Abstract: Herein disclosed a bit stream separating apparatus for inputting and transcoding an original MPEG-2 bit stream, and separating the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream to generate a transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and a differential bit stream, which is a differential bit stream between the original MPEG-2 bit stream and the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream, and a bit stream merging apparatus for inputting and merging the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and the differential bit stream to reconstruct the original MPEG-2 bit stream. The bit stream separating apparatus makes it possible for the bit stream merging apparatus to reconstruct the original, high quality, MPEG-2 bit stream from the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream already received and the differential bit stream, thereby eliminating the effort and time to send the original MPEG-2 bit stream again.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data processing apparatus and method for performing an adaptive filter operation on an input data sample to generate an output data sample. In accordance with an adaptive filter operation, a logical computation is performed on a logical data item to determine whether a filtering computation should be applied to the input data sample.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a frequency weighted (FW) matrix for use in a Fine-Granularity-Scalability (FGS) video coding system. The system comprises: a system for plotting the average discrete cosine transform (DCT) residuals versus the zigzag DCT scan line locations for a sample video frame encoded both at a predetermined base layer bit-rate and at approximately three times the predetermined base layer bit-rate; a system for generating the difference plot of DCT residuals versus the zigzag DCT scan line locations for the video frame encoded at both the predetermined base layer bit-rate and at approximately three times the predetermined base layer bit-rate; and a system for matching and normalizing a staircase curve to the average difference plot, wherein the staircase curve values can be further mapped into the weights for the FW matrix.

Abstract: By coding (ENC1) data (D), coded data (CD) and, in addition, a set of parameters (PAR) for decoding (DEC1) the coded data (CD) are obtained. MPEG video coding is an example of such a coding. The coded data (CD) is modified by carrying out the following steps. The coded data (CD) is, at least partially, decoded (DEC1) so as to obtain decoded data (DD). The decoded data (DD) is modified (MOD) so as to obtain modified data (MD). The modified data (MD) is coded (ENC) so as to obtain coded modified data (CMD). It is examined (EXAM) whether a satisfactory result will be obtained if the set of parameters (PAR) for decoding the coded data (CD) is applied for decoding (DEC2) the coded modified data (CMD). If the result is satisfactory, the set of parameters (PAR) for decoding the coded data (CD) is added to the coded modified data (CMD). If the result is not satisfactory, a new set of parameters (PAR) is established (ADP) and the new set of parameters (APAR) is added to the coded modified data (CMD).

Abstract: A MPEG-2 decoder receives an MPEG-2 video stream containing discrete cosine transform (DCT) blocks and generates linear contrast enhanced DCT blocks applied to an inverse DCT processor contained therein. Preferably, the MPEG-2 decoder includes a linear contrast enhancement processor receiving the DCT blocks and generating the linear contrast enhanced DCT blocks, and the inverse DCT processor coupled to the linear contrast enhancement processor. Additionally, the MPEG-2 decoder can include a microprocessor which controls the linear contrast enhancement processor and the inverse DCT processor. A method and a memory containing computer readable instructions permitting the microprocessor to control the MPEG-2 decoder are also described.

Abstract: A visual display of a panoramic region is provided in which a static context display is provided for an active display displayed in a mobile display window. Active images are sequentially generated and displayed from temporally sequential frames of visual data that each represent an image defining a region within a larger panoramic region such that at least two of the images define regions that do not coincide. Each displayed image is positioned on a display screen with respect to the position of other displayed images on the display screen in accordance with the spatial relationship in the panoramic region of the content of the displayed image to the content of the other displayed images. At some time during the visual display, one or more context images (a context display) is displayed while an active image is displayed. Each context image is at least part of an image represented by a frame of the set of temporally sequential frames of visual data.

Abstract: A video code processing method includes (a), (b), (c) and (d). The (a) step includes providing a first original bit stream including a video code which is a digitized video signal. The (b) step includes generating a second original bit stream at a first timing by delaying the first original bit stream by a specific time interval. The (c) step includes generating a converted bit stream at a second timing. The first original bit stream is code-converted into the converted bit stream. The (d) step includes switching between the second original bit stream and the converted bit stream to output. The specific time interval is adjusted such that the first timing is substantially equal to the second timing.

Abstract: To provide a time-shift replaying system, which includes two time-shift replaying devices and allows two users to watch video image with different time-shift periods at the same time. Especially, one of the time-shift replaying device functions as a server, and the another functions as a client, which is simplified its structure and at low cost by comparison with the time-shift replaying device functioning as a server.

Abstract: The quantization step size is set on the basis of features of image and the average bit rate is adjusted for the variable bit rate coding. In more specifically, the quantization step size is set such as to hold a constant coded image quality level over a plurality of groups of pictures. The quantization step size is adjusted from the excess or shortage of the actual generated bit count with respect to the average bit rate with reference to the quantization step size that has been set as above.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a moving object in motion video comprises a macro-block determining section for determining the background/non-background of each macro-block of a reconstructed video signal from a video decoder section which decodes encoded data obtained by compression-encoding a motion video signal, a moving object determining section for determining an area of the moving object from the result of the determination on the background/non-background, and a moving object combination display for displaying information indicating the area of the moving object on a display screen for the reconstructed video signal.

