Abstract: A method for determining a value for a missing target pixel in an image frame includes generating a classification index from a plurality of classification pixels in a classification window associated with the missing target pixel where the classification index indicates whether a recognizable pattern is detected in the classification window, using the classification index to select a filter index via a lookup table associated with the classification index, using the selected filter index to select a set of filter coefficients via a lookup table associated with the filter index, and calculating the value for the missing target pixel using the selected set of filter coefficients.

Abstract: An image processing system and method compares each pixel of an image obtained from an image sensor array with at least eight surrounding pixels of the same color in the filter array. If the signal of a given pixel is larger than the respective signals of all eight surrounding pixels of the same color, then the value of that central pixel signal is substituted with the maximum signal value among the surrounding eight pixels of the same color. Similarly, if the signal of a given pixel is smaller than the respective signals of all eight surrounding pixels of the same color, then the value of that central pixel signal is substituted with the minimum signal value among the surrounding eight pixels of the same color.

Abstract: An electro-optical device and a method for displaying an image are disclosed. A clear image with a clear profile can be displayed therein by processing input image data, for example input image data of TV broadcasting received by the device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing data of video pictures for displaying the pictures on a display device like a Plasma Display Panel. The existing false contour effect compensation methods which make a false contour compensation based on shifting sub-field code word entries along the direction of the motion vector of a current pixel, produce an artifact in the pictures, in case of object crossings. In the appearing area there is a lack of light generation. The invention solves this problem by checking whether an area exists in the picture which is currently hidden but will appear in a next frame and providing an adapted compensation method for “hole filling”. The invention also gives a solution for an improved compensation method which is based on a dragging of sub-field code word entries along a motion vector direction to a current pixel.

Abstract: Systems and methods to automatically edit a video to generate a video summary are described. In one aspect, sub-shots are extracted from the video. Importance measures are calculated for at least a portion of the extracted sub-shots. Respective relative distributions for sub-shots having relatively higher importance measures as compared to importance measures of other sub-shots are determined. Based on the determined relative distributions, sub-shots that do not exhibit a uniform distribution with respect to other sub-shots in the particular ones are dropped. The remaining sub-shots are connected with respective transitions to generate the video summary.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a video signal processing device for avoiding a phenomenon that noise is upwardly or downwardly shifted due to noise reducing operation when a non-standard signal is input. When a non-standard signal is input as an input video signal, coefficients of interpolating filters for carrying out interpolation on pixels of timely-sequential field video signals are fixed as a non-standard signal supporting signal processing. With this processing, interpolated pixels achieved by the interpolation processing are located at the same vertical spatial position, and pixels which are noise-reduced by the interpolated pixels are located at the same vertical spatial position as pixels before original noise is reduced, thereby locating the pixels at the same horizontal position.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method that facilitates the reduction of presentation glitches in a digital video system. The present invention is a system and method that automatically determines if digital video (DV) data is missing from a stream of DV information and replaces or patches missing DV data with appropriate information to reduce the appearance of interruptions in the video (e.g., glitches in presentations). A communication packet carrying application data is received by an application data patching computer system. In one embodiment of the present invention, an IEEE standard 1394 compliant isochronous packet carrying digital video information is received. The application data (e.g., DV information) is separated from other communication packet protocol data (e.g., IEEE standard 1394 compliant header information). The received application data is analyzed to determine if it conforms to configuration constraints of predetermined application data format requirements.

Abstract: In video scratch repair, scratches are treated as additive pedestals which are constant or slowly changing along the scratch. For a given picture, these pedestals are estimated and subtracted from the video input to reveal original picture detail. The pedestal can be estimated by heavily filtering along the direction of the presumed scratch, the output of a prior art scratch detector.

Abstract: A method for removing noise from a video input, prior to encoding includes receiving a frame of a video signal, identifying noise within the frame, and eliminating the noise from the frame. The video frame may then be encoded.

