Abstract: An encoding method includes determining video format information, (i) setting each of all frames or all fields which are included in the video, as a picture, regardless of whether the video format is the interlace format or the progressive format, (ii) setting a POC indicating display order to each of all of the set pictures one by one, the POC being different each other, and encoding a picture to be encoded which is the frame or the field with reference to a picture previously encoded before encoding the picture to be encoded. In the encoding, the video is encoded with a syntax structure which is not dependent on the video format, the video format information is encoded in a header of a sequence which is a unit of the video, and the encoded bit stream is generated.

Abstract: A video decoding device, in the case where a video of the progressive format is inputted, processes a frame as a picture, in the case where a video of the interlace format is inputted, processes a field as a picture. A video decoding device performs display control corresponding to a format of the both video by analyzing display control information in display control information analyzer. The display control information includes sequence unit display control information which is commonly used in a display process of all pictures that belong to a sequence to be decoded and picture unit display control information which is individually used in a display process of a picture to be decoded. A second code string analyzer acquires each of the sequence unit display control information and the picture unit display control information from an extended information area in units of pictures.

Abstract: A method of converting an input frame rate of input video frames includes upsampling at least some of the input video frames to produce upsampled frames at a higher frame rate than the input frame rate, applying a filter to combine together multiple frames at a single pixel location, downsampling the upsampled frames to an output frame rate. A method of converting an input frame rate of input video frames includes grouping input video frames together, wherein a number of groups per second is less than a capture frame rate, and interpolating the frames within a group to obtain a desired shutter angle, wherein an average time between frames within a group is less than a time between groups.

Abstract: Systems and methods of coding progressive content with isolated fields for conversion to interlaced display are provided. Some systems and methods may find use in, for example, digital video compression systems and methods. Film material may be encoded as video material with an intended field polarity and an explicit 3:2 pull-down operation for interlaced display (e.g., a 30-frames-per-second display).

Abstract: Systems and methods of coding progressive content with isolated fields for conversion to interlaced display are provided. Some systems and methods may find use in, for example, digital video compression systems and methods. Film material may be encoded as video material with an intended field polarity and an explicit 3:2 pull-down operation for interlaced display (e.g., a 30-frames-per-second display).

Abstract: Systems and methods of coding progressive content with isolated fields for conversion to interlaced display are provided. Some systems and methods may find use in, for example, digital video compression systems and methods. Film material may be encoded as video material with an intended field polarity and an explicit 3:2 pull-down operation for interlaced display (e.g., a 30-frames-per-second display).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image signal processing apparatus configured to convert an interlaced signal into a progressive signal, including: a first conversion unit; a second conversion unit; a decision unit; and a selection unit.

Abstract: A combined de-interlacing and frame doubling system (114, 114? and 114?) advantageously serves to de-interlace successive lines of Present Field Video data at twice the field rate to yield an output bit stream suitable for display on display device that utilizes progressive scanning. The de-interlacing and frame doubling system in accordance with present principles includes a frame memory mechanism (116, 116? and 116?) for storing at least one frame of interlaced video having a prescribed field rate. At least one de-interlacing circuit (11401, 1140?1, 1140?) pulls at least two fields of video data from the memory mechanism at a rate of at least twice the field rate for performing a full de-interlacing function in half of a field period to generate the a progressive, frame doubled signal for receipt at the display device.

Abstract: Correlation of videos between fields is determined between a difference between an input interlaced signal and a signal that is delayed by one field with respect to the input interlaced signal. Correlation among N-1 sequential fields is compared with a predetermined pattern to determine whether the input interlaced signal is unquestionably a telecine-converted signal, whether it is unquestionably not a telecine-converted signal, or whether it cannot be said to be unquestionably a telecine-converted signal. If a determination of being unquestionably a telecine-converted signal is continued for a predetermined number or more of fields, an instruction signal, which instructs to perform inter-field interpolation on the input interlaced signal, is outputted.

Abstract: There is provided a video signal processing apparatus that makes it possible to realize a favorable display of pictures by increasing the detection accuracy of the video source of an input video signal and by using an appropriate scanning method for an output video signal in accordance with the determined type of video source.

Abstract: Systems and methods of coding progressive content with isolated fields for conversion to interlaced display are provided. Some systems and methods may find use in, for example, digital video compression systems and methods. Film material may be encoded as video material with an intended field polarity and an explicit 3:2 pull-down operation for interlaced display (e.g., a 30-frames-per-second display).

