Abstract: An apparatus for encoding a digital video signal to reduce a transmission rate of the digital video signal, which comprises a feature point based motion compensation circuit for selecting a set of feature points from the reconstructed reference frame to detect a set of motion vectors between a current frame and a original reference frame corresponding to the set of feature points by using a feature point based motion estimation, and for generating a second predicted frame based on the set of motion vectors and the reconstructed reference frame. The feature point based motion estimation employs a convergence process in which a displacement of each of the feature points are given to a motion vector thereof and the six triangles of each of the hexagon are affine-transformed independently using the displacements of their vertex feature points. If the displacements provide a better PSNR, the motion vector of the subject feature point is sequentially updated.

Abstract: An object tracking system used for monitoring objects as they traverse a controlled space provides for efficient processing and creates a "database output" which includes the direction each object has traveled along with an identification of the specific time at which this object was counted. The system provides for efficient processing through pixel blocking and the use of a crop box to minimize the analysis required.

Abstract: The present invention includes a video encoder optimized so as to be implemented using general purpose DSPs or as software executable on a general purpose microprocessor. The present invention includes a modified motion detector module (50) which classifies blocks in the currently processing image as moving or stationary. Blocks classified as moving are then processed by an modified motion compensation module (52) which uses a center-biased orthogonal searching procedure to match the block with a previously processed image. A zero block detector module (54) determines whether the block will generate a zero-valued block after being processed by a transform module 18 and a quantization module 20. If a zero-valued block is predicted, the transformation module 18 and the quantization module 20 are bypassed.

Abstract: A method to provide automatic content-based video indexing from object motion is described. Moving objects in video from a surveillance camera 11 detected in the video sequence using motion segmentation methods by motion segmentor 21. Objects are tracked through segmented data in an object tracker 22. A symbolic representation of the video is generated in the form of an annotated graphics describing the objects and their movement. A motion analyzer 23 analyzes results of object tracking and annotates the graph motion with indices describing several events. The graph is then indexed using a rule based classification scheme to identify events of interest such as appearance/disappearance, deposit/removal, entrance/exit, and motion/rest of objects. Clips of the video identified by spatio-temporal, event, and object-based queries are recalled to view the desired video.

Abstract: A video display appliance having a device for eliminating the radiation wave emitted from a cathode ray tube. The appliance includes a shielding wire wound one to several times along the periphery of a degaussing coil. The pulses having the same level and phase, but inverse polarity to those applied to an anode of the cathode ray tube, is applied to the shielding wire, thereby offsetting the radiation wave emitted from the cathode ray tube.

Abstract: A device for reversing an image of an object includes selector for selecting a reverse mode and control signal generator for generating a plurality of control signals. The control signal generator outputs a down-counting signal when the reverse mode is selected. A memory stores image data when the memory receives a store-enable control signal from the control signal generator and outputs the stored image data when the memory receives an output-enable control signal from the control signal generator. The device also includes an address generator for generating an address at which the image data is stored in the memory according to a control signal received from the control signal generator. During the reverse mode, the address generator generates an address to sequentially access the memory, beginning with a last address of the memory according to the down-counting signal.

Abstract: A motion picture data decoding system extracts motion picture data from transmitted MPEG data and decodes the extracted motion picture data. A multi-media communication terminal includes a data buffer portion storing the extracted motion picture data per predetermined data unit, the data buffer portion having a capacity of storing a plurality sets of the data unit, motion picture data being accumulated in the data buffer per data unit, and motion picture data being taken from the data buffer portion per data unit and decoded by said decoding portion. In concrete, when the amount of the motion picture data transmitted per data unit and sequentially accumulated in the data buffer exceeds the threshold value and amount of the motion picture data accumulated in the data buffer and being sequentially decoded per data unit, is reduced across the threshold value, to issue a demand for transmission of next data unit for monitoring the data buffer portions and making the decoding process efficient.

Abstract: The optimum predictive image is selected as follows for the entire area of an image sequence comprising a luminance signal expressing each pixel value, and a transmittance signal expressing the transparency of each pixel value, and described by the transmittance signal of the target image to be coded as the area to be coded. The target image to be coded is predicted from at least one template typical of the image sequence, thereby generating a first predictive image. The target image to be coded is also predicted from the image displayed chronologically before the target image, thereby generating a second predictive image. It is then determined whether the first or the second predictive image has the least difference to the target image to be coded, and the predictive image with the least difference is selected as the optimum predictive image.

Abstract: An input digital information signal is prediction-encoded and thereby difference signals are generated. The difference signals are block segmented. A maximum value and a minimum value of each block are detected. Whether or not the range of levels of the maximum value MAX and the minimum value MIN crosses 0, a mode determining circuit 5 determines a quantizing mode and generates a mode signal MODE that represents the determined quantizing mode. When the range of the levels crosses 0, a first quantizing mode is selected. Otherwise, a second quantizing mode is selected. In the first quantizing mode, the quantizing circuit 6 performs the normal quantizing process. In the second quantizing mode, the quantizing circuit 6 performs a code conversion in such a manner that the number of bits of quantized output data is smaller than that of the normal quantizing process.

