Smooth still image capture

Abstract

A live video is directed to a display buffer of the device. The device is preferably a set top box and a live video frame stored in the display buffer is preferably displayed by a display device coupled to the set top box. The display device is preferably a television. A capture command preferably signals the set top box to store one or more frames of the currently displayed live video. Upon receiving the capture command, the live video is paused, thereby preventing the display buffer from loading subsequent live video frames. The live video is then re-directed to a capture buffer, the live video is un-paused, and a current live video frame is captured from the capture buffer. The captured frame is then stored using a conventional storage medium. After the frame is captured, the live video is re-directed from the capture buffer to the display buffer to resume display of the live video.

1 . A method of capturing a frame of a live video, the method comprising:
 a. directing the live video to a display buffer, wherein the display buffer stores a current live video frame referenced by a display pointer;   b. pausing the live video upon receiving a screen capture command, thereby displaying a paused frame from the display buffer corresponding to the display pointer;   c. directing the live video to a capture buffer, wherein the capture buffer captures a subsequent live video frame, thereby forming a captured frame;   d. storing the captured frame; and   e. re-directing the live video to the display buffer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein pausing the live video prevents the display buffer from storing subsequently received live video. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising enabling the capture buffer prior to directing the live video to the capture buffer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising un-pausing the live video after directing the live video to the capture buffer and prior to the capture buffer capturing the captured frame. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising disabling the capture buffer after re-directing the live video to the display buffer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein when directing the live video to the capture buffer, the capture buffer stores a current live video frame referenced by a capture pointer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein disabling the capture buffer sets the capture pointer to the display pointer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein enabling the capture buffer sets a capture pointer to reference the capture buffer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein directing the live video to the capture buffer includes re-directing the live video from the display pointer to the capture pointer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying the live video after re-directing the live video to the display buffer. 
     
     
         11 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of capturing a frame of a live video, the method comprising:
 a. directing the live video to a display buffer, wherein a current storage position of the live video is referenced by a capture pointer and a currently displayed frame from the display buffer is referenced by a display pointer;   b. pausing the live video upon receiving a screen capture command, thereby displaying a paused frame from the display buffer corresponding to the display pointer;   c. setting the capture pointer to reference a capture buffer, thereby directing the live video to the capture buffer;   d. capturing a current live video frame from the capture buffer; and   e. setting the capture pointer to match the display pointer, thereby re-directing the live video to the display buffer.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising un-pausing the live video after directing the live video to the capture buffer and prior to the capture buffer capturing the captured frame. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein pausing the live video prevents the display buffer from storing subsequently received live video. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein setting the capture pointer to match the display pointer releases the capture buffer. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising displaying the live video after re-directing the live video to the display buffer. 
     
     
         24 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A set top box to capture a frame of a live video, the apparatus comprising:
 a. an input/output (I/O) circuit to receive a screen capture command and the live video;   b. a display buffer;   c. a capture buffer; and   d. a controller coupled to the I/O circuit, the display buffer and the capture buffer such that in operation the live video is directed to the display buffer from the I/O interface, wherein a current storage position of the live video is referenced by a capture pointer and a currently displayed frame from the display buffer is referenced by a display pointer, and upon receiving the screen capture command the live video is paused, the capture pointer is set to reference the capture buffer, a current live video frame from the capture buffer is captured, and the capture pointer is set to match the display pointer.   
     
     
         34 . The set top box of  claim 33  wherein the I/O interface provides an external connection to a display device to display the live video received from the display buffer. 
     
     
         35 . The set top box of  claim 33  wherein the live video is directed from the display buffer via the I/O interface to an external display device. 
     
     
         36 . The set top box of  claim 33  wherein the display buffer maintains a paused frame referenced by the display pointer in response to pausing the live video. 
     
     
         37 . The set top box of  claim 33  wherein the live video is directed to the capture buffer in response to setting the capture pointer to match the display pointer. 
     
     
         38 . The set top box of  claim 37  wherein the live video is re-directed to the display buffer in response to setting the capture pointer to match the display pointer. 
     
     
         39 . The set top box of  claim 37  wherein the live video is un-paused after directing the live video to the capture buffer and prior to the capture buffer capturing the captured frame. 
     
     
         40 . The set top box of  claim 33  wherein the capture buffer is released in response to setting the capture pointer to match the display pointer. 
     
     
         41 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A network of devices to capture a frame of a live video, the network of devices comprising:
 a. a source device;   b. a display device; and   c. a set top box coupled to the source device and the display device, the set top box comprising an input/output (I/O) circuit to receive a screen capture command and the live video from the source device, a display buffer, a capture buffer, and a controller coupled to the I/O circuit, the display buffer and the capture buffer such that in operation the live video is directed to the display buffer from the I/O interface, wherein a current storage position of the live video is referenced by a capture pointer and a currently displayed frame from the display buffer is referenced by a display pointer and displayed on the display device, and upon receiving the screen capture command the live video is paused, the capture pointer is set to reference the capture buffer, a current live video frame from the capture buffer is captured, and the capture pointer is set to match the display pointer.   
     
     
         50 . The network of devices of  claim 49  wherein the live video is directed from the display buffer via the I/O interface to an external display device. 
     
     
         51 . The network of devices of  claim 49  wherein the display buffer maintains a paused frame referenced by the display pointer in response to pausing the live video. 
     
     
         52 . The network of devices of  claim 49  wherein the live video is directed to the capture buffer in response to setting the capture pointer to match the display pointer. 
     
     
         53 . The network of devices of  claim 52  wherein the live video is re-directed to the display buffer in response to setting the capture pointer to match the display pointer. 
     
     
         54 . The network of devices of  claim 52  wherein the live video is un-paused after directing the live video to the capture buffer and prior to the capture buffer capturing the captured frame. 
     
     
         55 . The network of devices of  claim 49  wherein the capture buffer is released in response to setting the capture pointer to match the display pointer. 
     
     
         56 . The network of devices of  claim 49  wherein the source device comprises a cable service provider, a satellite service provider, or a content source coupled to the internet. 
     
     
         57 . The network of devices of  claim 49  wherein the display device is a television or a personal computer.