Abstract: A system and method providing dynamic detection and correction of data corrupted by external interference in wireless communications network includes an interference detection unit and correction unit. Detection unit detects impact on video signals based on measuring condition of predetermined portion of video signals. Correction unit corrects the interference by selecting previously stored data to replace corrupted video data.

Abstract: Pixels in a window, which corresponds to the position of an input pixel and has a predetermined size, are extracted from a reduced image obtained by reducing an input image to a predetermined scale. Substitute data used to substitute the value of the input pixel is generated based on the extracted pixels in the window. The difference value between the substitute data and input pixel value is calculated and is compared with a first threshold value. When the difference value is smaller than the first threshold value, the input pixel value is substituted by the substitute data. Thus, low-frequency noise reduction can be attained using a minimum required memory size while suppressing adverse effects such as a resolution drop and the like.

Abstract: An adaptive median filter (40) provides dynamic detection and correction of digital image defects which are caused by defective or malfunctioning elements of a radiation detector array (20). The adaptive median filter receives (100) lines of pixel values of a digital image that may have defects and a user-defined defect threshold. The lines of pixel values are scanned on a pixel-by-pixel basis using a kernel of n×n pixels, where the kernel contains the candidate pixel being examined (120). Each kernel is numerically reordered (130) and a median value is calculated (140). A defect threshold value is calculated by multiplying the user-defined defect threshold criteria and the candidate pixel value (150). A reference value is calculated by subtracting the candidate pixel value and the median value (160). The reference value is compared to the defect threshold value (170).

Abstract: A method and a device by which original digital signals are analysis-filtered, where the original digital signals include original samples representing physical quantities, and where the original samples are transformed by successive calculation steps into high and low frequency output samples. Any sample calculated at a given step is calculated by a predetermined function of the original samples and/or previously calculated samples, where the samples are ordered by increasing rank. The signal is processed by successive input blocks of samples, where the calculations made on an input block under consideration take into account only the original or calculated samples belonging to the input block under consideration, and where the input block under consideration and the following input block overlap over a predetermined number of original samples. Output blocks are formed, where each output block corresponds respectively to an input block.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing data of video pictures for displaying the pictures on a display device like a Plasma Display Panel. The existing false contour effect compensation methods which make a false contour compensation based on shifting sub-field code word entries along the direction of the motion vector of a current pixel, produce an artifact in the pictures, in case of object crossings. In the appearing area there is a lack of light generation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for concealing video errors encountered in a frame of a static or moving image that can be used independently or in combination with conventional error concealment techniques, and can be used to conceal an error segment of any shape or location in a frame of a static or moving image. An error segment is identified. A first pixel set adjacent to the error segment and optionally one or more other pixel sets also adjacent to the error segment are selected corresponding the pixel set of the error segment and are flipped toward the error segment. The flipped pixel sets are then selectively weighted. Where only one pixel set is used, the flipped and weighted pixel set replaces the error segment to conceal the error segment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a video signal processing device for avoiding a phenomenon that noise is upwardly or downwardly shifted due to noise reducing operation when a non-standard signal is input. When a non-standard signal is input as an input video signal, coefficients of interpolating filters for carrying out interpolation on pixels of timely-sequential field video signals are fixed as a non-standard signal supporting signal processing. With this processing, interpolated pixels achieved by the interpolation processing are located at the same vertical spatial position, and pixels which are noise-reduced by the interpolated pixels are located at the same vertical spatial position as pixels before original noise is reduced, thereby locating the pixels at the same horizontal position.

Abstract: Intra-frame repair is applied to an area to be repaired which lacks image information in a frame. Matching between the area to be repaired in the frame and areas in adjacent frames is performed to obtain the corresponding areas in the adjacent frames and average processing is applied to pixels to be repaired among continuous frames. Thus, a motion picture is repaired.

