A digital video information storage and retrieval system

Abstract

A concept of general purpose systems which generate, store, retrieve, process and display raster-scan format images is developed. The general purpose nature of such systems allows the handling of static and dynamic images from multiple sources as well as system synthesized images while precluding the use of special function hardware. A particular system implementation is described. The implementationwas accomplished with standard digital computer and video hardware with the exception of one special hybrid subsystem. Most of the equipment belongs to the digital computer class with the only video hardware being a standard broadcast television receiver. The system has application to many areas including computer animation, medicine, computerized picture libraries and the study of the mechanisms of visual perception. Problems and future developments are discussed.This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation Division of Mathematical and Computer Sciences under grant DCR 74-00768A01.