Abstract: A method and concomitant apparatus for comprehensively representing video information in a manner facilitating indexing of the video information. Specifically, a method according to the inveniton comprises the steps of dividing a continuous video stream into a plurality of video scenes; and at least one of the steps of dividing, using intra-scene motion analysis, at least one of the plurality of scenes into one or more layers; representing, as a mosaic, at least one of the pluraliy of scenes; computing, for at least one layer or scene, one or more content-related appearance attributes; and storing, in a database, the content-related appearance attributes or said mosaic representations.

Abstract: A foveated electronic camera employing a spatial-frequency spectrum analyzer and data-reduction means utilizing movable spatial windows for converting a high-resolution, wide field-of-view image into a group of subspectrum band images ranging in resolution and field of view from a lowest-resolution image of the entire field of view to a highest-resolution image of a selectably positionable smallest spatial subregion of the entire field of view. Such a camera is useful in a surveillance camera system and in a robotic system, by way of examples.

Abstract: Pipe-line architecture is employed for analyzing in delayed real time the frequency spectrum of an information component (having one or more dimensions) of a given temporal signal having a highest frequency of interest of no greater than f.sub.0, and/or for synthesizing in delayed real time such a temporal signal from the analyzed frequency spectrum thereof. Such pipe-line architecture is particularly suitable for image-processing the two-dimensional spatial frequencies of television images defined by a temporal video signal.

Abstract: By analyzing the spatial-frequency spectrum of a high-resolution image into a low-pass remnant subspectrum band having a nominal high-frequency cutoff below that of one or more other spatial frequency bands, and separately transmitting each band, starting with the remnant band, over a narrow-band communication channel from a transmitter to an image display at a remote receiver, useful information as to the image contents is available more quickly to the viewer of the display than by past methods of transmitting high-resolution image information over a narrow-band communication channel for display.

Abstract: In a television receiver, a demultiplexer for a high definition multiplexed analog component television signal provides samples of each component signal. A group of samples for each component signal is selected according to the aspect ratio of the television receiver display, and according to the aspect ratio of the picture contained in the high definition multiplexed analog signal so that the selected group is the one that provides picture information which fits the aspect ratio of the display. The selected samples for one scan line are first stored during the active scan line time and then read out sequentially during the subsequent scan line time. The stored samples of each component signal are read out sequentially during substantially the same time period to provide the required Y, U, V signals. A similarly designed demultiplexer may be used to process an extended aspect ratio frequency multiplexed signal such as a high definition NTSC-formatted signal.

Abstract: The image represented by a video signal contains an associated image spectrum defined within a spatial-temporal frequency volume. From this video signal, a second video signal is produced that represents spatial-temporal carrier modulation of a spectral section of the image spectrum into an interleaved location adjacent the image spectrum. To reduce the visibility of aliasing artifacts, the interleaved spectral section is made to be of reduced amplitude relative to its original amplitude in the image spectrum. To reconstruct the spatial-temporal frequency spectrum of the image at the television receiver, the video signal containing the frequency interleaved spectrum is processed in a complementary manner that represents spatial-temporal carrier modulation of the interleaved section to restore that section to its original position in the image spectrum. At the same time, the amplitude of the restored section is increased.

Abstract: High horizontal spatial frequency information may be transmitted through a limited bandwidth channel by means of spatial-temporal frequency interleaving techniques. To transmit both frequency interleaved high horizontal spatial frequency information and diagonal spatial frequency information in one video signal, the corresponding spectra containing these two types of information are time-multiplexed prior to transmission. At the receiver, the interleaved high horizontal frequency information is extracted, relocated to its original horizontal position, and recombined with the diagonal frequency information to generate a baseband video signal.

Abstract: A digital TV system reduces the data rate by transmitting or recording only bytes representing half of the sampled pixels. Steering bits are also transmitted that tell which of the transmitted bytes are the closest match to the untransmitted bytes so the pixels represented by the later can be reconstructed. The steering or control bits are repeated for subsequent omitted bytes unless it no longer indicates a match within a selected tolerance or threshold.

Abstract: A television arrangement produces a progressively-scanned display from signals representing an image scanned by a raster having lines of even fields separated vertically by a distance 2S interlaced with the lines of odd fields. For 2:1 interlace, the lines of the odd fields are spatially separated from the adjacent lines of even fields by a distance S. The lines of signal for application to the display are generated by a spatial filter having a response in the vertical direction such that an output signal occurs for each traversal of a distance S. Thus, the number of lines is doubled in each field. The lines are generated in simultaneous pairs. A parallel-to-serial converter (PISO) converts the simultaneous signals to sequential for display by progressive scanning. The PISO may be a time compressor for use with a double-rate display or a switcher for use with a vertically-dithered display.

Abstract: Aliasing in detected image samples is substantially reduced by a spatial low-pass prefilter employing a diffusing surface variably spaced from an imager and situated in the path of projected image light to cause greater blurring in lower resolution regions of the imager than in higher resolution regions thereof, such that the cutoff spatial frequency varies continually in accordance with the variable resolution of the system.

Abstract: Noise reduction is achieved, without the introduction of noticeable artifacts in the displayed image, using (1) a non-ringing, non-aliasing, localized transfer, octave-band spectrum analyzer for separating the video signal representing the image into subspectra signals, (2) separate coring means for one or more of the analyzed subspectra signals, and (3) then a synthesizer employing one or more non-ringing, non-aliasing filters for deriving an output image-representing signal from all of the subspectra signals.