Abstract: An image encoding apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an encoding engine coupled to a source of a block of pixel data, the encoding engine enabled to encode the block of pixel data to a quality level, the encoding engine coupled to a network interface; and a state sequencer, the state sequencer enabled to obtain an indication of scan block persistence, build state information and encoding parameters to control the quality level.

Abstract: A method for communicating an image section between a first computer and a second computer, the first computer adapted for remotely coupling to the second computer via a network. The method comprises determining, by the first computer, a color table comparison result for an input pixel value, the color table comparison result identifying one of (i) an indexed color value of a color table, the indexed color value approximating the input pixel value, or (ii) an absence in the color table of any color value approximating the input pixel value; generating, based on the color table comparison result, encoded data comprising one of a derivative of the input pixel value or an index for the indexed color value; communicating, to the second computer, the encoded data; and updating the color table according to the color table comparison result.

Abstract: A partially-built image stored in a buffer (such as for output to a display device) is combined by an image decoder with an encoded image update. The image is in a different format than the encoded image update (such as by being in a spatial domain, whereas the encoded image update is in a frequency domain). The image decoder operates, at least in part, by encoding the image to attain a same format as the encoded image update, combining the encoded image and the encoded image update, and decoding the result for storage in the buffer as an updated version of the image. The encoded image update is part of a progressive encoding. The encoding and/or the decoding are optionally lossy. After the image reaches a predetermined quality threshold, such as a perceptually lossless quality threshold, residual encoding/decoding techniques are optionally used for image updates.

Abstract: A method and system for providing computer input/output (I/O) functionality within a remote computing environment. The system comprises a host audio controller and a remote audio controller for bridging audio data between a host computing system and at least one remote audio device, a host USB controller and a remote USB controller for bridging USB data between the host computing system and at least one remote USB device, and an encoder module and a remote display decoder for bridging a digital video signal from the host computing system to a remote display, wherein the host audio controller, the host USB controller, and the encoder module are communicatively coupled to the remote audio controller, the remote USB controller, and the remote display decoder, respectively, via a computer network.

Abstract: A method for encoding a text image. In one embodiment the method comprises determining a background color of an image; dividing the image into text pixels and background pixels, each of the background pixels comprising the background color; determining a text color based on colors of the text pixels; determining a text attribute comprising a luminance profile describing a contour of luminance of a set of the text pixels; generating a binary text mask based on position and luminance of each of the text pixels and the luminance profile; and generating, by a computer, an encoded image comprising the background color, the text color, the binary text mask, and the text attribute.

Abstract: A method for communicating, from a host computer to a plurality of remote computers, a plurality of asynchronous image sequences generated by a plurality of independent entities, comprising independently monitoring updates of the plurality of image sequences to determine a plurality of image portions ready for communication to the remote computers, wherein the updates are at least one of spatially or temporally erratic; determining an availability of at least one transfer resource for transferring at least two of the plurality of image portions and sharable by at least two of the plurality of image sequences; selecting a first image portion from the plurality of image portions based on the availability, the monitoring, determining, and selecting done at the host computer; and transferring the first image portion, from the host computer to a remote computer within the plurality of remote computers, utilizing the at least one transfer resource.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding an image is disclosed. A decomposition circuit comprises a set of pixel filters used to identify picture pixels, background pixels and text pixels of the image. An image encoding circuit comprises a lossy discrete transform encoder for encoding the picture pixels, a constant color lossless encoder for encoding the background pixels, and a discrete color lossless encoder for encoding the text pixels.

Abstract: A method and system of transmitting a set of wavelet coefficients, the wavelet coefficients representing an image, comprising: arranging a set of wavelet coefficients into a spatially-oriented tree data structure of groups of wavelet coefficients, determining group significance levels for groups in the tree; computing encoded data associated with a refinement range, the refinement range describing a selection from the group consisting of one of an initial quality level and an incremented quality level, to which an image is encoded, the encoded data describing group significance levels in terms of partial scalar components, the partial scalar components related to the refinement range, the encoded data further describing portions of the set of wavelet coefficients that are within the refinement range; and transmitting the encoded data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of encoding and transmitting a block of visual data within a visual data stream. First, image information updates are acquired for the block of visual data that includes pixel data and is associated with a change history of pixel data. Next, stored block information is retrieved for the block of visual data, including a recent change history for the block of visual data. Next, a determination is made from the retrieved block information and the image information updates that the block of visual data is a video image type. Available network bandwidth is then determined. Encoding parameters for the block of visual data from the retrieved block information, the image information updates and the available network bandwidth are determined. The block of visual data is encoded and transmitted across a computer network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scheduling a resource used by a virtual machine. In one embodiment, the method comprises generating information regarding utilization of a resource by a virtual machine, where the resource is used by the virtual machine to generate a media stream for communication with a remote computer, where information comprises a quality prediction for encoding the media stream and adjusting an allocation of the resource for use by the virtual machine based on the information.

