(19)

(11)

EP 1 218 826 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 03.07.2002 Bulletin 2002/27 (21) Application number: 00960077.6 (22) Date of filing: 08.09.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G06F 15/02, H04N 5/00, H04N 7/14, H04N 7/15 (86) International application number: PCT/US0024/819 (87) International publication number: WO 0118/665 (15.03.2001 Gazette 2001/11)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 08.09.1999 US 391461 (71) Applicant: DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. Bethesda, MD 20814-3522 (US)	(72) Inventors: HENDRICKS, John, S. Potomac, MD 20854 (US) AMSUSSEN, Michael, L. Oak Hill, VA 20171 (US) (74) Representative: Strehl Schübel-Hopf & Partner  Maximilianstrasse 54 80538 München 80538 München (DE)