Abstract: A code multiplexing/reading apparatus includes a first register. Two codes that reside in a predetermined relationship are outputted from the first register, which are superimposed on a video signal to be recorded by operation of switches. Consequently, a video recording device records a code-multiplexed video signal on a recording medium. When the code-multiplexed video signal is reproduced from the medium by a video reproducing device, two codes taken out of the reproduced video signal are compared with each other by a comparator. When the two codes are “1001101” and “0110010”, the inversion of the former code agrees with the latter code. Therefore, the former code is outputted as a predetermined code from a second register.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an address generation circuit for generating an address signal. A memory operates for storing an information signal containing a video signal in response to the address signal. The address signal is periodically updated. A compression processing circuit operates for reading out the information signal from the memory, and subjecting the readout information signal to a compressively encoding process. A head of every frame represented by the information signal is detected. A state of the address signal is stored which corresponds to the detected frame head. Detection is made as to whether or not the information signal becomes discontinuous. The updating of the address signal and also the operation of the compression processing circuit are suspended when it is detected that the information signal becomes discontinuous. Detection is made as to whether or not the information signal returns to a normally continuous state after the information signal becomes discontinuous.

Abstract: An electro-optical device and a method for displaying an image are disclosed. A clear image with a clear profile can be displayed therein by processing input image data, for example input image data of TV broadcasting received by the device.

Abstract: When power is turned on, dummy output information stored in a non-volatile memory is issued to the digital signal processing circuit. In a dummy data processing block, and in a line memory holding data in the horizontal direction, dummy data inputted from outside is inserted into a one-line video data processed at an input signal processing block, based on the dummy output information. In this way, the video data is revised into data that is appropriate for each display, based on the dummy output information. Then the one-line video data including the dummy data is inputted into the output signal processing block, and is latched by the output signal processing block, and outputted to each of the data drivers as a data driver output signal, at the same time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for concealing video errors encountered in a frame of a static or moving image that can be used independently or in combination with conventional error concealment techniques, and can be used to conceal an error segment of any shape or location in a frame of a static or moving image. An error segment is identified. A first pixel set adjacent to the error segment and optionally one or more other pixel sets also adjacent to the error segment are selected corresponding the pixel set of the error segment and are flipped toward the error segment. The flipped pixel sets are then selectively weighted. Where only one pixel set is used, the flipped and weighted pixel set replaces the error segment to conceal the error segment.

Abstract: The present invention is an error picture image data correction apparatus that can correct the error picture image data and suppress the image quality deterioration when there are plural error data in the continuous plural pixels and the data around the error picture image data are high frequency signal data. The apparatus comprises a weighted mean value operation part 101, 102 and 103 for calculating weighted mean value of the 2 pixel data having true value, a channel switch circuit 104, an adder 105, 106 and 109, a selector 107 and 108, a clip circuit 110, a control circuit 113 and an output switch circuit 111. When the input signals of the weighted mean value operation part 101, 102 and 103 at time i is described as G(i), R(i) respectively, t represents time width, n>1, n>k≧0, n and k are integers, and error data are G(i), G(i−t), G(i−2t), . . .

Abstract: A detection circuit detects a slice start code from an input stream. Based on a result of the detection and a frame pulse, a reference macroblock (MB) address generated by a timing generator is sent to an address comparator. The input stream which has been phase-adjusted by a delay circuit is supplied to a variable length decoder (VLD) for decoding a variable length code to detect an MB address. The address comparator compares the reference MB address with the MB address to check the continuity of the MB address. If it is discontinuous, the stream output from the VLD is temporarily interrupted, and a selector selects a replacement data generating circuit in response to a control signal output from the address comparator. The input stream is replaced at a discontinuous macroblock portion with macroblock data which has a correct macroblock address and which is prepared in advance by the replacement data generating circuit.

