Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating the motion of an image region (the “center” region) from a source video frame to a target video frame. The motion estimation is locally constrained in that the estimated motion of the “center region” is affected by the estimated motion of neighboring regions. Advantageously, this may reduce common motion matching problems such as false and ambiguous matches. In one embodiment, the locally-constrained motion estimation may be implemented by biasing an error map of the center region using error maps of the neighboring regions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating the motion of an image region (the “center” region) from a source video frame to a target video frame. The motion estimation is locally constrained in that the estimated motion of the “center region” is affected by the estimated motion of neighboring regions. Advantageously, this may reduce common motion matching problems such as false and ambiguous matches. In one embodiment, the locally-constrained motion estimation may be implemented by biasing an error map of the center region using error maps of the neighboring regions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating the motion of an image region (the “center” region) from a source video frame to a target video frame. The motion estimation is locally constrained in that the estimated motion of the “center region” is affected by the estimated motion of neighboring regions. Advantageously, this may reduce common motion matching problems such as false and ambiguous matches. In one embodiment, the locally-constrained motion estimation may be implemented by biasing an error map of the center region using error maps of the neighboring regions.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method for encoding and decoding a video sequence in which a keyframe is used to bi-directionally predict frames in the sequence. The keyframe is coded independently of other frames in the sequence. Both a prior frame occurring before the keyframe and a subsequent frame occurring after the keyframe are predicted using data from the keyframe. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a method for allocating bits to a keyframe during video encoding. Effects of a plurality of keyframe bit allocations on quality of a predicted frame are measured. Said effects are used to determine a near optimal keyframe bit allocation.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method for encoding and decoding a video sequence in which a keyframe is used to bi-directionally predict frames in the sequence. The keyframe is coded independently of other frames in the sequence. Both a prior frame occurring before the keyframe and a subsequent frame occurring after the keyframe are predicted using data from the keyframe. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a method for allocating bits to a keyframe during video encoding. Effects of a plurality of keyframe bit allocations on quality of a predicted frame are measured. Said effects are used to determine a near optimal keyframe bit allocation.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for allocating bits between the stages of a multi-stage digital image compression scheme with quantizer feedback is disclosed. The process selects a quantization schedule (from a finite number of possibilities) for all stages that minimizes an estimate of total distortion while keeping total bit demand below a constraint; uses said schedule to actually quantize one stage of the compression scheme; selects a new quantization schedule for the remaining stages using estimates for distortion and bit demand that are updated to reflect the quantization of the previous stage; actually quantizes the next stage according to the new quantization schedule; and continues recursively until it has chosen an actual quantization scale for every stage of the compression scheme.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating the motion of an image region (the “center” region) from a source video frame to a target video frame. The motion estimation is locally constrained in that the estimated motion of the “center region” is affected by the estimated motion of neighboring regions. Advantageously, this may reduce common motion matching problems such as false and ambiguous matches. In one embodiment, the locally-constrained motion estimation may be implemented by biasing an error map of the center region using error maps of the neighboring regions.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for predicting and coding motion vectors in a video compression scheme, an ordered list of segments for a reference frame is used to create a hierarchy of segments with a plurality of levels. Motion vectors for segments in the top level are entropy coded, and these vectors are used to predict vectors for segments at the next level. Residual vectors are entropy coded to correct these predictions, and the process of prediction from above and coding residuals continues recursively down through the hierarchy of segment levels. Information about the previous motion of segments may be exploited in the prediction process. In a complementary method and apparatus for decoding motion vectors, the same segment hierarchy is used to predict motion vectors by the same method used during encoding, and these predicted vectors are added to residual motion vectors to reconstruct the actual motion vectors.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a processing method and apparatus is provided for partitioning exposed areas created by motion compensation. The partitioning creates sub-areas in shapes and sizes that may be effectively dealt with and efficiently compressed. The partitioning may divide an arbitrarily shaped area by “pinching,” “slicing,” and/or “cleaving” the area into manageable sub-areas. In accordance with another embodiment, a method and apparatus is provided for processing points in a bounded area to locate a medial axis. In accordance with another embodiment, an electronically-implemented method and apparatus is provided for processing a bounded two-dimensional area in an array of points to determine, for each point inside the area, a nearest boundary point outside the area as measured by a Euclidean distance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting and coding motion vectors in a video compression scheme is disclosed. An ordered list of segments for a reference frame is used to create a hierarchy of segments with a plurality of levels. Motion vectors for segments in the top level are entropy coded, and these vectors are used to predict vectors for segments at the next level. Residual vectors are entropy coded to correct these predictions, and the process of prediction from above and coding residuals continues recursively down through the hierarchy of segment levels. Information about the previous motion of segments may be exploited in the prediction process. A complementary method and apparatus for decoding motion vectors is also disclosed. The same segment hierarchy is used to predict motion vectors by the same method used during encoding, and these predicted vectors are added to residual motion vectors to reconstruct the actual motion vectors.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for allocating bits between the stages of a multi-stage digital image compression scheme with quantizer feedback is disclosed. The process selects a quantization schedule (from a finite number of possibilities) for all stages that minimizes an estimate of total distortion while keeping total bit demand below a constraint; uses said schedule to actually quantize one stage of the compression scheme; selects a new quantization schedule for the remaining stages using estimates for distortion and bit demand that are updated to reflect the quantization of the previous stage; actually quantizes the next stage according to the new quantization schedule; and continues recursively until it has chosen an actual quantization scale for every stage of the compression scheme.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a processing method and apparatus is provided for partitioning exposed areas created by motion compensation. The partitioning creates sub-areas in shapes and sizes that may be effectively dealt with and efficiently compressed. The partitioning may divide an arbitrarily shaped area by “pinching,” “slicing,” and/or “cleaving” the area into manageable sub-areas. In accordance with another embodiment, a method and apparatus is provided for processing points in a bounded area to locate a medial axis. In accordance with another embodiment, an electronically-implemented method and apparatus is provided for processing a bounded two-dimensional area in an array of points to determine, for each point inside the area, a nearest boundary point outside the area as measured by a Euclidean distance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating the motion of an image region (the “center” region) from a source video frame to a target video frame. The motion estimation is locally constrained in that the estimated motion of the “center region” is affected by the estimated motion of neighboring regions. Advantageously, this may reduce common motion matching problems such as false and ambiguous matches. In one embodiment, the locally-constrained motion estimation may be implemented by biasing an error map of the center region using error maps of the neighboring regions.