Abstract: A video coding device capable of making coded data have a hierarchical structure, a specified area of each frame is selected. The position and the shape of the selected area are encoded, a pixel value of the selected area is encoded as slower-layer coded data, a pixel value of a whole image is encoded as first upper-layer coded data by using pixel values of already decoded images of the lower-layer and the first upper layer and a pixel value of the selected area is encoded as second upper-layer coded data by using pixel values of already decoded images of the lower-layer and the second upper layer.

Abstract: The transform arithmetic operations by spatial image transform matrixes and perspective transform matrixes to a screen surface thereon are executed on source video signal representing two-dimensional image so as to generate left-eye and right-eye video signals. It is possible to realize the stereoscopic image generation apparatus capable of setting the visual difference between a left eye and a right eye easily.

Abstract: A video projector employs an acousto-optic deflector for moving a horizontal line of pixels vertically to form an image on a remote screen. Because the pixel images are formed from parallel beams, rather than by reimaging a line of pixel images on a vertical deflector, the image formed is in focus at all screen distances. The horizontal line of pixels is formed from a single laser beam which is expanded laterally and passes through individual intensity modulators before being aimed at the vertical deflector. The horizontal line of beams may be divided into zones, one above the other, and later reorganized into a single line at the vertical deflector, in order to reduce the size of the projector.

Abstract: A video compression encoding process compresses or encodes dense motion vector fields to provide and improved compression ratio. In accordance with this method, a dense motion vector field is obtained for an object or a portion of an object between a pair of video image frames. The dense motion vector field may correspond, for example, to an object or other image portion of arbitrary configuration or size. The configuration of the dense motion vector field is extrapolated to a regular, preferably rectangular, configuration to facilitate encoding or compression. The dense motion vector field with its extrapolated regular configuration is encoded or compressed according to conventional encoding transformations such as, for example, discrete cosine transformation (DCT) or lattice wavelet compression.

Abstract: An MPEG-2 decoder having a decoupled architecture that allows the rapid acquisition of a program within an MPEG-2 transport stream. A digital signal processor (102) is provided to demultiplex a MPEG-2 transport stream provided on a line (110) into its constituent audio, video, and private data elementary streams. The digital signal processor is capable of performing a limited interpretation of program specific information in the transport stream data, prior to presentation of the program specific information to a host microprocessor (106). In particular, the digital signal processor can demultiplex and interpret back-to-back program association tables and program map tables carried in the transport stream. In the absence of a user selected program, the digital signal processor selects a default program to demultiplex and display to the user. The host microprocessor runs an operating system of the decoder, generates a user interface, and allows the user to select from the programs within the transport stream.

Abstract: A monitoring system for an agricultural vehicle. The vehicle is provided with a video camera and an associated video monitor. The video monitor is located in a cab of the vehicle and the video camera is oriented facing the rear of the vehicle. When an agricultural implement is connected to the vehicle, the monitor may be used to view the implement without turning away from the direction of travel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely visually inspecting the interior of an elongated tank. The apparatus includes an articulated arm which extends into the tank through an access opening and is adapted to pivot at successive joints by operation of associated servomotors to enable it to follow a path along the axis of the tank. A TV camera is carried on the lead end of the arm and scans the interior of the tank through 360.degree. rotation about the tank axis. The arm carries the camera to the zones where the tank end walls are joined to the sidewall for viewing the zones from advantageous lines of view.

Abstract: A surveillance system that includes a switcher, a selector and processor for generating a predetermined monitor display based on an operator's inputs. The processor determines a plurality of camera views that have a logical relationship to the view selected by the operator. The monitor displays the selected view and the related views in a format determined either by the operator or the processor. This system allows the operator to easily track a moving target. In addition, a touch screen monitor further facilitates the operator's ability to track a target.

Abstract: A printing face inspecting apparatus comprising an illuminating device for illuminating a printing face of an object to be inspected and a plurality of image pickup devices for taking pictures of reflection light from the printing face. The image pickup devices consist of a color camera arranged in approximate a center of the devices, and a plurality of black and white cameras arranged on the outer periphery of the color camera. Both of hue defects and the concentration difference defects can be inspected, and all the defects on the printing face can be detected without fail. The deterioration through detection leakage of the defects can be reduced and the quality of the objects to be inspected can be improved.

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus is provided in which among diametrically oppositely disposed heads, a recording head and an erasing head of a same channel are disposed adjacently to each other. The recording head is disposed so as to precede by two tracks the erasing head with respect to a direction of cylinder rotation, when insert-editing, using a reproduced signal obtained by the recording head, erase and record timing setting and head tracking are performed and an erasing current is not applied during the reproduction by the recording head. The reproducing heads are disposed so as to be angularly apart by about 90 degrees from the recording and erasing heads, and a rotary transformer for reproduction is applied with a shield measure and then, formed as a core independently at an upper portion of the cylinder. In addition, more narrow tracks are compatibly reproduced by the recording head.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for detecting, collecting information about, and analyzing a queue. A video camera is positioned to view the queue, and a sequence of video images from the camera may be processed in order to perform the functionality of the present invention. The present invention may be implemented at checkout lanes in a retail establishment, in a bank, at customer service desks, at self-service kiosks, at banks, or any other location where a queue (line) of people or other objects may form. After detecting the queue, the present invention may collect multi-dimensional information regarding the queue, including the number of people, etc., in the queue, the average service time for each person in the queue, as well as various other types of information regarding the queue. The present invention may thereafter analyze the collected information in various ways, based upon various criteria.