Abstract: A method for scaling two-dimensional structures, which is especially usable for resizing digital 2D images with a rational scaling factor, is based on efficient implementation of a diamond-shaped filter. The conventional “1”-diamond matrices of variable size are replaced by a (m×n) coefficient matrix. For any given rational scaling factor, the computational load for calculating an output pixel is reduced to filtering (m×n) input pixels with a corresponding (m×n) filter matrix. The coefficients of this filter matrix depend from the phase of the output pixel to be calculated and the factor of interpolation, but are always integer numbers. The coefficients may be stored in lookup tables (LUT), which leads to a very efficient implementation of the inventive method. In one embodiment, a (3×3) coefficient matrix has been found to be advantageous.

Abstract: A method for scaling two-dimensional structures, which is especially usable for resizing digital 2D images with a rational scaling factor, is based on efficient implementation of a diamond-shaped filter. The conventional “1”-diamond matrices of variable size are replaced by a (m×n) coefficient matrix. For any given rational scaling factor, the computational load for calculating an output pixel is reduced to filtering (m×n) input pixels with a corresponding (m×n) filter matrix. The coefficients of this filter matrix depend from the phase of the output pixel to be calculated and the factor of interpolation, but are always integer numbers. The coefficients may be stored in lookup tables (LUT), which leads to a very efficient implementation of the inventive method. In one embodiment, a (3×3) coefficient matrix has been found to be advantageous.

Abstract: The invention relates to techniques of up-scaling an input image represented by an input video signal in an image up-scaling system, especially to a method and an image up-scaling system for up-scaling an input image represented by an input video signal, the method comprising steps of receiving and processing the input video signal in an up-scaling device (21, 23), providing a linear up-scaled video signal generated by the up-scaling device (21, 23) to a signal combining device (24), receiving and processing the input video signal in a harmonics generation device (22, 25, 26, . . . , 30), generating an up-scaled output image represented by an up-scaled output video signal by combing the up-scaled video signal with a higher harmonics video output signal provided by the harmonics generation device (22, 25, 26, . . . , 30) in the signal combining device (24), and providing the up-scaled output video signal to an output of the combining device (24).

Abstract: The invention relates to techniques of up-scaling an input image represented by an input video signal in an image up-scaling system, especially to a method and an image up-scaling system for up-scaling an input image represented by an input video signal, the method comprising steps of receiving and processing the input video signal in an up-scaling device (21, 23), providing a linear up-scaled video signal generated by the up-scaling device (21, 23) to a signal combining device (24), receiving and processing the input video signal in a harmonics generation device (22, 25, 26, . . . , 30), generating an up-scaled output image represented by an up-scaled output video signal by combing the up-scaled video signal with a higher harmonics video output signal provided by the harmonics generation device (22, 25, 26, . . . , 30) in the signal combining device (24), and providing the up-scaled output video signal to an output of the combining device (24).

Abstract: Visual and aural output from an audiovisual system (100, 200, 300) are synchronized by a feedback process. Visual events and aural events are identified in an audio signal path and a video signal path, respectively. A correlation procedure then calculates a time difference between the signals and either the video signal or the audio signal is delayed in order to obtain a synchronous reception of audio and video by a viewer/listener.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of processing, in a media signal processing system, a media signal available in the form of successive sets of media data packets. The method, which performs one or a plurality of functions among which at least one of them can be carried out with different levels of scalability resulting in different output qualities and resource demands, comprises the steps of—requesting a resource to provide a plurality of system outputs; —allocating a predetermined budget to the method in order to enable operating the method at a given level of scalability; —measuring an expression called progress that takes into account the processed data; —measuring at least one media processing specific resource used during operation; —on the basis of regulation parameters consisting of the allocated budget and said measurements, performing a load regulation by allocating modified resources for media signal processing.

Abstract: A method of converting a first image (102) with a first resolution into a second image (106) with a second resolution, comprises pixel value insertion and convolution based on a non-separable multi-dimensional kernel which comprises a plurality of coefficients being equal to zero, a first portion of the plurality of coefficients being disposed on a first diagonal line through the non-separable multi-dimensional kernel and a second portion of the plurality of coefficients being disposed on a second diagonal line through the non-separable multi-dimensional kernel, the second diagonal line being perpendicular to the first diagonal line. A diagonal edge of 45 degrees in the first image is preserved in the case of an iso-trope scaling. That means that, if pixel values on the edge in the first image are mutually equal, then also the pixel values on the edge in the second image are mutually equal. Optionally, the method comprises sub-sampling.

Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus and a method for receiving multiple media data streams, which are displayed in separate windows of a multi-window display. Clipping information relating to an area of one of the windows being covered by the other window is transmitted to a source device providing the media data being covered when displayed. As a viewer may not see the covered area, the media data relating to the covered area is not needed by the destination device. Therefore, the source device based on the clipping information does not transmit any media data needed for processing of the covered area to the destination device, which does not have to process all media data relating to the covered area.

Abstract: Programmable platforms include components such as a central processing unit (CPU), coprocessors (COP I, COP2), and a shared system bus (SB) that connects the various processors. In media processing applications, the processing of the functions is distributed to the central processing unit and the coprocessors. Such functions may be effected in hardware, in software, or in a mixture thereof. The utilization of each coprocessor may vary both for different applications as well during execution of a single application, depending on the character of the media processing application. As a result, one or more coprocessors may not be effectively utilized during a certain part of the media processing. In case of a synchronous system those coprocessors continue consuming power. According to the invention, a coprocessor can be powered down by a local controller, depending on the workload of that coprocessor.

