Abstract: This invention uses a novel synthesis of several different compression methods, some original and some known in the art, to achieve compression of digitized video image sequences. Images are color-reduced by a factor of two in both directions using a colorspace that requires minimal computation for reconstruction of RGB pixel values. Images are then transformed into a `token sequence` corresponding to a series of 4.times.4 blocks, using one of seven transformation methods, some dependent on previous frames and some dependent only on pixel values in neighboring blocks. The resulting token sequence is then compressed using known lossless methods, including Huffman coding.

Abstract: A scene change detector sums the correlation maximum values of correlation surfaces produced by a motion vector determining circuit (2) across a current image and compares this with a threshold value (Thres) to detect scene changes. A statistical analysis of signals (V.sub.x, V.sub.y, Y) representing the current image may be made and a resulting value differentiated. Peaks in this differentiated value represent scene changes. Finally, rapid changes in the number of valid vectors found in a motion analysis of a current image may also be used to indicate a scene change.

Abstract: A live video insertion system (LVIS) is disclosed that allows insertion of static or dynamic images into a live video broadcast in a realistic fashion on a real time basis. Initially, natural landmarks in a scene that are suitable for subsequent detection and tracking are selected. The landmarks are typically distributed throughout the entire scene, such as a ballpark or football stadium. The field of view of the camera at any instant is normally significantly smaller than the full scene that may be panned. The LVIS uses a combination of pattern recognition techniques and camera sensor data (e.g., pan, tilt, zoom, etc.) to locate, verify and track target data. Camera sensors are well suited for the searching requirements of an LVIS, while pattern recognition and landmark tracking techniques are better suited for the image tracking requirements of LVIS.

Abstract: The instant invention is a video camera assembly which is adapted to be mounted in a thru-hull fitting so as to allow for safe and dependable viewing in various environments. A primary embodiment of the invention allows for underwater viewing by use of a conventional thru-hull fitting found on most boats. The camera includes a modified transducer body with a self-contained miniaturized camera available for coupling to a television or video monitor in a safe and protected location.

Abstract: A device for overloading products from a working machine having a driver's stand to a transporting vehicle has an overloading unit provided in the working machine, and a monitor assembly for monitoring overloading of the product from the working machine to the transporting vehicle, the monitor assembly including an analog monitoring camera associated with the overloading unit and filming an overloading process, an analog control monitor arranged in the driver's cabin of the working machine such that an indication of the monitoring camera is performed by the control monitor, a first microprocessor connected to the monitoring camera and digitalizing a video signal, a second microprocessor to which the video signal is transmitted, and a digitally operating graphic indicator to which the digitalized video signal is transmitted by the second microprocessor for indication.

Abstract: An adaptive blocking coding system selects an effective blocking of an input image signal to be encoded in accordance with the correlation between fields, even if motion is detected between the fields. The blocking patterns include an individual field blocking, a non-interlace blocking, a split blocking and an inverted split blocking. Further, the coding system searches for motion from both odd and even fields of a frame for producing a motion compensated prediction signal in order to provide high-efficient coding.

Abstract: A system for generating a three-dimensional image is described. The system includes a camera which records a first image of a first location and a second image of a second location. A motion detector detects the motion of the camera to compute a position of the camera corresponding to the first location and a second position corresponding to the second location. A processor uses the first and second image and the first and second location to generate a three-dimensional image.

Abstract: A system and method for digital live video transmission is disclosed. According to the system, live or full-motion video is transmitted over plain old telephone system ("POTS") wiring. Successive frames of a video image are captured or received in a source computer, and are then processed prior to transmission. A destination computer reverses the process after the image is received. Quad-tree encoding techniques are preferably employed. A unique YUV pixel representation scheme is used where the pixel data is truncated for further compression. Proportional dithering is applied to smooth the received image, which is preferably displayed on a video screen. Approximately 30 frames per second of video data is transmitted synchronously over twisted pair wiring at currently achievable baud rates.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an image compression/encoding apparatus for determining a quantization width by which a video signal is encoded so as to encode the video signal based on the quantization width is provided. The apparatus includes control means for determining an actual bit generation number which has been consumed for encoding the video signal, determining a target bit generation number in accordance with a target bit rate, determining a bit generation error as a difference between the actual bit generation number and the target bit generation number, determining a quantization width with respect to the bit generation error, setting a characteristic in a predetermined range of the bit generation error where the quantization width varies slightly with respect to the bit generation error, and determining the quantization width with respect to the bit generation error based on the characteristic.

Abstract: The invention is directed to provide a code-amount control device for use in video-coding device, which controls the generated code-amount of each block (block length) after variable-length coding in the video-coding process to surely be less than the designated target code-amount. The code amount control device is provided with a rate control circuit for setting a target code-amount of each of blocks to be encoded, a rounding circuit for converting a sequence of quantized values into a set of the number of continuous zeroes and following thereto non-zero quantized values and a code-length table containing variable code-length values to be allocated to respective sets of the number of continuous zeroes and non-zero values.

Abstract: A film scanner is disclosed including an image sensor moveable to a scan position for scanning image frames of an elongated film having a series of edge perforations including a reference perforation for each image frame. The film scanner further includes an intermittent film transport mechanism for moving an image frame to a scanning position, and a sensor transport assembly mounted relative to the intermittent film transport mechanism and moveable in hop and weave directions. The sensor transport assembly includes a structure for mounting the image sensor for movement in the hop and weave directions, a detector mounted relative to the image sensor for detecting the reference perforation and for producing hop and weave signals, and circuitry responsive to the hop and weave signals to move the sensor transport assembly in the hop and weave directions to align the detector over the reference perforation, so that the image sensor is aligned with the image frame so that the image frame can be scanned.

