Abstract: The invention comprises devices and methods for processing multimedia data. Such methods can include obtaining at least one metric indicative of a difference for a selected frame and adjacent frames in a plurality of video frames, the metric comprising bi-directional motion information and luminance difference information, determining a shot event in the selected frame based on the at least one metric, and adaptively encoding the selected frame based on the shot event. An apparatus for processing a multimedia data can include a motion compensator configured to obtain metrics indicative of a difference between adjacent frames of a plurality of video frames, said metrics comprising bi-directional motion information and luminance information, a shot classifier configured to determine a shot event in the plurality of video frames based on said metrics, and an encoder configured to adaptively encode the plurality of frames based on the shot event.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for service acquisition. In an aspect, a method is provided for service acquisition. The method includes generating one or more channel switch video (CSV) signals associated with one or more multimedia signals, encoding the CSV signals and the multimedia signals to produce error coded blocks, and encapsulating the error coded blocks into a multiplex signal. In an aspect, an apparatus is provided for service acquisition. The apparatus includes a source encoder configured to generate one or more channel switch video (CSV) signals associated with one or more multimedia signals, an error encoder configured to encode the CSV signals and the multimedia signals to produce error coded blocks, and a packer configured to encapsulate the error coded blocks into a multiplex signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of using content information for encoding multimedia data are described. A method of processing multimedia data includes receiving multimedia data, and encoding the multimedia data into a first data group and a second data group based on content of the multimedia data, the first data group being configured to be independently decodable from the second data group, and wherein the first and second data groups are encoded at different quality levels. The method can also include classifying the content of the multimedia data and encoding the multimedia data based on the content classification.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of using content information for encoding multimedia data are described. A method of processing multimedia data includes A method of processing multimedia data, including obtaining content information of multimedia data, and encoding the multimedia data to form an encoded bitstream, said encoding comprising inserting at least one redundant block of intra-coded data into the encoded bitstream based on the content information. In some aspects, the encoding comprises encoding the multimedia data into a base layer and an enhancement layer, and wherein the intra-coded data is encoded using the quantization parameter for the base layer. In other aspects, the intra-coded data is encoded using the quantization parameter for the enhancement layer.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of using content information for encoding multimedia data are described. A method of processing multimedia data includes classifying content of multimedia data, and encoding the multimedia data in a first data group and in a second data group based on the content classification, wherein the first data group comprises a coefficient and the second data group comprises a first differential refinement associated with the first data group coefficient. An apparatus for using content information for encoding multimedia data includes a content classifying module configured to classify content of multimedia data and provide content classification data, and an encoder configured to encode the multimedia data in a first data group and in a second data group based on the content classification, wherein the first data group comprises a coefficient and the second data group comprises a first differential refinement associated with the first data group coefficient.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes encoding and decoding techniques that facilitate more accurate interpolation of skipped video frames. In particular, techniques are described for obtaining motion information that indicates motion for skipped video frames based on translational motion and at least one other motion parameter and applying the motion information to interpolate the skipped video frames. The motion information may, for example, indicate motion based on a motion model that models three or more motion parameters as opposed to conventional two parameter translational motion vectors. The more accurate motion information may either be generated within the decoder performing the interpolation or be transmitted by an encoder in one or more frames. Either way, the techniques reduce the amount of visual artifacts in the interpolated frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing multimedia data comprising segmenting data into a plurality of partitions, assigning each of the plurality of partitions to one of a plurality of categories comprising a first category and a second category, encoding the plurality of partitions assigned to the first category using an algorithm and encoding the plurality of partitions assigned to the second category using a texture model. A method and apparatus for processing multimedia data comprising decoding a plurality of first partitions belonging to a first category using an algorithm, decoding a plurality of second partitions belonging to a second category using a texture model and creating multimedia data using boundary information, the plurality of first partitions and the plurality of second partitions.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to techniques for encoding and decoding transitional effects, i.e., visual video effects that are used to transition from a current scene of a multimedia sequence. According to the disclosed techniques, an encoding device detects a transitional effect associated with a multimedia sequence during the encoding of the multimedia sequence, and transmits information as part of an encoded multimedia sequence to identify the transitional effect associated with the encoded multimedia sequence to a decoder. The information may comprise metadata that can be used by the decoder to simulate or re-create the transitional effect. The decoder simulates a transitional effect in response to the information.

