Abstract: An image coding apparatus calculates an image change rate with respect to input image data, predicts an average activity appropriate for a coding target picture that is included in the input image data based on the image change rate, and normalizes an activity using the predicted value of the average activity. Based on the normalized activity, the image coding apparatus performs a quantization of the image data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for: authorizing the transmission of audiovisual data based on an iterative changing bit budget, where the bit budget may be based on a value of a total size of the set of Network Abstraction Layer units and a value of an initial size of the group of frames; and determining a bit budget remainder and an adjusted bit budget remainder.

Abstract: Multiple-pass video encoding systems and techniques are described which utilize statistics taken during a first-pass encoding to create complexity measurements for video data which is to be encoded. By analyzing these complexity measurements, preprocessing decisions, such as, for example, the determination of strength of denoise filters, can be made with greater accuracy. In one implementation, these complexity measurements take the form of calculation of temporal and spatial complexity parameters, which are then used to compute a unified complexity parameter for each group of pictures being encoded.

Abstract: Multifunctional transmitters capable of transmitting signals of different specifications in different modes are provided, in which N output units are provided and each output unit comprises a serializer and an output driver. A control unit, according to a mode selection signal, selects a first set of output units from the N output units to transmit a first video data compatible with a first transmission interface under a first transmission mode and selects a second set of output units from the first set of output units to transmit a second video data compatible with a second transmission interface which is different from the first transmission interface under a second transmission mode.

Abstract: Video encoding (such as H.263, MPEG-4, H.264/AVC) modifies TMN5-type rate control frame skipping and quantization parameter updating according to buffer fullness levels with I-frame initial quantization parameter values depend upon quantization parameter value of prior P-frames but also has within I-frame prediction and parameter increase to avoid excessive bits. And variable input frame rate is accommodated by adjusting buffer fullness measures. The quantization also applies to image compression.

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for controlling a bit-rates in which an amount of generated bits is adjusted according to the complexity of each frame, and a bit-rate within a frame can be further effectively adjusted by applying different quantization parameter (QP) values to respective macro blocks. In the apparatus for controlling a bit-rate, a motion compensated temporal filtering (MCTP) operation is performed for each group of pictures (GOP) in an input scalable layer, and thereafter bits are allocated to respective frames in consideration of frame type and frame complexity. Furthermore, a QP is adaptively determined in the unit of a macro block on the basis of the allocated bits.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention multiplex elementary streams without timing information coded to create a transport stream. In some embodiments, ‘n’ number of access units are constructed and pushed into a list one by one. Each access unit is capable of looking ahead to obtain information on timing for the next access unit. A header is constructed by calculating timing information from the topmost access unit of the list. Said header is written in the transport stream and the remaining bytes of the transport stream are filled with data from the said elementary stream. Thus the transport stream is constructed.

Abstract: Activities of a video signal are obtained for subblocks of each macroblock of each picture. The smallest activity is detected as an input-picture activity per macroblock. Obtained are activities of a motion-compensated predictive signal per first picture and activites of the video signal per second picture, for the subblocks of each macroblock. A mean value of the activities is obtained per macroblock for each picture, as an error activity per macroblock. A mean error activity is obtained for error activities per picture. A quantization step size for quantization of the video signal is adjusted per macroblock, according to the input-picture activity, to obtain a smaller step size when the error activity is equal to or larger than the mean error activity than when the former is smaller than the latter.

Abstract: A video transmission system includes a transceiver module that transmits a video signal to a remote device over at least one RF communications channel wherein the video signal is transmitted as at least one separate video layer stream chosen from, an independent video layer stream and at least one dependent video layer streams that require the independent video layer for decoding. A control module determines at least one channel characteristic of the at least one RF channel and chooses the at least one separate video layer stream based on the at least one channel characteristic of the at least one RF channel.