Abstract: The present invention teaches an improved parallel telecine for converting a plurality of recorded images or frames of film, defined by a first and a second set of frames of film, to a digital data stream. The improved telecine comprises a plurality of image transfer or digitizing systems for respectively digitizing each of the recorded images or frames of film or groupings of frames of film. Each image transfer and digitizing system comprises an illuminator system for illuminating the respective frames or groupings of frames, and a camera system for converting the image of the respective frame or groupings of frames into a digital data stream. Each camera sensor additionally comprises a position sensor for detecting a first and a second pair of edges on a coordinated positional tag at the edge of the film frame. Further, each camera system comprises an aligning mechanism for aligning each camera system in response to the set of edges of the respective coordinated position tag detected by the position sensor.

Abstract: A method for operating a data processing system to compress a first frame in an ordered sequence of image frames. A second frame precedes the first frame in the sequence of frames, and the second frame is preceded by a third frame in the sequence of frames. Each frame is divided into a plurality of processing blocks. The method first determines a displacement vector for at least one block in the second frame. The displacement vector identifies a region in the third frame that is an approximation of the block in the second frame. The displacement vectors in the second frame and measured vectors in the first frame are then used to determine an approximation for a displacement vector associated with one of the blocks in the first frame. This approximation is then used to define a search region in a frame preceding the first frame. The search region includes a plurality of sub-regions, each of the sub-regions having the same size as that block.

Abstract: In a system that uses inter-frame coding to compress blocks of data for transmission from a transmitting device to a receiving device, and sends acknowledgment signal back from the receiving device to the transmitting device, the receiving device packs decoding-error information about multiple blocks into each acknowledgment signal. The transmitting device unpacks the acknowledgment signal to obtain the decoding-error information, and uses this information to keep from performing inter-frame coding with reference to data that the receiving device was unable to decode. The bandwidth saved by packing information about multiple blocks into each acknowledgment signal can be used to enhance reliability by repeating the information in multiple acknowledgment signals.

Abstract: An apparatus and concomitant method for constructing a valid OSD message bitstream from a plurality of stored character bitstreams. Each character of the OSD font set is initially scaled into a fixed block size, e.g., a block size of 16.times.16 pixels. Each character is then encoded into a "character bitstream" using the intra macroblock coding syntax. The character bitstream is stored within a storage medium. When a frame of OSD messages needs to be encoded, the character bitstreams are read from the storage medium and cascaded to form a valid OSD message bitstream which represents the frame of OSD messages.

Abstract: An object-oriented video system is implemented as a two layer object model in a software-only video compressor. Quadtree decomposition on an error metric between the input and transmitted images directs the coder towards a foreground layer of active image fragments. A rate buffering system limits the bandwidth by transmitting only the foreground blocks which most improve the image and are above some error threshold. A high fidelity background layer is identified and communicated to the decoder, which can be used to redraw background fragments as foreground objects move across them. Blocks can be coded by various methods, such as fractal transforms or truncated DCTs. The system can be implemented in RISC processors without the need for dedicated hardware. It is suitable for low bit rate applications with slowly varying backgrounds, such as personal video communications over packet networks, or closed circuit TV surveillance.

Abstract: A method is disclosed, for encoding a signal with a three dimensional image sequence using a series of left and right images. Each image in the left image series is a picture formed by non-interlaced or interlaced scanned left line images, and each image in the right image series is a picture formed by non-interlaced or interlaced scanned right line images. The left line images contained in the left picture are merged with the right line images contained in the right picture to produce an alternately arranged left and right line merged picture. The merged picture is encoded using an MPEG-2 compliant encoder.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for image enhancement in which an autostereoscopic image, comprising a different perspective view of an object field for each eye of an observer is, typically provided. The optical cross-talk, which is often a feature of autostereoscopic images, is suppressed when images are displayed, by preconditioning of the image intended for each eye. Supplementary image data is produced by mixing the different perspective image data and this is applied to the primary data. By inversion of a cross-talk matrix, two or more different perspective channels can be preconditioned to cancel the effects of such cross-talk, providing clear images for each eye without the unwanted interference from other views. The viewer's location with respect to the display device can be used to modify the characteristics of both the display and the level of cross-talk correction. A camera or endoscope for providing stereoscopic images can also suffer from optical cross-talk.

Abstract: A vehicle moving image processing method of compressing image data in a travel direction of a vehicle photographed from the vehicle which moves on a road, the method comprising the steps of: photographing an image in the travel direction of the vehicle and acquiring image data; dividing the image data into image data in a first area with a small change degree and image data in a second area with a large change degree in response to a change degree of the image data with a move of the vehicle; and compressing the image data in the first area by a first compression process and the image data in the second area by a second compression process different from the first compression process.

Abstract: Apparatus that compresses video data using a compression coder having control registers loaded with compression parameters, the apparatus being controlled to sense the size of compressed video data resulting from compressing a portion of source video data using a set of compression parameters, to automatically reload compression parameters that change as a function of the sensed size of compressed video data (the changed parameters being used with the next portion of video data to be compressed), and to store with each compressed portion an indication of the compression parameters used in compressing the portion.