Abstract: Computing devices may implement instant video communication connections for video communications. Connection information for mobile computing devices may be maintained. A request to initiate an instant video communication may be received, and if authorized, the connection information for the particular recipient mobile computing device may be accessed. Video communication data may then be sent to the recipient mobile computing device according to the connection information so that the video communication data may be displayed at the recipient device as it is received. New connection information for different mobile computing devices may be added, or updates to existing connection information may also be performed. Connection information for some mobile computing devices may be removed.

Abstract: Computing devices may implement instant video communication connections for video communications. Connection information for mobile computing devices may be maintained. A request to initiate an instant video communication may be received, and if authorized, the connection information for the particular recipient mobile computing device may be accessed. Video communication data may then be sent to the recipient mobile computing device according to the connection information so that the video communication data may be displayed at the recipient device as it is received. New connection information for different mobile computing devices may be added, or updates to existing connection information may also be performed. Connection information for some mobile computing devices may be removed.

Abstract: Computing devices may implement instant video communication connections for video communications. Connection information for mobile computing devices may be maintained. A request to initiate an instant video communication may be received, and if authorized, the connection information for the particular recipient mobile computing device may be accessed. Video communication data may then be sent to the recipient mobile computing device according to the connection information so that the video communication data may be displayed at the recipient device as it is received. New connection information for different mobile computing devices may be added, or updates to existing connection information may also be performed. Connection information for some mobile computing devices may be removed.

Abstract: Computing devices may implement instant video communication connections for video communications. Connection information for mobile computing devices may be maintained. A request to initiate an instant video communication may be received, and if authorized, the connection information for the particular recipient mobile computing device may be accessed. Video communication data may then be sent to the recipient mobile computing device according to the connection information so that the video communication data may be displayed at the recipient device as it is received. New connection information for different mobile computing devices may be added, or updates to existing connection information may also be performed. Connection information for some mobile computing devices may be removed.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods whereby a base coded video signal is provided to a decoder having a set of post-processing stages. The base coded video signal can be decoded to produce a base decoded video signal. Post-processing of the base decoded video signal can be used to produce an enhanced quality video output signal. Application of a post-processing stage can be implemented according to the capabilities of the decoder and/or the instantaneous operating parameters of the decoder and/or characteristics of a display. A control signal, communicated over a dedicated channel separate from the base coded video signal, can be used initiate and/or aid implementation of a post-processing stage. The control signal can also provide information to assist/manage the decoding of the base coded video signal. The use of additional post-processing stages increases the complexity of an overall decoding process while improving the quality of a resulting reproduced video sequence.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus are presented for reducing distortion in an image, such as a video image. A video image can be captured by an image capture device, e.g. during a video conferencing session. Distortion correction processing, such as the application of one or more warping techniques, can be applied to the captured image to produce a distortion corrected image, which can be transmitted to one or more participants. The warping techniques can be performed in accordance with one or more warp parameters specifying a transformation of the captured image. Further, the warp parameters can be generated in accordance with an orientation of the image capture device, which can be determined based on sensor data or can be a fixed value. Additionally or alternatively, the warp parameters can be determined in accordance with a reference image or model to which the captured image should be warped.

Abstract: A rate control system is disclosed for video coding applications. The rate controller assigns a quantization parameter for video data in a picture in response to complexity indicators indicative of spatial complexity, motion complexity and/or bits per pel of the picture. A virtual buffer based quantizer parameter is proposed based on a virtual buffer fullness analysis and a target rate estimate, which is derived from the complexity indicators. A second quantizer parameter is proposed from a linear regression analysis of quantizer parameters used to code previously coded pictures of similar type (e.g., I pictures, P pictures or B pictures). A coding policy decision unit defines a final quantizer parameter from a comparison of the two proposed quantizer parameters.

Abstract: Techniques for encoding data based at least in part upon an awareness of the decoding complexity of the encoded data and the ability of a target decoder to decode the encoded data are disclosed. In some embodiments, a set of data is encoded based at least in part upon a state of a target decoder to which the encoded set of data is to be provided. In some embodiments, a set of data is encoded based at least in part upon the states of multiple decoders to which the encoded set of data is to be provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus are presented for reducing distortion in an image, such as a video image. A video image can be captured by an image capture device, e.g. during a video conferencing session. Distortion correction processing, such as the application of one or more warping techniques, can be applied to the captured image to produce a distortion corrected image, which can be transmitted to one or more participants. The warping techniques can be performed in accordance with one or more warp parameters specifying a transformation of the captured image. Further, the warp parameters can be generated in accordance with an orientation of the image capture device, which can be determined based on sensor data or can be a fixed value. Additionally or alternatively, the warp parameters can be determined in accordance with a reference image or model to which the captured image should be warped.

Abstract: A rate control system is disclosed for video coding applications. The rate controller assigns a quantization parameter for video data in a picture in response to complexity indicators indicative of spatial complexity, motion complexity and/or bits per pel of the picture. A virtual buffer based quantizer parameter is proposed based on a virtual buffer fullness analysis and a target rate estimate, which is derived from the complexity indicators. A second quantizer parameter is proposed from a linear regression analysis of quantizer parameters used to code previously coded pictures of similar type (e.g., I pictures, P pictures or B pictures). A coding policy decision unit defines a final quantizer parameter from a comparison of the two proposed quantizer parameters.

