Abstract: Video processing methods and apparatuses in a video encoding or decoding system for processing out-of-bounds nodes in a current picture. An out-of-bounds node is a coding tree node with a block region across a current picture boundary. The video processing method or apparatus determines an inferred splitting type, applies the inferred splitting type to split the out-of-bounds node into child blocks, adaptively splits each child block into one or multiple leaf blocks, and encodes or decodes the leaf blocks in the out-of-bounds node inside the current picture. The inferred splitting type for partitioning out-of-bounds nodes in an inter slice, picture, or tile is the same as the inferred splitting type for partitioning out-of-bounds nodes in an intra slice, picture, or tile.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus of for video coding using sub-block based affine mode are disclosed. In one method, if affine fallback is used or the control-point motion vectors are the same, the sub-block based affine mode is disabled in order to reduce computational complexity. According to another method for video coding using a coding tool belonging to a coding tool group comprising Prediction Refinement with Optical Flow (PROF) and Bi-Directional Optical Flow (BDOF), predictor refinement is derived for pixels of a target subblock of the current block, where a step to derive the predictor refinement comprises to derive gradients for the pixels of the target subblock of the current block and to right-shift the first gradients by a common shift.

Abstract: Encoding methods and apparatuses include receiving input video data of a current block in a current picture and applying a Cross-Component Adaptive Loop Filter (CCALF) processing on the current block based on cross-component filter coefficients to refine chroma components of the current block according to luma sample values. The method further includes signaling two Adaptive Loop Filter (ALF) signal flags and two CCALF signal flags in an Adaptation Parameter Set (APS) with an APS parameter type equal to ALF or parsing two ALF signal flags and two CCALF signal flags from an APS with an APS parameter type equal to ALF, signaling or parsing one or more Picture Header (PH) CCALF syntax elements or Slice Header (SH) CCALF syntax elements, wherein both ALF and CCALF signaling are present either in a PH or SH, and encoding or decoding the current block in the current picture.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for affine CPMV or ALF refinement are mentioned. According to this method, statistical data associated with the affine CPMV or ALF refinement are collected over a picture area. Updated parameters for the affine CPMV refinement or the ALF refinement are then derived based on the statistical data, where a process to derive the updated parameters includes performing multiplication using a reduced-precision multiplier for the statistical data. The reduced-precision multiplier truncates at least one bit of the mantissa part. In another embodiment, the process to derive the updated parameters includes performing reciprocal for the statistical data using a lookup table with (m?k)-bit input by truncating k bits from the m-bit mantissa part, and contents of the lookup table includes m-bit outputs. m and k are positive integers.

Abstract: Various schemes pertaining to pre-encoding processing of a video stream with motion compensated temporal filtering (MCTF) are described. An apparatus determines a filtering interval for a received raw video stream having pictures in a temporal sequence. The apparatus selects from the pictures a plurality of target pictures based on the filtering interval, as well as a group of reference pictures for each target picture to perform pixel-based MCTF, which generates a corresponding filtered picture for each target picture. The apparatus subsequently transmits the filtered pictures as well as non-target pictures to an encoder for encoding the video stream. Subpictures of natural images and screen content images are separately processed by the apparatus.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus of video coding using sub-block based affine mode are disclosed. According to this method, control-point motion vectors (MVs) associated with the affine mode are determined for a block. A sub-block MV is derived for a target sub-block of the block from the control-point MVs for the block. A prediction offset is determined for a target pixel of the target sub-block using information comprising a pixel MV offset from the sub-block MV for the target pixel according to Prediction Refinement with Optical Flow (PROF). The target pixel of the target sub-block is encoded or decoded using a modified predictor. The modified prediction is generated by clipping the prediction offset to a target range and combining the clipped prediction offset with an original predictor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems to settle a transaction involving a plurality of digital assets, comprising receiving a notification of a proposed transaction comprising a plurality of proposed component atomic transactions that atomically transfer at least a portion of the plurality of digital assets from one or more transferring nodes to one or more receiving nodes. The method further comprises at least in part determining or verifying that each transferring and receiving computer node is cryptographically authorized to receive and/or transfer at least some of the plurality of digital assets, and that each transferring and receiving computer node has a sufficient amount of the plurality of digital assets. The method further comprises sending an authorization notification to at least one execution node to transfer the plurality of digital assets from the transferring computer nodes to the receiving computer nodes to settle the proposed transaction.

Abstract: A microscope device for observing a sample. The microscope device and the sample are located on an optical route. The microscope device includes an objective lens unit and an additional light source set. The light source set includes a circuit substrate, a battery and a light-emitting unit. The circuit substrate has a power source portion and a light source portion electrically connected to the power source portion. A connecting member and the battery are arranged at opposite sides of the power source portion. The light-emitting unit is arranged on the light source portion, and the distance between the light-emitting unit and the center axis of the optical route is greater than the radius of the objective lens unit. The battery activates the light-emitting unit to generate a light beam, and the light beam irradiates toward the center axis of the optical route.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of video coding are disclosed. According to one method, in the decoder side, a predefined Intra mode is assigned to a neighboring block adjacent to the current luma block when the neighboring block satisfies one or more conditions. An MPM (Most Probable Mode) list is derived based on information comprising at least one of neighboring Intra modes. A current Intra mode is derived utilizing the MPM list. The current luma block is decoded according to the current Intra mode According to another method, a predefined Intra mode is assigned to a neighboring block adjacent to the current luma block if the neighboring block is coded in BDPCM (Block-based Delta Pulse Code Modulation) mode, where the predefined Intra mode is set to horizontal mode or vertical mode depending on prediction direction used by the BDPCM mode.

