Abstract: Input signals in floating-point format are converted into output signals in integer format while handling saturation cases appropriately. Saturation exists when the value of an input signal is outside the output range. Saturation cases are detected by invoking an integer comparison instruction using signals in floating-point format as inputs to tile integer comparison instruction. When implemented in software on processors such as the Intel.RTM. Pentium.TM. processor, using an integer comparison instruction to compare signals in floating-point format provides more efficient signal conversion than conventional schemes that use a floating-point comparison instruction to compare floating-point signals.

Abstract: A heterogeneous multimedia stream has interleaved samples of two or more different substream types. For example, a heterogeneous video stream may have interleaved intra, predicted, and bi-directional frames. In addition to a global bit bank, a different bit bank is maintained for each different frame type. A global quantization level is selected for each frame based on the global bit bank and the bit bank for the corresponding frame type. The frames are encoded using the selected global quantization levels. In a preferred embodiment, the number of bits available for encoding frames differs based on the frame type. In addition, any unused bits from encoding the current frame are shifted from the bit bank corresponding to the current frame type to a bit bank of a different frame type.

Abstract: An odd pixel and an even pixel of a row of an image are selected in accordance with digital differential accumulator processing. An odd-pixel weight factor and an even-pixel weight factor are selected in accordance with the digital differential accumulator processing. A weighted odd-pixel image signal is generated by multiplying an image signal corresponding to the odd pixel by the odd-pixel weight factor and a weighted even-pixel image signal is generated by multiplying an image signal corresponding to the even pixel by the even-pixel weight factor. A horizontally scaled image signal is generated by adding the weighted odd-pixel signal and the weighted even-pixel image signal.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and storage medium for encoding data. According to one embodiment, the data is encrypted with a variable encryption technique, and the encryption is varied to prevent oversaturation of a processor. According to another embodiment, a method, apparatus, and storage medium for decoding data. Encrypted data is received and decrypted, wherein the encrypted data has been generated by encrypting the data with a variable encryption technique, wherein the encryption is varied to prevent oversaturation of a processor.