Abstract: The invention is related to methods and apparatus that provide improved video encoding. Conventional video encoding techniques inadequately determine the encoding mode for a macroblock. One embodiment according to the invention advantageously includes the coding cost for motion vectors into the mode decision, thereby enhancing the quality of the selection of the mode. One embodiment further uses an L1 norm in the decision, thereby advantageously reducing the computational complexity of taking the coding cost for motion vectors into the mode decision.

Abstract: The present invention is related to video encoding. In an embodiment, a bit budget is calculated for a first scene. In addition, bit budgets for corresponding frames, including at least a first frame, within the first scene are determined. Optionally, bit budgets corresponding to macroblocks within the first frame are also determined.

Abstract: The invention is related to methods and apparatus that recover usable video data from partially corrupted data. Embodiments inspect corrupted data packets and identify the location or locations of an error, whether the corrupted data packet contains data expected to be error-free, and whether the error-free data should be used. Decoding of a packet in both the forward direction and the backward direction can be used to locate a position of an error. Intra-coded macroblocks can also be recovered. A decoder can elect to use or to drop an intra-coded macroblock recovered from a corrupted data packet according to further criteria that is applied to the recovered intra-coded macroblock. One embodiment inspects video bitstream data that has been encoded with an optional data partitioning feature enabled, and retrieves specified data in areas of a corrupted packet that are expected to be free from error.

Abstract: The present invention is related to video encoding. In an embodiment, a first root mean squared (RMS) value is calculated for a first frame relative to a second frame, and a second frame relative to a third frame. A second temporal derivative RMS value is calculated. Based at least in part on the second derivative value, the second frame is designated as a scene change frame.

Abstract: The invention is related to methods and apparatus that encode redundant motion vectors for predictive-coded visual object planes (P-VOPs) to increase the robustness of transmitted video signals. One embodiment provides the redundant motion vectors in a user data video packet of an MPEG-4 compliant bitstream, which thereby allows the enhanced bitstream to remain compliant with MPEG-4 syntax and backwards compatible with MPEG-4 decoders. The enhanced bitstreams allow a video decoder to display a video with a better picture and relatively less error and error propagation when portions of the bitstream are disturbed or corrupted by interference, delays, and the like.

Abstract: The invention is related to methods and apparatus that recover usable video data from partially corrupted data. Embodiments inspect corrupted data packets and identify the location or locations of an error, whether the corrupted data packet contains data expected to be error-free, and whether the error-free data should be used. Decoding of a packet in both the forward direction and the backward direction can be used to locate a position of an error. Intra-coded macroblocks can also be recovered. A decoder can elect to use or to drop an intra-coded macroblock recovered from a corrupted data packet according to further criteria that is applied to the recovered intra-coded macroblock. One embodiment inspects video bitstream data that has been encoded with an optional data partitioning feature enabled, and retrieves specified data in areas of a corrupted packet that are expected to be free from error.

Abstract: The invention is related to methods and apparatus that conceal errors in images of a corrupted video bitstream. One embodiment conceals errors in a missing or corrupted intra-coded macroblock by linearly interpolating data from other macroblocks that correspond to portions of the image above and below the missing or corrupted macroblock. One embodiment can utilize substitute motion vectors for a missing or corrupted predictive-coded macroblock. Another embodiment doubles the received motion vectors and references the doubled motion vectors to a previous-previous frame. Another embodiment adaptively selects which concealment or reconstruction technique is applied according to projected error estimates. Another embodiment conceals errors by replacing corrupted or missing data by combining concealment data in a weighted sum to reduce an estimated error.

Abstract: The present invention is related to video encoding. In an embodiment, a sequence of frames is received. For each frame in at least a portion of the sequence of frames, a corresponding mean of absolute differences value weighted by a temporal parameter between frames bracketing said each frame is calculated. At least partly based on the corresponding mean of absolute differences value weighted by a temporal parameter, a first frame in the sequence of frames is skipped.

Abstract: The invention is related to methods and apparatus that recover usable video data from partially corrupted data. Embodiments inspect corrupted data packets and identify the location or locations of an error, whether the corrupted data packet contains data expected to be error-free, and whether the error-free data should be used. Decoding of a packet in both the forward direction and the backward direction can be used to locate a position of an error. Intra-coded macroblocks can also be recovered. A decoder can elect to use or to drop an intra-coded macroblock recovered from a corrupted data packet according to further criteria that is applied to the recovered intra-coded macroblock. One embodiment inspects video bitstream data that has been encoded with an optional data partitioning feature enabled, and retrieves specified data in areas of a corrupted packet that are expected to be free from error.

