Abstract: Methods and systems for processing video data are described. A set of candidate motion vectors is selected from motion vectors associated with macroblocks in a first frame of video data and from motion vectors associated with macroblocks in a second frame of the video data. A statistical measure of the set is determined. The statistical measure defines a motion vector for a macroblock of interest in the second frame.

Abstract: A scalable video bitstream may have an H.264/AVC compatible base layer and a scalable enhancement layer, where scalability refers to color bit-depth. According to the invention, BL information is bit-depth upsampled using separate look-up tables for inverse tone mapping on two or more hierarchy levels, such as picture level, slice level or MB level. The look-up tables are differentially encoded and included in header information. Bit-depth upsampling is a process that increases the number of values that each pixel can have, corresponding to the pixels color intensity. The upsampled base layer data are used to predict the collocated enhancement layer, based on said look-up tables. The upsampling is done at the encoder side and in the same manner at the decoder side, wherein the upsampling may refer to temporal, spatial and bit depth characteristics. Thus, the bit-depth upsampling is compatible with texture upsampling.

Abstract: A method of pick-and-place alignment comprises (a) determining a pick location of a device from a tray of devices; (b) determining place location of the device using an up-looking camera; and (c) determining offset error for the device by comparing the pick location and the place location. The method may further comprise repeating steps (a)-(c) for additional devices on the tray of devices; and generating an offset map for alignment of devices on the tray. The method further uses the offset map to make pick and place corrections during runtime.

Abstract: A process for compressing and decompressing non-keyframes in sequential sets of contemporaneous video frames making up multiple video streams where the video frames in a set depict substantially the same scene from different viewpoints. Each set of contemporaneous video frames has a plurality frames designated as keyframes with the remaining being non-keyframes. In one embodiment, the non-keyframes are compressed using a multi-directional spatial prediction technique. In another embodiment, the non-keyframes of each set of contemporaneous video frames are compressed using a combined chaining and spatial prediction compression technique. The spatial prediction compression technique employed can be a single direction technique where just one reference frame, and so one chain, is used to predict each non-keyframe, or it can be a multi-directional technique where two or more reference frames, and so chains, are used to predict each non-keyframe.

Abstract: Image sequences are advantageously recoded based on an evaluation of complexities before and after trans-coding of the images. Initially, information is extracted representing at least the complexity of recoding each image. A complexity ratio is calculated in accordance with the complexities of images recoded previously using the aforementioned mode to the complexities of the initial coding of said images. After smoothing the complexity ratio undergoes updating. Each image is recoded according to the mode by estimating the complexity of each image to be recoded as the product of the complexity of the initial coding of the image by the smoothed complexity ratio for the mode.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a video slicing technique that promotes low complexity, bandwidth efficiency and error resiliency. A video encoder places an RM close to the beginning of each logical transmission unit (LTU) so that all but a very small end segment of each video slice fits substantially within an LTU. Instead of requiring placement of RMs exactly at the LTU boundaries, a video encoder applies an approximate alignment technique. Video slices are encoded so that RMs are placed close to the beginning of each LTU, e.g., at the end of the first MB falling within the LTU. A portion of the last MB from the preceding slice carries over into the next LTU. Loss of an LTU results in loss of virtually the entire current slice plus a very small portion of the previous slice.

Abstract: A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included.

Abstract: A method for rate control for encoding video sequence, wherein the video sequence includes a plurality of Group Of Pictures, wherein each Group of Picture includes at least and I-frame and an Inter-frame, where the rate control method includes the following steps for the encoding of the Inter-frame in the Group of Picture: determining a desired frame rate based on an available bandwidth of a channel for transmitting the video sequence and an available computational resources for the encoding process; determining a target buffer level based on the desired frame rate and the position of the Inter-frame with respect to the I-frame; and determining a target bit rate based on the target buffer level and the available channel bandwidth, wherein the target bit rate is used for controlling the rate of encoding the video sequence.

Abstract: A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included.

Abstract: A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included.

Abstract: A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included.

Abstract: A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included.

