting contouring artifacts in a received video signal and reducing the detected artifacts by dithering and/or by adding least significant bits to selected pixels in the video signal. The contouring artifacts are detected by applying a magnitude difference test and/or an averaging test to a predetermined pixel span. The artifacts are reduced by substituting a replacement pixel for a selected pixel in the pixel span. A replacement pixel is generated by calculating an average pixel value for the predetermined pixel span, by reducing (e. g. , rounding or truncated) the average pixel value to a bit resolution that is greater than the bit resolution of the pixels in the predetermined pixel span, or by adding a dither signal to the average pixel value.

US Patent:

6658198, Dec 2, 2003

Filed:

Nov 4, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/434187

Inventors:

Donald Henry Willis - Indianapolis IN

Assignee:

Thomson Licensing S.A. - Bouloogne

International Classification:

H04N 591

US Classification:

386 68, 386126

Abstract:

A method for rewriting onto a disk medium capable of being rewritten a limited number of times, comprises the steps of: encoding as data blocks all programs to be recorded; writing any encoded program onto a track on the disk medium as a given sequence of encoded data blocks; and, precessing along the track when overwriting the given sequence of encoded data blocks with a subsequent sequence of encoded data blocks. An apparatus comprises a controller for enabling any encoded program to be written onto a track on a disk medium as a given sequence of encoded data blocks. When overwriting the given sequence with a subsequent sequence of encoded data blocks, the controller precesses the rewriting along the track.

US Patent:

6693857, Feb 17, 2004

Filed:

Nov 4, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/434188

Inventors:

Donald Henry Willis - Indianapolis IN

Assignee:

Thomson Licensing S.A. - Boulogne

International Classification:

G11B 7085

US Classification:

369 3023, 369 473, 369 4733

Abstract:

A method for managing buffers in an apparatus adapted for writing program portions onto and reading the program portions from a digital program disk comprises the steps of: filling a first buffer with encoded program portions at a first bit rate; filling a second buffer with the encoded program portions; supplying the encoded program portions from the second buffer for decoding; and, establishing an initial complementary fullness of the first and second buffers using an excess bit rate capability of the apparatus related to the first bit rate. The first bit rate is a constant bit rate slower than one-half of a maximum bit rate of the apparatus. An apparatus for implementing the method comprises a controller for recording the program portions onto alternate segments of the track, for initiating complementary operation of record and track buffers and for maintaining the complementary operation.