Abstract: The present invention enables the transparent bridging of an audio controller over a network between a host PC and a remote user interface system by providing a host module that presents the interface of an audio controller to a system bus of a host computer and a remote module that presents an audio link interface to codecs in a remote system. By bridging the controller at these interfaces, the effects of network delays and data loss can be controlled inside the user's human perception limits without introducing signal timing problems at the two specified interfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting image information for display within a remote computing environment. The apparatus comprises a decomposition filter for determining a text mask from an image, the text mask determined from a text layer and related text-background information extracted from the image and comprising an initial mask and at least one refinement mask, a text mask encoder for encoding a refinement mask of the at least one refinement masks to generate a refinement encoding, and a network interface for transmitting at least one encoding, the at least one encoding comprising the refinement encoding.

Abstract: An image encoding apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an encoding engine coupled to a source of a block of pixel data, the encoding engine enabled to encode the block of pixel data to a quality level, the encoding engine coupled to a network interface; and a state sequencer, the state sequencer enabled to obtain an indication of scan block persistence, build state information and encoding parameters to control the quality level.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating a display image. The method comprises (a) compressing, by a first application on a first processor, initial updates; (b) determining, by the first application, availability of a second processor comprising compression hardware not in the first processor; (c) determining, by a second application on the first processor, a requirement to compress, by the second processor, future image updates; (d) compressing, by the second processor a first future image update; (e) initiating, by the first application on the first or a third processor, compressing by the second processor of a second future image update; (f) determining, by the first application, an unavailability of the second processor; (g) compressing, by the first application subsequent future image updates, including the second future image update, to generate compressed updates; and (h) transmitting the compressed initial updates, the compressed first update, and the compressed updates to a remote computer.

Abstract: A system and methods for connecting a computer and at least one computing appliance to a graphic user interface comprising a display and peripheral devices is disclosed. A user interface session is associated with a computer connected to the graphic user interface by a network connection. A second user interface session, comprising a display overlay and new user interface settings is established in response to a user event such as a telephony event associated with the computing appliance. In an embodiment, user settings are adjusted on an ongoing basis in response to input device events.

Abstract: A pair of processing modules and methods that enable low latency communications between a data processing system and devices located at a remote graphic user interface across a standard shared network in accordance with the present invention is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for communicating a raster video signal comprises a receiver enabled to receive the raster video signal from a graphics processor and obtain display control parameters of the raster video signal, the display control parameters comprising frequency and resolution information for the raster video signal; a raster encoder, coupled to the receiver, enabled to encode a plurality of scan lines of the raster video signal to generate a plurality of encoded scan lines; and a network controller, coupled to the raster encoder, enabled to transmit the plurality of encoded scan lines and the display control parameters as packets via an IP/Ethernet network.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of progressively encoding and transmitting visual data. First image information updates are acquired for a region of visual data. The region of visual data is defined by a plurality of blocks of pixel data, and individual blocks of the plurality are associated with individual change histories for their respective pixel data. Stored region information including a recent encoded state for each block in the plurality is retrieved. Available network bandwidth is determined, and then encoding parameters for each block in the region of visual data are determined from the retrieved region information and the available network bandwidth. The plurality of blocks is then encoded, the retrieved region information is updated in accordance with the determined encoding parameters; and the encoded blocks are transmitted across a computer network.

Abstract: An apparatus for encoding an image. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a hash function module for determining changes to a plurality of scan blocks of an image; an encoder module, coupled to the hash function module, for encoding each scan block in the plurality of scan blocks as layers of increasing quality; and selecting specific scan blocks having a specific quality layer for transmission in response to the hash function module change determination.

Abstract: A method of transforming and sending data, comprising: receiving an image with an associated mask; transforming the received image; quantizing the transformed image; encoding the quantized image and associated mask; and transmitting the encoded image and mask; wherein transforming the received image comprises transforming the dimension subset by repeating steps of: preparing an input vector; determining a filter type; determining a first intermediate vector; determining a second intermediate vector; computing a transform vector from the sum of the first intermediate vector and the second intermediate vector; and computing an output value from the input vector and the computed transform vector.

Abstract: Communicating between virtual machines on a host computer and remotely located devices connected to device interfaces of remote computers is disclosed. The method comprises establishing communication between the host computer and at least one remote computer in operative control of at least a first device interface and a second device interface; determining that the device interfaces belong to a set of supported device interfaces; associating the at least one remote computer with at least one virtual machine; presenting to the virtual machine, in forms recognizable by the virtual machine as forms in which interface functions are presented by local controllers, interface functions associated with the first device interface and the second device interface; executing commands in response to the interface functions associated with the device interfaces; and sending to the remote computer commands and/or data related to the presented interface and usable by the device interfaces.