Patents by Inventor John A. Murdock

John A. Murdock 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: 6956899
    Abstract: A method and system for encoding digital video picture data. In accordance with this method, the video picture data is partitioned into a group of blocks, at least some of those blocks are selected, one block at a time, and each of the selected blocks of data is encoded to form an encoded coefficient having an associated number of bits. The encoded coefficients are outputted, and an accumulated sum of the number of bits in the outputted encoded coefficients is kept. The outputting of the encoded coefficients is terminated at a defined time in order to prevent the accumulated sum from exceeding a given number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara A. Hall, John A. Murdock, Agnes Y. Ngai, Edward F. Westermann
  • Patent number: 6823013
    Abstract: An apparatus used for video encoding MPEG compliant digital visual images, having multiple MPEG encoders used in the motion estimation function. The search capabilities used in the motion estimation function of a single MPEG encoder are extended beyond its design limitations as a result of utilizing more than one MPEG encoder. The utilization of multiple encoders effectively creates the capability for a user to specify a wider search window than what is available in a single encoder configuration. The computational search efficency associated with searching the wider window is not adversely affected as a consequence of the multiple processors subdividing the extended window and analyzing each subdivision in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Boice, John A. Murdock, Agnes Y. Ngai
  • Publication number: 20010038669
    Abstract: A method and system for encoding digital video picture data. In accordance with this method, the video picture data is partitioned into a group of blocks, at least some of those blocks are selected, one block at a time, and each of the selected blocks of data is encoded to form an encoded coefficient having an associated number of bits. The encoded coefficients are outputted, and an accumulated sum of the number of bits in the outputted encoded coefficients is kept. The outputting of the encoded coefficients is terminated at a defined time in order to prevent the accumulated sum from exceeding a given number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: BARBARA A. HALL, JOHN A. MURDOCK, AGNES Y. NGAI, EDWARD F. WESTERMAN
  • Patent number: 6222883
    Abstract: A digital video encoder is provided having an enhanced search range for motion estimation and compensation. The encoder is adapted to define from a reference frame a diamond-shaped search window about a current position of a current macroblock to be encoded. The encoder partitions the diamond-shaped search window into multiple search regions and reassembles the multiple search regions into a rectangular search area. This rectangular search area is then used to search the diamond-shaped search window for a best matching reference macroblock to the current macroblock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Murdock, Agnes Y. Ngai, Edward F. Westermann
  • Patent number: 6020934
    Abstract: A method for compensating for reduced picture quality when combining a multi-chip encoding chipset into a single integrated semiconductor IC. The method includes additional functions provided on the single IC to compensate for the negative effects on picture quality produced as a result of rounding 8 bit luminance pixel data to 5 bits, where the luminance data values are supplied as input to the search function. The additional functions are collectively referred to as motion biasing and are applied to influence the choice of a "best match" motion type, which is well known in the art. The biasing is performed by the addition of a weight factor to a total difference result that is calculated by the search function. The biasing is applied only for the purpose of influencing the choice of a reference frame that is not necessarily the frame which produces an optimal motion vector, but rather will result in using fewer bits to encode macroblocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Greenfield, Barbara A. Hall, John A. Murdock, Agnes Y. Ngai, Stephen P. Pokrinchak