Patents by Inventor Alexandros Tourapis

Alexandros Tourapis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240397119
    Abstract: In communication applications, aggregate source image data at a transmitter exceeds the data that is needed to display a rendering of a viewport at a receiver. Improved streaming techniques that include estimating a location of a viewport at a future time. According to such techniques, the viewport may represent a portion of an image from a multi-directional video to be displayed at the future time, and tile(s) of the image may be identified in which the viewport is estimated to be located. In these techniques, the image data of tile(s) in which the viewport is estimated to be located may be requested at a first service tier, and the other tile in which the viewport is not estimated to be located may be requested at a second service tier, lower than the first service tier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Xiaohua YANG, Alexandros TOURAPIS, Dazhong ZHANG, Hang YUAN, Hsi-Jung WU, Jae Hoon KIM, Jiefu ZHAI, Ming CHEN, Xiaosong ZHOU
  • Publication number: 20240388720
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for reducing a quantity of buffers for a video codec. One of the methods includes determining, from a plurality of prediction modes, a prediction mode for data that represents frame data in a frame; in response to determining the prediction mode, selecting, using the prediction mode, one or more buffers from a plurality of buffers, each buffer of which is for a prediction mode from the plurality of prediction modes, a first quantity of buffers in the plurality of buffers being less than a second quantity of prediction modes in the plurality of prediction modes; retrieving, from each of the one or more buffers, historical data for the frame data; and in response to retrieving the historical data, generating, using the historical data, updated data for the frame data in the frame of the video sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Yunfei Zheng, Alexandros Tourapis, Alican Nalci, Felix C. Fernandes, Hilmi Enes Egilmez, Hsi-Jung Wu, Jaehong Chon, Jun Xin, Yeqing Wu, Yixin Du
  • Publication number: 20240340465
    Abstract: An encoding device evaluates a plurality of processing and/or post-processing algorithms and/or methods to be applied to a video stream, and signals a selected method, algorithm, class or category of methods/algorithms either in an encoded bitstream or as side information related to the encoded bitstream. A decoding device or post-processor utilizes the signaled algorithm or selects an algorithm/method based on the signaled method or algorithm. The selection is based, for example, on availability of the algorithm/method at the decoder/post-processor and/or cost of implementation. The video stream may comprise, for example, downsampled multiplexed stereoscopic images and the selected algorithm may include any of upconversion and/or error correction techniques that contribute to a restoration of the downsampled images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexandros TOURAPIS, Athanasios LEONTARIS, Peshala V. PAHALAWATTA, Kevin J. STEC
  • Publication number: 20240340438
    Abstract: Techniques are proposed to improve temporal motion projection in video coding. Candidate reference frames available for use in temporal motion projection are sorted in processing order according to scores assigned based on estimates of the reference frames' suitability for prediction. Such estimates may be based on temporal distance between each candidate reference frame and that reference frame's prediction references. Estimates may be based, for each reference frame, based on an estimate of coding quality of a reference frame from which the respective candidate reference frame makes a prediction reference. Once sorted, the candidate reference frames may be processing in the sorting order to supply prediction data to a current frame that is to be coded from the candidate reference frames. Additionally, hardware friendly designs of motion field hole filling and motion vector smoothing operations are proposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Yeqing WU, Yunfei ZHENG, Yixin DU, Alican NALCI, Hilmi E. EGILMEZ, Guoxin JIN, Alexandros TOURAPIS, Jun XIN, Hsi-Jung WU
  • Patent number: 12114021
    Abstract: An encoding device evaluates a plurality of processing and/or post-processing algorithms and/or methods to be applied to a video stream, and signals a selected method, algorithm, class or category of methods/algorithms either in an encoded bitstream or as side information related to the encoded bitstream. A decoding device or post-processor utilizes the signaled algorithm or selects an algorithm/method based on the signaled method or algorithm. The selection is based, for example, on availability of the algorithm/method at the decoder/post-processor and/or cost of implementation. The video stream may comprise, for example, downsampled multiplexed stereoscopic images and the selected algorithm May include any of upconversion and/or error correction techniques that contribute to a restoration of the downsampled images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexandros Tourapis, Athanasios Leontaris, Peshala V. Pahalawatta, Kevin J. Stec
  • Patent number: 12108036
    Abstract: A system comprises an encoder configured to compress video data. The encoder includes an adaptive bilateral filter that uses look-up tables. The encoder may encode one or more adaptive adjustment factors to be used by a decoder to select or adjust look-up tables used to decode the compressed video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandros Tourapis, Krishnakanth Rapaka, Dominik Mehlem
  • Patent number: 12100183
    Abstract: A system comprises an encoder configured to compress attribute information and/or spatial for a point cloud and/or a decoder configured to decompress compressed attribute and/or spatial information for the point cloud. A point cloud attribute transfer algorithm may be used to determine distortion between an original point cloud and a reconstructed point cloud. Additionally, the point cloud attribute transfer algorithm may be used to select attribute values for a reconstructed point cloud such that distortion between an original point cloud and a reconstructed version of the original point cloud is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Khaled Mammou, Yeping Su, Alexandros Tourapis, Jungsun Kim, Valery G. Valentin, Fabrice A. Robinet
