Abstract: Method, device and computer program product for stabilizing a received video signal. A plurality of frames of the video signal is captured using a camera. The video signal is transmitted as an encoded bit stream. Displacement of the camera between successive frames is determined from a motion indication in the bit stream. The determined displacement is used to compensate for motion in the video signal between successive frames caused by the motion of the camera, to thereby stabilize the video signal.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a mobile device includes wireless access circuitry configured to access a wireless communication network; a processor for executing a communication client application to conduct a packet-based call with a remote device via a channel established over the wireless communication network, the communication client application configured to monitor at least one network parameter; a hardware processing module selectively operable to implement a processing function; a software processing module selectively executable to implement said processing function; and a selection mechanism for supplying the call to one of the hardware processing module and software processing module based on the at least one monitored network parameter.

Abstract: A method of performing a rate-distortion optimization process comprising, for each of a plurality of target image portions to be encoded in each of a plurality of frames, selecting a preferred one of a set of encoding modes by optimizing a function comprising an estimate of distortion for the target image portion and a measure of bit rate required to encode the target image portion, wherein the estimate of distortion is based on source coding distortion and an estimate of a distortion that would be experienced due to possible loss over the channel; encoding the target image portion into the encoded video stream using the selected encoding mode; and transmitting the encoded video stream over the channel. The rate-distortion optimization process for a current one of the frames is performed in dependence on feedback received from the receiving terminal based on an earlier one of the frames.

Abstract: Method, device and computer program product for stabilizing a video signal. A plurality of frames of the video signal are captured using a camera. A motion sensor associated with the camera is used to generate a plurality of samples representing motion of the camera. The samples are used to determine a displacement of the camera between a first time and a second time, wherein the first time corresponds to an exposure time midpoint of a first frame of the video signal and the second time corresponds to an exposure time midpoint of a second frame of the video signal. The determined displacement is used to compensate for motion in the video signal between the first and second frames caused by the motion of the camera, to thereby stabilize the video signal.

Abstract: An encoder allocates index numbers to portions of a video signal transmitted over a network to a decoder. At least some of the portions are stored in an encoder buffer. Feedback is received from the network at a remote control block, indicating whether the transmitted portions are correctly received. Based on the feedback, the control block determines a subset of the portions stored in the buffer. The control block transmits a message to the encoder, identifying the subset using the index numbers allocated to the portions in the subset. In response, the encoder uses the index numbers to identify and retrieve at least one portion of the subset of portions from the buffer, the retrieved portion is used to encode subsequent portions of the signal.

Abstract: A method of controlling quality of video data transmitted from a first user terminal to at least one other user terminal in a communication system includes detecting at said first user terminal a condition that indicates that the quality of the video data is below an acceptable threshold; automatically generating instructions based on the detected condition for a user of the first user terminal, said instructions intended to provide a humanly implementable remedy to improve the quality of the video data; outputting the instructions to the user in a humanly comprehensible form; and receiving an input from a user of the first user terminal responsive to the instructions to implement the remedy and thereby improve the quality of the video data.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and computer program product for processing a video signal, the video signal comprising a plurality of frames, wherein the frames of the video signal are received at a jitter buffer, and the frames are output from the jitter buffer at a variable output rate to account for jitter in the received frames. Variations in the output rate are controlled in dependence upon the visual information content of the video signal, the visual information content of the video signal being the portion of the video signal that is to be displayed when the video signal is played out.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes a receiver for receiving a video signal over a lossy medium and a decoder coupled to the receiver and arranged to decode the video signal for output to a display. The decoder includes a concealment module for regenerating a portion of image data lost from the video signal over said medium, by interpolating or extrapolating from other image data of the video signal received over the medium. The decoder comprises a controller configured to select, based on a measure of loss effect estimated for the portion of image data, whether (i) to apply the concealment module to regenerate the portion of image data, or alternatively (ii) to freeze preceding image data of the video signal in place of the portion of image data.

Abstract: A method, terminal and program, the method comprising: at a second terminal, receiving a first signal transmitted from a first terminal via a communication network; transmitting a second signal from the second terminal to the first terminal; outputting the first signal from an output device associated with the second terminal; determining a balance between a characteristic of the first signal and a characteristic of the second signal, wherein the characteristics affect a processing resource required to process the first and second signals, the determined balance comprising a decision concerning the characteristic of the first signal; and sending the decision to the first terminal so as to advise the first terminal to adjust the characteristic of the first signal as transmitted from the first terminal.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a first signal from a first terminal to a second terminal via a communication network including: receiving at the first terminal a second signal from the second terminal; outputting the second signal from an output device associated with the first terminal and determining information relating to a characteristic of the second signal. A processing resource of the second terminal used to transmit the second signal is estimated, wherein the estimation is based on the information relating to the characteristic of the second signal. A characteristic of the first signal is adjusted in dependence on the estimated processing resource of the second terminal used to transmit the second signal and the first signal is transmitted to the second terminal.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a first signal from a first terminal to a second terminal via a communication network including: receiving at the first terminal a second signal from the second terminal; outputting the second signal from an output device associated with the first terminal and determining information relating to a characteristic of the second signal. A processing resource of the second terminal used to transmit the second signal is estimated, wherein the estimation is based on the information relating to the characteristic of the second signal. A characteristic of the first signal is adjusted in dependence on the estimated processing resource of the second terminal used to transmit the second signal and the first signal is transmitted to the second terminal.

Abstract: A method of transmitting image data from a first node to a second node during a communication event, wherein the second node comprises a display for displaying image data at the second node, said method comprising; receiving at the first node, information indicating at least one display characteristic with which image data received at the second node will be displayed on said display; inputting image data at the first node; determining a processing step to be applied to the inputted image data to generate adapted image data, such that at least one characteristic of the adapted image data is optimised for said at least one display characteristic; applying the processing step to generate the adapted image data; and transmitting the adapted image data to the second terminal.

Abstract: A method of controlling quality of video data transmitted from a first user terminal to at least one other user terminal in a communication system includes detecting at said first user terminal a condition that indicates that the quality of the video data is below an acceptable threshold; automatically generating instructions based on the detected condition for a user of the first user terminal, said instructions intended to provide a humanly implementable remedy to improve the quality of the video data; outputting the instructions to the user in a humanly comprehensible form; and receiving an input from a user of the first user terminal responsive to the instructions to implement the remedy and thereby improve the quality of the video data.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data from a first terminal to a second terminal in a communication network comprising: receiving at the first terminal an data signal determining an identity of the peripheral device; supplying to a data store the identity of the peripheral device; selecting from the data store at least one parameter for processing the data signal based on the identity of the peripheral device; transmitting the data signal from the first terminal to the second terminal; and processing the data signal, wherein the data signal is processed based on the selected parameter.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a first signal from a first terminal to a second terminal via a communication network including: receiving at the first terminal a second signal from the second terminal; outputting the second signal from an output device associated with the first terminal and determining information relating to a characteristic of the second signal. A processing resource of the second terminal used to transmit the second signal is estimated, wherein the estimation is based on the information relating to the characteristic of the second signal. A characteristic of the first signal is adjusted in dependence on the estimated processing resource of the second terminal used to transmit the second signal and the first signal is transmitted to the second terminal.

Abstract: A method of establishing parameters to facilitate a communication event in a communication network comprising: establishing a first communication event; monitoring at least one parameter used to process data associated with the first communication event; storing said at least one monitored parameter; establishing a second communication event; selecting at least one stored monitored parameter in response to establishing the second communication event; and applying said at least one selected parameter to process data associated with said second communication event.