Abstract: A method for deinterlacing a video signal is disclosed. Frame differences are calculated, a scene change threshold is determined based on the frame differences, a scene change is detected based on the frame differences and the scene change threshold, a stationary motion threshold is determined based on the frame differences, stationary motion is detected based on the frame differences and the stationary motion threshold, a mode of the video signal is detected based on the frame differences, and a deinterlacing algorithm is selected based on the mode of the video signal, the scene change, and the stationary motion.

Abstract: A telecine conversion method detecting apparatus which determines that an input video signal is a telecine converted video signal generated from a movie film in accordance with a 2-3 pull-down method when detecting that an inter-frame difference accumulated value of a current field of the input video signal is equal to or less than a threshold value for still field determination, that each inter-frame difference accumulated value of four fields preceding the current field is equal to or greater than a threshold value for motion field determination, and that the inter-frame difference accumulated value of the current field is less than each corrected value calculated by multiplying each of the inter-frame difference accumulated values of the four preceding fields by a predetermined coefficient.

Abstract: A combined de-interlacing and frame doubling system (114, 114? and 114?) advantageously serves to de-interlace successive lines of Present Field Video data at twice the field rate to yield an output bit stream suitable for display on display device that utilizes progressive scanning. The de-interlacing and frame doubling system in accordance with present principles includes a frame memory mechanism (116, 116? and 116?) for storing at least one frame of interlaced video having a prescribed field rate. At least one de-interlacing circuit (11401, 1140?1, 1140?) pulls at least two fields of video data from the memory mechanism at a rate of at least twice the field rate for performing a full de-interlacing function in half of a field period to generate the a progressive, frame doubled signal for receipt at the display device.

Abstract: A line doubling processing system has an input signal switching output section for receiving sequential input fields and for outputting, based on the sequential input fields, a plurality of fields obtained from the same image, and a line doubling device for generating one line-doubled field using the plurality of fields that are output from the input signal switching output section.

Abstract: Whether or not an input video signal is an video signal telecine-converted is decided on the basis of correlation values between an interpolated field and fields located one-field-period before and after the interpolated field. Where the interpolated field is an editing point field of a film frame of one field, adaptive interpolating processing is executed instead of film interpolating processing.

Abstract: A redundant picture detecting device includes: a calculator for calculating difference information indicating a difference between a unit picture and a subsequent unit picture having an identical phase for each of the unit pictures; a multiplier for multiplying the difference information of a unit picture preceding an object unit picture by a predetermined first constant to produce a preceding difference information and for multiplying the difference information of a unit picture following the object unit picture by the first constant to produce a following difference information, the first constant being greater than zero and smaller than 1; and a judging unit for judging that the object unit picture is a redundant picture if the difference information of the object information is smaller than both of the preceding difference information and the following difference information.

Abstract: Image information is stored into a memory device (FMORG) which is controlled in such a manner that only image information from a movement phase different from the movement phase of the image information already stored in the memory device (FMORG), is stored into the memory device (FMORG), whereby the memory device (FMORG) provides image information from a movement phase which differs from a movement phase of the image information by a fixed number of movement phases, even when the image information contains repeated movement phases.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for low-delay conversion of 3:2 pulldown video to progressive format with field averaging is disclosed. The method considers 3:2 pulldown interlaced video that represents a four-frame motion picture film sequence as a ten-field interlaced video field sequence of three, two, three, two video fields per motion picture frame respectively for the four-frame sequence. One step of the method is the step of creating a ten-frame progressive video frame sequence, having a delay of approximately one field time with respect to the ten-field interlaced video sequence. This step is achieved by combining at one field time intervals a top field and a bottom field from the ten-field interlaced video sequence, where, at the time of combination, the top field and the bottom field are the most recently available top and bottom fields corresponding to the same motion picture film frame.

Abstract: A system processes an image containing a first line and a second line, where the first and second lines includes a plurality of pixels, to generate an interpolated line. The system selects a first and second set of pixels from the lines and generates a first set and second set of filtered values. The system identifies in the first line an edge location in the first set of the filtered values by a first filtered value of the first set of filtered values being at least one of less than and equal to a first predetermined value and a second filtered value of the fist set of the filtered values being at least one of greater than and equal to the first predetermined value.

