Patents by Inventor Daniele Alfonso
Daniele Alfonso has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20100027678Abstract: A video sequence including images in the form of digital samples is encoded by: subsampling the video sequence to produce: a number N of multiple descriptions of the video sequence, each multiple description including 1/N samples of the video sequence, and a subsampled version of the sequence, the subsampled version having a resolution lower or equal to the resolution of the N multiple descriptions. The N multiple descriptions and the subsampled version are subjected to scalable video coding (SVC) to produce an SVC encoded signal having a base layer and N enhancement layers predicted from said base layer. The subsampled version of the sequence and the N multiple descriptions of the video sequence constitute the base layer and the enhancement layers, respectively, of the SVC encoded signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2008Publication date: February 4, 2010Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.Inventor: Daniele Alfonso
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Patent number: 7375763Abstract: To carry out de-interlacing of digital images there is provided a spatial-type de-interlacing process to be applied to a digital image for obtaining a spatial reconstruction. Furthermore, to the digital image there are also applied one or more temporal-type de-interlacing processes for obtaining one or more temporal reconstructions, and the spatial reconstruction and the one or more temporal reconstructions are sent to a decision module. The decision module applies a cost function to the spatial reconstruction and the temporal reconstructions and chooses from among the spatial reconstruction and the temporal reconstructions the one that minimizes the cost function. Preferential application is to display systems, in particular displays of a cathode-ray type, liquid-crystal type, and plasma type which use a mechanism of progressive scan.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2004Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Daniele Alfonso, Danilo Pau, Elio Privitera, Angelo Schiavone
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Publication number: 20070268965Abstract: In an embodiment of a method for converting an input video sequence, comprising digital images organized in frames and operating at a variable frame-rate, into an output video sequence, operating at a pre-set constant frame-rate, it is envisaged to store the input video sequence temporarily and to control fetching of images of said temporarily stored input video sequence. The method moreover envisages: controlling fetching of images from the temporarily stored input video sequence by adjusting an emptying rate to form an intermediate video sequence; and carrying out an operation of motion-compensated interpolation on the intermediate video sequence to form the output video sequence operating at a pre-set constant frame-rate, the emptying rate being adjusted as a function of a number of images of the input video sequence with variable frame-rate temporarily stored.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2007Publication date: November 22, 2007Inventors: Daniele Alfonso, Daniele Bagni, Fabrizio Rovati
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Patent number: 7272184Abstract: A system for generating motion vectors in a motion estimator is configured for co-operating with an engine for calculating estimation error for generating motion vectors, according to estimation errors and/or motion vectors previously generated. The system comprises a program memory that contains program data for a motion-estimation algorithm, and a motion-vector memory that contains data identifying said motion vectors previously calculated.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2003Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Daniele Alfonso, Fabrizio Rovati
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Patent number: 7254174Abstract: A process and a system is described for generating an MPEG output bitstream starting from an MPEG input bitstream. The output bitstream has a resolution modified with respect to the resolution of the input bitstream. In the input bitstream, first portions that substantially do not affect and second portions that do affect resolution variation are distinguished. The second portions are then subjected to a function of modification of the resolution obtained by filtering the second portions in a domain of the discrete cosine transform, and then are transferred to the output bitstream. A corresponding computer program product is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2002Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Danilo Pau, Daniele Alfonso, Fabrizio Basso, Emiliano Piccinelli, Alessandro Cremonesi
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Patent number: 7239743Abstract: A method for texture compressing images having a plurality of color components (R, G, B), includes decomposing the images in sub-blocks each including only one color component. At least one first predictor is defined for each sub-block and a respective set of prediction differences is computed for each sub-block. Then the prediction differences for each sub-block are sorted, and a look-up prediction differences palette is set up by defining a look-up prediction error palette. A predetermined code is associated with each column of the error palette.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2004Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.Inventors: Pierluigi Gardella, Massimiliano Barone, Daniele Alfonso, Danilo Pietro Pau, Daniele Lavigna
