Abstract: In order to measure an actual distance from a vehicle to a target, the target is detected from a picture signal generated by a camera mounted on a vehicle, a horizontally estimated distance of the target is calculated, variables including a vertical angle of the target on a circumference and a curvature radius of the circumference are calculated, and then the actual distance is calculated based on the vertical angle and the curvature radius.

Abstract: An video encoding method and a video encoding apparatus wherein an input video signal is divided into a plurality of temporally continuous scenes each including at least one frame, statistical feature amounts are calculated for each of the scenes, encoded parameters are generated for each of the scenes based on said statistical feature amounts, and the input image signal is encoded using the encoded parameters.

Abstract: A video display for displaying a large image to an observer, comprising a screen for displaying patterns, the screen being formed of a plurality of separate areas each capable of receiving a segment of a pattern the segments collectively forming a complete frame of a pattern; projection means for projecting a segment of a pattern to each separate area of the screen in sequence; means for receiving each segment of a pattern and forming a complete frame; and means for illuminating the screen with collimated light to display a large area display.

Abstract: Video decoder methods and apparatus are described. In accordance with the invention, hardware decoder circuitry, e.g., intra-coded image decoding circuitry and motion vector reconstruction circuitry, is used in combination with a general purpose processor, e.g., Pentium processor, to perform video decoding operations. The video decoder hardware circuitry of the present invention is responsible for performing non-memory intensive functions. The general purpose processor or a general purpose processor operating in conjunction with a graphics processor are used to perform memory intensive video decoding operations such as motion compensated predictions. The video decoding hardware circuitry of the present invention can be implemented as a separate physical device, e.g., chip, or can be implemented on the same physical chip as a general purpose processor with which it works.

Abstract: An encoding system capable of preventing the overflow of a buffer and performing the encoding of a VOP within a predetermined time period even where the processing time period necessary for encoding each macroblock is not constant. In order to provide the encoding system, the maximum number of bits Tmax is set for each VOP, and the output of encoding unit and the output of fixed code output unit is switched and outputted so that the number of bits Sc of the VOP may not exceed the Tmax.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multi-rate encoding of video sequences. The input data stream is received at a first bit rate. A domain transformation is performed on the input data and the transformed data is encoded into a series of output data streams each with a different bit rate.

Abstract: An error-resilient decoder for motion-picture-experts group (MPEG-4) video detects variable-length resync markers together with video packet (VP) headers at the start of each video packet in a video object plane (VOP). An f_code in the VOP header indicates a motion-vector search range and a bit length for all resync markers in the VOP. When the f_code is correctly read, the bitstream is searched for a fixed-length resync markers. However, when an error occurs in this f_code, the length of the resync markers is unknown. A multi-pattern resync marker and VP header decoder searches the bitstream for one of 7 patterns for each possible resync marker bit-length. A match allows the VP header and data to be decoded even when bit errors occur in the VOP header. Faster recovery occurs for corrupted bitstreams such as those transmitted over wireless networks.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system is provided with an outputting device specifying tool and a database having tables. In the tables, compensation data, for compensating image signals generated by the system in accordance with outputting devices, are recorded. When the model of outputting device is specified by the specifying tool, the tables are searched using the name of the specified model of outputting device as a search key, so that compensation data for compensating the image signals in accordance with the characteristics of the connected outputting device can be obtained. The image signals are output to the connected outputting device, after being compensated based on the compensation data.

Abstract: A video system for coding a stream of video data that includes a stream of video frames divides each video frame into a matrix of a plurality of subblocks, wherein each subblock includes a plurality of pixels. The video system operates in accordance with nine prediction modes. Each prediction mode determines a prediction mode according to which a present subblock is to be coded. One of the nine prediction modes is selected to encode the present subblock, wherein the selected prediction mode provides for a minimum error value in the present subblock.

Abstract: To improve qualities of audio and picture signals by distributing adaptively the code quantities of audio codes and picture codes and by adopting variable rate audio coding. The audio/picture processing apparatus handles audio presence information, audio characteristics information, audio quality information, picture quality information, code quantity distribution information, and line capacity information. A code quantity control means decides the distribution of the audio and picture codes, an audio coding format, and a coding rate, whereby the audio signal and picture signal are coded by a picture encoder and an audio encoder. The outputs from the picture encoder and the audio encoder are multiplexed by a multiplexer in order to transmit a multiplexed bit stream onto the network.

Abstract: A motion compensated video coding method which can be applied especially in transfer of video streams using low transmission bit rate is presented. In the motion compensated coding method, the motion of picture elements between a piece of reference video information and a piece of current video information is estimated and then modeled using certain basis function and coefficients. The coefficients are quantized, and the quantizer is selected according to a certain selection criterion, for example, based on a target image quality or on a target transmission bit rate. Preferably the selection criterion is such that it automatically adjust the accuracy with which the motion of picture elements is represented to be related to the accuracy with which the prediction error information is represented. A decoding method, an encoder and a corresponding decoder are also described.

