Patent Publication Number: US-2006015911-A1

Title: Content display optimizer

Description:
This application claims priority of copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/579,378 filed Jun. 14, 2004. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      This invention relates to entertainment systems, and more specifically to auto aligning entertainment systems.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      Operations of the modern Home Theater have steadily become more complex. The days of popping in the VHS tape and hitting play are long gone. The equipment used in these early days often was limited to a television set, Laser Disc and/or VHS Player and in some of the more advanced systems, a stereo sound system. The operational options were limited, requiring a switching box to select various inputs to the television, which often was connected via RF over a VHF channel. Although the ability to switch from off-air programming to VHS or Laserdisc was easier to understand, it was still a point which was reviewed often in the home.  
      Today, while developing standards and technologies to bring home the theater experience, the industry has given the consumer a variety of operational modes and DSP technologies, allowing the consumer to customize their own experience. The same technologies that give the consumer custom options, also creates challenges.  
      Like many other appliances and technologies in the home, Home Theater has become a science, requiring knowledge of the equipment, it&#39;s configuration, and the variety of options represented on the media being played back in order to get the maximum benefit from the game, music or movie being presented. Operations can be made simpler by the investment in sophisticated remote controls, which offer multiple programmable modes allowing the signal path to be configured.  
      This however is not often enough when the media being played contains an additional variety of modes, which can be confusing to many consumers. It also requires the sophisticated viewer to access menus of equipment items in order to optimize the viewing experience. Often the result is to not change anything except for basic modes, or modes changed via the sophisticated remote for the fear of getting into an undesirable configuration that may be detrimental to the media being displayed. This unfortunate choice results in many of the more creative operational modes included by manufactures of Home Theater equipment never being utilized, and the consumers who make the choice to experiment, being even less familiar with the expensive equipment installed in the home often must seek assistance to configure the system correctly.  
      While the variety of equipment manufactured represents, in general, a higher quality standard today as compared to equipment 10 years ago, there remains a differentiation between bright pictures and loud sounds and reproduction of the art both visually and audibly. The dollars spent on equipment are often made with operational consideration in mind. However, the consumer must still apply specific knowledge about the equipment and the media in order for the optimized experience to be realized. The control mechanism of the devices are becoming increasingly more complex and sophisticated. Viewed individually, the control methodologies used ranged from simple remote controllers to remote controller with “soft keys” to user input devices such as wireless keyboard and other sophisticated control devices. Yet, the underlying problem of controlling multiple CE devices to provide the end user his/her desired functions has not been made easier. Indeed, the resultant lack of interoperability among the diversity of CE devices with often overlapping functions threatens the future growth of the industry as a whole.  
      Some consumers long for a return to the days of placing the media in a player, pressing play and receiving the best picture and sound experience. What is needed is a method and apparatus for automatically configuring content display apparatus of a venue to provide an optimized presentation.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a content display optimizer system according to the present disclosure.  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of internal elements for the content display system of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a content display system including feedback.  
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of content creation elements for a content display system according to the present disclosure.  
       FIG. 5  is a table of the data structure showing content type and content subtype fields.  
       FIG. 6  is a table of the data structure showing possible content type field values.  
       FIG. 7  is a table of the data structure showing possible content subtype field values.  
       FIG. 8  is a table of the data structure showing alternate content subtype field values.  
       FIG. 9  is a table of the data structure showing other alternate content subtype field values.  
       FIG. 10  is a table of the data structure showing more alternate content subtype field values.  
       FIG. 11  is a table of the data structure showing still more alternate content subtype field values.  
       FIG. 12  is a table of the data structure showing URL fields.  
       FIG. 13  is a table of the data structure showing possible URL field values.  
       FIG. 14  is a table of the data structure showing frame aspect ratio fields.  
       FIG. 15  is a table of the data structure showing possible frame aspect ratio field values.  
       FIG. 16  is a table of the data structure showing frame rate and frame cadence fields.  
       FIG. 17  is a table of the data structure showing possible frame rate field values.  
       FIG. 18  is a table of the data structure showing possible frame cadence field values.  
       FIG. 19  is a table of the data structure showing the gamma value field.  
       FIG. 20  is a table of the data structure showing possible gamma field values.  
       FIG. 21  is a table of the data structure showing the color temperature field.  
       FIG. 22  is a table of the data structure showing possible color temperature field values.  
       FIG. 23  is a table of the data structure showing video encoding data fields.  
       FIG. 24  is a table of the data structure showing possible video encoding field values.  
       FIG. 25  is a table of the data structure showing video post-processing data fields.  
       FIG. 26  is a table of the data structure showing possible video post-processing field values.  
       FIG. 27  is a table of showing video post-processing option values.  
       FIG. 28  is a table of the data structure showing possible audio encoding data fields.  
       FIG. 29  is a table of the data structure showing possible audio encoding method field values.  
       FIG. 30  is a table of the data structure showing possible audio matrixed field values.  
       FIG. 31  is a table of the data structure showing possible audio channel assignment data fields.  
       FIG. 32  is a table of the data structure showing possible audio channel assignment field values.  