Abstract: In an image replication circuit, the improvement of replicating a given element at a certain location with the most similar of surrounding sets of image elements.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for repairing degraded data. In a first aspect of the present invention, a method for patching degraded video data includes receiving a first frame of video data and decoding the first frame of video data so as to enable the first frame of video data to be displayed on a display device. A portion of the decoded first frame of video data that is degraded is identified. The degraded portion of the first frame of video data is patched utilizing a second portion of video data wherein the degraded portion of the first frame of video data is patched with the second portion of video data to enable the first frame of video data and the second portion of video data to be displayed concurrently. In a second aspect of the present invention, a video data patching apparatus includes a source decoder capable of accepting video data, the source decoder capable of decoding the video data so as to enable the video data to be displayed on a display device.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention provides an innovative technique and efficient hardware structure for recovering lost or damaged (lost/damaged) compression constants in the encoded domain. In one embodiment, a lost/damaged compression constant is recovered by estimating a compression constant of the block using encoded data of at least one neighboring block of data and other recoverable compression constants of the block.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting video signal dropout. The method includes the step of generating a video signal, and then electronically isolating at least one component of the video signal. The at least one component is representative of the absence of the video signal itself. Next, the absence of the at least one component is electronically sensed. The step of electronically isolating can include the step of passing the video signal through a comb filter, and in particular isolating a luminescence signal from the video signal. The step of electronically isolating can also include passing the video signal through a sync separator. The step of electronically sensing can include passing the at least one component through a comparator. The method can also include the step of generating the video signal for a predetermined time duration, and simultaneously generating an audio signal to indicate the end of the predetermined time duration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a moving image displayed on a display unit. Images representative of sets of frame images forming said moving image to be processed are displayed on a display unit. The moving image includes a plurality of scene images. Each of said scene images is divided into a cut image which comprises a set of frame images, and each cut image is divided into a plurality of sub-areas. The representative frame images of said respective sub-area of the frame images are designated as representative images. Data of the representative images are linked to respective predetermined keys of an input device. In response to an operation of one of the keys, the representative image linked to the operated one of said keys is displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: With the new plasma display panel technology new kinds of artefacts can occur in video pictures. These artefacts are commonly described as “dynamic false contour effect”, since they correspond to disturbances of gray levels and colors in the form of an apparition of colored edges in the picture when the observation point on the PDP screen moves.

Abstract: A method for temporal filtering of noise in an image of a sequence of digital images, formed as from a first instant (to) until a last instant (t), with pixels having intensity values which correspond to each instant and are referred to as samples, includes an evaluation, for a given pixel, of a temporally filtered sample (Ptp) of the last instant by means of a first linear combination of the filtered sample (Pt-1c) of the last instant by means of a first linear combination of the filtered sample (Pt-1c) of the last instant but one whereto a first weight (W1) has been assigned, and the noisy sample (ItP) of the last instant, modulated by a second weight (W2) which is a probability value (W2=&bgr;tp) concerning absence of a noise peak in this sample.

Abstract: An information signal processing apparatus is arranged to detect an amplitude level of an input information signal with a first time constant and to obtain a first amplitude level detection signal which corresponds to the amplitude level of the input information signal detected; to detect an amplitude level of the input information signal with a second time constant which differs from the first time constant and to obtain a second amplitude level detection signal which corresponds to the amplitude level of the input information signal thus detected; to compare the first and second amplitude level detection signals with each other; and to detect any dropout of the input information signal according to the result of comparison.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing visibility of damping wire artifacts in aperture grill display tubes comprises a sensor device for locating the artifacts and responsively generating amplitude values, a processor for receiving the generated amplitude values and responsively calculating correction values, and a compensator device coupled to the processor for utilizing the correction values to correct said artifacts.

Abstract: A method and system for interpolating a missing pixel in a current field of an interlaced video format signal. The method includes performing a low-pass estimate in the current field about the missing pixel. A high-pass estimate is also performed in a temporally local field to the current field. The high-pass estimate is performed in the temporally local field at a position connected to the missing pixel by a motion vector. The value of the missing pixel is then determined by combining the high pass estimate with the low-pass estimate performed in the current field.

Abstract: A signal correction circuit for correcting deviating pixel values includes a part (113, 117) for comparing a first pixel value (R.sub.orig) of a given pixel with a second value (R.sub.filt) obtained from pixel values of pixels surrounding the given pixel so as to supply a decision signal (decR) if a predetermined criterion is satisfied; and a multiplexer (115) coupled to the above-noted part (113, 117) for supplying the second value (R.sub.filt) if the predetermined criterion is satisfied for not more than one color (R,G,B), and for supplying the first pixel value (R.sub.orig) in the opposite case.

