Abstract: A video processing system includes at least one video source, a region selecting unit, a subtracting unit and a display unit. The region-selecting unit selects the user-defined region of interest from the video source. The subtracting unit subtracts the required region, selected by the region selecting unit. The output of the subtracting unit is provided to the display unit, which displays the required output. In one embodiment, when video data is received from a plurality of video sources, the selecting of user defined regions of interest from the video sources is supported. The region subtracting unit can be used to subtract the required region of interest from video data and it is displayed on the display unit. In other embodiments of invention, the display unit displays on overlay of two unrelated video streams.

Abstract: An image signal processing apparatus includes: a basic movement level finding section for detecting a movement level of a video image; a timing controller for dividing one frame period into a plurality of periods containing a sub-frame A period and a sub-frame B period; a sub-frame A image signal generating section for subjecting, to a smoothing process, image signals which are supplied to pixels, in the sub-frame A period, in accordance with the movement level of the video image; a sub-frame B image signal generating section for subjecting, to an emphasizing process, image signals which are supplied to pixels, in the sub-frame B period, in accordance with the movement level of the video image; and an applied movement level finding section for finding, from a movement level of a video image of a current frame period and a movement level of a video image of a previous frame period, an applied movement level which is applied to the sub-frame A image signal generating section and/or the sub-frame B image signal

Abstract: A method for automatically detecting and suppressing cross-color and cross-luma present in a baseband component video signal includes receiving component pixel data of a current pixel, a first previous pixel and a second previous pixel. First, second and third differences are calculated based on the component pixel data of the current, first previous and second previous pixels, and the presence of cross-luma and/or cross-color is determined for the current pixel based on an absolute value of at least one of the first, the second and the third differences. A per pixel count associated with the component pixel data of the current pixel is determined based on the determined presence of at least one of cross-luma and cross-color, and the component pixel data of the current pixel is modified based on the per pixel count.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a gradation control apparatus comprises a coring module configured to change the coring amount of a video signal according to the degree of movement of the video signal, a smoothing module configured to perform a gradation smoothing process on the video signal, and a parameter controller configured to obtain a frame difference histogram as the degree of movement of the video signal and change an effect parameter for the gradation smoothing process according to the result of weighting the histogram.

Abstract: A method and system for content adaptive analog video noise detection are provided. A motion metric (MM) value, an edge detection value, and a content detection value may be determined for pixels in a video image. The MM values of pixels with edge detection values smaller than an edge threshold value and with content detection values smaller than a content threshold value may be collected and accumulated for a portion of the noise level intervals when the MM values fall in this interval. The MM values collected and accumulated may be utilized to determine an average noise level for each of the intervals. A noise level indicator (NLI) for the current video image may be determined based on the noise level of the current image or on the noise levels of the current and at least one previous video images.

Abstract: A motion detection apparatus which extracts a 1-frame differential signal from a video signal, separates the 1-frame differential signal into a vertical low frequency signal having a frequency which is lower than a predetermined frequency with respect to the vertical direction of a frame of the video signal and a vertical high frequency signal having a frequency which is equal to or higher than the predetermined frequency, separates, from the vertical low frequency signal and the vertical high frequency signal, signals having different frequency bands with respect to the horizontal direction of a frame of the video signal, respectively, and combines these separated signals.

Abstract: A method for processing video information may include calculating a polarity change count (PCC) for a plurality of pixel pairs selected from a plurality of pixels from different fields utilizing a plurality of difference polarity values associated with the plurality of pixel pairs. At least a portion of the plurality of pixels from different fields may be deinterlaced based on at least the calculated PCC. The plurality of difference polarity values may be calculated for the plurality of pixel pairs selected from the plurality of pixels from different fields. At least one difference in amplitude of at least one of the selected pixel pairs may be calculated for the calculating the plurality of difference polarity values. The plurality of pixels from different fields may comprise a plurality of adjacent pixels from a plurality of woven fields.

Abstract: A cross-color/dot interference reduction circuit according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a signal generation unit configured to calculate a difference in an input signal between adjacent frames and generate a difference signal, a component extraction unit configured to extract a cross-color/dot interference component from the difference signal, a combination output unit configured to combine an interference reduction signal corresponding to the cross-color/dot interference-component with the input signal and provide an output signal with a reduced cross-color/dot interference, an image scene analysis unit configured to analyze an image scene contained in the input signal, and a signal amplification/attenuation unit configured to amplify/attenuate the interference reduction signal based on an image scene analysis result from the image scene analysis unit.