       FIG. 33  is a table of the data structure showing audio post-processing data fields.  
       FIG. 34  is a table of the data structure showing possible audio post-processing field values.  
       FIG. 35  is a table of showing audio post-processing option values. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)  
      A method and apparatus according to the present disclosure offers the ability for the sophisticated Home Theater owner to select recommended operational settings depending on the media and program material contained on that media, or to create custom user defined presets for different selected items in the system.  
      A content presentation optimizer according to the present disclosure provides the necessary mechanism for any compliant CE device to understand a basic set of control commands, so that any one device within a connected network of compliant CE devices can initiate these control commands toward a destination device.  
      Through a series of embedded test and alignment utilities, a content presentation system according to the present disclosure may provide essential signal sources and procedures which allow initial set up of the system as well as providing confidence testing as the system ages. Calibrated and tested equipment designed and manufactured containing certain technologies to the standards defined under CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER certification, can provide embedded utilities which provide the basis for the set-up and calibration of legacy equipment such as television displays. It is possible to apply this feature in DVD players, DBS and DTV receivers, multimedia personal computers, and game consoles which can also double as DVD players. This feature adds benefit to the purchase of new Blackbird enabled components over conventional units. While allowing the added alignment utility, the consumer is also introduced to the benefits of automatic playback mode selection making the operation of the home theater easier.  
      A content presentation optimizer according to the present disclosure provides a basic set of command codes that all CE devices must recognize and be able to either act on these commands, or pass them along to other devices. For instance, a DVD player can act on a “fast-forward” command, but will pass on a “tune-to-channel-5” or a “volume-up” command. The physical layer of these command and control network can be different from devices to devices, utilizing the currently available control interfaces such as RS-232, or even proprietary interfaces (to allow same-brand CE devices to support this same function.)  
      The present disclosure further defines a “private data path” so that same-brand CE devices can use this mechanism to provide additional functions that are only feasible when same-brand devices are connected.  
      The present disclosure therefore allows any conforming device to initiate control commands to any other devices in the network. The result is that any remote controller of any one of these devices becomes at once the URC for all the devices, at least within the confine of the basic command set.  
      Additionally, while the preferred embodiment of this invention assumes that the human user is usually the active initiator of these controls, the invention just as easily permits other non-human user (e.g., contents, service provider billing machines, etc.) to initiate these commands through its compliant device that must reside within the network of home CE devices.  
      An example of such a device is the cable decoder box (set-top-box) that has a separate, secure, communication path to the cable service providers&#39; central office (head-end). The cable set-top-box that conforms to the current invention will permit the cable service operators to now remotely diagnose the entire network of CE devices from their central office, instead of sending out a service person to the customer&#39;s home to resolve problems of interoperability of the cable STB and the customer&#39;s other CE devices.  
      The precise definition of the basic command set, and the mechanism to allow a device to distinguish between the basic command set and the “private data path” can be based on any of the commercially available data control protocols. The novelty of the current invention is in the application of these methodologies to solving a cross-platform interoperability problem that is the direct consequence of diversity of CE products and control designs.  
      Specific components of a home theater are mentioned specifically, however the models discussed in this document may be expanded to virtually any application where media is delivered which may require specific modes to be set to present the content properly. For the purpose of this discussion, home theater can represent any combination of media playback or receiving device connected to audio processing/receiving components, audio amplifiers and video displays of various technologies enabled with the Blackbird Technology in the home, automobile, conference rooms.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 1 , Content presentation system  8  may include content input element  30 , A/V Reciever  14  and display device  14 . Content input element  30  may include any suitable device such as but not limited to DVD  10  and other devices illustrated.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 2 , content storage medium  16  may carry content and sufficient metadata to enable an optimized presentation according to the present disclosure. DVD player  10  may include metadata retrieval element  18 . Metadata may be transferred between elements such as DVD  10 , receiver  12  and display element  14  using any suitable format such as HDML. Metadata may be parsed and interpreted in element  10 A,  12 A, and  14 A respectively. The metadata may be further translated in elements  10 B,  12 B, and  14 B respectively. The metadata will ultimately interact with the resident OEM code in element  10 C,  12 C, and  14 C respectively.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 3 , in an alternate configuration, content display system  90  may include one or more feedback channels  92  and or  94  to accommodate video and audio feedback respectively.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 4 , content encoding system  60  acquires images and or sound in step  62 . Special effects and post production processing may be performed in step  64  and yield a digital intermediate file  66 . A distribution master and compression and authoring accur in steps  68  and  70  respectively. Application of optimization date, metadata, may be included in step  72 . Optimization Data is represenitive of technology and processes used for creation and distrubution of media content due to the many formats of audio and video.  
      DVD Player  
      The DVD player has become the most popular new home technology and the preferred way to present movies and audio in the home. The concept of including compiled data, which identifies the properties of the content being played back is a primary objective and differentiates Blackbird from other hardware communication technology. The Blackbird Enabled DVD player is capable of decoding the data contained on the media and communicating the specific properties of the audio and video in order to configure the home theater for the desired presentation. The consumer is given the option of selecting CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER presets or custom presets which may represent the individual taste of the viewer.  
