Abstract: A method and an apparatus for improving a main image by fusing the richer information contained in a secondary image are described. A 3D structure of objects contained in the secondary image is retrieved and a parallax-corrected version of the secondary image is generated using the 3D structure. For this purpose a camera pose for which a projection of the 3D structure of the objects contained in the secondary image best resembles the perspective in the main image is determined and the parallax-corrected version of the secondary image is synthesized based on the determined camera pose. The parallax-corrected version of the secondary image is then fused with the main image.

Abstract: A video processing apparatus and a method for detecting a temporal synchronization mismatch between at least a first and a second video stream of a stereoscopic video content are described. An eye blink of a creature that is imaged in the video content is detected. The temporal synchronization mismatch is determined by determination of a temporal offset between the reproduction of an eye blink in the first video stream and the reproduction of said eye blink in the second video stream.

Abstract: A passive cooling arrangement for an electronic housing assembly is provided. The assembly includes a frame disposed in the housing assembly; a circuit board supported in the frame; a heat generating component disposed on the circuit board; and a heat sink configured with a substantially flat peripheral portion and a depression portion. The substantially flat peripheral portion faces and is nearly coextensive with an outer wall of said housing assembly, and the depression portion is in thermal engagement with the heat generating component on the circuit board. The frame includes a base having embosses which support the circuit board in a position enabling thermal engagement of the heat generating component and the depression portion of the heat sink. The outer wall of the housing assembly is preferably unvented and the housing assembly is preferably oriented in use with the outer wall facing upwardly.

Abstract: A system and method for searching content and user interface for presenting results of the search are provided, wherein visual elements representing the content are distributed in three dimensions on a display, with the various axes representing criteria that relate to a central starting point of the search and the proximity to the central point indicating the degree of relevance. The outer bounds of the display contain a large amount of varied material of various types to allow a user to select content of a different type, with the content at the periphery of the display being essentially random and representing little or no link to the starting point of the search. Any displayed element may be selected, as a source for a next level search, in which case content relationships will be re-drawn, with the selected content used as the center point for a next level search.

Abstract: An antenna for reception and transmission of signals within an enclosure. The antenna includes a first lead for connection to a printed circuit board and a second lead. A plurality of vertical members extend in parallel to one another and spaced a predetermined distance apart. Each vertical member has a first end and a second end. A plurality of horizontal members is provided. Each horizontal member extends alternately between first ends of a pair of adjacent vertical members and second ends of a next pair of adjacent vertical members forming a connection between said first lead and said second lead.

Abstract: As to generate shadows in an image, the method comprises the steps of: Computing a depth-map that comprises an array of pixels, wherein pixels in the depth-map are associated to a single value corresponding to depth value that indicates a depth from a light source to a portion of nearest occluding object visible through the pixel, projecting a point visible through a pixel of said image into a light space, the result of said projection being a pixel of said depth-map, calculating a distance between the said visible point and the light source, fetching the depth value associated to said pixel of depth-map, computing, for said pixel of said image, an adaptive bias as a function of a predetermined base bias and a relationship between the normal of a surface on which the said visible point is located and incident light direction at said visible point, comparing for said pixel in the image, the distance between said visible point and the light source with the sum of the corresponding depth map value and said ad

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for video image pruning. An apparatus includes a data pruner for pre-processing a picture prior to, and in preparation for, compression by encoding. The data pruner selectively removes, in the spatial domain, at least one region within the picture. At the decoder end, an apparatus includes a data restorer for receiving a decompressed picture subsequent to decompression by decoding, and post-processing the decompressed picture by selectively restoring, in the spatial domain, at least one region in the decompressed picture based on information indicating a removal of the at least one region prior to a previously performed encoding process.

Abstract: Various implementations are described. Several implementations relate to filtering of depth maps. According to a general aspect, a first depth picture is accessed that corresponds to a first video picture. For a given portion of the first depth picture, a co-located video portion of the first video picture is determined. A video motion vector is accessed that indicates motion of the co-located video portion of the first video picture with respect to a second video picture. A second depth picture is accessed that corresponds to the second video picture. A depth portion of the second depth picture is determined, from the given portion of the first depth picture, based on the video motion vector. The given portion of the first depth picture is updated based on the depth portion of the second depth picture.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for uni-prediction of self-derivation of motion estimation. An apparatus includes a video encoder (300) for encoding at least a portion of a picture. The video encoder includes a self derivation motion estimator (333) for performing self derivation motion estimation for the portion. The self derivation motion estimation is used for selectively performing uni-prediction or bi-prediction for the portion based on one or more criterion.

Abstract: Visual discomfort from depth jumps in 3D video content is reduced or avoided by detecting the occurrence of a depth jump and by changing the disparity of a group of received image frames including the frames at the depth jump in order to adjust the perceived depth in a smooth transition across the group of image frames from a first disparity value to a second disparity value. Depth jumps may be detected, for instance, when content is switched from one 3D shot to another 3D shot.