Abstract: Certain aspects of a method and system for inverse telecine and field pairing may comprise receiving a plurality of fields of alternating polarity. A current field may be weaved with its corresponding adjacent field of opposite polarity. A polarity change count value may be calculated based on the weaving of the current field with its corresponding adjacent field of opposite polarity. The method may determine whether to utilize a progressive scheme or an interlaced scheme to encode the received plurality of fields of alternating polarity based at least in part on the calculated polarity change count value. At least one of a top field first (TFF) scheme, a bottom field first (BFF) scheme, a top field first-repeat first field (TFF-RFF) scheme and a bottom field first-repeat first field (BFF-RFF) scheme may be chosen to pair the plurality of fields of alternating polarity.

Abstract: A method of determining a quality value for an image frame is disclosed. The method comprises dividing (in a step 202) the frame into a plurality of tiles (906) and determining attributes (in a step 206) of each said tile based upon pixel values of the tile, and pixel values of a corresponding tile of a preceding frame. The method then establishes (in steps 210, 212) the quality value of the frame by testing the tile attributes of the frame against pre-determined criteria. The method then defines (in a step 220) the quality value of the frame depending upon results of the testing.

Abstract: A method of filtering video packets for video stream monitoring is provided. A video packet of a video stream is received. One or more features are extracted from a specified frame of the video packet via one or more histograms and frequency domain coefficients of the specified frame. One or more concept detectors are implemented on the one or more features creating one or more confidence values. The confidence values are transmitted to a display module for filtering of video packets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus estimates the strength of block artifacts in compressed video is described. Block artifacts are associated with the block-based image/video compression schemes. The block artifacts deteriorate the quality of compressed image and video, especially at low bit rates. A deblocking method measures the strength of the block artifacts at each block boundary and adjusts the deblocking parameters accordingly to improve the performance of the overall deblocking process. A method and device to measure the strength of block artifacts based on the global and local edge information of the current picture is provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a motion detection apparatus that can improve a noise removal effect, can suppress the occurrence of tailing of a motion portion resulting from the increase of the noise removal effect, can increase the noise removal effect from a high electric field to a low electric field and can eliminate unnaturalness of the image for observation such as an after-image and a pasting feel resulting from the increase of the noise removal effect, and a noise reduction apparatus using the motion detection apparatus. The motion detection apparatus compares a frame difference with a threshold value, calculates the sum of the comparison result for a block including a plurality of pixels, and applies in expansion the output to several pixels in a horizontal or vertical direction to detect motion. The noise reduction apparatus utilizes this motion detection apparatus.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for judging video modes are provided. The method compares the values of the corresponding pixels of two consecutive frames in a video data to obtain a difference value between the two frames and then all of the difference values between any two consecutive frames are collected to form a difference value sequence. The difference value sequence is further amplified by a high pass filter and then compared with a threshold value. The comparison result is provided for successively judging the movie mode of the video data. Since the amplified signal values are suitable for emphasizing the difference of each frame, the provided method is capable of more correctly identifying the movie mode of the original video data, which further eliminates the drawback in the prior art that it is hard to determine the threshold value or to judge the movie mode thereof.

Abstract: Method disclosed in the present invention is proposed to detect and eliminate flash scene in digital video. Particularly, averaging shot distribution of digital video is employed as knowledge to develop the algorithm of the present invention, and which is incorporated and used to identify three general types of shot distribution for flash scene event. In the present invention, the luminance difference between two consecutive frames is instead of actually analyzing the visual content so as to reduce the computational complexity. As a result, positions of flash frames can be exactly detected from the video signal for many applications. The method comprises the steps: frames are extracted from a video sequence inputted. A luminance difference by two adjoining frames is calculated. Then a histogram is made to record the differences, and a threshold is determined accordingly. Then the flash scene is detected and categorized into three types, and finally being eliminated.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to detect presence of undesirable video abnormalities during, for example, video ingest or playback. These undesirable characteristics may include an average picture level that is less than a preset threshold value, or static input, in which the content does not change over a significant number of frames. Detection of abnormalities results in an alarm to a system operator. Analysis and alarm may occur automatically during processing of video data streams. The same abnormalities may be detected during playback of the image data.