      Functionality  
      The Blackbird enabled player requires the ability to read DVD ROM Data. When the disc is loaded into the player, the enabled player will search the DVD ROM sector of the disc. ***Data is read in the ROM sector of the DVD Disc identified in a file [such as a thx.bin file] or is found embedded in the compressed data file. The data will then be decoded in a manor consistent with the chip set manufacturer. The data will then be loaded in a register designed to hold the data present for the presentation of the DVD program material. The sequence then begins to transfer the information from the register in order to create bits which will then appear in the vertical interval [sync] of the composite output of the DVD Player and the Y channel of the component video output or other forms of digital communication such as HDMI/DVI, and 1394 which can be used in the home theater. The configuration data is transmitted during the disc boot-up and menu sequence but can also be accessed when the viewed content changes by consumer request when a change of format is identified. The configuration data output by the DVD player is not to impede on Macrovision or any other signals transmitted over the vertical sync lines or digital stream during the playback of the movie.  
      Upon receiving the data specific to the DVD player, the DVD player will perform the following internal configuration adjustments; 
          Macrovision is disabled upon power-up and Disc load cycles     Video output controls which may be available as options, shall be reset to CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER specified numerical values as per the recommended settings provided by CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER. These controls shall include, but not be limited to; 
            Brightness     Contrast     Color     Tint     Sharpness     Set-up     Color Temperature    
            Audio DSP options are disabled, to allow generic 5.1 data streaming based on the Dolby Digital, Windows Media or DTS formats. The reliance is placed on the A/V Receiver to perform the proper digital decoding based on the modes set by the data transfer.        

      It is not the intent of CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER certification programs to limit the manufactures ability to implement features in products as the manufacturer desires, but in the event the feature offers a deviation from the normal expected output of a known signal source which may alter the art as mastered on a typical movie title or program material, the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER certification program will require that the device be programmed in such a way as to render the expected levels of Luminance and Chrominance when the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER mode is selected, and instructed by the Blackbird Data.  
      In addition to the adherence of industry expectations in a controlled and calibrated environment, CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER allows the manufacturer to implement user taste settings that allow the consumer to set custom values that may differ from the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER recommended reference values of picture and audio options. This may be needed in order to facilitate a combination of certified and non-certified components in the home. At any time the consumer is allowed to change the user setting to allow this interface, but the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER reference settings are to be locked out to allow some reference to be obtained at the consumers choosing. A minimum number of user memory registers is one [1] in addition to the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER reference register, for a total of two [2] memory registers if the manufacturer chooses to make the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER setting the factory default. If the manufactures factory default is separate from the recommended CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER settings, then the minimum number of memory registers is three [3].  
      Audio/Video Receiver  
      The Audio/Video Receiver (A/V Receiver) serves multiple functions in the home theater, such as; 
          Commonly the central switching point of the Home Theater for Video as well as Audio     Decodes digital audio streams output from various devices such as 
            DVD Players     DBS Receivers     Games Consoles     CD Players     MP3 players     Digital Audio Tape, DAT     Multi Media Computers    
            Receives analog audio sources from various audio devices such as; 
            CD Players     Cassette Tape players/recorders     Turntables     Multi Media Computers     Games Consoles     DVD Players    
            Applies many modes of Digital Signal Processing to interface many of the audio formats to add processing to the audio source as the customer chooses, by selecting various modes provided by the manufacturer.     More advanced models provide format conversion of video sources to merge any input format into one common video format to feed the picture display.     Provides either a line level output to feed the signal to a power amplifier, or if integrated, outputs high power audio directly to speakers.        

      The A/V Receiver is becoming more complex to operate due to the many features demanded by a competitive market place as well as the multiple functions required in today&#39;s home theater. The days of simply turning on the stereo and playing back music is not always as simple as it was years ago. The manufacturer places a lot of effort in designing creative and helpful user interfaces to assist in many of the complex functions of the receiver. In addition to the basic and fundamental modes to choose when playing back music or movie content, additional signal processing modes are offered to make a more feature packed product to compete in the market place. Often these additional modes are mistakenly set and not always discovered until an undesirable result is heard. Then the task is to search the many features of the unit and selectively turn off the offending feature set. This often is a frustrating event for the common home theater customer. Blackbird offers a way for the media to determine the selections of processing and decoding, while also allowing the consumer to apply modes desired by the customer. At any time, the consumer can hit the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER button on the remote and be returned to the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER selected settings.  
      Some examples of how Blackbird can help are; If a CD music disc is played on a DVD player, some products will sample digital sources or sense the presence of analog audio, but it may be that Pro-Logic was chosen for the default audio 2-channel mode from a prior DVD viewing. This can cause a problem in the way the music content is presented. Likewise, a DVD which contains a 5.1 digital audio track may indeed be 5.1EX. In either case, the presentation of the audio content would be improved if the audio presentation modes were correctly set for the specific audio content being played back. Blackbird can provide the data to correctly set the modes in A/V Receivers and do this in a way that will not require the consumer to make any adjustments on their own, except for volume levels.  
