TWI390977B - Signal processing device and method - Google Patents

Description

Signal processing device and method

The present invention relates to the field of image processing, and more particularly to teletext messaging (TELETEXT) information processing technology.

A signal transmitted to a television or a variety of other display devices to produce a picture, typically including a Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI). VBI is the time between the last line of a picture and the start of the next picture. TV stations usually use part of the VBI to transmit the control information needed for image information display. This control information includes, for example, an image sync signal. In addition, a portion of the VBI is typically reserved to play Closed Captioning for the hearing impaired. TV stations can also use the time within the VBI to play a variety of other types of data. These different types of data are typically referred to as "Teletext" and are selected by the station itself.

Telex is composed of information such as news, sports, and financial information. For example, Telex can play the latest stock prices, recipes, entertainment lists, advertisements, movie timetables, reviews, such as music and TV show reviews, additional information about different TV shows, and more. Telex Media also plays subtitles (closed captions) for different programs and newsletters, which can be superimposed on top of the TV screen.

For the National Television System Committee (NTSC) standard, the total number of picture lines is 525; for the Phase Alternating Line (PAL) standard, the total number of picture lines is 625. The line number of the teletext line, for example, the PAL standard (line number 0 to 624) can be set to 5 to 22 or 317 to 334 alternately with the screen, and to the NTSC standard (line) The numbers from 0 to 524 can be set to be 8 to 25 or 270 to 287 alternately with the screen.

1 is a block diagram of a conventional video signal processing apparatus 100, such as a conventional television set, which receives a television signal S _TV and converts it for display. The TV signal S _TV includes teletext information and video information. The telex information and video information are respectively associated with a plurality of teletext lines and a plurality of image lines among the plurality of picture lines. Each teletext line includes line enable signal LES and teletext line data. Specifically, the line enable signal LES records whether the teletext line is Enabled or Disabled, and the teletext line data records one of the teletext lines. Display data values. On the other hand, each image line includes image line data. Similarly, the image line data records the individual image data values associated with the image lines.

A receiver 110 receives the television signal S _TV , demodulates it into a transport stream TS, and then provides the transport stream to an extractor 120. The extractor, which is typically implemented in software, extracts line-enabled signal LES and line data information associated with all picture lines from the transport stream TS. The extractor 120 then transmits the line enable signal LES to a plurality of registers 142 in a VBI controller 140, wherein each of the registers 142 is used to store the teletype information. The line enable signal LES associated with one of the lines of the individual telex information lines. Further, the extractor 120 supplies the line data LD to a memory 130. The line data LD includes the teletext line data (the teletext line data LD_TT) associated with the teletext line and the image line data (the image line data LD_VIDEO) associated with the image line.

The VBI controller 140 then reads the line enable signal LES stored in the register 140 to detect which teletype line is enabled. The VBI controller 140 reads the enabled teletype data LD_TTE associated with the enabled teletext line from the memory 130 and provides it to a TV Encoder 160. An image controller 150 reads image line data LD_VIDEO associated with all image lines from the memory 130 and also supplies it to the television (TV) encoder 160. The TV encoder 160 then encodes the received line data LD_TTE and LD_VIDEO and provides the encoded material to the display 170 for display.

The total number of registers 142 is equal to the total number of teletext lines. In the PAL or NTSC standard, up to 36 registers are required. The fact that the number of registers 142 is so large results in a heavy load on the VBI controller 140 and thus a very long delay, which is especially severe during picture transitions. In addition, the fixed set of registers 143 not only limits the total number of teletext lines, but also limits the individual numbers of the teletext lines (for example, the PAL standard is always 5-22 or 317 to 334)). As a result, the flexibility and adaptability of data transmission are not good.

In this context, a signal processing device and a signal processing method are described, which have high telecom information processing efficiency and better telecom information transmission flexibility and adaptability.

