Abstract: A method for detecting scene changes in a video sequence in the compressed domain. DC images are extracted from the macroblocks of the video frames. Histogram differences and pixel difference of the DC images are used for scene cut detection, and the changes in the histogram differences are used for gradual scene change detection. Thus, scene cut detection is based on first order derivatives of the histogram and gradual scene change detection is based on second order derivatives of the histogram. If the macroblocks are intra-coded, they are used to compute the exact DC images. If the macroblocks are not intra-coded, motion information in the frame is partially used for scene change detection.

Abstract: A method and system for encoding an image for providing encoded data for transmission or storage. After the image is decomposed by a transform into sub-bands containing blocks or samples of transformed image data organized in a number of bit-planes, it is adjusted to reduce the number of bit-planes prior to being encoded by a bit-plane coder into encoded data. The reduction of the bit-planes is based on the compression factor of the encoding process, the transmission target bit-rate, the type of sub-band and the resolution level of the transformed image data.

Abstract: A method and device for editing a media file comprising input video frames. The editing device comprises a frame analyzer to determine whether the input video frames have the frame characteristics suitable for compressed domain editing or spatial domain editing. For those frames suitable for compressed domain editing, the frame analyzer provides frame data to a compressed domain processor so that video frame data can be modified in the compressed domain. For those frames only suitable for spatial domain editing, the frame analyzer provides frame data to a decoder and then to a spatial domain processor for frame data modification. The modified data at different domains are combined and converted to file format by a file format composer. Moreover, a file format parser is used to separate audio data from video data so that audio data can also be modified, if so desired.

Abstract: A method and device for editing video data to achieve a video effect in a video sequence. From an encoder, transform coefficients of part of the video sequence are obtained. The transform coefficients are mixed with other transform coefficients in a combining module. The output of the combining module is quantized and further processed to provide an edited video bitstream. In the combining module, transform coefficients are multiplied with weighting parameters to achieve different video effects. Furthermore, logo data from a memory can be transformed into further transform coefficients for mixing in order to achieve a logo insertion effect. Moreover, prediction error and motion compensation information obtained from video data can be used to provide a reference frame, and the transform data from the reference frame can be used for mixing to achieve a blending effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the exchange of images and image related data between at least two end points 10, 11, 12, 13, in which exchange at least one wireless terminal 10, 11, 12 is a participating end point. The invention is based on the insight to use the Session Initiation Protocol as an upper layer protocol to enable usage of a client-server protocol that handles images, such that efficient transfer of image related data between a client 10, 11, 12 and a server 10, 11, 12, 13 is achieved. An embodiment of the invention is based on the further insight to use the Session Initiation Protocol as an upper layer protocol to enable usage of the JPIP protocol, which latter is a client-server protocol for handling images, such that efficient transfer of image related data between a client and a server is achieved.

Abstract: A method and device for editing a video sequence while the sequence is in a compressed format. In order to achieve a video effect, editing data indicative of the video effect is applied to residual data from a compressed bitstream. The residual data can be residual error data, transformed residual error data, quantized transformed residual error data or coded, quantized, transformed residual error data. The video effects include fading-in to a color or to a set of colors, fading-out from a color or a set of color, or fading-in from color components in color video frames to color components in monochrome video frames. The editing operations can be multiplication or addition or both.

Abstract: A method and system for allowing a client to carry out image surfing. After connecting with a server, the client can select an image category of images to surf from. Upon request by the client, the server sends a set of thumbnails of images to the client, allowing the client to specify one of them for surfing. The client has a GUI interface by which the client can move a selection box to select a portion of the specified image for viewing. If the client wishes to zoom in, zoom out, or enhance the quality of the viewed area, the client sends a request to the server so that the server can send the client the necessary image sub-component to achieve the zoomed or enhanced image portion.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the processing of image data. Especially the invention applies to the coding and decoding of still images for compression and transfer in a mobile telecommunications system. The objects of the invention are fulfilled by providing an image processing procedure, which is based on wavelet transform (202), successive approximation quantization (204, 208) and guadtree coding (206). The quadtree coding preferably comprises the step of coding the significance with two symbols. The solution does not require large data processing or memory capacity. Still it offers a high image quality for a given bit rate compared to the prior art solutions. The solution according to the invention also satisfies the requirements of progressivity in quality and resolution.

Abstract: A method and device for tracking a region-of-interest in a sequence of image frames, wherein the boundary of the target region of a previous frame is projected onto the current frame so that a search area in the current frame can be established. For every pixel in the search area in the current frame, a search window is established in the previous frame so as to find a matched pixel within the search window. If the matched pixel is within the ROI of the previous frame, then the corresponding pixel in the current frame is preliminarily considered as a pixel within the ROI of the current frame. This backward matching is carried out using a low pass subband in the wavelet domain. The preliminary ROI in the current frame is then refined using edge detection in a high frequency subband.

Abstract: A method and device for tracking a region-of-interest in a sequence of image frames, wherein the boundary of the target region of a previous frame is projected onto the current frame so that a search area in the current frame can be established. For every pixel in the search area in the current frame, a search window is established in the previous frame so as to find a matched pixel within the search window. If the matched pixel is within the ROI of the previous frame, then the corresponding pixel in the current frame is preliminarily considered as a pixel within the ROI of the current frame. This backward matching is carried out using a low pass subband in the wavelet domain. The preliminary ROI in the current frame is then refined using edge detection in a high frequency subband.

Abstract: A method and system for coding a RGB image in an encoder and a decoder. In the encoder, the RGB image components are converted into YUV components. One or more of the lower bit-planes of YUV components are eliminated before the YUV components are transformed by forward wavelet transform and coded into a codestream for transmission. In the decoder, the codestream is decoded and transformed by inverse wavelet transform into a set of reconstructed YUV components. The bit-planes of these reconstructed YUV components are up-shifted so that the up-shifted YUV components are structurally equivalent to the original YUV components before they are adjusted in the encoder. However, the lower bit-planes that come into being due to the up-shifting are all set to zero. The up-shifted YUV components are then converted into the RGB component of the reconstructed image.

Abstract: A method and system for encoding an image for providing encoded data for transmission or storage. After the image is decomposed by a transform into sub-bands containing blocks or samples of transformed image data organized in a number of bit-planes, it is adjusted to reduce the number of bit-planes prior to being encoded by a bit-plane coder into encoded data. The reduction of the bit-planes is based on the compression factor of the encoding process, the transmission target bit-rate, the type of sub-band and the resolution level of the transformed image data.

Abstract: A method and system for coding a RGB image in an encoder and a decoder. In the encoder, the RGB image components are converted into YUV components. One or more of the lower bit-planes of YUV components are eliminated before the YUV components are transformed by forward wavelet transform and coded into a codestream for transmission. In the decoder, the codestream is decoded and transformed by inverse wavelet transform into a set of reconstructed YUV components. The bit-planes of these reconstructed YUV components are up-shifted so that the up-shifted YUV components are structurally equivalent to the original YUV components before they are adjusted in the encoder. However, the lower bit-planes that come into being due to the up-shifting are all set to zero. The up-shifted YUV components are then converted into the RGB component of the reconstructed image.