Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of wearable stretch sensors and applications of using the same are disclosed. In embodiments, the sensors and the applications disclosed herein can be used to capture spinal motion and posture information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of measuring blocking artefacts on the basis of video data encoded in accordance with a block encoding technique. This method comprises a step of computing a monodimensional inverse discrete transform (31) of a first row of a first block of encoded video data, suitable for supplying a value of a first virtual border pixel (vep1). It also comprises a step of computing a monodimensional inverse discrete transform (32) of a first row of a second block of encoded video data, the second block being adjacent to the first block, suitable for supplying a value of a second virtual border pixel (vep2). Finally, the method comprises a step of computing (33) a blocking artefact level (VEP-L) on the basis of an absolute value of the difference between the values of the first and second virtual pixels. This method finds its application, for example, in video encoders, decoders and transcoders.

Abstract: A method of selectively sharpening video data may include, for at least some pixels in the video data, generating a sharpening value for a pixel value in an image. The sharpening value may be amplified in a non-linear manner to produce an amplified value. The pixel value and the amplified value may then be combined.

Abstract: One implementation of a method for edge directed video de-interlacing in accordance with the disclosed invention includes obtaining at least a portion of a field of input video data including at least portions of four consecutive rows of field pixels including first, second, third, and fourth rows of field pixels. The method further includes selecting an orientation over which to de-interlace the input video data based, at least in part, on a measure of the deviation in pixel values among the four consecutive rows of field pixels and a fifth row of pixels located between the second and third rows of field pixels, the fifth row of pixels including previously interpolated pixel values and pixel values obtained by line averaging between pixel values in the second and third rows of field pixels. The method further includes interpolating along the selected orientation to determine a value for a pixel to be interpolated.

Abstract: Gradient analysis may be utilized to determine frame and field repeat patterns in input video data. Those frame and field repeat patterns may then be analyzed to match them with characteristic patterns associated with telecine 3:2 and 2:2 pulldown video data, for example. In addition, a progressive detector may use combing analysis to determine whether or not a particular field is progressive or interlaced data. Then, this information, together with a field flag which indicates whether field or frame analysis is appropriate, may be utilized to distinguish telecine 2:2 or 3:2 pulldowns and interlaced and progressive data in some embodiments.

Abstract: A method includes detecting vertical edge pixels in an image and analyzing the detected vertical edge pixels by horizontal location in the image to detect a spatial periodicity in the detected vertical edge pixels. The method further includes detecting horizontal edge pixels in the image, and analyzing the detected horizontal edge pixels by vertical location in the image to detect a spatial periodicity in the detected horizontal edge pixels.

Abstract: A method of selectively sharpening video data may include, for at least some pixels in the video data, generating a sharpening value for a pixel value in an image. The sharpening value may be amplified in a non-linear manner to produce an amplified value. The pixel value and the amplified value may then be combined.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for adaptively reducing blocking artifacts in block-coded video are disclosed. In one implementation, a system includes processing logic at least capable of deblock filtering at least a portion of a line of video data based, at least in part, on edge information and texture information to generate at least a portion of a line of deblocked video data, and an image data output device responsive to the processing logic.

Abstract: A method includes making a first determination as to whether a current pixel has a value which reflects a mosquito noise artifact, and determining whether to apply a filtering process at the current pixel based on a result of the first determination. In addition, or alternatively, a method includes making a second determination as to whether a current pixel has a value which reflects a ringing artifact, and determining whether to apply a filtering process at the current pixel based on a result of the second determination.

Abstract: A method includes determining a lowest-score interpolation direction among a plurality of interpolation directions. The method further includes calculating a candidate pixel value by interpolating along the lowest-score interpolation direction. The method further includes applying a median function to a set of pixel values. The set of pixel values includes (a) the candidate pixel value, (b) at least one pixel value from a line of pixels that is immediately above a pixel location that is currently being interpolated, and (c) at least one pixel value from a line of pixel values that is immediately below the pixel location that is currently being interpolated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for estimating the quality of encoded video data without gaining access to the source data. The system is configured to decode compressed video data using an MPEG/H.263 decoder to produce decompressed video data. The decoded data is subject to a discrete cosine transform (DCT) to produce a set of DCT coefficients of the decompressed video data is determined to be intra-coded. Meanwhile, the quantization matrix including a quantizier step size for each block of the decompressed video data are extracted. Following this, statistical properties of the DCT coefficients are extracted from the decoded video. Then, an average quantization error for both AC and DC coefficients is determined using information regarding the quantization and the statistical properties. Finally, this estimated quantization error is used for in computing a peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR).

