Patents by Inventor Katsumi Tahara

Katsumi Tahara has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20080013627
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transcoder having a MPEG decoder and a MPEG encoder, for changing a GOP structure and the bit rate of an encoded bitstream obtained as a result of an encoding process. The MPEG encoder receives a past encoding parameters generated at a past encoding process as a history information, and performs a present encoding process by using the past encoding parameters selectively so that the present encoding process is optimized. Furthermore, the encoder describe the past encoding parameters into the encoded bitstream as the history information so as to reuse the history information in advance encoding process. The picture quality of the video data does not deteriorate even if decoding and encoding processes are carried out repeatedly by the transcoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Katsumi Tahara, Yoshihiro Murakami, Takuya Kitamura, Kanji Mihara
  • Publication number: 20080013626
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transcoder having a MPEG decoder and a MPEG encoder, for changing a GOP structure and the bit rate of an encoded bitstream obtained as a result of an encoding process. The MPEG encoder receives a past encoding parameters generated at a past encoding process as a history information, and performs a present encoding process by using the past encoding parameters selectively so that the present encoding process is optimized. Furthermore, the encoder describe the past encoding parameters into the encoded bitstream as the history information so as to reuse the history information in advance encoding process. The picture quality of the video data does not deteriorate even if decoding and encoding processes are carried out repeatedly by the transcoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Katsumi Tahara, Yoshihiro Murakami, Takuya Kitamura, Kanji Mihara
  • Publication number: 20080008237
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transcoder having a MPEG decoder and a MPEG encoder, for changing a GOP structure and the bit rate of an encoded bitstream obtained as a result of an encoding process. The MPEG encoder receives a past encoding parameters generated at a past encoding process as a history information, and performs a present encoding process by using the past encoding parameters selectively so that the present encoding process is optimized. Furthermore, the encoder describe the past encoding parameters into the encoded bitstream as the history information so as to reuse the history information in advance encoding process. The picture quality of the video data does not deteriorate even if decoding and encoding processes are carried out repeatedly by the transcoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: Katsumi Tahara, Yoshihiro Murakami, Takuya Kitamura, Kanji Mihara
  • Publication number: 20070263719
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transcoder having a MPEG decoder and a MPEG encoder, for changing a GOP structure and the bit rate of an encoded bitstream obtained as a result of an encoding process. The MPEG encoder receives a past encoding parameters generated at a past encoding process as a history information, and performs a present encoding process by using the past encoding parameters selectively so that the present encoding process is optimized. Furthermore, the encoder describe the past encoding parameters into the encoded bitstream as the history information so as to reuse the history information in advance encoding process. The picture quality of the video data does not deteriorate even if decoding and encoding processes are carried out repeatedly by the transcoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Katsumi Tahara, Yoshihiro Murakami, Takuya Kitamura, Kanji Mihara
  • Publication number: 20060291570
    Abstract: Encoding parameters of picture and higher layers of importance to a number of applications, and encoding parameters of slice and lower layers of no importance to all applications are converted into auxiliary packets inserted respectively into a V-blanking area and an H-blanking area of a video-data signal output by a history-information-multiplexing apparatus employed in a video-decoding system. On the other hand, a video-encoding system extracts back the auxiliary packets superposed on the V-blanking area and the H-blanking area from an input base-band video signal. As a result, a technique of superposing information on data can be changed in accordance with the importance of the information and required information can be fetched with ease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Takuya Kitamura, Mamoru Ueda, Katsumi Tahara
  • Patent number: 7126993
    Abstract: Encoding parameters of picture and higher layers of importance to a number of applications, and encoding parameters of slice and lower layers of no importance to all applications are converted into auxiliary packets inserted respectively into a V-blanking area and an H-blanking area of a video-data signal output by a history-information-multiplexing apparatus employed in a video-decoding system. On the other hand, a video-encoding system extracts back the auxiliary packets superposed on the V-blanking area and the H-blanking area from an input base-band video signal. As a result, a technique of superposing information on data can be changed in accordance with the importance of the information and required information can be fetched with ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Kitamura, Mamoru Ueda, Katsumi Tahara
  • Patent number: 7012964