Abstract: In a method of processing an input image, compression parameters of the input image are determined and luminance artifacts in the input image are reduced to obtain an improved luminance component of the input image, where the determined compression parameters guide the luminance artifact reduction. In addition, a chrominance noise and chrominance artifact level of the input image is estimated and a spatially-correlated chrominance noise and chrominance artifact of the input image is reduced with the improved luminance component, where the estimated chrominance noise and chrominance artifact level guide the spatially-correlated chrominance noise and chrominance artifact reduction to obtain an improved chrominance component of the input image. Moreover, an output image having the improved luminance component and the improved chrominance component is outputted.

Abstract: In the moving image display device of the invention, a synthesis circuit inputs signals representing specified values of pixel rate factors R2 and R3 from a pixel rate factor specification circuit, while inputting overscanned frame image data D1 in the units of pixels from a 1st latch circuit. The synthesis circuit extracts a preset number of pixels corresponding to the specified value of the pixel rate factor R2 from a prior frame image, while extracting a preset number of pixels corresponding to the specified value of the pixel rate factor R3 from a latter frame image. The positions of pixels to be extracted from the latter frame image are complementary to the positions of pixels to be extracted from the prior frame image. The synthesis circuit combines the extracted pixels of the prior frame image with the extracted pixels of the latter frame image by a logical OR operation to generate intermediate frame image data D2.

Abstract: Certain aspects of a method and system for motion compensated temporal filtering using both finite impulse response (FIR) and infinite impulse response (IIR) filtering may include blending at least one finite impulse response (FIR) filtered output picture of video data and at least one infinite impulse response (IIR) filtered output picture of video data to generate at least one blended non-motion compensated output picture of video data. A motion compensated picture of video data may be generated utilizing at least one previously generated output picture of video data and at least one current input picture of video data. A motion compensated picture of video data may be blended with at least one current input picture of video data to generate a motion compensated output picture of video data. The generated motion compensated output picture of video data and the generated non-motion compensated output picture of video data may be blended to generate at least one current output picture of video data.

Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus for measuring a video signal's noise level. The determination can be made based on pixel values for a single video image frame, for example, by comparing pixel color values, luminance, or other parameter for a first and second group of pixels in the frame. Each group of pixels may be part of a line in the frame, and several such measurements may be made along each line of the frame. These measurements can then be further refined depending on the measure noise level. Once a video noise level is determined, a decision on how to further process the video signal can be made. For example, the picture can be filtered or sharpened. The amount of noise filtering can be made dependent on the amount of noise measured.

Abstract: A method for processing an image in a video data is provided. The video data has a plurality of frames. The method includes: obtaining a plurality of differences, each difference in the plurality of differences being obtained from two frames that are one frame apart, wherein the each difference in the plurality of differences is between pixel information of one pixel from a plurality of pixels in one of the two frames, and a corresponding pixel in the other frame of the two frames; examining a first criterion with a summation of the plurality of differences; and performing cross color suppressing operation on a current frame of the plurality of frames according to a set of stationary image judgment information comprising the result of the first criterion examination.

Abstract: A video noise reducer reduces the noise artifacts in a video signal. The video noise reducer is reconfigurable to provide spatial noise reduction and temporal noise reduction in either a parallel or cascade architecture. The video noise reducer is self-calibrating by providing estimation modules that estimate the amount of noise in the video signal and a noise injector that confirms the measurement against a known quantity of noise. The video noise reducer is adaptive to solutions in hardware or a combination of hardware and firmware. The video noise reducer is also optimized for efficient memory usage in interlaced video signal processing applications.

Abstract: A method and system for performing still pixel detection is presented. In accordance with the present invention, still pixel detection can use multiple thresholds and multiple windows of pixels. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, a still pixel detection test is performed using a first window. If the first window test determines the pixel is a still pixel then the pixel is classified as a still pixel. If the first window test determines the pixel is not a still pixel, a still pixel detection test is performed using a second window. If the second window test determines the pixel is a still pixel then the pixel is classified as a still pixel. Otherwise, the pixel is not classified as a still pixel. Some embodiment of the present invention the still pixel tests use multiple thresholds to determine if a pixel is a still pixel.

Abstract: One embodiment of an edge-preserving vertical interpolation system constructs a de-interlaced video frame on a pixel-by-pixel basis using an edge-preserving vertical interpolation technique. Pixels within a pixel window centered about a selected pixel determine the direction of an intensity gradient associated with the selected pixel. A first pixel is constructed by interpolating between pixels that are perpendicular to the direction of the intensity gradient and a confidence factor is computed that indicates the likelihood that there is only one edge within the pixel window. A second pixel is constructed using a non-edge-preserving vertical interpolation technique. Interpolating between the first pixel and the second pixel based on the confidence factor generates a pixel in the de-interlaced video frame corresponding to the selected pixel.

