Abstract: To provide a moving picture stream generation apparatus and the like that generates a moving picture stream that can be played back in trick-play such as variable-speed playback and reverse playback even in a Coding format such as the MPEG-4 AVC in which flexible prediction structures are allowed. A moving picture stream generation apparatus includes: a trick-play information generation unit TricPlay for generating supplemental information on a random access unit basis, the supplemental information being referred to at the time of playback of each random access Unit and each random access unit including one or more pictures; and a variable length coding unit VLC for generating a stream including the generated supplemental information and the one or more pictures by adding the supplemental information to each corresponding random access unit.

Abstract: A method of enchancing a video bit stream using temporal scalability, wherein the number of bits or a temporal position of a bidirectionally predicted picture in an enhancement layer is determined with reference to a corresponding characteristic of pictures in another layer of layers, such as a base layer, of the video bit stream and the peak signal to noise ration of the B picture is matched to that of the pictures in the layer below. By endeavouring to align the characteristics of the bidirectionally predicted picture or pictures with the existing picture or pictures in the lower layer or layers, and improved video sequence can be encoded and decoded for viewing by a user.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a number of non-power of two sized data packets required to transport a data block. A data block size is shifted rightward by a number of bits equal to a base-two exponent of a divisor, with the bits remaining stored as a first value, and the bits removed stored as a second value. At least one binary shift is performed to calculate a third and fourth value. The fourth value is shifted and added to the second value to calculate a fifth value. At least one comparison is performed on the fifth value to process a sixth and seventh value. A number of non-power of two sized data packets is determined by summing the first, third, and sixth values, then adding one if the seventh value is not zero.

Abstract: A camera system comprises a camera that produces a video signal, a video compressor that compresses the video signal, a system control processor that passes the compressed video signal, and a network interface that receives the compressed video signal, wherein the video compressor comprises configurable parameters that affect a bandwidth of the compressed video signal.

Abstract: What is described is a position-adaptive autostereoscopic 3-D reproduction system for generating 3-D images or scenes, having a flat image screen (1) with colour subpixels (R, G, B) lying side by side, a raster screen (2), a coding unit (6, 9) and a processor unit (3) for generating perspective images. According to the invention, the coding unit (6, 9) is controllable and the raster screen (2) is dimensioned and arranged such that first and second mutually interlaced subpixel strips appear on the image screen (1) and from these, first and second image strips are generated, which appear to the two eyes of an observer to be disjoint for a defined viewing region in front of the image screen (1), whereby a constant sequence of colours of the subpixels is maintained in the first (second) subpixel strips.

Abstract: An apparatus generally having a reference memory and a motion estimation circuit is disclosed. The reference memory may store reference samples used in a motion estimation of a current block beyond a boundary of a picture. The motion estimation circuit may (i) buffer the reference samples as copied from the reference memory, the reference samples as buffered residing both (a) inside the boundary and (b) inside a search window of the motion estimation, (ii) shift a sub-set of the reference samples to align with a corner of a sub-window, the sub-window being (a) completely within the search window and (b) at least partially outside of the boundary, (iii) fill an empty portion of the sub-window with copies of the reference samples within the sub-set and (iv) generate difference values by comparing the current block against the reference samples within the sub-window a plurality of times.

Abstract: An inter-mode for encoding a video macroblock is selected based on a comparison of at least two rate-distortion values associated with inter-modes. The number of potential inter-modes for encoding the video macroblock is initially reduced based on the rate-distortion calculation of the SKIP mode between the current macroblock and the collocated macroblock (corresponding to a 0,0 motion vector). Motion estimation is performed on the remaining inter-modes to identify reference blocks and motion vectors. The number of calculations performed in identifying the reference blocks and motion vectors is potentially reduced because associations between inter-modes are recognized and leveraged.

Abstract: In one embodiment, this disclosure provides an encoding device comprising a mode selection engine that performs mode selection for intra-prediction encoding regardless of whether the encoding device is programmed to comply with first encoding standard or a second encoding standard. The device also includes a first encoder to perform the intra-prediction encoding according to the selected mode in compliance with the first encoding standard when the encoding device is programmed to comply with the first encoding standard, and a second encoder to perform the intra-prediction encoding according to the selected mode in compliance with the second encoding standard when the encoding device is programmed to comply with the second encoding standard. The techniques can simplify mode selection in support of multiple different intra-prediction encoding standards.

Abstract: A scalable layered video coding scheme that encodes video data frames into multiple layers, including a base layer of comparatively low quality video and multiple enhancement layers of increasingly higher quality video, adds error resilience to the enhancement layer. Unique resynchronization marks are inserted into the enhancement layer bitstream in headers associated with each video packet, headers associated with each bit plane, and headers associated with each video-of-plane (VOP) segment. Following transmission of the enhancement layer bitstream, the decoder tries to detect errors in the packets. Upon detection, the decoder seeks forward in the bitstream for the next known resynchronization mark. Once this mark is found, the decoder is able to begin decoding the next video packet. With the addition of many resynchronization marks within each frame, the decoder can recover very quickly and with minimal data loss in the event of a packet loss or channel error in the received enhancement layer bitstream.

