Abstract: A modular display system includes a processing unit configured to receive and decode video, at least two display segments connected together including a first display segment and a second display segment, where each display segment of the at least two display segments includes a controller and where a controller of the first display segment is communicatively coupled to the processing unit and configured to receive the decoded video, transmit the received decoded video to a second controller of the second display segment, extract a video segment for the first display segment, and cause display of the extracted video segment on the first display segment.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes receiving video content comprising a first data portion comprising parameters that control a visual appearance of frames of video content presented by a content-presentation device. The content-presentation device is communicatively coupled to a light unit that is (i) present in a viewing area of the content-presentation device and (ii) configured to provide ambient light in the viewing area. The method also includes extracting, from the received video content, a second data portion, separate from the first data portion, specifying one or more light control parameters that a controller associated with the light unit is configured to interpret as instructions for controlling the light unit. The method also includes transmitting the extracted second data portion to the controller to facilitate the controller controlling the light unit according to the specified one or more light control parameters.

Abstract: A de-interlacing device and method are provided that may be used in a memory based video processor. The de-interlacer mixes the output of a temporal de-interlacer and a spatial de-interlacer. Two separate error values are used; one for the temporal de-interlacer and another for the spatial de-interlacer. The de-interlacing device calculates from the two error values, using a non-linear mapping, a mix factor used to mix between the outputs of the spatial and temporal de-interlacers.

Abstract: An apparatus to provide a fall-back procedure for a PRC imaging device is described. The apparatus includes a PRC controller, a system resource monitor, and a PRC setting calculator. The PRC controller outputs a stream of images at an adjustable temporal rate. The adjustable temporal rate is constrained within a range defined by a first predetermined rate and a second predetermined rate. The system resource monitor obtains a measurement of system resource utilization. The PRC setting calculator determines a setting for the PRC controller in response to the measurement of system resource utilization. Additionally, the PRC controller determines a value for the adjustable temporal rate in response to the setting.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing candidate motion vectors divides a picture frame (110) into a plurality of segments (120), where each segment (120) includes a plurality of pixel blocks (130). The local motion complexity of each segment may then be measured by determining a Sum-of-Absolute Differences (SAD) between pixel blocks (130) of the frame (110a) and pixel blocks (130)of an adacent frame (110b) and summing the SAD values for the pixel blocks (130) within each segment (120). The maximum, minimum and average SAD value for the segments may be used to define a distribution function that distributes candidate vectors to conform with a desired maximum, minimum and average number of candidate vectors per block. This distribution function is then used to determine the number of candidate vectors to assign to pixel blocks (130) based on the measured SAD value of the associated segment (120).

Abstract: A system and method to render 3D images from a 2D source are described. An embodiment of a method to render 3D images from a 2D source comprises the steps of providing a graphics rendering device to estimate depth of a 2D image; providing video or graphics textures and depth-maps to describe an object in a 3D scene; creating, in one embodiment, a single view angle and in another preferred embodiment at least two view angles of the 3D scene to represent an intraocular distance using the graphics rendering device; and presenting both of the at least two view angles on a display using the graphics rendering device and especially the commonly available 3D imaging technology of the graphics rendering device.

Abstract: In a video processing system where motion vectors are estimated for a subset of the blocks of data forming a video frame, and motion vectors are interpolated for the remainder of the blocks of the frame, a method includes determining, for at least at least one block of the current frame for which a motion vector is not estimated (204), whether a block to the left or right has an estimated zero motion vector (206), determining whether the at least one block had an estimated zero motion vector in a previous frame (206), and if both determinations are affirmative (208), providing a predetermined motion vector for the at least one block. The predetermined motion vector may be a zero motion vector (208).

Abstract: An apparatus to provide a fall-back procedure for a PRC imaging device is described. The apparatus includes a PRC controller, a system resource monitor, and a PRC setting calculator. The PRC controller outputs a stream of images at an adjustable temporal rate. The adjustable temporal rate is constrained within a range defined by a first predetermined rate and a second predetermined rate. The system resource monitor obtains a measurement of system resource utilization. The PRC setting calculator determines a setting for the PRC controller in response to the measurement of system resource utilization. Additionally, the PRC controller determines a value for the adjustable temporal rate in response to the setting.

Abstract: A de-interlacing device and method are provided that may be used in a memory based video processor. The de-interlacer mixes the output of a temporal de-interlacer and a spatial de-interlacer. Two separate error values are used; one for the temporal de-interlacer and another for the spatial de-interlacer. The de-interlacing device calculates from the two error values, using a non-linear mapping, a mix factor used to mix between the outputs of the spatial and temporal de-interlacers.