Abstract: A coding device makes a GOP setting to input image data, and applies a coding process to the input image data on a macroblock basis successively by intra and inter prediction to output coded data. The device includes an orthogonal transform section; a quantization section; a coding section; and a rate control section. The rate control section includes an activity detection section; and a prediction residual detection section. The rate control section calculates, in pictures configuring a GOP, a target code amount of any picture that has not yet been subjected to the coding process, another target code amount for a macroblock of any of the pictures relating to the coding process from the target code amount of the picture not yet subjected to the coding process, and the quantization scale of the quantization section in which a generated code amount serves as the target code amount.

Abstract: A motion detector detects the motion of an imaging device. On the basis of the detected motion information, a selector selects, from a plurality of frame memories for storing a plurality of frame data, a frame memory for storing reference frame data to be referred to when frame data to be coded is coded. A motion estimator estimates a motion vector on the basis of the reference frame data stored in the selected frame memory and the frame data to be coded. The frame data to be coded is coded by using the estimated motion vector, and the coded data is output.

Abstract: A system that compresses a digital image. During operation, the system obtains a digital image in which the image components are de-correlated into separate channels containing luminance information and chrominance information. Next, the system receives a quality number for the luminance channel and a quality number for the chrominance channels, and uses the quality numbers to determine a target bitrate for the luminance channel and for the chrominance channels, respectively. Given the target bitrate for the luminance channel and the target bit rate for the chrominance channels, the system performs rate distortion optimizations separately on the luminance and chrominance channels to determine which portions of the luminance bitstream and which portions of the chrominance bitstream are to be included in the final bitstream. The system then uses the stored rate-distortion information to generate a preview of the digital image without performing entropy coding each time the quality settings are changed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for choosing a mode of coding from among a plurality of modes of coding for a subset of blocks included in a set of blocks. An energy function over the set of blocks for each of the modes of coding is calculated and calculation elements of the energy function are stored for at least the subset of blocks. A first mode of coding, minimizing the energy function over the set of blocks is chosen. The energy function over the subset of blocks for each of the modes of coding is thereafter calculated by using the calculation elements stored for the subset of blocks and by said subset, of a cost of coding for the modes of coding distinct from the first mode of coding. The choice of a mode of coding minimizing the energy function over the subset is then effected.

Abstract: A method for video processing. A first video sequence (VS) is received. The first VS is processed to generate a second VS in a first resolution. The second VS is adjusted to a third VS in a second resolution. It is determined whether the difference between the first VS and the third VS is lower than a predetermined bias level. The second VS is encoded and output if the difference between the first VS and the third VS is lower than the predetermined bias level.

Abstract: A video encoding method and system are provided for encoding a video sequence. The video sequence includes N sub-sequences which each includes a plurality of frames. When the video encoding system encodes the jth frame in the ith sub-sequence of the video sequence, the frames previous to the jth frame in the ith sub-sequence have been encoded. Based on the encoded frames, an initial quantization scale is generated. According to the initial quantization scale, the jth frame of the ith sub-sequence is encoded in the inter-encoded mode. Whether the jth frame in the ith sub-sequence is a “scene change” relative to the (j?1)th frame in the ith subsequence is judged, and if YES, based on the initial quantization scale, an adjusted quantization scale is generated. Moreover, the jth frame in the ith sub-sequence is re-encoded in accordance with the adjusted quantization scale.

Abstract: This disclosure describes adaptive filtering techniques to improve the quality of captured imagery, such as video or still images. In particular, this disclosure describes adaptive filtering techniques that filter each pixel as a function of a set of surrounding pixels. An adaptive image filter may compare image information associated with a pixel of interest to image information associated with a set of surrounding pixels by, for example, computing differences between the image formation associated with the pixel of interest and each of the surrounding pixels of the set. The computed differences can be used in a variety of ways to filter image information of the pixel of interest. In some embodiments, for example, the adaptive image filter may include both a low pass component and high pass component that adjust as a function of the computed differences.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a moving picture coding device which performs a motion-compensated prediction for moving picture data in macroblocks, applies discrete cosine transform and quantization to a prediction error obtained by the motion-compensation prediction to obtain a quantization coefficient, and applies variable-length-coding to the quantization coefficient together with a motion vector to be obtained by the motion-compensation prediction, when controlling each coding mode of target macroblocks for the variable-length-coding in response to a picture type, the coding device determines whether the quantization coefficient is not smaller than a threshold if the picture type is a B, performs motion detection processing only by frame prediction if the quantization coefficient is not smaller than the threshold, performs the motion detection processing after conventional frame/field prediction determination if the quantization coefficient is smaller than the threshold, and skips coding processing of the

