Abstract: Disclosed is a system and a method for compressing digitized color video data by generating codes into a pattern of tables for regions in frames of the video data exhibiting certain patterns. An image frame in a video data stream has a plurality of pixels assigned digitized color and luminance data. The image frame is divided into a plurality of non-overlapping elementary units, with each elementary unit comprising a plurality of pixels. For elementary units exhibiting change from the prior frame in time, elementary units having pixels with differing digitized color and luminance data are selected for pattern matching. Each pixel of an elementary unit selected for pattern matching is mapped to a pattern value. A pattern value is the same for all pixels sharing the same color and luminance data in an elementary unit. The pattern values are then grouped based on relative position in the elementary unit into offsets into associated sets of pattern match tables and error condition tables.

Abstract: This specification concerns signal processing apparatus for processing line synchronization pulses in a line synchronization signal that define an analog video signal line period. The apparatus comprises a phase locked loop (40) for generating a clock signal of a frequency that is a multiple of the line synchronization signal frequency. The phase locked loop (40) comprises a counter (100) for dividing the clock signal by said multiple. The apparatus further comprises logic (110,50) for resetting the counter (100) upon detection of a spurious pulse introducing a time interval into the line synchronization signal of less than the line period of the video signal. The apparatus is particularly useful in image processing systems for digitizing analog video signals that have been replayed via a conventional, domestic video tape player, and therefore may comprise spurious line sync pulses introduced by playback head skip.

Abstract: A DSP manager acquires through software techniques configuration and related data for multimedia hardware devices from BIOS device drivers interposed to functionally insulate the resource manager from hardware device specific information. The DSP manager manages tasks executing on hardware devices in a multiple DSP environment. The DSP manager optimally assigns tasks, loads tasks, and removes tasks for a function without interrupting execution of tasks making up other functions.

Abstract: A multimedia system includes a multimedia device control program having a plurality of application program selectable controls for controlling operation of a like plurality of different classes of multimedia devices. Each class has a different set of controllable device functions or attributes. In response to selection of a class by an application program, a unique control panel is created in a user interface for controlling operation of a device. The selected control performs all of the processing actions necessary to control the device in response to user selections on the interface, without involvement of the application program in such actions. The multimedia control program includes a plurality of panel templates from which control panels are created in a control screen. Each panel has a plurality of controllers that can manipulated by a user to control a corresponding function of a multimedia device. The templates provide a consistent interfaces having a common look and feel.

Abstract: Multimedia data objects in memory need not be processed serially from beginning to end but may instead be defined as algorithmically generated data streams. This functionality is provided through an architected application programming interface with a mechanism for defining a method of composing a complex object from smaller objects, for defining a behavior for the complex object, and for allowing that behavior to be varied based on external events.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient operation of a digital signal processor allows execution of a noncoherent FSK demodulation process at the baud rate of the incoming signal. First and second signal detecting channels terminate at a summing junction. A signal sampler for applying a sampled signal to the first and second signal detecting channels. The first and second signal detecting channels each include, in series, a finite impulse response filter for filtering out energy outside a selected bandwidth, automatic gain control and a demodulator. The finite impulse response filter means for the second signal detecting channel further shifts the phase of the sampled signal in the second signal detecting channel approximately 90 degrees relative to the sampled signal in the first signal detecting channel. The demodulator in each signal detecting channel further includes first and second sampled signal transmission paths terminating in a multiplying junction.

Abstract: A personal computer system has source of input video data containing digitized pixel color values, and a display operated with palette quantized colors including non-linear palette quantized colors. A conversion table is stored in the system for converting blocks of pixel color values into palette colors, the conversion table comprising a plurality of error diffusion arrays covering the color range of pixel color values. Each array in the conversion table corresponds to a different color value, each array being accessed using said corresponding color value as an index into said table. Each array in the table has "n" fields respectively containing palette color values ordered in accordance with an order matrix by sorted luminance values.

Abstract: Systems and methods that enable digital video compression techniques to manage and control artifact presence in each compressed frame of the video clip. Wherein specific embodiments are applicable to interframe and intraframe video compression methods and can be used in the compression of digital images and digital video clips. Other embodiments are employable in digital video compression and are applicable to interframe compression methods. A mechanism to increase the amount of video compression, while maintaining video quality that may otherwise be sacrificed with such increases in video compression, by threshold value management to accommodate the human eye's ability to more readily discern local image features or artifacts at central image locations or focused-upon areas, while tolerating, to a greater extent, artifacts dispersed elsewhere in the image.

Abstract: Hybrid compression processes for digital color video data that enables software only playback of the compressed digital video in low-end computers, wherein intraframe and interframe compression techniques are brought together through a sequence of procedures that analyze local frame regions, integrate unique processes with block truncation coding compression, and adopt the advantages of visual pattern image coding for color video. The process determines the appropriate encoding of each local frame region with one of various compression techniques, based upon its image properties. The compression methods retain the fidelity of the original video data to provide high quality video during decompression and reconstruction of high motion and textured video clips, while simultaneously providing sufficient compression and ease of decoding for software-only decompression thereby exhibiting properties that enable good quality video to be displayed in low-end computers.

Abstract: A system and method of compressing original video data expressed in a plurality of digitally coded frames which enable decompression and playback of resulting compressed video data at one of a plurality of frame rates while maintaining temporal fidelity of the frames displayed. Compression includes selecting a plurality of rate streams for the compressed video data, including a highest rate stream including all of the frames of the original video data and a lowest rate stream including a subset of regularly spaced frames of the original video data. Then the initial frame in the original video data is spatially compressed and the resulting compressed data placed in the compressed video data. The initial frame is also saved as a base frame for all rate streams for subsequent temporal compression of the original video data.

Abstract: A data stream is created for moving data from a source to a target in accordance with a stream protocol defined by controlling stream protocol control blocks (SPCBs) created from a predefined source SPCB and a predefined target SPCB. The controlling SPCBs include information establishing a plurality of data buffers that are used to efficiently stream or transfer data on a real-time basis. The controlling SPCBs are formed by a process of negotiation in which differences between the source and target SPCBs are reconciled in accordance with rules of negotiation. Once the data stream is created, it is then started by the application program and data is streamed until an end of stream is reached.

Abstract: A personal computer based, multimedia, data processing system includes a software solution to the problem of synchronizing two or more data streams which output data to two or more multimedia output devices. One stream is a master and each other stream is a slave. The master stream generates sync pulses that can be handled in two different synchronization methods, master-slave independent synchronization or master-driven slave synchronization. Sync pulses are generated with a predetermined granularity, and synchronization is achieved when a slave stream is out of tolerance. Adaptive resynchronization may be used to speed up or slow down a slave stream.