Video processor and method for automated deinterlacing and inverse telecine

Abstract

A video apparatus is provided with automatic deinterlacing and inverse telecine pre-filtering capability to automatically analyze the frames of the video to determine at least whether the video is one of telecine, non-telecine progressive and non-telecine interlaced formatted, and to automatically reformat the video into a non-telecine progressive format if the video is determined to be one of telecine and non-telecine interlaced formatted.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A video processor, comprising:
 a video data input configured to receive a video file including a succession of video frames;   a telecine and non-telecine progressive detector configured to receive the succession of video frames from the video data input and perform concurrent detection of a progressive scan pattern;   an interlaced detector configured to receive the succession of video frames and perform detection of an interlaced pattern if the telecine and non-telecine progressive detector does not detect a progressive scan pattern;   a telecine inverter configured to receive the succession of video frames including a telecine pattern and drop frames to convert the succession of video frames including a telecine pattern to a succession of non-telecine frames;   a deinterlacer configured to receive a succession of interlaced video frames and convert the succession of interlaced video frames to a succession of progressive scan video frames;   a selector configured to select one of video data received by the video data input, video data output by the telecine inverter, or video data output by the deinterlacer for output; and   a video data output configured to output a succession of non-telecine progressive video frames selected by the selector.   
     
     
         3 . The video processor of  claim 2 , wherein the telecine inverter is further configured to output a frame-drop signal each time a frame is dropped from the succession of video frames. 
     
     
         4 . The video processor of  claim 3 , wherein the telecine and non-telecine progressive detector is configured to receive the frame-drop signal and, if the frame-drop signal is received within an allotted time since the previous frame-drop signal, indicate a progressive measure if a progressive pattern is detected or indicate an interlaced measure if a progressive pattern is not detected. 
     
     
         5 . The video processor of  claim 4 , wherein the allotted time is in the range of 145 to 175 milliseconds. 
     
     
         6 . The video processor of  claim 4 , wherein the allotted time corresponds to five frames in the succession of video frames. 
     
     
         7 . The video processor of  claim 4 , wherein indicating a progressive measure includes incrementing a progressive counter. 
     
     
         8 . The video processor of  claim 4 , wherein indicating an interlaced measure includes incrementing an interlaced counter. 
     
     
         9 . The video processor of  claim 4 , wherein indicating a progressive measure or an interlaced measure includes incrementing one counter and decrementing another counter. 
     
     
         10 . The video processor of  claim 2 , wherein the telecine and non-telecine progressive detector and the interlaced detector are operatively coupled to the selector; and
 wherein the selector is configured to select the video data for output responsive to information received from the telecine and non-telecine progressive detector and the interlaced detector.   
     
     
         11 . The video processor of  claim 2 , wherein each of the telecine and non-telecine progressive detector, the interlaced detector, the telecine inverter, the deinterlacer, and the selector includes a respective electrical circuit not shared with the others of the telecine and non-telecine progressive detector, the interlaced detector, the telecine inverter, the deinterlacer, and the selector telecine and non-telecine progressive detector, the interlaced detector, the telecine inverter, the deinterlacer, and the selector is embodied in computer-readable instructions stored on a tangible computer-readable medium. 
     
     
         12 . The video processor of  claim 2 , wherein the interlaced detector is configured to operate only if the telecine and non-telecine progressive detector does not detect a progressive scan pattern in frames. 
     
     
         13 . The video processor of  claim 2 , wherein the interlaced detector is further configured to indicate an interlaced detection measure if interlaced video frames are detected. 
     
     
         14 . The video processor of  claim 13 , wherein indicating an interlaced detection measure includes incrementing an interlaced counter. 
     
     
         15 . The video processor of  claim 14 , wherein the succession of video frames are considered to be interlaced if the interlaced counter reaches a threshold. 
     
     
         16 . The video processor of  claim 2 , wherein the a telecine and non-telecine progressive detector, the interlaced detector, the telecine inverter, the deinterlacer, and the selector are configured to operate without human intervention. 
     
     
         17 . The video processor of  claim 2 , wherein concurrent detection of a progressive scan pattern by the progressive detector includes detection of a progressive scan pattern in frames not including a telecine pattern or a progressive scan pattern in frames including a telecine pattern. 
     
     
         18 . The video processor of  claim 17  wherein the progressive detector is configured to provide detection of a progressive scan pattern in either frames not including a telecine pattern or in frames including a telecine pattern responsive to receiving a frame drop signal issued by the telecine inverter 
     
     
         19 . A method for operating a video conversion apparatus, comprising:
 receiving a first plurality of video frames via a first data interface and buffering the first plurality of video frames in a memory;   performing inverse telecine conversion on the first plurality of video frames to produce a second plurality of video frames if the first plurality of video frames include a telecine pattern and, if inverse telecine conversion is performed, issuing a frame drop signal when frames are dropped from the first plurality of video frames;   if the frame drop signal is issued at an elapsed time interval consistent with a telecine progressive scan pattern, analyzing the first plurality of video frames in the memory to detect if the video frames include a telecine progressive scan pattern;   if the first plurality of video frames do not include a telecine progressive scan pattern, analyzing a plurality of video frames to detect if the video frames are interlaced;   if an interlaced pattern is detected, increasing an interlaced detection measure and converting the plurality of video frames to a third plurality of video frames in a progressive scan format; and   outputting via a second data interface or storing on a computer-readable medium one of the first plurality of video frames, the second plurality of video frames, or the third plurality of video frames in a non-telecine progressive scan video format.   
     
     
         20 . The method for operating a video conversion apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 if a telecine progressive scan pattern is detected, increasing a progressive detection measure.   
     
     
         21 . The method for operating a video conversion apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein increasing a progressive detection measure includes incrementing a progressive counter. 
     
     
         22 . The method for operating a video conversion apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein if a telecine progressive scan pattern is detected, outputting the video frames via the second data interface includes outputting the second plurality of video frames. 
     
     
         23 . The method for operating a video conversion apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 if the frame drop signal is not issued at an elapsed time interval consistent with a telecine progressive scan pattern, analyzing the first plurality of video frames in the memory to detect if the video frames include a non-telecine progressive scan pattern.   
     
     
         24 . The method for operating a video conversion apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 if a non-telecine progressive scan pattern is detected, increasing a progressive detection measure; and wherein outputting the video frames via the second data interface includes outputting the first plurality of video frames.   
     
     
         25 . The method for operating a video conversion apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 if a non-telecine progressive scan pattern is not detected in the first plurality of video frames, analyzing the first plurality of video frames to detect if the video frames are interlaced.   
     
     
         26 . The method for operating a video conversion apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 if a non-telecine progressive scan pattern is detected in the first plurality of video frames, decreasing a progressive detection measure.   
     
     
         27 . The method for operating a video conversion apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein decreasing the progressive measure includes decrementing a progressive counter. 
     
     
         28 . The method for operating a video conversion apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 if an interlaced pattern is detected, deinterlacing the second plurality of video frames to a third plurality of video frames in a progressive scan format; and wherein outputting the video frames via the second data interface includes outputting the third plurality of video frames.   
     
     
         29 . The method for operating a video conversion apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the frame drop signal is issued at an elapsed time interval consistent with a telecine progressive scan pattern includes frame drop signals issued at an interval of between 145 and 175 milliseconds. 
     
     
         30 . The method for operating a video conversion apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the frame drop signal is issued at an elapsed time interval consistent with a telecine progressive scan pattern includes frame drop signals issued at an interval corresponding to five video frames. 
     
     
         31 . The method for operating a video conversion apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the steps are performed without human intervention.