Abstract: In consumer devices, like digital television sets or set-top boxes, there can be a problem with a sudden load increase caused by for example a scene change and user focus. During such a load increase, the quality of service of the application having the user focus will decrease until the device detects the load increase. The device can reallocate resources to the application having the user focus after which the quality of service will increase again towards its previous level. However, the user may have noticed the quality decrease. In order to prevent this noticeable decrease of quality in overload situations, a method and a system are provided that guarantees a worst-case budget to the application having user focus and conditionally guarantees a budget surplus to an application not having the user focus. The latter application can then use that budget surplus to operate at a higher quality of service level.

Abstract: A method is directed to controlling asset allocation of a consumer terminal. The method provides for receiving input data into at least one scalable media algorithm, processing the input data through at least one scalable media algorithm, and determining at least one quality indicator value, for an amount of data processed, associated with the scalable media algorithm based on the processing for each scalable media algorithm. The method may further include distributing assets to the algorithm based on the quality indicator value. The step of determining the quality indicator value may include analyzing the amount of processing and processed data, determining a class based on the analyzed amount of processing and processed data, and assigning at least one quality indicator value based on the determined class. The step of determining the quality indicator value may be based on the amount of processing and processed data.

Abstract: On resource limited platforms a set of scalable and non-scalable algorithms may run to enable different applications concurrently, while using all available programmable resources. One of the applications may have the main user attention (user focus), but there is no mechanism to automatically or manually adapt the output quality to the application with user focus. The present invention provides a solution by means of a method and a corresponding system for allocating shared resources between applications with media information on a resource limited platform. The method comprises the steps of identifying an application with a current focus of a user; setting or increasing the output quality of the application with the current focus of the user; and automatically allocating a remaining part of the resources to at least one application without the current focus of the user.

Abstract: A first optical signal with a first polarization state is received by a polarization conversion unit. From this first optical signal, a set of n derived optical signals with n different well-defined polarization states i, i=1, . . . , n, is generated, whereby n is a natural number greater than one. Said n different well-defined polarization states are chosen such that polarization dependent measurement errors of the n derived optical signals cancel each other when averaged irrespective of the first optical signal's polarization state. Therefore, polarization dependent measurement errors can be reduced or even eliminated.

Abstract: This invention relates to processing of a media signal in a media system. The media system can be a PC, a Digital TV, a Settop-Box or a Display. The method includes the steps of: monitoring, by a system control unit, a progress and a resource usage (18) of the processing of the media signal; determining, by a structural load control or indicator unit, a first point in time (1) for a substantial load change (19) of a content; determining, by the system control unit, a second point (2) in time based on the first point; decreasing, by the system control unit, an assigned quality level (13) of at least one scalable algorithm at the second point in time; and adapting, by the system control unit, the assigned quality level of at least one scalable algorithm at or till a third point in time, wherein a realized quality level (17) will become stable within a period of adaptation time. Said substantial load change of content can be caused by a shot or a scene change.

Abstract: A control signal (k_lum) derived from the luminance component (Y) of a video signal is used to adaptively control a temporal noise reduction filter (10) according to the level of motion in a video image. To compress the control signal for storage in a memory (30), the control signal is averaged over each 2×2 pixel area, and then a non-linear compression function is applied. The non-linear compression function preferably selects quantization values of the control signal which correspond to a perceptually substantially linear response in the noise reduction factor (NRF) of the noise filter (10).

Abstract: A digital video processing system is disclosed in which processing modules use less data packets than in the regular situation in which there enough data is received. In case of a channel change, the digital video processing system can, during a time period in which there is a lack of data, produce more images than the prior art systems. These images have lower quality than the ones that result from regular processing, but a person will perceive the image quality to be higher than the one of the prior art.

Abstract: Apparatus for identifying the four coordinates of a window on a visual display monitor, include a device for obtaining digital data corresponding to pixels of an image to be displayed on the monitor, a memory arranged to receive the digital data, a comparator arranged to compare the values of data for horizontally and vertically adjacent pixels, a generator for generating a gradient value indicative of the difference in luminance of adjacent pixels—in the horizontal and in the vertical directions, a memory for storing the gradient values, a detector for detecting a unique configuration in the gradient values to identify the three coordinates of one edge of the window, and a device for checking in the direction perpendicular to the identified edge for a corresponding unique configuration, to determine the fourth coordinate of the window.

Abstract: The invention relates to an anti-petasin antibody for detecting petasin or petasin protein conjugates in physiological fluids, the antibody being free of cross reactivity to derivatives, structural analogs or metabolites of petasin, method for producing the antibody, and a process for detcting petasin or petasin protein conjugates in physiological fluids.

Abstract: A method and a system of adaptive processing of a media signal on a media system. The media system can be VCR, TV, set-top box, storage or a display. The method includes the steps of requesting resources (1001) by an algorithm to provide a plurality of output quality levels, allocating a butlget (1002) to the algorithm, determining progress (1003) of the media signal, determining budget used (1004); and setting a quality level for media signal processing based on the progress, the allocated budget and the budget used (1005). The method further includes the steps of storing historical information (1006) about the processing; and further setting the quality level for media signal processing based on the stored historical information (1007). The historical information includes the budget allocated, the determined progress, the budget used, the set and or achieved quality levels. The progress quality levels are increased or decreased dependent on the ratio of the budget used to the allocated budget.

Abstract: A system and method for processing overlapping video and/or graphics images. The system comprises a first image processing system for processing a first image in a first window; a second image processing system for processing a second image in a second window, wherein the second window overlaps a portion of the first window; a window controller that calculates a set of coordinates for the second window; and a process control system that determines a set of pixels not to process in the overlapped portion of the first window based on the area defined by the calculated set of coordinates less any identified required hidden pixels.