Delay detector apparatus and method for multiple video sources

Claim 2

In a system where an image which is derived from one of a plurality of sources is selected to be output, an apparatus for determining if an output image is derived from a given source, said apparatus including in combination: a) an element for providing samples from at least one image from said given source said samples making up a first set, b) an element, which may be the same element as in a), for provided at least a second set of samples from at least one image from a second of said sources thereby making up a second set, c) an element, which may be the same element as element a) or a separate element, for providing samples from at least one image from said output said samples making up a third set, d) an element for determining if said third set corresponds to said first set.

Claim 3

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including in combination; e) an element operative such that if said first set is found not to correspond to said third set said second set is compared to said third set, and if said second set is found not to correspond to said third set a fourth set of samples is caused to be provided from a different output image by element d) with said fourth set being compared to said first set and said second set to determine if one corresponds thereto.

Claim 4

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including in combination; e) an element operative such that if said first set is found not to correspond to said third set said second set is compared to said third set, and if said second set is found not to correspond to said third set a fourth and fifth set of samples is caused to be provided from different input images by elements a) and b) respectively with said fourth and fifth sets being compared to said third set to determine if one corresponds thereto.

Claim 5

In a system where images which are derived from one of a plurality of sources are selected to be output, an apparatus for determining which of said sources a subsequently output image was derived from, said apparatus including in combination: a) an element for providing at least a first set of samples from at least one image from a first of said sources to provide a first set, b) an element, which may be the same element as element a) or a separate element, for providing at least a second set of samples from at least one image from a second of said sources to provide a second set, c) an element, which may be the same element as element a) or b) or a separate element, for providing at least a third set of samples from at least one image from said output to provide a third set, d) an element for comparing said third set to said first set to determine if said sets of samples correspond, and if no correspondence is found to compare said third set to said second set to determine if said sets of samples correspond, said correspondence, if any, indicating which source said output image was derived from.

Claim 6

In a system where images which are derived from one of a plurality of sources are selected to be output, an apparatus for determining which of said sources a subsequently output image was derived from, said apparatus including in combination: a) an element for providing at least a first set of samples from at least one image from a first of said sources to provide a first set, b) an element, which may be the same element as element a) or a separate element, for providing at least a second set of samples from at least one image from a second of said sources to provide a second set, c) an element, which may be the same element as element a) or b) or a separate element, for providing at least a third set of samples from at least one image from said output to provide a third set, d) an element for comparing said third set to said first set to determine if said sets of samples correspond, and if no correspondence is found to compare said third set to said second set to determine if said sets of samples correspond, said correspondence, if any, indicating which source said output image was derived from.

Claim 7

In a system where images, which are derived from one of a plurality of sources, are selected to be output, an apparatus for determining which of said sources a subsequently output image was derived from, said apparatus including in combination: a) an element for providing at least a first set of samples from at least one image from a first of said sources to provide a first set, b) an element, which may be the same element as element a) or may be a separate element, for providing at least a second set of samples from at least one image from a second of said sources to provide a second set, c) an element, which may be the same element as element a) or b) or may be a separate element, for providing at least a third set of samples of at least one image from said output to provide a third set, d) an element for comparing said third set to at least said first set and to said second set to determine which, if any, of said first and second sets said third set most closely corresponds, said correspondence indicating which source said output image was derived from.

Claim 8

In a system where images, which are derived from one of a plurality of sources, are selected to be output, an apparatus for determining which of said sources a subsequently output image was derived from, said apparatus including in combination: a) an element for providing at least a first set of samples from at least one image from a first of said sources to provide a first set, b) an element, which may be the same element as element a) or may be a separate element, for providing at least a second set of samples from at least one image from a second of said sources to provide a second set, c) an element, which may be the same element as element a) or b) or may be a separate element, for providing at least a third set of samples of at least one image from said output to provide a third set, d) an element for comparing said third set to at least said first set and to said second set to determine which, if any, of said first and second sets said third set most closely corresponds, said correspondence indicating which source said output image was derived from.

Claim 9

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 4 or 5 in which in elements a), b), and c) said samples are taken from substantially the same known locations on the respective images.

Claim 10

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 4 or 5 including in combination; e) an element operative to cause element d) to provide subsequent sets of samples from a known number of different output images and compare each said subsequent set to said first and second sets, said subsequent sets being compared as long as no subsequent set is found which corresponds to said first or second sets, with element e) operative such that upon completion of said known number of sets, elements a) through d) are caused to repeat their actions for different respective images.

