Abstract: A method of shoot suppression when transition properties of an image signal are improved. The method includes improving transition properties of an original image signal and filtering a local overshoot and/or undershoot at edges of the transient-improved image signal. Accordingly, a transition time of the original image signal may be reduced and generation of shoots may be suppressed so that a quality-improved image is generated.

Abstract: Methods and transcoders are disclosed for video transcoding input macroblocks to an output macroblock. One of the methods estimates an output macroblock mode for the video transcoding. A spatial weight is determined based on size of overlapping areas of each of the input macroblocks with a correlation area that is correlated with the output macroblock. A discrete cosine transform (DCT) weight is determined based on a number of zero DCT coefficients of each of the input macroblocks that overlap the correlation area. The output macroblock mode is estimated based on the spatial weight and the DCT weight.

Abstract: A method of estimating output motion vector includes generating a group of candidate motion vectors, selecting two or more reference vectors, variably establishing a search window, and estimating an output motion vector by performing a motion vector refinement on the search window. The method selects the two or more reference vectors from the group of the candidate motion vectors and the search window is established according to a relativity among the reference vectors. A transcoder using the method includes an encoding parameter estimator configured to select the two or more reference vectors and to variably establish the search window according to the relativity between the reference vectors. Therefore, the search window may be efficiently established without increasing calculation time, so that the output motion vector may be more correctly estimated.

Abstract: A method for processing an image signal includes evaluating an edge factor based on a characteristic of an original image signal. A gain-adjusted calibration signal is generated based on the edge factor. The original image signal and the gain-adjusted calibration signal are summed to generate a transient-improved image signal. Accordingly, an image signal transient is adaptively improved depending on edge characteristic.

Abstract: A system for storing video data may include at least one file. The at least one file may include a data cluster including a plurality of data blocks, each data block storing at least some of the video data, and/or a plurality of first pointers sequentially arranged and respectively indicating the plurality of data blocks. The at least one file may be used for time-shifting and recording functions. If the at least one file is used for the time-shifting function, the system may delete contents of the first pointers in a circular manner so that the system sequentially deletes the contents of at least some of the first pointers and/or if the system sequentially deletes the contents of a first pointer that is located last in the arrangement, the next first pointer whose contents are to be sequentially deleted is a first pointer that is located first in the arrangement.

Abstract: A register array of a deblocking filter includes a first register configured to store an amount of image data corresponding to a sub-macro block of a macro block to be filtered, a second register configured to store an amount of image data corresponding to a portion of a sub-macro block adjacent a first edge of the macro block to be filtered, and a third register configured to store an amount of image data corresponding to an entire sub-macro block adjacent a second edge of the macro block to be filtered. The first, second and third registers are further configured to support sequential horizontal and vertical component filtering of portions of sub-macro blocks of the macro block to be filtered by sequentially shifting portions of the sub-macro blocks through the first, second and third registers.

Abstract: A system for storing video data may include at least one file. The at least one file may include a data cluster including a plurality of data blocks, each data block storing at least some of the video data, and/or a plurality of first pointers sequentially arranged and respectively indicating the plurality of data blocks. The at least one file may be used for time-shifting and recording functions. If the at least one file is used for the time-shifting function, the system may delete contents of the first pointers in a circular manner so that the system sequentially deletes the contents of at least some of the first pointers and/or if the system sequentially deletes the contents of a first pointer that is located last in the arrangement, the next first pointer whose contents are to be sequentially deleted is a first pointer that is located first in the arrangement.

Abstract: A method of shoot suppression when transition properties of an image signal are improved. The method includes improving transition properties of an original image signal and filtering a local overshoot and/or undershoot at edges of the transient-improved image signal. Accordingly, a transition time of the original image signal may be reduced and generation of shoots may be suppressed so that a quality-improved image is generated.

Abstract: A method for processing an image signal includes evaluating an edge factor based on a characteristic of an original image signal. A gain-adjusted calibration signal is generated based on the edge factor. The original image signal and the gain-adjusted calibration signal are summed to generate a transient-improved image signal. Accordingly, an image signal transient is adaptively improved depending on edge characteristic.

Abstract: A method of estimating output motion vector includes generating a group of candidate motion vectors, selecting two or more reference vectors, variably establishing a search window, and estimating an output motion vector by performing a motion vector refinement on the search window. The method selects the two or more reference vectors from the group of the candidate motion vectors and the search window is established according to a relativity among the reference vectors. A transcoder using the method includes an encoding parameter estimator configured to select the two or more reference vectors and to variably establish the search window according to the relativity between the reference vectors. Therefore, the search window may be efficiently established without increasing calculation time, so that the output motion vector may be more correctly estimated.

Abstract: Methods and transcoders are disclosed for video transcoding input macroblocks to an output macroblock. One of the methods estimates an output macroblock mode for the video transcoding. A spatial weight is determined based on size of overlapping areas of each of the input macroblocks with a correlation area that is correlated with the output macroblock. A discrete cosine transform (DCT) weight is determined based on a number of zero DCT coefficients of each of the input macroblocks that overlap the correlation area. The output macroblock mode is estimated based on the spatial weight and the DCT weight.

Abstract: A register array of a deblocking filter includes a first register configured to store an amount of image data corresponding to a sub-macro block of a macro block to be filtered, a second register configured to store an amount of image data corresponding to a portion of a sub-macro block adjacent a first edge of the macro block to be filtered, and a third register configured to store an amount of image data corresponding to an entire sub-macro block adjacent a second edge of the macro block to be filtered. The first, second and third registers are further configured to support sequential horizontal and vertical component filtering of portions of sub-macro blocks of the macro block to be filtered by sequentially shifting portions of the sub-macro blocks through the first, second and third registers.