Abstract: The present application is directed to techniques and tools for adapting the quantizer as well as the quantization step size used during video encoding. For example, a video encoder uses a non-uniform quantizer (having a relatively large dead zone ratio) for B-picture types, but uses a uniform quantizer for other types of pictures. In many encoding scenarios, this helps the encoder control bit rate for the B-picture types instead of resorting to higher quantization step sizes, which improves overall quality for the B-picture types.

Abstract: A quantization matrix used in inverse quantization is generated. A received bitstream includes a coded truncated quantization matrix. The coded truncated quantization matrix has first coded bits and second coded bits. The first coded bits include bits obtained by coding a transmitting part of quantization elements and the second coded bits includes bits obtained by coding an end code. The coded truncated quantization matrix is decoded until the second coded bits corresponding to the end code are read out, to obtain the transmitting part of quantization elements. At least one additional quantization element is obtained. A complete quantization matrix is generated, using the transmitting part of quantization elements and at least one additional quantization element, by ordering the transmitting part of quantization elements and at least one additional quantization element in a zig-zag scan.

Abstract: Imaging systems and methods for processing images. Various of the imaging systems include a motion detection and/or estimation engine. Information from such a motion engine can be used by one or more of a scene definition engine, a blur reduction engine, an anti-shake engine, and a video compression engine. Various of the methods include processes for accepting motion information from a motion detection and/or estimation engine and performing one or more of the following functions: anti-shake, blur reduction, scene definition, video compression, and power management. In some cases, the various systems and methods can be implemented on a single chip.

Abstract: A feed circuit accepts a stream of digital payload data and inserts it at predetermined first positions into a stream of digital transmission data. The feed circuit generates supplementary digital data using the stream of digital payload data and inserts it at predetermined second positions into a stream of digital transmission data. The feed circuit feeds the digital transmission data into a transmission medium. Said circuit determines the supplementary digital data in such a way that at least one frequency's portion of a frequency spectrum of the stream of digital transmission data will be minimized.

Abstract: Disclosed herein in one embodiment is an adaptive coding threshold algorithm for a videoconference system which alleviates problems due to the erroneous recoding of stationary areas of images caused by image noise. The algorithm, which is preferably implementable on a videoconference encoder, assesses the coding parameters for a current macroblock and the coding parameters for that same macroblock the last time it was coded. If for both macroblocks the coding was non-intra, with a [0,0] motion vector, and with a low quantization parameter, a determination is made that the current macroblock depicts a stationary image. Accordingly, the algorithm increases the coding threshold (T1) for the blocks within that macroblock, so that it becomes more difficult for those particular blocks to be recoded. This renders the block with stationary content less susceptible to erroneous recoding, while preserving system bandwidth and improving image quality.

Abstract: An apparatus for downloading a multimedia file including a file converter configured to convert a larger multimedia file into a smaller multimedia file by deleting prescribed medial information based on a media format contained in the larger file. Further, the file converter converts the larger file into the smaller file by deleting multi bit-rate media not corresponding to a selected bit rate or by deleting enhancement layer video.

Abstract: In an image processing method of sequentially loading, compressing, and transmitting images to thereby display the images, there is provided the image processing method capable of preventing the images from degradation while keeping the responsibility until the image is displayed. When a changed region is determined to be present, the image is compressed using a method with a high compression ratio, while when there is no changed region and a predetermined period of time elapses, the image is determined to be static to thereby be compressed using a method with a low compression ratio and very little distortion.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to systems, methods, and computer program products for optimally allocating a fixed number of bits among a plurality of multi-media data channels. The optimal number of bits is determined by preprocessing each channel to calculate complexity data, and then the complexity data is used to determine the optimal number of bits to assign to each channel. The optimal number of bits may be determined by a closed loop controller in communication with one or more channel encoders, and the multi-media channels may contain video data conforming to the MPEG2 video format.

