Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for predictive frame selection supporting enhanced efficiency and subjective quality. The apparatus includes an encoder for encoding a picture using a selection scheme that selects between encoding the picture as a single direction inter predictive picture type and a bi-directional inter predictive picture type based on coding efficiency and a determination of a flickering artifact resulting from coding the picture as the bi-directional inter predictive picture type.

Abstract: It is provided a method for triggering an action on a second device. It comprises the steps of obtaining audio of a multimedia content presented on a first device; comparing the obtained audio with reference audio data in a database; if finding the obtained audio exists in the database containing reference audio, determining an action corresponding to the matched reference audio; and triggering the action in the second device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for sending live streams to regular HTTP clients. An incoming live media stream is segmented into segment files. A segment list is used to maintain the logical representation of the segment segment files so that they look like one continuous file. Each segment file is sent to the client through regular HTTP protocol once it is available. Old segment files can be deleted to save storage space and reduce management overhead.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed and described for providing bit rate configuration for multi-view video coding. In the video encoder, the method includes encoding image data for at least one picture for at least two joint views of multi-view video content, the at least two joint views including a base view and at least one dependent view. The bit rate configuration for encoding the image data is determined to include an average bit rate and a maximum bit rate for the base view and the average bit rate and the maximum bit rate for the at least two joint views (235, 215, 220).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of processing a source left view and a source right view of a 3D image comprising the steps of: identifying at least one ghosted region or ghosting region in the left view and/or in the right view; processing the identified regions in order to create a binocular suppression effect for this identified regions then providing a new 3D image formed by the processed left and/or right views.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering content via adaptive streaming technique over multiple communication paths between a client and a server are described. The method includes measuring a first, and respectively a second, available bit rate on the first, and respectively second, path, determining a requested bit rate from the measured first and second available bit rates, sending a first request via the first path for receiving a first part of the chunk of content identified by the time index i and by the requested bit rate and a second request via the second path for receiving a second part of the chunk of content, the first and second chunks of content being complementary, the size of each of the chunks being computed from the available bit rate and receiving the requested first, and respectively second, part via the first, and respectively second, path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is presented for receiving and displaying user messages associated with multimedia content. Specifically, the present invention is directed to controlling the operation of a television recording/playback system to permit a user to input a message, associate that message with a selected television program, and display the associated message when the selected television program is accessed by another user (see FIG. 1). The apparatus of the present invention is directed to a system for managing multimedia content including devices for storing television programs and associating with those programs user-generated messages for display to other system users. In this way, the present invention provides content management tools that promote sharing by all users, ease the process of establishing a consensus for managing limited resources, and encourage monitoring by the administrator.

Abstract: In an image processing method to display a stereoscopic image on a target screen, a disparity information (200) is associated with the stereoscopic image and is adapted for the display of the stereoscopic image on an original screen, the size of the original screen being different from the size of the target screen, the stereoscopic image comprising a first image (20) and a second image (21). In order to optimize the disparity of the stereoscopic image, the method comprises selecting a part of said first image according to at least one property associated with the first image; calculating a target disparity information associated with the selected part of the image according to the viewing conditions associated with the target screen and the original disparity information associated with the selected part of the first image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed and described for providing hypothetical reference decoder conformance error detection. The apparatus includes a multi-pass encoder (200) for encoding pictures in a video sequence. The pictures are encoded in a first pass to determine a bit consumption of each picture, and a bit allocation is controlled during the encoding of the pictures in at least a second pass responsive to satisfying requirements for a subsequent decoding of the bitstream. The requirements relate to preventing at least one of underflow and overflow conditions in a buffer during the subsequent decoding. The bit allocation is based on the bit consumption determined in the first pass and buffer parameters. The pictures are encoded in at least the first and second passes into a plurality of bitstreams on a scene-basis such that any of the pictures belonging to a same scene are respectively encoded in a same one of the bitstreams.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for rate control accuracy in video encoding and decoding. An apparatus includes a video encoder for encoding image data using rate control. The rate control involves estimating a quantization step size and adjusting a rounding offset. The rounding offset is capable of being non-constant during the encoding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the synchronization of a set of 3D devices suitable for the processing of data representative of at least one stereoscopic image comprising a first image and a second image.