Abstract: A rate control system is disclosed for video coding applications. The rate controller assigns a quantization parameter for video data in a picture in response to complexity indicators indicative of spatial complexity, motion complexity and/or bits per pel of the picture. A virtual buffer based quantizer parameter is proposed based on a virtual buffer fullness analysis and a target rate estimate, which is derived from the complexity indicators. A second quantizer parameter is proposed from a linear regression analysis of quantizer parameters used to code previously coded pictures of similar type (e.g., I pictures, P pictures or B pictures). A coding policy decision unit defines a final quantizer parameter from a comparison of the two proposed quantizer parameters.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods whereby a base coded video signal is provided to a decoder having a set of post-processing stages. The base coded video signal can be decoded to produce a base decoded video signal. Post-processing of the base decoded video signal can be used to produce an enhanced quality video output signal. Application of a post-processing stage can be implemented according to the capabilities of the decoder and/or the instantaneous operating parameters of the decoder and/or characteristics of a display. A control signal, communicated over a dedicated channel separate from the base coded video signal, can be used initiate and/or aid implementation of a post-processing stage. The control signal can also provide information to assist/manage the decoding of the base coded video signal. The use of additional post-processing stages increases the complexity of an overall decoding process while improving the quality of a resulting reproduced video sequence.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that in an embodiment determine a degree of correlation between a speaker output signal and a microphone input signal and modulate an adaptive gain of an acoustic echo canceller based on the degree of correlation.

Abstract: An integrated diagnostic system includes interface connectors to connect to a plurality of instruments/instrument modules, including engine analyzers, gas analyzers, oscilloscopes, scanners, network connections, and/or other desired peripheral modules. These modules advantageously interface to the system through diverse parts, connections and with various protocols. The system may connect to a network, wired or wireless, for interfacing among processors and modules, and with an internet connection for interaction with remote resources including databases and expert systems.

Abstract: A rate control system is disclosed for video coding applications. The rate controller assigns a quantization parameter for video data in a picture in response to complexity indicators indicative of spatial complexity, motion complexity and/or bits per pel of the picture. A virtual buffer based quantizer parameter is proposed based on a virtual buffer fullness analysis and a target rate estimate, which is derived from the complexity indicators. A second quantizer parameter is proposed from a linear regression analysis of quantizer parameters used to code previously coded pictures of similar type (e.g., I pictures, P pictures or B pictures). A coding policy decision unit defines a final quantizer parameter from a comparison of the two proposed quantizer parameters.

Abstract: A rate control system is disclosed for video coding applications. The rate controller assigns a quantization parameter for video data in a picture in response to complexity indicators indicative of spatial complexity, motion complexity and/or bits per pel of the picture. A virtual buffer based quantizer parameter is proposed based on a virtual buffer fullness analysis and a target rate estimate, which is derived from the complexity indicators. A second quantizer parameter is proposed from a linear regression analysis of quantizer parameters used to code previously coded pictures of similar type (e.g., I pictures, P pictures or B pictures). A coding policy decision unit defines a final quantizer parameter from a comparison of the two proposed quantizer parameters.

Abstract: A rate control system is disclosed for video coding applications. The rate controller assigns a quantization parameter for video data in a picture in response to complexity indicators indicative of spatial complexity, motion complexity and/or bits per pel of the picture. A virtual buffer based quantizer parameter is proposed based on a virtual buffer fullness analysis and a target rate estimate, which is derived from the complexity indicators. A second quantizer parameter is proposed from a linear regression analysis of quantizer parameters used to code previously coded pictures of similar type (e.g., I pictures, P pictures or B pictures). A coding policy decision unit defines a final quantizer parameter from a comparison of the two proposed quantizer parameters.

Abstract: Methods for pre-processing video sequences prior to compression to provide data reduction of the video sequence. Also, after compression of the pre-processed video sequence, the bit rate of the pre-processed and compressed video sequence will be lower than the bit rate of the video sequence after compression but without pre-processing. Pre-processing may include spatial anisotropic diffusion filtering such as Perona-Malik filtering, Fallah-Ford filtering, or omni-directional filtering that extends Perona-Malik filtering to perform filtering in at least one diagonal direction. Pre-processing may also include performing filtering differently on a foreground region than on a background region of a video frame. This method includes identifying pixel locations having pixel values matching characteristics of human skin and determining a bounding shape for each contiguous grouping of matching pixel locations.

Abstract: Methods for pre-processing video sequences prior to compression to provide data reduction of the video sequence. In addition, after compression of the pre-processed video sequence, the bit rate of the pre-processed and compressed video sequence will be lower than the bit rate of the video sequence after compression but without pre-processing. A temporal filtering method is provided for pre-processing of video frames of a video sequence. In the method, pixel values of successive frames are filtered when the difference in the pixel values between the successive frames are within high and low threshold values. The high and low threshold values are determined adaptively depending on the illumination level of a video frame to provide variability of filtering strength depending on the illumination levels of a video frame.

Abstract: A computer system and computer implemented method automatically classify video sequences into categories. A set of categories is defined either manually through the association of selected video sequences with user supplied category designations, or automatically through segregation of a set of video sequences into groups of similar sequences. Input video sequences are then classified by either pixel decomposition or primitive attribute decomposition; the former analyzing each image on a pixel basis, the latter employing extracted image information. Categories can be trained as new video sequences are input into the system, or new categories can be created to accommodate such new sequences that are dissimilar from existing categories.