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Patent number: 7012618Abstract: An RGB digital video signal destined to be displayed on a display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) is converted from the RGB color space to the YUV color space. The signal converted into the YUV color space is subjected to at least a processing operation selected among a sub-sampling operation (24) and a data compression operation (26). The signal is then stored in a memory and the signal read from said memory (12) is then subjected to at least a return operation (28, 30) complementary to the aforesaid processing operation (24, 26). The signal subjected to the aforesaid return operation is lastly reconverted from the YUV color space to the RGB color space, thus being susceptible to be displayed on the display.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2003Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Danilo Pau, Daniele Alfonso, Emiliano Piccinelli, Tiziana Signorelli
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Patent number: 7010041Abstract: In order to generate, starting from an input MPEG bitstream, an output MPEG bitstream having at least one entity chosen among syntax, resolution, and bitrate modified with respect to the input bitstream, first portions and second portions are distinguished in the input bitstream, which respectively substantially do not affect and do affect the variation in bitrate. When at least one between the syntax and the resolution is to be modified, the first portions of the input bitstream are subjected to the required translation, then transferring said first portions subjected to syntax and/or resolution translation to the output bitstream. When the resolution is left unaltered, the second portions are transferred from the input bitstream to the output bitstream in the substantial absence of processing operations. When the resolution is changed, the second portions of the input bitstream are subjected to a filtering in the domain of the discrete cosine transform.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2002Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Andrea Graziani, Luca Celetto, Daniele Alfonso, Fabrizio Basso, Alessandro Cremonesi, Danilo Pau
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Publication number: 20050179814Abstract: A spatial-type de-interlacing process to be applied to a digital image for obtaining a spatial reconstruction. Furthermore, to the digital image there are also applied one or more temporal-type motion compensation de-interlacing processes for obtaining one or more temporal reconstructions, and the spatial reconstruction and the one or more temporal reconstructions are sent to a decision module. The decision module applies a cost function to the spatial reconstruction and the temporal reconstructions and chooses from among the spatial reconstruction and the temporal reconstructions the one that minimizes the cost function. Preferential application is to display systems, in particular displays of a cathode-ray type, liquid-crystal type, and plasma type which use a mechanism of progressive scan.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2005Publication date: August 18, 2005Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.Inventors: Danilo Pau, Emiliano Piccinelli, Fabrizio Rovati, Daniele Alfonso, Elio Privitera, Angelo Schiavone
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Publication number: 20050110901Abstract: To carry out de-interlacing of digital images there is provided a spatial-type de-interlacing process to be applied to a digital image for obtaining a spatial reconstruction. Furthermore, to the digital image there are also applied one or more temporal-type de-interlacing processes for obtaining one or more temporal reconstructions, and the spatial reconstruction and the one or more temporal reconstructions are sent to a decision module. The decision module applies a cost function to the spatial reconstruction and the temporal reconstructions and chooses from among the spatial reconstruction and the temporal reconstructions the one that minimizes the cost function. Preferential application is to display systems, in particular displays of a cathode-ray type, liquid-crystal type, and plasma type which use a mechanism of progressive scan.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2004Publication date: May 26, 2005Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.Inventors: Daniele Alfonso, Danilo Pau, Elio Privitera, Angelo Schiavone
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Publication number: 20040190620Abstract: A system for generating motion vectors in a motion estimator is configured for co-operating with an engine for calculating estimation error for generating motion vectors, according to estimation errors and/or motion vectors previously generated. The system comprises a program memory that contains program data for a motion-estimation algorithm, and a motion-vector memory that contains data identifying said motion vectors previously calculated.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2003Publication date: September 30, 2004Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Daniele Alfonso, Fabrizio Rovati
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Publication number: 20040156543Abstract: A method for texture compressing images having a plurality of color components (R, G, B), includes decomposing the images in sub-blocks each including only one color component. At least one first predictor is defined for each sub-block and a respective set of prediction differences is computed for each sub-block. Then the prediction differences for each sub-block are sorted, and a look-up prediction differences palette is set up by defining a look-up prediction error palette. A predetermined code is associated with each column of the error palette.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2004Publication date: August 12, 2004Inventors: Pierluigi Gardella, Massimiliano Barone, Daniele Alfonso, Danilo Pietro Pau, Daniele Lavigna
