Abstract: Techniques to identify one or more candidate reference blocks used to generate a prediction block to encode a current coding block. The candidate reference blocks can be in the same layer as the current coding block or a different layer. In addition, the candidate reference blocks do not have to be co-located with the current coding block. Motion vectors and shift vectors can be used to identify the one or more candidate reference blocks. In addition, uniform and non-uniform weighting can be applied to the one or more candidate reference blocks to generate the prediction block. Accordingly, an encoder can determine and identify reference blocks to a decoder that can provide desirable rate-distortion cost.

Abstract: A method of encoding a video sequence comprising Reference Picture Sets (RPSs) is provided. The method comprises arranging the RPSs in transmission order in a data structure, such as a Sequence Parameter Set (SPS), determining whether explicit RPS transmission is used for an RPS of a current picture of the video sequence, and encoding information indicating an RPS comprised in the data structure to be used for predicting the RPS of the current picture, such as delta_idx_minus1, only if explicit RPS transmission is used. By transmitting delta_idx_minus1 only if explicit RPS transmission is used, and interpreting delta_idx_minus1 to be equal to zero otherwise, a reduced bitrate is achieved. Further, a method of decoding a video sequence comprising RPSs, corresponding computer programs and computer program products, as well as corresponding encoders and decoders are provided.

Abstract: A method for operating an image processing device coupled to a color camera and a depth camera is provided. The method includes receiving a color image of a 3-dimensional scene from a color camera, receiving a depth map of the 3-dimensional scene from a depth camera, generating an aligned 3-dimensional face mesh from a plurality of color images received from the color camera indicating movement of a subject's head within the 3-dimensional scene and form the depth map, determining a head region based the depth map, segmenting the head region into a plurality of facial sections based on both the color image, depth map, and the aligned 3-dimensional face mesh, and overlaying the plurality of facial sections on the color image.

Abstract: A tracking device for use when performing astrophotography comprises a guider camera and at least one tilt stage, with the topmost of the tilt stages arranged to support an astrophotography camera and the guider camera. Actuators are coupled to the tilt stages such that the astrophotography and guider cameras can be tilted about three axes. The guider camera and actuators are connected to electronics which include a computer programmed to operate in a calibration mode and a tracking mode. In calibration mode, a calibration procedure determines the effect of each actuator on the positions of at least two objects within the field-of-view (FOV) of the guider camera. In tracking mode, the actuators are operated as needed to maintain the positions of the at least two objects constant within the said FOV.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an image pickup section provided with an image sensor and configured to obtain an examination image; a cable that transmits the examination image; and a processor that receives the examination image, performs image processing, and displays the processed image. The processor includes: a cable driver that applies a voltage higher than an input voltage standard of the image pickup section so as to compensate for attenuation of a high-frequency signal caused by the cable and outputs a clock signal for driving the image pickup section; a peaking circuit that performs waveform correction of the clock signal; and a DC level limiting circuit configured to limit, when a clock signal inputted from the first peaking circuit is switched to a DC voltage, an amplitude level of the DC voltage so as not to exceed a level of the input voltage standard of the image pickup section.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a system for a rapid motion search applied in template matching are disclosed. The method includes: selecting motion vectors of blocks related to a current block as candidate motion vectors of the current block; after the uniqueness of a series of the candidate motion vectors of the current block is maintained, calculating the cost function of the candidate motion vectors in a corresponding template area of a reference frame, and obtaining the motion vector of the best matching template from the candidate motion vectors of the current block. In the embodiments of the present invention, there is no need to determine a large search range and no need to determine the corresponding search path template, and it is only necessary to perform a search in a smaller range.

Abstract: Products associated with targets to be read by image capture are processed in a workstation having a window, a solid-state imager looking at a field of view extending through the window to a target to be imaged, and an illumination system for illuminating the field of view. A proximity system detects a product associated with the target in a selected zone outside the window. The proximity system has an infrared (IR) emitter for emitting IR light into an IR emission field, and an IR sensor for sensing return IR light within an IR detection field that intersects the IR emission field in the selected zone. A controller energizes the illumination system in response to the detection of the product in the selected zone, and processes return illumination light captured in the field of view by the imager.

Abstract: Disclosed are an intra-prediction method using filtering and an apparatus using the method. An image-decoding method comprises: a step of filtering an n upper reference pixel of a block to be predicted and neighboring pixels of the n upper reference pixel so as to obtain the filtered n upper reference pixel; and a step of filtering an n left reference pixel of a block to be predicted and neighboring pixels of the n left reference pixel so as to obtain the filtered n left reference pixel. According to the present invention, intra-prediction may be efficiently performed to improve image-encoding/decoding efficiency.

Abstract: An image coding apparatus configured to divide an image into one or more slices each including a plurality of blocks and to code each slice on a block-by-block basis includes a first coding unit configured to code blocks included in a first portion of the slice, and a second coding unit configured to code blocks included in a second portion of the slice, wherein, when the second coding unit codes an initial block in the second portion, the second coding unit codes the initial included in the second portion by referring to a first quantization parameter provided to the slice as an initial value and referred to by the first coding unit when the first coding units codes the initial block in the first portion.

