Patents by Inventor Jean-Francois Franche

Jean-Francois Franche has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10659805
    Abstract: A video intermodal transcoder converts a compressed bitstream formulated according a type-1 compression scheme to a type-2 compressed bitstream formulated according to a type-2 compression scheme. The transcoder includes an augmented type-1 decoder, a transcoder kernel, and an augmented type-2 encoder. The transcoder kernel performs processes of creating motion-vector candidates and pre-computing prediction errors for each cell of a predefined image coding block and for each candidate motion vector for repetitive use in evaluating various image partitions. In an implementation where the type-1 compression scheme follows the H.264 standard and the type-2 compression scheme follows the HEVC standard, the transcoder exploits the flexibility of the coding-tree structure and other HEVC features to significantly reduce the bit rate of the compressed bit stream. The pre-computation of prediction errors significantly reduces the processing effort, hence increases the throughput of the transcoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ECOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE SUPERIEURE
    Inventors: Jean-François Franche, Stéphane Coulombe
  • Patent number: 10511853
    Abstract: Methods and systems for parallel rate-constrained motion estimation in a video encoder are provided. Embodiments of the present invention provide a solution for the problem of the reliance upon spatial dependencies when processing parallel RCME on a frame. In order to solve this problem, embodiments of the present invention determine a list of at least two Motion Vector Predictor Candidates (MVPC), determine, in parallel for at least two of said at least two MVPCs, corresponding Motion Vector Candidates (MVC) using Rate-Constrained Motion Estimation (RCME) and determine the optimal Motion Vector (MV) among the determined MVCs based on rate distortion optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: ECOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE SUPERIEURE
    Inventors: Esmaeil Hojati, Jean-Francois Franche, Stephane Coulombe, Carlos Vazquez
  • Publication number: 20180146208
    Abstract: Methods and systems for parallel rate-constrained motion estimation in a video encoder are provided. Embodiments of the present invention provide a solution for the problem of the reliance upon spatial dependencies when processing parallel RCME on a frame. In order to solve this problem, embodiments of the present invention determine a list of at least two Motion Vector Predictor Candidates (MVPC), determine, in parallel for at least two of said at least two MVPCs, corresponding Motion Vector Candidates (MVC) using Rate-Constrained Motion Estimation (RCME) and determine the optimal Motion Vector (MV) among the determined MVCs based on rate distortion optimization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Esmaeil Hojati, Jean-Francois Franche, Stephane Coulombe, Carlos Vazquez
  • Publication number: 20160227241
    Abstract: A video intermodal transcoder converts a compressed bitstream formulated according a type-1 compression scheme to a type-2 compressed bitstream formulated according to a type-2 compression scheme. The transcoder includes an augmented type-1 decoder, a transcoder kernel, and an augmented type-2 encoder. The transcoder kernel performs processes of creating motion-vector candidates and pre-computing prediction errors for each cell of a predefined image coding block and for each candidate motion vector for repetitive use in evaluating various image partitions. In an implementation where the type-1 compression scheme follows the H.264 standard and the type-2 compression scheme follows the HEVC standard, the transcoder exploits the flexibility of the coding-tree structure and other HEVC features to significantly reduce the bit rate of the compressed bit stream. The pre-computation of prediction errors significantly reduces the processing effort, hence increases the throughput of the transcoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Jean-François FRANCHE, Stéphane COULOMBE
  • Patent number: 9247264
    Abstract: A method and system for parallel encoding of frames in a video are described, exploiting parallel processing at both frame and slice levels. One or more slices are processed in a preceding frame by one or more cores in a multi-core processor, and a slice is processed in a succeeding frame provided at least one of said one or more cores in the multi-core processor is available for processing; and the processing of a slice from said one or more slices at same physical location in the preceding input frame has been completed, the processing of frames and slices in the preceding and succeeding frames being performed at least partially in parallel. A significant speedup in comparison to the sequential encoding approach is achieved while maintaining high visual quality for the output video. A corresponding system for parallel encoding of a video is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ECOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE SUPERIEURE
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Franche, Stephane Coulombe
  • Patent number: 8666183