  • Patent number: 12096044
    Abstract: In communication applications, aggregate source image data at a transmitter exceeds the data that is needed to display a rendering of a viewport at a receiver. Improved streaming techniques that include estimating a location of a viewport at a future time. According to such techniques, the viewport may represent a portion of an image from a multi-directional video to be displayed at the future time, and tile(s) of the image may be identified in which the viewport is estimated to be located. In these techniques, the image data of tile(s) in which the viewport is estimated to be located may be requested at a first service tier, and the other tile in which the viewport is not estimated to be located may be requested at a second service tier, lower than the first service tier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Xiaohua Yang, Alexandros Tourapis, Dazhong Zhang, Hang Yuan, Hsi-Jung Wu, Jae Hoon Kim, Jiefu Zhai, Ming Chen, Xiaosong Zhou
  • Patent number: 12094179
    Abstract: A system comprises an encoder configured to compress attribute information and/or spatial information for a point cloud and/or a decoder configured to decompress compressed attribute and/or spatial information for the point cloud. The encoder is configured to convert a point cloud into an image based representation. The encoder packs patch images into an image frame and fills empty spaces in the image frame with a padding. The encoder is also configured to determine quantized minimum depths and/or maximum depths patch images in the image frames, wherein depth information is signaled relative to the quantized minimum depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandros Tourapis, Fabrice A. Robinet, Jungsun Kim, Khaled Mammou, Valery G. Valentin, Yeping Su
  • Patent number: 12096029
    Abstract: Sampled data is packaged in checkerboard format for encoding and decoding. The sampled data may be quincunx sampled multi-image video data (e.g., 3D video or a multi-program stream), and the data may also be divided into sub-images of each image which are then multiplexed, or interleaved, in frames of a video stream to be encoded and then decoded using a standardized video encoder. A system for viewing may utilize a standard video decoder and a formatting device that de-interleaves the decoded sub-images of each frame reformats the images for a display device. A 3D video may be encoded using a most advantageous interleaving format such that a preferred quality and compression ratio is reached. In one embodiment, the invention includes a display device that accepts data in multiple formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandros Tourapis, Walter J. Husak, Peshala V. Pahalawatta, Athanasios Leontaris
  • Publication number: 20240305783
    Abstract: Embodiments feature families of rate allocation and rate control methods that utilize advanced processing of past and future frame/field picture statistics and are designed to operate with one or more coding passes. At least two method families include: a family of methods for a rate allocation with picture look-ahead; and a family of methods for average bit rate (ABR) control methods. At least two other methods for each method family are described. For the first family of methods, some methods may involve intra rate control. For the second family of methods, some methods may involve high complexity ABR control and/or low complexity ABR control. These and other embodiments can involve any of the following: spatial coding parameter adaptation, coding prediction, complexity processing, complexity estimation, complexity filtering, bit rate considerations, quality considerations, coding parameter allocation, and/or hierarchical prediction structures, among others.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Athanasios Leontaris, Alexandros Tourapis
  • Patent number: 12081797
    Abstract: Sampled data is packaged in checkerboard format for encoding and decoding. The sampled data may be quincunx sampled multi-image video data (e.g., 3D video or a multi-program stream), and the data may also be divided into sub-images of each image which are then multiplexed, or interleaved, in frames of a video stream to be encoded and then decoded using a standardized video encoder. A system for viewing may utilize a standard video decoder and a formatting device that de-interleaves the decoded sub-images of each frame reformats the images for a display device. A 3D video may be encoded using a most advantageous interleaving format such that a preferred quality and compression ratio is reached. In one embodiment, the invention includes a display device that accepts data in multiple formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandros Tourapis, Walter J. Husak, Peshala V. Pahalawatta, Athanasios Leontaris
  • Publication number: 20240292029
    Abstract: An encoding device evaluates a plurality of processing and/or post-processing algorithms and/or methods to be applied to a video stream, and signals a selected method, algorithm, class or category of methods/algorithms either in an encoded bitstream or as side information related to the encoded bitstream. A decoding device or post-processor utilizes the signaled algorithm or selects an algorithm/method based on the signaled method or algorithm. The selection is based, for example, on availability of the algorithm/method at the decoder/post-processor and/or cost of implementation. The video stream may comprise, for example, downsampled multiplexed stereoscopic images and the selected algorithm may include any of upconversion and/or error correction techniques that contribute to a restoration of the downsampled images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexandros TOURAPIS, Athanasios LEONTARIS, Peshala V. PAHALAWATTA, Kevin J. STEC
  • Patent number: 12075093
