Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing viewers of streamed video content with the option to view alternative video content in which alternative tone maps are applied to respective regions of interest. In some embodiments, the streamed video content is divided into slices, and alternative tone maps are applied to respective regions of interest within the slices. When a server receives a request from a client for alternative tone mappings of different regions, slices with the appropriate mapping may be assembled on demand and delivered to the client in a single video stream. Tone mappings may be used, for example, to highlight particular objects, such as players in a sporting event captured in the streamed video content.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for enabling a consumer of streaming video to obtain different views of the video, such as zoomed views of one or more objects of interest. In an exemplary embodiment, a client device receives an original video stream along with data identifying objects of interest and their spatial locations within the original video. In one embodiment, in response to user selection of an object of interest, the client device switches to display of a cropped and scaled version of the original video to present a zoomed video of the object of interest. The zoomed video tracks the selected object even as the position of the selected object changes with respect to the original video. In some embodiments, the object of interest and the appropriate zoom factor are both selected with a single expanding-pinch gesture on a touch screen.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing viewers of streamed video content with the option to view alternative video content in which alternative tone maps are applied to respective regions of interest. In some embodiments, the streamed video content is divided into slices, and alternative tone maps are applied to respective regions of interest within the slices. When a server receives a request from a client for alternative tone mappings of different regions, slices with the appropriate mapping may be assembled on demand and delivered to the client in a single video stream. Tone mappings may be used, for example, to highlight particular objects, such as players in a sporting event captured in the streamed video content.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing viewers of adaptive bit rate (ABR) streaming video with the option to view alternative streams in which an alternative tone mapping is applied to one or more regions of interest. The availability of streams with alternative tone mappings may be identified in a media presentation description (MPD) in an MPEG-DASH system. In some embodiments, the streaming video is divided into slices, and alternative tone mappings are applied to regions of interest within the slices. When a server receives a request from a client device for alternative tone mappings of different regions, slices with the appropriate mapping may be assembled on demand and delivered to the requestor as a single video stream. Tone mappings may be used, for example, to highlight particular players in a sporting event.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for enabling a client device to request video streams with different bit depth remappings for different viewing conditions. In an embodiment, information indicating the availability of additional remapped profiles is sent in a manifest file. Alternative bit-depth remappings may be optimized for different regions of interest in the image or video content, or for different viewing conditions, such as different display technologies and different ambient illumination. Some embodiments based on the DASH protocol perform multiple depth mappings at the encoder and also perform ABR-encoding for distribution. The manifest file contains information indicating additional remapping profiles. The remapping profiles are associated with different transformation functions used to convert from a higher bit-depth to a lower bit-depth.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for enabling a consumer of streaming video to obtain different views of the video, such as zoomed views of one or more objects of interest. In an exemplary embodiment, a client device receives an original video stream along with data identifying objects of interest and their spatial locations within the original video. In one embodiment, in response to user selection of an object of interest, the client device switches to display of a cropped and scaled version of the original video to present a zoomed video of the object of interest. The zoomed video tracks the selected object even as the position of the selected object changes with respect to the original video. In some embodiments, the object of interest and the appropriate zoom factor are both selected with a single expanding-pinch gesture on a touch screen.

Abstract: A video decoder, and corresponding method are described for enabling fast channel change of compressed video, where a video decoder for receiving compressed stream data and providing decompressed video output includes receiving the compressed stream data and separating the normal stream and the channel change stream, a normal decoding portion for selectably receiving the compressed normal and channel change streams, and providing decompressed video output, and a normal frame store in signal communication with the normal decoding portion for storing reference pictures.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing viewers of adaptive bit rate (ABR) streaming video with the option to view alternative streams in which an alternative tone mapping is applied to one or more regions of interest. The availability of streams with alternative tone mappings may be identified in a media presentation description (MPD) in an MPEG-DASH system. In some embodiments, the streaming video is divided into slices, and alternative tone mappings are applied to regions of interest within the slices. When a server receives a request from a client device for alternative tone mappings of different regions, slices with the appropriate mapping may be assembled on demand and delivered to the requestor as a single video stream. Tone mappings may be used, for example, to highlight particular players in a sporting event.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing clear areas related to objects of interest in a video display. In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes capturing, with a camera, a video frame of a scene; determining a camera orientation and camera location of the camera capturing the video; determining a location of an object of interest; mapping the location of the object of interest to a location on the video frame; determining an object-of-interest area based on the location of the object of interest on the video frame; determining a clear area on the video frame; transmitting a location of the clear area to a client device; and displaying the video frame and metadata associated with the object of interest in the clear area.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for enabling a client device to request video streams with different bit depth remappings for different viewing conditions. In an embodiment, information indicating the availability of additional remapped profiles is sent in a manifest file. Alternative bit-depth remappings may be optimized for different regions of interest in the image or video content, or for different viewing conditions, such as different display technologies and different ambient illumination. Some embodiments based on the DASH protocol perform multiple depth mappings at the encoder and also perform ABR-encoding for distribution. The manifest file contains information indicating additional remapping profiles. The remapping profiles are associated with different transformation functions used to convert from a higher bit-depth to a lower bit-depth.