    Abstract: Data indicative of a transfer mode of a transmission packet may be inserted into a payload portion contained in a serial digital transfer interface (SDTI) transmission packet. Also, data indicative of a timing mode of the transmission packet may be inserted into this payload portion. As the transfer mode, there may be provided a synchronous transfer mode and an isochronous transfer mode in addition to an asynchronous transfer mode. A timing mode may prescribe a timing mode in which a transmission packet may be transferred in synchronism with a field of a transmission frame. There may be provided a normal mode using a first field, an advanced mode using a second field and a dual mode using both fields. Depending upon the manner in which the timing mode is set, a system delay between the transmission and the reception can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony United Kingdom Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakano, Yasuo Iwasaki, Yoshihiro Murakami, Tetsuya Iwamoto, Katsumi Tahara, Hitoshi Sakamoto, James Hedley Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 6980731
    Abstract: This invention relates to a data transmission method or the like suitable for transmitting video data, audio data or the like. There is transmitted a serial digital transfer interface transmission packet in which an interval of each line of a video frame comprises an end synchronizing code area into which an end synchronizing code is inserted, an ancillary data area into which ancillary data is inserted, a start synchronizing code area into which a start synchronizing code is inserted and a payload area. The payload area has inserted thereto first data containing extension data having editing point information at the picture unit of video data and second data containing main data comprising video data and/or audio data. The reception side is able to effect a necessary processing such as muting of sounds on the editing point by effectively utilizing editing point information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony United Kingdom Limited
    Inventors: Katsumi Tahara, Yoshihiro Murakami, James Hedley Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 6870861
    Abstract: A digital signal multiplexing device packetizes one or more bitstreams of digital signals to form packets and multiplexes the respective bitstreams on the packet basis to produce plural degree-one multiplexed streams which are received. The digital signal multiplexing device also sets the sequence of time-divisional multiplexing of the packets as interleaving patterns repeated at a pre-set period. The digital signal multiplexing device time-divisionally multiplexes the degree-one multiplexed streams on the packet basis to generate a degree-two multiplexed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Negishi, Katsumi Tahara, Mikita Yasuda
  • Patent number: 6834083
    Abstract: This invention relates to a data transmission method or the like for use in transmitting video data, audio data or the like. There is transmitted a serial digital transfer interface transmission packet in which an interval of each line of a video frame comprises an end synchronizing code area into which an end synchronizing code is inserted, an ancillary data area into which ancillary data is inserted, a start synchronizing code area into which a start synchronizing code is inserted and a payload area. Into the payload area, there are inserted first data containing extension data having stream information and second data containing main data comprising video data and/or audio data at the picture unit of video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony United Kingdom Limited
    Inventors: Katsumi Tahara, Yasuo Iwasaki, Tetsuya Iwamoto, James Hedley Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20040139065
    Abstract: A UMID extracting/embedding unit 10 extracts UMID data embedded in material data. A CPU 11 updates a generation indicated by generation data in the extracted UMID data to generate new generation data when processing accompanied by a deterioration of quality is applied to the material data such as recording to a database 8. The UMID extracting/embedding unit 10 embeds the new generation data in the material data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Shibata, Takumi Yoshida, Katsumi Tahara
  • Patent number: 6754239
    Abstract: A multiplexing apparatus and method, a transmitting apparatus and method, and a recording medium arranged to prevent a delay of one of multiplexing scheduling processing and multiplexing processing in accordance with a schedule obtained by the multiplexing scheduling processing from influencing the other of these processings. A scheduler calculates schedule information on the basis of access unit information from an encoder and stores the calculated schedule information by supplying it to an intermediate buffer. If some additional data is to be multiplexed, the scheduler also calculates the additional data and stores the calculated additional data by supplying it to an intermediate buffer. A bit stream multiplexer reads out schedule information from the schedule information intermediate buffer, selects data designated by the schedule information from an elementary stream from the encoder and from additional data stored in the additional data intermediate buffer, and outputs the data as a multiplexed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corpration
    Inventors: Shinji Negishi, Katsumi Tahara, Noriaki Oishi
  • Patent number: 6671323
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an encoding system for encoding input video data and a decoding system for decoding the encoded streams. More particularly, it proposes a system and method for sending the ancillary data added to video data and the information inherent to the video data together with encoded streams in such a way that they will not be lost even if MPEG encoding and MPEG decoding are repeated. The MPEG encoder extracts the ancillary data from the video data, inserts the extracted ancillary data into encoded streams as Ancillary_data, and thereby sends the ancillary data together with the encoded streams. The MPEG decoder extracts ancillary data from the encoded streams and adds the extracted ancillary data to the base-band video data generated by MPEG decoding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Tahara, Yoshihiro Murakami
  • Publication number: 20030189953
