Abstract: The process for estimating a dominant motion between two frames combines a phase correlation peak detection algorithm (1) and a multi-resolution robust regression algorithm (3) for improving the robustness of the estimation.

Abstract: A digital method and apparatus modulates a stream of digitized samples from a source, by a digital representation of a carrier to provide, for example, a 6 MHz bandwidth television signal selectively centered either at 63 MHz (Channel 3), 69 MHz (Channel 4) or 5.38 MHz IF (baseband). More particularly the method includes first resampling the stream of digitized samples and then modulating the resampled stream of samples with a repeating short sequence of complex values, which complex values represent a digitized exponential carrier.

Abstract: Motion-compensated hybrid codecs are used in data compression for moving picture sequences. By virtue of the regular insertion of intraframe-coded pictures, these compression methods enable access to any desired individual pictures in the entire bit stream or the playback of the bit stream from virtually any desired location. A disadvantage is the high bit outlay necessary for intraframe-coded pictures. In a feedback loop, a codec usually contains a simulation of the receiver-end decoder, whose coding errors can thus also be taken into account by the encoder. According to the invention, an attenuation element is inserted into this feedback loop. The coding and the receiver-end decoding of intraframe-coded pictures becomes superfluous.

Abstract: A video editing system for editing a compressed video stream in the transform domain reconstructs frames of video signal that have been motion compensated predictive encoded on a block basis. Spatial translations of blocks are determined from motion vectors and shifting matrices are generated with subpixel resolution from the translation data. The shifting matrices are applied to respective blocks and reconstructed blocks are formed from transform domain prediction blocks and transform domain prediction error blocks.

Abstract: In a system for receiving a signal containing digital data representing HDTV image information in the form of multilevel symbols formatted into groups of successive fields, each field comprising a field segment, a plurality of data segments, and associated sync components, the received signal is demodulated to produce a demodulated signal. The demodulated signal is comb-filtered to reject NTSC co-channel interference to produce a filtered signal. The filtered signal is trellis decoded with a trellis decoder employing a truncated non-Euclidean metric.

Abstract: For the acquisition of multistandard video data a decoder is used with a register 201 having 24 cells for storing 3 times 8 bit of data. Each of the three bytes are connected with logical devices in order to compare the content of the cells with given start codes. Start of the register 202 is byte3, followed by byte2 and byte 1. In addition a second 8 bit register 202 is connected in parallel to the register 201. The content of byte3 is also fed to a Hamming (8/4) decoder 203 and of byte2 to a Hamming (8/4) decoder 204. Each decoder output of 4 bits is fed to the assigned 4 bits of the register 202, respectively.

Abstract: A receiver for processing a VSB modulated signal containing terrestrial broadcast high definition television information includes an input analog-to-digital converter (19) for producing a digital datastream. A symbol timing recovery and segment sync recovery network (24; FIG. 3, 4) develops a properly timed sampling clock for the digital converter (19). The symbol timing recovery network (310) responds to an output from the segment sync recovery network (328), which in turn responds to an equalized signal from an adaptive channel equalizer (34). A controlled oscillator (336) generates the sampling clock for the digital converter. A control network (340, 344, 348; FIG. 3) shifts the frequency range of the oscillator to maintain desired linear operation to enhance symbol timing acquisition.

Abstract: Block matching is a robust and simple method of motion estimation for television pictures. One important parameter in block matching is the block size. Large blocks give more reliable motion estimation than small blocks, particularly in the presence of noise on the input picture, but they produce a coarser motion vector field. However, if the motion estimation is being used for motion compensated interpolation, for example the upconversion between 50 and 100 Hz display rates, the effects on picture quality of wrong vectors for whole blocks, and also of vectors that do not correctly follow the boundaries of moving objects, can be severe. According to the invention, large block (LB) matching is combined with the performance of more localized motion vectors to get pixel motion vectors. For any pixel, the motion vector will be one of four possibilities; the vector calculated for the block containing the pixel and the vectors (V1, V2, V3, V4) of the nearest blocks horizontally, vertically and diagonally.

Abstract: A method for regenerating the original data of a digitally coded video film is described, in which a specific picture type of a number of picture types (I, B, P) has been allocated to each of the individual pictures during coding and the coding order (DEO) does not correspond, at least in part, to the display order (DIO). This method provides for an independent time base to be used in order to recover the display order, which time base is obtained from internal information items in the decoder, the information items having been stored during the preceding decoding of a number of pictures. This method has the advantage that even with the omission of a header of a Group of Pictures (GOPH), the correct display order can still be achieved, even if the otherwise customary temporal reference codes in the bit stream signal an incorrect display order.

Abstract: A digital video tape record/playback apparatus (FIG. 10) for processing a high definition television signal includes provision for controlling the occurrence of high priority (HP) image information. Such information is selectively recorded at normal speed in tape tracks within predetermined regions (HP1-HP5) so as to appear along a tape head scanning path associate with predetermined tape playback speeds greater than normal (e.g., 20× normal). Input high priority data cells may be reordered or duplicated for recording in the predetermined tape regions in other than received order. In either case, the input datastream is massaged to produce a viewable image in a fast playback mode. In an illustrated system for receiving an MPEG coded datastream, an output datastream at greater than normal playback speed comprises either intracoded I-frame data cells only, or a whole Group of Pictures (GOP).