Abstract: The present invention is related to video encoding. In an embodiment, a bit budget is calculated for a first scene. In addition, bit budgets for corresponding frames, including at least a first frame, within the first scene are determined. Optionally, bit budgets corresponding to macroblocks within the first frame are also determined.

Abstract: The invention is related to methods and apparatus that provide improved video encoding. Conventional video encoding techniques inadequately determine the encoding mode for a macroblock. One embodiment according to the invention advantageously includes the coding cost for motion vectors into the mode decision, thereby enhancing the quality of the selection of the mode. One embodiment further uses an L1 norm in the decision, thereby advantageously reducing the computational complexity of taking the coding cost for motion vectors into the mode decision.

Abstract: The invention is related to methods and apparatus that provide selective filtering of discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients. Advantageously, filtering of the DCT coefficients is efficiently performed in the frequency domain, rather than the processing intensive pixel domain (time domain). The DCT filtering is performed “in-loop ” to the DCT encoding and not in a preprocessing approach that is independent to encoding loop. The DCT filtering advantageously reduces the number of bits used to encode a picture, which can preserve compliance with occupancy levels for buffer models while improving picture quality over a conventional technique to preserve bits, such as an increase in the value of the quantization parameter QP.

Abstract: The present invention is related to video encoding. In an embodiment, a bit budget is calculated for a first scene. In addition, bit budgets for corresponding frames, including at least a first frame, within the first scene are determined. Optionally, bit budgets corresponding to macroblocks within the first frame are also determined.

Abstract: The present invention is related to error resilient video encoding. A first instruction to intracode a first frame is received. In response to the first instruction, the first frame is intracoded. In addition, a second sequentially consecutive frame is intracoded as a result of the first instruction to intracode the first frame.

Abstract: The present invention is related to video encoding. In an embodiment, a first root mean squared (RMS) value is calculated for a first frame relative to a second frame, and a second frame relative to a third frame. A second temporal derivative RMS value is calculated. Based at least in part on the second derivative value, the second frame is designated as a scene change frame.

Abstract: The present invention is related to video encoding. In an embodiment, a sequence of frames is received. For each frame in at least a portion of the sequence of frames, a corresponding mean of absolute differences value weighted by a temporal parameter between frames bracketing said each frame is calculated. At least partly based on the corresponding mean of absolute differences value weighted by a temporal parameter, a first frame in the sequence of frames is skipped.

Abstract: The present invention is related to video encoding. In an embodiment, a first instruction stored in processor readable memory is configured to generate forward error correction data for selected portions of packet data from a plurality of frame packets. A second instruction stored in processor readable memory is configured to store the forward error correction data in a first packet separate from the plurality of frame packets. A third instruction stored in processor readable memory is configured to identify the first packet with a user data identifier code. The separate packet is optionally compliant with MPEG-4.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an adaptive motion area process is performed to determine which macroblocks are to be intracoded. Adaptive motion change detection can efficiently reduce the large propagation error, including errors occurring in the motion area. An intercode distortion value and an intracode distortion value are calculated, as are an intercode bit rate and an intracode bit rate. Based on a comparison of the calculated intercode distortion value and the intracode distortion value, and on a comparison of the intercode bit rate and the intracode bit rate for each macroblock, a decision is made as to which predicted frame macroblocks are to be intracoded.

Abstract: The invention is related to methods and apparatus that conceal errors in images of a corrupted video bitstream. One embodiment conceals errors in a missing or corrupted intra-coded macroblock by linearly interpolating data from other macroblocks that correspond to portions of the image above and below the missing or corrupted macroblock. One embodiment can utilize substitute motion vectors for a missing or corrupted predictive-coded macroblock. Another embodiment doubles the received motion vectors and references the doubled motion vectors to a previous-previous frame. Another embodiment adaptively selects which concealment or reconstruction technique is applied according to projected error estimates. Another embodiment conceals errors by replacing corrupted or missing data by combining concealment data in a weighted sum to reduce an estimated error.

Abstract: The invention is related to methods and apparatus that advantageously reconstruct and decode video data, such as video object planes (VOPs), using forward error correction (FEC) codes embedded in the video bitstream. Advantageously, the original video data can be recovered even when portions of the video bitstream are corrupted or lost during transmission. Further advantageously, the methods and apparatus disclosed are backward compatible with video bitstreams that are compliant with standard syntax, thereby allowing a decoder to achieve compatibility with both standard video bitstreams and video bitstreams embedded with FEC codes. In one embodiment, a decoder retrieves the FEC codes from a user data video packet. To save bandwidth, an encoder can provide FEC codes corresponding to a subset of the video data, and the decoder can receive and interpret indications as to which data the provided FEC codes correspond.