Abstract: A programmable motion estimation module for processing pixel values from a sequence of digital video images. The module includes a programmable microcontroller, scalar and control register files, arithmetic logic units, a direct memory access unit and a vector array processor. The vector array processor includes a series of processing elements, a memory subsystem for storing pixel values and a crossbar switch for distributing pixel values from the memory subsystem to the processing elements. The module provides a flexible platform that can be programmed to implement a variety of different Motion Estimation (ME) algorithms using an associated Instruction Set Architecture without the need to modify the hardware.

Abstract: With respect to change of a bit rate at the time of transmitting encoded data TS, a system delay is fixed and the output size of data frame_bit [j] every predetermined data unit is successively calculated, thereby making it possible to continuously obtain data from the buffer 103 of a decoding side without breaks irrespective of change of the bit rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying blockiness reduction techniques to encoded video or other picture images by utilizing the run-length codes of neighboring pixel blocks to adaptively filter the decoded pixel data of interest, thereby smoothing out the gradations of intensity and color between neighboring blocks of pixels. The present invention can adaptively filter pixel data within a single picture block as well as between blocks. The method comprises the step of obtaining the run-length codes of a first encoded picture block and a neighboring picture block, deriving filter coefficients based on the run-length codes of the first encoded picture block and the neighboring encoded picture block and providing the filter coefficients, decoded first picture data and neighboring picture data to an adaptive filter, and filtering the decoded picture data of the first and neighboring picture blocks, thereby producing an outputted filtered picture signal.

Abstract: A command frame according to the invention comprises at least one last command with a continue bit, and a number of padding bits so that the frame occupies an integer number of words. It is designed to allow the position of the continue bit of last command to be determined. A method according to the invention of concatenating a first and a second command frame comprises the following steps: a) determination of the position of the continue bit of the last command of the first frame, b) modification of the continue bit of the last command of the first frame, c) suppression of the non-significant bits of the first frame, d) insertion of at least one command from the second frame after the modified continue bit, e) addition of a number of padding bits in order to form a new frame that occupies an integer number of words.

Abstract: A device for controlling a video camera in underwater high speed photography in a first aspect includes a plurality of spaced break screen or sense coil members, a projectile for launch through the series of break screen or sense coil members, a video camera operated to video at a predetermined timing upon release of the projectile, and a source of illumination to aid in the video photography. A trigger device such as a break screen or sense coil is positioned immediately up-range of the video camera. With a time delay programmed into a Programmable Array Logic (PAL), a control circuitry receives the trigger information and creates a timed signal to control the operation of the video camera. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, the control circuitry includes discrete logic devices programmed such that gating of the video camera is controlled by the control circuitry at the time the projectile passes the lens of the camera.

Abstract: A method for motion compensation adaptive image processing, which processes an image data received from an external source, stores the processed image data and restores the stored data to the received image data, the method comprising the steps of analyzing the received image data into image data having relatively high frequency component and relatively low frequency component, compressing/coding the image data having relatively high frequency component and relatively low frequency component by allocating predetermined bits, dividing the compressed/coded image data into a value corresponding to relatively high frequency component and a value corresponding to relatively low frequency component, and decoding the values and restoring the received image data based on the decoded image data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding an input MPEG video stream are provided that includes a core processor with a very long instruction word (VLIW) processor and a co-processor that includes a variable length decoder (VLD) for decoding the MPEG video stream. The input MPEG video stream is organized into macroblocks, wherein each macroblock includes a header for a macroblock that is not decoded, and encoded data for a macroblock whose header is previously decoded by VLD. Thereafter, VLD decodes the encoded video data of a first macroblock whose header has been decoded, and decodes the header of a second (current) macroblock. VLIW then performs motion compensation on a current macroblock based upon reference data of a previously decoded macroblock. VLIW also adds a fake slice start code and fake macroblock data at the end of each picture into the input MPEG video data stream; and utilizes the fake slice start code and fake macroblock data to skip to a next slice.

Abstract: A method identifies a talking head or principal cast in a compressed video by first segmenting the video into shots. Motion activity descriptors are extracted from each of the shots, and combined into a shot motion activity descriptor. A distance between the shot motion activity descriptor and a template motion activity descriptor is measured. The template motion activity descriptor is obtained from a training video. If the measured distance is less than a predetermined threshold, then the shot is identified as including a talking head.

Abstract: The invention, provided for an implementation, in a video encoder with base layer coding means and enhancement layer coding means, relates to a method of coding the video objects (VOs) of a sequence according to the following steps: segmentation of the sequence, and coding operation of the texture and shape of said VOs. According to a preferred embodiment, the texture coding operation itself comprises motion compensated prediction operations, during which the temporal references of the enhancement layer VO planes (VOPs) of type P or B are selected only on a temporal distance criterion, without any consideration of the layer they belong to.

Abstract: In a multimedia compression system such as is used in compressing data in a video stream, “zero blocks” from an MPEG block array are identified prior to encoding and subjecting blocks to the process of quantized discrete cosine transform (DCT). A zero block as understood herein is an MPEG video data block that results when an unencoded block of video data is identical to an adjacent un-encoded block of video data, i.e., when there is little or no change between consecutive frames of video. The efficiency of the compression system is increased in this invention by not having to perform the functions of DCT, quantization, dequantization or inverse DCT on the identified zero blocks, but simply directly encoding zero blocks.