WO1990012470A1

WO1990012470A1 - Subliminal audio and video processing for real time television

Info

Publication number: WO1990012470A1
Application number: PCT/US1990/001682
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shandor J. Gerdan
Original assignee: Gerdan Shandor J
Priority date: 1989-03-31
Filing date: 1990-03-29
Publication date: 1990-10-18
Also published as: AU5401090A

Abstract

In the illustrated embodiments, a television signal (at 10) is received by a video cassette recorder (VCR) (11). The video baseband signal is supplied to a video circuit and the audio baseband signal is supplied to an audio circuit. Subliminal message information is pre-recorded on a floppy disk (15). Information is read from the floppy disk via a floppy disk drive and a disk controller command circuit (20). The information red from the floppy disk is supplied to the video and audio circuits (21, 22). In the video circuit, information corresponding to the video portion of a subliminal message is added to the video baseband signal. Prior to such adding, the intensity of the information signals corresponding to the video subliminal message is adjusted. In the audio circuit, information signals corresponding to an audio subliminal message are added to the audio baseband signal. The intensity of the information signals corresponding to the audio subliminal message are adjusted (at 29) prior to being added (at 30) to the audio baseband signal. The resulting video and audio signals are then modulated (at 23) to produce a resulting television signal.

Description

SUBLIMINAL AUDIO AND VIDEO PROCESSING FOR REAL TIME TELEVISION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention.

The present invention relates to a subliminal message system and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for processing subliminal audio and video messages for television signals.

2. Related Art.

Although the effects of both visual and auditory subliminal messaging have been thoroughly analyzed, the implementation of subliminal messaging has been rather crude. In the past, one of two principal approaches have been attempted.

The first approach involves providing dedicated preprogrammed tapes with the subliminal messaging edited into the tape itself. This approach allows the use of non-real-time subliminal messages. However, this approach fails to provide a method of changing the messages without having to buy additional tapes. Moreover, by its nature, this approach precludes the viewing of any real-time television programs while the tape is being used.

The second approach involves providing an antenna switch apparatus that switches one of two signals (either the RF TV signal or an externally generated RF "subliminal" message) onto the television receiver input. While this second approach allows the use of real-time subliminal messages, the affect is a degradation of the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of the actual television signal. In other words, the input RF signal is degraded by the RF switching mechanism used to interject the occasional message.

This second approach must use externally generated timing and synchronization signals for horizontal and vertical retrace operations. These signals provide phase shifted information to the television's control circuitry, resulting in distortion of the image displayed on the screen. Furthermore, this second approach does not allow for consistent placement of the subliminal video message on the screen, does not allow for audio information to be added as a subliminal influence, and cannot produce subliminal messaging while viewing prerecorded tapes. There are several earlier patents that attempt to produce subliminal messaging, many of them dealing only with motion pictures or prerecorded tapes. Only patents relating to the introduction of real-time subliminal messages onto the screen and/or through the speakers of the television set are in any way comparable to the present system.

An example of an early approach is shown in the U.S. Patent No. 3,278,676 to Becker (issued October 11, 1966). In this case, a pair of television cameras, one for regular TV and the other for subliminal imaging, are synchronized in order to produce a combined signal that may then be broadcast over the airwaves (or via cable) where it will then be received and observed by the individual's television set. The numerous detriments of this approach include the following:

1. The introduction of the subliminal messaging occurs at the source of the original transmission rather than at each unique destination. Therefore, everyone viewing that particular station must be subjected to subliminal effects, whether or not they want to.

2. The contents of the audio and video messages cannot be selected by the viewer.

3. The rate at which the subliminal messages occur cannot be viewer controlled. 4. The intensity, or degree of sublimity, of the messages cannot be viewer controlled.

5. Subliminal messaging cannot be introduced when prerecorded tapes are viewed. Another approach is shown in the more recent

U.S. Patent No. 4,616,261 to Crawford, et al (issued October 7, 1986) . In this case, a dedicated home computer is used as the source of the subliminal messaging. The computer is programmed to produce subliminal video messages as well as horizontal and vertical synchronization pulses that are then up- converted in frequency with an RF modulator. This RF signal is then introduced into one leg of an RF switch, with the other leg of the switch being the actual RF television signal. The television signal is the signal normally allowed to pass through the switch and onto the receiver of the television. Periodically, the computer generated subliminal message is switched in and the normal television signal is switched out in order to illuminate the screen with the "subliminal" message. This approach attempts to provide the subliminal messaging, but falls short because of several reasons, for example:

1. The normal television signal is cut out during the period of time that the subliminal message is being displayed. The effect of this can be very observable, thus negating any "subliminal" affect generated by the message. The vertical scan rate for NTSC television is 60 frames a second. Even if the computer and switch were fast enough (which they're not) to introduce the message for the shortest possible duration (1/60 of a second) , the blanking of the normal television screen image would produce a very noticeable flicker on the screen. 2. The entire television image is replaced with a subliminal message enclosed in a white or black background, rather than the more "subliminal" approach of introducing the subliminal message on top of the normal image at a viewer selectable intensity.

3. The horizontal and vertical sync pulses generated by the computer are not synchronized with the equivalent signals provided by the internal circuitry of the television's receiver. This leads to timing and phase distortion that can lead to "tearing" of the image produced on the screen as well as to lost chrominance information (especially severe as the repetition rate of the introduction of the subliminal message is increased) that will adversely affect the displayed color effects. As will, be discussed below, embodiments of the present system, on the other hand, utilize only the horizontal and vertical sync pulses generated by the receiver of the television itself, so there is no possibility of corruption.

4. The apparatus produces only video subliminal messages, rather than both video and audio subliminal messages. 5. The apparatus cannot subliminally influence prerecorded video tapes.

6. Other benefits available with embodiments of the present system are not available with the system described by Crawford, et al. For example, such benefits include the ability to provide user selectable options such as message intensity and loudness control, repetition rate of images, and the possibility of entirely new audio and video messages by simply inserting the new floppy disk. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a subliminal message system and, more particularly, a method and apparatus for processing subliminal audio and/or video messages for real time television.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide a subliminal message to a television video signal wherein the subliminal message appears superimposed on the television image. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a subliminal message system which is capable of providing a subliminal message to transmitted television signals as well as signals read from a pre-recorded video tape. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a subliminal message system which includes user selectable options such as message intensity and loudness control, message repetition rate, and message selecting. These and other objects are accomplished according to embodiments of the present invention described below.

In the illustrated embodiment, a television signal is received by a video cassette recorder (VCR) . The VCR includes a demodulator which operates to separate the video baseband signal and the audio baseband signal from the television signal. The video baseband signal is supplied to a video circuit and the audio baseband is supplied to an audio circuit. Subliminal message information is pre-recorded on a floppy disk. Information is read from the floppy disk via a floppy disk drive and a disk controller command circuit. The information read from the floppy disk is supplied to the video and audio circuits. In the video circuit, information corresponding to the video portion of a subliminal message is added to the video baseband signal. Prior to such adding, the intensity of the information signals corresponding to the video subliminal message is adjusted.

In the audio circuit, information signals corresponding to an audio subliminal message are added to the audio baseband signal. The intensity of the information signals corresponding to the audio subliminal message are adjusted prior to being added to the audio baseband signal.

The resulting video and audio signals are then combined and modulated to produce a resulting television signal. The resulting television signal is then supplied to a television.

The interjection of viewer selectable subliminal video and audio information into a real-time television viewing environment is now possible for the first time. Embodiments of the present invention incorporate state of the art electronic techniques and devices in order to integrate viewer selectable subliminal messages with real-time television programing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description of the invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein like numerals designate corresponding parts in the several Figures. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a subliminal message system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a video/audio subliminal message reprogramer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing a disk control circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an audio circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a block diagram showing a video circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a block diagram showing a main control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

A block diagram describing the operating environment of a Video/ udio Subliminal Reprogramer (VSR) according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided in Figure 1. There are five major components of the system:

1. The television signal source 10 (can be, for example, an antennae or a cable) . 2. A Video Cassette Recorder (VCR) 11 or other equivalent type of demodulator used to down- convert the RF television signal 12 into two separate baseband video and audio signals 13 and 14, respectively. 3. A Floppy Disk 15, or similar recording media, used to store the viewer selectable subliminal audio and video messages.

4. A Video/Audio Subliminal Reprogramer (VSR) 16. The VSR contains the intelligent circuitry required to perform the following tasks:

Read the video and audio information off of the disk and store it into the appropriate memory banks. Determine when to interject the subliminal audio and video messages.

