Abstract: A method is provided decoding a digital image signal in a decoding terminal that uses a variable-complexity decoding, enabling, for at least one step in the decoding, selection of at least one decoding tool from at least two available decoding tools. The method includes the following steps: identifying from the images control images and intermediate images; applying to each of the control images, for at least one step of the decoding, at least one predetermined decoding tool imposed by the signal; applying to at least one of the intermediate images, for at least one step of the decoding, at least one decoding tool selected by the decoding terminal and not imposed by the signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for decoding a signal representative of an image sequence. The method includes extracting motion tubes from the signal, each of the tubes being defined by at least the following information cues: a block of reference pixels comprising reference texture information cues; start-of-tube and end-of-tube instants; and transition information cues. The method further includes processing the transition information cues and combining the information cues associated with the current blocks of at least two of the tubes overlapping in an overlap zone of the current image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of and a device for coding data in a scalable stream organized in units, characterized in that an indication is given in the header of an SVC NAL unit as to whether this NAL unit can be truncated or not in an adaptation operation for the scalable stream concerned

Abstract: Data associated with transmitted information over a communication network are transmitted. The data are divided into data groups. An information item representative of the importance of the data of the data group is associated with each data group. A transmission cycle for the data groups is determined. Each data group is inserted into the determined transmission cycle a number of times depending on the importance of the data of the data group.

Abstract: A method is provided of coding an image or a sequence of images, generating a data stream, each image being split into at least two images blocks, wherein each of which is associated a transformed block comprising a set of coefficients. The coefficients of a transformed block are distributed into group(s) of coefficients according to a predetermined path for reading the transformed blocks. The method includes, for each of the transformed blocks: a step of coding a series of coefficients corresponding to at least one group of coefficients, the series being determined on the basis of a type of series of coefficients that is selected from at least two possible types, and a step of inserting into the data stream a cue representative of the type of series of coefficients that is selected for the image or the sequence of images, or for a portion of the image.

Abstract: A method is provided for encoding a sequence of images generating a data stream in the form of a structure of embedded data layers of n successive levels each of which corresponds to the predetermined resolution of said images. Said method comprises an encoding stage, which encodes at least one of said layers of an n+1 level by prediction on the basis of said level n layer and encodes each data layer of the level n in the form of a base sub-stream and, optionally, in the form of at least one enhancement sub-stream enabling to obtain at least one version of the enhanced quality of said images. The method also encodes, for at least one data layer of the n level, at least one single sub-stream enabling to reconstruct the version of said images at said level n resolution with a quality higher than said enhanced qualities, wherein said single sub-steam of the level n layer is not used during the prediction encoding of the layers of a level other than the level n.

Abstract: A method is provided for filtering a scalable video stream, organized in the form of data unit blocks, each of which comprises a base data unit and a set of data units distributed according to two types of enhancement data, corresponding respectively to time and/or space and/or quality characteristics and making it possible to define several quality levels. The method defines at least two distinct filtering profiles, or paths of each block data units, wherein each path defines a row of successive foldover positions and each foldover position uses at least by one less data units than a previous position, and selects one of the paths according to a predetermined criterion, taking into account the type of content of the stream and/or at least one information item representing the capacities of a terminal receiving the stream.

Abstract: A video image sequence including coefficients of frequency sub-bands with different spatial resolutions is coded. A data stream including at least one restitution level (Niv N?2, Niv N?1, Niv N) is formed. The restitution levels have coefficients of frequency sub-bands whose spatial resolution equals a spatial resolution of the restitution level. There are inserted, in at least one restitution level, coefficients of frequency sub-bands with a spatial resolution higher than the spatial resolution or resolutions of the restitution level.

Abstract: A motion field between a destination image and a source image is densified on the basis of the motion field between the source image and the destination image. Connections between the source image pixels or subpixels (X11, X111, X12, X121) and the destination image pixels or subpixels (B, C?, E, F) are determined. For each pixel or subpixel of the destination image connected to a pixel or subpixel of the source image, a pixel or subpixel association space (Fen) including one pixel or subpixel of the destination image is determined. Each pixel or subpixel in the association space (A, A?, B, B?, C, C?) is associated with the source image pixel (X11) connected to the pixel or subpixel to form a dense motion field between the destination and source images.

Abstract: A video image sequence is coded or decoded. By motion compensated temporal filtering, using discrete wavelet decomposition, the discrete wavelet is decomposed by dividing the video image sequence into source and destination groups of images. An image in the destination group is determined from at least one image including pixels in the first group of the source group. The representative image includes pixels and subpixels determined from pixels and subpixels obtained by upsampling at least one image in the source group.