The invention provides a signal processing device. According to an aspect, a signal processing device can be configured to receive and encode a transport stream for display. The transport stream provides teletext information associated with a plurality of teletext lines and image information associated with the plurality of video lines. The signal processing device can include a memory configured to store line enable signals and line data associated with the teletext lines and the image lines, and a vertical blanking interval controller coupled to In the memory, the vertical blanking interval controller is configured to read the memory to obtain the line data associated with the enabled teletype lines in the teletext lines. Moreover, an image controller can be configured to read and obtain the line data associated with the image lines. Additionally, an encoder is configurable to receive and encode the line of data associated with the enabled teletext lines and the image lines for display. The memory may include a plurality of memory addresses, the total number of which is equal to the total number of the teletext lines and the number of the image lines in a picture. In addition, the memory can have the same number of memories as the number of buses in one screen. Each memory address can correspond to a picture line number, one part of which stores the line enable signal and the other part stores the line data. The vertical blanking interval controller can sequentially read the memory to sequentially provide the line data associated with the enabled teletext line to the encoder.

The above and other features, aspects, and embodiments are described in the following paragraphs of "Embodiment."

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a video signal processing apparatus provided by the present invention. As shown, the video signal processing device 200, for example, a television set, can include a receiver 210, an extractor 220, a memory 230, and a vertical blanking interval controller (VBI controller) 240. An image controller 250, a television encoder (TV encoder) 260, and a display 270.

The receiver 210 can receive a television signal S _TV by, for example, an antenna, a Satellite Dish, or a cable television outlet. The television signal S _TV , for example, can conform to well-known television specifications, such as the National Television System Committee (NTSC) standard or the Phase Alternating Line (PAL) standard. In addition, the television signal S _TV includes teletext information and video information. The telex information and the image information are respectively associated with a plurality of teletext lines and a plurality of image lines among the plurality of picture lines. The total number of such picture lines can be 525 for the NTSC standard and 625 for the PAL standard.

Each teletext line includes a line enable signal LES and a teletext line data LD_TT. Specifically, the line enable signal LES records whether the teletext line is enabled or disabled, and the teletype line data LD_TT records one of the teletext lines to display the data value. In another aspect, each of the image lines may include a line enable signal LES and an image line data LD_VIDEO associated with the signal lines, and specifically, the image line data LD_VIDEO may record associated with the image lines. Data value.

Telex number of individual lines of text information, specifications for the PAL television signal S _TV may be in the range of 5-22, or 317-334 with the picture conversion or may be positioned with respect to the NTSC standard picture conversion from 8 to 25 or 270 Within the range of 287, the individual number of the video line is the remaining picture line number other than the number of the teletext line. However, telex text lines can have different or even wider ranges, as will be explained below in conjunction with Figure 3.

The receiver 210 can be configured to receive the television signal S _TV described above, demodulate it into a transport stream TS, and then provide the transport stream TS to the extractor 220. The receiver 210, for example, can include a tuner (not shown) for tuning in a desired channel to receive the television signal S _TV while blocking or filtering signals on the unwanted channels. And a demodulator (not shown) for demodulating the television signal S _TV into the transport stream TS and transmitting the transport stream TS to the extractor 220.

An extractor 220, which can be implemented as a software, is configurable to extract, from the transport stream TS, the above-mentioned line enable signal LES and line data LD associated with all picture lines, wherein the line data LD includes Telex text line data LD_TT and video line data LD_VIDEO. The extractor 220 can then transmit the line enable signal LES and line data LD associated with all of the picture lines to the memory 230.

The VBI controller 240 is configurable to read the line enable signal LES stored in the memory 230 and then to detect which teletext line is enabled. Then, the VBI controller 240 can read the enabled teletype data LE_TTE associated with only the enabled teletext line from the memory 230, and provide the enabled teletype data LD_TTE to the TV encoder 260.

The image controller 250 reads the image line data LD_VIDEO from the memory 230 and supplies it to the TV encoder 260.

The TV encoder 260 is configurable to encode the line data LD, which is received from the VBI controller 240 and the image controller 250, respectively, and the enabled teletype data line LD_TTE and the image line data LD_VIDEO. In association with the TV encoder 260, the data is processed to be suitable for display on a display 270, such as a computer screen or a television display.

