Abstract: According to one aspect of the disclosure, the present invention provides methods and arrangements for the removal or reduction of divergence artifacts between a transmitting codec and a receiving codec. One of a number of implementations includes using a deblocking filter in an inverse transformer loop and selectively disabling the filter upon certain conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and interface for browsing the internet using a telephone circuit having keys for generating DTMF codes. The interface includes a memory and a processor and is coupled to the telephone circuit and display. The interface receives a first DTMF code requesting access to the internet and, in response to the first DTMF code, loads a Web browser in its memory. The interface then receives a second DTMF code from the telephone circuit and converts the second DTMF code into a Web browser command using an interpretation protocol. The Web browser command is then executed using the interface, thereby enabling a user to access the internet via manual operation of the keys of the telephone circuit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a cost-effective videophone device includes a programmable processor circuit capable of communicating over a conventional communications channel, such as a POTS line, and of generating video data for display on a television set. The device includes a video source, an interface circuit, including a modem transmitting and receiving video and audio data over the channel; an EEPROM circuit for storing a program to control the videophone apparatus; and a display driver circuit for generating video data to the display. The programmable processor circuit includes a DSP-type processor for processing video data and a RISC-type processor executing the stored program and controlling the operation of the videophone apparatus. Further, a housing arrangement, enclosing each of the above structures, mounts adustably on the top of the display.

Abstract: A cost-effective videophone includes a programmable video/general-purpose processor capable of readily updating program-related data. The processor includes a first circuit section used to process data for videoconferencing and to detect codes data used for revising software-related data provided from a remote location, and a second circuit section used for executing the executable program data stored in the second memory circuit. A volatile memory circuit is coupled to and accessed by the programmable video/general-purpose processor, and is used for storing the revision data until it is validated. Once validated, the revision data is transferred from the first memory circuit to a non-volatile memory circuit. The non-volatile memory circuit is then used by the processor in a subsequent video-related application, such as a videoconferencing application or a web browser application.

Abstract: A multimedia communication arrangement communicating video and at least one other data type using a communication channel includes a first interface arrangement for communicating video and the at least one other data type using the communication channel. A second interface arrangement exchanges data with, and provides power to, at least one of a variety of peripheral devices. A video data signal processor circuit processes the video data and sends the video data along with the at least one other data type over the first interface arrangement and communicates with the peripheral devices over the second interface arrangement.

Abstract: A system and method for video data processing for searching a region of overlapping candidate blocks to locate the best match to a comparably sized reference block comprising plurality of tree adder computational structures which each calculate the sum of absolute difference values for the corresponding data pixels in the comparison. The system further comprises a memory and addressing configuration comprising a dual part RAM, a funnel shifter, and control logic to supply the necessary data pixel values to allow the plurality of tree adders to compute the sum of absolute difference values for adjacent locations concurrently. Another aspect of the system and method for video processing is accumulating two values representing mathematical comparisons of two multi-dimensional images performed in a pixel-wise manner to determine which of the comparison produces less of a difference between the compared images.

Abstract: A bit collation method is disclosed which requires a substantially fewer number of clock cycles than the prior art method in separating the bits in a source of bytes and collating them by bit position. A static look-up table is used to spread out the bits in a byte being collated. The look-up table enables simultaneous collation of all bits in a byte using only five clock cycles.

Abstract: A multimedia processor contains a general purpose RISC and video processors which operate in parallel to execute software for combined video and audio bit stream coding and decoding. The RISC processor controls operation of the multimedia processor and performs bit stream parsing and coding, audio compression and decompression, and general processing for embedded applications. The video processor performs video encoding and decoding functions such as scaling, filtering, decimation, and DCT transforms. The RISC processor and the video processor each have separate data buses which are interconnected through a portal circuit and a Huffman codec. Each data bus has a DMA controller which transfers data to and from a memory interface to an external memory. DMA channels serve I/O interface resources coupled to the data buses and can form buffers in the external memory. This reduces the need for on-chip FIFO buffers and separate buffers between the multimedia processor and attached devices.

Abstract: A video communications device used as part of a communication terminal in a video-conferencing arrangement provides the capability of real-time captioning along with real-time visual communication for the individuals with impaired hearing and others whose speech is not understandable or non-existent. The device enhances the ability of people with communication disabilities to communicate quickly and effectively with those who are similarly afflicted as well as with those who are not. The video communications device includes a camera and a teletype device (TTY) for transmitting and receiving teletype information. The camera captures local images and generates a set of video signals representing those images. A teletype device captures input data from a user and generates a set of data signals. The device can be configured for compatibility with conventional equipment and for alerting users of incoming calls nonaudibly.

Abstract: A videophone includes an interface that enables communication between a videophone and another type of device, such as a speech-only telephone. In one embodiment, a signal processing circuit processes video and another type of information, respectively, in parallel data paths and operates in either a non-video mode or a video mode in response to whether or not another communicatively-coupled terminal represents that it is not operable as a compatible videophone. A two-way converter circuit coupled between the signal processing circuit and the communication channel transceives the video and the other type of information as processed in the parallel data paths with the signal processing circuit, and transceives the video and the other type of information with the communication channel.

Abstract: A data representation method is disclosed wherein the length information of an arbitrary string of data bits along with the string of data bits is represented using the least number of bytes or words or other fixed-size bit groups. In accordance with the present invention, an arbitrary string of data bits is arranged sequentially in fixed-size bit groups, starting with a first group and ending with a last group each group having equal number of bit positions, whereby in the last group one or more bit positions remain unoccupied by data bits and a predesignated bit value is used to identify the bit positions not occupied by data bits.

Abstract: A vision processor includes a control section, a motion estimation section, and a discrete cosine transform ("DCT") section. The motion estimation section includes two memories, an image memory with two read ports and a write port, and a search memory with two read ports and a write port. The DCT section includes a DCT memory configurable as a two read, two write port memory and as a four read, four write port memory. The ports of these memories are selectively applied to various elements in the motion estimation path and the DCT path. In motion vector searching, the ALU performs averaging and difference operations on pixels in the frame and search memories. Data from the search memory is shifted for certain operations, before arithmetic operations in the ALU are performed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and interface for browsing the internet using a telephone circuit having keys for generating DTMF codes. The interface includes a memory and a processor and is coupled to the telephone circuit and display. The interface receives a first DTMF code requesting access to the internet and, in response to the first DTMF code, loads a Web browser in its memory. The interface then receives a second DTMF code from the telephone circuit and converts the second DTMF code into a Web browser command using an interpretation protocol. The Web browser command is then executed using the interface, thereby enabling a user to access the internet via manual operation of the keys of the telephone circuit.