Abstract: A method for managing media communications. In one embodiment, the method comprises establishing a session to a computer over a network and through a switch; generating first and second frames of an image stream; identifying updated regions of the first and the second frames, wherein the updated region of the first frame has a first size and the updated region of the second frame has a second size different from the first size; compressing, based on a value from a congestion manager, the updated regions of the first and the second frames to generate a first and a second encoding, respectively; transmitting the first encoding over the session at a first rate determined from the first size and the value; and transmitting the second encoding over the session at a second rate determined from the second size and the value, wherein the second rate is different from the first rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating image data. In one embodiment, the method comprises transmitting, by a computer comprising at least one processor, (i) an initial encoding of a first image instance of a first spatial tile in a sequence of image frames followed by (ii) an initial encoding of a second image instance of the first spatial tile; transmitting, by the computer, an encoding indicative of a perfect match between pixel values of a first image instance of a second spatial tile in the sequence and the first image instance of the first spatial tile; and transmitting, by the computer, an initial encoding of a second image instance of the second spatial tile based on receiving an indication of an absence of a decoding of the encoding of the first image instance of the first spatial tile.

Abstract: Methods of encoding an image stream. In one embodiment, the method comprises generating, by a computer, a lossless encoding of a first portion of a frame of an image based on identifying the first portion as (i) changed since a previous frame of the image and (ii) comprising a first image type; generating an initial quality lossy encoding of a second portion of the frame based on identifying the second portion as (iii) changed since the previous frame and (iv) comprising a second image type; and generating a quality improvement encoding of a third portion of the frame based on identifying the third portion as (v) unchanged since the previous frame and (vi) encoded to less than a defined quality.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding a frame from a mixed content image sequence. In one embodiment, the method, executed under the control of a processor configured with computer executable instructions, comprises (i) generating, by an encoding processor, an image type mask that divides the frame into an unchanged portion, an object portion and a picture portion; (ii) producing lossless encoded content, by the encoding processor, from the object portion and the image type mask; (iii) generating, by the encoding processor, a filtered facsimile from the frame, the filtered facsimile generated by retaining the picture portion and filling the unchanged portion and the object portion with neutral image data; and (iv) producing, by the encoding processor, lossy encoded content from the filtered facsimile.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating display status information for a computer in a remote computing environment. The method comprises receiving, from a remote computer, a first data set associated with a display image, where the first data set comprises an encoding of a source image to be rendered at the remote computer; decoding, at a client computer, the first data set to generate a first portion of the display image; and determining, from the first data set, a perceptual quality level for the display image. The apparatus comprises: a client resource for receiving display data and decoding the display data; a session monitor for determining a state of the display data decoded by the client resource; and a user interface for presenting the display status information, the display status information comprising the state of the display data.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for computing resources. One embodiment of the method comprises executing a first application on a computer CPU sub-system during CPU sub-system operation; controlling execution of the first application by an interface coupled to the computer and selectively coupled to the CPU sub-system; generating, by the first application and in response to an event from a user device of the interface, a first image for display; controlling, by the user device and during suspension of the CPU sub-system operation, execution of a second application, on a server coupled to the computer, that generates a second image compressed and transmitted as a compressed image by the server, the interface coupled to the server by a resource selector of the computer, a remote bridge of the computer and the IP network; receiving and decoding, via the remote bridge and during the suspension, the compressed image to generate a display image.

Abstract: A method for communicating media between a host and a display system. In one embodiment the method comprises acquiring, by the host and via a wireless connection between the host and the display system, display information of the display system; generating, by the host, an image sequence at a resolution and a frame rate, the resolution and the frame rate determined from the display information; communicating, from the host to the display system and via the wireless connection, an encoding of the image sequence; and displaying, by the display system, a decoding of the encoding.

Abstract: A method of encoding an input image divided into a set of image blocks and stored in computer readable memory. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a sequence of block test patterns, each (i) identifying, for each image block of the set, a separate portion of the image block; and (ii) determined to minimize a maximum unidentified portion size of the input image when used on all image blocks of the set; assembling an active block test pattern comprising one of the block test patterns; comparing, based on the active block test pattern, at least one image block of the set with a reference image comprising a previously encoded copy of the input image to generate a block change detection; and encoding, based on the block change detection, a changed image block of the at least one image block to generate a portion of an encoded image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding an image is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises identifying initial pixels within a spatially defined sub-section, the initial pixels at least a defined number of pixels each comprising a first color; identifying background pixels, the background pixels comprising the first color and in a first defined spatial proximity to the initial pixels; identifying text pixels, the text pixels contrasting the first color and in a second defined spatial proximity to the background pixels; identifying picture pixels as all pixels other than the background pixels and the text pixels; generating a background encoding comprising (i) spatial locations of the background pixels and (ii) a lossless encoding of the first color; generating a text encoding identifying a spatial location and a lossless color encoding of each of the text pixels; and generating a picture encoding comprising a lossy encoding of the picture pixels.

