Abstract: A video processing unit and method for region adaptive smoothing. The image processing unit includes a memory and one or more processors. The one or processors are operably connected to the memory and configured to stitch together a plurality of video frames into a plurality of equirectangular mapped frames of a video. The one or processors are configured to define a top region and a bottom region for each of the equirectangular mapped frames of the video; perform a smoothing process on the top region and the bottom region for each of the equirectangular mapped frames of the video; and encode the smoothed equirectangular mapped frames of the video.

Abstract: A video processing unit and method for region adaptive smoothing. The image processing unit includes a memory and one or more processors. The one or processors are operably connected to the memory and configured to stitch together a plurality of video frames into a plurality of equirectangular mapped frames of a video. The one or processors are configured to define a top region and a bottom region for each of the equirectangular mapped frames of the video; perform a smoothing process on the top region and the bottom region for each of the equirectangular mapped frames of the video; and encode the smoothed equirectangular mapped frames of the video.

Abstract: A video processing unit and method for region adaptive smoothing. The image processing unit includes a memory and one or more processors. The one or processors are operably connected to the memory and configured to stitch together a plurality of video frames into a plurality of equirectangular mapped frames of a video. The one or processors are configured to define a top region and a bottom region for each of the equirectangular mapped frames of the video; perform a smoothing process on the top region and the bottom region for each of the equirectangular mapped frames of the video; and encode the smoothed equirectangular mapped frames of the video.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for consumption of content (1) is described in which a licensor is able to exercise control over consumption based on a personal identity in the form of a set of binding attributes (15). The control may be exercised for a number of consuming terminals (19) including rendering machines such as portable video and audio players.

Abstract: According to the invention methods and structures for determining whether impingement of x-ray radiation upon potentially vulnerable discrete components, circuits and/or circuit pathways of an implantable medical device (IMD) causes modifications or damage thereto. The invention includes structures for deflecting impingement of x-ray radiation from said potentially vulnerable components, circuits and/or circuit pathways. The x-ray radiation can be generated by various imaging modalities or unknown sources. Myriad IMDs can utilize the teaching of the present invention, including for example, a pacemaker, a drug delivery pump, a nerve stimulation device, a muscle stimulation device, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, a subcutaneous defibrillator, a deep brain stimulator or the like.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) includes a detector for detecting the presence of x-ray radiation, where the presence of x-ray radiation is detected in response to the strength of the x-ray radiation exceeding a first threshold. In one embodiment, the IMD includes a processor for adjusting a cardiac stimulation rate IMD in response to determining that the strength of the detected x-ray radiation exceeds a second threshold. The second pre-selected x-ray radiation threshold is greater than the first pre-selected x-ray radiation threshold. In another embodiment, the implantable device includes a detector for detecting the presence of any amount x-ray radiation and a processor for adjusting a stimulation rate provided by the IMD in response to detected x-ray radiation to reduce the chance of over-sampling artifacts or inappropriate therapy delivery.

Abstract: The invention relates to medical devices such as pacemakers, pulse generators, cardioverter-defibrillators and the like and more particularly relates to modular and reconfigurable medical system platforms and methods of designing, testing, controlling and implementing diverse therapies, diagnostics, physiologic sensors and related instrumentation using said medical system platforms. Methods, systems and devices provide a new design platform for implantable and external medical devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators, neurostimulators, heart monitors, etc. A real-time, highly flexible system of software and hardware modules enables both prototypes and products to respond to patient and customer needs with greater design and manufacturing efficiency. Certain embodiments integrate a general-purpose processor with interface circuitry to provide a standard platform for implementing new and conventional therapies with software models rather than custom circuitry.

Abstract: An improved process for optimizing the stimulation of an entire target formation of an oil or gas well during fluid treatment is obtained by dividing the target formation into intermediate zones and initiating stimulation in each intermediate zone. Once stimulation is initiated in each intermediate zone, ball sealers are used to block the casing perforations at the intermediate zone and divert fluids to another intermediate zone. After stimulation has been initiated in all intermediate zones, the ball sealers are removed from the perforations and treatment of the entire target formation is conducted.

Abstract: Methods and systems for selectively capturing content and delivering the captured content to mobile communications devices via wireless communications are disclosed. In some embodiments, a mobile unit sends a request for content to a nearby content server, to which the content server may respond with a list of available content items. The mobile unit may send a second, refined request for a specific content item. The content server may send the requested content item to the mobile unit, or the content server may send a pointer to the mobile unit, which indicates a network location from which a user may later retrieve the actual content item. In another embodiment, a mobile unit sends a request to a content server for presently displayed content. The content server may capture a screen image and send the captured image to the mobile unit. Alternatively, the content server may send the file in a native file format of the file from which the displayed content was generated.

Abstract: Methods, systems and programs for partitioning an RGB gamma ramp frame buffer of a workstation into groupings of bit planes to isolate for independent generation the images of multiple objects displayed on a common video screen. According to a preferred practice, groups of bit planes are masked while others are written with scaled and off-set data suitable to represent shaded three-dimensional images. A matching partition of the color palettes in the digital to analog converters ensures consistency in the translation from digital frame buffer data to analog red-green-blue (RGB) color signals. The images as stored in the frame buffer can be arranged in any order of overlay priority. Retention of static image data in a partition reduces the graphics processor load by eliminating the need for regenerating the static component of a complex animation, thereby faciliting real-time motion or user interaction. Losses in color bandwidth resolution are substantially offset through the use of dithering techniques.

Abstract: A method and means are provided for utilizing, in a color imaging environment, such as ray tracing, display adapter hardware which is capable of interpolating color values for pixels lying in an area between previously color imaged pixels. A computer system CPU performs ray tracing calculations, or the like for a predetermined number of the total pixels, rather then each pixel, as is the case with conventional ray trace image systems. The system CPU then turns over the color imaged pixels to a display adapter, capable of color interpolating therebetween. In this way, previously idle display adapter hardware can be utilized to determine pixel color values and allow the system CPU to continue color imaging other more critical areas of a scene to be displayed. Therefore, an image can be rendered at a much faster rate than possible with conventional systems, with relatively no visible loss in quality.

Abstract: A method and means are provided for utilizing, in a color imaging environment, such as ray tracing, display adapter hardware which is capable of interpolating color values for pixels lying in an area between previously color imaged pixels. A computer system CPU performs ray tracing calculations, or the like for a predetermined number of the total pixels, rather then each pixel, as is the case with conventional ray trace image systems. The system CPU then turns over the color imaged pixels to a display adapter, capable of color interpolating therebetween. Additionally, a prioritization scheme is provided which allows a graphics system user to assign priority values to particular areas or objects included in a scene description. In this way, the areas having higher priority values are subject to a greater concentration of ray tracing operations, thereby allowing these object to be displayed at a much faster rate.