Abstract: A compressed picture signal having a number of pixels smaller than the number of pixels of an original picture signal is generated, and plural patterns of prediction pixels are formed by using neighboring pixels of as notable pixel which is one of pixels constituting the compressed picture signal. The original picture signal is predicted from each of the plural patterns of prediction pixels and a predetermined prediction coefficient, and each of prediction values with respect to the plural patterns of prediction pixels is outputted. A prediction error of each of the prediction values of the plural patterns of prediction pixels with respect to the original picture signal is calculated, and a pattern code corresponding to a prediction pixel with which a minimum prediction error is obtained, among the plural patterns of prediction pixels, is appended to the pixel value of the notable pixel.

Abstract: An MPEG decoder operates in 2.5 frame store mode, and has an efficient memory management which allows a B picture to be stored and displayed while simultaneously making use of a portion of the frame store memory. The video frame is treated as a grid, having rows of 8.times.8 pixel blocks. The pixel blocks are manipulated in three FIFOs which are cross-connected in a closed loop. Two processes operate on the memory so arranged: (1) a video reconstruction process which writes data into the memory, and (2) a display process, which accesses the memory and writes the video frame into another, external memory in a rastered format. One of the three cross-coupled FIFOs is designated for write-back, and the other two for reading 2:1 interlaced raster data. The two FIFOs utilized for the raster operation are allocated to the alternate lines of the picture.

Abstract: A video decoder system affords playback of video information corresponding to a compressed video bitstream which demands less processor performance than would be demanded for decoding the compressed video bitstream itself. One embodiment includes preprocessing and partially decoding the compressed video bitstream, and retaining the partially-decoded information for subsequent playback. In another embodiment the compressed video bitstream is preprocessed and information useful for increasing the processing speed is retained for subsequent playback. Either embodiment may be used alone, or both may be used together. The information useful for increasing the processing speed which is retained for subsequent playback may be retained by creating an intermediate video bitstream which may include partially decoded information from the compressed video bitstream as well as the information useful for increasing the processing speed of the video information.

Abstract: Embodiments of a vision aid video magnification system for low-vision persons are shown and described. The system includes a balanced arm with a first portion that swivels on a base, a second portion connected to the enclosed camera, and an elbow between the first and second portions. The elbow includes a sliding spring fulcrum which enhances the smooth movement of the second arm portion and camera. The first arm portion includes an inner spring between arm tubes that helps eliminate the dead area that may be otherwise present in balanced arms. Other improvements include a flexible camera mount that preferably swivels relative to the arm, and a mirror attachment for personal care and other use. The vision aid video magnification system allows enhanced, smooth movement and versatility.

Abstract: An autostereoscopic display apparatus comprises means (10) for producing a display consisting of display pixels (12) in rows and columns, for example, an LC matrix display panel having a row and column array of display elements, and an array (15) of parallel lenticular elements (16) overlying the display, in which the lenticular elements are slanted with respect to the display pixel columns. The reduction in display resolution experienced in such apparatus, particularly in the case of a multi-view type display, is then shared between both horizontal and vertical resolution. Examples of full colour display apparatus using advantageous colour display pixel lay-out schemes are also described.

Abstract: A multiplexer system includes a multiplexer (20) having plural inputs (1-K) and an output (15); plural channel processors (10) each having a control input, a data input for receiving an input signal, a complexity output for providing a signal representing the complexity of an associated input data signal, and a data output for providing a constant bit rate data signal to an associated input of the multiplexer; and a bit rate allocator (30) responsive to the complexity representing signals for providing bit rate control signals to the associated control inputs of the channel processors (10) as a function of the complexity representing signals, such that a bit rate of an output data signal from a channel processor (10) is a function of the complexity of an associated input data signal and to the combined of the input data signals.

Abstract: The software of the system has a hierarchical structure. In the highest hierarchical level, a GUI 103, an automation and traffic control 104 that can be designated by the user are disposed. In the next hierarchical level, an application software program 102 is disposed through an I/F or a network. The software program 102 is connected to an MTP 105a and an SMS 105b through a network or a common memory 101c. The software program 102 conceptually substitutes a device into a stream. Thus, the devices are indirectly controlled. Up to this hierarchical level, a real-time characteristic is not required. In the lower hierarchical level than a root IDC 105c, an IDC 111, an I/O 112, and various devices 113 are connected through a network 109. In this hierarchical level, attributes of the devices are considered and the real-time characteristic is assured.

Abstract: Representative picture extracting means apparatus extracts representative pictures from a coded input signal 101 which consists of representative pictures, motion parameters for motion compensation which refers the representative picture, and reference relationships, and outputs a coded representative picture signal 103. The signal is decoded by a representative picture decoding means apparatus, and output as a decoded representative picture signal 105 to a delay memory 106. On the other hand, representative picture reference relationship extracting means apparatus extracts reference relationship additional information 113, and outputs it to decoded signal output controlling means apparatus. The sequence of outputting the representative pictures is determined on the basis of the reference relationship additional information 113, and an output control signal 115 is output to the delay memory 106.

Abstract: A photographic film scanner for scanning a film strip containing a plurality of photographic images. The film strip is continuously advanced through the scanner and a digital image of the film strip is created. Individual images contained in the digital image of the film strip are located and displayed.

Abstract: A lumber video grading apparatus includes a vision system, processors, a grading station having visual displays, a storage and retrieval device, an identification device, and a timing system. The vision system may include cameras mounted proximate to a lumber transfer for optically acquiring real time images of exposed cut surfaces of lumber pieces conveyed on the lumber transfer. The processors process the real time images into individually identifiable retrievably storable images and also into visually displayable real time images. A selectable lumber grade is correlated at a grading station to selectable pieces of lumber on the lumber transfer. The displayable real time images or later retrieved individually identifiable retrievably storable images are displayable on a visual display at the grading station. The individually identifiable retrievably storable images are retrievably storable on, and selectively retrievably from, the storage and retrieval device.