Abstract: A method of processing a sequence of frames of multimedia data is presented. The method provides for progressively refreshing the image data. The method includes dynamically selecting portions of frames of the sequence with progressively increasing area to refresh, and excluding non-refreshed areas as potential reference data for other frames.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of using content information for encoding multimedia data are described. A method of processing multimedia data includes obtaining content information of multimedia data, and encoding the multimedia data so as to align a data boundary with a frame boundary in a time domain, wherein said encoding is based on the content information. In another aspect, a method of processing multimedia data includes obtaining a content classification of the multimedia data, and encoding blocks in the multimedia data as intra-coded blocks or inter-coded blocks based on the content classification to increase the error resilience of the encoded multimedia data. Apparatus that can process multimedia data described in these methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An Encoder Assisted Frame Rate Up Conversion (EA-FRUC) system that utilizes various motion models, such as affine models, in addition to video coding and pre-processing operations at the video encoder to exploit the FRUC processing that will occur in the decoder in order to improve the modeling of moving objects, compression efficiency and reconstructed video quality. Furthermore, objects are identified in a way that reduces the amount of information necessary for encoding to render the objects on the decoder device.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for improving mode selection decisions during the encoding of macroblocks (or other blocks) of multimedia frames of a multimedia sequence. During motion estimation, the encoding modes for macroblocks can be determined so that a desirable encoding rate and acceptable levels of distortion (i.e., acceptable rate-distortion) can be achieved. The techniques may include selecting a set of multimedia coding modes between at least two sets of possible multimedia coding modes for a macroblock of a multimedia frame based on a detail metric associated with the macroblock and mode information associated with neighboring blocks to the macroblock.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to process multimedia data enabling faster channel acquisitions, improved error recovery and improved efficiency. An encoder device encodes a first portion of multimedia data using inter-coding to generate a first version, and encodes the first portion of multimedia data using intra-coding to generate a second version. A decoder device receives a first version of a first portion of multimedia data, wherein the first version is inter-coded, receives a second version of the first portion of multimedia data, wherein the second version is intra-coded, and selectively decodes the first and second received versions.

Abstract: Certain embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for processing multimedia data. The systems and methods comprise receiving a first set of quantized coefficients representing at least one video frame, receiving a second set of quantized coefficients representing the at least one video frame, and generating, using the first set of quantized coefficients and second set of quantized coefficients, a third set of quantized coefficients representing the at least one video frame. In certain embodiments, quantization parameters associated with the first and second sets are used in producing the third set of quantized coefficients.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for packetization of content for transmission over a network. A method is provided that includes generating one or more content packets from the multimedia content, wherein the content packets are associated with a time reference, and adding a sync header to the one or more content packets to form one or more application layer packets, respectively, wherein the sync header comprises a time indicator that indicates time relative to the time reference. An apparatus includes encoding logic configured to generate one or more content packets from the multimedia content, wherein the content packets are associated with a time reference, and packetization logic configured to add a sync header to the one or more content packets to form one or more application layer packets, respectively, wherein the sync header comprises a time indicator that indicates time relative to the time reference.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multi-layer integration for use in error recovery is disclosed. An error is detected in a multimedia data based on a first layer protocol and the detected error in the multimedia data is concealed based on a second layer protocol. In one aspect, the error in a multimedia data is detected based on a communication layer protocol and controlled based on a transport layer protocol. An error distribution of the controlled error is then determined based on a sync layer protocol and the detected error in the multimedia data is concealed based on an application layer protocol. In another aspect, a method and apparatus for multimedia data processing comprises error recovery as well as scalability. Finally, a method and apparatus as disclosed allows processing of multimedia stream by receiving multiple streams of encoded multimedia data, performing error recovery on an erroneous portion of a stream, and reconstructing the multimedia data from the multiple streams.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to improve error resiliency in processing a multimedia bitstream is described. A directory of header information is generated for a multimedia bitstream. The directory information comprises packet header information associated with the multimedia bitstream. The directory information may be transmitted to a receiver along with the multimedia bitstream. A receiver of the multimedia bitstream and the directory can utilize the header information to identify and locate packets within and subsequent to erroneous data in the received bitstream. By identifying and locating packets that may otherwise be discarded, the receiver may be able to improve error recovery and decoding of the multimedia data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to process erroneous bi-directionally predicted multimedia data is described. The method includes determining temporal prediction data for the erroneous multimedia data, and estimating the erroneous multimedia data based on the determined temporal prediction data. The temporal prediction data includes data that was used to predict a forward reference section and/or a backward reference section. In some aspects, the temporal prediction data comprises motion vector data of the reference frames which is scaled to correspond to a frame containing the erroneous data.

Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods of improving processing in a decoder in a multimedia transmission system. Multimedia data may include one or more of motion video, audio, still images, or any other suitable type of audio-visual data. One embodiment includes a system and method of parsing fixed and variable length codes from a bit-wise stream of multi-media data by maintaining and reading the data in a processor aligned (e.g., word aligned) way. Another embodiment includes a system and method of decoding variable length codes, particular as received from such a variable length code using multiple levels of decoding tables to speed up decoder table lookup.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding multimedia data are described. One method includes receiving an encoded bitstream, identifying the location of one or more erroneous bits in the bitstream, generating a marker indicating the one or more erroneous bits, and inserting the marker in the bitstream to create a modified bitstream. The method can further comprise decoding the modified bitstream using the marker to indicate the one or more erroneous bits. The method can further comprise initiating an error handling process when encountering the marker.