Abstract: This disclosure describes inverse telecine techniques that are performed to adjust or convert the frame rate of a video sequence. The described techniques provide a very useful way to identify a telecine technique that was used to increase the frame rate of a video sequence. Upon identifying the telecine technique that was used, the corresponding inverse telecine technique can be performed with respect to the sequence of video frames in order to decrease the frame rate back to its original form (prior to telecine). This disclosure also provides many useful details that can improve inverse telecine, e.g., by simplifying the inverse telecine process and by reducing memory accesses during the process.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for performing content adaptive histogram enhancement. In accordance with the content adaptive histogram enhancement techniques of this disclosure, a frame of digital image data, e.g., digital video data or digital still image data, is classified into one of a plurality of content classes based on histogram of pixel intensity values of the frame. The content classes may represent various levels of brightness, contrast, or the like. To classify the frame into the corresponding content class, a shape of the histogram may be analyzed using various histogram statistics. Based on the content class of the frame, the pixel intensity values of the frame are mapped to new pixel intensity values.

Abstract: In general, the disclosure describes various techniques for providing edge-directed scaling filters that may be used to scale image data. An example device includes a storage medium configured to store a first lookup table and a second lookup table, and one or more processors configured to obtain one or more gradient values that each indicates a gradient between values of at least two pixels in a source image. The one or more processors are also configured to generate one or more inverse gradient values from a first lookup table based on the gradient values, and to generate one or more edge-directed scaling filter coefficients from a second lookup table based on the inverse gradient values. The one or more processors may be further configured to generate an edge-directed filter based on the coefficients, and to apply the filter to the at least two pixels to generate an interpolated pixel.

Abstract: This disclosure provides intelligent frame skipping techniques that may be used by an encoding device or a decoding device to facilitate frame skipping in a manner that may help to minimize quality degradation due to the frame skipping. In particular, the described techniques may implement a similarity metric designed to identify good candidate frames for frame skipping. In this manner, noticeable reductions in the video quality caused by frame skipping, as perceived by a viewer of the video sequence, may be reduced relative to conventional frame skipping techniques. The described techniques advantageously operate in a compressed domain.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for correcting artifacts that occur along a boundary of a substitute video unit generated using video unit substitution, e.g., motion-compensated video unit interpolation or extrapolation. In accordance with the techniques described in this disclosure, a frame substitution unit identifies first locations within a substitute video unit that correspond with a boundary that exists within a reference video unit and should exist within the substitute video unit, and corrects boundary artifacts in the first locations using a first boundary artifact correction technique. The frame substitution unit also identifies second locations within the substitute video unit that correspond with a boundary that exists within the substitute video unit and does not exist within the reference video unit and corrects boundary artifacts in the second locations using a second boundary artifact correction technique.

Abstract: A video decoder performs a sequential error handling process to detect and conceal errors within a corrupted data segment of video data units. The decoder sequentially decodes a current data unit. Upon detecting an error, the decoder sets an error flag and resynchronizes decoding at the start of the next unit. If the error flag is set, the video decoder identifies the end of the corrupted data segment based on the start of the later unit. The decoder conceals data between the start of the current unit and the end of the corrupted data segment. If the error flag is not set, the decoder may decode the remainder of the current unit and proceed to decode the next available unit without performing error handling and concealment for the current unit. The decoder also may address reference unit mismatches caused by lost video data units.

Abstract: Display of an interpolated or extrapolated video unit, such as a video frame, may be selectively enabled based on a quality analysis. This disclosure also describes selection of reference video frames to be used for interpolation or extrapolation. A decoder may apply a quality-focused mode to select a reference frame based on quality criteria. The quality criteria may indicate a level of quality likely to be produced by a reference frame. If no reference frames satisfy the quality criteria, interpolation or extrapolation may be disabled. A decoder may apply a resource-focused frame interpolation mode to enable or disable frame interpolation or extrapolation for some frames based on power and quality considerations. In one mode, frame interpolation may be disabled to conserve power when reference frames are not likely to produce satisfactory quality. In another mode, the threshold may be adjustable as a function of power saving requirements of the decoder.

Abstract: A decoder may apply a resource-focused interpolation mode to enable or disable interpolation or extrapolation of video units, such as frames, based on power and quality considerations. In one mode, interpolation may be disabled to conserve power when reference frames are not likely to produce satisfactory quality. In another mode, the threshold may be adjustable as a function of power saving requirements. This disclosure also describes selection of reference video frames to be used for interpolation or extrapolation of a video frame. A decoder may apply a quality-focused mode to select a reference frame based on quality criteria. The quality criteria may indicate a level of quality likely to be produced by a reference frame. If no reference frames satisfy the quality criteria, interpolation or extrapolation may be disabled. Display of an interpolated or extrapolated frame may be selectively enabled based on a quality analysis of the frame.

