Abstract: A moving picture recording device includes a random-access, computer-readable and writable storage medium to provide non-linear access to recorded clips. The device provides digital capture of both video and audio information. Multiple data paths are provided to allow recording to and playback from the storage medium. Lists are maintained to manage recorded clips and edited events. An outtake list of deleted clips is also maintained. An event list includes a list of video events including clips from the storage medium as well as other video sources including a camera or external video. With switching circuitry, recorded clips can be viewed during editing while live images are output to a program output. An editing interface includes dedicated keys for performing standard recording functions as well as a display with associated input keys having adaptive functions. The textual display indicates the function currently associated with the input key.

Abstract: A digital media recorder including a video camera digitizing circuitry and a digital computer readable and writable random access medium, such as magnetic or optical disk, in which sequences of digital still images are stored directly on the recording medium. Audio recording capabilities may also be provided. This system eliminates the need for video tape for recording video information, thereby providing the capability for a purely digital video system for capture, editing and playback.

Abstract: A moving picture recording device includes a random-access, computer-readable and writable storage medium to provide non-linear access to recorded clips. The device provides digital capture of both video and audio information. Multiple data paths are provided to allow recording to and playback from the storage medium. Lists are maintained to manage recorded clips and edited events. An outtake list of deleted clips is also maintained. An event list includes a list of video events including clips from the storage medium as well as other video sources including a camera or external video. With switching circuitry, recorded clips can be viewed during editing while live images are output to a program output. An editing interface includes dedicated keys for performing standard recording functions as well as a display with associated input keys having adaptive functions. The textual display indicates the function currently associated with the input key.

Abstract: A moving picture recording device includes a random-access, computer-readable and writable storage medium to provide non-linear access to recorded clips. The device provides digital capture of both video and audio information. Multiple data paths are provided to allow recording to and playback from the storage medium. Lists are maintained to manage recorded clips and edited events. An outtake list of deleted clips is also maintained. An event list includes a list of video events including clips from the storage medium as well as other video sources including a camera or external video. With switching circuitry, recorded clips can be viewed during editing while live images are output to a program output. An editing interface includes dedicated keys for performing standard recording functions as well as a display with associated input keys having adaptive functions. The textual display indicates the function currently associated with the input key.

Abstract: A portable moving picture recording device includes switching control to enable multiple data flow configurations. Two output encoders receive either composite or component digital video signals. The component video signals can come from one of three sources: decoded composite video, component video, and a random-access storage device. Inputs to a composite video analog-to-digital converter and a genlock decoder may be switched between at least two outputs, including a camera video and external video sources. The digital component signal may also be recorded onto the random access recording medium. These data paths are provided in a portable moving picture recording device, in combination with some editing capability.

Abstract: A media pipeline with two channels processes sequences of digital still images. A blender is provided so as to enable simple effects on these two streams of video data such as dissolves, wipes and chroma keys. Complex arbitrary three-dimensional effects and other effects may also be provided using an external interface. Thus, a system for processing sequences of digital still images to provide real-time digital video effects includes first and second channels for communicating first and second sequences of digital still images at a rate for simulating video. A controller directs still images to one of the first and second channels. A blender, having a first input connected to the first channel, a second input connected to the second channel, and an output, provides a combination of the first and second sequences of digital still images at a rate for simulating video.

Abstract: A moving picture recording device includes a random-access, computer-readable and writable storage medium to provide non-linear access to recorded clips. The device provides digital capture of both video and audio information. Multiple data paths are provided to allow recording to and playback from the storage medium. Lists are maintained to manage recorded clips and edited events. An outtake list of deleted clips is also maintained. An event list includes a list of video events including clips from the storage medium as well as other video sources including a camera or external video. With switching circuitry, recorded clips can be viewed during editing while live images are output to a program output. An editing interface includes dedicated keys for performing standard recording functions as well as a display with associated input keys having adaptive functions. The textual display indicates the function currently associated with the input key.

