Video Substitution System
A video substitution method for use with a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) which is operative to store video is disclosed. The method includes retrieving stored video recorded from a single video stream which includes a first positive integer n1 down-sampled video sequences, the n1 down-sampled video sequences being mutually synchronized and formatted in a second positive integer n2 video frames, each video frame comprising n1 spatially combined sub-pictures each of which corresponds to one frame of the n1 down-sampled video sequences, up-sampling at least part of a first one of the n1 down-sampled video sequences, thereby producing a first up-sampled video sequence, displaying the first up-sampled video sequence on a display during normal content viewing, detecting activation of a trick mode including one of the following: a fast forward mode; and a rewind mode, and in response to the detecting: up-sampling at least part of a second one of the n1 down-sampled video sequences, thereby producing a second up-sampled video sequence, and displaying the second up-sampled video sequence instead of the first up-sampled video sequence during at least part of an activation period of the trick mode. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed.
1 - 9 . (canceled)
10 . A video substitution method for use with a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) which is operative to store video, the method comprising:
retrieving stored video recorded from a single video stream which comprises a first positive integer n1 down-sampled video sequences, the n1 down-sampled video sequences being mutually synchronized and formatted in a second positive integer n2 video frames, each video frame comprising n1 spatially combined sub-pictures each of which corresponds to one frame of the n1 down-sampled video sequences;
up-sampling at least part of a first one of the n1 down-sampled video sequences, thereby producing a first up-sampled video sequence;
displaying the first up-sampled video sequence on a display during normal content viewing;
detecting activation of a trick mode comprising one of the following: a fast forward mode; and a rewind mode; and
in response to the detecting:
up-sampling at least part of a second one of the n1 down-sampled video sequences, thereby producing a second up-sampled video sequence; and
displaying the second up-sampled video sequence instead of the first up-sampled video sequence during at least part of an activation period of the trick mode.
11 . The method according to claim 10 and wherein the retrieved video is associated with signaling information which signals the DVR to perform the up-sampling.
12 . The method according to claim 10 and wherein n1 equals two.
13 . The method according to claim 10 and wherein the second one of the n1 down-sampled video sequences comprises advertisement information.
14 . The method according to claim 10 and wherein the second one of the n1 down-sampled video sequences is tailored to provide a better viewing experience during trick mode playing than the first one of the n1 down-sampled video sequences.
15 . The method according to claim 10 and wherein the n2 video frames comprise coded video frames.
16 . The method according to claim 15 and wherein the coded video frames comprise MPEG coded video frames.
17 . The method according to claim 16 and wherein the MPEG coded video frames comprise at least one of the following: MPEG-2 coded video frames; and MPEG-4 coded video frames.
18 . A Digital Video Recorder (DVR) comprising:
a memory storing video; and
a DVR processing element which is operative to perform the following:
retrieve, from the memory, stored video recorded from a single video stream which comprises a first positive integer n1 down-sampled video sequences, the n1 down-sampled video sequences being mutually synchronized and formatted in a second positive integer n2 video frames, each video frame comprising n1 spatially combined sub-pictures each of which corresponds to one frame of the n1 down-sampled video sequences;
up-sample at least part of a first one of the n1 down-sampled video sequences, thereby producing a first up-sampled video sequence;
display the first up-sampled video sequence on a display during normal content viewing;
detect activation of a trick mode comprising one of the following: a fast forward mode; and a rewind mode; and
in response to detection of the activation of the trick mode:
up-sample at least part of a second one of the n1 down-sampled video sequences, thereby producing a second up-sampled video sequence; and
display the second up-sampled video sequence on the display instead of the first up-sampled video sequence during at least part of an activation period of the trick mode.
19 . The DVR according to claim 18 and wherein the retrieved video is associated with signaling information which signals the DVR to perform up-sampling.
20 . The DVR according to claim 18 and wherein n1 equals two.
21 . The DVR according to claim 18 and wherein the second one of the n1 down-sampled video sequences comprises advertisement information.
22 . The DVR according to claim 18 and wherein the second one of the n1 down-sampled video sequences is tailored to provide a better viewing experience during trick mode playing than the first one of the n1 down-sampled video sequences.
23 . The DVR according to claim 18 and wherein the n2 video frames comprise coded video frames.
24 . The DVR according to claim 23 and wherein the coded video frames comprise MPEG coded video frames.
25 . The DVR according to claim 24 and wherein the MPEG coded video frames comprise at least one of the following: MPEG-2 coded video frames; and MPEG-4 coded video frames.
26 . A Digital Video Recorder (DVR) comprising:
means for storing video; and
means for processing which is operative to perform the following:
retrieve, from the means for storing, stored video recorded from a single video stream which comprises a first positive integer n1 down-sampled video sequences, the n1 down-sampled video sequences being mutually synchronized and formatted in a second positive integer n2 video frames, each video frame comprising n1 spatially combined sub-pictures each of which corresponds to one frame of the n1 down-sampled video sequences;
up-sample at least part of a first one of the n1 down-sampled video sequences, thereby producing a first up-sampled video sequence;
display the first up-sampled video sequence on means for displaying during normal content viewing;
detect activation of a trick mode comprising one of the following: a fast forward mode; and a rewind mode; and
in response to detection of the activation of the trick mode:
up-sample at least part of a second one of the n1 down-sampled video sequences, thereby producing a second up-sampled video sequence; and
display the second up-sampled video sequence on the means for displaying instead of the first up-sampled video sequence during at least part of an activation period of the trick mode.