Abstract: Method and system to improve the performance of a video encoder. The method includes processing an initial video signal in a front-end image pre-processor to obtain a processed video signal and processor information respecting the signal, providing the processed video signal and the processor information to a video encoder, and encoding the video signal in the video encoder according to the processor information to provide an encoded video signal for storage. The system includes a video pre-processor connectable to receive an initial video signal. The video encoder in communication with the video pre-processor receives a processed video signal and a processor information. A storage medium in communication with the video encoder stores an encoded video signal.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable mediums are presented for encoding a stream of input video frames, in which the input video frames are down sampled and the down sampled frames are encoded in a first encoding pass to generate a set of first pass coded frames forming a single first pass I frame and a plurality of first pass P frames formed into first pass sub-groups of pictures (SUB-GOPs). First pass encoding statistics are generated for individual first pass SUB-GOPs, and the statistics are used to encode the input video frames in a second encoding pass to generate a set of second pass coded frames.

Abstract: A method and system for bit rate control during encoding of multimedia data are disclosed. A change in complexity of a multimedia picture relative to complexity associated with one or more multimedia pictures in a multimedia sequence is determined. A complexity associated with a multimedia picture is determined based on number of bits and an average quantization associated with the multimedia picture. A bit rate is adjusted for encoding the multimedia picture based on the change in complexity of the multimedia picture. The bit rate is increased on determining an increase in complexity of the multimedia picture and is decreased on determining a decrease in complexity of the multimedia picture. Utilization of additional bits during the increase in the bit rate and saving of bits during the decrease in the bit rate are compensated during adjusting of bit rates for encoding subsequent multimedia pictures in the multimedia sequence.

Abstract: Several methods, systems, and computer program products for quantization of video content are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes determining by a processing module, motion information associated with a block of video data of the video content. A degree of randomness associated with the block of video data is determined by the processing module based on the motion information. A value of a quantization parameter (QP) associated with the block of video data is modulated by a quantization module based on the determined degree of randomness.

Abstract: Method and system to improve the performance of a video encoder. The method includes processing an initial video signal in a front-end image pre-processor to obtain a processed video signal and processor information respecting the signal, providing the processed video signal and the processor information to a video encoder, and encoding the video signal in the video encoder according to the processor information to provide an encoded video signal for storage. The system includes a video pre-processor connectable to receive an initial video signal. The video encoder in communication with the video pre-processor receives a processed video signal and a processor information. A storage medium in communication with the video encoder stores an encoded video signal.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable mediums are presented for encoding a stream of input video frames, in which the input video frames are down sampled and the down sampled frames are encoded in a first encoding pass to generate a set of first pass coded frames forming a single first pass I frame and a plurality of first pass P frames formed into first pass sub-groups of pictures (SUB-GOPs). First pass encoding statistics are generated for individual first pass SUB-GOPs, and the statistics are used to encode the input video frames in a second encoding pass to generate a set of second pass coded frames.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a noise filter. The noise filter includes a motion estimation (ME) engine. The ME receives a current frame and a reference frame. The current frame comprising a current block and the reference frame includes a plurality of reference blocks. The ME engine generates final motion vectors. The current block comprises a plurality of current pixels. A motion compensation unit generates a motion compensated block based on the final motion vectors and the reference frame. The motion compensated block includes a plurality of motion compensated pixels. A weighted average filter multiplies each current pixel of the plurality of current pixels and a corresponding motion compensated pixel of the plurality of motion compensated pixels with a first weight and a second weight respectively. The weighted average filter generates a filtered block. A blockiness removal unit is coupled to the weighted average filter and removes artifacts in the filtered block.

Abstract: A method for estimating time to collision (TTC) of a detected object in a computer vision system is provided that includes determining a three dimensional (3D) position of a camera in the computer vision system, determining a 3D position of the detected object based on a 2D position of the detected object in an image captured by the camera and an estimated ground plane corresponding to the image, computing a relative 3D position of the camera, a velocity of the relative 3D position, and an acceleration of the relative 3D position based on the 3D position of the camera and the 3D position of the detected object, wherein the relative 3D position of the camera is relative to the 3D position of the detected object, and computing the TTC of the detected object based on the relative 3D position, the velocity, and the acceleration.

Abstract: Several methods, systems, and computer program products for quantization of video content are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes determining by a processing module, motion information associated with a block of video data of the video content. A degree of randomness associated with the block of video data is determined by the processing module based on the motion information. A value of a quantization parameter (QP) associated with the block of video data is modulated by a quantization module based on the determined degree of randomness.

