Abstract: A driving support apparatus includes an imaging member taking an image corresponding to a vehicle peripheral area; a steering angle detecting member detecting a steering-wheel steering angle; a display member disposed in a vehicle interior to display the image; and a control member predicting a driving course of the vehicle according to the detected steering-wheel angle. The control member synthesizes a predicted driving course image relating to the predicted driving course. The control member superposes the predicted driving course image at a corresponding position of the image. The control member displays on the display member the image where at least one image, on which an index is marked at least at one height position, is superposed at least on the predicted driving course image and onto a side of the predicted driving course image while the control member displays the superposed image on the display member.

Abstract: A motion estimation method and device are provided for processing images to be inserted, between a preceding original image and a following original image, into a sequence of images. Each image is divided into pixel blocks associated with motion vectors. For a current block of an image being processed, motion vectors associated with blocks of the image being processed and/or associated with blocks of a processed image are selected. Candidate vectors are generated from selected motion vectors. An error is calculated for each candidate vector. A penalty is determined for a subset of candidate vectors on the basis of the values of the pixels of the pixel block in the preceding original image from which the candidate motion vector points to the current block and/or on the basis of the values of the pixels of the pixel block in the following original image to which the candidate motion vector points from the current block.

Abstract: A vehicle-mounted apparatus includes a body having an insertion opening and a medium reader apparatus that reads data stored in a data storage medium inserted into the medium reader apparatus through the insertion opening, a front panel that is movable at least between a closed position where the panel hides the insertion opening and an opened position where the panel reveals the insertion opening so that the media can be inserted into the medium reader apparatus, and a sealing means that is provided with at least one of the panel and the body. When the panel is in the closed position, the panel and the body are connected together through the sealing member to seal the insertion opening. Thus, dust can be prevented from entering the body through the insertion opening.

Abstract: A picture encoding method of the present invention is a picture encoding method of predictively encoding an input picture with reference to pictures stored in a picture buffer, decoding the encoded input picture, judging whether or not the decoded picture is a picture for reference and whether or not the decoded picture is a picture for output which needs to be stored until its display time, and storing, in the picture buffer, the picture for reference and the picture for output based on the determination result.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a moving picture decoding apparatus comprises a decoding module configured to decode an input stream containing coded moving picture data and coding information of the coded moving picture data and configured to produce decoded moving picture data and decoding information, an interpolation image generation module configured to generate an interpolation image frame to be interposed between frames in the decoded moving picture data, and an image generation control module configured to control the generation of the interpolation image frame based on the decoding information.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting transitions in a video sequence, which include detecting an abrupt transition including, for each image It?2k included in said video sequence and with a processing time rank t?2k: calculating a first distance D(It?k), between an image It?k and a reference image for said image It?k, which precedes said image It?k in the video sequence; calculating a second distance D(It?2k), between an image It?2k and a reference image for said image It?2k, which precedes said image It?2k in the video sequence; calculating a third distance D(It?3k), between an image It?3k and a reference image for said image It?3k, which precedes said image It?3k in the video sequence; calculating a criterion C? indicating whether said second distance D(It?2k) is significantly greater than the largest of the first and third distances, D(It?k) and D(It?3k); deciding, according to said criterion C?, on the belonging of the image It?2k to an abrupt transition.

Abstract: According to the present invention, methods and apparatus for updating reduction ratios are provided. An input bit sequence can be altered to provide modified output bit sequence. The input bit sequence may represent information in a portion of data such as a video sequence, a picture, or an audio stream. In one example, the bit sequence is an MPEG-2 video sequence. The input bit sequence is altered using a reduction ratio to provide a modified output bit sequence. The reduction ratio can be continually updated using rate control information to achieve a target reduction ratio for the input bit sequence.

Abstract: A macro-block level parallel video decoder for a parallel processing environment is provided. The video decoder includes a Variable Length Decoding (VLD) block for decoding the encoded Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) coefficients, a master node that receives the decoded DCT coefficients, and multiple slave nodes/processors for parallel implementation of Inverse Discrete Cosine Transform (IDCT) and motion compensation at the macro-block level. Also provided is a method for macro-block level video decoding in a parallel processing system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, decoding of a video signal includes predicting at least a portion of a current image in a current layer based on at least an intra-coded portion of a base image in a base layer and shift information for samples in the predicted current image.

