Abstract: Tracking use of a destination location is disclosed. Based on a first vehicle image showing a first vehicle, a first unique identifier of the first vehicle is determined. Next, based on a first location of the first vehicle received based on a sensor located within the first vehicle, it is determined that the first vehicle is occupying the destination location at a second time. Next, based on a second location of the first vehicle received based on the sensor located within the first vehicle, it is determined that the first vehicle has left the destination location at a third time. Finally, it is indicated that the first vehicle began use of the destination location at the second time and that the first vehicle completed use of the destination location at the third time.

Abstract: A monoscopic low-power mobile device is capable of creating real-time stereo images and videos from a single captured view. The device uses statistics from an autofocusing process to create a block depth map of a single capture view. Artifacts in the block depth map are reduced and an image depth map is created. Stereo three-dimensional (3D) left and right views are created from the image depth map using a Z-buffer based 3D surface recover process and a disparity map which is a function of the geometry of binocular vision.

Abstract: An encoder allows generating, starting from a sequence of digital video pictures, a time-scalable encoded bitstream obtained by applying to the pictures, a hierarchical prediction wherein the pictures are organized in Groups Of Pictures (GOPs). The GOPs may include base time layer pictures or Key Pictures for encoding as Inter or Intra, with and without motion-compensated prediction respectively. The GOPs may also include higher time layer pictures adapted to be selectively eliminated to effect time scalability of the encoded scalable bitstream. The encoder may detect scene changes in the sequence of digital video pictures, and, in the presence of a scene change, a first Key Picture after the scene change may be encoded as Intra.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the environment of a motor vehicle, includes imaging devices for taking a sequence of images, which sequence contains images of at least a part of the environment of the motor vehicle. A display unit reproduces at least one image detail of the image sequence in the vehicle interior. A device automatically changes the detail of the environment shown by the reproduction of the image detail by the display unit. One or more devices for determining at least one earlier position of the motor vehicle is provided, wherein the environmental detail can be automatically adapted as a function of the earlier position of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: In a moving picture in which data corresponding to one picture is required for display, data corresponding to one picture is divided into line blocks including a predetermined number of pixel lines and captured as block data. A compression rate of each block data is dynamically set according to a capture point in time of each block data. Each block data is compressed at the set compression rate and transmitted to a reception apparatus through a transmission path. On a plurality of block data, a series of processes including the capture and the transmission of each block data is performed in parallel while shifting only a time required for the capture. Block data that is late in start order of the capture, among the data corresponding to one picture, is set to be lower in compression rate than block data that is early in start order of the capture.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method of compressing video data having at least one frame having at least one block having an array of pixels. The method includes transforming the pixels of the at least one block into coefficients, creating a default transmission order of the coefficients, creating an optimal transmission order of the coefficients, comparing a coefficient position of at least one of the coefficients in the optimal transmission order with a coefficient position of the at least one of the coefficients in the default transmission order; determining an update value based on the comparison, and selectively encoding position information of the at least one of the coefficients in the optimal transmission order based on the update value.

Abstract: Profiling and tracking vehicles using cameras is disclosed. Initially, two or more first images from a first camera having a first field of view are received. A first static characteristic of a first vehicle is determined based on at least one of the two or more first images. Next, a desired static characteristic of a vehicle of interest is received. The desired static characteristic of the vehicle of interest is compared with the first static characteristic of the first vehicle. In response to the comparison, it is determined that the desired static characteristic of the vehicle of interest is approximately equal to the first static characteristic of the first vehicle. In response, it is determined that the vehicle of interest is present in the first field of view of the first camera. Finally, it is indicated that the vehicle of interest is present in the first field of view.

Abstract: Classifying a series of quantized transform coefficients of a block of image data into one of a pre-defined plurality of classes for entropy coding, and entropy coding the block. A class is defined by at least the size of the block and typically but not necessarily one or more other factors. The classified series is coded by one of a set of pre-defined entropy coding methods, e.g., variable length coding methods for the pre-defined classes.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are presented for determining a distance to an object using a color camera and special markers mounted on the object that refract or reflect different colors depending on the angle at which they are viewed. Different colors can be refracted or reflected using lenticular lenses or other technologies. The color received by the camera reveals the orientation of the markers. The orientation information can be combined with the perceived angular distance between the markers and the known distance between the markers to determine the actual distance to the object.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of telemetry of a target performed by an operator by means of binoculars which comprise an image sensor, a display screen, a processing unit and a laser telemeter exhibiting a firing window centered on the sighting axis of the laser.

Abstract: A system and method for generating security alerts for a facility is presented. The system can comprise a server, cameras operable to stream video to the server or other storage location and to a surveillance center of the facility, input devices, a first module operable to assign one or more codes to the facility, associate one or more cameras with each code, and associate response guidelines with each code; and a second module operable to receive one code of the one or more codes from one of the one or more input devices, notify the facility assigned to the one code based on the response guidelines, stream video from the one or more cameras associated with the one code to the surveillance center of the facility, and generate the security alert based on the video stream. In one aspect, a user can send a video feed along with the code.

