Abstract: A rate control algorithm for a predictive video encoder is provided to accurately control the coding rate while requiring a small complexity. The algorithm assumes the video encoder to consist of two processors, pre-processor and main processor, and the rate control located in main processor uses prediction cost and residual cost for each picture that are computed in pre-processor. Prediction cost represents the estimated number of bits needed to generate an error image, and residual cost describes the difficulty of encoding the resultant error image. Accurate and simple rate control is made possible by using a new rate model that adapts to the local characteristic of a video sequence, and by targeting to maintain the quantization parameter as constant as possible in a given set of pictures, GOP, instead of the conventional two step approach.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating between source and destination transmission and presentation of streaming digital information signals can be uses to optimize performance in the context of the contentions among different dimensions of performance including goodput, throughput, delay, receiver buffer requirements and tolerance to loss and jitter. The system provides ordering segments of information based on a priority associated with each of the segments of the information; managing of flow of the segments into and out of a buffer based on the priority of the segments of information; adjusting a rate at which information is provided to a communication medium; and transmitting the information.

Abstract: The present invention improves image quality by detecting and enhancing edges in an image. Images often include blurry or fuzzy edges that can obscure an image. An edge is a portion of an image separating two regions of substantially constant image intensity. An image can be examined on a pixel-by-pixel basis to find a candidate edge. When a candidate edge is found, a determination can made as to whether the candidate edge is a true edge. A true edge can be enhanced by amplifying the image intensity differences between pixels on the true edge and adjacent pixels not on the true edge. The present invention also provides a novel image processing filter for eliminating well-known noise from an image. The image processing filter can further improve edge enhancement by eliminating such noise prior to the edge detection and enhancement.