Abstract: A first correlation between a present field of an input video signal and a one-field preceding field, and a second correlation between the present field and a one-field succeeding field are detected. The first correlation and the second correlation are compared with each other, and the input video signal is determined as a telecine-converted video signal when either of the first correlation or the second correlation is larger than the other correlation.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing a decoded, interlaced-field data stream with an interlaced field display. A system for displaying an MPEG encoded data stream includes an MPEG decoder which converts the encoded data stream into a sequence of frames. Each frame has an associated top field, bottom field, top-field-first flag, and repeat-first-field flag. The system also includes a display processor which receives the flags and determines a field display sequence for each frame which conforms to an overall display sequence which strictly alternates between top and bottom fields. This strict alternation in enforced even when the decoded field sequence does not adhere to a strict alternation. The system achieves this result with a worst-case temporal distortion of one field by inserting or omitting a 3:2 pulldown frame at each broken alternation point.

Abstract: A picture signal encoding method in which a picture string produced by converting non-interlaced pictures into sets of field pictures each beginning from the first field of each interlaced picture and another picture string produced by converting non-interlaced pictures into sets of field pictures each beginning from the second field of each interlaced picture are combined together to an input picture signal for encoding, is disclosed. The method includes a detection step of detecting a lone field not constituting the non-interlaced picture in the input picture signal, and an encoding step of re-constructing the picture string of the input picture signal and encoding the resulting non-interlaced picture string.

Abstract: A picture signal encoding method in which a picture string produced by converting non-interlaced pictures into sets of field pictures each beginning from the first field of each interlaced picture and another picture string produced by converting non-interlaced pictures into sets of field pictures each beginning from the second field of each interlaced picture are combined together to an input picture signal for encoding, is disclosed. The method includes a detection step of detecting a lone field not constituting the non-interlaced picture in the input picture signal, and an encoding step of re-constructing the picture string of the input picture signal and encoding the resulting non-interlaced picture string.

Abstract: A 3-2 pulldown detector for a video compression encoder initially converts each frame of an input video signal that includes converted film material as well as original video material into top and bottom fields. Consecutive fields from the top and bottom fields are then input to respective sum of absolute difference circuits, the outputs of which are subtracted from each other to produce a difference signal. The difference signal is processed to remove spikes that represent scene changes and to generate a flag signal during the periods of the input video signal when the converted film material is present. The flag signal is then used by a frame rate reduction circuit to eliminate the repeated fields in the converted film material prior to input to a video encoder that outputs a compressed video signal.

Abstract: A method for converting between relatively dose field rates of perhaps 60 Hz and 59.94 Hz, monitors the phase difference between input and output field rates. Initially, output fields are created by synchronising input fields. As the measured phase passes a threshold, the method switches to interpolation mode for a short, fixed interval and then returns to synchronization. The method offers much of the sharpness associated with simple synchronization but avoids the visible discontinuities of field drops or repeats.

Abstract: Jagged vertical or diagonal transition artifacts in interlaced to line doubled progressive scan converted television signals are detected and areas of the television picture having such artifacts are subjected to vertical averaging such that the resolution of the jagged transitions is reduced, thereby softening, "greying" or "fuzzing" the jagged transitions and causing them to appear smooth. Thus, highly contrasted lines appearing in a sawtooth pattern, which are extremely perceptible, are replaced with a flash of what might be characterized as "fuzziness," which is not perceptible. The eye no longer perceives the jagged artifacts. Moreover, areas of reduced vertical and horizontal resolution, resulting from the vertical averaging, do not create any new artifacts and are not perceived by the eye. Artifacts are detected by comparing pixels in corresponding positions in the scan lines of the line doubled progressively scanned television signal.

Abstract: For large screen video displays using line-doubling to reduce scan line visibility, where a video source signal in standard interlaced format such as NTSC is converted to line-doubled non-interlaced format for progressively scanned display, visible motion degradations such as edge shimmer and strobe effects due to film-sourced video material are minimized by improved motion-detection video processing taught by this invention. In advance of actual display, successive fields are monitored for motion value in a first motion-detector and microprocessor comparator/analyzer where fields having high field-motion-value are detected as H-fields. Then, for display, each H-field is modified by pixel-averaging with a selected non-H-field. The regular and averaged fields are correctly sequenced to achieve vertical pixel alignment and smooth motion transitions thus minimizing film-source edge motion degradation.