Abstract: A method for object edge detection in a macroblock and a method for deciding quantization scaling factor are disclosed. This method calculates and compares the pixel means and means of absolutely difference of a plurality of pixel blocks in a macroblock to achieve the purpose of detecting if there is an object edge or flat area in a macroblock. In the meantime, the image structure of macroblock is analyzed and classified and its related messages are used for bit rate control, such that the visual effect of the compressed image can be appropriately enhanced.

Abstract: A video monitoring system is proposed, which is used to mask objects in a monitored scene that involve the privacy of an individual. Such objects include vehicle license plates or the person himself. An unmasking occurs when proof of legitimacy is entered. In a modification, a combination of a stationary camera and a moving camera also permits the masking of individual objects in the monitored scene.

Abstract: In coding a picture to be used as a reference picture by another picture, a motion vector used in inter picture predictive coding is stored into the motion vector storage unit (116). However, the storage of a motion vector is controlled by the coding control unit (110) in such a way that motion vectors of pictures, fewer in number than the number of reference pictures, are stored into the storage unit (116). In the case where direct mode is used in coding a B-picture, if the motion vector to be referred to in coding in direct mode is stored in the motion vector storage unit (116), coding is performed using such motion vector. Further, in the case where the motion vector is not stored in the storage unit (116), coding is performed with the motion vector as “0”, and using a motion vector of a neighboring block.

Abstract: The invention is related to decoding of block wise coded video pictures. The determination of using de-blocking filtering between coded chroma blocks is based on alternative characteristics compared to the characteristics used in H.264/AVC.

Abstract: A method, medium, and apparatus for 3-dimensional encoding and/or decoding of videos, including adapting to temporal and spatial characteristics of the videos. Methods include performing temporal estimation on videos taken by a camera located in a centerly position with reference to videos taken by the same camera at immediately previous times, when a plurality of other cameras are arranged in a row, and performing temporal-spatial estimation on videos taken by the other cameras with reference to previous videos taken by cameras adjacent to the camera located in the centerly position.

Abstract: Video encoding techniques are described. In one example, a video encoding technique includes identifying a pixel location associated with a video block in a search space based on motion vectors associated with a set of video blocks within a video frame to be encoded, wherein the video blocks in the set are spatially located at defined locations relative to a current video block of the video frame to be encoded. A motion estimation routine can then be initialized for the current video block at the identified pixel location. By identifying a pixel location associated with a video block in a search space based on motion vectors associated with a set of video blocks within a video frame, the phenomenon of spatial redundancy can be more readily exploited to accelerate and improve the encoding process.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for editing and parsing compressed digital information. The compressed digital information may include visual information which is edited and parsed in the compressed domain. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for detecting moving objects in a compressed digital bitstream which represents a sequence of fields or frames of video information for one or more captured scenes of video.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for a central server to manage remote monitoring tasks performed by users of a data network. An exemplary method comprises: receiving a request from a user of a user device to monitor a remote location; determining a remote location to be monitored; enabling communication between a sensor at the remote location and the user device; and crediting value to the user in accordance with an amount of time the user device has been in communication with the remote sensor for remote monitoring purposes. An alternate exemplary method includes measuring user attentiveness while the user device is in communication with the remote sensor. Thus, the disclosed system and method provide a way for users of a data network such as the Internet to log on at any time and perform remote monitoring tasks for value. Idle time can now be turned into value using the disclosed system and method.

Abstract: A moving picture stream generation apparatus that generates a moving picture stream that can be played back in trick-play such as variable-speed and reverse playback even in a coding format such as MPEG-4 AVC, in which flexible prediction structures are allowed. The moving picture stream generation apparatus includes: a trick-play information generation unit generating supplemental information, the supplemental information being referred to at the time of playback of each random access unit including one or more pictures; and a variable length coding unit generating a stream including the generated supplemental information and the one or more pictures by adding the supplemental information to each corresponding random access unit.

Abstract: A picture encoding system conversion device and a code rate conversion device for realizing the conversion taking into account both time delay and picture quality using the information on the code volume of the encoding parameters, input and output buffers and an input bitstream. There are provided a decoder 1 including an input buffer 21, a VLD unit 22, an inverse quantizer 23, an IDCT unit 24, an adder 35, a frame memory 26 and a motion compensation prediction unit 27; an encoder 2 including an adder 31, a DCT unit 32, a quantizer 33, an inverse quantizer 34, an IDCT unit 35, an adder 36, a frame memory unit 37, a motion compensation prediction unit 38, a VLD unit 39 and an output buffer 40; and a transcoder controller 3 including a decoder monitor unit 51, an input buffer monitor unit 52, a reception transmission channel monitor 53, a sending transmission channel monitor 63, an output buffer monitor unit 62 and a quantization step controller 74.

Abstract: A method for video decoding is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) decoding a first picture from a bitstream, the first picture having a first resolution, (B) storing the first picture at the first resolution in a memory and (C) storing the first picture at a second resolution in the memory, wherein the second resolution is lower than the first resolution.