Abstract: Possible overflow of a video buffer verifier (VBV) buffer employed in MPEG-like video encoders is prevented by controlling bits being drained from a video encoder buffer (eBuff). Specifically, a number of bits in the encoder buffer is determined when a last prior picture (pic n?1) ends, or when it should end. This number of bits (maxBits) is the maximum number of bits to be read from the encoder buffer and written to the remote decoder before a prescribed time T(n). When maxBits has been read from the encoder buffer and written to the decoder, the writing of bits to the remote decoder is stopped until the process is reset. If the prior picture ends early, maxBits is defined as being the number of bits in the encoder buffer at an expected time (Texp) that the picture should have ended less the number of bits written into the encoder buffer between the time the prior picture actually ended and the expected time for it to end, i.e., Texp. If the prior picture is late, i.e.

Abstract: A compressively coded data reproduction apparatus and method for separating compressively coded video, audio, and additional data, data from a stream, outputting these data performing head detection on video and audio frames; decoding the video frames to output video data; decoding the audio frames to output audio data; judging whether a detected head frame is a video frame or an audio frame corresponding to a designated entry point start time information being among the additional data of the detected frame, outputting a decoding request when the detected frame is judged as a video and/or audio frame corresponding to the start time, and outputting an output request at the point of time when both of the video frame and the audio frame have been decoded. The system can output a video frame and an audio frame at the same time, within a prediction of video frame unit or audio frame unit, when starting reproduction of compressively coded data from an entry point.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method intended to automatically create a description of a video sequence—i.e. its table of contents—by analyzing the video sequence. First is a temporal segmentation of the video shots of the sequence, using camera motion parameters. This segmentation uses a similarity criterion involving, for sub-entities of each shot, the level of homogeneity of these sub-entities on the motion parameters of the camera used to acquire the original images and generate the bitstream constituting the processed sequence.

Abstract: An information recording medium for recording a real-time file containing real-time data in such a manner that the real-time data is continuously reproducible by a playback reference model, the real-time data including at least one of video data and audio data. The playback reference model includes: a pickup for reading the real-time data from the information recording medium; a buffer memory for temporarily storing the real-time data read by the pickup; and a decoder module for reading the real-time data from the buffer memory for processing. The information recording medium includes a volume space for at least recording in sectors a file containing data and file management information for managing the file. The real-time data is recorded in at least two real-time extents each of which is allocated in logically contiguous sectors within the volume space. An (1+1)th real-time extent among the at least two real-time extents is positioned at a position satisfying a real-time reproduction condition.

Abstract: Moving picture encoding method and apparatus in which deterioration in quality of a moving picture which is decoded by a decoding apparatus can be suppressed by effectively making the most of a transmission band under limitation of a transmission band of a transmission path are provided. The apparatus calculates a prediction code amount with respect to each frame constructing a moving picture. A target code amount upon encoding of the current frame is calculated on the basis of a predetermined target bit rate or code amount information regarding a preceding frame. An area to be encoded of the current frame is determined on the basis of the target code amount and the prediction code amount.

Abstract: This invention relates to a data transmission method or the like for use in transmitting video data, audio data or the like. There is transmitted a serial digital transfer interface transmission packet in which an interval of each line of a video frame comprises an end synchronizing code area into which an end synchronizing code is inserted, an ancillary data area into which ancillary data is inserted, a start synchronizing code area into which a start synchronizing code is inserted and a payload area. Into the payload area, there are inserted first data containing extension data having stream information and second data containing main data comprising video data and/or audio data at the picture unit of video data.

Abstract: An encoding apparatus and method for an orientation interpolator node are provided. The encoding apparatus for an orientation interpolator node, which provides information on the rotation of an object in a 3-dimensional space, includes a field data input unit for extracting field data to be encoded at present from a key which indicates information on a position on a time axis where a change of a rotational movement on a time axis occurs and key values which indicate rotation information corresponding to the position information, by parsing the orientation interpolator node; an adaptive differential pulse code modulation (ADPCM) processing unit for converting the key value data into a quaternion, and then ADPCM processing the quaternion using a rotation differential converting matrix, and differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) processing the key data; and a quantizing unit for quantizing the key data and key value data and outputting the quantized data.

Abstract: An image transmitting system which maintains the same image resolution even when a line speed is set to a low speed. The image transmitting system basically comprises an image data conversion block, a quantization block, a variable-length coding block, smoothing buffers, output selectors, and a dequantization block. The image data conversion block converts input image data into a coefficient suitable for coding. The quantization block quantizes the coefficients obtained through conversion. The variable-length coding block codes the quantized coefficients. The first smoothing buffer smoothes the generated amount of data with respect to a first frame in a block, the second smoothing buffer smoothes the generated amount of data with respect to a second frame in the block, and the third smoothing buffer smoothes the generated amount of data with respect to a third frame in the block.

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: The invention relates generally to a receiver unit in a digital broadcast system for receiving a broadcast signal comprising content segments and control data, and generating an output signal using the content segments and previously stored content segments at the receiver. The previously stored content segments are decrypted. The receiver is configured to obtain authorization from a remote distribution center to decrypt locally stored content segments requested by a user for recording onto a portable storage medium.