    Abstract: Several quality-aware transcoding systems and methods are described, in which the impact of both quality factor (QF) and scaling parameter choices on the quality of transcoded images are considered in combination. A basic transcoding system is enhanced by the addition of a quality prediction look-up table, and a method of generating such a table is also shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ecole de Technologie Superieur
    Inventors: Stéphane Coulombe, Steven Pigeon, Jean-François Franche
  • Publication number: 20140016875
    Abstract: Several quality-aware transcoding systems and methods are described, in which the impact of both quality factor (QF) and scaling parameter choices on the quality of transcoded images are considered in combination. A basic transcoding system is enhanced by the addition of a quality prediction look-up table, and a method of generating such a table is also shown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Ecole De Technologie Superieure
    Inventors: Stéphane Coulombe, Steven Pigeon, Jean-François Franche
  • Patent number: 8559739
    Abstract: A method for quality-aware transcoding of an input image into an output image for display on a terminal having device file size and image size constraints are disclosed. The method extracts features of the input image including dimensions and file size of the input image, predicts a file size of the output image taking into account constraints of the terminal and extracted features, including selecting a set of feasible transcoding parameters so that a corresponding predicted file size of the output image meets the device file size constraint of the terminal, determines quality metric values of the output image, characterizing a measure of distortion of the input image introduced by the transcoding, corresponding to the feasible transcoding parameters in the set of feasible transcoding parameters, and selects those transcoding parameters from the set of feasible transcoding parameters, which yield the highest quality metric value. A corresponding system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ecole de Technologie Superieure
    Inventors: Stéphane Coulombe, Steven Pigeon, Jean-François Franche
  • Publication number: 20130094778
    Abstract: A method for quality-aware transcoding of an input image into an output image for display on a terminal having device file size and image size constraints are disclosed. The method extracts features of the input image including dimensions and file size of the input image, predicts a file size of the output image taking into account constraints of the terminal and extracted features, including selecting a set of feasible transcoding parameters so that a corresponding predicted file size of the output image meets the device file size constraint of the terminal, determines quality metric values of the output image, characterizing a measure of distortion of the input image introduced by the transcoding, corresponding to the feasible transcoding parameters in the set of feasible transcoding parameters, and selects those transcoding parameters from the set of feasible transcoding parameters, which yield the highest quality metric value. A corresponding system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: ECOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE SUPERIEURE
    Inventors: Stéphane Coulombe, Steven Pigeon, Jean-François Franche
  • Patent number: 8374443
    Abstract: A system and method for predicting a file size of an image subject to transformation by scaling and a change of at least one quality-controlling parameter are described. The system receives the file size of the image before transformation, information about at least one quality-controlling parameter of the image before transformation, information about at least one quality-controlling parameter and a scaling factor to be applied to the image during transformation. A relative size prediction is calculated using the received quality-controlling parameters information and the scaling factor. The file size of the image after the transformation is finally calculated as a function of the file size of the image before the transformation and the calculated relative size prediction. Images are partitioned into classes of images, and for each class of images, an array of relative file size predictions, having at least two dimensions, is computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ecole de Technologie Superieure
    Inventors: Steven Pigeon, Jean-François Franche, Stéphane Coulombe
  • Patent number: 8295624
    Abstract: Several quality-aware transcoding systems and methods are described, in which the impact of both quality factor (QF) and scaling parameter choices on the quality of transcoded images are considered in combination. A basic transcoding system is enhanced by the addition of a quality prediction look-up table, and a method of generating such a table is also shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Ecole de Technologie Superieure
    Inventors: Stéphane Coulombe, Steven Pigeon, Jean-François Franche
  • Publication number: 20120237139