Abstract: A matching accelerator in the form of a hardware accelerator configured to perform matrix multiplication and/or additional operations is used to optimize keypoint matching. An SSE calculation may be determined by utilizing the matching accelerator to perform matrix multiplication to obtain a cost matrix for two sets of keypoint descriptors from two images. The hardware accelerator may determine a best cost calculation for each keypoint in each direction, which is utilized to perform keypoint matching.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a sample adaptive offset (SAO) encoder. The SAO encoder includes a statistics collection (SC) block and a rate distortion optimization (RDO) block coupled to the SC block. The SC block receives a set of deblocked pixels and a set of original pixels. The SC block categorizes each deblocked pixel of the set of deblocked pixels in at least one of a plurality of band and edge categories. The SC block estimates an error in each category as difference between a deblocked pixel of the set of deblocked pixels and corresponding original pixel of the set of original pixels. The RDO block determines a set of candidate offsets associated with each category and selects a candidate offset with a minimum RD cost. The minimum RD cost is used by a SAO type block and a decision block to generate final offsets for the SAO encoder.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a noise filter. The noise filter includes a motion estimation (ME) engine. The ME receives a current frame and a reference frame. The current frame comprising a current block and the reference frame includes a plurality of reference blocks. The ME engine generates final motion vectors. The current block comprises a plurality of current pixels. A motion compensation unit generates a motion compensated block based on the final motion vectors and the reference frame. The motion compensated block includes a plurality of motion compensated pixels. A weighted average filter multiplies each current pixel of the plurality of current pixels and a corresponding motion compensated pixel of the plurality of motion compensated pixels with a first weight and a second weight respectively. The weighted average filter generates a filtered block. A blockiness removal unit is coupled to the weighted average filter and removes artifacts in the filtered block.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a video encoder selects a block of intermediate size from a set of block sizes for intra-prediction estimation for encoding a video signal. A set of neighbouring blocks with the intermediate size are tested for combining. If the set of neighbouring blocks are determined to be combinable, the video encoder selects a larger block size formed by the tested neighbouring blocks for encoding. On the other hand, if the set of neighbouring blocks are determined to be not combinable, the video encoder selects a smaller block size from the set of tested neighbouring blocks for prediction. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the best mode for intra-prediction is determined by first intra-predicting a block with intermediate modes in a set of modes. Then the intra-predictions are performed for the neighbouring modes of at least one intermediate mode.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a sample adaptive offset (SAO) encoder. The SAO encoder includes a statistics collection (SC) block and a rate distortion optimization (RDO) block coupled to the SC block. The SC block receives a set of deblocked pixels and a set of original pixels. The SC block categorizes each deblocked pixel of the set of deblocked pixels in at least one of a plurality of band and edge categories. The SC block estimates an error in each category as difference between a deblocked pixel of the set of deblocked pixels and corresponding original pixel of the set of original pixels. The RDO block determines a set of candidate offsets associated with each category and selects a candidate offset with a minimum RD cost. The minimum RD cost is used by a SAO type block and a decision block to generate final offsets for the SAO encoder.

Abstract: A method for estimating time to collision (TTC) of a detected object in a computer vision system is provided that includes determining a three dimensional (3D) position of a camera in the computer vision system, determining a 3D position of the detected object based on a 2D position of the detected object in an image captured by the camera and an estimated ground plane corresponding to the image, computing a relative 3D position of the camera, a velocity of the relative 3D position, and an acceleration of the relative 3D position based on the 3D position of the camera and the 3D position of the detected object, wherein the relative 3D position of the camera is relative to the 3D position of the detected object, and computing the TTC of the detected object based on the relative 3D position, the velocity, and the acceleration.

Abstract: Estimation of the ground plane of a three dimensional (3D) point cloud based modifications to the random sample consensus (RANSAC) algorithm is provided. The modifications may include applying roll and pitch constraints to the selection of random planes in the 3D point cloud, using a cost function based on the number of inliers in the random plane and the number of 3D points below the random plane in the 3D point cloud, and computing a distance threshold for the 3D point cloud that is used in determining whether or not a 3D point in the 3D point cloud is an inlier of a random plane.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a video encoder selects a block of intermediate size from a set of block sizes for intra-prediction estimation for encoding a video signal. A set of neighbouring blocks with the intermediate size are tested for combining. If the set of neighbouring blocks are determined to be combinable, the video encoder selects a larger block size formed by the tested neighbouring blocks for encoding. On the other hand, if the set of neighbouring blocks are determined to be not combinable, the video encoder selects a smaller block size from the set of tested neighbouring blocks for prediction. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the best mode for intra-prediction is determined by first intra-predicting a block with intermediate modes in a set of modes. Then the intra-predictions are performed for the neighbouring modes of at least one intermediate mode.

Abstract: Several methods and systems for encoding pictures associated with video data are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes determining by a processing module, whether a picture is to be encoded based on at least one of a skip assessment associated with the picture and an encoding status of a pre-selected number of pictures preceding the picture in an encoding sequence. The method further includes encoding by the processing module, a plurality of rows of video data associated with the picture upon determining that the picture is to be encoded, wherein the plurality of rows are encoded based on a pre-selected maximum encoded picture size.

Abstract: A method of rate control in coding of a video sequence to generate a compressed bit stream is provided that includes computing a sequence base quantization step size for a sequence of pictures in the video sequence, computing a picture base quantization step size for a picture in the sequence of pictures based on the sequence base quantization step size, a type of the picture, and a level of the picture in a rate control hierarchy, and coding the picture using the picture base quantization step size to generate a portion of the compressed bit stream.

Abstract: Several methods and systems for encoding of multimedia pictures are disclosed. In an embodiment, an occupancy level of a coded picture buffer (CPB) associated with a hypothetical reference decoder (HRD) is estimated at an instant of removal of an access unit corresponding to a multimedia picture from the CPB for decoding the access unit. A number of bits for encoding the multimedia picture is allocated based on the estimated occupancy level of the CPB. The multimedia picture is encoded based on the allocated number of bits.