Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods used in motion estimation and particularly for data compression. Embodiments of the invention may store and operate on an n-bit value in less than n bits. In one embodiment, if the multi-bit value is less than a threshold, then the multi-bit value is stored in the reduced-bit storage directly, with no loss of precision. If the multi-bit value is greater than the threshold, then the Most Significant Bits (MSBs) of the multi-bit value are shifted onto the reduced-bit storage, and a compression flag set. To decompress, if the compression flag was not set, the bits stored in the reduced-bit storage are merely copied back into the multi-bit value directly. If the compression flag was set, then the bits stored in the reduced-bit storage are shifted (left) by the same amount they were shifted (right) during compression, and an error-minimizing value is added.

Abstract: A preferred method for hierarchical motion vector processing determines reliability levels of blocks in image data according to residual energy levels. Macroblocks of an image frame are merged according to reliability levels of the motion vectors of blocks. Single motion vectors are selected for merged macroblocks. Motion vectors of blocks merged in the step of merging are iteratively assigned by minimizing the bi-directional prediction difference on successively smaller merged blocks. The reliability levels are preferably determined by measure residual energy of both chrominance and luminance components. In preferred embodiments, motion vector correlation is used to assist the MV reliability classification and the merging and iterative assignment. Refinement and smoothing can be conducted on successively finer block sizes. Additionally, preferred methods account for occlusions by choosing only one of forward or backward prediction for occlusion regions depending upon the class of the occlusion.

Abstract: Composite video generation is described. In an embodiment, mobile video capture devices, such as mobile telephones, capture video streams of a common event. A network node receives the video streams and time-synchronizes them. Frames from each of the video streams are then stitched together to form a composite frame, and these are added to a composite video sequence. In embodiments, the composite video sequence is encoded and streamed to a user terminal over a communications network. In embodiments, the common event is a live event and the composite video sequence is generated in real-time. In some embodiments, the stitching of the video streams is performed by geometrically aligning the frames. In some embodiments, three or more mobile video capture devices provide video streams.

Abstract: A coding device includes a coding unit (740) for encoding an input digital signal using code words contained in one of a plurality of variable length code word groups, and a multiplexer (701) for generating a stream by generating a parameter (such as idr_pic_id) describing specific information about the stream, encoding the parameters, and adding it to the output data from the coding unit. The length of the code words contained in any single variable length code word group is the same. The multiplexer selects one variable length code word group containing three or more code words out of the plural groups, and codes the parameter using one code word selected from the code words contained in the selected group.

Abstract: A method, data processing system, and computer program product for managing a headlight on a vehicle are presented. An image of an area in front of the vehicle is received. A first set of features is identified in the received image. The first set of features in the received image is compared with a number of sets of features from a plurality of previous images. Each image in the plurality of previous images is associated with a headlight setting. A second set of features from a previous image in the plurality of previous images matching the first set of features in the received image is identified. A determination is made whether to change a setting for the headlight on the vehicle based on the headlight setting associated with the previous image.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a stereoscopic video display apparatus includes: a plane display unit including a display screen in which first to third subpixels having respectively different color components are arranged in a matrix form; and an optical plate disposed to be opposed to the plane display unit and having a plurality of optical aperture parts. The plane display unit includes a configuration obtained by arranging the first subpixels on a first subpixel row, arranging the third subpixels on a second subpixel row adjacent to the first subpixel row, arranging the second subpixels on a third subpixel row adjacent to the second subpixel row, arranging the third subpixels on a fourth subpixel row adjacent to the third subpixel row, and arranging a set of the first to fourth subpixel rows in the column direction of subpixels on the display screen repeatedly.

Abstract: An image display apparatus comprise: a light source section; a light modulator that modulates light delivered from the light source section to display an image; a light level control section that adjusts the amount of light delivered from the light source section to the light modulator; and a display control section that updates the image displayed on the light modulator during a first period and a second period alternately switched therebetween. The display control section updated in the first period to a first image and a black image in this order and updates in the second period to a second image and the black image in this order. The light level control section sets the amount of light delivered from the light source section to be greater than that in other periods during a predetermined switching period including a point to switch between the first period and the second period.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an imaging unit configured to generate an imaged image by imaging a subject; a depth information generating unit configured to generate depth information relating to the imaged image; an image processing unit configured to extract, from the imaged image, an image of an object region including a particular subject out of subjects included in the imaged image and a surrounding region of the subject, based on the depth information, and generate a difference image to display a stereoscopic image in which the subjects included in the imaged image are viewed stereoscopically based on the extracted image; and a recording control unit configured to generate a data stream in which data corresponding to the imaged image and data corresponding to the difference image are correlated, and record the data stream as a moving image file.

Abstract: A playback device for playing back a graphics stream in accordance with a stream selection table recorded on the recording medium. A procedure means determines a playback type of a graphics corresponding to the current stream number, based on the playback capability indicated by the capability register. The playback of graphics streams falls into two types, one of which is a first playback type in which a monoscopic graphics stream is used and the other is a second playback type in which a pair of left-eye graphics stream and right-eye graphics stream is used to perform a stereoscopic playback. The capability register indicates whether or not a capability to perform the stereoscopic playback by using the pair of left-eye graphics stream and right-eye graphics stream is present in the graphics decoder.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for encoding and decoding a video signal having a plurality of frames is disclosed. The encoding method subdivides at least one frame of the plurality of frames into a plurality of regions where each region is composed of different numbers of blocks based on their data consistency. Each region is encoded using residual having a common size. In this way, different parts of the image may be encoded at different resolutions.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided for forming three-dimensional images. For example, in one embodiment, a system for three-dimensional imaging of an object includes an imaging sensor that provides a focal plane array and a sensor controller. The system also includes a laser illuminator coupled to the sensor controller. The laser illuminator is adapted to emit at least one laser pulse to be reflected from at least one plane of the object and detected by the focal plane array as at least one two-dimensional image frame of light intensities. The sensor controller is adapted to associate a range dimension of the plane with the image frame to facilitate formation of a three-dimensional image of the object. Related methods are also contemplated.

