Abstract: According to a general aspect, a picture from a first view, a picture from a second view, and dependency information are accessed. The dependency information describes one or more inter-view dependency relationships for the picture from the first view. Based on the dependency information, it is determined whether the picture from the first view is a reference picture for the picture from the second view. One application area involves determining whether pictures in a decoded picture buffer are reference pictures for pictures that have not yet been decoded. The pictures in the buffer may be marked to indicate whether they continue to be needed as inter-view reference pictures.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a reduced cost HDTV/SDTV video decoder are disclosed. The described joint video decoder is capable of decoding HDTV pictures at approximately the resolution of standard definition television pictures and can be used to decode HDTV and/or SDTV pictures. The described video decoder may be used as part of a picture-in-picture decoder circuit for providing picture-in-picture capability without providing multiple full resolution video decoders. The reduction in decoder circuit complexity is achieved through the use of a plurality of data reduction techniques including the use of a preparser, downsampling, and truncating pixel values.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for encoding video content into a novel temporal layered coding structure. In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of sub-sequence layers are defined in a layer hierarchy in accordance with the present invention. A plurality of images within a sub-sequence of a group of images are selectively assigned to a respective one of the sub-sequence layers. A grouping of images contained in any sequential combination of sub-sequence layers that includes a hierarchically lowest of the sub-sequence layers results in a group of images that temporally are substantially evenly spaced. A related method and apparatus for decoding the temporally layered video content are also disclosed.

Abstract: There are provided a method and apparatus for repairing samples included in container files having lost packets. The apparatus includes a receiver and a file patcher. The receiver is for receiving packets including container files therein, identifying any of the packets for which a packet loss has occurred, and identifying at least one sample having data included in the identified packets that is affected by the packet loss. The at least one sample respectively corresponds to a particular container file. The file patcher is for repairing the particular container file with respect to the at least one sample.

Abstract: There are provided methods and apparatus for block-based error concealment. An apparatus includes an error concealment module for concealing a current block in a lost picture in a group of pictures by using a last available inter-coded picture in a previous group of pictures, when the lost picture is a first inter-coded picture in the group of pictures. The group of pictures has a pattern characterized as an intra-coded picture followed by a sequence of inter-coded pictures.

Abstract: There are provided a method and apparatus for analytical and empirical hybrid encoding distortion modeling. An apparatus includes a distortion calculator for modeling video encoding distortion by dividing the video encoding distortion into a first portion and a second portion, calculating the first portion using empirical calculations, and calculating the second portion using analytical calculations.

Abstract: Using different error concealment techniques for coded pictures that undergo display and those that undergo storage as a reference picture improves the quality of error concealment. A concealment technique optimized for use in real time will provide the best visual quality for pictures that undergo display whereas a concealment technique optimized to recover lost data improves the quality of stored reference pictures.

Abstract: There are provided method and apparatus for use in a multi-view video coding system. The apparatus includes an encoder for encoding at least two views corresponding to multi-view video content into a resultant bitstream, wherein the resultant bitstream is encoded to include view specific information. The view specific information indicates a decoding interdependency between at least some of the at least two views.

Abstract: There are provided scalable video encoder and decoders, and corresponding scalable video encoding and decoding methods. A scalable video encoder includes an encoder for encoding a block in an enhancement layer of a picture by applying a same weighting parameter to an enhancement layer reference picture as that applied to a lower layer reference picture used for encoding a block in a lower layer of the picture. The block in the enhancement layer corresponds to the block in the lower layer, and the enhancement layer reference picture corresponds to the lower layer reference picture. The scalable video decoder includes a decoder for decoding a block in an enhancement layer of a picture by applying a same weighting parameter to an enhancement layer reference picture as that applied to a lower layer reference picture used for decoding a block in a lower layer of the picture.

Abstract: There are provided method and apparatus for use in a multi-view video coding system. The apparatus includes an encoder for encoding at least two views corresponding to multi-view video content into a resultant bitstream, wherein the resultant bitstream is encoded to include view specific information. The view specific information indicates a decoding interdependency between at least some of the at least two views.

Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a method, apparatus and system for personalized broadcast media content including a user interface for enabling personalization, which provides efficient use of network bandwidth and minimizes receiver device battery usage. In one embodiment, a user profile is pre-defined on a receiving device to indicate the recording interests of the user. Individual clips to be broadcast are associated with flexible metadata tags, such that when content, particularly video programs, is broadcast, the receiver device selects individual programs to record based upon content tags matching the user interests indicated in the profile. The selection process can also consider viewing statistics.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a reduced cost HDTV/SDTV video decoder are disclosed. The described joint video decoder is capable of decoding HDTV pictures at approximately the resolution of standard definition television pictures and can be used to decode HDTV and/or SDTV pictures. The described video decoder may be used as part of a picture-in-picture decoder circuit for providing picture-in-picture capability without providing multiple full resolution video decoders. The reduction in decoder circuit complexity is achieved through the use of a plurality of data reduction techniques including the use of a preparser, downsampling, and truncating pixel values.

Abstract: There are provided method and apparatus for use in a multi-view video coding system. The apparatus includes an encoder for encoding at least two views corresponding to multi-view video content into a resultant bitstream, wherein the resultant bitstream is encoded to include view specific information. The view specific information indicates a decoding interdependency between at least some of the at least two views.

Abstract: There are provided method and apparatus for detecting and concealing reference and non-reference video frames. A video decoder includes an entropy decoder, an error detector, and an error concealer. The entropy decoder is for decompressing a video bitstream intended to have a fixed frame rate and parsing the decompressed video bitstream to find picture order counts for frames of the decompressed video bitstream. The error detector is for determining that a particular frame of the decompressed video bitstream is missing based upon the picture order counts. The error concealer is for concealing the particular frame. The method is accomplished by decompressing and parsing the video bitstream to find picture order counts for frames of the decompressed video bitstream and then determining that a particular frame of the decompressed video bitstream is missing based upon comparison of their associated picture order counts, and then concealing that particular frame.

Abstract: There are provided a method and apparatus for reusing available motion information as a motion estimation predictor for video encoding. The apparatus includes an encoder for encoding an image block by determining a motion estimation predictor for the image block using motion information previously generated from an element other than the encoder, and using the motion estimation predictor in a motion estimation process to generate a motion vector for the image block. The motion estimation predictor is used in place of at least one predictor otherwise used in the motion estimation process. The at least one predictor is any of a search window predictor, a temporal predictor, and a block type predictor.

Abstract: There are provided methods and apparatus for signaling view scalability in multi-view video coding. An apparatus includes an encoder for encoding at least one picture for at least one view corresponding to multi-view video content in a resultant bitstream. The encoder signals at least one of a view direction and a view level to support view scalability for the at least one view using at least one of a message, a field, a flag, and a syntax element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including mapping a multicast connection to a unicast uniform resource identifier, establishing a state for a multicast-to-unicast conversion, allocating ports, receiving multicast addressed data packets and converting the multicast addressed data packets to unicast addressed data the packets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for facilitating processing of images contained in an encoded video stream. In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of non-intra coded images are transcoded into intra-coded images (I-images). The transcoded I-images are then used to facilitate trick mode playback, such as reverse playback, fast reverse playback or fast forward playback. In addition, an image sequence window is defined and transcoded I-images which fall outside of the image sequence window are deleted from a memory.

Abstract: There are provided scalable video encoders, scalable video decoders, and corresponding scalable video encoding and decoding methods. A scalable video encoder includes an encoder for encoding a block in an enhancement layer of a picture by using a motion vector that corresponds to a block in a lower layer of the picture as a motion vector predictor for the block in the enhancement layer, and using a weighting parameter that was applied to a particular lower layer reference picture to encode the block in the lower layer for motion compensation of the block in the enhancement layer. The block in the enhancement layer corresponds to the block in the lower layer.

Abstract: There are provided a method and apparatus for adaptive Group of Pictures structure selection. The apparatus includes an encoder for encoding a video sequence using a Group of Pictures structure by performing, for each Group of Pictures for the video sequence, picture coding order selection, picture type selection, and reference picture selection. The selections are based upon a Group of Pictures length.