Method and apparatus for providing information in video transitions

Abstract

A video system displays information during transition from a first video source to a second video source. During the transition, an MPEG decoder decodes a transition video signal and provides the decoded transition video signal to a video overlay which overlays the decoded transition video signal onto a display during the transition period. In one embodiment, the transition video may be a commercial video or advertisement such that the advertisement is displayed on the display during the transition. The advertisement may be related to the content of the output of one of the video sources. In the event the MPEG decoder is unavailable to decode the transition video during the transition, the video system is capable of utilizing an alternate decoder to decode the transition video.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 means for providing an output to a display in response to an input signal received from a video source, said output providing means including means for buffering the input signal;    means for decoding an encoded video signal into a decoded video signal; and    means, coupled to said output providing means, for overlaying the decoded video signal decoded by said decoding means onto the display during a transition when said output providing means switches from a first video source to a second video source, 
 wherein said apparatus comprises a plurality of encoded video signals, said apparatus being capable of selecting a specific encoded video signal for decoding and display during the transition based upon said encoded video signal's relevance to either a content's subject matter displayed by the first video source prior to the transition or a content's subject matter selected for display via the second video source following the transition.  
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , said output providing means comprising a graphics controller and said buffering means comprising video memory.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , said decoding means comprising a decoder compliant with an MPEG standard.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , said overlaying means comprising a video overlay.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , said output providing means comprising a graphics controller, said buffering means comprising video memory, said decoding means comprising a decoder compliant with an MPEG standard, and said overlaying means comprising a video overlay.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , said decoding means being capable of receiving the coded video signal via a network.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an alternate means for decoding an encoded video signal into a decoded video signal wherein said overlaying means overlays the decoded video signal of said alternate decoding means during the transition when said decoding means is unavailable during the transition.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , said decoding means being capable of decoding an encoded commercial video signal into a decoded commercial video signal such that said overlaying means overlays the decoded commercial video signal during the transition.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , said decoding means being capable of decoding a video signal containing advertisement information into a decoded commercial video signal containing advertisement information such that said overlaying means overlays the decoded video signal containing advertisement information during the transition.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising means for storing an encoded signal such that the encoded signal is available to be decoded by said decoding means upon an occurrence of the transition.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a memory capable of storing an encoded signal such that the encoded signal is available to be decoded by said decoding means upon an occurrence of the transition.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a processor for executing a program of instructions that controls the apparatus, said processor being coupled to said output providing means via a bus.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is capable of extending the transition to a predetermined time duration when said output providing means switches from the first video source to the second video source, thereby ensuring that the decoded video signal is capable of being displayed in its entirety.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 means for providing an output to a display in response to an input signal received from a video source, said output providing means including means for buffering the input signal;    means for decoding an encoded video signal into a decoded video signal; and    means, coupled to said output providing means, for overlaying the decoded video signal decoded by said decoding means onto the display during a transition when said output providing means switches from a first video source to a second video source, 
 wherein said apparatus is capable of extending the transition to a predetermined time duration when said output providing means switches from the first video source to the second video source, thereby ensuring that the decoded video signal is capable of being displayed in its entirety.  
   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , said output providing means comprising a graphics controller and said buffering means comprising video memory.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , said decoding means comprising a decoder compliant with an MPEG standard.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , said overlaying means comprising a video overlay.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , said output providing means comprising a graphics controller, said buffering means comprising video memory, said decoding means comprising a decoder compliant with an MPEG standard, and said overlaying means comprising a video overlay.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , said decoding means being capable of receiving the coded video signal via a network.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising an alternate means for decoding an encoded video signal into a decoded video signal wherein said overlaying means overlays the decoded video signal of said alternate decoding means during the transition when said decoding means is unavailable during the transition.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , said decoding means being capable of decoding an encoded commercial video signal into a decoded commercial video signal such that said overlaying means overlays the decoded commercial video signal during the transition.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , said decoding means being capable of decoding a video signal containing advertisement information into a decoded commercial video signal containing advertisement information such that said overlaying means overlays the decoded video signal containing advertisement information during the transition.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising means for storing an encoded signal such that the encoded signal is available to be decoded by said decoding means upon an occurrence of the transition.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a memory capable of storing an encoded signal such that the encoded signal is available to be decoded by said decoding means upon an occurrence of the transition.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a processor for executing a program of instructions that controls the apparatus, said processor being coupled to said output providing means via a bus.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said apparatus comprises a plurality of encoded video signals, said apparatus being capable of selecting a specific encoded video signal for decoding and display during the transition based upon said encoded video signal's relevance to either a content's subject matter displayed by the first video source prior to the transition or a content's subject matter selected for display via the second video source following the transition.  
     
     
         27 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 means for providing an output to a display in response to an input signal received from a video source, said output providing means including means for buffering the input signal, said output providing means comprising a graphics controller and said buffering means comprising video memory;    means for decoding an encoded video signal into a decoded video signal; and    means, coupled to said output providing means, for overlaying the decoded video signal decoded by said decoding means onto the display during a transition when said output providing means switches from a first video source to a second video source.    
     
     
         28 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , said decoding means comprising a decoder compliant with an MPEG standard.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , said overlaying means comprising a video overlay.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , said decoding means comprising a decoder compliant with an MPEG standard and said overlaying means comprising a video overlay, wherein video data from the video overlay is provided to the display through the graphics controller.  
     
     
         31 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 means for providing an output to a display in response to an input signal received from a video source, said output providing means including means for buffering the input signal;    means for decoding an encoded video signal into a decoded video signal;    means, coupled to said output providing means, for overlaying the decoded video signal decoded by said decoding means onto the display during a transition when said output providing means switches from a first video source to a second video source; and    a processor for executing a program of instructions that controls the apparatus, said processor being coupled to said output providing means via a bus.    
     
     
         32 . A method performed by a video system for providing information in video transitions, comprising: 
 selecting a video for transition;    receiving the transition video;    storing the transition video;    detecting an occurrence of a video transition from a first video source to a second video source;    if an occurrence of a video transition from a first video source to a second video source is detected, then determining if a first decoder is available; and    if the first decoder is not available, then selecting a second decoder.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising decoding the transition video by the first decoder if the first decoder is available.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising decoding the transition video by the second decoder if the first decoder is not available.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising overlaying the transition video during the video transition from a first video source to a second video source.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising receiving video from the second video source.