Claim 11

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 4 or 5 including in combination; e) an element operative to cause element d) to provide subsequent sets of samples from a number of different output images and compare said subsequent sets to said first and second sets, f) an element responsive to the number of output sample sets which are compared until one of said subsequent sets is found to correspond to one of said first or second set, said number being a measure of delay said matching one of said first or second set experienced in passing through said system.

Claim 12

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 4 or 5 wherein said system is a video system having video signal sources and a video signal output, with said images being represented in frames and with said samples being provided by selecting pixels at known locations in the raster, including in combination; e) an element operative to cause element d) to provide subsequent sets of samples from a number of different output image frames and compare each said subsequent set to said first and second sets, f) an element responsive to the number of output image frames which are output after the corresponding one of said first or second set is provided by element a) or b), said number being a measure of delay said corresponding one of said first or second set experienced in passing through said system.

Claim 13

An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further including a variable delay responsive to f) to provide a compensating delay for a signal associated with said video signal which is output.

Claim 14

An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or 5 including in combination; e) an element operative such that if neither said first nor said second set is found to correspond to said third set, a fourth set of samples is caused to be provided from a different output image by element d) with said fourth set being compared to said first set and said second set to determine if one corresponds thereto.

Claim 15

An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or 5 including in combination; e) an element operative such that if neither said first nor said second set is found to correspond to said third set, a fourth and fifth set of samples is caused to be provided from different input images by elements a) and b) with said fourth and fifth sets being compared to said third set to determine if one corresponds thereto.

Claim 16

In a system where an image which is derived from one of a plurality of sources is selected to be output, a method for determining if an output image is derived from a given source, said method including the steps of: a) providing at least a first set of samples from at least one image from said given source, b) providing at least a second set of samples from at least one image from a second of said sources, c) providing at least a third set of samples from at least one image from said output, d) determining if said third set of samples corresponds to said first set of samples.

Claim 17

In a system where an image which is derived from one of a plurality of sources is selected to be output, a method for determining if an output image is derived from a given source, said method including the steps of: a) providing at least a first set of samples from at least one image from said given source, b) providing at least a second set of samples from at least one image from a second of said sources, c) providing at least a third set of samples from at least one image from said output, d) determining if said third set of samples corresponds to said first set of samples.

Claim 18

The method as claimed in claim 13 including; in step d), also comparing said second set to said third set to determine if they correspond, and e) a further step operative such that if neither said first nor said second set is found to correspond to said third set, a fourth set of samples is caused to be provided from a different output image by step d) with said fourth set being compared to said first set and said second set to determine if one corresponds thereto.

Claim 19

The method as claimed in claim 13 including; in step d), also comparing said second set to said third set to determine if they correspond, and e) a further step operative such that if neither said first nor said second set is found to correspond to said third set, a fourth and fifth set of samples is caused to be provided from different input images by steps a) and b) with said fourth and fifth sets being compared to said third set to determine if one corresponds thereto.

Claim 20

The invention as claimed in claim 1 or 13 wherein said samples are taken from known locations on a raster carrying said image, said samples representing only one of the luminance, chrominance or chrominance saturation of said image.

Claim 21

In a system where images which are derived from one of a plurality of sources are selected to be output, a method for determining which of said sources a subsequently output image was derived from, said method including the steps of: a) providing at least a first set of samples from at least one image from a first of said sources, b) providing at least a second set of samples from at least one image from a second of said sources, c) providing at least a third set of samples from at least one image from said output, d) comparing said third set of samples to said first set of samples to determine if said sets of samples correspond, and if no correspondence is found to compare said third set of samples to said second set of samples to determine if said sets of samples correspond, said correspondence, if any, indicating which source said output image was derived from.

Claim 22

In a system where images which are derived from one of a plurality of sources are selected to be output, a method for determining which of said sources a subsequently output image was derived from, said method including the steps of: a) providing at least a first set of samples from at least one image from a first of said sources, b) providing at least a second set of samples from at least one image from a second of said sources, c) providing at least a third set of samples from at least one image from said output, d) comparing said third set of samples to said first set of samples to determine if said sets of samples correspond, and if no correspondence is found to compare said third set of samples to said second set of samples to determine if said sets of samples correspond, said correspondence, if any, indicating which source said output image was derived from.