      The Blackbird enabled A/V Receiver will be required to monitor the Component and Composite analog video lines, or any digital interfaces and respond to blackbird data specific to the A/V Receiver. An interface which shows a simple application is found below. The data will be loaded into a storage register and then be interfaced to the functions normally found in remote protocols. The Blackbird interface requires that specific functions be addressed directly without the need to scroll through levels of menus.  
      Minimal Blackbird functions required will include; 
          Surround Modes     Music Modes     Re-EQ on/off     Mono/Stereo     Games     Multi-Media     Movie     Sports/Local programming     Activate Intelligence modes within the device specific to CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER processing which may address the following;     Mono 1938 to 1976 Large Room Presentation Movie     Mono Large Room Presentation Movie     Mono Small Room Program Material     Mono Game     Stereo Large Room Presentation Movie     Stereo Small Room Program Material     Stereo Game        

      2.0 Lt Rt Pro Logic (Emulation) Large Room Presentation Movie 
          2.0 Lt Rt Pro Logic II Large Room Presentation Movie     2.0 Lt Rt Pro Logic (Emulation) Large Room Presentation Movie Re-Equalized for the Home     2.0 Lt Rt Pro Logic II Large Room Presentation Movie Re-Equalized for the Home     2.0 Lt Rt Pro Logic (Emulation) Small Room Program Material     2.0 Lt Rt Pro Logic II Small Room Program Material     2.0 Lt Rt Pro Logic (Emulation) Game     2.0 Lt Rt Pro Logic II Game     2.0 Lt Rt Pro Logic II Music     2.0 Lt Rt Logic7 Original Mix     2.0 Lt Rt Logic7 Original Mix Re-Equalized for the Home     4.1 Game     5.1 Large Room Presentation Movie     5.1 Large Room Presentation Movie Re-Equalized for the Home     5.1 Small Room Program Material     5.1 Game     5.1 w/Sb Matrix or Discrete (6.1) Large Room Presentation Movie     5.1 w/Sb Matrix or Discrete (6.1) Large Room Presentation Movie Re-Equalized for the Home     5.1 w/Sb Matrix or Discrete (6.1) Small Room Program Material     5.1 w/Sb Matrix or Discrete (6.1) Game     7.1 Large Room Presentation Movie     7.1 Large Room Presentation Movie Re-Equalized for the Home     7.1 Small Room Program Material     7.1 Game     9.1 Large Room Presentation Movie     9.1 Large Room Presentation Movie Re-Equalized for the Home     9.1 Small Room Program Material     9.1 Game     10.2 Large Room Presentation Movie     10.2 Large Room Presentation Movie Re-Equalized for the Home     10.2 Small Room Program Material     10.2 Game        

      It is not the intent of this technology to limit the manufactures ability to implement features in products as the manufacturer desires. But it should be recognized in the event the feature offers a deviation from the normal expected output of a known signal source which may alter the art as mastered on a typical movie title or program material, the program will require that a device be programmed in such a way as to render the expected performance, and instructed by the Blackbird Data.  
      In addition to the adherence of industry expectations in a controlled and calibrated environment, This technology allows the manufacturer to implement user taste settings that allow the consumer to set custom values that may differ from the recommended reference values audio performance and options. This may be needed in order to facilitate a combination of certified and non-certified components in the home. At any time the installer or consumer is allowed to change the user setting to allow this interface, but the primary reference settings are to be locked out to allow a reference to be obtained at the consumers choosing. A minimum number of user memory registers is one [1] in addition to the Primary reference register, for a total of two [2] memory registers if the manufacturer chooses to make the Primary setting the factory default. If the manufactures factory default is separate from the recommended primary settings, then the minimum number of memory registers is three [3]. Creative DSP modes, which alter the properties of the audio content being displayed, are not to be programmed as Blackbird default settings. CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER, as part of the certification process will determine the proper values to be programmed into base memory for a presentation quality established by CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER as correct in a home theater, laboratory environment. The table lists the modes the A/V Receiver will be required to address upon receiving Blackbird Data.  
      The functionality required by the present disclosure may be based on the following;  
      Power-up condition  
      An indication that Blackbird is enabled, via light status or display.  
      When Blackbird Data is received; 
          Data is stored in resident memory to allow a restore of Blackbird functions upon remote control activation.     Down load data     Display will indicate data received     Initiate commands     Error message or indicator in the event data is corrupt, no action taken 
            In the event the Blackbird data is corrupted during transmission, the data can be retransmitted by selecting a button on the remote of the sending device.    
               

      Many of the other requirements regarding the Blackbird Enabled A/V Receiver can be referenced in the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER Certification Guidelines for THX Ultra 2 when CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER licensed technologies are employed, CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER certification is not a requirement for Blackbird to be implemented.  
