Abstract: Differential protection of a live scalable media is disclosed. A first scalable encoding method is utilized for encoding a layer of a live media bit-stream, the first scalable encoding method having a first error resilience and a first bit cost. In addition, a second scalable encoding method is utilized for encoding an enhancement layer of the live media bit-stream, the second scalable encoding method comprising a second error resilience lower than the first error resilience, the second scalable encoding method further comprising a second bit cost that is lower than the first bit cost.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for encoding using feedback. The method comprising includes encoding a base layer of a current frame, generating a residue of the current frame, and encoding the residue of said current frame. Also, in response to feedback from a receiver, wherein the feedback is based on the base layer of the current frame and previous correctly received enhancement frames, determining coding strategy for each block of the current frame and coding according to one or more of source coding and Wyner-Ziv coding.

Abstract: A method for generating a high-resolution image from a plurality of low-resolution images generated from quantized coefficients in the spatial frequency domain and the uncertainties in the quantized coefficients. The method generates a set of linear inequalities relating the quantized coefficients, the uncertainties therein, and the pixel values for the high-resolution image. Each linear inequality relates one of the quantized coefficients to a linear sum of the high-resolution pixel values.

Abstract: A method and system for capturing analog video data and previewing still video images of the captured analog video data without converting the analog video data into digital image data. The system takes analog video data and converts the data into raw digitized video data. The raw digitized video data is stored in a memory until the data is selected for previewing. Once selected, the raw digitized video data is reconverted into analog video data that presents a still image of the desired data. The system is also able to discard unnecessary portions of the raw digitized video data and store only necessary portions of the raw digitized video data. Preferably, the video capture, preview, and storage technique is used in video printing. When used in video printing, the raw digitized video data is converted into digital image data using a software decoding process.

Abstract: A robust system, adaptive to motion estimation accuracy, for creating a high resolution image from a sequence of lower resolution motion images produces a mapping transformation for each low resolution image to map pixels in each low resolution image into locations in the high resolution image. A combined point spread function (PSF) is computed for each pixel in each lower resolution image employing the mapping transformations provided that they describe accurate motion vectors. The high resolution image is generated from the lower resolution images employing the combined PSF's by projection onto convex sets (POCS), where sets and associated projections are defined only for those pixels whose motion vector estimates are accurate.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for generating a deinterlaced digital output image from a plurality of sequential interlaced image fields processes selected ones (a pair of immediately successive fields of the same polarity) of the plurality of sequential interlaced image fields, so as to produce a global motion vector estimate of global translational motion between the selected image fields. An accuracy map representative of accuracy of motion compensation is then generated in accordance with the global motion vector estimate. An adaptive deinterlacer selectively deinterlaces one of the image fields in accordance with the accuracy map. The selectively deinterlaced image field is subjected to postprocessing in order to remove judder artifacts that may be present in the deinterlaced image field as a result of a misclassification of the global motion vector estimate as being accurate in one or more image regions of the deinterlaced image field.

Abstract: The present invention is a two-step, contour-sensitive deinterlacing technique. The first step of the technique determines for each missing pixel of an interlaced frame of image pixels whether the absolute difference between the pixels above and below the missing pixel is greater than a preselected threshold value. If it is decided that the missing pixel lies at a low-vertical frequency location, its value is estimated via vertical interpolation. Otherwise, the second step is carried out. The goal of the second step is to determine whether or not there is a well-defined contour passing through the missing pixel, and to determine its direction if there is one. In the presence of a well-defined contour, the missing pixel is obtained by averaging the intensity values along the direction of the contour in the field lines immediately above and below the missing field line. Otherwise the process effectively falls back to vertical interpolation.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a high quality still image from a series of interlaced video fields of the type employing local motion detection between first and third fields of the series, merging the first and second fields in areas of no motion and performing spatial interpolation on the first field in areas containing local motion, including removing dominant motion from the second and third fields prior to local motion detection.

Abstract: A hybrid deinterlace mechanism employs motion detection as a precursor to select the value for each missing pixel of a deinterlaced frame, which is generated by using four consecutive fields to produce a motion detection map that is subsequently coupled to a deinterlacer, together with a selected two of the four consecutive fields. These two selected fields and the motion map are sufficient for the deinterlacer to completely characterize the resulting deinterlaced frame. The deinterlacer switches between vertical interpolation and merging based upon motion. Motion is detected by applying a logic OR operation to respective even and odd field binary motion detection signals. In the absence of motion, the pixel values of an odd field and its immediately succeeding even field are merged. On the other hand, if motion is detected, vertical interpolation is carried out for the even field, by a linear combination of immediately adjacent pixels, respectively above and below the pixel of interest.

Abstract: A hybrid deinterlace mechanism employs motion detection as a precursor to select the value for each missing pixel of a deinterlaced frame. If the missing pixel is found to belong to a steady or non-motion portion of the image, then its value is replaced by the corresponding value in the adjacent field (i.e., merging is performed). Otherwise, (where image motion is present) spatial interpolation, preferably edge-adaptive interpolation, is employed to determine the value of the missing pixel.