Abstract: A system is described that uses chopped laser illumination, chopped and fered wide baseline stereo imaging, specular reflectors along the path to navigated, comparison of the two stereo images collected to determine and subtract from the images the magnitude of the backscatter field, inverse point spread filtering based on the fusion of the specular reflector pattern, and stereoscopic display for the pilot to allow navigation through fog and other aerosols. In particular, aircraft pilots will be able to land their aircraft in fog and other aerosols.

Abstract: A device for decoding a data stream representing moving pictures encoded according to the MPEG standard in which a logical unit receives from an offset stage data containing the maximum number of bits in a variable length code returns the length of each decoded code to the offset stage, and produces a decoded value of each code. The logical unit includes a controller which controls at least two separate processing units, of which a first processing unit extracts the code length and addresses it to the offset stage, and a second processing unit decodes the codes.

Abstract: In a compressed signal recording and reproducing apparatus, a table-of-contents generator extracts user selected representative frames from among frames of an input compressed television signal that can be identified by specified additional information, and generates table-of-contents data representing contents of a specified number of the user selected representative frames. A recording signal processor arranges the input compressed television signal, table-of-contents data, and positional information relating to positions for recording the individual user selected representative frames data, respectively, at specified positions of the recording medium. The apparatus further includes a reproduction signal processor for outputting table-of-contents data recorded at a specified position in the recording medium for exhibiting contents of a plurality of user selected representative frames, from among the reproduction data.

Abstract: A communication system comprising: a transmitter having means for transmitting an object stream comprising a plurality of objects; each of said objects having an identifier or ID which is unique in said communication system and which is independent of the time of transmission of said object; a plurality of receivers each including means for receiving said object stream, and each including means for selecting any of said objects from said object stream; means for providing a receiver profile at each of said receivers independently from said object stream transmission, said transmitter having no means for addressing any of said objects to any of said receivers; each of said receiver profiles comprising a list of objects of interest for one of said receivers; said means for selecting being responsive to said profile and said unique ID for selecting objects from said object stream corresponding to objects of interest and for storing said objects of interest; characterized in that said system includes sequencer me

Abstract: A current image-sensing area of a camera is displayed as a first frame, and a potential image-sensing area obtainable by panning/tilting the camera at an image-sensing magnification is displayed as a second frame. To control panning/tilting of the camera, a display position of the second frame is changed, and in accordance with the changed display position, control data is transferred to the camera.

Abstract: Data compression of a sequence of digital frames is achieved by periodic sampling of the frames to form a sequence of "milestone frames". Each frame between the milestone frames is partitioned into a set of subarrays or fragments that cover the frame. Each fragment is projected one frame forward or backward, depending on the direction of tracking, and then displaced to a position yielding the closest match in the adjacent frame. The data available for transmission or storage is comprised of: a) compressed encoding of the milestone frames; and b) the displacements of the fragments from either adjacent frame. Unique to this invention is the construction of a motion trajectory at each pixel of each frame and the reconstruction of the intensity values of the pixels in those frames that are not milestone frames. The construction of motion trajectories is achieved by finding sequences of connected displacements of fragments.

Abstract: The stereoscopic CG image generating apparatus and a stereoscopic TV apparatus, has a projection transformation section which, based on three-dimensional structural information describing a three-dimensional shape of an object, generates a plurality of two-dimensional projection models as viewed from a plurality of viewpoints, a distance information extraction section which generates a camera-to-object distance information used for calculations in the projection transformation section, and a camera parameter determining section which, based on the output of the distance information extraction section, the screen size of a stereoscopic image display device for displaying finally generated two-dimensional projection models, and a viewer's viewing distance, determines camera parameters so that stereoscopic CG images will be brought within the viewer's binocular fusional range.

Abstract: By transmitting an analog CATV signal output from a CATV-HE (CAble TeleVision-Head End) to an HDT (Host Digital Terminal), an analog transmission channel for transmitting the analog CATV signal to an ONU (Optical Network Unit) is included in a path housing a digital transmission channel for transmitting a digital service signal for individual distribution service to the ONU. Furthermore, a digital service signal for multicast service is modulated and converted into an analog service signal by a modulator in the HDT. Then, the converted signal is mixed with the analog CATV signal, and transmitted to the ONU. Accordingly, each of the ONUs is equipped with only a built-in modulator for modulating the digital service signal for individual distribution service.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating motion vectors between frames of a video sequence which operates with reduced memory loading latency according to the present embodiment. The motion estimation system includes a motion port pixel processing array according to the present embodiment. The processing array includes a reference block memory array for storing a reference block and a candidate block memory array for storing a candidate block. According to the present embodiment, each of the reference block memory array and candidate block memory array are configured with dual ports to a reference block memory and a search window memory. Each of the reference block memory array and candidate block memory array are further configured to allow dual port loading during the entire initialization sequence, when one or more of either a reference block or candidate block is being loaded into the respective memory array.

Abstract: A variable transfer rate coding apparatus codes moving picture signals of groups of pictures (GOPs). The picture signals are quantized under control of quantization step width and coded. A first code amount per GOP and a second code amount of picture data included GOP are obtained from the coded picture signals. In response to the first code amount, a total code amount of the picture signals of the GOPs are calculated and the total code amount is compared with a reference total code amount, to decide a first target code amount per GOP in order that the total code amount becomes a maximum amount within the reference total code amount. Further, in response to the first target code amount and the second code amount, a second target code amount of the picture data included in each GOP is determined in accordance with the maximum amount. The quantization step width is varied on the basis of the second target code amount.