      Game Console  
      The Blackbird Enabled Game Console has a similar functionality to an Enabled DVD player. The concept of including compiled data, which identifies the properties of the content being played back is a primary objective and differentiates Blackbird from other hardware communication technology. The Blackbird Enabled Game Console is capable of decoding the data contained on the media and communicating the specific properties of the audio and video in order to configure the home theater for the desired presentation. The consumer is given the option of selecting CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER presets or custom presets which may represent the individual taste of the viewer.  
      Functionality  
      The Blackbird enabled games console will require the ability to read additional data during game initialization. When the disc is loaded into the player, the enabled games console will search the disc to determine the content type. During this time data (encoded in the proprietary format of the console) is transmitted to the console as the various hardware elements are addressed. The data will then be decoded in a manor consistent with the game console chip set manufacturer. The data will then be loaded in a register designed to hold the data present for the presentation of the Game program material. The sequence then begins to transfer the information from the register in order to create bits which will then appear in the vertical interval [sync] of the composite output of the Game Console and the Y channel of the component video output or any form of digital communication is used by the game console. The configuration data output by the Game Console does not impede on any other signals transmitted over the vertical sync lines during the playback of the game.  
      Upon receiving the data specific to the game console, the unit will perform the following internal configuration adjustments; 
          Macrovision is disabled upon power-up and Disc load cycles     Video output controls which may be available as options, shall be reset to specified numerical values as per the recommended settings provided by CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER. These controls shall include, but not be limited to;     Brightness 
            Contrast     Color     Tint     Sharpness     Set-up     Color Temperature    
            Audio formats supported by the game are declared and any DSP options are disabled, to allow generic 5.1 data streaming based on the Dolby Digital or DTS formats. The reliance is placed on the A/V Receiver to perform the proper digital decoding based on the modes set by the data transfer.        

      It is not the intent of CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER certification programs to limit the manufactures ability to implement features in products as the manufacturer desires, but in the event the feature offers a deviation from the normal expected output of a known signal source which may alter the art as mastered on a typical movie title or program material, the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER certification program will require that the device be programmed in such a way as to render the expected levels of Luminance and Chrominance when the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER mode is selected, and instructed by the Blackbird Data.  
      In addition to the adherence of industry expectations in a controlled and calibrated environment, CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER allows the manufacturer to implement user taste settings that allow the consumer to set custom values that may differ from the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER recommended reference values of picture and audio options. This may be needed in order to facilitate a combination of certified and non-certified components in the home. At any time the consumer is allowed to change the user setting to allow this interface, but the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER reference settings are to be locked out to allow some reference to be obtained at the consumers choosing. A minimum number of user memory registers is one [1] in addition to the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER reference register, for a total of two [2] memory registers if the manufacturer chooses to make the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER setting the factory default. If the manufactures factory default is separate from the recommended CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER settings, then the minimum number of memory registers is three [3].  
      ATSC, DTV, DBS, Cable Set-Top-Box  
      The industry is preparing for the next evolutionary change of consumer electronics. The FCC has mandated a transition from the analog television standard we currently receive as “free television” to digital television offering more channels and services in addition to HDTV. TV manufacturers have until 2005 to include tuners that translate digital signals in sets with screens at least 35 inches wide. Smaller screens will be exempt until 2007. The tuners, which only benefit the 13 percent of Americans who watch TV without cable or satellite hook-ups, are expected to add as much as $250 to the cost of sets that range from $ 500  to $3,000 at retail outlets.  
      Manufacturers say the reason most people can&#39;t watch digital TV isn&#39;t because of their sets, but because the cable companies provide very little programming through the cable systems. That&#39;s a problem since cable provides TV to 70 percent of the country. It&#39;s even reached a point where store owners show DVDs instead of digital television to promote their sets. This has been addressed and cable companies have been mandated to provide digital ATSC compliant stream over their systems.  
      While this transition in itself does not mandate High Definition, it requires the new variety of Digital broadcast standards to be utilized and further enables High Definition standards to be included as built-in down conversion technologies will be available as part of the interface tuner. The purchase of a new DTV Display will include the ability to receive and display these new broadcasts and will include connectivity to Internet, Broadband and DSL services to allow the interface which brings a new level of marketing to the TV remote control. The launch of the DTV services, as designed under the ATSC committee, has been slow in adoption by broadcasters. One primary reason for this slow adoption is the apparent lack of wide screen, DTV Ready homes. A lack of High Definition programming does not give reason or purpose for the consumer to purchase DTV equipped video displays, and the lack of homes capable of utilizing DTV for television viewing does little to encourage Network HD Broadcasting. AS this is free television to the consumer, revenues for the station are generated by commercial time sold at both local and network levels. Consumer Data supports the fact a consumer purchasing a DTV enabled receiver, and tuning in, is certainly a plus for the Digital revolution. But for every new DTV viewer, there is one less Standard Definition viewer. There is overall no gain that can benefit greater revenues for the broadcaster, which faces huge costs to implement High Definition and DTV. Only under FCC mandate will this system progress and eventually be established. The WEB Based marketing that is supported by DVT was viewed as an additional revenue-generating vehicle making the adoption of DTV more than just better pictures at little return. The concept of WEB style services over DTV was developed during the growth of Dot-Com companies in the mid 1990&#39;s, but the lack-luster performance of Internet sites which market products and services do not provide much hope of this feature producing the envisioned revenue stream today.  