Abstract: Described embodiments relate to systems and methods for displaying information regarding tracked objects and receiving user input selecting the object(s) to be tracked. One embodiment takes the form of a method that includes: receiving, from a content server, a first representation of a video stream and an object-of-information identifier that indicates availability of a second representation of a portion of the video stream that depicts an object of interest; causing the display of both the first representation of the video stream and the object-of-interest identifier; responsive to a selection of the second representation of the portion of the video stream using the object-of-interest identifier, transmitting, to the content server, a request for the second representation of the portion of the video stream; and receiving and causing display of the second representation of the portion of the video stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and systems for determining block averages in film grain simulation including determining block averages during a display process and determining block averages during a decoding process. The apparatuses and systems of the present invention exhibit different characteristics in terms of memory requirements and computational cost. More specifically, the first apparatus and system use no external memory, but require either extra reads of the blocks, or internal memory in the display pipeline, while the second apparatus and system require extra memory bandwidth and extra external memory (e.g., RAM).

Abstract: A video decoder, and corresponding method are described for enabling fast channel change of compressed video, where a video decoder for receiving compressed stream data and providing decompressed video output includes receiving the compressed stream data and separating the normal stream and the channel change stream, a normal decoding portion for selectably receiving the compressed normal and channel change streams, and providing decompressed video output, and a normal frame store in signal communication with the normal decoding portion for storing reference pictures.

Abstract: A video decoder, and corresponding method are described for enabling fast channel change of compressed video, where a video decoder for receiving compressed stream data and providing decompressed video output includes a demultiplexor for receiving the compressed stream data and separating the normal stream and the channel change stream, a normal decoding portion in signal communication with the demultiplexor for selectably receiving the compressed normal and channel change streams, and providing decompressed video output, and a normal frame store in signal communication with the normal decoding portion for storing reference pictures.

Abstract: There are provided methods and apparatus for film grain SEI message insertion for bit-accurate simulation in a video system. A method for simulating film grain in an ordered sequence includes the steps of providing film grain supplemental information corresponding to a plurality of intra coded pictures, and providing additional film grain supplemental information corresponding to inter coded pictures between consecutive intra coded pictures, in decode order. The inter coded pictures are selected based upon display order.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for determining block averages in film grain simulation including determining block averages during a display process and determining block averages during a decoding process. The methods of the present invention exhibit different characteristics in terms of memory requirements and computational cost. More specifically, the first method uses no external memory, but requires either extra reads of the blocks, or internal memory in the display pipeline, while the second method requires extra memory bandwidth and extra external memory (e.g., RAM).

Abstract: Creation of a Bit-accurate film grain pattern for blending in an image block occurs by first establishing a set of bit-accurate transformed coefficients. The set of bit-accurate transformed coefficients undergo frequency filtering and a subsequent bit-accurate inverse transformation to yield the film grain pattern. The film grain pattern can then undergo blending with an image block to restore the look of film to the image.

Abstract: In a multi-channel video transmission system in which channel video segments are operated on by corresponding channel video encoders to encode the video segments into frames organized into groups of defined frame types, an apparatus and method to cause a temporal staggering for the processing of a specific frame type among the various channels. In one preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a frame counter to synchronize reset signals associated with the corresponding channel video encoders and a means for providing a timing offset to channel video encoders corresponding to a selected frame stagger for a particular corresponding channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and systems for determining block averages in film grain simulation including determining block averages during a display process and determining block averages during a decoding process. The apparatuses and systems of the present invention exhibit different characteristics in terms of memory requirements and computational cost. More specifically, the first apparatus and system use no external memory, but require either extra reads of the blocks, or internal memory in the display pipeline, while the second apparatus and system require extra memory bandwidth and extra external memory (e.g., RAM).

Abstract: A video encoder and corresponding method are described for enabling fast channel change of compressed video, where a video encoder for receiving input pictures and providing compressed stream data includes a normal encoding portion for receiving input pictures and providing normal stream data, a lower-quality encoding portion for receiving input pictures and providing channel change stream data, and a multiplexor in signal communication with each of the normal and lower-quality portions for receiving and combining the normal and channel change data streams.