Abstract: A remote inspection device imager assembly includes an imager body having a male threaded portion. An accessory assembly includes: a tubular body portion having first internal female threads engaged with the male threaded portion such that tubular body portion rotation axially translates the tubular body portion with respect to the imager body; and a mirror obliquely angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of both the imager assembly. A threaded coupler positioned between the imager body and tubular body portion has second internal female threads engaged with the male threaded portion. The threaded coupler is selectively axially translated by rotation to a first contact position with the imager body or a second contact position with the tubular body portion. The second contact position binds the first and second internal female threads with the male threaded portion to prevent tubular body portion axial rotation and fix a mirror orientation.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for determining the number of objects in an IR image obtained using an IR imaging system. In one embodiment, a total of N intensity values are collected for each pixel in an IR image using a IR imaging system comprising an IR detection device and an IR Illuminator. Intensity values are retrieved from a database which have been estimated for a plurality of known materials, such as skin and hair. A classification is determined for each pixel in the IR image using either a best fitting method of a reflectance, or a correlation method. Upon classification, a total number of objects in the IR image can be determined. The present system and method finds its intended uses in of real world applications such as, determining the number of occupants in a vehicle traveling in a HOV/HOT lane.

Abstract: The number of times of processing to increment the number of reserved bits in arithmetic coding processing is reduced. For this purpose, upon inputting a binary symbol, a zone is divided into two zones at a ratio between occurrence probabilities of MPS and LPS, and one of the divided zones is selected according to the input symbol. When the length of the selected zone is shorter than a predetermined length, normalization is performed. Then it is determined whether or not a threshold for determining a decimal place of interest exists within the zone of interest. When the threshold exists within the zone of interest, the number of reserved bits is incremented by one. When the threshold exists without the zone, 1-bit data determined based on a relative position between the zone of interest and the threshold is outputted, bit data corresponding to the number of reserved bits is determined and outputted, and the number of reserved bits is cleared to zero.

Abstract: An image coding apparatus which divides an input picture into a plurality of macroblocks and performs a prediction encoding for each macroblock, comprising a unit for calculating flatness based on pixel values contained in a macroblock of interest and determining whether the macroblock of interest is a flat macroblock, a unit for storing determination results for each macroblock, a unit for determining, based on the determination results, whether the macroblock of interest determined to be a flat macroblock belongs to a flat area, a unit for selecting one of the inter-prediction mode and the intra-prediction mode as a prediction mode for an encoding process of the macroblock of interest based on determination results and on cost values of the inter-prediction mode and the intra-prediction mode, and a unit for performing predictive coding according to the selected prediction mode.

Abstract: Electronic devices for de-quantization are disclosed. An electronic device includes at least a multiplier. The multiplier generates a de-quantization scale by multiplying a first sub-factor by a second sub-factor after acquiring a macro-block (MB) from a bitstream. The generated de-quantization scale enables de-quantization of a block of the MB. Another electronic device includes at least a multiplier. The multiplier generates a quantization scale by multiplying the inverse of a first sub-factor by the inverse of a second sub-factor after acquiring an MB from a video sequence. The generated quantization scale enables quantization of a block of the MB.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a motion compensation parameter calculation unit that calculates a parameter for compensating a relative motion in an image pickup apparatus between picked-up images, a first connection line setting unit that sets as a first connection line a central position in an overlapping area, a moving subject detection unit that generates subject information by detecting a moving subject using the images in the overlapping area, a subject information projection unit that projects the subject information in the overlapping area on a sweep axis, a second connection line setting unit that performs setting of a second connection line on the basis of the projected subject information, an image pickup condition detection unit that detects an image pickup condition in which a two-dimensional rotation is occurred, and a connection line selection unit that selects the first or second connection line as a connection line.

Abstract: A network switch control digital video recorder (DVR) is provided. The network switch control DVR includes a network switch module configured to include a plurality of ports via which data is input to or output from at least one camera, a network storage, an external computer, and a DVR module and to multiplex data input or output via the plurality of ports; and the DVR module configured to control the input or output of data to or from the network switch module by monitoring a state of the input or output of data via the plurality of ports.

Abstract: A system for constructing high resolution images includes a beam splitter assembly, a light intensity modulator, an image capturing module and an image processing module. The beam splitter assembly is utilized to reflect a light beam generated from a light source generating device and generate a splitting beam. The light intensity modulator is utilized to modulate the intensity of the splitting beam to generate a modulating beam, which includes a predetermined noise. The modulating beam is emitted onto an object to generate a modulating image. The image capturing module is utilized to obtain a plurality of modulating images. The image processing module is utilized to analyze the modulating images to generate a high resolution image.

Abstract: Techniques and tools are described for using a signaled or derived buffer fullness value to determine a decoding time stamp. The decoding time stamp can be used in a layer such as a system layer to determine when an access unit such as a coded representation of a field or frame should be decoded. For example, a decoding time stamp that corresponds to a clock cycle of a decoder is determined based at least in part on a hypothetical reference decoder initial buffer fullness value. An initial data access unit of a bitstream is transferred to the decoder for decoding at about the time of the corresponding clock cycle for the decoding time stamp.