    Abstract: A system comprises an encoder configured to compress media objects using a compression loop that includes a residual decomposition component that decomposes a residual signal for a block of the media object being compressed into multiple sub-error signals. The encoder is further configured to enable different transformation and/or quantization processes to be specified to be applied to different ones of the sub-errors. A corresponding decoder is configured to apply inverse transformation/quantization processing to the sub-error signals, based on the transformation/quantization processes that were applied at the encoder. The decoder then re-creates a residual signal from the processed sub-error signals and uses the re-created residual signal to correct predicted values at the decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandros Tourapis, Hye-Yeon Cheong, David William Singer, Dominik Mehlem
  • Patent number: 12063364
    Abstract: A method of signaling additional chroma QP offset values that are specific to quantization groups is provided, in which each quantization group explicitly specifies its own set of chroma QP offset values. Alternatively, a table of possible sets of chroma QP offset values is specified in the header area of the picture, and each quantization group uses an index to select an entry from the table for determining its own set of chroma QP offset values. The quantization group specific chroma QP offset values are then used to determine the chroma QP values for blocks within the quantization group in addition to chroma QP offset values already specified for higher levels of the video coding hierarchy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandros Tourapis, Guy Cote
  • Patent number: 12058361
    Abstract: Predictive coding techniques may include resampling of reference pictures, where various coding parameters are determined based on the resolution(s) or pixel format(s) of the prediction references. In a first aspect, lists of weights for use in weighted prediction are based on the resolution(s) of prediction references. In a second aspect, resampling filter parameters are selected based on the resolutions of prediction references. In a third aspect, deblocking filter parameters are based on the resolution(s) of prediction references.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Krishnakanth Rapaka, Alexandros Tourapis, David W. Singer
  • Patent number: 12058372
    Abstract: An encoding device evaluates a plurality of processing and/or post-processing algorithms and/or methods to be applied to a video stream, and signals a selected method, algorithm, class or category of methods/algorithms either in an encoded bitstream or as side information related to the encoded bitstream. A decoding device or post-processor utilizes the signaled algorithm or selects an algorithm/method based on the signaled method or algorithm. The selection is based, for example, on availability of the algorithm/method at the decoder/post-processor and/or cost of implementation. The video stream may comprise, for example, downsampled multiplexed stereoscopic images and the selected algorithm may include any of upconversion and/or error correction techniques that contribute to a restoration of the downsampled images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexandros Tourapis, Athanasios Leontaris, Peshala V. Pahalawatta, Kevin J. Stec
  • Patent number: 12058371
    Abstract: An encoding device evaluates a plurality of processing and/or post-processing algorithms and/or methods to be applied to a video stream, and signals a selected method, algorithm, class or category of methods/algorithms either in an encoded bitstream or as side information related to the encoded bitstream. A decoding device or post-processor utilizes the signaled algorithm or selects an algorithm/method based on the signaled method or algorithm. The selection is based, for example, on availability of the algorithm/method at the decoder/post-processor and/or cost of implementation. The video stream may comprise, for example, downsampled multiplexed stereoscopic images and the selected algorithm may include any of upconversion and/or error correction techniques that contribute to a restoration of the downsampled images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexandros Tourapis, Athanasios Leontaris, Peshala V. Pahalawatta, Kevin J. Stec
  • Patent number: 12041234
    Abstract: Embodiments feature families of rate allocation and rate control methods that utilize advanced processing of past and future frame/field picture statistics and are designed to operate with one or more coding passes. At least two method families include: a family of methods for a rate allocation with picture look-ahead; and a family of methods for average bit rate (ABR) control methods. At least two other methods for each method family are described. For the first family of methods, some methods may involve intra rate control. For the second family of methods, some methods may involve high complexity ABR control and/or low complexity ABR control. These and other embodiments can involve any of the following: spatial coding parameter adaptation, coding prediction, complexity processing, complexity estimation, complexity filtering, bit rate considerations, quality considerations, coding parameter allocation, and/or hierarchical prediction structures, among others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Athanasios Leontaris, Alexandros Tourapis
  • Patent number: 12034972
    Abstract: An encoding device evaluates a plurality of processing and/or post-processing algorithms and/or methods to be applied to a video stream, and signals a selected method, algorithm, class or category of methods/algorithms either in an encoded bitstream or as side information related to the encoded bitstream. A decoding device or post-processor utilizes the signaled algorithm or selects an algorithm/method based on the signaled method or algorithm. The selection is based, for example, on availability of the algorithm/method at the decoder/post-processor and/or cost of implementation. The video stream may comprise, for example, downsampled multiplexed stereoscopic images and the selected algorithm may include any of upconversion and/or error correction techniques that contribute to a restoration of the downsampled images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexandros Tourapis, Athanasios Leontaris, Peshala V. Pahalawatta, Kevin J. Stec