Abstract: An output signal of an 1H delaying circuit and a signal received from an input terminal are supplied to a subtracting circuit that forms a comb line filter. Thus, even if a dropout takes place in a luminance signal, not in a chroma signal, the chroma signal can be obtained from an output signal at intervals of 1H. When a dropout takes place, a limit operation of a feedback loop that forms a noise reduction circuit is stopped and the coefficient is increased. This process is performed with a dropout pulse that is delayed by 1H. Thus, the chroma signal can be obtained on the next line of the line having the dropout.

Abstract: The invention enables processing of a time-varying video image in a manner that blurs (or "smears") the time-varying portion or portions of the video image as successive frames of video data are processed. Such smearing is particularly useful in reducing the choppiness and jerkiness that degrades the viewability of the time-varying portions of a displayed video image when the frame rate is low. The invention blends corresponding video data components from a current video frame and a previous video frame to achieve the smearing effect. The invention enables the degree to which the video data from each of the frames affects the processed video data to be varied. The exact blending can be based upon, for example, the magnitude of the frame rate. Further, in processing each video frame, each of a set of related video data components can be processed serially to enable the invention to be implemented more compactly and inexpensively.

Abstract: A video signal 21 is input to a motion-compensated median filter to produce a preliminary blemish-concealed signal 23. The preliminary signal and the original input signal are passed via appropriate delays to respective inputs of a selector switch 31 and to a side chain circuit. The selector switch is controlled by the side chain circuit output and the selector switch output 22 forms a final blemish-concealed video signal. In the side chain circuit a difference signal C is generated to indicate differences between the input signal and the preliminary signal. The difference signal C is processed in two parallel circuit branches to remove differences having gently-sloping edges and differences corresponding to similar-sized differences in similar areas of adjacent frames, which are likely to be motion artifacts.

Abstract: Bit streams transmitted from a coding system through a transmission channel are divided on a block-by-block basis based on bit numbers thereof and a parity bit added to each bit stream is checked to decide whether or not each bit stream is error bit stream having one or more error bits therein. Based on the check result, either each bit stream or a proximate bit stream for each bit stream is selected as an optimum bit stream, wherein the proximate bit stream is generated based on degrees of proximity between masked transform coefficients for each candidate bit stream and masked transform coefficients for each of reference bit streams spatially adjacent to each bit stream.

Abstract: A construction circuit which constructs data of nondecodable blocks by using interpolation data generated by a predetermined method, a movement estimation circuit which estimates the movement of the nondecodable blocks on the basis of the movement of the blocks surrounding the nondecodable block, and an error pattern detecting circuit which detects an error state of the surrounding blocks and controls the movement estimation circuit on the basis of the error state, are provided. The construction circuit constructs nondecodable data on the basis of the result of the estimation by the movement estimation circuit. An image reproducing apparatus is provided which is capable of obtaining a reproduced image having reduced visual deterioration by estimating movement on the basis of the blocks surrounding the nondecodable block when the data of the nondecodable block is reproduced and detecting the error state of the adjacent blocks.

Abstract: A compensating method and apparatus is provided which collectively compensates for variations in a variety of characteristics in respective circuit portions of a signal processing circuit. A correction data generator is provided for generating correction value data for correction to be made for an output signal of the signal processing circuit, in order to compensate for variations in the characteristics of the at least one circuit portion. Also, a compensator is connected to receive an output signal from the signal processing circuit as well as to receive the correction value data from the correction data generating means, for correcting the output signal in accordance with the respective correction value data corresponding to the at least one circuit portion to generate a compensated output signal.

