Abstract: A video streaming method for transitioning between multiple sequences of coded video data may include receiving and decoding transmission units from a first sequence of coded video data. In response to a request to transition to a second sequence of coded video data, the method may determine whether a time to transition to the second sequence of coded video data can be reduced by transitioning to the second sequence of coded video data via an intermediate sequence of coded video data. If the time can be reduced, the method may include receiving at least one transmission unit from an intermediate sequence of coded video data that corresponds to the request to transition, decoding the transmission unit from the intermediate sequence, and transitioning from the first sequence to the second sequence via the decoded transmission unit from the intermediate sequence.

Abstract: System and methods for improved playback of a video stream are presented. Video snippets are identified that include a number of consecutive frames for playback. Snippets may be evenly temporally spaced in the video stream or may be content adaptive. Then the first frame of a snippet may be selected as the first frame of a scene or other appropriate stopping point. Scene detection, object detection, motion detection, video metadata, or other information generated during encoding or decoding of the video stream may aid in appropriate snippet selection.

Abstract: A video streaming method for transitioning between multiple sequences of coded video data may include receiving and decoding transmission units from a first sequence of coded video data. In response to a request to transition to a second sequence of coded video data, the method may determine whether a time to transition to the second sequence of coded video data can be reduced by transitioning to the second sequence of coded video data via an intermediate sequence of coded video data. If the time can be reduced, the method may include receiving at least one transmission unit from an intermediate sequence of coded video data that corresponds to the request to transition, decoding the transmission unit from the intermediate sequence, and transitioning from the first sequence to the second sequence via the decoded transmission unit from the intermediate sequence.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques for coding video data efficiently based on detection of objects within video sequences. A video coder may perform object detection on the frame and when an object is detected, develop statistics of an area of the frame in which the object is located. The video coder may compare pixels adjacent to the object location to the object's statistics and may define an object region to include pixel blocks corresponding to the object's location and pixel blocks corresponding to adjacent pixels having similar statistics as the detected object. The coder may code the video frame according to a block-based compression algorithm wherein pixel blocks of the object region are coded according to coding parameters generating relatively high quality coding and pixel blocks outside the object region are coded according to coding parameters generating relatively lower quality coding.

Abstract: A video streaming method for transitioning between multiple sequences of coded video data may include receiving and decoding transmission units from a first sequence of coded video data. In response to a request to transition to a second sequence of coded video data, the method may determine whether a time to transition to the second sequence of coded video data can be reduced by transitioning to the second sequence of coded video data via an intermediate sequence of coded video data. If the time can be reduced, the method may include receiving at least one transmission unit from an intermediate sequence of coded video data that corresponds to the request to transition, decoding the transmission unit from the intermediate sequence, and transitioning from the first sequence to the second sequence via the decoded transmission unit from the intermediate sequence.

Abstract: A video streaming method for transitioning between multiple sequences of coded video data may include receiving and decoding transmission units from a first sequence of coded video data. In response to a request to transition to a second sequence of coded video data, the method may determine whether a time to transition to the second sequence of coded video data can be reduced by transitioning to the second sequence of coded video data via an intermediate sequence of coded video data. If the time can be reduced, the method may include receiving at least one transmission unit from an intermediate sequence of coded video data that corresponds to the request to transition, decoding the transmission unit from the intermediate sequence, and transitioning from the first sequence to the second sequence via the decoded transmission unit from the intermediate sequence.

Abstract: Video coders may perform perspective transformation of reference frames during coding in a manner that conserves processing resources. When a new input frame is available for coding, a camera position for the input frame may be estimated. A video coder may search for reference pictures having similar camera positions as the position of the input frame and, for each reference picture identified, the video coder may perform a prediction search to identify a reference picture that is the best prediction match for the input frame. Once the video coder identifies a reference picture to serve as a prediction source for the input frame, the video coder may derive a transform to match the reference frame data to the input frame data and may transform the reference picture accordingly. The video coder may code the input frame using the transformed reference picture as a prediction reference and may transmit coded frame data and the camera position of the input frame to a decoder.

Abstract: A system an method for determining to select frames from a video sequence that have high visual appeal and can be coded at high quality when frame rates of coded video drop to such low levels that perceptual sensations of moving video are lost. A metric is derived from a candidate input frame, and such metric is used to determine whether to increase or decrease a weight accorded to the candidate input frame. In an embodiment, the metric may be the auto-exposure data associated with the candidate input frame.

Abstract: System and methods for improved playback of a video stream are presented. Video snippets are identified that include a number of consecutive frames for playback. Snippets may be evenly temporally spaced in the video stream or may be content adaptive. Then the first frame of a snippet may be selected as the first frame of a scene or other appropriate stopping point. Scene detection, object detection, motion detection, video metadata, or other information generated during encoding or decoding of the video stream may aid in appropriate snippet selection.

Abstract: System and methods for improved playback of a video stream are presented. Video snippets are identified that include a number of consecutive frames for playback. Snippets may be evenly temporally spaced in the video stream or may be content adaptive. Then the first frame of a snippet may be selected as the first frame of a scene or other appropriate stopping point. Scene detection, object detection, motion detection, video metadata, or other information generated during encoding or decoding of the video stream may aid in appropriate snippet selection.

