Abstract: A method is provided for adapting models on the basis of link quality indicators. A plurality of statistical models which predict whether a given data bit in a stream of data bits is in error are first defined, where each model includes an indicator of bit errors in the bit stream used to train the model. The method then includes: receiving a data packet at a receiver in a wireless network; determining an indicator of bit errors for the received data packet; and processing the data packet at the receiver using a model from the plurality of models which correlates to the bit error indicator for the data packet.

Abstract: A method is provided for improving error recovery of corrupt data packets in a wireless communication system. The method includes: receiving a plurality of incoming data packets over a wireless medium at a receiver; capturing an indicator of bit errors for each of the data packets at a layer of the receiver below an application layer; passing the bit error indicator for each of the data packets to the application layer of the receiver; and performing an error recovery operation in relation to a given data packet at the application layer using the bit error indicator associated with the given data packet.

Abstract: A coding system and method employs a Partial Reed Solomon (PRS) code profile of order s having an s-partition on a set of parity symbols and a (s+1)-partition on a set of message symbols. In other aspects, an adaptive forward error correction scheme keeps block length and transmission rate fixed, while changing an underlying code profile based on received feedback information about a probability of erasure p from a channel.

Abstract: Improved efficiency in transmission of FGS encoded video data is achieved by reducing the transmission of overhead information items necessary to decode the received video data. After establishing an initial or first set of criteria for selectively enhancing areas within an image, each subsequent transmission frame includes an indicator that informs a receiving system to decode the current frame using the previously established criteria. The initial criteria include shift factor values specifying selectively enhanced areas of an image; position, displacement vector, size and enhancement factor for at least one area of interest with in an image; and known fixed values contained at both the transmitting and receiving systems.

Abstract: A multicast packet video system includes a codec placement module placing codecs in nodes of a multicasting network. In some aspects, the placement includes receiving, at a parent node of the network, feedback from its child nodes indicating a number of the child nodes unable to decode FEC blocks, and placing a codec at the parent node if the number exceeds a threshold. In alternative or additional aspects, the placement includes placing codecs in nodes of a multicasting tree of the network by recursively performing a search of a network topology T to find an optimum node c at which to place a codec in order to obtain a maximum improvement in average video-packet throughput over nodes of the tree as a result of the codec recovering lost video and parity packets and transmitting them downstream.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for streaming scalable video data over a variable-bandwidth network such as a packet-based one. In other words, the number of bits (for FGS) or sub-layers (for discrete multi-layer scalability) is chosen to be transmitted for each enhancement layer frame. Further, these bits or sub-layers are also partitioned over multiple packets if being sent over a packet-based network. Further, a windowing function is used to smooth the variation in the number of bits or sub-layers transmitted for each frame in situations where the network bandwidth is varying.

Abstract: A video coding technique having motion compensation for bi-directional predicted frames (B-frames) and predicted frames (P-frames). The video coding technique involves a single-loop prediction-based base layer which includes base layer B- and/or P-frames that are generated from “extended” or “enhanced” base layer reference frames during base layer coding.

Abstract: A video coding technique having motion compensation within a fine granular scalable coded enhancement layer. In one embodiment, the video coding technique involves a two-loop prediction-based enhancement layer including non-motion-predicted enhancement layer I- and P-frames and motion-predicted enhancement layer B-frames. The motion-predicted enhancement layer B-frames are computed using: 1) motion-prediction from two temporally adjacent differential I- and P- or P- and P-frame residuals, and 2) the differential B-frame residuals obtained by subtracting the decoded base layer B-frame residuals from the original base layer B-frame residuals. In a second embodiment, the enhancement layer further includes motion-predicted enhancement layer P-frames.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to rearranging the transmission order of the enhancement-layer frames. By making the display and transmission order of the enhancement layer frames identical, a frame memory is not required on the decoder-side to hold the enhancement-layer frame until being displayed since the display can take place immediately after the decoding. Reducing the amount of memory is desirable for mobile applications or other low-power consumption devices.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for estimating retransmission timeout (RTO) in a real-time streaming applications over the Internet between a server and a client. Accordingly, the present invention employs retransmission timeout (RTO) in NACK-based applications to support multiple retransmission attempts per lost packet, wherein the RTO is estimated by an actual around-trip delay (RTT) and a smooth inter-packet delay variance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for encoding video data in an embedded fashion in order to achieve fine granular scalable video. The method includes the video data being transformed into a plurality of DCT coefficients. Further, the DCT coefficients are arranged into sub-groups and the DCT coefficients are scanned according to the sub-groups. The DCT coefficients being scanned by the sub-groups enables a higher level of scalability to be achieved.