      The eventual further re-allocation of the television spectrum will allow more channels under ATSC specification, but only if the broadcasters continue standard definition digital broadcasting. While benefits exist in standard definition, should progressive line scan standards be utilized, High Definition pictures will generate the best overall picture, but at the cost of increased bandwidth and fewer service channels. Digital compression will be applied to the content to minimize bandwidth, however this will remain at the discretion of the broadcaster. With digital television, broadcasters are able to offer free, over-the-air television of higher resolution and better picture quality than is possible under the current mode of TV transmission. If broadcasters so choose, they can offer HDTV-television with theater-quality pictures and CD-quality sound. Alternatively, a broadcaster can offer several different TV programs at the same time, with picture and sound quality better than is available today from the analog broadcast service.  
      While much focus is placed on over-air delivery for media, it is important to mention that cable offers advantages in that two-way wired communication is possible. DBS or ATSC will depend on IP to carry a return signal in most cases.  
      Blackbird offers the added utility and further conforms to the other devices that will include Blackbird. It is common to see on video displays, a specific setting for Sports programming. The principal reason for this mode is that the gamma content of the sports content is quite different that the gamma for news or movies. This can make certain shots appear to be flat and the additional “punch” enabled by the setting, make the image more dynamic. Turning on and off this setting is completely chosen by the consumer. Broadcast source material will benefit greatly by have a way to change the setting based on the content being broadcast. Network and satellite broadcasters are both interested in this kind of service to offer. Advanced set-top-boxes are capable to do this alone, adding yet another layer of confusion to the adjustment dilemma.  
      Functionality  
      The enabled unit will receive data over Digital Television Transmissions and generate data over analog, component video on the “Y” channel in the vertical interval, or over digital interfaces between set-top-box and home theater components.  
      Digital interfaces will deliver the data contained in meta-data streams that accompany the program material. Audio and video equipment will receive Blackbird data over video composite or component signal paths, as output from DVD, games or multi-media outputs, or by any digital interface common in the home theater signal path.  
      If enabled in downstream devices, Blackbird can provide the specific activation of processing, either in the DBS or ATSC set-top-box or display device that would enhance the image quality of the output signal. Conditions that may benefit from such processing are; 
          MPEG encoding at very low bit rates     Unconverted content     Recompressed images     Aspect Ratio control     Above in addition to the Video specified features in the video display. 
 
 Multimedia Personal Computer 
       

      The Multimedia Personal Computer player can be a major part of the Blackbird Project. The concept of including compiled data, which identifies the properties of the content being played back is a primary objective and differentiates Blackbird from other hardware communication technology. The Multimedia Personal Computer has the advantage of being able to combine the functionality of a Blackbird enabled DVD player, A/V receiver, ATSC/DTV set-top box and games machine. A Blackbird enabled Personal computer is capable of extracting and decoding the data contained on the any form of media and internally configuring the specific properties of the audio and video in order to obtain the desired presentation. The consumer is given the option of selecting CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER presets or custom presets which may represent the individual taste of the viewer.  
      Functionality  
      The Blackbird enabled multimedia personal computer will require the ability to read encoded Blackbird data whether on a DVD-ROM, ATSC/DTV broadcast, video on demand, streaming internet content or game media. When the content is loaded into the player, the enabled personal computer will search either: 
          the DVD ROM sector of the disc     the Broadcast Data stream header     the streaming media data header     Extract embedded code from the compression stream        

      For disc based media data is read in the ROM sector of the DVD Disc identified in a file [such as a Content Display Optimizer.bin file]. The data will then be decoded in a manor consistent with the personal computer software/hardware application. The data will then be loaded in a register designed to hold the data present for the presentation of the program material. The sequence then begins to transfer the information from the register in order to create bits which will then appear in the vertical interval [sync] of the VGA output to a personal computer monitor, or composite output and the Y channel of the component video output for connection to an external display device. If a form of digital communication is used in the home theater, the configuration data is transmitted during the content initialization or can be dynamic in nature which adds additional capability to the concept. The configuration data output is not to impede on Macrovision or any other signals transmitted over the vertical sync lines during the playback of the movie.  
      Upon receiving the data specific to the content, the enabled personal computer will perform the following internal configuration adjustments;  
      Macrovision is disabled upon power-up and Disc load cycles (if applicable for disc based material)  
      Video output controls which may be available as options, shall be reset to CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER specified numerical values as per the recommended settings provided by CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER. These controls shall include, but not be limited to; 
          Brightness     Contrast     Color     Tint     Sharpness     Set-up     Color Temperature        

      Audio DSP options are disabled, to allow generic 5.1 data streaming based on the Dolby Digital or DTS formats. The reliance is placed on the A/V Receiver or internal PC decoding to perform the proper digital decoding based on the modes set by the data transfer (as outlined in the A/V receiver section)  
      It is not the intent of CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER certification programs to limit the manufactures ability to implement features in products as the manufacturer desires, but in the event the feature offers a deviation from the normal expected output of a known signal source which may alter the art as mastered on a typical movie title or program material, the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER certification program will require that the device be programmed in such a way as to render the expected levels of Luminance and Chrominance when the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER mode is selected, and instructed by the Blackbird Data.  