Abstract: An image encoding and transmitting system is an image transmission system for transmitting digital data such as TV telephones. The system for dividing input frame data into a plurality of blocks before transmitting them comprises on its sending side an intra-frame/inter-frame determiner for receiving intra-frame data and inter-frame data and selecting either of them for output, and a difference collator for having the intra-frame/inter-frame determiner compulsorily output intra-frame data at the time of data input for the next frame when one or more data in each block forming inter-frame data are larger than a predetermined threshold. The system also comprises on its receiving side an picture element domain frame data storage for storing received data in the picture element domain, and a motion vector detector for detecting according to the contents in the storage a motion vector using the data in the block surrounding the discarded block in order to guess the data in the discarded block.

Abstract: An image transmission system and method for transmitting an image, which has been divided into a plurality of pixel blocks, comprising a transmitting device and a receiving device. The transmitting device includes an information source encoder for dividing an image to be transmitted into a plurality of pixel blocks in an original arrangement, a pixel block dispersing unit for arranging the pixel blocks of the image according to predetermined rules, and a modulator for successively modulating and transmitting the rearranged blocks.

Abstract: A defective pixel correction circuit corrects a defective pixel in a solid imaging device such as a CCD exactly and sufficiently. A boundary detection circuit calculates magnitudes of boundaries from signals of eight peripheral pixels taken in a pixel taking-in circuit and a boundary ordering circuit compares the calculated magnitudes of the boundaries with one another to order the magnitudes of the boundaries. An interpolation circuit produces an interpolation signal in accordance with an interpolation method determined by an interpolation method determining circuit on the basis of the order of the ordered boundaries to correct the defective pixel.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a video signal decoding system for concealing errors in a video signal first detects a lost block in the video signal, the lost block having errors, and then provides pixel values of neighboring blocks for the lost block in the video signal based on information for the lost block. Subsequently, The apparatus computes edge gradients of neighboring pixels included in a predetermined range of pixels surrounding the lost block based on the pixel values of the neighboring blocks and determines a pixel interpolation direction based on the edge gradients of neighboring pixels. A spatially interpolated block is produced based on the pixel values of the neighboring blocks and the pixel interpolation direction and it is provided as a substitution block for compensating the lost block.

Abstract: An error is identified in a video image by calculating frequency-related coefficients for blocks of the image and considering the statistical distribution of said coefficients. The variance of the coefficients is calculated and a block of original image data is concealed if the variance calculated is significantly higher than a stored threshold and/or if said variance calculated is significantly different from variance values derived for similarly positioned blocks within a previous frame. Concealment is effected by selecting image data from a previous frame, displaced in response to transmitted motion vectors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method (100, 200) and a device (300, 400, 600) for containing and concealing errors which occur in a transmitted video bitstream. Utilizing a plurality of predetermined scanning patterns, particular macroblocks are chosen per frame to have their intensity information encoded and transmitted. This approach provides an efficient method to limit the degradation to the visual quality of a video sequence decoded from a bitstream corrupted by an extended error burst. Concealment of areas within a video sequence that are affected by short error bursts and/or random errors is achieved by estimating the corresponding lost macroblock information from the remaining uncorrupted macroblocks. That is, for each lost macroblock a prediction of the intensity information is generated through the use of a motion vector from a neighboring uncorrupted macroblock.

Abstract: A group delay of a noise-reducing median filter for video or a video FIR filter is reduced by transferring filter contributions of fields in "time forward" to fields in "time past" with respect to an output sample point. No significant impairment is introduced by this time asymmetry.

Abstract: A video decompression system includes block error concealment means for generating substitute data for lost blocks of pixel data. An interpolator generates both spatially and temporally interpolated or predicted blocks of data for concealing a lost block. Pixel data in the respective blocks of spatially and interpolated data are transformed to coefficients representing frequency spectra. A substitute block of coefficients is assembled from coefficients from both the transformed blocks, according to a predetermined criteria. The substitute block is transformed back to the spatial domain for substitution of lost pixel values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing visibility of damping wire artifacts in aperture grill display tubes comprises a sensor device for locating the artifacts and responsively generating amplitude values, a processor for receiving the generated amplitude values and responsively calculating correction values, and a compensator device coupled to the processor for utilizing the correction values to correct said artifacts.