Abstract: A fully digital camera system provides high-resolution still image and streaming video signals via a network to a centralized, server supported security and surveillance system. The digital camera for collects an image from one or more image transducers, compressing the image and sending the compressed digital image signal to a receiving station over a digital network. A plurality of image transducers or sensors may be included in a single camera unit, providing array imaging such as full 360 degree panoramic imaging, universal or spherical imaging and field imaging by stacking or arranging the sensors in an array. The multiple images are then compressed and merged at the camera in the desired format to permit transmission of the least amount of data to accomplish the desired image transmission. The camera also employs, or connects to, a variety of sensors other than the traditional image sensor.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for controlling use of predetermined vehicle parking areas and/or transit in predetermined vehicle circulation areas. The system comprises a control unit in communication with a telephone network and a database, the database storing data including an electronic map of one or more of such areas. When the control unit receives a Short Message Services (SMS) message from a user, via the network, requesting access to one of the areas at a selected time, the message is com-pared to data in the database in order to assess whether or not to comply with the request. If it is determined that the request should be complied with, then the database is updated with an indication of an access reservation. The unit then sends the user an SMS message in response, either confirming the reservation or denying availability of access.

Abstract: A video encoding method and a computer-readable record media for performing the method are disclosed, in which in carrying out the video encoding, an intra updating technique is adopted by sorting out the blocks requiring an intra updating by utilizing the bit stream size information for each block, thereby maximizing the intra updating effect. The video encoding method includes the following steps. That is, at a first step, an encoding method for each frame of incoming images is selected, and the images are divided into blocks of a certain size. At a second step, either an intra coded block encoding or an inter coded block encoding is carried out depending on whether an encoding of a current frame and an inter coded encoding are needed or not, and whether an intra coded block is relevant or not. Further, blocks requiring an intra updating are sorted out by utilizing a bit stream size information for each block if the inter coded encoding is needed.

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 system and method for multiplexing synchronous parallel digital data streams with different clock frequencies into a single data stream while preserving each data stream's timing integrity. A plurality of digital data inputs and corresponding clock inputs are coupled to corresponding FIFOs (First In First Out buffers), which are coupled to a data multiplexer (MUX). Each clock input is coupled to a clock MUX which couples to each FIFO and the data MUX. Finally, a transition state machine is coupled to the clock MUX, the data MUX, and the FIFOs. Each digital data input receives a data stream from a source, such as a digital video camera, while the corresponding clock input concurrently receives a corresponding clock signal. The transition state machine controls the selection of a data stream from the MUXed data streams and the selection of the corresponding clock signal from the MUXed clock signals.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a launch monitor system that measures flight characteristics of an object moving in a predetermined field-of-view. The system includes a support structure, a lighting unit, a camera unit disposed on the support structure, and a calibration assembly. The calibration assembly includes a calibration fixture and at least one telescoping member. A first end of the telescoping member is coupled to the support structure and a second end is contactable with or coupled to the fixture. In an extended position of the telescoping member, the calibration fixture is in the field-of-view of the camera unit. In a retracted position, the calibration fixture out of the field-of-view. The calibration fixture further includes contrasting markings. In another embodiment, the system includes a frame and the launch monitor is pivotally suspended from the frame so that it self-levels. The present invention further includes a method of calibrating a launch monitor having a calibration fixture.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for producing an audio/video stream with improved video quality for a given bitrate, using non-standard sampling rates while preserving timely playback by the decoder. The method may include sub-sampling according to a duty cycle and/or time-slapping frames in an audio/visual stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a video coding method applied to a sequence of frames and based on a tridimensional (3D) wavelet decomposition with motion estimation and compensation on couples of frames. The method comprises the steps of organizing the wavelet coefficients resulting from said decomposition in a structure of macroblocks, separated by resolution flags, and blocks with a size fitting the lowest approximation sub-band of the decomposition, scanning the coefficients of each 3D macroblock in a predefined order connected to the spatial orientation and the location of each of its blocks, and encoding said scanned coefficients bitplane by bitplane. Moreover, the encoding step includes a global bitrate allocation sub-step between the macroblocks, by means of a global distortion minimization.

Abstract: A lamp, a film guide, and a photosensitive detector are combined into an optical system contained in a portable device that generates electrical signals representing images recorded on motion picture film. The film guide has a surface proximate to the motion picture with an aperture therein through which light from the lamp passes to image the film on the photosensitive detector. A digital processor, which is electrically connected to the photosensitive detector processes an electronic signal output by the photosensitive detector. To provide compactness, the optical system has a folded path comprising three segments each separately mounted on a different surface. The first segment includes the lamp, the second includes the film guide, and the third includes the photosensitive detector. An optical detector positioned so as to receive light from the lamp enables adjusting the device when the device is moved to a location where the temperature and other environmental conditions change.

