Abstract: An encoding process is configurable to trade calculational complexity for bit rate while maintaining code format and image quality. A software encoder which implements the encoding process monitors bandwidth and processor utilization and when either is overtaxed, adjusts complexity to compensate. If further adjustment is required, encoded image quality is changed. Changing the search process or search window size used during searches for predictive blocks or changing a threshold which is compared to inter-code length before determining whether to calculate an intra-code changes complexity. An intra-coding method subtracts a base which depends on codes representing neighboring blocks from coefficients for a current block to determine a difference which is often small and easily compressed. Additionally, restricting a quadtree structure for one color component to a sub-tree of a quadtree structure for another other color component improves compression efficiency and reduces coding complexity.

Abstract: A system detects motion in a video signal by identifying differences between a current image frame and a reference image frame. A difference profile is calculated that represents the differences between the current image frame and the reference image frame. A motion detection signal is generated by the system if the difference profile exceeds a threshold. In one configuration, the system replaces the reference image frame with each successive current image frame. In other configurations, the system replaces the reference image frame with the current image frame if the difference profile exceeds the threshold. The system generates difference data associated with the differences between the current image frame and the reference image frame. This difference data can be partitioned into multiple blocks. An average value is calculated for each block of difference data.