Abstract: An encoding/decoding method and apparatus encodes an input data stream for compression purposes, and decodes the compressed data stream for use. The encoding process identifies trends in the data stream, and stores information about the trends in an encoded block. The trends may include runs, in which sequential, corresponding gropus in the data stream have constant values. The trends may also include ramps, where sequential, corresponging components in the data stream increase or decrease by a linear value. An encoded block may also be provided to transfer raw data. The encoded blocks do not store type information describing the type of the component associated with the block. Rather, the decoder infers the type of the components associated with the encoded block according to an original order of components in the data stream, the order of the encoded block in the sequence of encoded blocks and a number of the corresponding components encoded by each of the preceding encoded blocks.

Abstract: A technique for displaying a visual representation of an estimated three-dimensional scene structure and the values of various parameters associated with the scene, together with a visual representation of at least one two-dimensional image used in the scene structure estimation algorithm. A user inputs information by adjusting parameters and/or specifying an element or region of the visual representations and supplies mark-ups and other information such as attributes for the element or region to be applied during a next iteration of the scene structure estimation algorithm. The scene structure estimation algorithm is then re-executed and the process repeats until the user is satisfied with the resulting visual scene structure.

Abstract: An architecture for performing real-time image processing on multiple image data streams using compressed or uncompressed image data includes a switch for forwarding data from multiple input sources to multiple destinations on a video processing device. The video processing device includes two independent processing pipelines for processing two different data streams. The switch may couple one or both input data stream to be multiple different destinations. Multiple video processing devices may be coupled via the switch to increase the number of data streams capable of being processed at any given time. Mixers are coupled in a cascaded fashion using the switch, thereby providing selective keying capability and allowing for multiple keying events to be entered during one phase of processing. Each of the processing pipelines on the video processing device includes dedicated processing logic, compression logic and frame buffer storage. Logic is provided with each frame buffer to support motion effects.

Abstract: The present invention provides a generic interface which enables asynchronous data processing elements to be interconnected using an interconnection protocol that controls flow of data between the processing elements. The flow control allows the processing elements to be data independent from, i.e., the processing elements need not be designed for a fixed sample rate or resolution, sample format and other data dependent factors. When used with digital motion video data, the processing elements may process motion video data at various temporal and spatial resolutions and color formats. Flow of data between processing elements may be controlled by handshake signals indicating whether the sender has valid data and the receiver can receive data. When valid data is available at the sender and is requested by the receiver, a transfer of data occurs. The characteristics of the data, and functions to be performed on the data may be specified using control inputs to the processing elements.

Abstract: A computer apparatus which detects a store or load operation into or from a shared memory page by a program that does not provide for synchronization when executed by a CPU that completes instructions out of program order. After the store or load is detected, the CPU explicitly orders operations into the shared memory page. Store operations are ordered such that no new store into the shared memory page is performed until all prior store operations into the shared memory page are complete. Also, load operations are ordered such that load operations from the shared memory page are performed in program order. This ordering is achieved by maintaining a process bit and a memory attribute bit associated with a shared memory page. When both bits are true, all load or store operations referencing the shared memory page are ordered.

Abstract: A method for preserving data transfer order in a pipeline computer system, wherein a first block of data is transferred from a first device to at least a second device during a first computer cycle. Simultaneously, the first block of data is stored within the first device. Druing a second computer cycle, a second block of data is transferred from the first device to the second device, and an acknowledge signal is issued, indicating the success or failure of the transfer of the first block of data. If the acknowledge signal indicates a failed data transfer, a reject signal is issued and data transfer is restarted beginning with the previously failed data transaction which has been stored within the first device, and data transfer then continues with a preserved data transfer order.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for improving the performance of a digital computer by reducing the latency of read operations and increasing available write bandwidth by utilizing a subset of the address bits which are the same from one operation to the next. A faster cycle type (e.g. page mode or static column) can thereby be employed in the Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) memory by eliminating the DRAM precharge and RAS address portions of the cycle.

Abstract: A technique for correcting charge transfer inefficiencies in a Charge Coupled Device (CCD). The basic approach is to estimate the charge entering at a given stage in a CCD pipeline, and to then determine an estimate of the error introduced by the accumulated leftover charge that will be present at a second point, farther down the pipeline. The error is then corrected by injecting a correcting charge at a third point, farther still down the CCD pipeline. The invention is used, in one embodiment, to correct the output of a charge to digital converter, although principals of the invention may be used for other types of circuits.