Abstract: A method for determining a noise component in a video signal is proposed, in which the difference between a delayed and an undelayed video signal is formed. In order to be able to measure the noise component as precisely as possible, the delayed and the undelayed video signal are assigned to at least two different processing channels depending on their respective amplitude. At least two peak values for the noise signal for two different amplitude ranges are determined from the absolute value of the difference between the two video signals. Furthermore, a circuit is proposed which is suitable for implementing the method proposed.

Abstract: A film mode detector detects film mode of a series of fields of video by comparing pixels in a field adjacent the current field, with corresponding pixels directly above and directly below the pixels in an adjacent field. The number of pixels in the adjacent in time to the current field having (or not having) a value approximately between values of the pixels above and below in the current field is assessed. Film mode for a current field may be detected by monitoring the assessment from field to field. Alternatively or additionally, the detector may detect film mode by assessing for each current field, whether a relatively large or relatively small number of pixels in the immediately previous field have values outside a specified distance of values of a corresponding pixel in the immediately subsequent field, for at least a portion of the immediately previous and subsequent fields. Again, film mode may be detected by monitoring this second assessment from field to field.

Abstract: A noise reduction device for generating a delay frame by delaying an input frame in each frame, a first difference value between the delay frame and the input frame, a line delay frame by delaying the input frame in each line, and a second line delay frame by delaying the delay frame in each line. The device generates a second difference value between the input frame and the line delay frame, a third difference value between the delay frame and the second line delay frame, a fourth difference value between the line delay frame and the second line delay frame. The device corrects the input frame by using the first difference value based on a logical sum (or product) of the third difference value and the fourth difference value, and the delay frame based on a logical sum (or product) of the second difference value and the fourth difference value.

Abstract: A judder detection apparatus, a de-interlacing apparatus using the judder detection apparatus, and a de-interlacing method. The judder detection apparatus includes a judder detector to detect whether a detected pattern that is similar to a judder pattern occurs using predetermined pixel values of even and odd fields sequentially input, a pattern detector to detect whether an input image has a uniform pixel value in every other line of the even and odd fields and whether consecutive lines of the even and odd fields have a blind pattern having a difference from the uniform pixel that is greater than or equal to a threshold value, and a determiner to determine whether the detected pattern that is similar to the judder pattern is a judder based on whether the blind pattern is detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for editing a source video that has already been taken to stabilize images in the video. To eliminate jerky motion from a video, changes in shots are first detected. Then, any jerkiness within the video of that shot is classified and the video is segmented further into smaller segments based on this classification. The jerkiness within the selected segments is removed. The corrected shot, comprising a plurality of frames, is then added to the preceding shot until all shots of the video have been appropriately corrected for jerkiness. To help the user identify the shots being edited, keyframes or snapshots of the shots are displayed, thereby allowing the user to decide whether processing of the shot is desired and which shots should be incorporated into the final video.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a video analyzer includes a still image detector, a characteristic detector, and a boundary position detector. The still image detector detects a still image in video frames of content including video and audio data, and create a still image group of substantially the same still images. The characteristic detector includes at least one of a monochrome detector that detects a monochrome video frame in the video frames of the content and a silence detector that detects a silent portion in which the sound volume of the audio data is lower than a predetermined threshold. The boundary position detector detects a position where the type of the content changes based on information on at least one of the monochrome video frame and the silent portion contained in a segment where the still image group is present and a segment where no still image group is present.

Abstract: According to the invention, a pull-down signal detecting apparatus includes: an interfield motion detecting module configured to determine whether or not an interfield motion between a first field signal and a second field signal exists by comparing a first counted number with a first threshold; an interframe motion determining module configured to determine whether or not an interframe motion between the first field signal and a third field signal exists by comparing a second counted number with a second threshold; a determination module configured to determine whether or not the video signal is pull-down signal based on the determination result of the interfield motion determining module and the interframe motion determining module; and a threshold control module configured to vary the first threshold, when the determination result of the interframe motion determining module corresponds with a second pull-down pattern and when the determination result of the interfield motion determining module does not cor

Abstract: A method for reliability estimation of temporal noise estimation in a sequence of video frames. The temporal local differences from a difference between a previous frame and a next frame in the sequence of frames is determined. A distribution of the temporal local difference is determined. Characteristics values of the distribution are determined. The characteristics values are compared to the thresholds to obtain an indication of the reliability of the temporal noise estimation. If the estimated noise variance is determined as not reliable, it will be discarded and the previous estimated reliable noise variance will be used instead indicating the noise level of the current frame.