Abstract: Multiple Description Coding (MDC) has been shown to be an effective technique for robust transmission of video data over networks including wireless systems and the Internet. A method is provided where the video signal (20) is interlaced and split into multiple streams before being encoded and transmitted over separate transmission channels (308, 310). At a receiver (320) side, de-interlacing algorithms may be applied and the streams are regrouped to form the original video signal (20). The use of interlacing and deinterlacing techniques improve the robustness of video transmission without having to modify existing equipment.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing candidate motion vectors divides a picture frame (110) into a plurality of segments (120), where each segment (120) includes a plurality of pixel blocks (130). The local motion complexity of each segment may then be measured by determining a Sum-of-Absolute Differences (SAD) between pixel blocks (130) of the frame (110a) and pixel blocks (130)of an adacent frame (110b) and summing the SAD values for the pixel blocks (130) within each segment (120). The maximum, minimum and average SAD value for the segments may be used to define a distribution function that distributes candidate vectors to conform with a desired maximum, minimum and average number of candidate vectors per block. This distribution function is then used to detemine the number of candidate vectors to assign to pixel blocks (130) based on the measured SAD value of the associated segment (120).

Abstract: In a video processing system where motion vectors are estimated for a subset of the blocks of data forming a video frame, and motion vectors are interpolated for the remainder of the blocks of the frame, a method includes determining, for at least at least one block of the current frame for which a motion vector is not estimated (204), whether a block to the left or right has an estimated zero motion vector (206), determining whether the at least one block had an estimated zero motion vector in a previous frame (206), and if both determinations are affirmative (208), providing a predetermined motion vector for the at least one block. The predetermined motion vector may be a zero motion vector (208).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for thinning lines in a video, includes providing a line signal (15) of a video, the line signal (15) having pair of spaced apart transitions (16) which slope toward one another and merge at an edge (17) of a first thickness, the first thickness of the edge generating a line of a given width in the video. At least one of the transitions (16) is moved toward a center of the edge (17), to produce a new line signal (18) having an edge (19) of a second thickness which is less than the first thickness, thereby reducing the given width of the line in the video.

Abstract: A method (100) and system (600) for adaptively segmenting pixel elements in an image frame is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of segmenting pixel elements into at least one first region based on a selection criteria (110), refining the selection criteria (150) based on information associated with each of the pixel elements within an associated first region and segmenting (160) the image pixel elements into at least one second region based on said refined selection criteria (150).

Abstract: A method and system for improving the quality of a video image (100) segmented into a plurality of blocks (110, 115, 120) of known size is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of associating a value to each of said blocks and altering said associated value corresponding to a selected one of said blocks when each of said associated values of blocks adjacent to said selected block is different than said selected block associated value. The block value is a first value when said block probability function is greater than a threshold value, otherwise it a set as a second value.

Abstract: An image conversion unit (100) for converting an input image into an output image is disclosed. The image conversion unit (100) comprises: first computing means (104) for computing a first weighted sum of a first group of pixel values, the first group of pixel values corresponding to pixels of the input image; second computing means (102) for computing a second weighted sum of a second group of interpolated values, the second group of interpolated values being computed by means of interpolation for spatial locations which are not present at the sampling grid of the input image; combining means (106) for computing a third sum by combining the first weighted sum and the second weighted sum; and clipping means (108) for clipping the third sum between a minimum value and a maximum value, the minimum value and the maximum value derived from pixel values of the input image.

Abstract: Pixels in a video image may be segmented based upon selected criteria, such as a common color, texture, shape, amplitude range or temporal variation. Color values for these pixels may be used to calculate a color probability function which indicates the probability that the color value of the pixel will lie within a designated range of values. The pixels are also used to calculate a texture probability function that indicates whether the pixel represents a designated texture. Pixels that are assigned to a given segment may then be further processed to improve the quality of an image. In this manner, pixels that identify grass, sky, human skin, etc. may be identified and processed in order to achieve a more pleasing appearance.

Abstract: Pixels in a video image may be segmented based upon selected criteria, such as a common color, texture, shape, amplitude range or temporal variation. Color values for these pixels may be used to calculate a color probability function which indicates the probability that the color value of the pixel will lie within a designated range of values. The pixels are also used to calculate a texture probability function that indicates whether the pixel represents a designated texture. Pixels that are assigned to a given segment may then be further processed to improve the quality of an image. In this manner, pixels that identify grass, sky, human skin, etc. may be identified and processed in order to achieve a more pleasing appearance.