Abstract: A method is described for streaming video data within a network, wherein the video data includes a sequence of frames. The method includes encoding the sequence of frames and generating a plurality of substreams from the encoded frames in this embodiment. Each of the plurality of substreams is assigned an identifier, and each substream includes a common encoded frame and a non-overlapping portion of the encoded sequence. The non-overlapping portion of the encoded sequence of each substream is selected from the encoded frames based on the identifier of the respective substream. The method also includes transmitting the plurality of substreams to a receiver in an embodiment.

Abstract: A system and method for performing echo suppression on a server in browser-based online audio conferences without downloading or installing software on a participant's computing device is disclosed. Streams of audio communication data from the participants in an audio conference are received at the server. An echo suppression application determines the first party that speaks by analyzing the streams to locate speech data, and assigns that party as the “owner” of the audio channel. The speech data is sent to the other participants in the conference. The application then determines whether newly received audio from the owner of the channel is new speech; if so, then the party remains the owner of the channel, and the new speech data is also sent to the other parties in the conference. The channel is surrendered if no new speech is received from the owner in a defined period, and the next party that speaks becomes the new owner of the channel. The other audio data from the participants is replaced by silence.

Abstract: Packet-based delivery of video content is facilitated using a peer-to-peer network. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a packet-based video stream is passed over a peer-to-peer network, with the packets in the stream scheduled and delivered in accordance with a priority assigned to the packets; this priority is based upon a determined or estimated effect that the packet will have upon video quality at a recipient peer. In some applications, the packets are temporally spaced to mitigate congestion and/or distortion of video associated with congestion in the delivery of the packets.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for input device to television networking.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product may be provided for generating a plurality of compressed feature descriptors that can be represented by a relatively small number of bits, thereby facilitating transmission and storage of the feature descriptors. A method, apparatus and computer program product may also be provided for permitting a compressed representation of a feature descriptor to be compared with a plurality of compressed representations of feature descriptors of respective predefined features. By permitting the comparison to be performed utilizing compressed representations of feature descriptors, a respective feature descriptor may be identified without having to first decompress the feature descriptor, thereby potentially increasing the efficiency with which feature descriptors may be identified.

Abstract: A method of sharing information associated with a selected application is provided. The method comprises identifying a media type associated with the information, and capturing the information based on the media type. The method further comprises identifying a content type associated with the information, the content type being related to the media type, encoding the information based on the content type, and providing access to the encoded information over a communication network.

Abstract: A method of formatting information for transmission over a peer-to-peer communication network is provided. The method comprises identifying a graphical nature of the information, and capturing the information based on the graphical nature. The method further comprises identifying a graphical content type associated with the information, and encoding the information based on the graphical content type.

Abstract: For display of, at a user device, a region of interest within video images and associated applications. In a particular example embodiment, a streaming video source provides streaming data to a user device, with the streaming data being representative of a sequence of images, and each image including a plurality of individually decodable slices. At the user device and for a particular image and a corresponding subset region of the image, less than all of the plurality of individually decodable slices are displayed in response to a current input indicative of the subset region. Future input indicative of a revised subset region is then predicted in response to images in the image sequence that have yet to be displayed and to previously received input. In other embodiments, multicasting methods, systems or arrangements provide streaming video to one or more user devices.

Abstract: A variety of methods, systems, devices and configured storage devices are used in relation to peer-to-peer streaming system with a plurality of processing-circuit-peer nodes sharing streaming data by passing the streaming data from parent nodes to child nodes. According to one such system, computer-based nodes are configured and adapted to detect a departure of a first child peer node from the peer-to-peer streaming system. The first child peer node having been a child peer node of the parent peer node and the first child peer having provided data to one or more additional child peers. Responsive to the detected departure, a second child peer is selected to provide data to the one or more additional child peers. Data is provided to the second child peer to facilitate establishment of a connection between the selected child peer and the one or more additional child peers and the parent peer node.

Abstract: Media authentication is facilitated. In connection with an example embodiment, media is authenticated using an encoded projection of the media that is decoded using the media as an input. A condition of authenticity of the media is determined based upon an indication of distortion of the media characterized by a decoding of the encoded projection.

Abstract: A variety of methods, devices, systems and arrangements are implemented for processing and coding of video images. According to one such implementation, a method is implemented for encoding a sequence of images. A plurality of orthogonal transforms is implemented on a set of N images, where N is greater than one. The images are linked by motion fields that include sets of respective portions of the images. In particular, the construction of a motion-compensated orthogonal transform is accomplished for the important case where at least one portion of any of the N images—or any part of this portion—is used more than once to motion-compensate other portions of the N images—or parts thereof.

