Abstract: A three-dimensional image-capturing apparatus includes an image-capturing device having a plurality of image-capturing regions and a plurality of optical systems for forming images of a subject in the image-capturing regions. The optical systems includes a plurality of reflectors for reflecting rays from the subject a number of times and at least a lens provided to be closer to the image-capturing device than the reflection means closest to the subject. The reflectors and the lens are used to form, in the image-capturing regions, separate images of the subject which are captured from different viewpoints.

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 a portion of a base image in a base layer and offset information. The offset information indicates an offset based on at least one pixel in the current image and a corresponding at least one pixel in the base image. For example, the offset information may represent a position offset between at least one sample in the current image and at least one sample in an up-sampled portion of the base image.

Abstract: A source model in combination with an interest structure is provided to generate a quantization value for use in encoding a video signal. The interest structure is generated from a region of interest manually identified by a user viewing the video on an interactive user display or automatically by a system which recognizes the regions of interest automatically. The region of interest in the video signal is encoded using a quantization value calculated from the interest structure in combination with the source model, and the region of interest is encoded at a higher resolution level than surrounding regions.

Abstract: A multi-scanner scans a signal according to several different patterns. A scanning pattern selector determines which scanning pattern produced the most efficient coding result, for example, for runlength coding, and outputs a coded signal, coded most efficiently, and a selection signal which identifies the scanning pattern found to be most efficient.

Abstract: An improved method and block transform for image or video encoding and decoding, wherein transformation and inverse transformation matrixes are defined such that computational complexity is significantly reduced when encoding and decoding. For example, in the two-dimensional inverse transformation of de-quantized transform coefficients into output pixel information during decoding, only four additions plus one shift operation are needed, per co-efficient transformation, all in sixteen-bit arithmetic. Transformations provide correct results because quantization during encoding and de-quantization (sixteen bit) during decoding, via the use of one of three tables selected based on each coefficient's position, have parameter values that already compensate for factors of other transformation multiplications, except for those of a power of two, (e.g., two or one-half), which are performed by a shift operation during the transformation and inverse transformation processes.

Abstract: A panoramic image management system and method is disclosed. The system provides for improved calibration of a 360 degree panoramic camera, as well as improved means for manipulating the images, and correlating images from conventional video cameras with the images from the 360 degree panoramic camera. The system also provides means for archiving and retrieving stored images. The present invention contributes to an improved video surveillance system.

Abstract: A moving image encoding method of encoding a moving image while switching between variable-length encoding schemes. In this method, a continuous unit to be continuously reproduced is determined (S5201), a stream is generated by encoding the moving image without switching between variable-length encoding schemes in the continuous unit (S5202), and management information is generated that includes a first flag information indicating that a variable-length encoding scheme is fixed in the continuous unit (S5204, and S5205).

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus includes a conversion unit, an encoding unit, and a control unit. The conversion unit converts first moving image data having a first frame rate into second moving image data having a second frame rate by inserting a new frame into the first moving image data having the first frame rate at predetermined timing. The encoding unit encodes the second moving image data having the second frame rate by selectively using intra-frame encoding and inter-frame prediction encoding. The encoding unit classifies each frame of the second moving image data as a first frame type which is not referred to in the inter-frame prediction encoding and a second frame type which is referred to in the inter-frame prediction encoding, and the encoding unit encodes the second moving image data according to the classification result.

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: The present invention provides a video surveillance system which tracks a tracking target by a plurality of surveillance cameras. This system is capable of tracking completely the location of the tracking target even in case the camera picture is automatically changed in accordance with the moving of the tracking target. The system includes a moving direction detector for detecting the moving direction of a tracking target. Moreover, the system has storage units for storing the passage configuration of a surveillance zone and the camera location information. The system also has a camera selector for identifying a camera which will shoot the tracking target next in accordance with the moving direction information, passage configuration information and camera location information, and a screen composition unit for synthesizing on a screen a picture from a camera shooting the tracking target and a picture from a camera selected by the camera selector.

Abstract: An improved camera for the acquisition of panoramic images is disclosed. The camera comprises a convex photochromic reflector directed towards an image capture element. Multiple incoming light sensors around the perimeter of the camera detect strong incoming light and cause the activation of a corresponding UV light. The UV light in turn activates the photochromic effect on a particular region of the photochromic reflector that corresponds to an area of strong incident light. The photochromic reflector then darkens in that area, providing compensation for a scene that has a wide range of lighting conditions. Therefore, the camera compensates for strong lighting indoors as well as outdoors.

Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring at least one object in a scene, which method provides that, once a moving object stops and comes to a standstill, the dwell time at standstill is counted so as to generate a signaling as a function of the dwell time. The object is described by a list or a matrix characterizing the direction of movement and the time.

Abstract: An audio/video (or audiovisual, “A/V”) signal processing apparatus and method for extracting a compact representation of a multimedia description and transcoding hints metadata for transcoding between different (e.g., MPEG) compressed content representations, manipulating (e.g., MPEG compressed) bitstream parameters such as frame rate, bit rate, session size, quantization parameters, and picture coding type structure (e.g., group of pictures, or “GOP”), classifying A/V content, and retrieving multimedia information.

Abstract: A vector decoding method includes decomposing a code of an initial vector to obtain a sign code and an absolute vector code, decoding the sign code to obtain a sign vector, performing multi-level permutation-based decoding on the absolute vector code to obtain an initial absolute vector, and combining the sign vector and the initial absolute vector to obtain an initial vector, wherein each respective vector ha a plurality of elements. A vector decoding apparatus includes a decomposing unit configured to decompose a vector code to obtain a sign code and an absolute vector, a sign decoding unit configured to decode the sign code to obtain a sign vector, a multi-level permutation-based decoding unit configured to perform multi-level permutation-based decoding on the absolute vector to obtain an initial absolute vector, and a combining unit configured to combine the sign vector and the initial absolute vector to obtain an initial vector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for encoding a decoding a video signal. In the procedure of encoding the video signal, when a frame temporarily simultaneous with a frame including a macro block of an enhanced layer which will obtain a prediction video does not exist in a base layer, the macro block is encoded based on difference values of residual data using corresponding residual blocks in a past frame and a future frame of the base layer which are residual data corresponding to image difference values and using a residual block for the macro block of the enhanced layer. In another embodiment, the macro block is encoded based on difference values of residual data using corresponding residual blocks in a past frame and a future frame of the enhanced layer and the residual block for the macro block.

Abstract: A method for fast multiple reference frame motion estimation, which is used to perform motion estimation between a current frame and reference frames Fn?1, Fn?2, . . . , Fn?k. The method performs a special block matching to find a plurality of motion vectors for blocks of each frame with respective to a previous frame and then composes motion vector(s) of the current frame referring to the reference frame Fn?(k?1) and a motion vector of the reference frame Fn?(k?1) referring to the reference frame Fn?k into composed motion vectors of the current frame referring to the reference frame Fn?k for the block in the current frame. The method selects a composed motion vector with a minimum of cost function from the composed motion vectors produced when composing the motion vectors and then finely adjusts the composed motion vector selected, thereby obtaining an adjusted motion vector.

Abstract: A system and method of providing composite real-time dynamic imagery of a medical procedure site from multiple modalities which continuously and immediately depicts the current state and condition of the medical procedure site synchronously with respect to each modality and without undue latency is disclosed. The composite real-time dynamic imagery may be provided by spatially registering multiple real-time dynamic video streams from the multiple modalities to each other. Spatially registering the multiple real-time dynamic video streams to each other may provide a continuous and immediate depiction of the medical procedure site with an unobstructed and detailed view of a region of interest at the medical procedure site at multiple depths.

Abstract: A multi-scanner scans a signal according to several different patterns. A scanning pattern selector determines which scanning pattern produced the most efficient coding result, for example, for runlength coding, and outputs a coded signal, coded most efficiently, and a selection signal which identifies the scanning pattern found to be most efficient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for representing motion in a sequence of digitized images derives a dense motion vector field and vector quantizes the motion vector field.

Abstract: A camera control unit for processing a signal output from an imaging device incorporated in an endoscope is provided with an analog video signal output terminal through which a video signal is output to a monitor, and a digital video signal output terminal to which a still image-specific or motion picture-specific expansion unit is coupled in a freely detachable manner. By handling a release switch, a still image or motion picture can be recorded digitally. Even when the recorded image data is edited or subjected to any other processing, deterioration of image quality can be prevented. An imaging system having these advantages can be realized on a small scale.