Abstract: Tracking and counting wheeled transportation apparatuses is disclosed. Initially, three or more first images are received from a first camera having a first field of view, where the three or more first images show multiple wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing a portion of a roadway. Next, first and second static characteristics and first and second dynamic characteristics of a first of the multiple wheeled transportation apparatuses are determined. It is then determined that the second static characteristic is approximately equal to the first static characteristic and that the second dynamic characteristic is approximately equal to the first dynamic characteristic. Next, it is determined that the first wheeled transportation apparatus is traversing the portion of the roadway based on the comparisons. A count of the number of wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing the portion of the roadway is then incremented. Finally, the count is indicated.

Abstract: A television device has a television receiver residing substantially within a television receiver enclosure. A high definition multimedia interface is (HDMI) coupled to the television receiver. A detachable HDMI switch is operatively coupled to the HDMI interface, the HDMI switch and has at least two user-side HDMI buses connected thereto. The detachable HDMI switch resides in an HDMI switch housing that exposes the at least two user-side HDMI connector ports. The detachable HDMI switch housing is detachably connected to the television receiver enclosure to permit the HDMI switch housing to be either attached to the television receiver enclosure for use at the television receiver enclosure, or to permit the HDMI switch housing to be separated from the television receiver enclosure to permit the HDMI switch housing to be situated remotely from the television receiver enclosure so that the HDMI connector ports are remotely accessible while being selectable by the television device.

Abstract: An apparatus for tracking the use of at least one destination location, the apparatus including multiple cameras and one or more processors configured to identify a vehicle by use of identification images captured by an identification camera, such as by processing of images of license plates, determine characteristics of the vehicle visible in the identification images, and determine usage of a destination location, such as a parking spot, based on a camera monitoring the destination location capturing images of the vehicle having characteristics corresponding to those determined for the identification images.

Abstract: A method for determining optimal video encoding parameters is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) storing a plurality of configurable parameters each comprising a respective trial value, (B) generating a bitstream by encoding a test sequence of pictures using (i) a plurality of non-configurable parameters fixed in a design of the encoder, (ii) the configurable parameters and (iii) a plurality of dynamic parameters adjustable in real time by the encoder, (C) generating a reconstructed sequence of pictures by decoding the bitstream, (D) generating a quality metric based on the reconstructed sequence of pictures compared with the test sequence of pictures and (E) adjusting the respective trial values to optimize the quality metric.

Abstract: A method of tracking the use of at least one destination location, the method including identifying a vehicle by use of identification images captured by an identification camera, such as by processing of images of license plates, determining characteristics of the vehicle visible in the identification images, and determining usage of a destination location, such as a parking spot, based on a camera monitoring the destination location capturing images of the vehicle having characteristics corresponding to those determined for the identification images.

Abstract: Tracking the use of at least one destination location is disclosed. Initially, five or more first images are received from a first camera. A first static characteristic, a second static characteristic, a first dynamic characteristic, and a second dynamic characteristic of the first vehicle are determined based the five or more first images. The second static characteristic is determined to be approximately equal to the first static characteristic. The second dynamic characteristic is determined to be approximately equal to the first dynamic characteristic. In response, it is determined that the first vehicle is traversing a portion of a roadway. Then, it is determined that the first vehicle is stopped within the at least one destination location at a first time. It is then determined that the first vehicle left the at least one destination location at a second time that is after the first time. Finally, the first time and the second time are indicated.

Abstract: A method of compressing video data having at least one frame having at least one block and each block having an array of pixels is provided. The method transforms the pixels of each block into coefficients and creates an optimal transmission order of the coefficients. The method also optimizes the speed of processing compressed video data by partitioning the data bitstream and coding each partition independently. The method also predicts fractional pixel motion by selecting an interpolation method for each given plurality or block of pixels depending upon at least one metric related to each given block and varies the method from block to block. The method also enhances error recovery for a current frame using a frame prior to the frame immediately before the current frame as the only reference frame for lessening quality loss during data transmission. Enhanced motion vector coding is also provided.

Abstract: A device for acquiring two-dimensional images of a three-dimensional object including a housing having a receptacle for receiving the object. The receptacle has a floor and an interior sidewall. The sidewall has at least one sight window and a plurality of lights for illuminating the object. A rotatable turntable is positioned on the floor of the receptacle, and the object is positioned on the turntable. At least one camera having an iris is located within the housing and positioned so that the iris can obtain images of the object through the sight window, allowing the camera to obtain still images of the object as the object is rotated on the turntable. There is also provided methods for stitching the still images of the three-dimensional object into a two-dimensional image to facilitate optical character recognition and further data processing.

Abstract: In a video decoder having a picture skip function, the video decoder may obtain reference information from a network abstraction layer (NAL) unit, and upon receipt of a skip command, skips frames/pictures from where a non-reference frame/picture begins. The video decoder may execute a picture skip function, either at a fast speed or at a normal speed, according to the skip mode.