Abstract: An active capacitor multiplying circuit that in one embodiment comprises (i) a clock synthesis loop filter of at least second order comprising a series combination of a first resistor and a first capacitor, wherein the series combination is coupled between a first charge pump interface and ground, wherein the clock synthesis loop filter further comprises a second capacitor coupled between the first charge pump interface and the ground; (ii) a capacitor multiplying loop filter comprising a second capacitor coupled between a second charge pump interface and the ground, wherein the capacitor multiplying loop filter further comprises a second resistor coupled to the second charge pump interface and the second charge pump interface is coupled to the first charge pump interface; and (iii) an operational amplifier, driven by the first capacitor, for driving the second resistor, wherein a voltage presented at the first charge pump interface drives a voltage controlled oscillator.

Abstract: A method for encoding an image, one embodiment comprising analyzing colors and spatial features of pixels of the image to identify a text region separate from a picture region; generating, for a portion of the text region, a mask dividing the portion into background pixels and text pixels, the background pixels identified as pixels with a constant color, the text pixels identified as pixels contrasting the constant color and comprising a plurality of colors; analyzing chrominance values of the plurality of colors to determine a text chrominance; generating, for each text pixel of the plurality of text pixels, a text pixel value to generate text pixel values, each text pixel value based on a luminance of a text pixel for which it was generated; and transmitting an encoding of the portion comprising an encoding of each of the constant color, the mask, the text chrominance and the text pixel values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing communication of encoded media from a plurality of media sources. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining, by a network appliance, an available bandwidth of a shared computer network connection used in the communication of the encoded media; communicating, by the network appliance, a common perception index value to the plurality of media sources; determining, by the network appliance, a required accumulated bandwidth for the encoded media communicated by the plurality of media sources; and adjusting, by the network appliance, the common perception index value based on a comparison of the available bandwidth and the required accumulated bandwidth; wherein the common perception index value defines a frame rate and a quantization level associated with the communication of the encoded media.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for motion vector estimation for a plurality of image frames including retrieving a reference hash value associated with a reference frame, wherein the reference hash value represents a spatially oriented block of pixels, generating a plurality of image hash values including a first hash value for a first area represented by a spatially oriented block of pixels of an image frame and computing a motion vector estimate using a plurality of first hash values and the reference hash value is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of transmitting visual data from a host computer to multiple displays across a computer network is disclosed. Visual data is stored in a plurality of frame buffers, each frame buffer associated with a separate display. A frame buffer update sequence is determined, with operations to be performed on frame buffers in the plurality. The data stored in the plurality of frame buffers is encoded as specified by the buffer update sequence to yield encoded images and each encoded image is sent across a computer network to the separate display associated with the frame buffer from which the encoded image was derived.

Abstract: An image encoding apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an encoding engine coupled to a source of a block of pixel data, the encoding engine enabled to encode the block of pixel data to a quality level, the encoding engine coupled to a network interface; and a state sequencer, the state sequencer enabled to obtain an indication of scan block persistence, build state information and encoding parameters to control the quality level.

Abstract: An apparatus for communicating data.

Abstract: A method for communicating an image section between a first computer and a second computer, the first computer adapted for remotely coupling to the second computer via a network. The method comprises determining, by the first computer, a color table comparison result for an input pixel value, the color table comparison result identifying one of (i) an indexed color value of a color table, the indexed color value approximating the input pixel value, or (ii) an absence in the color table of any color value approximating the input pixel value; generating, based on the color table comparison result, encoded data comprising one of a derivative of the input pixel value or an index for the indexed color value; communicating, to the second computer, the encoded data; and updating the color table according to the color table comparison result.

Abstract: A partially-built image stored in a buffer (such as for output to a display device) is combined by an image decoder with an encoded image update. The image is in a different format than the encoded image update (such as by being in a spatial domain, whereas the encoded image update is in a frequency domain). The image decoder operates, at least in part, by encoding the image to attain a same format as the encoded image update, combining the encoded image and the encoded image update, and decoding the result for storage in the buffer as an updated version of the image. The encoded image update is part of a progressive encoding. The encoding and/or the decoding are optionally lossy. After the image reaches a predetermined quality threshold, such as a perceptually lossless quality threshold, residual encoding/decoding techniques are optionally used for image updates.

Abstract: A method and system for providing computer input/output (I/O) functionality within a remote computing environment. The system comprises a host audio controller and a remote audio controller for bridging audio data between a host computing system and at least one remote audio device, a host USB controller and a remote USB controller for bridging USB data between the host computing system and at least one remote USB device, and an encoder module and a remote display decoder for bridging a digital video signal from the host computing system to a remote display, wherein the host audio controller, the host USB controller, and the encoder module are communicatively coupled to the remote audio controller, the remote USB controller, and the remote display decoder, respectively, via a computer network.

Abstract: A method for encoding a text image. In one embodiment the method comprises determining a background color of an image; dividing the image into text pixels and background pixels, each of the background pixels comprising the background color; determining a text color based on colors of the text pixels; determining a text attribute comprising a luminance profile describing a contour of luminance of a set of the text pixels; generating a binary text mask based on position and luminance of each of the text pixels and the luminance profile; and generating, by a computer, an encoded image comprising the background color, the text color, the binary text mask, and the text attribute.