Abstract: A picture information conversion method and apparatus in which, if the compressed picture information with a variable or non-recognized information volume is input, optimum compression processing on the compressed picture information is performed to prevent underflow and/or overflow to suppress deterioration of the picture quality. A compressed information analysis device 3 analyzes the structure of the picture type of the GOP of the compressed picture information input to the FF buffer 2. A bit allocation device 5 generates a pseudo GOP of the input compressed picture information, based on N frames stored in the FF buffer 2 and on the analysis result information stored in the information buffer 4, and allocates a pre-set code volume to respective pictures of the generated GOP so that the output compressed picture information will be at a second bitrate.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for efficient multiplexing and modifying of media unit sequences. The invention allocates bit rates to media unit sequences and compresses media units in an optimal manner. The invention provides a method the includes calculating a sequence time threshold, for each received media unit sequence and executing modification and media unit replacements in view of the sequence time threshold.

Abstract: The MPEG-4 standard describes four prediction modes: a direct prediction mode, a bidirectional prediction mode, a forward prediction mode, and a backward prediction mode. These modes may be used for the encoding of a block on the basis of a past reference frame and a future reference frame. Thus, for the encoding of a given block, the invention provides an advantageous strategy leading to the choice of a well adapted prediction mode among the four possible ones. The proposed strategy works in favor of the direct mode and gives criteria to be satisfied when using this particular prediction mode.

Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores a program to cause the processor to decompose a first frame of a video into a first set of frequency subbands. The first frame includes a first subimage. The program causes the processor to decompose a second frame of the video into a second set of frequency subbands and selectively compare portions of the first and second frequency subbands to locate a second subimage of the second frame. The second subimage is substantially identical to the first subimage.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for image data compression that greatly reduces implementational complexity and cost, and improves error correction. These improvements are achieved at various implementational blocks which include a color extraction unit that can perform a first level of compression by reducing the frame size by, e.g., ¼ or {fraction (1/16)}. This is followed by compression through division by a programmable loss value where the division propagates the remainder to improve image quality. Differential coded modulation is then performed on the extracted color values to further reduce image data size. The result is variable length encoded using preferably a 1's complement approach that further reduces implementational complexity by eliminating VL coding tables. Finally, the VL encoded compressed data is packetized for transmission over a serial bus where the packetization improves error correction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of and system for determining whether a local area of a compressed video stream represented by a plurality of DCT encoded blocks subject to decoding and filtering/scaling is a stationary area or an interlaced moving area. Further, given such information, the invention relates to dynamically switching between frame- or field-based operations in a smart way, thus optimizing the output picture quality. Also, a DCT-domain-filtering scheme for field-based filtering/scaling of frame-DCT data is provided herein.

Abstract: A cathode ray tube phosphor screen inspecting method includes the steps of illuminating a panel of a cathode ray tube, in which a phosphor screen having a regular pattern is formed the inner surface of a face, from the inner surface of the face, imaging the face inner surface, and specifying a defect on the phosphor screen from data obtained by the imaging. The panel, an illuminating unit for illumination, and an image unit for performing the imaging are moved relative to each other. The amount of light from the illuminating unit is changed in accordance with this relative movement.

Abstract: A light-and-shade inspecting apparatus and method therefor, includes an image pick-up device for picking up an image of the object to output an image data, an integrated image calculating portion for dividing the image data outputted from the image pick-up device into a mesh pattern of meshes and then adding together the image data within each of the divided meshes to obtain an integrated image, a differentiated image calculating portion for performing a difference operation between each pair of meshes separated by a predetermined interval from each other with respect to their corresponding two integrated images obtained through the integrated image calculating portion, a defect detecting portion for comparing a value obtained through the differentiated image calculating portion with a predetermined value to detect as a defect portion which is partially different in luminance from the other portions on the object, an average value calculating portion for calculating an average value of the integrated image ob

Abstract: A method and apparatus for video compression that provides support for the inclusion of VBI data and copy protection data in an enhanced encoded video data stream is presented. A received video signal is separated such that a video data stream and a VBI data stream are produced. The video data stream is encoded to produce a compressed video data stream. The various types of VBI data that may be included in the VBI data stream are isolated, and one or more are selected for inclusion in the enhanced video data stream. The compressed video data stream is then combined with the one or more VBI data type streams to produce the enhanced video data stream. In other embodiments, copy protection information in the video signal is also detected and encoded such that it also can be included in the enhanced video data stream. The enhanced video data stream can be stored in memory or some other type of storage media for retrieval at a later time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an input signal for transmission and/or storage, uses an analysis filter bank (21;51) to decompose the signal into sub-band signals which are used to modulate a plurality of carriers. The carriers are combined into a single encoded signal for transmission/storage. The encoder/decoder is especially applicable to telecommunications systems and recording systems. The analysis filter bank may comprise a multiresolution filter, such as an octave band filter bank (40A/B/C/D . . . 43A/B/C/D) implementing Discrete Wavelet Transform. The modulation may comprise double-sideband, single sideband, quadrature amplitude modulation, and so on. Where the input signal is analog, the carriers may be modulated directly by the sub-band signals. Where the input signal is digital, however, the sub-band signals are interpolated, all to the same rate, and then used to modulate the carriers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of decoding audio-visual data allowing to process, on the basis of an improved syntactic language, distinct elements of a scene as objects for which individual animations, particular interactions user/elements, and specific relations between the elements and the defined animations and/or interactions can be provided, the description being organized in a hierarchical tree also including transversal connections provided both for embedding bidimensional and/or tridimensional objects in each other and optionally controlling the rendering of scenes from various view points, while maintaining a control of all related actions both in the embedded objects and/or scenes and in the original ones.