Claim 23

In a system where images, which are derived from one of a plurality of sources, are selected to be output, a method for determining which of said sources a subsequently output image was derived from, said method including the steps of: a) providing at least a first set of samples from at least one image from a first of said sources, b) providing at least a second set of samples from at least one image from a second of said sources, c) providing at least a third set of samples of at least one image from said output, d) comparing said third set of samples to at least said first set of samples and to said second set of samples to determine which, if any, of said first and second sets said third set most closely corresponds, said correspondence indicating which source said output image was derived from.

Claim 24

In a system where images, which are derived from one of a plurality of sources, are selected to be output, a method for determining which of said sources a subsequently output image was derived from, said method including the steps of: a) providing at least a first set of samples from at least one image from a first of said sources, b) providing at least a second set of samples from at least one image from a second of said sources, c) providing at least a third set of samples of at least one image from said output, d) comparing said third set of samples to at least said first set of samples and to said second set of samples to determine which, if any, of said first and second sets said third set most closely corresponds, said correspondence indicating which source said output image was derived from.

Claim 25

The method as claimed in claim 13, 17 or 18 in which in steps a), b), and c) said samples are taken from substantially the same known locations on the respective images.

Claim 26

The method as claimed in claim 13, 17 or 18 including; e) a further step operative to cause step d) to provide subsequent sets of samples from a known number of different output images and compare each said subsequent set to said first and second sets, said subsequent sets being compared as long as no subsequent set is found which corresponds to said first or second sets, with element e) operative such that upon completion of said known number of sets, steps a) through d) are caused to repeat their actions for different respective images.

Claim 27

The method as claimed in claim 13, 17 or 18 including; e) a further step operative to cause step d) to provide subsequent sets of samples from a number of different output images and compare said subsequent sets to said first and second sets, f) a further step responsive to said number of output sample sets which are compared until one of said subsequent sets is found to correspond to one of said first or second set, said number being a measure of delay said matching one of said first or second set experienced in passing through said system.

Claim 28

The method as claimed in claim 13, 17 or 18 wherein said system is a video system having video signal sources and a video signal output, with said images being represented in frames and with said samples being provided by selecting pixels at known locations in the raster, including the further steps; e) a step operative to cause step d) to provide subsequent sets of samples from a number of different output image frames and compare each said subsequent set to said first and second sets, f) a step responsive to the number of output image frames which are output after the corresponding one of said first or second set is provided by step a) or b), said number being a measure of delay said corresponding one of said first or second set experienced in passing through said system.

Claim 29

The method as claimed in claim 22 further including a variable delay step responsive to f) to provide a compensating delay for a signal associated with said video signal which is output.

Claim 30

The method as claimed in claim 17 or 18 including; e) a further step operative such that if neither said first nor said second set is found to correspond to said third set, a fourth set of samples is caused to be provided from a different output image by step d) with said fourth set being compared to said first set and said second set to determine if one corresponds thereto.

Claim 31

The method as claimed in claim 17 or 18 including; e) a further step operative such that if neither said first nor said second set is found to correspond to said third set, a fourth and fifth set of samples is caused to be provided from different input images by steps a) and b) with said fourth and fifth sets being compared to said third set to determine if one corresponds thereto.

Claim 36

The invention as claimed in claim 1, 4, 5, 13, 17, 18, 21 or 22 wherein said samples are taken from known locations of a data file representative of said image, said samples representing a characteristic of said image.

Claim 37

The invention as claimed in claim 1, 4, 5, 13, 17, 18, 21 or 22 wherein said samples are taken from known locations of a data file representative of a compressed version of a data file of samples taken from known locations on a raster carrying said image.

Claim 38

The invention as claimed in claim 4, 5, 17, 18, 21 or 22 wherein said samples are taken from known locations on a raster carrying said image, said samples representing one or more of the luminance, chrominance or chrominance saturation of said image.

Claim 39

In a system where an image which is derived from one of a plurality of image sources is selected to be output, an apparatus for determining if an output image is derived from a given source, said apparatus including in combination: a) an element for providing a first set of samples from at least one image from said given source, b) an element, which may be the same element as element a) or a separate element, for providing a second set of samples from at least one image from said output, d) an element for determining if said second set of samples corresponds to said first set of samples.

Claim 40

In a system where an image which is derived from one of a plurality of image sources is selected to be output, an apparatus for determining if an output image is derived from a given source, said apparatus including in combination: a) an element for providing a first set of samples from at least one image from said given source, b) an element, which may be the same element as element a) or a separate element, for providing a second set of samples from at least one image from said output, d) an element for determining if said second set of samples corresponds to said first set of samples.