Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a set of processes and systems for implementing a forward weight-adaptive over-complete transform of an image/video frame, an inverse weight-adaptive over-complete transform of an image/video frame, and fast and low-memory processes for performing the forward weight-adaptive over-complete transform, processing coefficients in the transform domain and performing the inverse weight-adaptive over-complete transform simultaneously.

Abstract: A color distortion correction is obtained by calculating a color shift of a first color channel with respect to a second color channel along each pixel column of a scanned calibration image. The color shift defines a correction for the color distortions and the correction is then applied to subsequent scanned images. A system for correcting color distortions and an image processing chip configured to determine the color shift are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for performing compression with sparse orthonormal transforms. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a block of data; classifying the block of data based on directional structure; selecting one of a plurality of available directional, orthonormal transforms to apply to the block based on results of classifying the block; and applying the selected transform to the block to generate a plurality of coefficients, thereby producing a compressed version of the block.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for a quality enhancement/super resolution technique. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a first version of media at a first resolution and creating a second version of the media at a second resolution higher or equal to the first resolution using at least one transform and adaptive thresholding.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for performing content-based and royalty-based encoding. In one embodiment, the method comprises: selecting one or more encoding tools to encode media based on a royalty cost associated with at least one of the one or more encoding tools and a corresponding decoding tool for each of the one or more encoding tools, decoded media quality that each corresponding decoding tool produces, and one or more transmission bandwidth constraints; encoding the media, in accordance with the media content, using the one or more encoding tools; and transmitting encoded data generated by at least one of the one or more encoding tools.

Abstract: A de-noising algorithm that obtains an estimate of a noise-free portion of a noise-containing digital signal by applying a set of M linear transforms to the noise-containing digital signal, determining M initial de-noised estimates of each digital element of the digital signal, deriving a combination of weight factors for the M initial de-noised estimates of each digital element by formulating the combination as a linear estimation problem and solving it for the individual weight factors, and formulating a final de-noised estimate of each digital element based on the corresponding M initial de-noised estimates and the combination of weight factors. The combination of weight factors is an optimal combination that is derived such that a conditional mean squared error with respect to the initial de-noised estimates is minimized. The optimal determination is further determined based on a scaling factor that removes explicit dependence to noise variance and on one of several matrices.

Abstract: An image recovery algorithm that recovers completely lost blocks in an image/video frame using spatial information surrounding these blocks. One application focuses on lost regions of pixels containing textures, edges and other image features that pose problems for other recovery and error concealment algorithms. The algorithm is designed to be applied once on each of n layers and does not require any complex preconditioning, segmentation, or edge detection steps. The layers are filled with an initial value and a threshold is set. One layer at a time, overcomplete transforms are evaluated over that layer, and transform coefficients are selectively thresholded to determine a set of transform coefficients that have absolute values below the threshold. A system of linear equations is constructed from which the missing data elements in that layer are determined. Utilizing locally sparse linear transforms in an overcomplete fashion, good PSNR performance is obtained in the recovery of such regions.

Abstract: An image recovery algorithm that recovers completely lost blocks in an image/video frame using spatial information surrounding these blocks. One application focuses on lost regions of pixels containing textures, edges and other image features that pose problems for other recovery and error concealment algorithms. The algorithm of this invention is based on the iterative application of a generic de-noising algorithm and does not require any complex preconditioning, segmentation, or edge detection steps. Utilizing locally sparse linear transforms and overcomplete de-noising, good PSNR performance is obtained in the recovery of such regions.

Abstract: A method for segmenting a compound document initiates with receiving image data, followed by processing the image data at both a first scale and a second scale. Next, region types of the compound document are determined according to a combination of processing output at the first scale and processing output at the second scale. Methods for labeling digital image data and labeling and enhancing documents defined through digital data, as well as associated computer readable medium embodiments are provided. An image replication device and a microprocessor configured to segment and enhance image data associated with a compound document are also provided.

Abstract: Visible watermarking techniques for digital images and video operate on decoded transform coefficients and maintain the watermarked data in the same compressed format as the original so that the watermarked data can be viewed with standard tools and applications. Moreover, for most of the techniques presented, the watermarked data has exactly the same compressed size as the original. The watermark can be inserted and removed using a key for applications requiring content protection. The watermark insertion and removal algorithms are very efficient and exploit some features of compressed data formats (such as JPEG and MPEG) which allow most of the work to be done in the compressed domain.

Abstract: A method for segmenting a compound document for enhancement during replication of the compound document is provided. The method initiates with filtering data representing a portion of the compound document through a filter associated with a first resolution. Then, the data representing the portion of the compound document is filtered through a filter associated with a second resolution. Next, edges are detected on both, an output of the filter associated with the first resolution and an output of the filter associated with the second resolution. Then, data representing detected edges from both outputs are combined. Next, it is determined whether a pixel corresponding to the data representing the detected edges is over a halftone region. Methods for labeling digital image data and labeling and enhancing documents defined through digital data, as well as associated computer readable medium embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A fast text/graphics resolution improvement algorithm is based on boundary parameterization and uses chain-code table look-up. Given an input representation containing text/graphics objects, the boundary of each object is traced, parameterized, smoothed, and subsequently rendered. Instructions for the critical operations are stored in one or more pre-computed look-up tables (LUTs) which is/are accessed during on-line operation, resulting in an algorithm that is fast and computationally inexpensive with low memory requirements. A very flexible framework is presented which can be utilized in a variety of applications requiring resolution improvement.