Abstract: The image processor of the present invention generates a more natural synthesized image from camera images taken with a plurality of cameras capturing the surroundings of a vehicle. A parameter storage section stores a plurality of image synthesis parameter groups representing the correspondence between the camera images and the synthesized image and having different spatial or temporal resolution relations. A parameter selection section selects the image synthesis parameter group according to the output of a vehicle motion detection section for detecting the motion of the vehicle such as the driving speed and direction. An image synthesis section generates the synthesized image from the camera images according to the selected image synthesis parameter group.

Abstract: A system and method of locating the display area of a user interactive, computer controlled display including a computing device for generating image data corresponding to a plurality of selected images, a display area for displaying the plurality of selected images, an image capture device for capturing a plurality of images within its capture area each captured image including one of the selected images and a display area locator for locating the display area within the capture area by deriving constructive and destructive feedback data from image data corresponding to the plurality of captured images.

Abstract: A video decoder system having a scalable IDCT system. Included is a system for determining a complexity level based on a complexity budget inputted from a local resource controller; and an IDCT system that selects a scaling algorithm from a plurality of scaling algorithms, wherein the selected scaling algorithm corresponds to the determined complexity level. Each of the plurality of scaling algorithms provides a unique data-pruning pattern for processing DCT data.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a circuit for generating motion compensated video includes a means for translating a macroblock into one or more motion compensation commands having associated correction data related to the macroblock. The motion compensation command is an autonomous command that supports a plurality of motion compensation modes. Also, the circuit includes a means for receiving the motion compensation command, a means for storing the correction data in a memory according to a first order corresponding to the motion compensation command and a means for performing frame prediction operations in response to the motion compensation command. Moreover, the circuit includes a means for reading the correction data from the memory according to a second order and a means for combining the correction data with results from the frame prediction operations to generate an output video frame.

Abstract: A system and method for editing a bitstream is provided. A first segment is cut from a first bitstream and a second segment is cut from a second bitstream. In cutting the segments from the bitstreams, first and last GOPs in the segments can be cut between frames in the GOP. The number of frames of the broken GOP is then compared to a pre-determined threshold value. If the number of frames of the broken GOP is less than or equal to the threshold value, the broken GOP is combined with a neighboring GOP. Therefore, the newly created GOP is longer than the standard size regular GOP. However, if the number of frames in the broken GOP is greater than the threshold value, a new GOP is created with the frames of the broken GOP. Therefore, the newly created GOP is shorter than the standard size regular GOP.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling real-time off-site video image storage is disclosed. An off-site storage site is coupled to camera servers at client sites via a private network. Each camera server is further coupled to one or more surveillance cameras. Video images captured by cameras located at the client sites are forwarded to an off-site server via a camera server. Video images received by the off-site server are produced for live viewing and/or archived in an image database. Users can retrieve live or archived video images through a client workstation that communicates with the off-site server over the public Internet. Retrieval of video images is based on a web-browser interface. Live viewing of video images is supplemented by real-time camera control functions that alter the pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) position of the camera producing the live images. Commands for controlling the PTZ camera are encoded by the client workstation and transmitted to the off-site server.

Abstract: Methods and systems for obtaining a motion vector between two frames of video image data are disclosed. Specifically, methods and systems of the present invention may be used to estimate a motion vector for each macroblock of a current frame with respect to a reference frame in a multi-stage operation. In a transcoder, motion estimation may be performed in the compressed domain eliminating the need to fully decode the compressed data in the first format before reencoding in a second format. In a first stage, an application implementing the process of the present invention obtains a motion vector between first and second pictures of video image data in a video sequence. Each picture includes a plurality of supermacroblocks, each having a plurality of macroblocks. For each supermacroblock of the first picture, a match supermacroblock in the second picture is determined that best matches the supermacroblock of the first picture.

Abstract: A method for diagonal processing of video data includes separating diagonally arranged data from rectilinearly arranged data in a video stream, rotating the diagonally arranged data to a rectilinear position; and compressing the rotated diagonally arranged data by a rectilinear compression algorithm. Alternatively stated, the method includes recognizing diagonally arranged data in a video stream, processing the diagonally arranged data into rectilinear data, and compressing the rectilinear data by a rectilinear compression algorithm.

Abstract: An encoder and method of block matching motion estimation includes accepting a current frame image and a reference image frame; dividing the frames into blocks; for each block of the current frame, searching the reference frame for a corresponding block; calculating a motion vector representing a position difference between the blocks; determining a mean motion vector for one block of the reference frame; establishing a search window; determining a mean absolute difference of the motion vector of the one block; determining a target probability of finding a minimum of the mean absolute difference searching within the search area and outside the search area; and locating the minimum of the mean absolute difference and outputting from the encoder a displacement estimation signal.

Abstract: A method for preparing selected peptide substrates for detecting the activity of virus-specified proteases is provided. Specific tetrapeptide substrates are disclosed which are conjugates of protease-cleavable indicator groups and peptide sequences resembling picornavirus protease cleavage recognition sites.