Patent ID: 7657109
Filing Date: 2010-02-02
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for run-length encoding of a data stream, the data stream comprising bitmap formatted subtitle or menu data for video presentation on a display, wherein the subtitle or menu data include graphics or text or both, comprising the steps of defining a preferred color; defining a range of run-lengths; encoding pixels of the preferred color to first code words with two or three bytes, wherein said first code words comprise a run-length value, and wherein the run-length value comprised in first code words having three bytes exceeds said defined range and may exceed the width of the display; encoding pixels of another than the preferred color to second code words with one, three or four bytes, wherein the second code words comprise a color value, and wherein second code words having three or four bytes comprise a run-length value, and wherein the run-length value comprised in second code words having four bytes exceeds said defined range and may exceed the width of the display.