Abstract: A de-noising algorithm that obtains an estimate of a noise-free portion of a noise-containing digital signal by applying a set of M linear transforms to the noise-containing digital signal, determining M initial de-noised estimates of each digital element of the digital signal, deriving a combination of weight factors for the M initial de-noised estimates of each digital element by formulating the combination as a linear estimation problem and solving it for the individual weight factors, and formulating a final de-noised estimate of each digital element based on the corresponding M initial de-noised estimates and the combination of weight factors. The combination of weight factors is an optimal combination that is derived such that a conditional mean squared error with respect to the initial de-noised estimates is minimized. The optimal determination is further determined based on a scaling factor that removes explicit dependence to noise variance and on one of several matrices.

Abstract: A method for segmenting a compound document for enhancement during replication of the compound document is provided. The method initiates with filtering data representing a portion of the compound document through a filter associated with a first resolution. Then, the data representing the portion of the compound document is filtered through a filter associated with a second resolution. Next, edges are detected on both, an output of the filter associated with the first resolution and an output of the filter associated with the second resolution. Then, data representing detected edges from both outputs are combined. Next, it is determined whether a pixel corresponding to the data representing the detected edges is over a halftone region. Methods for labeling digital image data and labeling and enhancing documents defined through digital data, as well as associated computer readable medium embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A method for segmenting a compound document initiates with receiving image data, followed by processing the image data at both a first scale and a second scale. Next, region types of the compound document are determined according to a combination of processing output at the first scale and processing output at the second scale. Methods for labeling digital image data and labeling and enhancing documents defined through digital data, as well as associated computer readable medium embodiments are provided. An image replication device and a microprocessor configured to segment and enhance image data associated with a compound document are also provided.

Abstract: A method for decoding digital video data in a power scalable manner is provided. The method initiates with monitoring a power level available for the video decoding system. Then, threshold power levels are identified. In response to the power level available crossing one of the threshold power levels, the method includes changing both a power consumption level associated with the video decoding system and a video presentation quality. A method for determining optimum pairings of power consumption and video quality for a video decoding system is also provided. In addition, a power scalable video device, an integrated circuit chip for a video decoding system and a graphical user interface are provided.

Abstract: An image recovery algorithm that recovers completely lost blocks in an image/video frame using spatial information surrounding these blocks. One application focuses on lost regions of pixels containing textures, edges and other image features that pose problems for other recovery and error concealment algorithms. The algorithm is designed to be applied once on each of n layers and does not require any complex preconditioning, segmentation, or edge detection steps. The layers are filled with an initial value and a threshold is set. One layer at a time, overcomplete transforms are evaluated over that layer, and transform coefficients are selectively thresholded to determine a set of transform coefficients that have absolute values below the threshold. A system of linear equations is constructed from which the missing data elements in that layer are determined. Utilizing locally sparse linear transforms in an overcomplete fashion, good PSNR performance is obtained in the recovery of such regions.

Abstract: A fast text/graphics resolution improvement algorithm is based on boundary parameterization and uses chain-code table look-up. Given an input representation containing text/graphics objects, the boundary of each object is traced, parameterized, smoothed, and subsequently rendered. Instructions for the critical operations are stored in one or more pre-computed look-up tables (LUTs) which is/are accessed during on-line operation, resulting in an algorithm that is fast and computationally inexpensive with low memory requirements. A very flexible framework is presented which can be utilized in a variety of applications requiring resolution improvement.

Abstract: An image recovery algorithm that recovers completely lost blocks in an image/video frame using spatial information surrounding these blocks. One application focuses on lost regions of pixels containing textures, edges and other image features that pose problems for other recovery and error concealment algorithms. The algorithm of this invention is based on the iterative application of a generic de-noising algorithm and does not require any complex preconditioning, segmentation, or edge detection steps. Utilizing locally sparse linear transforms and overcomplete de-noising, good PSNR performance is obtained in the recovery of such regions.

Abstract: Visible watermarking techniques for digital images and video operate on decoded transform coefficients and maintain the watermarked data in the same compressed format as the original so that the watermarked data can be viewed with standard tools and applications. Moreover, for most of the techniques presented, the watermarked data has exactly the same compressed size as the original. The watermark can be inserted and removed using a key for applications requiring content protection. The watermark insertion and removal algorithms are very efficient and exploit some features of compressed data formats (such as JPEG and MPEG) which allow most of the work to be done in the compressed domain.