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Publication number: 20040150655Abstract: An RGB digital video signal destined to be displayed on a display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) is converted from the RGB color space to the YUV color space. The signal converted into the YUV color space is subjected to at least a processing operation selected among a sub-sampling operation (24) and a data compression operation (26). The signal is then stored in a memory and the signal read from said memory (12) is then subjected to at least a return operation (28, 30) complementary to the aforesaid processing operation (24, 26). The signal subjected to the aforesaid return operation is lastly reconverted from the YUV color space to the RGB color space, thus being susceptible to be displayed on the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2003Publication date: August 5, 2004Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Danilo Pau, Daniele Alfonso, Emiliano Piccinelli, Tiziana Signorelli
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Patent number: 6724823Abstract: A VLSI architecture adapted to be implemented in the form of a reusable IP cell and including a motion estimation engine, configured to process a cost function and identify a motion vector which minimizes the cost function, an internal memory configured to store the sets of initial candidate vectors for the blocks of a reference frame, first and second controllers to manage the motion vectors and manage an external frame memory, a reference synchronizer to align, at the input to the estimation engine, the data relevant to the reference blocks with the data relevant to candidate blocks coming from the second controller, and a control unit for timing the units included in the architecture and the external interfacing of the architecture itself.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Fabrizio Rovati, Danilo Pau, Luca Fanucci, Sergio Saponara, Andrea Cenciotti, Daniele Alfonso
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Publication number: 20020186774Abstract: A process and a system is described for generating an MPEG output bitstream starting from an MPEG input bitstream. The output bitstream has a resolution modified with respect to the resolution of the input bitstream. -In the input bitstream, first portions that substantially do not affect and second portions that do affect resolution variation are distinguished. The second portions are then subjected to a function of modification of the resolution obtained by filtering the second portions in a domain of the discrete cosine transform, and then are transferred to the output bitstream. A corresponding computer program product is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2002Publication date: December 12, 2002Applicant: STMicroelectronics, S.r.I.Inventors: Danilo Pau, Daniele Alfonso, Fabrizio Basso, Emiliano Piccinelli, Alessandro Cremonesi
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Publication number: 20020159528Abstract: In order to generate, starting from an input MPEG bitstream, an output MPEG bitstream having at least one entity chosen among syntax, resolution, and bitrate modified with respect to the input bitstream, first portions and second portions are distinguished in the input bitstream, which respectively substantially do not affect and do affect the variation in bitrate. When at least one between the syntax and the resolution is to be modified, the first portions of the input bitstream are subjected to the required translation, then transferring said first portions subjected to syntax and/or resolution translation to the output bitstream. When the resolution is left unaltered, the second portions are transferred from the input bitstream to the output bitstream in the substantial absence of processing operations. When the resolution is changed, the second portions of the input bitstream are subjected to a filtering in the domain of the discrete cosine transform.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2002Publication date: October 31, 2002Applicant: STMicroelectronics, S.r.I.Inventors: Andrea Graziani, Luca Celetto, Daniele Alfonso, Fabrizio Basso, Alessandro Cremonesi, Danilo Pau
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Publication number: 20020097343Abstract: A VLSI architecture adapted to be implemented in the form of a reusable IP cell and including a motion estimation engine, configured to process a cost function and identify a motion vector which minimizes the cost function, an internal memory configured to store the sets of initial candidate vectors for the blocks of a reference frame, first and second controllers to manage the motion vectors and manage an external frame memory, a reference synchronizer to align, at the input to the estimation engine, the data relevant to the reference blocks with the data relevant to candidate blocks coming from the second controller, and a control unit for timing the units included in the architecture and the external interfacing of the architecture itself.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2001Publication date: July 25, 2002Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Fabrizio Rovati, Danilo Pau, Luca Panucci, Sergio Saponara, Andrea Cenciotti, Daniele Alfonso