Abstract: A video compression scheme enables the user to select one of many video compression formats, including the widely-used standard video formats such as MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and H.263. In one embodiment, the scheme is implemented as a hardware-software combination, with the hardware portion, preferably implemented as an ASIC chip, performing the core compression and the software portion dealing with the detailed formatting. In another embodiment, a 32-bit aligned transitional data format is used.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, computer medium, and other embodiments for discrete cosine transform and inverse discrete cosine transform (DCT/IDCT) of image signals are described. A DCT/IDCT module includes a plurality of different cores. One embodiment of a core includes two sets of lookup tables to provide multiplication and add operations for the DCT and IDCT functions. Another embodiment of a core include one set of lookup tables, while another embodiment of a core includes no lookup table. The DCT/IDCT module provides forward DCT and IDCT functionality without the use of additional multipliers.

Abstract: A processing system includes an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) sub-system that allows data associated with a prior instruction to be preserved for use with a next instruction or subsequent instruction without having to reload the value using an intermediate register. The ALU sub-system includes a pair of ALUs communicatively cross-coupled with a pair of accumulators. The processing system also includes a data selector coupled to the ALU sub-system for use with memory contention prediction. The data selector includes a constant generator that controls storage of data associated with a previous instruction in a bypass element, and a selector to choose between data from a databus element and data stored in the bypass element.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, computer medium, and other embodiments for selectably enabling a plurality of data transfer modes along one or more channels are described. In one embodiment, data transfer between a first device and a second device is controlled based on selecting a combination of access and operation modes. In another embodiment, a video processing system capable of selectably enabling a plurality of data transfer modes along one or more channels is described.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, computer medium, and other embodiments for motion estimation and compensation processing of video and image signals are described. Within a sequence of frames, block-based differences are taken between frames to exploit redundancies between pictures by taking a matchblock from the current picture and by determining a spatial offset in a corresponding reference picture which signifies a good prediction of where the current macroblock can be found. Multi-level motion estimation is performed in three stages to refine the resolution of the motion vector with reduced computational bandwidth. First, a matchblock from a reference frame is decomposed equally into several sub-matchblocks, each of which is searched in parallel over a search area decomposed into sub-blocks by a similar factor so as to determine a preliminary motion vector in the reference picture.