Abstract: Respective encoders provide a first and second encoded MPEG-2 data streams for a first and second program respectively. Each stream includes at least video and audio components. The encoder provides seamless video splice-in and splice-out points. A play-to-air splicer is commanded to switch the broadcast output from the first input stream to the second input streams. The splicer identifies approximately aligned seamless video splice-in and seamless video splice-out points in the respective first and second video streams. The splicer splices the second video stream to the first video stream, but continues to broadcast the first audio stream. The splicer identifies corresponding audio splice-in and splice-out points. The splicer splices the second audio component to the first audio component. The splicer adjusts the decode and presentation times in the second stream after the respective slice-in to be consistent with such times in the first program.

Abstract: Respective encoders provide a first and second encoded MPEG-2 data streams for a first and second program respectively. Each stream includes at least video and audio components. The encoder provides seamless video splice-in and splice-out points. A play-to-air splicer is commanded to switch the broadcast output from the first input stream to the second input streams. The splicer identifies approximately aligned seamless video splice-in and seamless video splice-out points in the respective first and second video streams. The splicer splices the second video stream to the first video stream, but continues to broadcast the first audio stream. The splicer identifies corresponding audio splice-in and splice-out points. The splicer splices the second audio component to the first audio component. The splicer adjusts the decode and presentation times in the second stream after the respective slice-in to be consistent with such times in the first program.

Abstract: There is disclosed a video encoder comprising a base layer encoder and an enhancement layer encoder. The base layer encoder receives an input stream of video frames and generates compressed base layer video data suitable for transmission to a streaming video receiver. The enhancement layer encoder receives the input stream of video frames and a decoded version of the compressed base layer video data and generates enhancement layer video data associated with the compressed base layer video data and suitable for transmission to the streaming video receiver. The video encoder also comprises a controller associated with the enhancement layer circuitry for receiving a quantization parameter associated with the base layer video data and determining therefrom at least one all-zero bit plane associated with at least one block of the enhancement layer video data. The controller is capable of causing the enhancement layer circuitry not to transmit the at least one all-zero bit plane to the streaming video receiver.

Abstract: In a Fine Granular Video encoding system, a method for determining the number of transmission bits of SNR encoded and temporally encoded video data within a frame to balance image quality and object motion is presented. In accordance with the principles of the invention, a number of transmission bits at a known bit-rate for a quality enhanced video frame and a temporal enhanced video frame is determined to balance image quality and object motion smoothness. In one aspect of the invention, the number of bits transmitted in each frame is determined by comparing a ratio of a measure of video encoded information within the quality enhanced video frame and a measure of video encode information within the quality enhanced video frame and the temporally enhanced video frame to a known threshold level. The number of transmission bits in each enhancement layer is then determined using a first method when the ratio is above a known threshold and using a second method otherwise.

Abstract: A network node (124) includes an input module operable to receive an original scalable bit stream (126) having an original bandwidth range, a transcaling module operable to generate a new scalable bit stream (128) having a new bandwidth range, wherein the new bandwidth range corresponds to a range of bandwidth that is different from that of the original bandwidth range, and an output module operable to transmit said new scalable bit stream (128) downstream.

Abstract: There is disclosed a decoder buffer capable of receiving streaming video data packets and storing the data packets in a plurality of access units. Each of the access units holds at least one data packet associated with a selected frame in the streaming video. The decoder buffer comprises: 1) a first buffer region comprising at least one access unit for storing data packets that are less immediately needed by the video decoder; and 2) a re-transmission region comprising at least one access unit for storing data packets that are most immediately needed by the video decoder. The decoder buffer, in response to a detection of a missing data packet in the re-transmission region, requests that the streaming video transmitter retransmit the missing packet.

Abstract: There is disclosed a delay budget controller for use with a decoder buffer that receives streaming data packets over a data network from a streaming transmitter and stores the data packets in a plurality of access units for subsequent retrieval by a streaming data decoder. The delay budget controller comprises 1) a first controller for monitoring at least one network parameter associated with the data network; and 2) a second controller for monitoring in the decoder buffer a delay budget region comprising a sequence of access units that are about to be accessed sequentially by the data decoder. The delay budget region comprises a retransmission region and a late region separated by a temporal boundary, wherein the second controller detects missing data packets in the retransmission region and the late region and, in response to detection of a missing data packet in the retransmission region, transmits a retransmission request for the missing data packet to the streaming transmitter.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to rearranging the transmission order of the enhancement-layer frames. By making the display and transmission order of the enhancement layer frames identical, a frame memory is not required on the decoder-side to hold the enhancement-layer frame until being displayed since the display can take place immediately after the decoding. Reducing the amount of memory is desirable for mobile applications or other low-power consumption devices.

Abstract: A system for coding video data comprised of one or more frames codes a portion of the video data using a frame-prediction coding technique, and generates residual images based on the video data and the coded video data. The system then codes the residual images using a fine-granular scalability coding technique, and outputs the coded video data and at least one of the coded residual images to a receiver.