Transitioning between two high resolution video sources

1. A method of transitioning between two high resolution video signals, said method comprising:

on a display device, replacing a first image which is a frame of a first video signal with a lower resolution copy of said first image by completing covering a display of said first image with a graphic overlay of said lower resolution copy of said first image; and

on the display device, fading out said lower resolution copy of said first image to reveal a second image from a second video signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising disabling a graphic overlay and displaying said first image prior to replacing said first image.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising pointing a video overlay at said first image to display said first image prior to said replacing of said first image.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing said first image in a first video buffer.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising making said lower resolution copy of said first image and storing said lower resolution copy of said first image in a graphic buffer.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

pointing a graphic overlay at said lower resolution copy of said first image; and

enabling said graphic overlay.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising pointing said video overlay at said second image before fading out said lower resolution copy of said first image to reveal said second image.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing said second image in a second video buffer.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising centering and resizing said first and second images to fit respective buffers prior to said replacing said first image.

10. A system for transitioning between two high resolution video signals, said system comprising a video chip comprising:

a first video buffer for containing a first image which is a frame of a first video signal;

a second video buffer for containing a second image which is a frame of a second video signal; and

a graphic buffer for containing a lower resolution copy of said first image;

wherein said chip is configured to replace said first image by completely covering said first image with said lower resolution copy of said first image and fade out said lower resolution copy of said first image to reveal said second image to commence display of said second video signal.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a video overlay for initially displaying said first image prior to said replacing of said first image.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein said chip is further configured to make said lower resolution copy of said first image and store said lower resolution copy of said first image in a graphic buffer.

13. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a graphic overlay for displaying said lower resolution copy of said first image over said first image.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein said chip is further configured to point said video overlay at said second image before fading out said lower resolution copy of said first image to reveal said second image.

15. A system for displaying video signals comprising:

a video monitor configured to communicate with at least one video signal source;

wherein said system is configured to replace a first image which is a frame of a first video signal by completely covering said first image with a lower resolution copy of said first image; and fade out said lower resolution copy of said first image to reveal a second image from a second video signal.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein said at least one video signal source comprises a set-top box selectively outputting said first video signal corresponding to a first channel of video programming and said second video signal corresponding to a second channel of video programming.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein said at least one video signal source comprises a first video signal source outputting said first video signal and a second video signal source outputting said second video signal.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein either said first or second video signal source is any one of a set-top box, a high definition receiver, an optical disc player, a video server, a video recorder or a broadcast network.