Abstract: This disclosure describes selection of reference video units to be used for interpolation or extrapolation of a video unit, such as a video frame. A decoder may apply a quality-focused mode to select a reference frame based on quality criteria. The quality criteria may indicate a level of quality likely to be produced by a reference frame. If no reference frames satisfy the quality criteria, interpolation or extrapolation may be disabled. Display of an interpolated or extrapolated frame may be selectively enabled based on a quality analysis. A decoder may apply a resource-focused frame interpolation mode to enable or disable frame interpolation or extrapolation for some frames based on power and quality considerations. In one mode, frame interpolation may be disabled to conserve power when reference frames are not likely to produce satisfactory quality. In another mode, the threshold may be adjustable as a function of power saving requirements.

Abstract: Data transmission over a network is disclosed. The data transmission includes aligning boundaries of application, transport, network, and data link layer packets. The transmission also includes receiving data transmission channel information, and determining a suitable number of data link layer packets per application/transport/network layer packet. The determination is based on the channel information. The suitable number of data link layer packets allows continuous alignment between the boundaries of the application, transport, network, and data link layer packets.

Abstract: Techniques to remove inherited blockiness with a low million instructions per second (MIPs) are provided. In one configuration, a device comprises a processor operative to implement a set of instructions to universally correct blockiness. The processor commandeers the in-loop deblocking filtering engine and universally corrects blockiness, including inherited blockiness, using the in-loop deblocking filtering engine.

Abstract: A device has a single scaling filter to filter a video signal once to perform both sharpening and scaling. A memory stores original scaling filter coefficients for the scaling filter. An integrated circuit calculates new sharpening-scaling filter coefficients derived from the original scaling filter coefficients and one of sharpening filter coefficients for a sharpening filter and a sharpening strength and applies the new sharpening-scaling filter coefficients to the single scaling filter.

Abstract: Error concealment is used to hide the effects of errors detected within digital video information. A complex error concealment mode decision is disclosed to determine whether spatial error concealment (SEC) or temporal error concealment (TEC) should be used. The error concealment mode decision system uses different methods depending on whether the damaged frame is an intra-frame or an inter-frame. If the video frame is an intra-frame then a similarity metric is used to determine if the intra-frame represents a scene-change or not. If the video frame is an intra-frame, a complex multi-termed equation is used to determine whether SEC or TEC should be used. A novel spatial error concealment technique is disclosed for use when the error concealment mode decision determines that spatial error concealment should be used for reconstruction.

Abstract: A device for reading or writing on optical recording media with disk type recognition capability has an optical scanning device and a focus regulating circuit. The object of the invention is to provide a device of this type which can reliably recognize in a short time the type of the recording medium inserted into the device. Another object of the invention is to provide a corresponding process. These objects are attained in that the disk type recognition capability includes a mirror signal generator, a threshold value generator, a counter and an evaluation unit. The process is based on the utilization of a mirror-signal value of the device for disk type recognition.

Abstract: Data transmission over a network is disclosed. The data transmission includes aligning boundaries of application, transport, network, and data link layer packets. The transmission also includes receiving data transmission channel information, and determining a suitable number of data link layer packets per application/transport/network layer packet. The determination is based on the channel information. The suitable number of data link layer packets allows continuous alignment between the boundaries of the application, transport, network, and data link layer packets.

Abstract: Data transmission over a network is disclosed. The data transmission includes aligning boundaries of application, transport, network, and data link layer packets. The transmission also includes receiving data transmission channel information, and determining a suitable number of data link layer packets per application/transport/network layer packet. The determination is based on the channel information. The suitable number of data link layer packets allows continuous alignment between the boundaries of the application, transport, network, and data link layer packets.

Abstract: A program guide information data structure and processing system facilitates both decoding and selectable program guide generation by a decoder. A decoder acquires a directory of object files associated with program guide information items and a map for associating the object files (e.g. representing channel, program or control information or software) with the program guide information items. The decoder creates an image object from an object file and links the image object to a program guide information item. The decoder executes an application software object to form a special program guide for display and executes another application software object to command a device in processing a program listed in a program guide.

Abstract: Headers of image frames are compressed. Header of a first frame is received, where the header includes a plurality of header parameters. Further, differences are determined between the header parameters and a plurality of default parameters, and non-default parameters are sent when there are differences. The header is then compressed to include only a first type of marker, and is sent through the transmission channel. In one embodiment, the non-default parameters are sent through a control channel, while the compressed header is sent through a data channel.

Abstract: A method for selectively retransmitting packets is disclosed. The method includes categorizing groups of packets in an order of importance. The order of importance is based on a scope of adverse impact that a loss of a particular group has on a quality of reconstructed original information. The method also includes selecting a subset of the groups of packets to be retransmitted. The selection is based on network condition parameters. The method further includes requesting retransmission of the subset of the groups of packets when a buffer occupancy condition is met.

Abstract: Headers of image frames are compressed. Header of a first frame is received, where the header includes a plurality of header parameters. Further, differences are determined between the header parameters and a plurality of default parameters, and non-default parameters are sent when there are differences. The header is then compressed to include only a first type of marker, and is sent through the transmission channel. In one embodiment, the non-default parameters are sent through a control channel, while the compressed header is sent through a data channel.