Abstract: The disclosed invention is a enhancement to the Video Encoder component of the MPEG standard to improve both the efficiency and quality of the video presentation at the display device. The inventions described below pertain to the enhancement of video compression technology. In general, they are compatible with MPEG video standards (as in current art), but represent novel enhancements thereof. The above inventions apply to several transmission media and networks including cable, DSL, wireless, satellite and IP networks. Another category of invention in this disclosure enhances networking performance by recognizing that the transmitted information is video, rather than data. This invention can be scaled to other classes of multimedia data such as speech or audio or images.

Abstract: A method of detecting skin tone pixels in an input image and adjusting color values thereof for an output image is disclosed. The method comprises determining for each of a plurality of pixels in an input image whether initial chromaticity values of each of said pixels lie within a skin tone area defined in a chromaticity plane. The method further comprises amending the initial chromaticity values of those pixels that have chromaticity values lying within said skin tone area to obtain amended chromaticity values for use in obtaining an output image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for adjusting the contrast of an input image. A blurred image corresponding to the input image is obtained, the brightness level of at least some of the pixels in the input image being varied to provide the blurred image. A ring likelihood for pixels in the input image is obtained, the ring likelihood providing a measure of the likelihood that said pixels are non-edge pixels in the neighborhood of an edge pixel. The output image is produced as a sum of the brightness levels in the input image and the blurred image in dependence on the ring likelihoods.

Abstract: Edge information of an input digital image is obtained. Digital image data corresponding to the input digital image is transmitted to a receiver. The edge information is also transmitted to the receiver. An output digital image is obtained at the receiver by processing the digital image data received at the receiver using the edge information received at the receiver. In this way, because the edge information is transmitted separately, as side information, and does not have to be obtained at the receiver, the computational complexity requires of the receiver is low. This enables for example real-time edge-adaptive interpolation to be carried out at the receiver.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is a enhancement to the Video Encoder component of the MPEG standard to improve both the efficiency and quality of the video presentation at the display device. The inventions described below pertain to the enhancement of video compression technology. In general, they are compatible with MPEG video standards (as in current art), but represent novel enhancements thereof. The above inventions apply to several transmission media and networks including cable, DSL, wireless, satellite and IP networks. Another category of invention in this disclosure enhances networking performance by recognizing that the transmitted information is video, rather than data. This invention can be scaled to other classes of multimedia data such as speech or audio or images.

Abstract: A method and apparatus adjusts the contrast of an input image formed of pixels. Each pixel in the input image has an input brightness level. At least some of the pixels in the output or enhanced image have an output brightness level that is different from their input brightness level. Brightness level data of the input image is filtered to obtain a high frequency component of the input image in a single operational stage. The high frequency component is amplified. The original image and the amplified high frequency component are summed to produce brightness level data of the output image.

Abstract: Provided is an enhancement to the Video Encoder component of the MPEG standard to improve both the efficiency and quality of the video presentation at the display device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing information services are disclosed. A method for providing an information service can comprise providing a pool of providers, and receiving a request from a requester for an information service from at least one of the providers. One or more of the providers can be identified as a provider subset available to deliver the information service to the requestor. The identified provider subset can be presented to the requester, along with a reputation index for each provider in the provider subset. A selection of a first provider belonging to the provider subset can be received from the requestor. The information service can be performed by transmitting data from the provider to the requester in real-time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the contrast of an image, in which each pixel in the image has an initial brightness level that is within a range of brightness levels between a minimum brightness level and a maximum brightness level. For each brightness level within the range, the number of pixels that have the same initial brightness level is counted. The pixels are divided into at least two types by identifying the or each set of pixels having initial brightness levels in which each of a plurality of adjacent ones of said brightness levels has more pixels than a threshold number. The pixels of the plurality of adjacent ones of said brightness levels are treated as a first type. The remaining pixels are treated as a second type. For the or each set of pixels of the first type, contrast enhancement is carried out separately on those pixels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for obtaining interpolation filters for use in a method or apparatus for enhancing the spatial resolution of a digital image. In the method or apparatus for enhancing the spatial resolution, input pixels from a low resolution image are classified and interpolated using the interpolation filters to form a high resolution image. The method for obtaining the interpolation filters includes obtaining a low resolution image from a high resolution source image. A plurality of pixels in the low resolution image are classified with respect to interpolation filters so that each of the plurality of pixels in the low resolution image is allocated to a respective interpolation filter. The interpolation filters are updated. The classifying and updating steps are repeated until a convergence criterion is met.