- Mix the actual television signal with the converted subliminal signals. Modulate both the final composite video and audio baseband signals onto an RF carrier. - 9 -

Provide an output 17 for the RF carrier to be used as the actual television's signal source. 5. A television 18. The overall system block diagram of Figure 1 is described in more detail with Figures 2 through 6. Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of the six principal sub-blocks of the VSR 16. These sub-blocks are composed of: - A Floppy Disk Drive 19.

A Floppy Disk Drive Controller Command

Circuit 20. A Video Signal Generation Circuit 21. An Audio Signal Generation Circuit 22. A Modulator 23.

The Main System Control Circuit 24. The Floppy Disk 15 is the medium used to store the digitized audio and video subliminal data. However, other suitable storage media are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. For example, the subliminal data may be stored by memory chips, speech synthesizing chips, laser discs or magnetic tapes.

The Disk Controller Command Circuit (DCCC) 20 provides the interface and control necessary to properly access that subliminal data. The entire function of Floppy Disk data access is provided by a single chip, the Floppy Disk Subsystem Controller 25, illustrated in Figure 3.

The Audio Circuit 22 shown in Figure 2 is provided in greater detail by Figure 4. An address generator 26 is used to sequence through the memory when either writing data into it (from the Floppy Disk) , or when reading data from it (prior to adding it to the television audio signal) . The memory bank 27 is used to temporarily store the audio information after it has been read off the disk and before it is used to create a 0

10

subliminal audio message. Since the data is stored digitally on the floppy disk and in the memory bank, it must be converted to a continuous analog signal before it can be added to the raw analog audio television signal. The digital to analog (D/A) converter 28 is provided for this function. Once the subliminal audio signal is converted to its analog equivalent, it is added by an adder 30 to the baseband audio television signal 14 in a proportion determined by the variable resistor 29 shown in Figure 4. The newly combined signal is then ready to be combined with the video signal (e.g., by a signal multiplexor), modulated (e.g., by a signal modulator) , and then sent to the television. The Video circuit 21 of Figure 2 is further illustrated in Figure 5. According to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, digitized video data is read off or-^* the disk and stored in a memory bank 31 prior to being processed and sent to the television. This video information is stored into the video memory bank 31 with the assistance of the address generator 32 shown in the Figure 5. In addition, the address generator 32 is used to sequence the data out of memory and into the next processing stage.

Each horizontal line of a television video image is composed of a set number of characters, in our case there are 32 of them in one line. When it is determined by the Control Circuitry that a new line of subliminal data must be displayed, the addresses of the next 32 video characters, stored in the video memory bank 31, are written into the First In First Out (FIFO) storage element 33. Each of these addresses is then applied to the address input of the Character Generator Prom 34. The unique character stored in the Character Generator Prom 34 and selected by this address is then loaded into a Parallel In to Serial Out converter (PISO) 35. The PISO¹ shifts the selected subliminal video character, one bit at a time, into one leg of the adder 36 when it is combined with the raw television video image information.

A bit can only have one of two values, either 0 or 1 (on or off) , therefore each bit presented to the adder will either cause a small portion of the displayed image to appear white (1) or to be completely unaffected (0) . In this manner, the normal television signal is not interfered with, but only added to in order to "overwrite" the original signal for a small segment or pixel of the display. The arrangement of these l's or O's determines the subliminal image that overwrites the normal television image. The intensity of each added 1 is determined by the variable resistor 37 shown prior to the adder 36. The level of intensity is one of the two variables that determine the degree to which the added video message is subliminal or supraliminal. The other variable is the repetition rate of the message itself. The subliminal video message can be added to the raw television message with varying repetition rates. The vertical scan rate (the rate at which new complete video images are updated on the screen) of NTSC television is 60 cycles a second. That implies that the fastest a new image can be shown is 1/60 of a second. Therefore, the fastest one can interject a subliminal signal onto the television screen is also at that 1/60 of a second rate. That rate directly influences the persistence of the Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) , or television screen and therefore determines the intensity level that the added subliminal message should not surpass in order to remain unconscious to the casual viewer.

A more important parameter is the actual rate at which this 1/60 of a second subliminal message is repeated. In an embodiment of the present invention, the repetition range can vary. The repetition rate (or frequency) is user selectable via a repetition switch 42 (e.g., a multiposition user selectable switch). As shown in Fig. 5, the repetition switch 42 operates to initialize a vertical sync counter 38. As described below, the vertical sync counter 38 determines that the selectable number of images have been displayed and that the new image is the one which includes a subliminal message. That is, the vertical sync counter 38 determines the period of time between subliminal messages. By changing the switch settings on the multiposition user selectable switch 42, one can vary the period of time between subliminal messages.