      In addition to the adherence of industry expectations in a controlled and calibrated environment, CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER allows the manufacturer to implement user taste settings that allow the consumer to set custom values that may differ from the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER recommended reference values of picture and audio options. This may be needed in order to facilitate a combination of certified and non-certified components in the home. At any time the consumer is allowed to change the user setting to allow this interface, but the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER reference settings are to be locked out to allow some reference to be obtained at the consumers choosing. A minimum number of user memory registers is one [1] in addition to the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER reference register, for a total of two [2] memory registers if the manufacturer chooses to make the CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER setting the factory default. If the manufactures factory default is separate from the recommended CONTENT DISPLAY OPTIMIZER settings, then the minimum number of memory registers is three [ 3 ].  
      Video Display Device  
      The display of the picture content properly is critical to carry the content creators intentions and present the emotion of the art being displayed in the home. While this is more critical for movies and some television programming, most consumers do appreciate a correctly adjusted picture over a picture that is misaligned. Common problems that exist in the home today are mostly basic controls such as;  
      Brightness  
      Contrast  
      Color  
      Tint  
      Sharpness  
      Set-up  
      Color Temperature  
      Aspect ratio  
      Noise Reduction  
      Compression filters, reducing the effect of poor compression  
      Image Processing intended for specific content, but not all.  
      While the manufactures design special features in their products that give the consumer options to choose from to enhance the viewing experience, the consumer may not exercise the options to produce the best result. This is value not fully appreciated in the product. Blackbird, by identifying the source of the media being presented, allows for modes to be set to implement the correct mode for the correct application automatically. Features designed into products can be activated, but the consumer or installer has the option to custom select settings which may represent specific individual taste in how the content is displayed.  
      The display technology today involves more than CRT technology, LCD, DLP, DILA and Plasma offer there own specific benefits. Each also offers various differences which can be corrected by image processing. Part of Blackbird technology will provide data on image processing that will provide the viewer accurate picture presentations as close to the original as the technology can offer.  
      Some installations will find a video display device with audio processing that is integrated into the same device. Blackbird provides for audio mode selection for the A/V Receiver, this same data will set the installed modes properly in the display device, providing for audio settings where applicable.  
      Data Commands  
      The present disclosure may also include a basic set of command codes that all CE devices must recognize and be able to either act on these commands, or pass them along to other devices. For instance, a DVD player can act on a “fast-forward” command, but will pass on a “tune-to-channel-5” or a “volume-up” command. The physical layer of these command and control network can be different from devices to devices, utilizing the currently available control interfaces such as HDMI, DVI, 1394 and RS-232, or even proprietary interfaces (to allow same-brand CE devices to support this same function.)  
      A system according to the present disclosure may further define a “private data path” so that same-brand CE devices can use this mechanism to provide additional functions that are only feasible when same-brand devices are connected.  
      An entertainment system according to the present disclosure may therefore allow any conforming device to initiate control commands to any other devices in the network. The result is that any remote controller of any one of these devices becomes at once the URC for all the devices, at least within the confine of the basic command set.  
      Additionally, while a currently preferred embodiment of the present disclosure assumes that the human user is usually the active initiator of these control, the system may just as easily permit other non-human user (e.g., contents, service provider billing machines, etc.) to initiate these commands through its compliant device that must reside within the network of home CE devices.  
      An example of such a device is the cable decoder box (set-top-box) that has a separate, secure, communication path to the cable service providers&#39; central office (head-end). The cable set-top-box that conforms to the current invention will permit the cable service operators to now remotely diagnose the entire network of CE devices from their central office, instead of sending out a service person to the customer&#39;s home to resolve problems of interoperability of the cable STB and the customer&#39;s other CE devices.  
      The precise definition of the basic command set, and the mechanism to allow a device to distinguish between the basic command set and the “private data path” can be based on any of the commercially available data control protocols. The novelty of the current invention is in the application of these methodologies to solving a cross-platform interoperability problem that is the direct consequence of diversity of CE products and control designs.  
      Data Structure  
      Examples of data structure according to the present disclosure may be found in  FIG. 5-35 . The data is organized in 2 basic levels;  
      1. Atom 
          a. An ‘atom’ is an individual Blackbird item, the smallest item in a stream of Blackbird data that makes sense by itself. An atom consists of a ‘tag’ identifier that indicates an attribute of the content, and optionally one or more parameters.        

      2. Molecule 
          a. A molecule is a collection of related atoms        

      Sync bits can be located throughout the data structure stream to provide verification of data integrity. The data structure can be used to provide downloads to equipment if enabled by the manufactures design. This enables a media to also carry updated versions of blackbird adding to it&#39;s functionality over time.  
