Abstract:
A reproduction system reproduces interlaced video data in a deinterlaced form. The system selects a deinterlacing algorithm used to process the interlaced video data. The deinterlaced video data is sent to a display device. The reproduction system responds to a manual or automated input that selects a deinterlacing algorithm.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of priority from European Patent Application No. 04 028 606.4, filed Dec. 2, 2004, which is incorporated by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Technical Field  
         [0003]     The invention relates to a system that processes video data, and more particularly, to a reproduction system that processes interlaced video sequences.  
         [0004]     2. Related Art  
         [0005]     Digital versatile discs (DVDs) may be used to store video data. Video data may be stored on DVDs in an interlaced video sequence having many subsequent fields. With an interlacing technique, a screen displays a sequence of fields rather than a sequence of frames. One field contains odd-numbered lines only (odd field) and the next field contains only even-numbered lines (even field). The odd field and the even field are not displayed at the same time, but human eyes may perceive pairs of fields simultaneously as a full frame.  
         [0006]     Video sequences may differ depending on a television standard. Video sequences that comply with Phase Alternation Line (PAL) television standard, which is European format, may include 50 fields per second. National Television System Committee (NTSC) video sequences may comprise 60 fields per second. Both television standards may also differ in the number of lines that make up a complete image. While the PAL standard defines each complete image to include 575 lines, a complete NTSC image include 480 lines.  
         [0007]     Many video sequences may be recorded on DVDs in an interlaced form. When displayed, only half of the pixel information of a complete image may be provided to display each field. To improve picture quality, DVDs may output interlaced video data in a progressive form. The progressive form may allow each field to be converted into a complete frame. Progressive images may be permitted to display about 50 frames per second for PAL video sequences instead of 50 fields (60 frames/fields for NTSC video sequences). Therefore, a need exists for a system that converts interlaced video content into a progressive form.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     A system that reproduces video data includes a user-control panel and/or a remote control. The system detects a current reproduction operation. The reproduction system compares the detected reproduction operation to a list of operations. Each operation may select a deinterlacing algorithm. When selected, the system may process a video signal in a deinterlaced form.  
         [0009]     Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates fields of an interlaced video sequence.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates de-interlaced video sequences.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates second de-interlaced video sequences.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of a DVD player.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a video reproduction device.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is flow chart of a deinterlacing process.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a vehicle entertainment system.  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram of a vehicle entertainment system linked to a communication network. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]     A deinterlacing process converts interlaced video. The process converts a sequence of fields into a sequence of frames. To minimize perceived flickers and improve picture quality, interlaced video may be deinterlaced through deinterlacing techniques such as weaving and/or blending. Weaving deinterlacing (“WEAVE”) may combine two consecutive fields to one frame. Blending deinterlacing such as a BOB deinterlacing may create a frame from a single field by line doubling.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates an interlaced video sequence. In  FIG. 1 , the interlaced video sequence includes a stationary triangle and a moving circle. Each field includes half of the lines of a complete frame updated in an alternating manner. In  FIG. 1 , the first two sequences on the left correspond to odd and even fields of a first complete frame. The second two sequences on the right correspond to odd and even fields of a second complete frame.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates visual artifacts created by a WEAVE deinterlacing. Artifacts may be present in deinterlaced video because the interlaced video has only half the information of non-interlaced video. While vertical resolution of the stationary triangle may increase by combining odd and even fields, the shape of a moving object may be created through two different motion phases of the two moving objects. The WEAVE deinterlacing may create “feathering or combining” artifacts at the edges of moving objects.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates a result created through BOB deinterlacing. In  FIG. 3 , the motion phases of the moving objects may be correctly represented. Additional image details, which are only available from the other field, may not be present in the BOB interlaced images. The BOB deinterlacing may create flickers at thin horizontal lines.  
         [0023]     To produce the improved deinterlaced image, motion compensation may be performed for the WEAVE deinterlacing and filtering for the BOB deinterlacing. Alternatively, an adaptive switching between the WEAVE and the BOB deinterlacings may be utilized to apply a different deinterlacing technique depending on the image content. Such improved deinterlacing approaches may be performed with simplified hardware configuration.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of a DVD player  400  with a number of panel controls. The DVD player  400  may reproduce interlaced video data from an optical or magnetic storage medium. The storage medium may include an optical storage medium, such as a compact disk (CD), a DVD, or a high density DVD. Additionally, the storage medium may comprise a magnetic storage medium, such as a hard disk drive, or a flash memory. Various devices for reproducing video data may also be used including compact disc players, MP3 players, Videocassette Recorder (VCR), etc.  
