Abstract: A method is provided for digitally signing a file that contains hierarchically structured data objects, the method including the steps of: generating at least one signature data object at the file level, calculating a digital signature for data from the file, and writing the calculated digital signature into the generated signature data object.

Abstract: According to the invention, there are provided sets of contexts specifically adapted to encode special coefficients of a prediction error matrix, on the basis of previously encoded values of level k. Furthermore, the number of values of levels other than 0 is explicitly encoded and numbers of appropriate contexts are selected on the basis of the number of spectral coefficients other than 0.

Abstract: A reconstructed image is provided within the framework of predictive coding. The reconstructed image is compressed according to a coding mode of an image coding device and stored in a reference image memory.

Abstract: According to the invention, there are provided sets of contexts specifically adapted to encode special coefficients of a prediction error matrix, on the basis of previously encoded values of level k. Furthermore, the number of values of levels other than 0 is explicitly encoded and numbers of appropriate contexts are selected on the basis of the number of spectral coefficients other than 0.

Abstract: Information values are created by nodes and directed edges describing dependencies between two nodes or information values, respectively, in the form of a directed graph for a database query. By using a path distance describing a number of directed edges between a selected node and a target tuple, formed of two nodes connected to a directed edge and a associated directed edge, a reduction of a complexity of a database query and thus an acceleration of the database query can be achieved. The search method can be used, for example, for monitoring systems or in medical databases. Furthermore, the search method can be used for databases which are dynamically extended, for example by new events in the monitoring system.

Abstract: Files which are available for dissemination in a controlled peer-to-peer network are provided with a watermark comprising a large number of watermark elements. Upon download, the composition of the parts of the file which are obtained from a plurality of source stations provides a new watermark which can clearly be associated with the target station. By storing information about forwarded watermark elements of a network server, it is possible to reconstruct for each file the network station from which this file originates.

Abstract: A first set of parameters for describing additional items of information that are needed to process a data block of a data stream at a processing time are compiled using a processing unit. The method can be used in distribution services where a user wishes to access the data block at different times.

Abstract: A method for processing data packets of a data stream, in which the received data packets are processed in real-time by a first unit and only data packets that are received error-free are processed by a second unit, include a data sink initially receiving only the data packets processed by a first unit. Once a second unit and the first unit are processing identical data packets nearly simultaneously, data packets processed by the second unit can be routed to the data sink. Embodiments of the invention can be used advantageously in video coding, for example with a video-on-demand service or image analysis within the framework of a surveillance system.

Abstract: A reconstructed image is provided within the framework of predictive coding. The reconstructed image is compressed according to a coding mode of an image coding device and stored in a reference image memory.

Abstract: Methods and devices transform image data, which are transformed by a compression filter before being compressed and stored in a reference image memory. In an extension, an inverse transformation to that of the compression filter is performed by a decompression filter when image data from the reference memory are read out and decompressed. The methods and devices can be used for image compression methods and image decompression methods that use reference image memories.

Abstract: A method controls a translation of predefined rules and/or of incoming data. The data is described in an XML schema. A conversion of hierarchically arranged elements of the XML schema into a list containing list entries is performed. This is effected in that for an element representing a parent component in the XML schema, a fact class is created which for every possible relationship arising from the parent component contains a fact element containing all elements of the path of the relevant relationship of the XML schema, wherein the fact elements represent the list entries of the fact class. At least one of the fact elements is assigned property information which represents a processing instruction for the assigned fact element for the translation of the rules and/or data. A translation of the rules and/or data is affected.

Abstract: A method determines a predicted image area for an image area, in which a temporal predictor for the image area is determined based on a reconstructed image that precedes said image, a local predictor for the image area is determined within a reconstructed image area of the image, a margin of error between the image area and the image area predicted image area is determined by the local predictor using the reconstructed image area and by the temporal predictor using one of the preceding images. A predicted image area can be reconstructed. Also disclosed are an establishing device for carrying out the method for determining a predicted image area as well as a reconstructing device for carrying out the reconstruction method.

Abstract: A series of decoded images is generated from a series of original images encoded by a first encoding technique following movement-compensated, predictive encoding, where a starting image of a group of successive original images that are to be encoded is defined by a second encoding technique following movement-compensated, temporally filtered partial band encoding based on a determined encoding property of a decoded image of the group of images that are to be encoded, the decoded image is used for generating an output image having a low resolution level, before the images are encoded. At least one output image is generated on each level of resolution from the successive original images of the group of from at least one decoded image during image encoding. The decoded images are provided only with a reduced quality while the reconstituted images are of great quality.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image encoding method in which a series of decoded images are generated from a series of original images with the aid of a first encoding process. Furthermore, a series of second images are generated from an image group of the series of original images with the aid of an INTER encoding mode of the second encoding process, at least one decoded image being used as a reference image. The reference image represents an original image area is to be encoded. A image decoding method decodes second images generated by the image encoding method.

Abstract: Information values are created by nodes and directed edges describing dependencies between two nodes or information values, respectively, in the form of a directed graph for a database query. By using a path distance describing a number of directed edges between a selected node and a target tuple, formed of two nodes connected to a directed edge and a associated directed edge, a reduction of a complexity of a database query and thus an acceleration of the database query can be achieved. The search method can be used, for example, for monitoring systems or in medical databases. Furthermore, the search method can be used for databases which are dynamically extended, for example by new events in the monitoring system.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for compressing and decompressing video data streams, according to which the statistical relationship between image symbols and the context assigned thereto is used for compression. Particularly disclosed is a context-sensitive encoding unit in which the image symbols filed in an image storage are assigned to different encoding branches via a context switch, where they are encoded and compressed by a Golomb encoder and a run length encoder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and to a method for processing data packets of a data stream, in which the received data packets are processed in real-time by a first unit and only data packets that are received error-free are processed by a second unit. Data packets that are faulty or not received are requested repeatedly and routed to the second unit upon error-free receipt. A data sink initially receives only the data packets processed by the first unit. Once the second unit and first unit are processing identical data packets nearly simultaneously, only the data packets processed by the second unit are routed to the data sink. The invention can be used advantageously in video coding, for example with a video-on-demand service or image analysis within the framework of a surveillance system.

Abstract: In a data aggregate formed of multimedia independent fragments, each of the fragments is assigned a respective explicit identifier for identifying that fragment. The identifier is stored in a respective metadata structure associated with the fragment. The metadata structure is used to store the identifiers for a first sequence, such as chronological order, and/or a second sequence, such as reverse chronological order.

Abstract: A coding method codes a sequence of digitized images with a plurality of macro blocks in error-prone networks in which case the macro blocks in a section of the image are coded in a first intra-coding mode depending on predetermined criteria. In addition, the macro blocks in a section of the image are coded in a second intra-coding mode or in an inter-coding mode in which case in the inter-coding mode for the macro blocks, movement vectors are selected from the number of accessible reference images. The selection from the number of accessible reference images is limited in such a way that referencing takes place from image areas that were not subjected to the first intra-coding mode at a later stage.

Abstract: A method generates a marked data flow from an encoded data flow; at least one first data flow section of the encoded data flow is marked as a marked data flow section; and the marking of the marked data flow section indicates that the marked data flow section is suitable to be mixed with a watermark. A method inserts watermarks into the marked data flow, and devices generate the marked data flow and insert watermarks into the marked data flow.