Abstract: A system and method for reducing the memory requirements of a decoding subsystem by decoding some pictures multiple times. In a preferred embodiment a video decoder stores only two decoded frames plus a small fraction of a third decoded frame in memory.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sensing the range of objects captured by an image or video camera using active illumination from a computer display. This method can be used to aid in vision based segmentation of objects. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, we compute the difference between two consecutive digital images of a scene captured using a single camera located next to a display, and using the display's brightness as an active source of lighting. For example, the first image could be captured with the display set to a white background, whereas the second image could have the display set to a black background. The display's light reflected back to the camera and, consequently, the two consecutive images' difference, will depend on the intensity of the display illumination, the ambient room light, the reflectivity of objects in the scene, and the distance of these objects from the display and the camera.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sensing the range of objects captured by an image or video camera using active illumination from a computer display. This method can be used to aid in vision based segmentation of objects.

Abstract: A video decoder/format/frame rate converter with common memory is provided. This device decodes a compressed, interlaced video stream and converts the decoded output to a non-interlaced format and/or a format with a different frame rate.

Abstract: A system and methods for implementing an encoder suitable for use with the motion picture compression. The system includes a motion estimation apparatus which performs temporally interpolative motion estimation. The temporally interpolative motion estimation is performed by first performing unidirectional motion estimation between the current picture and one or more other pictures. The results of the unidirectional motion estimation alone, and not any picture data, are used to perform temporally interpolative motion estimation.