         [0025]     The DVD player  400  includes a housing  410 . The housing may have a moveable tray  420  for loading a disk such as a DVD. Front panel controls  441 - 446  may initiate a function upon user actuation. Operating information may be displayed in a display unit  430 .  
         [0026]     Operating functions of the DVD player  400  may also be actuated with a remote control. The remote control may enable additional function ability of the DVD player  400 . The front panel controls  441 - 446  include many buttons, switches, keys, or other equivalent structures. The front panel controls  441 - 446  include a PLAY button  441 , a PAUSE button  442 , a STOP button  443 , a FAST FORWARD button  444  and a REVERSE button  445 . Button  446  may include other functions that may be accessed from the front panel of the DVD player  400 .  
         [0027]     Actuating the PLAY button  441  initiates reproduction of video content. Alternatively, actuation of other buttons may initiate the reproduction. Some of DVD players may begin reproduction automatically when a CD or a DVD is inserted into the tray  420 . A title may be selected from a menu that describes a function such as “play movie” (or similar) to start the playback.  
         [0028]     Actuating the PAUSE button  442  may suspend the playback. To resume the playback, the PLAY button  441 , or the PAUSE button  442  may be actuated again. Upon actuation, the STOP button  443  may stop the playback. The FAST PLAY buttons  444  and  445  may actuate a fast forward play, or a fast backward play. Depending on individual implementations, different fast playback speeds are possible by pressing the FAST PLAY buttons  444  and  445  repeatedly.  
         [0029]     Additional controls may be provided on a remote control. Such additional controls may relate to DVD navigation functions, such as a cursor pad, or navigation buttons and MENU or MAIN MENU buttons. In particular, upon actuation of the MENU button, the DVD reproduction may return to the DVD&#39;s disk menu. Use of the individual navigation buttons may depend on the navigation menu which may be specific to each disk and may vary with each title. A navigation menu offers selection of chapters and languages and viewing extra material such as trailers or documentaries. When the menu has been accessed, a user may move around the menu with a cursor pad, or the navigation buttons and select individual items.  
         [0030]     The DVD player  400  may send de-interlaced image data to a progressive scan terminal for display on a display device. Alternatively, the DVD player  400  may be part of an entertainment system, such as a system that includes a vehicle entertainment system. In these systems, the deinterlaced video data is processed before it is shown on a display screen.  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram a video reproduction device  500 . The video production device  500  may compare a DVD player. The video reproduction device  500  includes an image processor  510 , a deinterlacing unit  520  and video data storage medium  560 . The video reproduction device  500  further includes a processing controller  530  and a deinterlacing algorithm selector  540 . The video data sent from Video OUT  of the deinterlacing unit  520  may be read by a display device  570  for reproduction.  
         [0032]     A front panel  550  may control the image processing, performed by the processor  510 . The front panel  550  may include control buttons for initiating functions. Although not illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the front panel  550  may be replaced or supplemented by a remote control that provides corresponding or supplemental control functions.  
         [0033]     Based on the front panel controls, the processor controller  530  may initiate the processing operation by sending respective commands to the processor  510 . The processor  510  may start to read video data from the storage medium  560  for reproduction at a normal or increased reproduction speed. The deinterlacing unit  520  may apply either a single deinterlacing algorithm, or select an appropriate deinterlacing algorithm depending on the supplemental information accompanying the video data. Motion vectors may represent the supplemental information underlying selection of the deinterlacing algorithm.  
         [0034]     In the video reproduction device  500  of  FIG. 5 , selection of an appropriate deinterlacing algorithm may not be based on the image data, or information accompanying the image data. Rather, the deinterlacing algorithm selector  540  may be a unitary part of, or interfaced to the processing controller  530  to obtain the viewer&#39;s selected operating function. Based on the selected function, the appropriate deinterlacing algorithm may be selected that causes the deinterlacing unit  520  to process the video data according to the selected algorithm. Alternatively, the deinterlacing algorithm selector  540  may be separated from the processing controller  530 . In this alternation, the deinterlacing algorithm selector  540  may be directly connected to the front panel  550 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart of a reproduction operation. The reproduction operation may be executed through the DVD player  400  shown in  FIG. 4 . The current reproduction operation may be detected at  610 . The operation of the DVD player  400  may be monitored continuously and may provide a detection signal. At  620 , the detected reproduction operation is compared to a pre-stored list of reproduction operations of the DVD player  400 . The list may be pre-stored in a memory disposed within or interfaced to the DVD player  400  and may include possible reproduction operations. Each of the reproduction operations may be associated with a respective deinterlacing algorithm. A respective deinterlacing algorithm may be selected at  630  based on the detected current reproduction operation. At  640 , a current video signal may be processed with the determined deinterlacing algorithm and may be sent on a display device.  