Abstract: This process to convert frames into frames with a larger format is characterized in that it carries out a motion estimation (5) of the current frame relatively to a previous extended view, it compensates in motion (6) the previous extended view relatively to the current frame, it updates the previous extended view (7) by taking into account data from the current frame to give an updated extended view becoming the previous extended view for the motion estimation of the next current frame, it completes the current frame (8) with data from the up-dated extended view to provide the frame with a larger format. The applications concern the 4/3 to 16/9 TV format conversion for 16/9 TV sets.

Abstract: A video decoder system processes packetized data including header information, payload information and attributes associated with the content of the payload information. The decoder system identifies and compares the attributes of the received packetized data with attributes in a predetermined hierarchical priority profile for associating individual attributes with a desired data output priority. The priority profile may be provided by a remote service provider, or be entered locally by a user or be a default pre-set profile. The received packetized data is collated and output based on the attribute comparison and in accordance with the desired output priority.

Abstract: A multimedia decoder supports a plurality of functions and communicates on at least one physical communication link. The decoder includes a first processor for decoding data packetized according to an Internet protocol data format to provide a first decoded output. The decoder also includes a second processor for encoding data according to the Internet protocol data format for return communication to a broadcast source. The decoder prioritizes received data for processing by the first processor and prioritizes data for encoding for return communication by the second processor. The received data and the data for encoding are allocated a desired hierarchical data output priority based on a function or a protocol characteristic of the data to be prioritized.

Abstract: The disclosed filter structure employs parallel first and second input signal data paths. The first data path includes a digital Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter having a small number of non-zero multiplier coefficients to define its theoretical impulse frequency response. The second data path includes plural series filters including (1) a digital FIR or Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filter including a reduced-number of designer-chosen non-zero multiplier coefficients that tend to introduce error sources in the physical-realized filter structure's impulse frequency response and (2) a set of one or more frequency stop filters, each of which permits zero signal transmission therethrough at a different selected frequency.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for detecting static areas in a sequence of digital video pictures. The method includes computing pixel differences between corresponding pixels of consecutive frames or consecutive fields with identical parities and accumulating the magnitudes of the pixel differences over blocks of pixels of the video frames. Next, thresholds T(i,j) for pixel blocks are computed. The threshold for each block is adapted to an estimated noise level &sgr; for the current field or frame and the amount of a block gradient g(i,j), and the threshold levels T(i,j) are calculated according to a disclosed formula. Then, the thresholds T(i,j) are applied to the accumulated pixel differences of the corresponding blocks thus providing a preliminary map of static areas and the preliminary map of static areas are modified by eliminating isolated static blocks or small groups of adjacent static blocks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preprocessing a video image sequence consisting of a succession of interlaced frames for estimating motion between a first and a second frame, characterized in that a temporal filtering is performed on the basis of at least two input frames so as to deliver each of the two frames utilized by the motion estimator. The applications relate to motion estimators, in the field of video image compression or the conversion of television standards.

Abstract: The process is characterized in that the second data stream is modified before transmission, by replacing coding information for the first inter pictures of bidirectional type following the intra picture of the first GOP of the second sequence after the switching point, when considering the order of coding of the pictures, with predefined picture coding information whose coding cost is less than or equal to that of the initial pictures. Applications relate to the transmission and storage of programs, editing, etc.

Abstract: An MPEG decoder in a high definition television receiver decodes and decompresses MPEG coded data to produce decompressed image pixel blocks, and includes a motion compensation network coupled to a frame memory to produce finally decoded pixel data for display. The decompressed MPEG data is recompressed by plural parallel recompressors prior to storage in frame memory. Each recompressor receives a datastream of interleaved pixel data, and predicts and compresses interleaved pixel values during each clock cycle, respectively. One of the recompressors is de-energized in a reduced data processing mode when pixel data is subsampled prior to recompression. Subsampled data is re-ordered prior to recompression. Multiple parallel decompressors coupled to the frame memory provide pixel data to the motion processing network. A control unit insures an uninterrupted interleaved data flow to the decompressors by repeating last valid data when source data is interrupted.

Abstract: A method for recovering a video signal uses an adaptive equalizer, the characteristics of which are adjusted to the conditions of a transmission channel by using the digital data signals that are concomitantly transmitted in addition to the analogue signal components in a video signal. This adjustment is then used for analogue signal components of the video signals. A teletext signal can advantageously be used for the adjustment.

Abstract: A receiver system automatically adaptively tunes to broadcast signals that are variable in the number of channels that are transmitted, their signal coding type and their modulation format. A system receives a digital bitstream representing video information encoded in one of a plurality of different formats, and transmitted on one of a plurality of transmission channels. In the system, a method for acquiring data transmitted on a transmission channel involves selecting a transmission channel from the plurality of channels and selecting a modulation format. The method also involves tuning to receive the modulation format and determining whether valid data is being received on the selected transmission channel. The method steps are repeated until valid data is received. The method may also involve selecting a coding type, and tuning to receive the coding type.