    Abstract: A system and method for predicting a tile size of an image subject to transformation by scaling and a change about at least one quality-controlling parameter, in which an input receives the file size of the image before transformation, information about at least one quality-controlling parameter of the image before transformation, information about at least one quality- controlling parameter for application to the image during transformation, and a scaling factor for application to the image during transformation. A relative size prediction is calculated on the basis of the received quality-controlling parameters information and scaling factor. The file size of the image after transformation is finally calculated as a function of the file size of the image before transformation and the calculated relative size prediction. Images are partitioned into classes of images, and for each class of images, an array of relative file size predictions is computed, the array having at least two dimensions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Steven PIGEON, Jean-François FRANCHE, Stéphane COULOMBE
  • Patent number: 8270739
    Abstract: Several quality-aware transcoding systems and methods are described, in which the impact of both quality factor (QF) and scaling parameter choices on the quality of transcoded images are considered in combination. A basic transcoding system is enhanced by the addition of a quality prediction look-up table, and a method of generating such a table is also shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ecole de Technologie Superieure
    Inventors: Stephane Coulombe, Steven Pigeon, Jean-Francois Franche
  • Patent number: 8224104
    Abstract: A system and method for predicting a file size of an image subject to transformation by scaling and a change about at least one quality-controlling parameter, in which an input receives (a) the file size of the image before transformation, (b) information about at least one quality-controlling parameter of the image before transformation, (c) information about at least one quality-controlling parameter for application to the image during transformation, and (d) a scaling factor for application to the image during transformation. A relative size prediction is calculated on the basis of the received quality-controlling parameters information and scaling factor. The file size of the image after transformation is finally calculated as a function of the file size of the image before transformation and the calculated relative size prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Ecole de Technologie Superieure
    Inventors: Steven Pigeon, Jean-François Franche, Stéphane Coulombe
  • Publication number: 20120140816
    Abstract: A method and system for parallel encoding of frames in a video are described, exploiting parallel processing at both frame and slice levels. One or more slices are processed in a preceding frame by one or more cores in a multi-core processor, and a slice is processed in a succeeding frame provided at least one of said one or more cores in the multi-core processor is available for processing; and the processing of a slice from said one or more slices at same physical location in the preceding input frame has been completed, the processing of frames and slices in the preceding and succeeding frames being performed at least partially in parallel. A significant speedup in comparison to the sequential encoding approach is achieved while maintaining high visual quality for the output video. A corresponding system for parallel encoding of a video is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Jean-Francois FRANCHE, Stephane Coulombe
  • Publication number: 20100254629
    Abstract: A system and method for predicting a file size of an image subject to transformation by scaling and a change about at least one quality-controlling parameter, in which an input receives (a) the file size of the image before transformation, (b) information about at least one quality-controlling parameter of the image before transformation, (c) information about at least one quality-controlling parameter for application to the image during transformation, and (d) a scaling factor for application to the image during transformation. A relative size prediction is calculated on the basis of the received quality-controlling parameters information and scaling factor. The file size of the image after transformation is finally calculated as a function of the file size of the image before transformation and the calculated relative size prediction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Steven Pigeon, Jean-Francois Franche, Stéphane Coulombe
  • Publication number: 20090141990
    Abstract: Several quality-aware transcoding systems and methods are described, in which the impact of both quality factor (QF) and scaling parameter choices on the quality of transcoded images are considered in combination. A basic transcoding system is enhanced by the addition of a quality prediction look-up table, and a method of generating such a table is also shown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Steven PIGEON, Jean-Francois Franche, Stephane Coulombe
  • Publication number: 20090141992
    Abstract: Several quality-aware transcoding systems and methods are described, in which the impact of both quality factor (QF) and scaling parameter choices on the quality of transcoded images are considered in combination. A basic transcoding system is enhanced by the addition of a quality prediction look-up table, and a method of generating such a table is also shown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Stephane COULOMBE, Steven PIGEON, Jean-Francois FRANCHE