         [0036]     The deinterlacing algorithms may include BOB and WEAVE deinterlacing techniques. By applying the BOB algorithm, the number of lines may be increased while the motion phase of a moving object may be preserved. Various other deinterlacing algorithms may also be included or used exclusively. A plurality of modified or other interlacing algorithms may be provided and selected. If BOB and/or WEAVE deinterlacing algorithms are used, they may be alternatively configured such that one of these two de-interlaced algorithms is selected as a default deinterlacing algorithm. In that case, it may need to pre-store and monitor functions that result in the application of the other deinterlacing algorithm than the BOB and WEAVE algorithms.  
         [0037]     The user actuated reproduction functions preferably include at least one of the functions of PLAY, FAST FORWARD, REVERSE, STOP, PAUSE, MENU and/or navigation. These functions may also relate to the reproduction of different kinds of image content. Some of these functions may initiate reproduction of still images. In this association, those functions reliably relating to still image reproduction may be associated to a deinterlacing algorithm of high picture quality by combining subsequent fields.  
         [0038]     The deinterlacing algorithm that preserves motion phases of a moving object such as a BOB deinterlacing technique may be selected through dual function buttons or multifunction switches that may include PLAY, FAST FORWARD and REVERSE functions. Further, WEAVE deinterlacing may be selected through another dual function buttons or multifunction switches including STOP, PAUSE, MENU and navigation buttons. These reproduction functions may provide still images for display on a display device. Accordingly, an appropriate deinterlacing algorithm may be selected without analyzing the currently reproduced image content.  
         [0039]     Illustrated video reproduction devices may be coupled to, or integrated within a vehicle entertainment system. A device or structure for transporting persons or things may include on-board entertainment systems. Such entertainment systems may include a plurality of separate components linked by a communication bus or entertainment and comfort bus.  
         [0040]      FIG. 7  illustrates a vehicle  700  with vehicle entertainments systems. Components of the vehicle entertainment systems may be centralized or distributed throughout the vehicle  700 . Processing hardware  710  including a DVD player may be positioned near the rear side of the vehicle  700 . Alternatively, the processing hardware  710  may be disposed in proximity to a central location such as a driver&#39;s seat. A display device  730  that displays video data may be mounted on a vehicle&#39;s dash board and another display device  740  may be disposed between front seats or rear seat.  
         [0041]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram of a vehicle entertainment system  800 . The vehicle entertainment system  800  may include a television receiver  810 , a DVD player  820 , and a display  840 . Other components may be also integrated in the entertainment system  800 . The components  810 - 840  of the vehicle entertainment system  800  may be interconnected or linked through a communication link  850 . The DVD player  820  and/or the television receiver  810  may send video data across the communication link  850  to the display device  840 . The communication link  850  may be a vehicle communication network that is linked to the plurality of entertainment components  810 ,  820 ,  830  and  840 . The communication link may comply with the MOST (Mobile Open Systems Technologies) standard or other communication standards, or protocol.  
         [0042]     The reproduction system of the interlaced video sequence is interfaced to a storage medium. Reproduction may be controlled through user actuated functions. The reproduction system may apply one, two or more deinterlacing algorithms. The deinterlacing algorithm may be selected in accordance with an actuated reproduction function. The reproduction system may include a controller interfaced to a deinterlacing unit that is linked to a selector. The controller may control a reproduction in respect to a user actuated reproduction function.  
         [0043]     The deinterlacing algorithm may control the reproduction system. An improved picture quality may be achieved without complex hardware and/or software. The selection of an appropriate deinterlacing algorithm may occur without complicated image content analysis.  
         [0044]     The reproduction of video from the storage medium improves increased picture quality. The interlaced video data is subject to a deinterlacing process. To avoid image content analysis that may be used for adaptive switch between different deinterlacing algorithms, the currently actuated operating function of the reproduction device may be monitored and deinterlacing algorithm may be selected based on monitored data. The reproduction of the interlaced video data improves picture quality in a simple and efficient manner.  
         [0045]     While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.