Abstract: A vector coding apparatus and method includes decomposing an initial vector to obtain a sign vector and an initial absolute vector. Coding the sign vector to obtain a sign code, performing multi-level permutation-based coding on the initial absolute vector to obtain an absolute vector code, and combining the sign code and the absolute vector code. Optionally determining, before decomposing the initial vector, a characteristic codebook to which the initial vector belongs, obtaining a characteristic value of the characteristic codebook, and combining a code of the initial vector to obtain a final code of the initial vector. The performing step can include removing from the initial absolute vector any element having a value which satisfies a preset condition, constructing a new absolute vector with elements not satisfying the preset condition, and coding positions of the elements not satisfying the preset condition in the initial absolute vector to obtain a position code.

Abstract: A quantizer and dequantizer for use in a video coding system that applies non linear, piece-wise linear scaling functions to video information signals based on a value of a variable quantization parameter. The quantizer and dequantizer apply different non linear, piece-wise linear scaling functions to a DC luminance signal, a DC chrominance signal and an AC chrominance signal. A code for reporting updates of the value of the quantization parameter is interpreted to require larger changes when the quantization parameter initially is large and smaller changes when the quantization parameter initially is small.

Abstract: When a block (MB22) of which motion vector is referred to in the direct mode contains a plurality of motion vectors, 2 motion vectors MV23 and MV24, which are used for inter picture prediction of a current picture (P23) to be coded, are determined by scaling a value obtained from averaging the plurality of motion vectors or selecting one of the plurality of the motion vectors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of detecting editing points of image data in order to select items of information that can be reused according to the status of the image data including the detected editing points is provided. Accordingly, an image processing apparatus may include a data converter for performing at least part of coding processing on the image data, a detector for detecting an editing point of the image data, and a controller for determining, based on the editing point detected by the detector. A reuse disable period is a period in which information concerning previous coding processing performed on the image data is not reusable.

Abstract: A method for judging a lost block characteristic in a video processing system including certifying whether a lost block exists among transmitted video blocks, calculating a temporal difference cost1 between neighborhood pixels of the lost block in a present frame and a previous frame, and calculating a motion vector distribution value cost2 of peripheral blocks of the lost video block. The method also includes comparing the temporal difference cost1 and the motion vector distribution value cost2 with preset threshold values, and determining a characteristic of the lost block based on a result of the comparison. The automatically judged characteristic of the lost block is utilized as information for recovering the lost block to thereby reproduce a recovery video close to the original video.

Abstract: Methods and systems for fast variable block-size motion estimation based on merging and splitting procedures for AVC video encoding are disclosed. The methods take advantage of the correlation of the Motion Vectors (MVs) of the different block-size modes to achieve a good computation reduction. Considering that the smaller the block-size difference between two block-sizes is, the more correlations between their MVs can be expected, the methods use a 8*8 block as an initial processing block to calculate prediction MVs. The prediction MVs are then used in predicting MVs for other block-sizes.

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: System and method for efficient allocation of resources for processing video. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for processing video. The method includes providing a system for processing video. The system is characterized by a known quantity of processing power. The method also includes providing a video file, which is characterized by a plurality of properties. The plurality of properties includes a file type, resolution, bit rate, frame rate, video quality, etc. The video type is associated with a first compression method. The method further includes determining the video type and the first compression method. Additionally, the method includes determining a first usage for the video file. For example, the first usage being associated with the video type. The method further includes decoding the video. Additionally, the method includes determining a residual processing power, which associated with the first usage.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for tracking a head portion of a person image in video images. Upon receiving video images, a first head tracking operation is executed for generating a first confidence value. Such first confidence value is representative of a confidence that a head portion of a person image in the video images is correctly located. Also executed is a second head tracking operation for generating a second confidence value representative of a confidence that the head portion of the person image in the video images is correctly located. The first confidence value and the second confidence value are then outputted. Subsequently, the depiction of the head portion of the person image in the video images is based on the first confidence value and the second confidence value.

Abstract: In the method, a determination is made as to whether a first block including the pixel and an adjacent second block have non-zero transform coefficients. A filtering strength is selected based on results of the determination.

