1. Process for the frequency conversion utilizing a dynamic calculation of the interpolation phases, of an input video signal at a frequency F1 defined by a synchronization signal S1 into an output video signal at a variable frequency F2 defined by a synchronization signal S2, comprising a writing of the input signal to a memory on the basis of a write pointer PW and a reading, from the memory, to obtain the output signal, wherein it stores the position of the write pointer PW on receipt of the synchronization signal S1 so as to provide a value Pw-IN, and on receipt of the synchronization signal S2 so as to provide a value PWOUT, in that it dynamically calculates an interpolation phase (12, 13, 14, 15) such that:
12
=
P
W_OUT
–
P
W_IN
P
W_FIELD
if
P
W_OUT
P
W_IN
or
=
P
W_OUT
+
N
CAP
P
W_FIELD
–
P
W_IN
P
W_FIELD
if
P
W_OUT
<
P
W_IN
PWFIELD being the memory quantity required for the storage of a field or frame of the input signal and NCAP the capacity of the memory expressed in terms of number of fields or frames,
and in that it performs a phase interpolation corresponding to this value:
2. Process according to claim 1, wherein three or four successive fields or frames are stored in the memory and in that the interpolation is performed on the fields or frames following that being stored upon receipt of the signal S2 utilized for the calculation of the interpolation phase, on the basis of this calculated interpolation phase.
3. Process according to claim 1, wherein the calculation of the interpolation phase takes into account a shift of the write pointer corresponding to the duration of the field or frame blanking signal before the active video.
4. Dynamic frequency conversion device for converting an input signal at a frequency F1 defined by a synchronization signal S1 into an output signal at a variable frequency F2 defined by the receipt of a synchronization signal S2, comprising a video memory for writing the input signal on the basis of a write pointer PW, an interpolation circuit receiving the outputs from the memory for the reading of a field or frame T1 as first access followed by a next field or frame T2 as second access, wherein it also comprises:
a circuit for storing the pointer PW on receipt of the signal S1 so as to provide a value PWIN,
a circuit for storing the pointer PW on receipt of the signal S2 so as to provide a value PWOUT,
a circuit for calculating interpolation phase
13
=
P
W_OUT
–
P
W_IN
P
W_FIELD
if
P
W_OUT
P
W_IN
or
=
P
W_OUT
+
N
CAP
P
W_FIELD
–
P
W_IN
P
W_FIELD
if
P
W_OUT
<
P
W_IN
PWFIELD being the memory quantity required for the storage of a field or frame of the input signal and NCAP the capacity of the memory expressed in terms of number of fields or frames,
and in that the interpolation circuit is coupled to the calculating circuit so as to receive this interpolation phase and calculate the interpolated field or frame as a function of the interpolation phase.
5. Device according to claim 4, wherein the calculating circuit consists of a subtractor, a multiplexer, a multiplier and an adder.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A process for enhancing the viewership of television advertisements in a digital video recorder (DVR) environment, comprising the steps of:
partitioning the beginning and end of each commercial break in a program segment;
wherein each partition is of a predetermined length of time; and
wherein said beginning and end partitions are carefully authored to provide a teaser to entice the viewer to watch multiple commercials during the break.
2. The process of claim 1, wherein said teaser is a set of images or logos that indicate a commercial relating to a particular advertiser is present.
3. The process of claim 1, wherein said teaser is a menu or short sequence of animations designed to catch the viewer’s attention and persuade him to watch the commercial break.
4. A process for enhancing the viewership of television advertisements in a digital video recorder (DVR) environment, comprising the steps of:
partitioning the beginning and end of a television advertisement;
wherein each partition is of a predetermined length of time; and
wherein said beginning partition and said end partition contain the more important content designed to get the desired message across to the viewer in the predetermined length of time.
5. A process for enhancing the viewership of television advertisements in a digital video recorder (DVR) environment, comprising the steps of:
providing a storage device;
recording television program material onto said storage device;
receiving advertisements from an external source;
storing said advertisements on said storage device;
selecting an advertisement from said storage device;
playing back said television program material from said storage device to the viewer; and
wherein said playing back step displays said advertisement to the viewer before andor after said television program material is played back to the viewer.
6. The process of claim 4, wherein said selecting step selects said advertisement based on the viewer’s viewing preferences andor personal data.
7. The process of claim 4, wherein said selecting step selects an advertisement to be displayed after said television program material is played back to the viewer that is different than the advertisement displayed before said television program material is played back to the viewer.
8. An apparatus for enhancing the viewership of television advertisements in a digital video recorder (DVR) environment, comprising:
a storage device;
a module for recording television program material onto said storage device;
a module for receiving advertisements from an external source;
a module for storing said advertisements on said storage device;
a module for selecting an advertisement from said storage device;
a module for playing back said television program material from said storage device to the viewer; and
wherein said playing back step displays said advertisement to the viewer before andor after said television program material is played back to the viewer.
9. The process of claim 7, wherein said selecting module selects said advertisement based on the viewer’s viewing preferences andor personal data.
10. The process of claim 7, wherein said selecting module selects an advertisement to be displayed after said television program material is played back to the viewer that is different than the advertisement displayed before said television program material is played back to the viewer.
11. A program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for enhancing the viewership of television advertisements in a digital video recorder (DVR) environment, comprising the steps of:
providing a storage device;
recording television program material onto said storage device;
receiving advertisements from an external source;
storing said advertisements on said storage device;
selecting an advertisement from said storage device;
playing back said television program material from said storage device to the viewer; and
wherein said playing back step displays said advertisement to the viewer before andor after said television program material is played back to the viewer.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein said selecting step selects said advertisement based on the viewer’s viewing preferences andor personal data.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein said selecting step selects an advertisement to be displayed after said television program material is played back to the viewer that is different than the advertisement displayed before said television program material is played back to the viewer.