The highest repetition rate is achieved by showing a new subliminal message during each new image that the television produces (60 times a second) . The lowest repetition rate is the result of only showing a message once for 1/60 of a second and then never again. More likely a value somewhere between is chosen and, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an option available to the user. When it is determined (via counters 38 and 39) that it is time for a subliminal message to appear on the television screen, a subliminal switch 44 is closed allowing the subliminal message to be added to the raw television signal.

An embodiment of the circuitry for accurately introducing each new message at the proper time is illustrated at the bottom of Figure 5. The input television signal is transmitted with synchronizing (sync) signals that the television circuitry requires in order to interpret the video information. There are two principal sync signals; the vertical sync signal and the horizontal sync signal. The vertical sync signal indicates that the end of the present image has arrived and that it is time to return to the top of the r television screen so that the next image can be transmitted. The horizontal sync signal informs the circuitry that the end of the one horizontal line of an 13

image has occurred and that it is time to return to the left side of the television screen in order to transmit the next horizontal line that makes up the total image. In the standard television format there are 262.5 horizontal lines in every image that is displayed. Therefore the horizontal sync pulse occurs 262.5 times as often as a vertical sync pulse. The VSR circuitry counts both of these sync pulses. First, the image counter circuit 38 determines that the selectable number of images have been displayed and that the new image is the one to have a subliminal message added to it. This is accomplished by counting the necessary number of vertical sync pulses. Following this, the location of the subliminal message is established by counting a selectable number of horizontal lines after the start of the image. This is accomplished by counting the horizontal sync pulses with a horizontal sync counter 39. At this point, the subliminal video is added to the original television signal until another horizontal sync counter 40 determines that the message is complete, shutting off the subliminal contribution to the image. Following this, the cycle begins anew by counting the selectable number of images, etc.

As described above, repetition switch 42 operates to provide a user selectable message repetition rate or frequency. The location switch 43 (e.g., a multiposition user selectable switch) , however, operates to provide a user selectable video message location. That is, by changing the switch setting of the location switch 43, one can vary the location of the subliminal message with respect to the television signal image. As shown in Fig. 5, the location switch 43 is arranged to selectively initialize the horizontal sync pulse counter 39. Since the horizontal sync pulse counter 39 determines the location of each subliminal message added to the television signal, by changing the switch setting of the location switch 43, one can thereby change the location of the added subliminal message image.

Also shown in the Fig. 5 embodiment is a user actuable switch 45 (labeled slow switch) arranged to allow (upon being closed) subliminal message information to bypass the variable resistor 37 and, thus, be supplied to the adder 36 at full intensity. Also, when the slow switch 45 is closed, a signal (labeled slow) is supplied to the vertical sync pulse counter 38. Upon receiving a slow signal, the repetition switch 42 is set to a maximum repetition rate (e.g., a message repetition of 60 times per second) . That is, the slow signal operates as a control signal for controlling the repetition switch 42. With the repetition switch 42 set at a maximum repetition rate, a "subliminal" message is repeated at a rate which allows a viewer to supraliminally view the message. As long as the slow switch 45 is closed, the now supraliminal messages are sequenced through in a continuous loop for supraliminal viewing by a user. In addition, during this period the messages are displayed at full intensity automatically. This important feature allows one to read and check what subliminal messages shall be used later for programming. After each message has been read satisfactorily, one can return the VSR to subliminal operation by simply releasing the slow switch 45 from its closed position. The intelligence necessary to arbitrate and control all the operations described above is provided by the Main System Control subsystem 24 illustrated in Figure 2. A more in-depth look is provided by Figure 6. The overall system level control is provided by the microprocessor 41 (e.g., a 68008 microprocessor). The microprocessor 41 is responsible for several functions including: - controlling the transfer of video and audio data from the Floppy Disk 15 via the Floppy Disk Controller 20.

- Monitoring all the subsystems.

- Providing overall circuit state and timing information to the subsystems.

Additional intelligence necessary for the individual operation of each interrelated subsystem is provided by Programable Array Logic (PALs) 42. These components are programed to provide control for operations such as:

- Audio and video memory bank management Conversion of digital to analog data

- Controlling the routing of data from the memory banks to the television screen or speakers - Controlling the counting of the horizontal and vertical sync pulses

- Translating microprocessor generated commands into signals used to control various system resources such as the Disk Controller 20, the subsystem PALs 42, and the circuit monitoring functions.

