Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing a dissolve region within a sequence of digital motion video frames. A function is calculated based on statistical data derived from frames in the sequence. Dissolve region boundaries are then detected based on characteristics of the calculated function. Consecutive detected boundaries may be flagged as a dissolve region based on the average value of the function between the consecutive detected boundaries and the distance between the consecutive detected boundaries.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding a sequence of digital motion video images at more than one resolution. In a first embodiment, it is determined whether an image selected from the sequence is part of either a dissolve, a fade, a fast motion region or a complex motion region. If the selected image is part of either a dissolve, a fade, a fast motion region or a complex motion region, then the selected image is encoded at a reduced resolution level. In a further embodiment, a selected image is provided for encoding. A determination is then made whether a parameter derived from an estimate of the available decoding time is above a predetermined threshold. If the parameter is above the predetermined threshold, then the selected image is encoded at a reduced resolution. In a still further embodiment, a selected image from a sub-sequence of images is provided for encoding. A determination is then made whether the quantization step size associated with the image is greater than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a fade within a sequence of digital motion video frames. A first frame and a previous frame are selected from the sequence as first and second regions, respectively, for processing. The mean of the first region and the mean of the second region are each calculated and the relative mean change between the means is determined. A fade is detected if the relative mean change exceeds a first predetermined threshold. Alternatively, a fade is detected if the relative mean change is less than the first predetermined threshold but greater than a second predetermined threshold and the magnitude of the difference between the means is greater than a third predetermined threshold.