Abstract: An image decoding method is provided which includes a time information determination step of determining time information of a current picture, a first reference picture referred to by the current picture and a second reference picture referred to by the current picture; a scaling parameter calculation step of calculating a scaling parameter based on a time distance between the first reference picture and a second reference picture; a weighting coefficient determination step of determining two weighting coefficients based on the scaling parameter; a predictive pixel value generation step of generating a predictive pixel value of the current picture by scaling a pixel value of the first reference picture and a pixel value of the second reference picture using the two weighting coefficients determined in the weighting coefficient determination step; and a decoding step of decoding the current picture using the predictive pixel value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved deblocking filter are disclosed. In one embodiment according to the present invention, determining the non-zero transform coefficients existence for a PU-only boundary is skipped and therefore the deblocking filter for PU-only boundary is eliminated if the condition of boundary strength equal to 1 is not fulfilled to avoid unnecessary deblocking. In another embodiment of the present invention, three gradients are determined for two pixel lines and filter ON/OFF decision is made based on the three gradient values of the two pixel lines. One aspect of the invention is related to filter strength selection between strong and weak filters. According to one embodiment, the filter strength selection is based on various gradient values of a pixel line across the block boundary. Another aspect of the invention is related to the weak filter.

Abstract: An image decoding method is provided which includes a time information determination step of determining time information of a current picture, a first reference picture referred to by the current picture and a second reference picture referred to by the current picture; a scaling parameter calculation step of calculating a scaling parameter based on a time distance between the first reference picture and a second reference picture; a weighting coefficient determination step of determining two weighting coefficients based on the scaling parameter; a predictive pixel value generation step of generating a predictive pixel value of the current picture by scaling a pixel value of the first reference picture and a pixel value of the second reference picture using the two weighting coefficients determined in the weighting coefficient determination step; and a decoding step of decoding the current picture using the predictive pixel value.

Abstract: When an intra prediction parameter indicates a horizontal prediction process, an intra prediction unit adds a value proportional to a change in a horizontal direction of the luminance values of pixels adjacent to the top of each block, which is a unit for prediction process of a coding block, to the luminance value of a pixel adjacent to the left of the block to set a result of the addition as a predicted value of a prediction image, whereas when the intra prediction parameter indicates a vertical prediction process, the intra prediction unit adds a value proportional to a change in a vertical direction of the luminance values of pixels adjacent to the left of the block to the luminance value of the pixel adjacent to the top of the block to set the result of the addition as a predicted value of the prediction image.

Abstract: Systems and methods of managing H.264 compliant video that lacks B Frames include decoding without the use of a significant video frame buffer. This variant of the H.264 standard may include a flag indicating that the video does not include B Frames. The video may be used in applications, such as computer games, in which processing of B Frames introduces undesirable lag.

Abstract: A display device includes: an image-forming optical element provided in light-transmissive fashion in an upper surface of an enclosure; a display dispose in an attitude inclined at a predetermined inclination angle with respect to a lower surface of the image-forming optical element; a reader for reading information held by an information holding element in a non-contacting manner; a sensor for sensing whether an object is present on the upper surface of the enclosure or not; and a controller which controls display on the display. The controller prepares an image corresponding to the information holding element, based on the information held therein and transmitted from the reader. The controller causes the prepared image to be displayed as a spatial image at an appropriate moment, based on an object detection signal transmitted from the sensor.

Abstract: An image encoding method includes: determining whether a current picture is a TSA picture or a trailing picture; and encoding a plurality of pictures according to whether the current picture is the TSA picture or a trailing picture. The determining includes: determining the current picture to be the TSA picture when the current picture does not belong to the highest layer and corresponds to a first field, and determining the current picture to be the trailing picture when the current picture belongs to the highest layer or corresponds to a second field.

Abstract: A method and device for partitioning an image for transmission of one or more regions of interest of said image, the image being composed of coding units, the method comprising: performing a first partitioning of the image into one or more portions of coding units, wherein each portion is encodable or decodable without any coding dependency on another of the portions, a region of interest comprising at least one portion; and performing a second partitioning the image onto one or more segments of coding units comprising at least one independent segment which is encodable or decodable without any coding dependency on another of the segments and at least one dependent segment which is dependent on the independent segment for coding or decoding, the second partitioning being based on the portions of the first partitioning; wherein at least part of one of the portions is encoded in an independent segment and at least part of another of the portions is encoded in a dependent segment.

Abstract: A motion estimation engine may be implemented to support multiple video encoding standards. The motion estimation engine may be designed to support two macroblock partitioning modes: one for frame type video signals and the other for mixed frame-field type video signals. Additionally, the motion estimation engine provides the mixing unidirectional option (forward/backward) and the mixing bidirectional option. Furthermore, the motion estimation engine may use a unified 5-tap interpolation filter for fractional macroblock search during motion estimation.

Abstract: Systems and Methods for efficient and reliable detection of error blocks in a video based on detecting one or more candidate blocks in a region of interest and then verifying the block error on the basis of the patterns formed inside the candidate block and its distinction from the surrounding blocks spatially and/or temporally.

Abstract: A vehicle safety control apparatus using cameras includes a first camera configured to photograph a current object at at least one of a narrow angle and a straight angle during running, a second camera configured to photograph the current object at a wide angle during the running, an image processing unit configured to perform image processing on first current object image data captured by the first camera and second current object image data captured by the second camera, a recognition unit configured to recognize the first and second current object image data on which the image processing unit has performed the image processing, a storage unit configured to cause the recognized data to match preset reference object-specific data and separately store the data matching the preset reference object-specific data; and a control unit configured to receive the recognized data and deliver a storage command to the storage unit.