System and method of geometrical predistortion of overlaying graphics sources

1. A method of merging a graphical source signal with an input video signal for display on a display device, comprising:

receiving an input video signal at a hardware scaler device and generating a predistorted video signal;

receiving a graphics sources signal at a programmed processor, the programmed processor (i) calculating a warping map and (ii) warping the graphics source signal using the warping map to generate a warped graphical overlay signal, wherein the warping comprises:

analyzing pixel values of the graphics source signal to identify at least one non-flat portion and at least one flat portion of the graphics source signal,

applying a filter to the pixel values associated with the non-flat portion of the graphics source signal, and

replicating the pixel values associated with the flat portion of the graphics source signal without applying any filtering thereto; and

merging the predistorted video signal from the hardware scaler with the warped graphical overlay signal from the program processor.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving one or more graphical display parameters associated with the graphical overlay signal; and

calculating the warping map using the one or more graphical display parameters.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more graphical display parameters comprise the location of a graphical overlay in a displayed video signal.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the graphical overlay signal is an on-screen display for controlling the configuration of the display device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating a blending area surrounding the warped graphical overlay signal from the programmed processor; and

merging the blending area with the predistorted video signal and the warped graphical overlay signal.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

calculating a set of blending weights associated with the blending area; and

setting the pixel values of the blending area based upon the set of blending weights and the pixel values of the predistorted video signal and the warped graphical overlay signal.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a plurality of graphics source signals at the programmed processor and generating a plurality of warped graphical overlay signals using the warping map; and

merging the predistorted video signal from the hardware scaler with the plurality of warped graphical overlay signals from the programmed processor.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

generating a plurality of blending areas surrounding the plurality of warped graphical overlay signals from the programmed processor; and

merging the plurality of blending areas with the predistorted video signal and the plurality of warped graphical overlay signals.

9. A system for geometrical predistortion of a graphical source signal and an input video signal, comprising:

a hardware scaler for receiving the input video signal and for generating a predistorted video signal;

means for calculating a warping map and for warping the graphics source signal using the warping map to generate a warped graphical overlay signal, wherein the warping comprises:

analyzing pixel values of the graphics source signal to identify at least one non-flat portion and at least one flat portion of the graphics source signal,

applying a filter to the pixel values associated with the non-flat portion of the graphics source signal, and

replicating the pixel values associated with the flat portion of the graphics source signal without applying any filtering thereto; and

means for merging the predistorted video signal from the hardware scaler with the warped graphical overlay signal.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:

means for receiving one or more graphical display parameters associated with the graphical overlay signal; and

means for calculating the warping map using the one or more graphical display parameters.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more graphical display parameters comprise the location of a graphical overlay in a displayed video signal.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the graphical overlay signal is an on-screen display for controlling the configuration of the display device.

13. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:

means for generating a blending area surrounding the warped graphical overlay signal; and

means for merging the blending area with the predistorted video signal and the warped graphical overlay signal.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:

means for calculating a set of blending weights associated with the blending area; and

means for setting the pixel values of the blending area based upon the set of blending weights and the pixel values of the predistorted video signal and the warped graphical overlay signal.

15. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of graphics source signals and for generating a plurality of warped graphical overlay signals using the warping map; and

means for merging the predistorted video signal from the hardware scaler with the plurality of warped graphical overlay signals.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:

means for generating a plurality of blending areas surrounding the plurality of warped graphical overlay signals; and

means for merging the plurality of blending areas with the predistorted video signal and the plurality of warped graphical overlay signals.