Abstract: A method and an electronic device for object tracking in a sequence of light-field captures. A data acquisition unit acquires a sequence of light-field captures, wherein each light-field capture comprises a plurality of views. A feature determining unit determines features of an initial visual appearance model for an object of interest in a reference view of a first light-field capture. A feature matching unit matches the features in the reference view and in the further views of the first light-field capture. A feature discarding unit discards features that cannot be well matched in all views of the first light-field capture. An appearance model building unit builds an updated visual appearance model for the object of interest based on the remaining features. Finally, a movement tracking unit tracks the movement of the object of interest in the sequence of light-field captures using the visual appearance model.

Abstract: There are provided a method and apparatus for providing reduced resolution update mode for multi-view video coding. A video encoder includes an encoder for encoding a picture using a reduced resolution update mode. The picture is one of a set of pictures corresponding to multi-view content having different view points with respect to a same or similar scene. The picture represents one of the different view points.

Abstract: The present invention provides a QoE (Quality of Experience) management solution, wherein QoE feedback is used to optimize the usage of QoS provisioning techniques, thus improving the utilization efficiency of network resources. According to one aspect of the invention, a method for QoE management for a network service provided to a user device, the method comprising: displaying a user interface on the user device for a user to input an expected QoE value of the network service; receiving the expected QoE value of the network service from the user; evaluating an objective QoE value of the network service as a function of network QoS parameters; and adjusting the QoS parameters of the network service if the objective QoE value is less than the expected QoE value.

Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to present a mosaic image to a user of an audiovisual receiver. The method comprises a step for generating a list of at least one audiovisual channel in order to display its content in a mosaic image. Then, the list is transmitted to a server which then transmits visual data associated with each channel in the list. The visual data is aggregated in order to form a mosaic image which is then displayed at the level of the receiver. According to a first embodiment, the mosaic image is produced at the level of the receiver. According to another embodiment, the mosaic image is created at the level of the server before being transmitted. According to a refinement, a channel is graphically highlighted at the level of the mosaic image, the receiver receives either the audio stream or the video stream or both of the highlighted channel. The invention also relates to the receiver able to implement the method.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for adaptive coupled pre-processing and post-processing filters for video encoding and decoding. The apparatus and method encode input data for a picture into a resultant bitstream, wherein said video encoder comprises a pre-filter and a post-filter coupled to the pre-filter, wherein said pre-filter filters the input data for the picture and the post-filter filters in-loop reconstructed data for the picture.

Abstract: This method for synchronizing a first multimedia stream rendered on a first terminal and a second multimedia stream rendered on a second terminal, comprises a step of generation, from an original audio sequence of the first stream, of original audio fingerprints, and further comprises steps of: a) generation from a first sequence of the first stream first audio fingerprints; b) comparison between the first fingerprints and the original fingerprints in order to obtain one or more first synchronization positions; c) correlation of the first sequence with one or more pieces of the original sequence located around the first synchronization positions in order to obtain a second synchronization position; d) rendering of the second stream on the second terminal using the second synchronization position.

Abstract: There are provided a method and system for color correcting displays with different color gamuts. The method includes performing color correction on source picture content, using at least one of a non-reference type display having a non-reference color gamut and a reference type display having a reference color gamut. The performing step includes mastering the source picture content to provide mastered color corrected picture content for display on the reference type displays having a reference color gamut. The performing step further includes generating metadata for a subsequent inverse color gamut mapping that color transforms the mastered color corrected picture content for display on non-reference type displays having a non-reference color gamut. The subsequent inverse color gamut mapping is an inverse operation of a color gamut mapping applied during the color correction to obtain the mastered color corrected picture content for display on the reference type displays having the reference color gamut.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for embedded quantization parameter adjustment in video encoding and decoding. An apparatus includes an encoder for encoding picture data for at least a block in a picture. A quantization parameter, applied to one or more transform coefficients obtained by transforming a difference between an original version of the block and at least one reference block, is derived from reconstructed data corresponding to at least the block.

Abstract: A method for providing a web page in a web server accessed by a user device, comprising: obtaining access behavior information to the web page by the user; and providing page contents and page layout adaptor of the web page to the user device so that a updated web page with an adapted page layout is generated by the user device according to the access behavior information.