Abstract: An audio/video production system facilitates professional quality image manipulation and editing using an enhanced general-purpose hardware. A program input may be translated into any of a variety of graphics or television formats, including NTSC, PAL, SECAM and HDTV, and stored as data-compressed images, using any of several commercially available methods such as Motion JPEG, MPEG, etc. While being processed, the images may be re-sized to produce a desired aspect ratio or dimensions using conventional techniques such as pixel interpolation. Frame rate conversion to and from conventional formats is performed by using the techniques employed for film-to-NTSC and film-to-PAL transfers, or by inter-frame interpolation, all well known in the art. By judicious selection of the optimal digitizing parameters, the system allows a user to establish an inter-related family of aspect ratios, resolutions, and frame rates, yet remain compatible with currently available and planned graphics and television formats.

Abstract: A method for coding an input video signal with a field rate of 60 Hz derived from a motion picture film source using 2-3 pulldown. In the method, duplicate fields are detected in the input video signal. Each duplicate field is eliminated from the input video signal to produce a progressive video signal comprising plural frames with a frame rate of 24 Hz. Finally, the progressive video signal is coded to produce a coded video signal. Preferably, when a duplicate field is detected in the input video signal, a control signal is generated in response to each detected duplicated field. Each control signal is then included in the coded video signal.

Abstract: A method of processing an input 60 field/second video signal generated by 3232 pulldown to produce an output video signal, comprises producing from the input signal a series of progressive scan format frames, each frame corresponding to a respective one of the input fields, and comparing blocks of pixels in each progressive scan frame with blocks of pixels in the following frame to derive motion vectors representing the motion of the content of respective blocks between frames. The motion vectors are utilized to monitor the field sequence of the input signal, and fields or frames of the output video signal are produced using input fields or progressive scan frames selected in dependence upon the field sequence of the input signal, at least some of the output fields or frames being produced by motion compensated temporal interpolation utilizing the motion vectors.

Abstract: Images may be stored on film or on one of the TV/video standards. Film comprises a sequence of frames each of which corresponds to the same point in time. Video, however, comprises a sequence of frames each comprising an interlace of 2 fields which successively scan the image and thus each field does not correspond to the same point in time.Due to these inherent differences, when converting from film to one of the TV standards and between the TV standards when at least part of the image originates on film, distortions are introduced particularly when there are any objects moving in the image.The present invention includes a vector motion estimator (10) providing motion vectors which are indicative of any objects moving and are used to manipulate the standards converter (8) so as to accommodate for the moving objects.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for displaying an image clip comprising a plurality of image frames on an electronic monitor includes separating each image frame from the next image frame by an overscan period. In this way image frames captured at a first frame rate can be displayed at the first frame rate on a monitor arranged normally to display images at a second frame rate, different to the first frame rate. In practice, the overscan period is created by adjusting driving circuitry for the monitor to increase the number of lines of data output to the monitor during a frame or field period whilst maintaining the line rate constant.

Abstract: An input digital video signal representing a series of input frames is processed to produce an output digital video signal representing a series of output frames with an increased motion blur effect. For each output frame at least one intermediate field or frame is produced by motion compensated temporal interpolation between a pair of the input frames. Each output frame is then produced by combining the intermediate field or frame with at least one further intermediate field or frame and/or with one of the respective input frames so that the output frame has an increased motion blur characteristic compared with that of the input frames. Using motion compensated temporal interpolation, a change in frame rate can also be produced as between the input frames and the output frames.

Abstract: An audio/video production system facilitates professional quality image manipulation and editing using an enhanced general-purpose hardware. A program input may be translated into any of a variety of graphics or television formats, including NTSC, PAL, SECAM and HDTV, and stored as data-compressed images, using any of several commercially available methods such as Motion JPEG, MPEG, etc. While being processed, the images may be re-sized to produce a desired aspect ratio or dimensions using conventional techniques such as pixel interpolation. Frame rate conversion to and from conventional formats is performed by using the techniques employed for film-to-NTSC and film-to-PAL transfers, or by inter-frame interpolation, all well known in the art. By judicious selection of the optimal digitizing parameters, the system allows a user to establish an interrelated family of aspect ratios, resolutions, and frame rates, yet remain compatible with currently available and planned graphics and television formats.