Whether or not subliminal messaging is added to the raw television signal, the audio and video baseband signals roust be modulated and presented to the signal input of the television set. The modulator 23 combines the audio and video portions of the baseband signal and modulates the resultant signal, providing an output compatible for the input of either channel 3 or channel 4 of the television set. The net effect then is to use the VCR 11 to demodulate any of the various input channels and convert the signal down to a standard baseband signal. The VSR processes this signal and up- converts it to one of two selectable channels for subsequent viewing. The overall effect of all these interrelated circuit subsystems is to produce an accurately controllable, user selectable, apparatus that provides both audio and video subliminal messaging for the first time.

The interjection of viewer selectable subliminal video and audio information into a real-time television viewing environment is now possible for the first time. Embodiments of the Video/Audio Subliminal Reprogramer (VSR) incorporates state of the art electronic techniques and devices in order to integrate viewer selectable subliminal messages with real-time television programing.

The presently disclosed embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of providing a television signal with a subliminal message, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a television signal; deriving an audio information signal and a video information signal from the television signal; adding video subliminal message information with the video information signal to provide a resulting video signal; and combining the resulting video signal with the audio information signal.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of: adding audio subliminal message information with the audio information signal to provide a resulting audio signal; wherein said step of combining comprises the step of combining the resulting video signal with the resulting audio signal.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising the step of modulating the combined resulting audio and video signals.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of repeating the adding step and selectively controlling the repeation rate of the adding steps.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of adding video subliminal message information comprises the step of adjusting the intensity of the video subliminal message information. 18

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the television signal includes information corresponding to a plurality of horizontal lines of a first video image and wherein the video subliminal message information comprises information corresponding to a plurality of horizontal lines of a second video image.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said step of adding video subliminal message information comprises the steps of: storing information corresponding to a plurality of horizontal lines of the second video image in a video memory; retrieving information corresponding to one of the horizontal lines of the second video image from the video memory; adding the retrieved information with one horizontal line of the first video image; retrieving information corresponding to another one of the horizontal lines of the second video image from the video memory; and adding the retrieved information corresponding to another one of the horizontal lines with another one of the horizontal lines of the first video image.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 further comprising the step of controlling the intensity of the information corresponding to each horizontal line of the second video image with an intensity adjuster.

9. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step of adding audio subliminal message information comprises the steps of: storing audio subliminal message information in an audio memory; retrieving audio subliminal message information from the audio memory; controlling the intensity of the retrieved audio subliminal message information with an intensity adjuster to provide a controlled intensity signal; and adding the controlled intensity signal with the audio information signal.

10. A system for providing a television signal having audio and video information with subliminal message information, said system comprising: a television signal receiver; first memory means for storing audio subliminal message information; second memory means for storing video subliminal message information; first adding means for adding information stored in the first memory means with the audio information of the television signal; second adding means for adding information stored in the second memory means with the video information of the television signal; and a signal combiner having first and second inputs operatively connected with the output of the first and second adding means, respectively.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the television signal receiver comprises demodulating means for separating the audio and video information.

12. A system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising: storing means for storing the audio and video subliminal message information; and retrieving means for retrieving information stored with the storing means, the retrieving means being operatively connected with the first and second memory means.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the storing means comprises a magnetic recording disk and said retrieving means comprises a disk drive.

14. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the television signal receiver comprises a video cassette recorder having a signal demodulator operable to demodulate a television signal to provide audio and video baseband signals.

15. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the television signal generator comprises a video cassette recorder having a signal demodulator operable to demodulate a television signal to provide audio and video baseband signals.

16. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the television signal receiver comprises a video cassette recorder having a signal demodulator operable to demodulate a television signal to provide audio and video baseband signals.

17. A method of providing a television signal with a subliminal message, said method comprising the steps of: generating an audio/video signal from a video tape; deriving an audio information signal and a video information signal from the audio/video signal; adding video subliminal message information with the video information signal to provide a resulting video signal; and combining the resulting video signal with the audio information signal.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising the step of: adding audio subliminal message information with the audio information signal to provide a resulting audio signal; wherein the step of combining comprises the step of combining the resulting audio and video signals.