Abstract: Video data is processed. A first high definition program stream is received that includes a first high definition video stream component. A first standard definition program stream is derived from the high definition program stream. A second standard definition is received having been derived from the first standard definition program stream. A second high definition program stream is derived from the second standard definition program stream and the first high definition video stream component.

Abstract: A video decoding method. The first frame of video data is acquired, the first frame is assigned to the backward reference frame and the forward reference frame respectively, and a frame buffer is emptied. Next, the next frame of the video data is acquired, and frame type is then determined. If the frame is a B-frame, corresponding decoding operations are implemented according to the determining result, and the frame is temporarily stored in the frame buffer.

Abstract: Stereoscopic video is encoded and decoded by using the MAC defined by the existing MPEG-4 standard. The stereoscopic video is divided into one image as a single video object, and another image as auxiliary information for the image established as the video object. The auxiliary information includes a horizontal disparity map, a vertical disparity map, luminance residual texture, and chrominance residual texture, which are respectively allocated to auxiliary components of the MAC according to importance and complexity of the images, encoded, and then output as a single encoding stream.

Abstract: A motion vector estimation method and an encoding mode determining method for converting an input moving picture image into a compressed moving picture image suitable for a desired frame rate by re-determining a motion vector and a motion-compensated block type when the frame rate of the input moving picture image needs to be reduced. A method of estimating a motion vector of a motion vector of a macroblock of a current frame in a transcoder includes determining whether the motion vector of the macroblock of the current frame is created with reference to a macroblock of a dropped frame and estimating the motion vector of the macroblock of the current frame by tracing back a reference frame until an undropped frame is found, if the motion vector of the macroblock of the current frame is created with reference to the macroblock of the dropped frame.

Abstract: A method of measuring the degradations in a digitized image, which are introduced during the encoding of the image is provided. The method consists in: retrieving the block decomposition of the image used during the encoding thereof; offsetting the coding grid in relation to the image such as to define an analysis block decomposition of the image, whereby each analysis block covers a boundary between two adjacent blocks; applying a transform calculation to the pixel data of the image which is encoded using the offset coding grid; extracting the transformed coefficients obtained for each analysis block, coefficients which are likely to be affected by a block effect; applying an inverse transform calculation to the extracted transformed coefficients in order to determine the pixel data of each analysis block; and, for each analysis block, calculating a degradation indicator and, subsequently, the degradation of the image from the degradation indicators for each analysis block.

Abstract: An image processing device comprising a process generation section and a plurality of series-connected operation processing units. Each of the series-connected operation processing units receives a process packet output from the process generation section and performs any processing according to an instruction contained in the process packet. The units are divided into three suites and route selection sections are respectively inserted to input side of each of the suites. If the unit which executes a process related to an input process packet is not included in the immediately following one of the suites, the respective route selection sections supply this corresponding input process packet not to the input side of that one of the suites but to the output side of that suite. The process packet moves as bypassing such a suite as not to have the unit that executes a process related to this process data, thereby reducing its processing time and its power dissipation.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a method for coding a moving picture comprises: dividing an inputted picture signal into fractionized signals respectively corresponding a plurality of pixel blocks; generating a prediction signal and coding mode information from each of said fractionized signals, for each coding mode; generating a prediction residual signal, from the prediction signal and said each of fractionized signals; estimating a first-estimate coding cost that is for coding the prediction residual signals for said each coding mode, from the prediction residual signals and the coding mode information; determining a candidates' number in accordance with step width of quantizing; selecting the coding modes having smallest ones of the first-estimate coding costs as candidates; estimating a second-estimate coding cost by coding the inputted signal and thereby finding a coding distortion and a code amount; and employing one coding mode from the candidates on basis of the second-estimate coding cost.

Abstract: An example trick mode play process for digital video stores a plurality of most recent reference frames in a corresponding plurality of frame buffers; displaying a current frame during a current frame time interval; determining a next frame for display; inspecting the plurality of frame buffers to determine if the next frame is present in a frame buffers. If the next frame is present, designating the frame for display in the next frame time interval. If the next frame is not present: checking if the frame buffers contain any reference frames needed to decode the next frame; and decoding a next frame using all reference frames needed to decode the next frame which can be found in the frame. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.