Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
An apparatus for decoding input signals such as multiple moving picture signals and sound signals read out from a recording medium or those received via transmission lines, said apparatus comprising: decoding means (104, 106, 108; 404) for curtailing the input picture signals at a predetermined interval to produce multiple picture signals reduced both horizontally and vertically, and decoding each of such multiple picture signals; frame memories (109, 110, 111, 406, 407, 408) connected to said decoding means (104, 106, 108; 404); means (115; 412) for displaying the multiple pictures simultaneously on a single screen; and means (112; 409) for controlling the operations of said decoding means (104, 106, 108; 404) and said display means (115; 412).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
An apparatus for decoding input signals such as multiple moving picture signals and sound signals read out from a recording medium or those received via transmission lines, said apparatus comprising: decoding means (104, 106, 108; 404) for curtailing the input picture signals at a predetermined interval to produce multiple picture signals reduced both horizontally and vertically, and decoding each of such multiple picture signals; frame memories (109, 110, 111, 406, 407, 408) connected to said decoding means (104, 106, 108; 404); means (115; 412) for displaying the multiple pictures simultaneously on a single screen; and means (112; 409) for controlling the operations of said decoding means (104, 106, 108; 404) and said display means (115; 412).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said decoding means (104, 106, 108; 404) comprises means (302) for separating motion vectors from the input signals; means (306) for generating the reduced multiple picture signals; means (309) for reducing the motion vectors in conformity with the reduction rate of the picture signals; and means (307) for generating a predictive picture on the basis of the reduced picture signals and the reduced motion vectors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said control means (112; 409) is capable of selecting, in response to a mode selection signal, a multiple moving picture mode for displaying the reduced multiple moving pictures simultaneously on a single screen of said display means, or a single moving picture mode for displaying merely one of the multiple moving pictures on the screen of said display means (115; 412).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, when the selected display mode is a multiple moving picture mode, said control means (112; 409) divides said frame memories into multiple storage spaces and using such spaces independently of one another for generation of predictive pictures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said mode selection signal is generated in response to a manipulation of an external means performed by a user for selecting a desired mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said mode selection signal is generated in conformity with the mode switching condition preset in advance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display means (115; 412) displays the multiple moving pictures in multiple windows.