The main difference between the video signal processing devices 100 and 200 is the block 10 and the block 20. Specifically, the extractor 120 in the block 10 can provide the line enable signal LES and the line data LD to the register 142 and the memory 130, respectively, but the extractor 220 can connect the line enable signal LES and the line data LD. Both are provided to the memory 230. In this way, the VBI controller 140 in the block 10 can then read the line enable signal LES stored in the register 142 to obtain the enable teletype data LD_TTE from the memory 130; In block 20, the VBI controller 240 checks the line enable signal LES stored in the memory 230 to read the enable teletext data LD_TTE from the memory 230. Advantageously, in the novel video signal processing apparatus 200, no additional registers are required to store the line enable signal LES. As a result, no serious load and delay will be incurred, thereby achieving higher efficiency of telex information processing.

3A and 3B are two embodiments of an exemplary summary table of data storage arrangements of memory in the image signal processing apparatus 200 of Fig. 2 provided by the present invention. The example tables of FIGS. 3A and 3B are for the example in which the video signal processing apparatus 200 conforms to the PAL standard of the 625 lines. Similar descriptions can be made for video signal processing devices that conform to NTSC or other standards, and are omitted here for brevity.

For a picture of the PAL standard, the line number that allows display of the material (i.e., visible on display 270) ranges from 5 to 622. The remaining 0 to 4 and 633-624 line numbers are located in a forbidden display area and are therefore not visible on display 270. Referring to FIG. 3A, in accordance with an embodiment, the memory 230 can include a plurality of memory addresses, and the total number of the memory addresses can be equal to the total number of teletext lines and image lines (for 618 lines), wherein the memory Each memory address of the body 230 can correspond to a different teletext or video line. In a preferred embodiment, the memory addresses 0 to 617 can sequentially correspond to the line numbers 5 to 622 of the teletext and video lines, respectively. Specifically, the i-th address may correspond to the (i+5)th picture line, where i is an integer between 0 and 617.

According to a preferred embodiment, for each memory address, a portion of the memory can store the line enable signal LES, and another portion of the memory stores the line data LD. For example, the first bit of the address of the address can be configured to store the line enable signal LES of a certain line number corresponding to the address, and the remaining consecutive bits (ie, 47 bits) can be configured to store the same bit. The line data associated with the line number, LD, is shown in the example table.

Since the picture line number and the memory address have a sequential one-to-one correspondence, the VBI controller 240 and the image controller 250 can sequentially read the memory 230 (in the order of the address) to obtain the memory 230 separately. Enable telex text line LE_TTE and video line data LD_VIDEO. Specifically, during the reading of the memory 230, the VBI controller 240 may first detect whether the current address corresponds to a teletext line. The VBI controller 240 reads the first bit of the current memory address only when the current address corresponds to a teletext line; otherwise, the VBI controller 240 jumps to detect the next line. If the current address is a teletext line, the VBI controller 240 reads the first bit of the current address to detect the status of the teletext line. For example, if the value of the first bit is 1, indicating that the teletext line is enabled, the VBI controller 240 can read the remaining 47 bits of the same address and provide the read value. The TV encoder 260 is provided. Conversely, if the value of the first bit is 0, indicating that the teletext line is disabled, the VBI controller 240 skips to read the next line.

On the other hand, in the process of reading the memory 230, the image controller 250 may first detect whether the current address corresponds to an image line. When the current address corresponds to an image line, the image controller 250 can read the image line data LD_VIDEO stored at the current address. Otherwise, the image controller 250 can skip to read the next line.

In Figure 3A, under the PAL standard, the line numbers in the range of 5th to 22nd or 317th to 334 are set to the teletext line number, and the remaining line numbers (except for the prohibited display area) are set as the image. Line number. However, the embodiments provided herein are not intended to be so limited. Since the memory 230 has a corresponding address for each teletext line and the image line, any image line can be converted into a teletext line as long as it does not need to transmit image information. In other words, at least one of the lines of the image lines can be adapted for use as a teletext line to transmit teletext information. For example, in FIG. 3B, the memory addresses 18 to 20, 310 to 311, and 330 (corresponding to line numbers 23-25, 315 to 316, and 335, respectively) are originally used as images in FIG. 3A. The line can be used as a teletext line to transmit telex information. Therefore, the range of the teletext line numbers in this embodiment has a higher range than the conventional technology in which the total number of teletext lines and the individual numbers are limited by the fixed register 140. Design flexibility and adaptability for a variety of applications.