Abstract: Device and method for coding an image for compressing a digital video signal, including the steps of (1) transforming a spatial domain of the video signal into frequency domain, and dividing the frequency domain into subband regions having relatively much meaningful information on an original video signal and subband regions having no relatively much meaningful information on the original video signal, (2) classifying the divided-subband regions into a plurality of scan blocks each having a block size, and (3) scanning in a scan block unit, whereby increasing a probability of consecutive zero run statistically, to improve the compression ratio.

Abstract: A compressed data buffer 21 maintains an image data loaded from a storage device 1, and a decoding section 22 conducts variable length decoding, inverse quantization and inverse discrete cosine transform, and a pixel data shifting section 23 shifts each value of pixel data to right by 1 bit, and a motion compensating section 24 applies motion compensation processing to the data shifted to right by 1 bit, and the frame data buffer 25 stores an image data to be displayed, and a reference data calculating section 24a of the motion compensating section 24 obtains a reference data from a reference buffer based on a motion vector, and a reference data adding section 24b adds the reference data to a data to which decoding processing has been applied, and a reference data storing section 24c leaves in the reference buffer the data to which the motion compensation processing has been applied.

Abstract: A deployable monitoring apparatus is provided comprising an ovate housing and a video capturing device operably engaged therewith. The housing has a base and an opposed end disposed along an axis. The housing is further configured to have a center of gravity disposed about the base so as to be self-righting along the axis such that the opposed end extends substantially upwardly from the base. The video capturing device is operably engaged with the housing and is configured to capture video data of a scene external to the housing. In some instances, the video data of the scene may be transmitted by a transceiver module to a station disposed remotely from the scene, wherein the station is configured to process the video data so as to provide a remote visual depiction of the scene. The housing may also include other devices such as, for example, a light source, a motion sensor, an audio sensor, and a chemical sensor functioning independently of or in conjunction with the video capturing device.

Abstract: A sampling pulse generator for an electronic endoscope that comprises a CDS circuit, OR circuits, a clock pulse generator, a shift counter, first and second switch groups, EEPROM and a CPU, is provided. The generator cyclically generates clock pulses. The pulses are cyclically counted between 0 and 9 by the counter. The counter has ten output terminals that correspond to each of the count numbers. A signal is only output to a terminal corresponding to the current count number. Each of the first and second switch groups has ten switches that are connected to each of the terminals. With data in the EEPROM, the on-off states of the switches are set by the CPU. The CCD drive pulses are generated by signals from the terminals via OR circuits. The clamp pulse and sample-hold pulse are generated by signals from the switch groups which are set in the on state.

Abstract: A method and concomitant apparatus for compressing, multiplexing and, in optional embodiments, encrypting, transporting, decrypting, decompressing and presenting high quality video information in a manner that substantially preserves the fidelity of the video information in a system utilizing standard quality circuits to implement high quality compression, transport and decompression.

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: A data transmission apparatus for transmitting data comprising a plurality of objects having respective priority, comprises an error-correction coding section for selecting an error-correction coding method for each of the plurality of objects based on the priority of each of the plurality of objects and error-correction coding of each of the plurality of objects using the selected error-correction coding method. Therefore, it is possible to effectively use the resources, maintain the real-time transmission of data, and prevent degradation of transmitted data by changing the level of the error-correction according to the priority of object, and performing the error-correction coding for the objects according to the priority.

Abstract: A child monitoring system for monitoring children seated in a rear of the interior of a vehicle. The child monitoring system includes a vehicle with an interior compartment, a housing coupled to an interior surface of a front portion of the interior compartment of the vehicle, a viewing device contained within the housing, a monitoring device coupled to an interior surface of a rear portion of the interior compartment of the vehicle, the monitoring device being designed to relay an image of the rear portion of the vehicle to the viewing device in the front portion of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for assessing the degradation of a video image coded by blocks of picture elements or pixels, comprising the following steps: a) selecting an input image and determining its spatial activity (SA) in an analysis window according to the following sub-steps: i) determining for each block (n, m) the transformed coefficients Fn m (i, y) by a block transform; ii) determining from the transformed coefficients Fn, m (i, y) each block spatial activity bsa; iii) determining the analysis window global spatial activity SA1; b) selecting the output image corresponding to the input image and determining said global spatial activity SA2 of the output image; c) comparing the spatial activities (SA2) and (SA1)

Abstract: For some video processing applications, most notably watermark detection (40), it is necessary to add or average (parts of) the two interlaced fields which make up a frame. This operation is not trivial in the MPEG domain due to the existence of frame-encoded DCT blocks. The invention provides a method and arrangement for adding the fields without requiring a frame memory or an on-the-fly inverse DCT. To this end, the mathematically required operations of inverse vertical DCT (321) and addition (322) are combined with a basis transform (323). The basis transform is chosen to be such that the combined operation is physically replaced by multiplication with a sparse matrix (32). Said sparse matrix multiplication can easily be executed on-the-fly. The inverse basis transform (35) is postponed until after the desired addition (33, 34) has been completed.