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: Several methods and systems for encoding pictures are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method comprises dividing an LCU of a picture into a plurality of MERs having size equal to or less than a predetermined size. For one or more MERs of the plurality of MERs, a number of first motion searches are performed for determining a first quad-tree based on a cost function associated with a first plurality of PUs of the one or more MERs. A number of second motion searches are performed for the LCU, for determining a second quad-tree, based on the cost function associated with a second plurality of PUs of the LCU. The first quad-tree or the second quad-tree is selected for performing encoding of the picture based on a comparison of a first cost of the first quad-tree with a second cost of the second quad-tree.

Abstract: This invention predicts that intra mode prediction is more effective for the macroblocks where motion estimation in inter mode prediction fails. This failure is indicated by a large value of the inter mode SAD. This invention performs intra mode prediction for only macro blocks have larger inter mode SADs. The definition of a large inter mode SAD differs for different content. This invention compares the inter mode SAD of a current macroblock with an adaptive threshold. This adaptive threshold depends on the average and variance of the SADs of the previous predicted frame. An adaptive threshold is calculated for each new predictive frame.

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: 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 video encoder receives a minimum number of bits (MIN) and a maximum number of bits (MAX) to be used to encode a segment of a sequence of image frames, the segment including a set of pictures contained in the sequence of image frames. The video encoder encodes the set of pictures using a total number of bits greater than the minimum number of bits (MIN), and not exceeding the maximum number of bits (MAX). Thus, the transmission bit-rate of the video encoder can be constrained to lie within a maximum and minimum rate. In an embodiment, the constraints are enforced over relatively short time intervals.

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.

Abstract: Several methods and systems for estimating motion in a plurality of multimedia pictures are disclosed. In an embodiment, at least one temporal distance between a multimedia picture and one or more reference pictures corresponding to the multimedia picture in a capture order associated with the plurality of multimedia pictures is computed. The at least one temporal distance is computed subsequent to an encoding of the multimedia picture. At least one motion estimation parameter is determined based on the at least one temporal distance. Motion associated with a subsequent multimedia picture to be encoded is estimated based on the at least one motion estimation parameter.

Abstract: Advanced driver assistance systems can be designed to recognize and to classify traffic signs under real time constraints, and under a wide variety of visual conditions. This disclosure provides techniques that employ binary masks extracted by color space segmentation, with a different binary mask generated for each sign shape. Temporal tracking is employed to add robustness to the detection system. The system is generic, and is trainable to the traffic signs used in various countries.

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: This invention predicts that intra mode prediction is more effective for the macroblocks where motion estimation in inter mode prediction fails. This failure is indicated by a large value of the inter mode SAD. This invention performs intra mode prediction for only macro blocks have larger inter mode SADs. The definition of a large inter mode SAD differs for different content. This invention compares the inter mode SAD of a current macroblock with an adaptive threshold. This adaptive threshold depends on the average and variance of the SADs of the previous predicted frame. An adaptive threshold is calculated for each new predictive frame.

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: 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 video encoder receives a minimum number of bits (MIN) and a maximum number of bits (MAX) to be used to encode a segment of a sequence of image frames, the segment including a set of pictures contained in the sequence of image frames. The video encoder encodes the set of pictures using a total number of bits greater than the minimum number of bits (MIN), and not exceeding the maximum number of bits (MAX). Thus, the transmission bit-rate of the video encoder can be constrained to lie within a maximum and minimum rate. In an embodiment, the constraints are enforced over relatively short time intervals.

Abstract: Several methods and systems for estimating motion in a plurality of multimedia pictures are disclosed. In an embodiment, at least one temporal distance between a multimedia picture and one or more reference pictures corresponding to the multimedia picture in a capture order associated with the plurality of multimedia pictures is computed. The at least one temporal distance is computed subsequent to an encoding of the multimedia picture. At least one motion estimation parameter is determined based on the at least one temporal distance. Motion associated with a subsequent multimedia picture to be encoded is estimated based on the at least one motion estimation parameter.

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 techniques aimed at reducing computational complexity when encoding uses bi-predictively encoded frames (B-frames) are implemented in a video encoder. In an embodiment, B-frames are not used as reference frames for encoding P-frames and other B-frames. Non-use of B-frames allows a de-blocking filter used in the video encoder to be switched off when reconstructing encoded B-frames, and use of a lower complexity filter for fractional-resolution motion search for B-frames. In another embodiment, cost functions used in motion estimation for B-frames are simplified to reduce computational complexity. In one more embodiment, fractional pixel refinement in motion search for B-frames is simplified. In yet another embodiment, predictors used in motion estimation for a macro-block in a P-frame are selected from a B-frame that uses a same reference frame as the P-frame.

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: 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.