Abstract: A composite video signal has a chrominance signal (14) and a luminance signal (10). A method and apparatus are disclosed for adjusting the chrominance signal (14) to obtain an enhanced chrominance signal (15) in which at least some transitions in the enhanced chrominance signal (15) align more closely with edges in the luminance signal (10) than transitions in the original chrominance signal (14) align with edges in the luminance signal (10). An edge in the luminance signal (10) of the composite video signal is detected (11). The position of the edge relative to a current pixel is detected (11). The chrominance of the current pixel is adjusted (13) in accordance with at least the position of said current pixel relative to the edge to obtain an enhanced chrominance signal (15).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the contrast of an input image is disclosed. Brightness level data of the input image is filtered to obtain at least a low frequency component and a high frequency component. The high frequency component is amplified. The input image and the amplified high frequency component are summed to produce brightness level data of the output image. The filtering is carried out by at least one recursive infinite impulse response filter having a single delay coefficient that is adaptive to areas of high contrast in the input image.

Abstract: A method of detecting skin tone pixels in an input image and adjusting colour values thereof for an output image is disclosed. The method comprises determining for each of a plurality of pixels in an input image whether initial chromaticity values of each of said pixels lie within a skin tone area defined in a chromaticity plane. The method further comprises amending the initial chromaticity values of those pixels that have chromaticity values lying within said skin tone area to obtain amended chromaticity values for use in obtaining an output image.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for a video system. In a first exemplary embodiment, the video system comprises a video processing circuit that receives a picture and provides video compression by using an optimal macroblock mode of operation, the optimal macroblock mode of operation being identified by processing at least one macroblock of the picture, the processing being performed independent of other macroblocks contained in the picture. Additionally, the video processing circuit comprises a mode selection circuit that identifies the optimal macroblock mode of operation by using a rate-distortion model. The rate-distortion model incorporates an overall macroblock mode distortion D that is defined as the sum of DAC a distortion due to AC coefficients, and DDC a distortion due to DC coefficients.

Abstract: Edge information of an input digital image is obtained. Digital image data corresponding to the input digital image is transmitted to a receiver. The edge information is also transmitted to the receiver. An output digital image is obtained at the receiver by processing the digital image data received at the receiver using the edge information received at the receiver. In this way, because the edge information is transmitted separately, as side information, and does not have to be obtained at the receiver, the computational complexity requires of the receiver is low. This enables for example real-time edge-adaptive interpolation to be carried out at the receiver.

Abstract: Embodiments of a coding system and method are disclosed. One method embodiment includes determining a Cauchy-based probability density function fit to a statistical distribution of coefficients generated from a transformed image frame block that are to be quantized, and estimating rate and distortion of quantized coefficients based on the Cauchy-based probability density function.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for adjusting the contrast of an input image. A blurred image corresponding to the input image is obtained, the brightness level of at least some of the pixels in the input image being varied to provide the blurred image. A ring likelihood for pixels in the input image is obtained, the ring likelihood providing a measure of the likelihood that said pixels are non-edge pixels in the neighbourhood of an edge pixel. The output image is produced as a sum of the brightness levels in the input image and the blurred image in dependence on the ring likelihoods.

Abstract: A method and apparatus adjusts the contrast of an input image formed of pixels. Each pixel in the input image has an input brightness level. At least some of the pixels in the output or enhanced image have an output brightness level that is different from their input brightness level. Brightness level data of the input image is filtered to obtain a high frequency component of the input image in a single operational stage. The high frequency component is amplified. The original image and the amplified high frequency component are summed to produce brightness level data of the output image.

Abstract: A composite video signal has a chrominance signal (14) and a luminance signal (10). A method and apparatus are disclosed for adjusting the chrominance signal (14) to obtain an enhanced chrominance signal (15) in which at least some transitions in the enhanced chrominance signal (15) align more closely with edges in the luminance signal (10) than transitions in the original chrominance signal (14) align with edges in the luminance signal (10). An edge in the luminance signal (10) of the composite video signal is detected (11). The position of the edge relative to a current pixel is detected (11). The chrominance of the current pixel is adjusted (13) in accordance with at least the position of said current pixel relative to the edge to obtain an enhanced chrominance signal (15).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the contrast of an input image is disclosed. Brightness level data of the input image is filtered to obtain at least a low frequency component and a high frequency component. The high frequency component is amplified. The low frequency component and the amplified high frequency component are summed to produce brightness level data of the output image. The filtering is carried out by at least one recursive infinite impulse response filter having a single delay coefficient that is adaptive to areas of high contrast in the input image.