Abstract: This method of processing multimedia content description data sets to deliver a plurality of output data sets (141, 142, . . . , 14n) from a single input data set (10), the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: allocating priority coefficients (16) to at least some of the description data in the input data set (10); associating priority coefficient thresholds (18) with a predetermined number of output data sets (141, 142, . . . , 14n); and distributing the data to the output data sets (141, 142, . . . , 14n) as a function of the priority coefficients (16) allocated to the elements of the input data set and as a function of the thresholds (18) associated with each of the output data sets.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method of inserting a message in a subset (VO) of digital data representing physical quantities, characterized in that it includes the steps of: estimating (E4) a capacity to receive a message for said subset, selecting (E5) a message with a size less than or equal to the estimated capacity, in a set of a messages, inserting (E6) the selected message in the said subset of digital data. The invention applies particularly to an object in a digital image.

Abstract: A method of transmitting blocks of data, in which, for at least one of the blocks of data, at least one parameter associated with this block of data is transmitted, the parameter representing the relative importance of the block of data associated with this parameter within the message transmitted by all the blocks of data. The data is coded by a channel coding method which does not take into account the parameter. Correlatively, the invention also concerns a decoding method associated with this transmission method. This way, data judged to be more important than other data may benefit from a channel decoding of higher quality. The methods described herein have application to devices and appliances implementing these methods.

Abstract: The method of recording audiovisual contents broadcast according to a schedule includes: a step of selecting from an access terminal an audiovisual content to be recorded, the content being associated with a broadcast date and time, and a step of the access terminal receiving a record file of the selected audiovisual content, said file containing information identifying the audiovisual content and the scheduled date and time for broadcasting it. The record file further includes the address of an update server for generating a request to update the record file sent by the terminal to the update server.

Abstract: Data associated with transmitted information over a communication network are transmitted. The data are divided into data groups. An information item representative of the importance of the data of the data group is associated with each data group. A transmission cycle for the data groups is determined. Each data group is inserted into the determined transmission cycle a number of times depending on the importance of the data of the data group.

Abstract: The method of recording audiovisual contents broadcast according to a schedule includes: a step of selecting from an access terminal an audiovisual content to be recorded associated with a broadcast date and time, and a step of the access terminal receiving a record file of the selected audiovisual content, said file containing information identifying the audiovisual content and the scheduled date and time for broadcasting it. It further comprises: a preliminary step of the access terminal selecting a set of contents having a common topic, said set being offered by an audiovisual content presentation server, which then selects the audiovisual content automatically on the basis of the set selected; and a step of updating the record file, especially in the event of modification of the audiovisual content selected by the presentation server.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of analyzing a set of data representing physical quantities, including the steps of: decomposition (E20) of the set of data on a plurality of resolution levels, first segmentation (E21) of at least one sub-part of a given resolution level, into at least two homogeneous regions, said given resolution level not being the highest resolution level in the decomposition, characterized in that it includes the steps of: extraction (E81) of contour data from the result of the segmentation of the previous steps, second segmentation (E25) of at least one sub-part of the resolution level higher than the given level into at least one homogeneous region, as a function of the contour data extracted.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of coding a set of data (IM) representing physical quantities, characterized in that it includes the steps of: decomposing (E20) the set of data into a plurality of frequency sub-bands on at least one resolution level, then, for each resolution level, segmenting (E23, E26) at least one sub-band into at least two homogeneous regions, in order to form a segmentation map, ordering (E30, E33) the regions according to a predetermined criterion, coding (E21) the sub-bands of the resolution level under consideration, ordering (E31, E34) the coding data of the sub-bands as a function of the order of the regions.

Abstract: In order to code a digital signal, a simplified version of the digital signal is determined, containing only some of the information contained in the digital signal. The simplified version is coded by means of a predetermined single coding technique. This simplified version is subtracted from the digital signal, so as to obtain a residual signal. From each block of the simplified version, there is selected, for each corresponding block of the residual signal, a coding technique amongst a predetermined number M of coding techniques Ci, where i is an integer between 1 and M. Each block of the residual signal is coded by means of the previously selected coding technique.

Abstract: A digital signal coding method includes a step of analysing the digital signal into a plurality of frequency sub-bands distributed according to at least two different resolutions, at least one first sub-band having a lower resolution and at least one second sub-band having a higher resolution. The method includes, for each second sub-band, the steps of dividing the second sub-bands into target blocks, selecting, for each of the target blocks, a predetermined number of source blocks in the at least one first sub-band, and determining, for each of the target blocks, a multilinear approximation between the source blocks selected at the preceding step and the target block.