Abstract: A video decoder is connected with a block distortion detector for specifying the boundary of blocks where block boundary occurs, using decoded image data and information of motion vectors, which are supplied from the video decoder; and a block distortion remover for subjecting pixels in the vicinity of the block boundary of the decoded image to filtering on the basis of the result of detection from the block distortion detector, thereby removing the block distortion. Therefore, block distortion is accurately detected when a compressed and coded image is decoded, and the detected block distortion is removed while minimizing the blurriness of the image.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying topography around a position of a mobile object such as a vehicle in 3-dimensional graphics. The method includes predicting a candidate region for the mobile object's position at a display time after a predetermined period of time using current position and motion information of the mobile object; loading 3-dimensional graphic data corresponding to the predicted candidate region to memory; and rendering and displaying data corresponding to a region around a position of the mobile object at the display time among the 3-dimensional graphic data loaded to the memory.

Abstract: A system and method for standardized speed-evaluation of athletes that uses a photoelectric sensor configuration to create a laser grid by which an athlete's position over time will be monitored during, and analyzed after a test session. The photoelectric laser sensors are configured to establish the athlete's starting and stopping time along with the integrated synchronized video motion sensing. The athlete's motion is processed and transmitted by both a high-speed motion camera and a secondary test camera installed at specified distances. The secondary camera streams video data to the remote viewers in a wide-angle perspective. The athlete's movement is captured on video and transmitted to remote viewers via internet-streaming.

Abstract: A technique for addressing frame loss in a video system includes a number of steps. Initially, a first video stream and a second video stream are received. The first and second video streams each include related video information having a plurality of video frames. At least one of the first and second video streams is buffered and lost or corrupted video frames associated with the first video stream are replaced with uncorrupted video frames from the second video stream.

Abstract: In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.

Abstract: An image interpolation apparatus includes a half pel interpolation unit that is configured to perform half pel interpolation on input data to provide half pel interpolation results. A data selection unit is configured to select a portion of the half pel interpolation results to provide a selected portion of the half pel interpolation results. A quarter pel interpolation unit is configured to perform a quarter pel interpolation on the selected portion of the half pel interpolation results, in response to a motion vector. The half pel interpolation unit can operate independent of the motion vector. The quarter pel interpolation unit can generate a data selection signal in response to the motion vector, and the data selection unit can be responsive to the data selection signal. Related methods also are disclosed.

Abstract: A unified approach, a fusion technique, a space-time constraint, a methodology, and system architecture are provided. The unified approach is to fuse the outputs of monocular and stereo video trackers, RFID and localization systems and biometric identification systems. The fusion technique is provided that is based on the transformation of the sensory information from heterogeneous sources into a common coordinate system with rigorous uncertainties analysis to account for various sensor noises and ambiguities. The space-time constraint is used to fuse different sensor using the location and velocity information. Advantages include the ability to continuously track multiple humans with their identities in a large area. The methodology is general so that other sensors can be incorporated into the system. The system architecture is provided for the underlying real-time processing of the sensors.

Abstract: The Invention provides specific and proprietary means to digitally record CCTV inspection Header Information, Defect Observation Data, GPS information, and Distance Information; combine this data into a single digital file; and store it within single video files preferable over digital video format like MPEG, DiviX, Microsoft Windows Media, DVD, or related formats—from which it may be retrieved by compatible application software and serve as a basis for inspection viewing, reviewing, evaluation, mapping, report generation, and other uses provided or supported by compatible application software features. Formatted media can be played with media player like Microsoft media player, real player, Dix Player, Quick time player like computer based player and/or with any external media player like DVD player which can be connected to system like television for viewing.

Abstract: A system and method for mechanically panning, tilting, and/or zooming a webcam to track a user's face. In one embodiment, such movement is controlled by kernel software in a host to which the webcam sends video data. In this way, a driver in the host kernel handles the face tracking, transparent to the application programs that would access the video. In an alternate embodiment, such movement is controlled by firmware in the webcam itself. The video and control signals are sent over the same standard cable, such as a USB bus. In one embodiment, the video is supplied to an instant messaging application. The use of a standard bus (e.g., USB) and the offloading of the face tracking to the webcam and driver allows easy use by the instant messaging application.

Abstract: The invention discloses a motion vector estimation system and the method thereof for estimating an output motion vector for a macroblock of a frame. The motion vector estimation system is capable of selectively horizontally shifting a search window corresponding to each macroblock, so as to improve reusability of pixel data from previous search window and reduce memory bandwidth.

Abstract: A motion vector encoding apparatus includes a detection unit for detecting motion vectors of respective blocks of a predetermined size and a range of the motion vectors; a first storage unit for storing therein the detected motion vectors; and a generation unit for generating motion vector predictors from the motion vectors outputted from the first storage unit. The apparatus also includes a calculation unit for calculating an average value of differential vectors between the motion vectors outputted from the first storage unit and the motion vector predictors. Moreover, the apparatus includes a determination unit for determining a parameter representing a motion vector encodable range based on the average value of the differential vectors calculated by the calculation unit; and an encoding unit for encoding the motion vectors based on the differential vectors and a parameter representing an encodable range outputted from the determination unit.