Abstract: A method of adapting a playout schedule of a stream of media packets according to network and channel conditions includes (a) setting a playout schedule for a next packet i+1 of the stream upon receiving a current packet i; (b) computing a length of the current packet i based at least in part on a target playout schedule for the next packet i+1; (c) scaling packet i if necessary; (d) outputting packet i; and (e) updating the playout schedule for next packet i+1 based at least in part on the playout schedule and the length of current packet i.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for input device to television networking.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for decomposing a set of even and odd pictures into low-band and high-band pictures respectively in a image decomposing unit, in which the even picture is used by at least two prediction motion compensators on which the output signal of each prediction motion compensator is scaled according to the number of prediction motion compensators. The method includes calculating the high-band picture by subtracting from the odd picture the scaled motion-compensated signals and using the high-band picture in the at least two update motion compensators, the output signal of each update motion compensator being scaled according to the number of update motion compensators. Finally, the low-band picture is calculated by adding the scaled update motion-compensated signals to the even picture.

Abstract: A method for generating a digital motion video sequence at a plurality of bit rates uses a transitional coding source when switching between bitstreams having different bit rates during transmission of a video sequence. The transitional data may be frames coded using reconstructed frames reconstructed for a first bitstream using the characteristics of the second bitstream. These “low bit rate insert frames,” or LBIFs, contain the image characteristics of a signal coded at the lower bit rate. With a bitstream having a higher bit rate being periodically coded using an LBIF, a point of image continuity between the two bitstreams is provided. Thus, switching from one bitstream to the other at this point in the video sequence minimizes the production of artifacts caused by differences in bit rate. In another embodiment of the invention, a separate set of transitional data is created, taking the form of “switch” frames, or S-frames.

Abstract: Video images are communicated between two stations using a method for predicting motion uses up to N frames of the video data, where N is a positive integer and each frame is represented as a plurality of image segments. According to one implementation, combined are at least two spatial displaced image segments from previously decoded frames corresponding to time instances on one side of a temporal axis; and the video data is communicated using the spatial displaced image segments along with corresponding delays as side information. Other aspects of the disclosure include combining using a Lagrangian cost function, and an iterative search method to minimize Lagrangian cost function.

Abstract: A wireless user-interface method and arrangement having a light source and a circuit arrangement that detects the presence and position of the light source. A light source emits modulated light having a first modulation frequency that is captured by a camera circuit arrangement. A circuit arrangement uses relative pixel luminances and differences in pixel luminances between frames to detect the presence of modulated light from the light source. The position of the light source is tracked from frame to frame and the position information is output for use by application software or circuitry to direct movement of a pointer in a computer display, for example. Modulated light having a second modulation frequency from the light source is detected by the circuit arrangement and interpreted as selection of a control function, which is provided as output to application software or circuitry. The application uses the position of the light source along with control signals to identify an operation to perform.

Abstract: Coding and decoding of video images includes the use of multiple reference pictures and determining motion vector and time delay information for the video images. Video images are quantized and transmitted with the motion vector and time delay information from a first station to a second station. A new video image is predicted for display at the second station as function of the motion parameter codes and multiple reference pictures. The invention may be used in connection with a video communication and/or video conferencing system as a long-term memory predictor to improve image-coding efficiencies and motion compensation. The long-term memory prediction extends the spatial displacement utilized in block-based hybrid video coding by a variable time delay. The arrangement and method employ a proposed bit allocation scheme to provide increased coding efficiencies of the video coder.

Abstract: A method for generating a digital motion video sequence at a plurality of bit rates uses a transitional coding source when switching between bitstreams having different bit rates during transmission of a video sequence. The transitional data may be frames coded using reconstructed frames reconstructed for a first bitstream using the characteristics of the second bitstream. These “low bit rate insert frames,” or LBIFs, contain the image characteristics of a signal coded at the lower bit rate. With a bitstream having a higher bit rate being periodically coded using an LBIF, a point of image continuity between the two bitstreams is provided. Thus, switching from one bitstream to the other at this point in the video sequence minimizes the production of artifacts caused by differences in bit rate. In another embodiment of the invention, a separate set of transitional data is created, taking the form of “switch” frames, or S-frames.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for controlling audio signal transmissions for a communications system that includes a microphone and a video camera. The arrangement comprises a video processor configured and arranged to receive a video signal from the video camera, detect movement of an object in the video signal, and provide a motion-indicating signal indicating movement relative to the object. An audio processor is coupled to the video processor and is configured and arranged to modify the audio signal to be transmitted responsive to the motion-indicating signal. In another embodiment, a video signal processor is configured and arranged to receive a video signal from the video camera, detect mouth movement of a person and provide a mouth-movement signal indicative of movement of the person's mouth.