Abstract: A processing system analyzes pixel activity levels of blocks of a picture at a plurality of spatial scales and/or dynamic ranges to generate a multi-scale metric that indicates how bit allocation or assignment of a given quantization parameter (QP) will affect the perceptual quality of the block. Blocks that have similar multi-scale metrics are likely to be visually similar and to benefit from similar bit allocations or QPs. Based on the multi-scale metric, an encoder encodes each block of the picture with a QP and/or a number of bits.

Abstract: A processing system analyzes pixel activity levels of blocks of a picture at a plurality of spatial scales and/or dynamic ranges to generate a multi-scale metric that indicates how bit allocation or assignment of a given quantization parameter (QP) will affect the perceptual quality of the block. Blocks that have similar multi-scale metrics are likely to be visually similar and to benefit from similar bit allocations or QPs. Based on the multi-scale metric, an encoder encodes each block of the picture with a QP and/or a number of bits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing video utilize individually collected image enhancement statistic information from differing processor cores for a same frame or multi-view that are then either shared between the processor cores or used by a third processor core to combine the statistical information that has been individually collected to generate global image-enhancement control information. The global image enhancement control information is based on a global analysis of both left and right eye views for example using the independently generated statistic information for a pair of frames. Respective image output information is produced by each of the plurality of processor cores based on the global image enhancement control information, for display on one or more displays.

Abstract: A wireless display system and method decompresses a compressed video stream, such as obtained from suitable video sources such as a cable modem, DVD player or other suitable source, to produce a decompressed video stream locally. The decompressed video stream, such as frames, is stored in a local frame buffer, such as an on-chip frame buffer, system memory, or any other suitable memory. The system and method then recompresses the stored frames and wirelessly transmits the recompressed frames using a short range wireless transmitter, such as a radio frequency-based short range transmitter, an infrared short range wireless transmitter, or any other suitable short range transmitter that may provide, for example, local area networking.

Abstract: In general, in an aspect, the invention provides a multimedia entertainment system including a communication link, a video source coupled to the communication link and configured to produce a video signal and provide the video signal to the communication link, a video display coupled to the communication link and configured to receive the video signal from the video source via the communication link, and to provide dynamic display characteristic information indicative of a display capability of the video display to the video source via the communication link, wherein the video source is configured to receive the dynamic display characteristic information and to produce the video signal as a function of the dynamic display characteristic information, and wherein the video display is configured to display a video image in accordance with the video signal provided by the video source.

Abstract: A video decoder block provides a common pathway for processing video signals encoded using different video formats. The video decoder block passes the video signals through the same processing components in order convert the signals to a common format for display or storage. Each processing component cat be disabled or by-passed to enable or disable the function performed by the component. This reduces the number of components and signal processors required in devices that need to accommodate signals of different formats.

Abstract: A video graphics chip includes a graphics module configured to process incoming video information in accordance with different modes to produce a video output signal and to transmit the video output signal toward a display screen for rendering of video corresponding to the video information, and a display mode module coupled to the graphics module configured to analyze the incoming video information to determine a type of video associated with the incoming video information and to send a video mode indication of a preferred video processing mode for the incoming video information to the graphics module, where the graphics module is configured to process the incoming video information in accordance with a selected mode from the plurality of different modes based on the video mode indication received from the display module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing video utilize individually collected image enhancement statistic information from differing processor cores for a same frame or multi-view that are then either shared between the processor cores or used by a third processor core to combine the statistical information that has been individually collected to generate global image-enhancement control information. The global image enhancement control information is based on a global analysis of both left and right eye views for example using the independently generated statistic information for a pair of frames. Respective image output information is produced by each of the plurality of processor cores based on the global image enhancement control information, for display on one or more displays.

Abstract: Multiple Video Graphic Adapters (VGAs) are used to render video data to a common port. In one embodiment, each VGA will render an entire frame of video and provide it to the output port through a switch. The next adjacent frame will be calculated by a separate VGA and provided to an output port through the switch. A voltage adjustment is made to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) of at least one of the VGAs in order to correlate the video-out voltages being provided by the VGAs. This correlation assures that the color being viewed on the screen is uniform regardless of which VGA is providing the signal. A dummy switch receives the video-output from each of the VGAs. When a VGA is not providing information to the output port, the dummy switch can be selected to provide the video-output of the selected VGA a resistance path which matches the resistance at the video port. This allows the video graphics controller to maintain a constant thermal state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing a compressed video stream or an uncompressed video stream is disclosed. The uncompressed video stream may be ZOOM VIDEO data. The compressed video stream may be a TRANSPORT STREAM data from a High Definition Television (HDTV) broadcast. A video graphics adapter is configured to properly receive one of the two types of video data. The received data and control signals are monitored to provide a second set of control of data signal which are used by a packer and an window control to provide data of a predetermined width and control to an address generator. The data is buffered within a graphics memory such as a frame buffer. The graphics memory can be written to system memory when full, or accessed by the system memory controller during the fill operation if a multi-ported memory is used.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for measuring noise in video image processing. The described methods use horizontal and vertical variances of pixels of an image to extract noise information from the image. Silent regions in an image are considered to determine amplitude variations in the image. A smallest silent region in the image is searched by performing measurements over various block sizes. A least sum of absolute differences approach is used on both horizontal and vertical directions for finding the minimum energy of a received image signal. Using the disclosed method and processor, with a Gaussian distribution for the measured channel noise, both silent image regions, as well as edges, are equally covered.

