Abstract: This invention provides a method of face recognition and a device for implementing said method, the method comprising the steps of: (a) performing a face recognition algorithm on an image of a user to determine an identity of the user, the image having an illumination level; (b) determining if a reliability measurement of the identity of the user determined by the face recognition algorithm meets a threshold indicating reliable identification and, if the reliability measurement is below the threshold indicating reliable identification; (c) receiving a new image of the user, the new image having an adjusted illumination level; and (d) performing a further face recognition algorithm on the new image of the user to determine the identity of the user.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for face recognition and a device for implementing said method, the method comprising the steps of: displaying a point of interest on the screen such that a user adopts a gaze direction with respect to the screen; capturing an image of the user at the adopted gaze direction; and performing a face recognition algorithm on the image of the user, using an Enrollment image classified by said gaze direction.

Abstract: The invention presents a new NR-H method for assessment of packet loss visibility measure for a video sequence, where the measure is indicative of the effect on the perceptual quality of the video. Packet loss can occur as a result of the video being transmitted over an imperfect network. The invention combines dynamic modelling of temporal and spatial properties of the decoded pictures with bitstream information revealing location, extent and propagation of any errors. Analysis is performed on blocks of pixels, and preferably the macroblocks defined in the particular video encoding scheme. Knowledge of the error extent from the bitstream information is used to target spatial analysis around the specific error locations. Perceptual impact is estimated by utilizing spatio-temporal modelling to predict the properties of a missing block, and comparing those predictions with the actual properties of the missing block.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for face recognition and a device for implementing said method, the method comprising the steps of: displaying a point of interest on the screen such that a user adopts a gaze direction with respect to the screen; capturing an image of the user at the adopted gaze direction; and performing a face recognition algorithm on the image of the user, using an enrolment image classified by said gaze direction.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of face recognition and a device for implementing said method, the method comprising the steps of: (a) performing a face recognition algorithm on an image of a user to determine an identity of the user, the image having an illumination level; (b) determining if a reliability measurement of the identity of the user determined by the face recognition algorithm meets a threshold indicating reliable identification and, if the reliability measurement is below the threshold indicating reliable identification; (c) receiving a new image of the user, the new image having an adjusted illumination level; and (d) performing a further face recognition algorithm on the new image of the user to determine the identity of the user.

Abstract: A digitally encoded video fingerprinting system for generating and comparing/matching finger-prints from digitally encoded video which has been encoded according to an encoding method which involves the generation of residual macroblocks of pixels and the generation of quantized transform coefficients of the residual macroblocks, or of portions of the residual macroblocks, comprises a fingerprint database (5) and a video processing subsystem (10). The video processing subsystem (10) includes a fingerprint sequence selection module (14, 24) which is operable to select one or more sets of frames from input video content to be processed in order to generate a fingerprint; a fingerprint calculation module (14, 26) which is operable to generate a fingerprint based on a set of frames selected by the fingerprint sequence selection module; and a fingerprint comparator module (14, 28) which is operable to compare two fingerprints and to output a similarity score of the compared fingerprints.

Abstract: The invention presents a method of applying forward error correction selectively to an encoded video sequence before it is transmitted. Forward error correction is targeted at portions of the video that will be most noticeably affected by any potential packet loss during transmission. The targeting is done using a perceptual error sensitivity model, which effectively maps an error visibility rating onto content-dependent and content-independent properties associated with a given portion video. The encoder and decoder settings will be used for the actual video sequence where forward error correction is to be applied are used in the training of the model, as they have a significant effect on the perception of any errors. Then, to adaptively apply forward error correction, a selected video sequence is encoded, and the encoded bitstream is analysed to determine content-independent properties. A decoded version of the video sequence is also analysed to determine content-dependent properties being determined.

Abstract: The invention presents a new NR-H method for assessment of packet loss visibility measure for a video sequence, where the measure is indicative of the effect on the perceptual quality of the video. Packet loss can occur as a result of the video being transmitted over an imperfect network. The invention combines dynamic modelling of temporal and spatial properties of the decoded pictures with bitstream information revealing location, extent and propagation of any errors. Analysis is performed on blocks of pixels, and preferably the macroblocks defined in the particular video encoding scheme. Knowledge of the error extent from the bitstream information is used to target spatial analysis around the specific error locations. Perceptual impact is estimated by utilising spatio-temporal modelling to predict the properties of a missing block, and comparing those predictions with the actual properties of the missing block.

Abstract: A digitally encoded video fingerprinting system for generating and comparing/matching finger-prints from digitally encoded video which has been encoded according to an encoding method which involves the generation of residual macroblocks of pixels and the generation of quantized transform coefficients of the residual macroblocks, or of portions of the residual macroblocks, comprises a fingerprint database (5) and a video processing subsystem (10). The video processing subsystem (10) includes a fingerprint sequence selection module (14, 24) which is operable to select one or more sets of frames from input video content to be processed in order to generate a fingerprint; a fingerprint calculation module (14, 26) which is operable to generate a fingerprint based on a set of frames selected by the fingerprint sequence selection module; and a fingerprint comparator module (14, 28) which is operable to compare two fingerprints and to output a similarity score of the compared fingerprints.

Abstract: In order to detect interlace errors in a video signal, one receives successive digitally coded frames, each frame comprising data for a field of a first type and data for a field of a second type (i.e. a top field and bottom field or vice versa). One then generates for each field of the first type:—a first difference signal (D1 F1) representative of the difference between the field and the second-type field of the previous frame;—a second difference signal (D1 F2) representative of the difference between the field and the second-type field of the same frame; and—a third difference signal (D1 F3) representative of the difference between the field and the second-type field of the following frame. Then, in dependence of the values of said difference signals, a decision signal (wOFlag) is generated indicating an estimated temporal relationship of the field to the second-type field of the same frame.

Abstract: A coder generates a first output providing first data from which a decoder can produce a reconstructed signal and a second output providing second, enhancement, data whereby a decoder receiving both the first and second data can produce a higher quality reconstructed signal. Packets of data are assembled for transmission, each packet containing primary data which includes the first data in respect of a temporal portion of the signal and the second data in respect of the same portion of the signal and secondary data which includes the first data in respect of a different temporal portion of the signal.

Abstract: A codebook excited speech coder analyzes speech to produce coefficients of a synthesis filter, the parameters of a long-term prediction filter (LTP) and a codeword indication one of a set of excitations. The results are transmitted to a receiver where they can be used to resynthesize the speech. The LTP and excitation analysis involve generation of impulse response products by adding additional terms to products already formed and storing them in a store. Multiplication of these products by excitation terms is performed using a pointer table storing precalculated addresses of locations in the store. If some excitations are shifted versions of others, some addresses can be obtained by modifying other addresses. The LTP analysis may include selection between a simple delay prediction and a prediction including the sum of two differently delayed terms, to provide improved predictor delay resolution.