    Abstract: reception apparatus 22 receives ATM cells transmitted through a network 4-1 and a network 4-2, converting the cells into a transport stream. At that time, the reception apparatus 22 expresses a PCR packet's timing of arrival at the reception apparatus 22 by a count value obtained as a result of counting the number of clock (clock pulses Nr) synchronous with a network clock signal of the network 4-2. The reception apparatus 22 also computes a new PCR value W on the basis of the count value and the phase-difference information used as synchronization information. The reception apparatus 22 then computes a new PCR value X on the basis of an original PCR value E recorded from the beginning on the encoding side and the PCR value W, newly recording the PCR value X.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Matsumura, Katsumi Tahara, Hiroaki Seto, Eisaburo Itakura, Hiroshi Meguro
  • Publication number: 20030128766
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transcoder having a MPEG decoder and a MPEG encoder, for changing a GOP structure and the bit rate of an encoded bitstream obtained as a result of an encoding process. The MPEG encoder receives a past encoding parameters generated at a past encoding process as a history information, and performs a present encoding process by using the past encoding parameters selectively so that the present encoding process is optimized. Furthermore, the encoder describe the past encoding parameters into the encoded bitstream as the history information so as to reuse the history information in advance encoding process. The picture quality of the video data does not deteriorate even if decoding and encoding processes are carried out repeatedly by the transcoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsumi Tahara, Yoshihiro Murakami, Takuya Kitamura, Kanji Mihara
  • Publication number: 20030128292
    Abstract: Encoding parameters of picture and higher layers of importance to a number of applications, and encoding parameters of slice and lower layers of no importance to all applications are converted into auxiliary packets inserted respectively into a V-blanking area and an H-blanking area of a video-data signal output by a history-information-multiplexing apparatus employed in a video-decoding system. On the other hand, a video-encoding system extracts back the auxiliary packets superposed on the V-blanking area and the H-blanking area from an input base-band video signal. As a result, a technique of superposing information on data can be changed in accordance with the importance of the information and required information can be fetched with ease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Kitamura, Mamoru Ueda, Katsumi Tahara
  • Patent number: 6560282
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transcoder having a MPEG decoder and a MPEG encoder, for changing a GOP structure and,the bit rate of an encoded bitstream obtained as a result of an encoding process. The MPEG encoder receives a past encoding parameters generated at a past encoding process as a history information, and performs a present encoding process by using the past encoding parameters selectively so that the present encoding process is optimized. Furthermore, the encoder describe the past encoding parameters into the encoded bitstream as the history information so as to reuse the history information in advance encoding process. The picture quality of the video data does not deteriorate even if decoding and encoding processes are carried out repeatedly by the transcoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Tahara, Yoshihiro Murakami, Takuya Kitamura, Kanji Mihara
  • Patent number: 6556627
    Abstract: Encoding parameters of picture and higher layers of importance to a number of applications, and encoding parameters of slice and lower layers of no importance to all applications are converted into auxiliary packets inserted respectively into a V-blanking area and an H-blanking area of a video-data signal output by a history-information-multiplexing apparatus employed in a video-decoding system. On the other hand, a video-encoding system extracts back the auxiliary packets superposed on the V-blanking area and the H-blanking area from an input base-band video signal. As a result, a technique of superposing information on data can be changed in accordance with the importance of the information and required information can be fetched with ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Kitamura, Mamoru Ueda, Katsumi Tahara
  • Patent number: 6532242
    Abstract: A digital signal encoding, editing and transmitting method enabling seamless coupling of plural video bitstreams without causing disruption of a decoder buffer. In coupling a second bitstream from an encoding unit 20 to the trailing end of a first bitstream from an encoding unit 10, an encoding unit 12 imposes limitations in encoding for securing a data buffer volume required for startup of the second bitstream in the vicinity of the trailing end of the first bitstream responsive to the control signal from a terminal 14, while an encoding unit 22 imposes limitations in encoding for securing a data buffer volume required for startup of the second bitstream in the vicinity of the leading end of the second bitstream responsive to the control signal from a terminal 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Katsumi Tahara
  • Patent number: 6529550
    Abstract: A system for seamlessly splicing two encoded video streams. In one implementation of the system, one or more coding parameters are extracted from the first and/or second encoded streams and one or more parameters of the first and/or second encoded streams are changed in accordance with the extracted parameter(s) in order to effectuate seamless splicing. In another implementation, the coding parameters applied to the first encoded stream are referenced when encoding the second stream such that the resulting second encoded stream can be seamlessly spliced with the first encoded stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Tahara, Mikita Yasuda, Shinji Negishi