Abstract: A source model in combination with an interest structure is provided to generate a quantization value for use in encoding a video signal. The interest structure is generated from a region of interest manually identified by a user viewing the video on an interactive user display or automatically by a system which recognizes the regions of interest automatically. The region of interest in the video signal is encoded using a quantization value calculated from the interest structure in combination with the source model, and the region of interest is encoded at a higher resolution level than surrounding regions.

Abstract: A method comprising selecting a number of blocks of a frame pair and synthesizing an interpolated frame based on those selected blocks of the frame pair. Additionally, the synthesis of the interpolated frame may be aborted upon determining that the interpolated frame has an unacceptable quality.

Abstract: A source model in combination with an interest structure is provided to generate a quantization value for use in encoding a video signal. The interest structure is generated from a region of interest manually identified by a user viewing the video on an interactive user display or automatically by a system which recognizes the regions of interest automatically. The region of interest in the video signal is encoded using a quantization value calculated from the interest structure in combination with the source model, and the region of interest is encoded at a higher resolution level than surrounding regions.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a video processing system includes: a video coder. The video coder includes the capability to generate an edge detection map along a predetermined direction for an uncoded frame that is to be coded. Briefly, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, an article includes: a storage medium having stored thereon instructions capable of being executed by a system that when executed result in: producing an edge detection map along a predetermined direction from the video frame prior to coding; and coding the edge detection map and the video frame. Briefly, in accordance with one more embodiment of the invention, a method of processing a video frame includes: producing an edge detection map along a predetermined direction from the video frame prior to coding; and coding the edge detection map and the video frame.

Abstract: A source model in combination with an interest structure is provided to generate a quantization value for use in encoding a video signal. The interest structure is generated from a region of interest manually identified by a user viewing the video on an interactive user display or automatically by a system which recognizes the regions of interest automatically. The region of interest in the video signal is encoded using a quantization value calculated from the interest structure in combination with the source model, and the region of interest is encoded at a higher resolution level than surrounding regions.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a method of segmenting an initial digital image includes the following. The initial digital image is processed to produce a first digital image with defined edges corresponding to the initial digital image and to produce a second digital image with at least two dominant contiguous regions corresponding to the initial digital image. Distinct non-overlapping regions of the first digital image formed by the defined edges are identified. The distinct non-overlapping regions of the first digital are combined based, at least in part, on a correspondence with the at least two dominant contiguous regions in the second digital image. Based, at least in part, on the remaining regions after combining the distinct non-overlapping regions of the first digital image, the initial digital image is segmented.

Abstract: A method comprising selecting a number of blocks of a frame pair and synthesizing an interpolated frame based on those selected blocks of the frame pair. Additionally, the synthesis of the interpolated frame is aborted upon determining the interpolated frame has an unacceptable quality.

Abstract: A method comprising selecting a number of blocks of a frame pair and synthesizing an interpolated frame based on those selected blocks of the frame pair. Additionally, the synthesis of the interpolated frame is aborted upon determining the interpolated frame has an unacceptable quality.

Abstract: A viewer-intuitive index may be built from a stream of video data by detecting scene changes from the stream of video data, capturing reference markers associated with the video data for those portions of the video data for which the scene changes were detected and the storing the reference markers.

Abstract: A method comprising decoding a video image such that the decoding generates a number of transform coefficients. Additionally, the number of transform coefficients are processed to determine whether to sharpen the video image.

Abstract: Reception of digital multimedia data signals from multiple sources in a stream over a fixed bandwidth communications path may be accomplished by subscribing to a base layer of a first source and a base layer of a second source, and subscribing to an enhancement layer of the first source. Data signals corresponding to the subscribed layers of the first and second sources may be received in a stream over the fixed bandwidth communications path, output signals may be produced which correspond to the received data signals for the first source, and output signals may be produced corresponding to the received data signals for the second source. The output signals for the first source may be displayed in a first portion or window of a display, and output signals for the second source may be simultaneously displayed in a second portion or window of the display, thereby providing a picture-in-picture (PIP) display for streaming digital video.

Abstract: High quality replay of a streaming multimedia video segment on demand is provided. The multimedia segment may be transmitted as a stream by a server system and received by a client system over a fixed bandwidth communications path. The client system receives a base layer of the stream, decodes the base layer and displays the decoded base layer at a first quality level. The client system stores at least a portion of the base layer in a cache. When a request for replay service for the multimedia segment is received from a user, for high quality replay, the client system may receive at least one enhancement layer of the stream corresponding to the stored portion of the base layer. The client system may then read the stored portion of the base layer from the cache, decode the stored portion of the base layer and the at least one enhancement layer, and display the decoded base and enhancement layers at a second quality level, higher than the first quality level.

Abstract: A method comprises, for a plurality of interpolated pixels in an interpolated video frame, classifying an interpolated pixel of the plurality as one of stationary, moving, covered, and uncovered, and then setting components of the interpolated pixel to components of a previous pixel from a previous video frame, the previous pixel corresponding to the interpolated pixel in the video frame. If the interpolated pixel is uncovered, components of the interpolated pixel are set to components of a current pixel from a current video frame if the interpolated pixel is uncovered, the current pixel corresponding to the interpolated pixel in the video frame. If the interpolated pixel is moving, the interpolated pixel is set to a function of the current pixel and the previous pixel.

Abstract: A source model in combination with an interest structure is provided to generate a quantization value for use in encoding a video signal. The interest structure is generated from a region of interest manually identified by a user viewing the video on an interactive user display or automatically by a system which recognizes the regions of interest automatically. The region of interest in the video signal is encoded using a quantization value calculated from the interest structure in combination with the source model, and the region of interest is encoded at a higher resolution level than surrounding regions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying a prediction block which generates smooth residuals in block motion compensated transform-based video coders. A base block from a first image, and a candidate prediction block from a second image, are selected. A differential block is generated using the candidate prediction block and the base block. The differential block is passed through a filter. A total energy value for the filtered block is measured, and used for determining whether the candidate prediction block is selected.

Abstract: A method comprising decoding a video image such that the decoding generates a number of transform coefficients. Additionally, the number of transform coefficients are processed to determine whether to sharpen the video image.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus that comprises a memory including one or more instructions and a processor coupled to the memory. In response to the one or more instructions, the processor transforms an image to provide a transformed image and quantizes the transformed image to provide a quantized image. In response to the quantized image, the processor iteratively generates one or more step sizes using a variable image model parameter and transmits the one or more step sizes. In one embodiment, the processor transmits the one or more step sizes along with the variable image model parameter.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises the detection of an edge pixel in an unsharpened image. The edge pixel is sharpened to form a sharpened image. Additionally, a region of the sharpened image is selected such that the region includes the edge pixel. The region of the sharpened image is compared to a corresponding region of the unsharpened image to form a difference value. The difference value is then processed to form a final image.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are used with a display. A physical relationship between the display and a viewer of the display is determined, and the physical relationship is monitored to detect when the relationship substantially changes. In response to the detection, the display is automatically positioned to compensate for the change.

Abstract: A method comprises, for a plurality of interpolated pixels in an interpolated video frame, classifying an interpolated pixel of the plurality as one of stationary, moving, covered, and uncovered, and then setting components of the interpolated pixel to components of a previous pixel from a previous video frame, the previous pixel corresponding to the interpolated pixel in the video frame. If the interpolated pixel is uncovered, components of the interpolated pixel are set to components of a current pixel from a current video frame if the interpolated pixel is uncovered, the current pixel corresponding to the interpolated pixel in the video frame. If the interpolated pixel is moving, the interpolated pixel is set to a function of the current pixel and the previous pixel.