Abstract: Certain aspects of a method and system for adaptive temporal interpolation filtering for motion compensation may include computing a plurality of weights for adaptively adjusting one or more parameters of a plurality of linear filters utilized for motion compensation. One or more motion compensated output pictures may be generated based on vector median filtering a plurality of linear filtered output pictures generated by the plurality of linear filters. In instances where two frames are utilized for motion estimation of a video sequence, a motion compensated picture of a previous frame and a motion compensated picture of a current frame may be combined to adaptively compute the subsequent weights. In instances where three or more frames are utilized for motion estimation of a video sequence, the generated one or more motion compensated output pictures may be combined with an extracted desired picture from the video sequence to adaptively compute the subsequent weights.

Abstract: A pull-down signal detection circuit includes an inter-field correlation determination unit configured to determine an inter-field correlation on the basis of a current field signal and a 1-field delay signal, and providing a determination result which indicates a “strong/middle/weak” level, an inter-frame correlation determination unit configured to determine an inter-frame correlation on the basis of the current field signal and a 2-field delay signal, and a pull-down signal determination unit configured to determine whether the input video signal is a pull-down signal or not, on the basis of the determination results of the inter-field correlation determination unit and the inter-frame correlation determination unit.

Abstract: A method for film mode detection is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) detecting if a plurality of fields in a video signal are in a 3:2 pull-down pattern to control a plurality of first flags based on a plurality of statistics gathered from the fields, (B) detecting if the fields contain moving interlaced text to control a second flag based on both (i) the statistics and (ii) a repeat-field flag of the first flags that indicates repeating consecutive same polarity fields and (C) deciding among a plurality of inverse telecine processes to de-interlace the fields based on all of (i) a 3:2 mode flag of the first flags, (ii) a 3:2 direction flag of the first flags and (iii) the second flag.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a noise reduction apparatus includes a frame delay module, first and second impulse noise detectors, first and second impulse noise reducers, a motion detector, and a noise reducer. The frame delay module delays a video signal by one frame to obtain a frame delay video signal. The first and second impulse noise detectors detect impulse noise in the video signal and the frame delay video signal. The first impulse noise reducer generates a current frame video signal by reducing the impulse noise in the video signal. The second impulse noise reducer generates a previous frame video signal by reducing the impulse noise in the frame delay video signal. The motion detector detects motion amount from the current and previous frame video signals. The noise reducer reduces noise other than the impulse noise in the current frame video signal based on the motion amount.

Abstract: An image processing system and method. The image processing system acquires a first set of scan lines in at first field of image data and a second set of scan lines in a second field of image data; the second set of scan lines are interlaced relative to the first set of scan lines and performs a line by line correlation therebetween to provide an error signal or value. The first and second fields are buffered and coupled to a line-to-line correlator. The error signal is used to adjust either the first or the second set of scan lines to correct for skew or blur in the second field of image data.

Abstract: A method and system for suppressing color-crossing error in decoded video signals is presented. The color-crossing error suppression method and system uses a first suppression technique at a pixel location for a first subset of fields exhibiting color-crossing error at a pixel location then uses a second suppression technique at the pixel location for a second subset of fields exhibiting color-crossing error at the pixel location. The second subset of fields follows the first subset of fields in the video signals.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a de-interlacing apparatus includes: a motion vector detecting section; a full-screen shift detecting section detecting a full-screen shift; a moving-or-still judging section performing a moving/still judgment for a video signal; a moving judgment correcting section correcting a moving/still judgment result to lean toward a moving judgment when full-screen shift is detected; a first interpolation signal generating section generating a first interpolation signal for interpolating a one-field delay signal based on the motion vector and the full-screen shift; a second interpolation signal generating section generating a second interpolation signal for interpolating the one-field delay signal from a current field signal or a two-field delay signal; and an interpolation signal mixing section mixing the first and second interpolation signals to generate a mixed interpolation signal.

Abstract: An image processing method and device thereof are provided. The device includes a capture device and a processor. The capture device is adopted for receiving a plurality of frames and comparing at least two adjacent frames to obtain an area selection signal according to a differential value there-between. The processor is connected to the capture device for receiving the area selection signal and to separate each of the adjacent frames into at least two areas. Each of the areas of the adjacent frames is performed by an image processing step respectively, and then the images of the areas are combined to obtain a resulted frame.