Abstract: A digital video coding system is provided that is capable of reducing the load of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls a video coding system for implementing a digital video data compression/decompression standard such as MPEG-1, 2, 4, H.261 or H.263. In a conventional video coding system, the circuit configuration and control method of a variable length encoder are becoming increasingly complex with the development of a video compression/decompression standard. In a conventional system structure, a complex control operation must be carried out, such that there is a problem in that the load of the CPU controlling the video coding system increases. Thus, the video coding technology is provided to reduce the load of the CPU necessary for controlling a VLC (Variable Length Coding) unit.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a data transmission system. The system comprises a data transmitter that provides a plurality of data bits over at least one data line. The data transmitter comprises a clock that provides a clock signal associated with timing for latching the plurality of data bits and a data encoder configured to encode error data associated with the data transmission system in the clock signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for video processing, such as transcoding, storage, quality testing, and the like, in network edge devices. The present invention embeds various video processing capabilities within a network to provide advantages, such as superior per-user video handling, reduced network bandwidth, increased service offerings, and the like.

Abstract: A video transmission system includes a transceiver module that transmits a video signal to a remote device over at least one RF communications channel wherein the video signal is transmitted as at least one separate video layer stream chosen from, an independent video layer stream and at least one dependent video layer streams that require the independent video layer for decoding. A control module determines at least one channel characteristic of the at least one RF channel and chooses the at least one separate video layer stream based on the at least one channel characteristic of the at least one RF channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for partitioning moving picture data comprises a first quantizing unit for first-quantizing a received video signal and outputting a first-quantized signal; and a second quantizing unit for second-quantizing the first-quantized signal and partitioning the first-quantized signal into a preceding part and a succeeding part.

Abstract: An encoding apparatus includes a pre-encoding unit that performs learning based on input image data from before starting a video recording; and an encoding unit that encodes image data using an encoding parameter. The pre-encoding unit includes an image input unit; a motion searching unit that obtains a motion vector of an image based on current image data and past image data; and a table group that represents a relation between encoding parameters and an amount of information generated for various scenes. The pre-encoding unit selects a first table close to a combination of brightness, hue, and complexity of a pattern of a current image and the motion vector, from the table group, and takes the first table as the result of the learning.

Abstract: An advanced noise estimation method is provided. The noise estimation method includes calculating motion compensation information of the input picture at a first resolution, calculating the motion compensation information of the input picture at a second resolution, and based on the motion compensation information at the first resolution and the motion compensation information at the second resolution, estimating the noise of the input picture.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for adapting a video transmission rate.

Abstract: A data encoding apparatus operable to encode a plurality of data blocks produces encoded data in accordance with at least one of a selectable target data quantity or a selectable target data quality.

Abstract: An image coding method and apparatus considering human visual characteristics are provided. The image coding method comprises (a) modeling image quality distribution of an input image in units of scenes such that the quality of an image input in units of scenes is gradually lowered from a region of interest to a background region, (b) determining a quantization parameter of each region constituting one scene according to the result of modeling of image quality distribution, (c) quantizing image data in accordance with the quantization parameter, and (d) coding entropy of the quantized image data.

Abstract: A stream of raw data is compressed prior to transmission in a communication channel by a system which includes modules for choosing a current segment of the raw data stream for processing and defining a set of operators for representing data segments by a mathematical operation and parameters thereof. The system performs a competitive evaluation of different tools comprising different combinations of one or more of the operators and the parameters thereof with respect to the current data segment in order to determine relative abilities among the different tools to reduce the number of bits required to represent the current data segment. The system then selects a tool and a set of parameters thereof found in the competitive evaluation to have a superior ability relative to others of the different tools to reduce a number of bits required to represent the current data segment.