Abstract: Video coding systems and methods protect against banding artifacts in decoded image content. According to the method, a video coder may identify, from content of pixel blocks of a frame of video data, which pixel blocks are likely to exhibit banding artifacts from the video coding/decoding processes. The video coder may assemble regions of the frame that are likely to exhibit banding artifacts based on the identified pixel blocks' locations with respect to each other. The video coder may apply anti-banding processing to pixel blocks within one or more of the identified regions and, thereafter, may code the processed frame by a compression operation.

Abstract: Techniques for adjusting exposure parameters of a camera such that video data captured by the camera may be coded efficiently. A camera with auto exposure control may capture and output frames of video. A pre-processor may estimate brightness of the frames of the video output from the camera. A controller may estimate a rate of brightness change among the frames, and when the rate of change is lower than a predetermined threshold, the controller may reduce sensitivity of the auto exposure control. A coding engine may predictively code the video.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for upsampling a video sequence for coding. According to the method, an estimate of camera motion may be obtained from motion sensor data. Video data may be analyzed to detect motion within frames output from a camera that is not induced by the camera motion. When non-camera motion falls within a predetermined operational limit, video upsampling processes may be engaged. In another embodiment, video upsampling may be performed by twice estimating image content for a hypothetical new a frame using two different sources as inputs. A determination may be made whether the two estimates of the frame match each other sufficiently well. If so, the two estimates may be merged to yield a final estimated frame and the new frame may be integrated into a stream of video data.

Abstract: System and methods for improved playback of a video stream are presented. Video snippets are identified that include a number of consecutive frames for playback. Snippets may be evenly temporally spaced in the video stream or may be content adaptive. Then the first frame of a snippet may be selected as the first frame of a scene or other appropriate stopping point. Scene detection, object detection, motion detection, video metadata, or other information generated during encoding or decoding of the video stream may aid in appropriate snippet selection.

Abstract: A system may include a detector, a controller, and an encoder. The detector may receive data from video input to detect a group of pixels in a video sequence, and may determine whether the group of pixels needs additional bits for encoding. The controller may determine the number of bits for the additional bits and may allocate the additional bits with the number of bits in a data stream. The encoder may by controlled by the controller to encode the group of pixels with the additional bits, and output to the encoded output.

Abstract: A video coding/decoding system builds implied reference frames from a plurality of reference frames developed during coding. Coded data of reference pictures are decoded and stored in a reference picture cache. An implied reference frame may be derived from a plurality of reference frames and may be stored in the reference picture cache. Thereafter, coding of new input data may proceed using the implied reference frame as a source of prediction. The method may be used to identify visual elements such as background elements that may persist in video over a longer period that can be captured by the system under conventional reference frames assembly and eviction. Implied reference frames may be built at both an encoder and a decoder to serve as sources of prediction.

Abstract: A video streaming method for transitioning between multiple sequences of coded video data may include receiving and decoding transmission units from a first sequence of coded video data. In response to a request to transition to a second sequence of coded video data, the method may determine whether a time to transition to the second sequence of coded video data can be reduced by transitioning to the second sequence of coded video data via an intermediate sequence of coded video data. If the time can be reduced, the method may include receiving at least one transmission unit from an intermediate sequence of coded video data that corresponds to the request to transition, decoding the transmission unit from the intermediate sequence, and transitioning from the first sequence to the second sequence via the decoded transmission unit from the intermediate sequence.

Abstract: Video coders may perform perspective transformation of reference frames during coding in a manner that conserves processing resources. When a new input frame is available for coding, a camera position for the input frame may be estimated. A video coder may search for reference pictures having similar camera positions as the position of the input frame and, for each reference picture identified, the video coder may perform a prediction search to identify a reference picture that is the best prediction match for the input frame. Once the video coder identifies a reference picture to serve as a prediction source for the input frame, the video coder may derive a transform to match the reference frame data to the input frame data and may transform the reference picture accordingly. The video coder may code the input frame using the transformed reference picture as a prediction reference and may transmit coded frame data and the camera position of the input frame to a decoder.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for upsampling a video sequence for coding. According to the method, an estimate of camera motion may be obtained from motion sensor data. Video data may be analyzed to detect motion within frames output from a camera that is not induced by the camera motion. When non-camera motion falls within a predetermined operational limit, video upsampling processes may be engaged. In another embodiment, video upsampling may be performed by twice estimating image content for a hypothetical new a frame using two different sources as inputs. A determination may be made whether the two estimates of the frame match each other sufficiently well. If so, the two estimates may be merged to yield a final estimated frame and the new frame may be integrated into a stream of video data.

Abstract: Video coding systems and methods protect against banding artifacts in decoded image content. According to the method, a video coder may identify, from content of pixel blocks of a frame of video data, which pixel blocks are likely to exhibit banding artifacts from the video coding/decoding processes. The video coder may assemble regions of the frame that are likely to exhibit banding artifacts based on the identified pixel blocks' locations with respect to each other. The video coder may apply anti-banding processing to pixel blocks within one or more of the identified regions and, thereafter, may code the processed frame by a compression operation.