      Content Type  
      The ‘Content Type’ atom is the key atom within the Blackbird specification. Referring now to  FIG. 5 , content type field  100  is illustrated. The contents of Content Type field  100  indicate the type of content being presented, in a simplified form. Its purpose is to enable automated preset/mode switching.  
      Content Type field  100  indicates a primary category for the content. It also implies one of several possible interpretations for the Content Subtype field.  FIG. 7-10  illustrate possible contents of the subtype field, Content Type field  100  indicates which subtype table to use.  
      The ‘TV Show’ type is intended for normal television programming, the 30-to-60 minute programs that make up the bulk of television viewing. A ‘mini series’ is longer programming. A ‘movie’ is a full movie production, whether it was intended for movie theater release or direct-to-video.  
      Subtypes for Content Type: Sports  
      Subtypes for Content Type: Music &amp; Live Performance  
      The subtype field indicates the music genre being played.  
      Subtypes for Content Type: Video Game  
      Subtypes for Content Type: Slideshow/Computer  
      This content type indicates that the content is primarily a sequence of still images, possibly with transition effects between each still image. Audio is expected to be background music perhaps with a spoken narration synchronized to the still image transitions.  
      This content type is also used to indicate computer content. The visual characteristics are similar, in that fine detail is important, and the image is relatively static.  
      Subtypes for Content Type: Other  
      This subtype provides a catchall value, for situations where the content type is known, but does not fit within the categories defined. This type actually represents a range of values, and later versions of this specification may use values from this range to define additional content types. Devices implemented to this version of the specification will be unaware of these additional types, and will treat content marked with them as ‘other’.  
      Uniform Resource Locator (URL)  
      The purpose of the URL atom is to allow content to specify ‘cross-media links’ and refer to other content that may be available. Since there is an increasing trend towards ‘blended media’ and converged devices with access to multiple forms of media, this provides a means to transition between them.  
      Video Descriptors  
      The Frame Aspect Ratio provides the overall aspect ratio of the frame itself, given as an integer ratio between its width and height. Typical values would be 4:3 and 16:9.  
      A Frame Rate/Cadence atom such as illustrated in  FIGS. 16 and 17  may provide information about the frame rate and or the pulldown cadence of the video portion of content being provided.  
      A Gamma Value atom as illustrated in  FIGS. 19 and 20  may indicate the gamma value that is expected to be applied to the content by the display device.  
      The Color Temperature atom as illustrated in  FIGS. 21 and 22  may indicate the intended color temperature of the image portion of the content.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 23 , a Video Encoding tag may describe the encoding method and approximate bitrate of the video being displayed.  
      The Encoding Method field  150  may be used to indicate the method used to encode the content being presented.  
      Bitrate fields  160  and  170  may be used to indicate the bitrate allocated to carry the encoded video, in units of 128 kbps. A value of 0 indicates this value is not known. A value of 255 indicates greater than or equal to 32 Mbps. Otherwise a value ‘n’ indicates (n*128 kbps 5 bitrate≦(n+1)*128 kbps).  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 25, 26 , and  27  a Video Post-Processing atom may provide information about characteristics/attributes of the content when authored, which are provided to allow a device in the playback chain to determine when it should apply processing that may be beneficial. This atom may occur multiple times to indicate several attributes/characteristics of the authored content.  
      A data field such as enbl field  180  may be used to indicate the post-processing option should be applied if one, or disabled if zero.  
      Audio Descriptors  
      An Audio Encoding atom such as illustrated in  FIGS. 28, 29 , and  30  may describe various attributes of a audio content being played.  
      Encoding Method field  190  indicates how the content was encoded, according to the table of  FIG. 29 .  
      Matrixed field  200  indicates the method (if any) used to encode multiple channels into a smaller number of discrete channels using a matrixed method.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 31 and 32 , as part of the production process, the various audio elements are mixed in a recording studio, audio suite, or soundstage so as to produce the final soundtrack. Each soundtrack is mixed using a particular layout of speakers, in that recording space. This layout is described by Audio Channel Assignment atom, which assists the playback equipment in deciding how to map the speaker layout for playback, particularly for the cases when they are not the same.  
      This atom describes how the soundtrack was mixed. It assists the playback system in mapping the original recording&#39;s speaker layout into the particular playback system&#39;s speaker layout.  
      The ‘Mixing Configuration’ field may cover all of the speaker configurations, either in use or being considered.  
      Audio Post-Processing  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 33, 34 , and  35 , when the audio portion of the content is authored, the production process may or may not include certain processing that is customary to include, particularly for some audio encoding methods. The ‘Audio Post processing’ atom is used to indicate if that processing has already been applied to the audio portion of the content, and should not be applied a second time in the playback chain.  
      This atom may occur multiple times to indicate the status of multiple post-processing options. If a particular post-processing option does not appear in an Audio Post-Processing atom, then the default/customary state for that processing for the primary decoding method in use should apply.  
      The ‘post-processing method’ field should contain a value from the table of  FIG. 34 .  
      An enbl field such as enbl field  230  indicates the post-processing option should be applied if one, or disabled if zero.  
      Having now described the invention in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will understand how to make changes and modifications in the present invention to meet their specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.