Higher picture rate HD encoding and transmission with legacy HD backward compatibility

Abstract

Methods and systems for the efficient and non-redundant transmission of a single video program in multiple frame rates, optionally employing a combination of video coding standards, in a way that is backwards-compatible with legacy receivers only supportive of some subsection of frame rates or of some subsection of video coding standards.

1 . A method for transmitting compressed video signals according to one or more compression video picture formats, wherein said compressed video signals correspond to television channels or television programs in any of a plurality of picture formats, said method comprising the following steps: 
 at least one of a plurality of receivers receiving said compressed video signals and having a first maximum processing capability;    at least one other receiver of said plurality of receivers receiving said compressed video signals and having a second maximum processing capability, said first maximum processing capability and said second maximum processing capability being different; and    said at least one receiver and said at least one other receiver processing said compressed video signals according to said one or more picture formats up to said first maximum processing capability and said second maximum processing capability, respectively.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in said processing step includes said at least one receiver and said at least one other receiver processing said compressed video signals according to different picture spatial resolutions.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in said processing step includes said at least one receiver and said at least one other receiver processing said compressed video signals according to different picture rates.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said processing step includes said at least one receiver processing said compressed video signals according to a 1080P-60 picture format and said at least one other receiver processing said compressed video signals according to other than said 1080P-60 picture format.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said processing step includes said at least one receiver processing said compressed video signals according to a 1080i-60 picture format and said at least one other receiver processing said compressed video signals according to other than said 1080i-60 picture format.  
     
     
         6 . A system for receiving a compressed video signal comprising: 
 a first receiver having a first maximum processing capability; and    a second receiver having a second maximum processing capability, wherein said first and second maximum capabilities are different, said first receiver adapted to process compressed video signals according to a first picture format and said second receiver adapted to process said compressed video signals according to a second picture format.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said first receiver is adapted to process said compressed video signals according to a 1080P picture spatial resolution and said second receiver is adapted to process said compressed video signals according to a picture spatial resolution other than said 1080P spatial resolution.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said first receiver is adapted to process said compressed video signals according to a picture rate of 60 pictures per second and said second receiver is adapted to process said compressed video signals according to a picture rate of other than 60 pictures per second.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said first receiver is adapted to process said compressed video signals according to a picture rate of 60 fields per second and said second receiver is adapted to process said compressed video signals according to a picture rate of other than 60 fields per second.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said first receiver is a 1080P-60 receiver and said second receiver is a 1080i-60 receiver.  
     
     
         11 . A method for transmitting a compressed video signal in a first compressed video picture format to a plurality of receivers, at least one of said receivers adapted to process other than said first compressed video picture format, said method comprising the steps of: 
 transmitting said compressed video signal in said first compressed video picture format;    at least one of said receivers processing said compressed video signal in said first compressed video picture format;    said at least one receiver adapted to process other than said first compressed video picture format receiving said compressed video signal in said first compressed video picture format; and    said at least one receiver adapted to process other than said first compressed video picture format extracting a portion of said first compressed video signal to obtain a first video stream suitable for processing.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said extracting step comprises utilizing PID filtering to identify said portion of said compressed video signal.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting said compressed video stream comprising a first video stream and a second video stream which are utilized at least partially in combination with one another to define said first compressed video picture format.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said extracting step comprises said at least one receiver to process other than said first compressed video picture format processing said first video stream and rejecting said second video stream.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said at least one receiver adapted to process other than said first compressed video picture format is a 1080i-60 receiver and said extracting step comprises said 1080i-60 receiver processing said portion being equivalent to a 1080P-30 picture format.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said at least one receiver adapted to process other than said first compressed video picture format is a 1080P-30 receiver and said extracting step comprises said 1080P-30 receiver processing said portion being equivalent to a 1080P-30 picture format.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said processing step of said at least one receiver adapted to process compressed video signal in said first compressed video picture format comprises processing said first and second video streams in order to drive a display capable of displaying in said first compressed video picture format.  
     
     
         18 . A method for processing a 1080i-60 compressed video signal by a 1080P-60 receiver to be output to a 1080P-60 display, said method comprising the following steps: 
 said 1080P-60 capable receiver receiving as input said 1080i-60 video signal;    decoding pictures corresponding to said 1080i-60 video signal;    deinterlacing a decoded 1080i-60 signal based on information in two or more 1080i fields; and    outputting decoded 1080P-60 pictures.    
     