Abstract: A method of encoding a video signal representing a sequence of pictures, the method comprising receiving a current picture for encoding, forming a temporal prediction of the current picture from a default reference picture for the current picture, comparing the default reference picture with at least one further reference picture, calculating a measure of the similarity between the default reference picture and each further reference picture and, if the measure of similarity meets a pre-determined criterion, outputting an indicator identifying the further reference picture.

Abstract: A Poisson-quantization noise model for modeling noise in low-light conditions is described. In one aspect, image information is received. A Poisson-quantization noise model is then generated from a Poisson noise model and a quantization noise model. Poisson-quantization noise is then estimated in the image information using the Poisson-quantization noise model.

Abstract: In the method, a pixel in a block of an image is filtered according to a filtering methodology, where the filtering methodology includes determining a filtering strength. A filter strength of two is determined if the block has non-zero transform coefficients.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus detecting a noise area in image data generated by decoding encoded data encoded by a frequency transform method and a lossy compression method. The image processing apparatus includes a motion detection unit for detecting motion in an area having at least one pixel in the image data, a deviation detection unit for detecting the deviation of the image motion in the area having at least one pixel, and a noise detection unit for detecting the noise area in accordance with the deviation of the image motion.

Abstract: In the method, a motion vector difference between a motion vector for a first block including the pixel and a motion vector for a second block adjacent to the first block is obtained. A filtering strength is selected based on the motion vector difference.

Abstract: A video magnifier includes a body including a base, a table on which an object to be read is placed, the table being disposed on the base, a video camera disposed over the table, an illumination lamp illuminating the object placed on the table and a pointer irradiating a part of the object photographed by the video camera, and a monitor television displaying a video image delivered from the video camera. In the video magnifier, in synchronization with irradiation of the photographed part of the object by the pointer, an illuminance of the illumination lamp is rendered lower than an illuminance of the pointer.

Abstract: A system and process for compressing and decompressing multiple video streams depicting substantially the same dynamic scene from different viewpoints that from a grid of viewpoints. Each frame in each contemporaneous set of video frames of the multiple streams is represented by at least a two layers—a main layer and a boundary layer. Compression of the main layers involves first designating one or more of these layers in each set of contemporaneous frames as keyframes. For each set of contemporaneous frames in time sequence order, the main layer of each keyframe is compressed using an inter-frame compression technique. In addition, the main layer of each non-keyframe within the frame set under consideration is compressed using a spatial prediction compression technique. Finally, the boundary layers of each frame in the current frame set are each compressed using an intra-frame compression technique. Decompression is generally the reverse of the compression process.

Abstract: For the binary representation of a description corresponding to an extended description scheme, the same principles as in the MPEG-7 binary format could in principle be used, however, the resulting binary format is different from the binary format of the original MPEG-7 description scheme, even for the identical parts of both description schemes. Means and method are provided for user or application specific extension of the binary format, where the binary format of that part of the description schemes, which is common to both the original MPEG-7 description scheme and the extended description scheme, is preserved.

Abstract: A pipeline architecture for analyzing multiple streams of video is embodied, in part, in a layer of application program interfaces (APIs) to each stage of processing. Buffer queuing is used between some stages, which helps moderate the load on the CPU(s). Through the layer of APIs, innumerable video analysis applications can access and analyze video data flowing through the pipeline, and can annotate portions of the video data (e.g., frames and groups of frames), based on the analyses performed, with information that describes the frame or group. These annotated frames and groups flow through the pipeline to subsequent stages of processing, at which increasingly complex analyses can be performed. At each stage, portions of the video data that are of little or no interest are removed from the video data. Ultimately, “events” are constructed and stored in a database, from which cross-event and historical analyses may be performed and associations with, and among, events may be made.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for encoding/decoding a moving picture uses a digital watermark for copyright protection and/or other identifying purposes. This is accomplished by embedding encoding information of a first moving picture obtained by one camera in a second moving picture obtained by another camera in a digital watermark format. The second moving picture is encoded through motion compensation. By extracting the digital watermark from the second moving picture encoded data and decoding the second moving picture, the first moving picture is motion compensated-decoded using the extracted digital watermark. Accordingly, it is possible to improve a compression rate of a multi viewpoints moving picture having lots of data quantity.