Abstract: A method of rate control using a picture-based lookahead sliding window in a dual-pass transcoder/encoder compressed video architecture extracts statistics from an input video signal according to a simple compression standard, the input video signal being a compressed video signal for transcoding or an uncompressed video signal for encoding. A trans-factor is calculated for a current picture based on previous pictures in a sliding window to predict the complexity of the current picture, the trans-factor being a ratio of global complexity measures for the simple compression standard versus a sophisticated compression standard. Bits for the current picture are then allocated based on the complexity of future pictures in the sliding window. After encoding the current picture according to the sophisticated compression standard, the target bits of and the picture complexity in the sliding window, as well as the trans-factor, are updated as the window is moved by one picture.

Abstract: A system for transcoding compressed video signal, including a plurality of pictures, comprising an estimator to gather information and estimate the signal characteristics about the video signal; a decoder to completely or partially decode the compressed video signal; and an encoder to compress the reconstructed video signal according to a coding scheme devised on the estimated signal characteristics from the estimator.

Abstract: A digital video encoder is presented adapted for dynamically switching between sets of quantizer matrix tables without pausing encoding of a stream of video data. Two or more sets of quantizer matrix tables are held at the encoder's quantization unit and compressed store interface for dynamically switching between sets of quant matrix tables at a picture boundary of the sequence of video data, i.e., without stopping encoding of the sequence of video data. Further, while one set of matrix tables is being employed to quantize the stream of video data, the encoder can be updating or modifying another set of quantization matrix tables, again without stopping encoding of the sequence of video data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding pictures of a moving pictures sequence according to an overall target bit-rate, such as in a MPEG video encoder. Each picture has an assigned picture coding type for which a quality factor is adaptively determined according to past bit usages, so that bits can be adaptively allocated amongst picture types for optimizing visual quality of the encoded pictures.

Abstract: A data compression algorithm which computes from a given probability density, in continuous or histogram form, a “probability centrifuge” probability density and also the Fisher information of the density. The density preserves Shannon entropy of the original density and the Fisher information represents the minimum Fisher information obtainable by “lateral” adiabatic reduction. The data compression algorithm can alternately be used to perform a “vertically” adiabatic reduction, a “radial” adiabatic reduction, or a “sectoral” adiabatic reduction. Said algorithm may provide alternate information for applications such as image reconstruction and protein folding analysis.

Abstract: A rate control apparatus for real-time video communication includes: an initialization unit for setting an initial value required for rate control according to a transmission speed and the number of input frames; a target bit calculation unit for obtaining the target number of encoding bits, maximum allowable number of bits, and minimum allowable number of bits in consideration of a buffer state and a transmission speed; a rate control and encoder unit for executing rate control and encoding using the maximum allowable number of bits and the minimum allowable number of bits; a stuffing control unit for comparing the size of a bit stream from the rate control and encoding unit with the target number of encoding bits from the target bit calculation unit for thereby outputting stuffing bits; a buffering unit for storing a combination of the bit stream from the rate control encoding unit and the stuffing bits from the stuffing control unit for thereby outputting them to the target bit calculation unit; a frame sk

Abstract: A method and apparatus for temporally allocating bits between frames in a coding system such that temporal fluctuations are smoothed out. Namely, a picture quality is monitored on a frame by frame basis. An average distortion measure is derived from previous picture frames and that average is compared to the distortion measure of a current frame, where the result is used to effect bit budget allocation for each frame in an input image sequence.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for assessing the degradation of a video image coded by blocks of picture elements or pixels, comprising the following steps: a) selecting an input image and determining its spatial activity (SA) in an analysis window according to the following sub-steps: i) determining for each block (n, m) the transformed coefficients Fn m (i, y) by a block transform; ii) determining from the transformed coefficients Fn, m (i, y) each block spatial activity bsa; iii) determining the analysis window global spatial activity SA1; b) selecting the output image corresponding to the input image and determining said global spatial activity SA2 of the output image; c) comparing the spatial activities (SA2) and (SA1)

