Testing of EDTV and IDTV systems-experiences and recommendations

Techniques for testing EDTV and IDTV (enhanced and improved definition television) systems are examined. The utility of past practices, current requirements, and future directions for fully evaluating the complex multidimensional signal processing techniques of today´s and tomorrow´s television environments are discussed. Particular attention is given to the evaluation of step responses in advanced TV systems and to bandwidth measurements in the spatial-temporal frequency domains. It is noted that conventional procedures for testing and measuring the performance of television equipment are not suitable for a full evaluation of all effects which can be introduced by complex digital signal processing in advanced television systems. Test slides and stationary test patterns of yesterday´s practices do not show any of the temporal band limitations which are imposed by some filtering techniques. More elaborate images must be developed to analyze picture sharpness and artifacts in the multidimensional spectrum of video images processed for EDTV and IDTV. Similar test patterns and sequences can also be used for evaluating some aspects of HDTV (high-definition TV) systems. The frequency domain images are useful in gaining a coherent understanding of the signal processing algorithms currently being developed