     
         19 . A method for processing a 1080P-60 compressed video signal by a 1080P-60 receiver to be output to a non-1080P-60 display, said method comprising the following steps: 
 said 1080P-60 capable receiver receiving as input said 1080P-60 video signal;    decoding pictures corresponding to said 1080P-60 video signal; and    outputting a portion of said decoded 1080P-60 pictures to said non-1080P-60 display.    
     
     
         20 . A method for processing a 1080i-60 compressed video signal by a 1080P-60 receiver to be output to a non-1080P-60 display, said method comprising the following steps: 
 said 1080P-60 capable receiver receiving as input said 1080i-60 video signal;    decoding pictures corresponding to said 1080i-60 video signal; and    outputting a portion of said decoded 1080i-60 pictures to said non-1080P-60 display.    
     
     
         21 . A method for processing a 1080P-60 compressed video signal by a 1080P-60 receiver to be output to a non-1080P-60 display, said method comprising the following steps: 
 said 1080i-60 capable receiver receiving said 1080P-60 video signal;    inputting a first portion of said 1080P-60 video signal corresponding to a 1080i-60 compressed video signal;    rejecting a second portion of said 1080P-60 video signal;    decoding pictures corresponding to said first portion of said 1080P-60 video signal; and    outputting decoded 1080P-60 pictures of said first portion of said 1080P-60 video signal.    
     
     
         22 . A method for processing a 1080P-60 compressed video signal by a 1080i-60 receiver to be output to a 1080P-60 display, said method comprising the following steps: 
 said 1080i-60 capable receiver receiving said 1080P-60 video signal;    inputting a first portion of said 1080P-60 video signal corresponding to a 1080i-60 compressed video signal;    rejecting a second portion of said 1080P-60 video signal;    decoding pictures corresponding to said first portion of said 1080P-60 video signal;    deinterlacing a decoded 1080i-60 signal based on information in two or more 1080i fields; and    outputting decoded and deinterlaced 1080i-60 pictures of said first portion of said 1080P-60 video signal.    
     
     
         23 . A method for processing a 1080P-60 compressed video signal by a 1080i-60 receiver to be output to a 1080P-60 display having deinterlacing capability, said method comprising the following steps: 
 said 1080i-60 capable receiver receiving said 1080P-60 video signal;    inputting a first portion of said 1080P-60 video signal corresponding to a 1080i-60 compressed video signal;    rejecting a second portion of said 1080P-60 video signal;    decoding pictures corresponding to said first portion of said 1080P-60 video signal;    outputting decoded 1080i-60 pictures of said first portion of said 1080P-60 video signal; and    deinterlacing a decoded 1080i-60 signal by said 1080P-60 display.    
     
     
         24 . A method for encoding a compressed video signal, said method comprising the following steps: 
 encoding at a first picture format into a single output;    placing every picture of said output in both decode order and presentation order;    defining every other picture of said output as a non-reference picture; and    separating said every other picture to have a first PID (PID B) distinguishable from a second PID (PID A) of said pictures remaining in said output, and wherein said first PID contains only non-reference pictures.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising the steps of: 
 assigning a frame rate value to pictures of said second PID at 30 frames per second;    correcting temporal references of pictures of said first PID to match temporal references of pictures of said second PID such that each said picture shares a temporal reference number;    providing a decoder receiving two of every said temporal reference number; and    decoding pictures of both said first and second PIDS.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising the step of said decoder detecting missing pictures based upon said temporal reference numbers.  
     
     
         27 . A method for encoding a compressed video signal, said method comprising the following steps: 
 placing every picture of a video stream in both decode order and presentation order;    defining every other picture of said video stream as a non-reference picture;    separating said every other picture to have a first PID (PID B) distinguishable from a second PID (PID A) of said pictures remaining in said video stream;    encoding said pictures having said first PID at a first picture format to define a first stream; and    encoding said pictures having said second PID at said first picture format to define a second stream.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising the step of providing a decoder and said decoder simultaneously decoding said pictures having said first and second PIDs.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising the step of recombining said first and second streams into a single output for display.