Abstract: Processing is applied to convert an input compressed video bitstream into an output compressed video bitstream having a different bit rate and/or representing different imagery from the input bitstream. The bitstream conversion processing is adjusted based on control parameters that are generated by comparing analogous measurements made to the input and output bitstreams so that subsequent measurements of the output bitstream will more closely match subsequent measurements of the input bitstream. In certain embodiments, the bitstream conversion processing involves decoding the input bitstream, optionally applying image processing functions to the resulting decoded video data, and re-encoding the resulting processed video data to generate the output bitstream.

Abstract: For use in a video image upconversion unit of the type that uses motion compensation to generate an interpolated field using motion vectors, an improved method of motion compensation is disclosed that calculates a first correlation value from the values of corresponding neighbor pixels of a previous frame and from the values of causal neighbor pixels of a generated field. The first correlation value is compared with a first threshold value. The value of a pixel to be created within the generated field is set to be equal to the value of a corresponding pixel of the previous frame if the first correlation value is less than the first threshold value. The method also calculates a second correlation value from the values of corresponding neighbor pixels of a next field and from the values of causal neighbor pixels of a generated field. The second correlation value is compared with a second threshold value.

Abstract: Ensuring integrity of a video buffer verifier (VBV) employed in MPEG-like video encoders is realized by controllably adjusting the bits being drained from a video encoder buffer (eBuff). The number of bits being drained from eBuff is adjusted through feedback to minimize the difference in the bit content of a buffer (mBuff) maintained in a bit-rate controller in the video encoder that models the buffer of a hypothetical decoder, and the bit content of that hypothetical buffer (vBuff). Specifically, this is realized by controllably inhibiting transmission of bits from eBuff during intervals that the value of a prescribed relationship is greater than a predetermined value. In one example, the prescribed relationship is dependent on an instantaneous video encoding rate, an end-to-end delay, the bit content of mBuff and the bit content of eBuff.

Abstract: Imaging systems and methods for processing images. Various of the imaging systems include a motion detection and/or estimation engine. Information from such a motion engine can be used by one or more of a scene definition engine, a blur reduction engine, an anti-shake engine, and a video compression engine. Various of the methods include processes for accepting motion information from a motion detection and/or estimation engine and performing one or more of the following functions: anti-shake, blur reduction, scene definition, video compression, and power management. In some cases, the various systems and methods can be implemented on a single chip.

Abstract: A transcoding method for inserting a visual element into an encoded bit stream with minimal decoding of the encoded bit stream. The transcoding method includes the steps of receiving an encoded bit stream containing a picture, partially decoding a copy of the bit stream, determining if a segment of the picture in the bit stream is affected by the insertion of the visual element, re-encoding the segment if the segment is affected by the insertion of the visual element, and outputting the re-encoded bit stream. The encoded and re-encoded bit streams may be MPEG-encoded bit streams. The re-encoded bit stream may be output using a bit rate control process that randomly selects an initial processing point within the re-encoded bit stream, requantizes the re-encoded bit stream using a modified quantization table, and/or utilizes a slice-level stopping criteria for selectively starting or ending bit rate control.

Abstract: This invention employs a scheme to allow an input video signal to undergo encoding, e.g., predictive encoding, DCT processing, quantization at fixed quantization step size and variable length encoding to generate first encoded data to determine (calculate) allocated code quantity every frame or every GOP on the basis of data quantity every predetermined time, e.g., every frame or every GOP of the first encoded data and total quantity of usable data to encode the input video signal every predetermined time on the basis of the allocated code quantity to generate second encoded data. Thus, variable rate encoding such that encoding rate changes every predetermined time is realized. As a result, even if pictures (frames) of complicated are successive, there is no possibility that quantization step size is caused to be large with respect to these pictures as in the conventional apparatus. Thus, uniform high picture quality can be obtained through the entirety.