Since the memory 230 not only stores the line data LD but also stores the line enable data LES, the register 132 can be removed. Therefore, it will not incur serious load and delay, so that high telecom information processing efficiency can be achieved. In addition, since the memory 230 can have the same number of addresses as the number of picture buses, any position within the entire picture can be set as a teletext line. As a result, a more adaptable, more flexible, and even broader range of picture lines can be used to transmit teletext information than conventional techniques with unchangeable teletext lines.

While the present invention has been described in its preferred embodiments, the present invention is not intended to limit the invention, and the present invention may be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of protection is subject to the definition of the scope of the patent application.

10. . . Block

20. . . Block

110. . . receiver

120. . . Extractor

130. . . Memory

140. . . VBI controller

142. . . Register

150. . . Image controller

160. . . TV encoder

170. . . monitor

210. . . receiver

220. . . Extractor

230. . . Memory

240. . . VBI controller

250. . . Image controller

260. . . TV encoder

270. . . monitor

S _TV . . . TV signal

TS. . . Transport stream

LD. . . Line data

LES. . . Line enable signal

LD_VIDEO. . . Video line data

LD_TT. . . Teletext data

LD_TTE. . . Enable telex information

The various features, functions and embodiments of the present invention are described in the foregoing detailed description,

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a conventional video signal processing device.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a video signal processing apparatus provided by the present invention.

Figure 2 is an embodiment of a block diagram of one of the receivers provided by the present invention.

3A and 3B are two embodiments of an exemplary summary table of data storage arrangements for memory in the image signal processing apparatus of Fig. 2 provided by the present invention.

20. . . Block

210. . . receiver

220. . . Extractor

230. . . Memory

240. . . VBI controller

250. . . Image controller

260. . . TV encoder

270. . . monitor

S _TV . . . TV signal

TS. . . Transport stream

LD. . . Line data

LES. . . Line enable signal

LD_VIDEO. . . Video line data

LD_TT. . . Teletext data

LD_TTE. . . Enable telex information

Claims (12)

A signal processing apparatus configured to receive and encode a transport stream for display, wherein the transport stream provides teletext information associated with a plurality of teletext lines and an image associated with the plurality of image lines Information, the signal processing device includes: a memory configured to store line enable signals and line data associated with the teletype lines and the image lines; and a vertical blanking interval controller Coupled to the memory, the vertical blanking interval controller is configured to read the memory to obtain the line data associated with the enabled teletype lines of the teletext lines. The signal processing device of claim 1, wherein the memory system comprises a plurality of memory addresses, the total number of the memory addresses being equal to the teletext lines and the image lines in a picture. total. The signal processing device of claim 1, further comprising an image controller coupled to the memory, the image controller configured to read the memory to obtain the image line associated with the image line Line information. The signal processing device of claim 1, further comprising: an encoder coupled to the vertical blanking interval controller for receiving and encoding the line associated with the enabled teletype lines Information for display. For example, the signal processing device of claim 3 of the patent scope further includes: An encoder coupled to the vertical blanking interval controller and the image controller for receiving and encoding the line data associated with the enabled teletext lines and the image lines for display. The signal processing device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the image lines is adapted to be used as a teletext line to transmit teletype information. A signal processing method for receiving and encoding a transport stream for display, wherein the transport stream provides teletext information associated with a plurality of teletext lines and image information associated with the plurality of image lines The signal processing method includes: storing line-enabled signal and line data related to the teletype lines and the image lines; and reading a memory to obtain the same as the teletype lines This line of information related to the teletext line can be transmitted. The signal processing method of claim 7, wherein the memory system comprises a plurality of memory addresses, the total number of the memory addresses being equal to the teletext lines and the image lines in a picture. total. For example, the signal processing method of claim 7 further includes reading the memory to obtain the line data associated with the image lines. The method for processing a signal according to claim 7 of the patent application, further comprising: receiving the line data associated with the enabled telex lines; The line data associated with the enabled teletype lines is encoded for display. The signal processing method of claim 9 further includes: receiving the line data associated with the enabled telex lines and the image lines; and encoding and enabling the teletype lines And the line data associated with the image lines for display. For example, the signal processing method of claim 7 of the patent application further includes adapting at least one of the image lines to transmit teletype information.