Abstract: A solution for peer-assisted distribution of video content over a broadband network is disclosed. A video file is segmented into segments and segmentation metadata is generated. The segments are converted to media stream segments with counter/timestamp consistency. The video file and the segmentation metadata are injected into a peer-assisted video delivery system. The segmentation metadata are then used for initializing download of offsets of the video file that are required for generating segments of the video file at a client.

Abstract: A method and device for estimating the opacity at a point of a scene lit by an area light source and comprising an object defined by a mesh and occluding some of the emitted light. In order to optimize the calculations for live estimation of the opacity, the method comprises sampling said area light source in a plurality of samples, for at least one sample of the plurality of samples and for at least one first mesh element of the occluding object visible from the at least one sample, generating one shadow plane per edge of the at least one first mesh element, estimating a opacity level depending on coefficients of projection in a function base from values representative of the opacity for a set of intersection points between at least one ray having for origin a viewpoint of the scene and shadow planes crossed by said at least one ray, depending on an angle formed by the normal associated with each shadow plane crossed and by said at least one ray.

Abstract: Optical storage media often contain data structures for a menu suitable for selection of a title, a chapter, a parameter or others. Such menus usually comprise a number of buttons to be displayed, with each button having a state. Possible states of buttons are “unselected”, “selected” or “activated”. According to the invention, the representation of a menu button may vary, depending on its state. An image or an image sequence, e.g. cartoon, may be associated to a buttons state, providing user animation. Further, a sound or sound sequence, e.g. melody or click, may be associated to a buttons state, and may be played back when the button enters this state. A data structure is disclosed which allows storage of such menu data e.g. on a Blu-ray disc.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the replication of data, in particular the replication of data in a peer-to-peer network of mobile devices. Each device stores a plurality of data items. When two devices come into range, a decision as to whether to replicate a data item is made in dependence the extent to which that data item has been requested by other devices, and (b) the extent to which that data item is replicated on other devices. In this way, both the demand and supply of a data item are taken into account.

Abstract: The invention is made in the field of coding of images of high dynamic range. The invention is based on the concept of Frame Compatible format. The idea is to transport, in a frame, down-sampled LDR content together with additional information allowing reconstructing HDR content from the LDR content. Thus, it is proposed a method of encoding an HDR image of high dynamic range according to claim 1. Said method comprises down-sampling (DWN) an LDR image and additional data, the LDR image providing a lower dynamic range depiction of the HDR image content and the additional data allowing for reconstructing the HDR image from the LDR image.

Abstract: A method is intended for scheduling reservations of resources in a packet-switched communication network comprising end-nodes (H1-H3) and core network switches (S1-S2). This method comprises the steps of: including a time information to each request, issued by an end-node (H1) and forwarded by at least one core network switch (S1), and requesting a resource reservation for receiving a stream defined by specifications at a time which is represented by this time information, and storing the time information, which is included into each forwarded end-node request in correspondence with the associated stream specifications, into at least one related database managed by a core network switch (S1) which participates to the request forwarding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for predicting a pixel block of an image using a weighted sum of pixel blocks belonging to patches of a dictionary from a set of candidate patches, each patch being formed of a pixel block of an image and a causal neighborhood of this pixel block. The method is wherein a subset of candidate patches is obtained from the set of candidate patches and the dictionary is formed of a patch of the subset of candidate patches, called the first patch, and at least one other patch of said set of candidate patches, called the second patch.

Abstract: A method for estimating video quality on bit-stream level, wherein the video quality refers to a video after error concealment and the method is performed on bit-stream level before said error concealment, comprises extracting and/or calculating a plurality of global condition features from a video bit-stream, extracting and/or calculating a plurality of local effectiveness features at least for a lost MB, calculating a numeric error concealment effectiveness level for each (or at least for each lost) MB by emulating an error concealment method that is used in said error concealment, and providing the calculated error concealment effectiveness level as an estimated visible artifacts level of video quality.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for authoring stereoscopic 3D video information comprising a 3D video stream and 3D overlay graphics are described. A depth range in z-space for the stereoscopic presentation of the 3D video stream is determined for a plurality of time codes. A reference plane in z-space for placing the 3D overlay graphics is then determined such that depth conflicts between the 3D video and the reference place are reduced. A comfort zone surrounding a display screen plane and comprising the reference plane is defined, wherein the comfort zone specifies a depth range in z-space for preferable presentation of the stereoscopic 3D video information. It is then determined whether a depth conflict between the reference plane and the 3D video stream remains for the respective time codes and/or whether a depth conflict exists between the comfort zone and the 3D overlay graphics for the respective time codes.

Abstract: A video decoder, encoder, and corresponding methods for processing video data for an image block and a particular reference picture index to predict the image block are disclosed that utilize adaptive weighting of reference pictures to enhance video compression, where a decoder includes a reference picture weighting factor unit for determining a weighting factor corresponding to the particular reference picture index; an encoder includes a reference picture weighting factor assignor for assigning a weighting factor corresponding to the particular reference picture index; and a method for decoding includes receiving a reference picture index with the data that corresponds to the image block, determining a weighting factor for each received reference picture index, retrieving a reference picture for each index, motion compensating the retrieved reference picture, and multiplying the motion compensated reference picture by the corresponding weighting factor to form a weighted motion compensated reference picture