Abstract: A system and method for providing trick modes uses a trick mode video bitstream generated from an original video bitstream to produce video frames during a trick mode. The trick mode video bitstream is generated to be less complex with respect to decoding than the original video bitstream. Thus, the computational cost to provide trick modes is significantly lowered.

Abstract: A system and method for intra-frame compression using predictive coding utilizes some pixels of a macroblock of a video frame as reference pixels to perform predictive coding on the rest of the macroblock when some or all predefined reference pixels for performing predictive coding on the macroblock are not available in the video frame.

Abstract: A wireless display tag, adapted to fit within the C-channel of a shelf-edge, or otherwise usable as a hang tag or small identification device, includes, depending on implementation, an active transceiver, a passive transceiver, or both, with analog and digital control portions for managing communications with a host.

Abstract: In an embodiment, computational complexity of estimating the actual illuminant of a scene is reduced by examining only a subset of the pixel values generated for a received image frame. In another embodiment, number of rotations of color values is minimized by selecting an area which contains the color cue values of a color in an original/unrotated coordinate space and has boundaries which parallel the axis of the original coordinate space, and rotating a color value only if the color value is within the selected area. In another embodiment, such an area is used in conjunction with a histogram-based approach to determine the actual illuminant.

Abstract: A wireless display tag, adapted to fit within the C-channel of a shelf-edge, or otherwise usable as a hang tag or small identification device, includes, depending on implementation, an active transceiver, a passive transceiver, or both, with analog and digital control portions for managing communications with a host.

Abstract: A low-power system for use with Wireless Display Tags (WDTs) includes, in one or more exemplary arrangements, various power management techniques, including receiver wake-up, RF logic sharing, RF repeaters and a frequency doubling power amplifier which operates on the absolute value of the input signal.

Abstract: An attention garnering device, system and method are provided wherein the element has a display and at least one attention element that attracts a user to view the display of the element.

Abstract: Using fewer bits to indicate the prediction mode used for encoding some of the non-frame-edge blocks of a frame. In an embodiment, fewer bits are used in case of boundary blocks of a slice, or slice group. In another embodiment, fewer bits are used when adjacent blocks are encoded using inter-frame coding or switchable intra-frame coding and such adjacent block cannot be used in predicting a block.

Abstract: Reducing computational complexity when generating sub-pixel values for sub-pixel motion estimation from integer pixels. In an embodiment, half pixels in vertical and horizontal directions are computed by a applying a filter of first complexity on integer pixels, and a half pixel in diagonal direction is computed using a filter of lower complexity as compared to the filter of first complexity. Quarter (and other lower resolution pixels) pixels may also be generated using the half pixel in the diagonal direction. Thus, overall computational complexity is reduced in generating sub-pixels for sub-pixel motion estimation.

Abstract: In an embodiment, computational complexity of estimating the actual illuminant of a scene is reduced by examining only a subset of the pixel values generated for a received image frame. In another embodiment, number of rotations of color values is minimized by selecting an area which contains the color cue values of a color in an original/unrotated coordinate space and has boundaries which parallel the axis of the original coordinate space, and rotating a color value only if the color value is within the selected area. In another embodiment, such an area is used in conjunction with a histogram-based approach to determine the actual illuminant.

Abstract: Encoding data by first performing a transformation of predicted data and input data, and then performing a subtraction of the resulting outputs. In an embodiment, the prediction approach is chosen such that fewer elements of different values (compared to a number of elements in the input data) are generated, and the different values are generated in a predictable position. The transformation approach is chosen such that the output expressly represents variations in the input data as well as satisfies a distributive property. The decoding may be performed based on the same concepts. As a result, the data can be encoded and/or decoded efficiently.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention reduces computational complexity in determining a illuminant of a scene of interest by selecting only a subset of illuminants from several more potential illuminants, and searching for a current illuminant for a present image frame in only the subset of illuminants. Computational complexity may be reduced due to the searching in fewer illuminants. The subset of illuminants are selected according to various aspects to enhance the probability that the closest matching potential illuminant is accurately determined. The features can be used in image capture devices (ICDs) such as video cameras.

Abstract: A method for minimizing power consumption in a wireless device which utilizes backscatter transmission in half-duplex mode, wherein a switching device is interposed between an antenna and a transmitter-receiver, and the switching device is capable of causing the antenna load impedance characteristic to be either a short, a value which substantially matches the antenna impedance, or an open, depending on the portion of the half-duplex mode.

Abstract: A multiuse system for use with Wireless Display Tags (WDTs) includes, in one or more exemplary arrangements, techniques for automatically maintaining synchronicity between pricing data for a product and advertising, marketing or promotional data associated with that product, and for detecting the proximity and location of a customer within a category of goods displayed within a managed environment. A messaging format suitable for such low power operation among a large number of peers is also disclosed, as is a technique for integrating a plurality of smaller displays to yield a single large display. An access point capable of serving as a communications hub within such a network, while at the same time offering visual and audio surveillance capabilities, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multiuse system for use with Wireless Display Tags (WDTs) includes, in one or more exemplary arrangements, techniques for automatically maintaining synchronicity between pricing data for a product and advertising, marketing or promotional data associated with that product, and for detecting the proximity and location of a customer within a category of goods displayed within a managed environment. A messaging format suitable for such low power operation among a large number of peers is also disclosed, as is a technique for integrating a plurality of smaller displays to yield a single large display. An access point capable of serving as a communications hub within such a network, while at the same time offering visual and audio surveillance capabilities, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for minimizing power consumption in a wireless device which utilizes backscatter transmission in half-duplex mode, wherein a switching device is interposed between an antenna and a transmitter-receiver, and the switching device is capable of causing the antenna load impedance characteristic to be either a short, a value which substantially matches the antenna impedance, or an open, depending on the portion of the half-duplex mode.

Abstract: A low-power system for use with Wireless Display Tags (WDTs) includes, in one or more exemplary arrangements, various power management techniques, including receiver wake-up, RF logic sharing, RF repeaters and a frequency doubling power amplifier which operates on the absolute value of the input signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a real-time delivery of Point of Purchase (POP) messaging at various locations around a retail store is included within aisles, end-of-aisles, shelf edge, departments, check-out stands, on shopping carts and mobile personal devices carried by individual customers.

Abstract: A low-power system for use with Wireless Display Tags (WDTs) includes, in one or more exemplary arrangements, various power management techniques, including receiver wake-up, RF logic sharing, RF repeaters and a frequency doubling power amplifier which operates on the absolute value of the input signal.

Abstract: A wireless display tag, adapted to fit within the C-channel of a shelf-edge, or otherwise usable as a hang tag or small identification device, includes, depending on implementation, an active transceiver, a passive transceiver, or both, with analog and digital control portions for managing communications with a host.