Abstract: Multiple Video Graphic Adapters (VGAs) are used to render video data to a common port. In one embodiment, each VGA will render an entire frame of video and provide it to the output port through a switch. The next adjacent frame will be calculated by a separate VGA and provided to an output port through the switch. A voltage adjustment is made to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) of at least one of the VGAs in order to correlate the video-out voltages being provided by the VGAs. This correlation assures that the color being viewed on the screen is uniform regardless of which VGA is providing the signal. A dummy switch receives the video-output from each of the VGAs. When a VGA is not providing information to the output port, the dummy switch can be selected to provide the video-output of the selected VGA a resistance path which matches the resistance at the video port. This allows the video graphics controller to maintain a constant thermal state.

Abstract: Multiple Video Graphic Adapters (VGAs) are used to render video data to a common port. In one embodiment, each VGA will render an entire frame of video and provide it to the output port through a switch. The next adjacent frame will be calculated by a separate VGA and provided to an output port through the switch. A voltage adjustment is made to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) of at least one of the VGAs in order to correlate the video-out voltages being provided by the VGAs. This correlation assures that the color being viewed on the screen is uniform regardless of which VGA is providing the signal. When a VGA is not providing information to the output port, a dummy switch can be selected to provide the video-output of the selected VGA a resistance path which matches the resistance at the video port.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed wherein the horizontal and vertical variances of the pixels of an image are determined to calculate a noise measurement in a received image.

Abstract: A wireless drawing command transmitting unit includes a wireless transmitter operative to transmit drawing commands associated with a master image renderer. A wireless drawing command receiving unit includes a wireless receiver operative to receive the transmitted drawing commands and generates an image for a display device using the drawing commands transmitted wirelessly. In addition, the wireless drawing command receiving unit transmits drawing command throttle data back to the wireless drawing command transmitting unit to throttle transmission of drawing commands that are sent by the drawing command transmitting unit. A method for providing wireless display of images is also disclosed.

Abstract: In general, in an aspect, the invention provides a multimedia entertainment system including a communication link, a video source coupled to the communication link and configured to produce a video signal and provide the video signal to the communication link, a video display coupled to the communication link and configured to receive the video signal from the video source via the communication link, and to provide dynamic display characteristic information indicative of a display capability of the video display to the video source via the communication link, wherein the video source is configured to receive the dynamic display characteristic information and to produce the video signal as a function of the dynamic display characteristic information, and wherein the video display is configured to display a video image in accordance with the video signal provided by the video source.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for independent video and graphics scaling in a video graphics system is accomplished by receiving a video data stream, wherein the video data stream includes video data in a first format. A graphics data stream is also received, and the graphics data stream includes graphics data in a second format. The video data of the video data stream is scaled based on a ratio between the first format and a selected video format to produce a scaled video stream. Similarly, the graphics data of the graphics data stream is scaled based on a ratio between the second format and a selected graphics format in order to produce a scaled graphics stream. The scaled video stream and the scaled graphics stream are then merged to produce a video graphics output stream.

Abstract: A method for deinterlacing interlaced video using a graphics processor includes receiving at least one instruction for a 2D/3D engine to facilitate creation of an adaptively deinterlaced frame image from at least a first interlaced field. The method also includes performing, by the 2D/3D engine, at least a portion of adaptive deinterlacing based on at least the first interlaced field, in response to the at least one instruction to produce at least a portion of the adaptively deinterlaced frame image. Once the information is deinterlaced, the method includes retrieving, by a graphics processor display engine, the stored adaptively deinterlaced frame image generated by the 2D/3D engine, for display on one or more display devices. The method also includes issuing 2D/3D instructions to the 2D/3D engine to carry out deinterlacing of lines of video data from interlaced fields. This may be done, for example, by another processing device, such as a host CPU, or any other suitable processing device.

Abstract: A digitally programmable gain control circuit and method of operating the same is disclosed. The gain control circuit includes a programmable gain amplifier having an amplifier structure represented by a plurality of overlapping discrete monotonic transfer function segments, wherein at least one point of non-monotonicity occurs among one or more of the plurality of overlapping discrete monotonic transfer function segments, and a gain segment translator circuit operative to translate a monotonic gain value to a segment code to match the non-monotonic characteristics of the programmable gain amplifier. The programmability of the gain amplifier is provided by a coarse gain control circuit and a fine gain control circuit.

Abstract: A system and method are described for providing an improved ratiometric expansion of video images. Source video images are set to a lower resolution than the full resolution of a pixelated display device. The source video images are up-scaled to match the display resolution of the display device. Pixels in the source video image are replicated to form a partially up-scaled video image that has frequency content well below the Nyquist rate of the image. The replicated image is then re-sampled through the use of a two-tap filter to generate a video image with the same resolution as the display device.