Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that enable seamless access and control of hardware device resources through a common, device-independent interface without the need for device-specific drivers. For instance, system and methods are designed to expose capabilities/functions of hardware devices as web-based services which can be invoked to provide specific services based on the capabilities of the hardware devices.

Abstract: A system and method that selects among multiple encodings of the same content to adapt to available bandwidth and meet delay constraints by minimizing the switching lag is disclosed. The system and method include one buffer serving multiple data streams and a switching device. The switching device switches between the multiple data streams and discards data from the buffer that does not belong to a new stream to eliminate switching lag after a switching decision has been made.

Abstract: A method (which can be computer implemented) for processing a plurality of adjacent rows of data units, using a plurality of parallel processors, given (i) a predetermined processing order, and (ii) a specified inter-row dependency structure, includes the steps of determining starting times for each individual one of the processors, and maintaining synchronization across the processors, while ensuring that the dependency structure is not violated. Not all the starting times are the same, and a sum of absolute differences between (i) starting times of any given processor, and (ii) that one of the processors having an earliest starting time, is minimized.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive signal sampling and sample quantization for resource-constrained stream processing. Exemplary embodiments include a signal sampling and signal quantization method for a data stream from a ECG sensor into a pervasive device, the method including adaptively sampling the data stream, compressing data samples from the data stream, reducing the number of samples via quantization, defining a utility function for signal reconstruction, and formulating optimization on the reconstructed signal that is jointly sampled and quantized.

Abstract: A system for bit-rate stream playout at preset speeds including a regular playout speed and other than the regular playout speed includes multiple streams encoded at a same bit-rate (R) but at a plurality of playout speeds. A selection mechanism is responsive to requests for playout speeds. The selection mechanism selects from among the plurality of streams to service a request.

Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding method are provided for selecting one of several alternate input streams for transmission, the method including determining bandwidth requirements for each of the alternate input streams, measuring bandwidth currently available for transmission, and selecting for transmission one of the alternate input streams that has the highest determined bandwidth requirement less than or equal to the measured bandwidth currently available for transmission.

Abstract: Embodiments for notification processing are disclosed. One embodiment includes dividing the number of data entries of an array, having a number of data entries that each utilize a variable having a changeable state, into a number of blocks. The number of blocks include a flag indicating whether at least one of the number of entries in the block has been modified. The method includes identifying at least one of the number blocks that has at least one modified entry by checking the flag and processing the at least one identified block to determine a current state of at least one the variables having a changeable state whose corresponding data entry has been modified.

Abstract: A method for making a mode decision in video coding. The method includes collecting a first portion of video data and labeling the first portion of video data with an optimal mode. The method also includes identifying a feature of the first portion of video data corresponding to the optimal mode and making a mode decision for a second portion of the video data based on a value of the feature in the second portion of the video.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, device descriptions specified using different device description (DD) specifications are converted (represented) into a single format. In an embodiment, the single format corresponds to extended markup language (XML). The device description in the single format is then examined to provide a user interface for management of the corresponding field devices. Due to such use of a common format, integration of field devices (into a management system) having device description defined according to a new device description specification, may be simplified.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for estimating the quality of encoded video data without gaining access to the source data. The system is configured to decode compressed video data using an MPEG/H.263 decoder to produce decompressed video data. The decoded data is subject to a discrete cosine transform (DCT) to produce a set of DCT coefficients of the decompressed video data is determined to be intra-coded. Meanwhile, the quantization matrix including a quantizier step size for each block of the decompressed video data are extracted. Following this, statistical properties of the DCT coefficients are extracted from the decoded video. Then, an average quantization error for both AC and DC coefficients is determined using information regarding the quantization and the statistical properties. Finally, this estimated quantization error is used for in computing a peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR).

Abstract: A method and device is disclosed for encoding a group of video frames. A first number of frames in the group is motion compensated temporally filtered based on multiple frames. A second number of frames in the group is motion compensated temporally filtered based on single reference frames. The first and second number of frames are transformed into wavelet coefficients. Further, the wavelet coefficients are entropy encoded. In one example, the first number of frames are located within a first portion of the group and the second number of frames is located within a second portion of the group. In another example, the first number of frames and the second number of frames are interleaved within the group.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device for encoding a group of video frames. According to the present invention, regions in at least one frame in the group are matched to regions in multiple reference frames. The difference between pixel values of the regions in the at least one frame and the regions in the multiple reference frames is calculated. The difference is transformed into wavelet coefficients. The present invention is also directed to a method and device for decoding a group of frames by performing the inverse of the above described encoding.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to catalyst composite containing a metal catalyst and a specifically defined carbon support containing a carbonaceous material. For example, the carbon support may have a total pore surface area of about 800 m2/g or more and about 2,000 m2/g or less where about 20% or less of the total pore surface area is micro pore surface area. Alternatively the carbon support may have a total pore volume of at least about 0.75 cc/g where about 15% or less of the total pore volume is micro pore volume. In yet another aspect of the invention, the carbon support may have a phosphorus content of about 0.75% by weight or less. In still yet another aspect of the invention, a methods of making and using the catalyst composite are disclosed.

Abstract: Dimer-selective RXR modulator compounds having agonist, partial agonist and/or antagonist activity in the context of an RXR homodimer and/or RXR heterodimers are provided. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions incorporating such dimer-selective RXR modulator compounds and methods for their therapeutic use.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device for encoding video. According to the present invention, a first region in a first frame is matched to a second region in a second frame. A first partially encoded frame is produced including a difference between pixel values of the first and second region. A second partially encoded frame is produced including pixel values of either the first or second region. Further, the first and second partially encoded frame is transformed into wavelet coefficients.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for estimating the quality of encoded video data without gaining access to the source data. The system is configured to decode compressed video data using an MPEG/H.263 decoder to produce decompressed video data. The decoded data is subject to a discrete cosine transform (DCT) to produce a set of DCT coefficients of the decompressed video data is determined to be intra-coded. Meanwhile, the quantization matrix including a quantizier step size for each block of the decompressed video data are extracted. Following this, statistical properties of the DCT coefficients are extracted from the decoded video. Then, an average quantization error for both AC and DC coefficients is determined using information regarding the quantization and the statistical properties. Finally, this estimated quantization error is used for in computing a peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device for encoding a group of video frames. According to the present invention, a number of frames from the group is selected. Regions in each of the number of frames are matched to regions in multiple reference frames. A difference between pixel values of the regions in each of the number of frames and the regions in the multiple reference frames is calculated. The difference is transformed into wavelet coefficients. The present invention is also directed to a method and device for decoding a group of frames by performing the inverse of the above described encoding.

Abstract: The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition in solid unit dosage form, comprising, a) a therapeutically effective amount of a piperidinoalkanol compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and, b) at least one inert ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device for encoding a group of video frames. According to the present invention, a first number of frames in the group is motion compensated temporally filtered based on multiple frames. A second number of frames in the group is motion compensated temporally filtered based on single reference frames. The first and second number of frames are transformed into wavelet coefficients. Further, the wavelet coefficients are entropy encoded. In one example, the first number of frames are located within a first portion of the group and the second number of frames is located within a second portion of the group. In another example, the first number of frames and the second number of frames are interleaved within the group.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device for encoding a group of video frames. According to the present invention, regions in at least one frame in the group are matched to regions in multiple reference frames. The difference between pixel values of the regions in the at least one frame and the regions in the multiple reference frames is calculated. The difference is transformed into wavelet coefficients. The present invention is also directed to a method and device for decoding a group of frames by performing the inverse of the above described encoding.