Abstract: A sharpness metric represents a control variable of manual (47) or automated (41) sharpness control systems for image and video acquisition, storage and reproduction systems. In manual systems usually one controllable parameter is adjusted seeking to maximize sharpness, within pre-established limits to avoid image distortion. A method for measuring sharpness (10) in an image or picture that may have been enhanced asymmetrically uses statistics from a Discrete Cosine Transformation on predetermined blocks of the image and compensates for asymmetry using information on a number of edge pixels (14) and an energy content of one or more vertical edges and one or more horizontal edges in each block (15). One embodiment for so doing determines a kurtosisbased sharpness metric of the image (12) and then compensates the kurtosis-based sharpness metric to account for differences in sharpness enhancement in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction (13).

Abstract: A method includes storing a current field of a digital video signal. The method further includes storing a preceding field that immediately precedes the current field in the digital video signal, and storing a succeeding field that immediately succeeds the current field in the digital video signal. The method also includes examining the preceding and succeeding fields for motion at a locus of a current pixel to be interpolated. In addition, if any motion at the locus is less than a threshold, the preceding and succeeding fields are examined for motion at a respective locus of at least one pixel that is adjacent to the current pixel to be interpolated.

Abstract: A method for detecting scene cuts and similar pictures in a video sequence, including receiving pictures in a video sequence, extracting a set of features from two temporally consecutive pictures, computing a sum of square errors for the set of features with respect to the features of the previous picture, determining whether the error exceeds a predefined threshold and in response to the error exceeding the predefined threshold, detecting a scene change, and determining whether the error is less than a certain threshold thus detecting a similar picture has been found.

Abstract: A video conferencing system and method which automatically determines the appropriate preset camera parameters corresponding to participants participating in the video conference. A camera zooms out or pans the video conference space and looks for participants based on their faces. When a participant is detected, the preset camera parameters for that participant are calculated for when the center of the participant is in the center of the camera's view. This is continued for all the participants in the room. The optimal position for each participant and corresponding camera parameters are determined based on cultural preferences. Updates in the presets can be made periodically by the camera zooming out or panning the room. Multiple cameras can be used to continually update the presets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for controlling the quality of video data by selecting the optimal quantization parameter during encoding. The system is configured to perform quantization for one or more macroblocks using a different range of step sizes, then the kurtosis for the respective quantized data is performed to determine the macroblock and the corresponding quantization step size that yields the highest kurtosis value. The quantization step size that generates the highest kurtosis value is selected to the blocks of input-video data during encoding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of measuring blocking artefacts on the basis of video data encoded in accordance with a block encoding technique. This method comprises a step of computing a monodimensional inverse discrete transform (31) of a first row of a first block of encoded video data, suitable for supplying a value of a first virtual border pixel (vep1). It also comprises a step of computing a monodimensional inverse discrete transform (32) of a first row of a second block of encoded video data, the second block being adjacent to the first block, suitable for supplying a value of a second virtual border pixel (vep2). Finally, the method comprises a step of computing (33) a blocking artefact level (VEP-L) on the basis of an absolute value of the difference between the values of the first and second virtual pixels. This method finds its application, for example, in video encoders, decoders and transcoders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for evaluating the quality of encoded video data without gaining access to the source data or the compressed video bitstream. The system is configured to decode compressed video data using an MPEG decoder to produce decompressed video data. The decoded data is analyzed to determine whether the decompressed video data is intra-coded. If so, a discrete cosine transform (DCT) is performed to produce a set of DCT coefficients for at least one AC frequency band in the decompressed video data. At the same time, quantization matrix data of a frame of the decompressed video data as well as a quantizer scale for each block of the decompressed video data are extracted. Thereafter, the variance of the converted DCT coefficients is obtained, and then an average quantization error for each set of said DCT coefficients is determined based on the variance, the quantization matrix, and the quantizer scale.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for controlling the quality of video data by selecting the optimal quantization parameter during encoding. The system is configured to perform quantization for one or more macroblocks using a different range of step sizes, then the kurtosis for the respective quantized data is performed to determine the macroblock and the corresponding quantization step size that yields the highest kurtosis value. The quantization step size that generates the highest kurtosis value is selected to the blocks of input-video data during encoding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for evaluating the quality of encoded video data without gaining access to the source data or the compressed video bitstream. The system is configured to decode compressed video data using an MPEG decoder to produce decompressed video data. The decoded data is analyzed to determine whether the decompressed video data is intra-coded. If so, a discrete cosine transform (DCT) is performed to produce a set of DCT coefficients for at least one AC frequency band in the decompressed video data. At the same time, quantization matrix data of a frame of the decompressed video data as well as a quantizer scale for each block of the decompressed video data are extracted. Thereafter, the variance of the converted DCT coefficients is obtained, and then an average quantization error for each set of said DCT coefficients is determined based on the variance, the quantization matrix, and the quantizer scale.