Abstract: Video processing methods and apparatuses for coding a current block comprise receiving input data of a current block, partitioning the current block into multiple sub-blocks, deriving sub-block MVs for the current block according to a sub-block motion compensation coding tool, constraining the sub-block MVs to form constrained sub-block MVs, and encoding or decoding the current block using the constrained sub-block MVs, and applying motion compensation to the current block using the constrained sub-block MVs to encode or decode the current block. The sub-block MVs may be constrained according to a size, width, or height of the current block or a sub-block, an inter prediction direction of one of control point MVs of the current block, the current block, or current sub-block, the control point MVs, or a combination of the above.

Abstract: Video processing methods and apparatuses implemented in a video encoding or decoding system with conditional secondary transform signaling. The video encoding system determines and applies a transform operation to residuals of a transform block to generate final transform coefficients, and adaptively signals a secondary transform index according to a position of a last significant coefficient in the transform block. A value of the secondary transform index is determined according to the transform operation.

Abstract: An excess heat-generating element is coupled to a heat sink through a heat conduction path. A thermal switch is mounted in the heat conduction path. A temperature-sensitive element is coupled to the heat conduction path on a same side of the thermal switch as the excess heat-generating element. A temperature monitor is mounted adjacent the temperature-sensitive element. A temperature controller has an input coupled to the temperature output of the temperature monitor and an output control line coupled to an input of the thermal switch. The temperature controller switches off the thermal switch, in response to detecting a temperature below a temperature threshold from the temperature output. When the thermal switch it off, it impedes heat flow from the excess heat-generating element to the heat sink, and the heat flow is redirected to increase heat flow from the excess heat-generating element to the heat-sensitive element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of video coding, where according to one method, input data related to a current block in a current picture are received at a video encoder side or compressed data comprising the current block are received at a video decoder side. A first syntax at a high level in a video bitstream regarding residual coding type is signaled at the encoder side or parsed at the decoder side. A target coding mode is determined for the current block based on information comprising a value of the first syntax. The current block is encoded at the encoder side or decoded at the decoder side according to the target coding mode. The high level may correspond to a slice header or a picture header.

Abstract: Video processing methods and apparatuses implemented in a video encoding or decoding system with conditional secondary transform signaling. The video encoding system determines and applies a transform operation to residuals of one or more transform blocks to generate final transform coefficients, and skip signaling a secondary transform index if a position of a last significant coefficient in each considered transform block is less than or equal to a predefined position; otherwise, the video encoding system signals a secondary transform index according to the transform operation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for locking a digital asset. In one implementation, the system may include a first computer node that reads a private data store associated with the first computer node and/or reads a distributed ledger to confirm a digital asset is unlocked and can be transferred from the first computer node. The first computer node cryptographically signs and sends a proposed digital lock to a second computer node. When activated, the digital lock prevents transfer of the digital asset from the first computer node to another computer node that is not the second computer node. The first computer node also reads a distributed ledger to confirm the distributed ledger contains the digital lock in an activated state. The first computer node transfers the digital asset from the first computer node to the second computer node.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for video coding are disclosed. According to one method, First ALF (Adaptive Loop Filter) processing is applied to the reconstructed chroma samples for a target reconstructed chroma sample to generate a first filtered chroma sample. Second ALF processing is applied to the related reconstructed luma samples to generate a second filtered chroma sample for the target reconstructed chroma sample, where positions of the related reconstructed luma samples selected for the second ALF processing are determined according to the target chroma format. According to another method, the luma ALF and the cross-component ALF have the same filter coefficient precision.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for block partition are disclosed. If a cross-colour component prediction mode is allowed, the luma block and the chroma block are partitioned into one or more luma leaf blocks and chroma leaf blocks. If a cross-colour component prediction mode is allowed, whether to enable an LM (Linear Model) mode for a target chroma leaf block is determined based on a first split type applied to an ancestor chroma node of the target chroma leaf block and a second split type applied to a corresponding ancestor luma node. According to another method, after the luma block and the chroma block are partitioned using different partition tress, determine whether one or more exception conditions to allow an LM for a target chroma leaf block are satisfied when the chroma partition tree uses a different split type, a different partition direction, or both from the luma partition tree.

Abstract: A video codec receives data for a block of pixels to be encoded or decoded as a current block of a current picture of a video. The video codec signals or parses a first syntax element for a first coding mode in a particular set of two or more coding modes. Each of coding mode of the particular set of coding modes modifies a merge candidate or an inter-prediction that is generated based on the merge candidate. The video codec enables the first coding mode and disables one or more other coding modes in the particular set of coding modes. The disabled one or more coding modes in the particular set of coding modes are disabled without parsing syntax elements for the disabled coding modes. The video codec encodes or decodes the current block by using the enabled first coding mode and bypassing the disabled coding modes.

Abstract: A video system that applies constraints on block partitioning is provided. The system receives a partitioning control parameter from a bitstream specifying a maximum block size for enabling ternary-tree split that is constrained to be 64 or smaller. The system receives data from a bitstream for a block of pixels to be decoded as a current block of a current picture of a video. The system splits the current block into one or more partitions recursively, wherein ternary split is disallowed for a partition of the current block unless the partition is less than or equal to the maximum block size. The system reconstructs the one or more partitions of the current block.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for constrained de-blocking filter are disclosed. One method receives input data related to a current block in a current picture at a video encoder side or a video bitstream corresponding to compressed data including the current block in the current picture at a video decoder side, and determines a first boundary associated with the current block, wherein the first boundary corresponds to one vertical boundary or one horizontal boundary of the current block. The method then applies de-blocking process to a reconstructed current block corresponding to the current block to result in a filtered-reconstructed current block, using a plurality of first reference samples at a same side of the first boundary, and replaces a first set of the first reference samples by one or more padding values. The method then generates a filtered decoded picture including the filtered-reconstructed current block.