Abstract: Method and related system for detecting advertising sections of video signal. The invention is capable of integrating detecting results based on different detecting rules, which includes detecting discontinuity of frame images in the video signals, detecting occurrences of frames with specific images, detecting occurrences of repeated frames, and detecting audio divisions in the video signal. Detecting results of these detecting rules are integrated by weighting them according to their accuracy, such that occurrence of advertising can be located.

Abstract: A brightness adjusting method for video frames of a video sequence includes receiving a current video frame of the video sequence and performing a scene change detection to determine if a scene change occurs between the current video frame and a previous video frame. Thereafter, one of a plurality of candidate brightness adjusting schemes is applied to the current video frame according to a scene change detection result.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to the use of object motion estimation to interlace a progressive video sequence. One of a plurality of consecutive frames is segmented and motion vectors for each segment are determined though object motion estimation. Interpolated motion vectors are used to construct at least one intermediate frame, and interlaced fields are extracted from the new sequence of frames that includes intermediate frames. An interlaced sequence with smooth, incremental motion is thus constructed from a progressive video sequence.

Abstract: A method and system for analog video noise reduction by blending finite impulse response (FIR) and infinite impulse response (IIR) filtering are provided. A filtering mode may be selected to generate noise-reduced pixels using FIR, IIR, or a blend of FIR/IIR filtering. Blending a current pixel and an FlR-filtered current pixel may generate a first blended current pixel. The FIR filtering may be based on the current pixel, a previous collocated pixel, and a next collocated pixel. Blending the current pixel and an IIR-filtered current pixel may generate a second blended current pixel. Blending the first blended current pixel and the second blended current pixel using an adaptive blending factor may dynamically generate a filtered output pixel. The IIR filtering may be based on the current pixel and a collocated pixel of the previous second blended video image or of the previous filtered output video image.

Abstract: An interlace motion artifact detector which identifies video image spatial frequencies characteristic of motion artifacts. The detected frequency is the maximum which can be represented by the vertical sampling rate of the video format (i.e., the Nyquist frequency). This frequency is detected by a pair of partial Discrete Fourier Transforms (DFT) which each calculate only the frequency component of interest. Additional vertical frequency components at one half and one quarter the interlace motion artifact frequency are also detected via a partial DFT. The presence of these lower frequencies acts as an indication of an erroneous motion artifact detection. Additionally, the dynamic range and maximum level of the video data is used as an indication of when to boost the frequency detection levels in areas of low brightness and/or contrast.

Abstract: A method of processing video data to detect field characteristics of the data, said data having a plurality of fields, including the steps of: comparing first and second fields, said first field being a successive field of said second field; comparing pixel values of respective sub-blocks of said first field and a third field, said second field being a successive field of said third field; determining whether said first field is an interlaced field or a progressive field with respect to a successive field of said first field based on said steps of comparing.

Abstract: Techniques for generating action keyframes for a fixed-position camera based on the identification of activity in the video, an assessment of the importance of the activity, object recognition in the video, and interaction techniques for seeing more details of the video are presented. In different embodiments of the invention, the importance of activity is determined based on the amount of activity, important locations in the video streams, detected features such as faces, and events from other sensors.

Abstract: A method for detecting progressive material in a video sequence is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) calculating a plurality of block statistics for each of a plurality of blocks in a current field of the video sequence, (B) calculating a plurality of field statistics by summing the block statistics over all of the blocks in the current field, (C) calculating a noise level for the current field based on a subset of the block statistics from each of the blocks and (D) generating a mode flag for the current field based on both (i) the field statistics and (ii) the noise level, wherein the mode flag identifies if the current field is part of a 2:2 pull-down pattern.

Abstract: A video apparatus is provided with automatic deinterlacing and inverse telecine pre-filtering capability to automatically analyze the frames of the video to determine at least whether the video is one of telecine, non-telecine progressive and non-telecine interlaced formatted, and to automatically reformat the video into a non-telecine progressive format if the video is determined to be one of telecine and non-telecine interlaced formatted.

Abstract: In detection of noise by comparing a digital input image signal and an output image signal in one previous frame with each other, when the input image signal, the output image signal in one previous frame, and a predetermined reference value are represented by a, b, and x, respectively, and when |a?b|?x and a?b?1 are satisfied, the presence of noise is determined.