John M O'Donnell

US Patent:

7194032, Mar 20, 2007

Filed:

Sep 3, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/390241

Inventors:

Venkat V. Easwar - Cupertino CA, US
John S. O'Donnell - Seattle WA, US
Ramachandran Natarajan - Santa Clara CA, US
Robert J. Grove - Los Gatos CA, US

Assignee:

Equator Technologies, Inc. - Seattle WA

International Classification:

H04B 1/66

US Classification:

37524012

Abstract:

A video processing circuit includes a processor that receives an encoded image having first and second regions, decodes the first region of the image, modifies the decoded first region, and re-encodes the modified first region. Such a circuit allows one to modify a region of an image by decoding and re-encoding only that region instead of the entire image. For example, if one wishes to overlay an EPG on a bottom portion of a video frame, then the circuit can decode only the EPG and the bottom portion of the frame, overlay the decoded EPG on the bottom frame portion, and re-encode the overlaid bottom frame portion. Therefore, this technique often reduces the processing time, and thus the cost and complexity of the processing circuit, as compared to a circuit that decodes and re-encode the entire frame during an image overlay process.

US Patent:

20070132784, Jun 14, 2007

Filed:

Feb 12, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/674121

Inventors:

Venkat Easwar - Cupertino CA, US
John O'Donnell - Seattle WA, US
Ramachandran Natarajan - Santa Clara CA, US
Robert Gove - Los Gatos CA, US

Assignee:

EQUATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC. - Campbell CA

International Classification:

G09G 5/00

US Classification:

345629000

Abstract:

A video processing circuit includes a processor that receives an encoded image having first and second regions, decodes the first region of the image, modifies the decoded first region, and re-encodes the modified first region. Such a circuit allows one to modify a region of an image by decoding and re-encoding only that region instead of the entire image. For example, if one wishes to overlay an EPG on a bottom portion of a video frame, then the circuit can decode only the EPG and the bottom portion of the frame, overlay the decoded EPG on the bottom frame portion, and re-encode the overlaid bottom frame portion. Therefore, this technique often reduces the processing time, and thus the cost and complexity of the processing circuit, as compared to a circuit that decodes and re-encode the entire frame during an image overlay process.