Abstract: Estimating and/or compensating motion in a video image is provided wherein an image segment of the video image is selected, a search area is defined around the image segment, the defining being based on a range of possible motion vectors for the image segment, and image data related to said search area is retrieved. The search area is defined to have its center offset from a center of the image segment. The offset may be determined by a global motion parameter.

Abstract: Multiplexing data from bitstreams is described. Data status is determined for data of each of the bitstreams. Stream numbers are assigned respectively to the bitstreams, and the data of each of the bitstreams is controllably stored in respective memory. A memory buffer of the memory buffers is controllably selected. The data obtained from the memory buffer selected is parsed to provide an output. The controllably selecting and the parsing are repeated to obtain and parse the data stored in at least one other memory buffer of the memory buffers to provide the output. The output is multiplexed data from the bitstreams respectively associated with the memory buffer and the at least one other memory buffer.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for communication between hardware blocks and a processor in a programmable logic device is described. A shared memory is provided along with a memory controller for controlling access to the shared memory. An interface is configured to receive auxiliary instructions from the processor, select the hardware blocks for the requested tasks in response to the auxiliary instructions, notify the hardware blocks of those tasks, and arbitrate access to the memory controller among the hardware blocks.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention relates to communication between a first processing element and a second processing element. A first-in-first-out circuit (FIFO) includes a data input port, a data output port, an object-sent port, an object-end port, a memory, and control logic. The data input port is coupled to the first processing element. The data output port is coupled to the second processing element. The object-sent port is configured to receive an object-sent signal from the first processing element. The object-end port is configured to send an object-end signal to the second processing element. The memory is configured to store objects, each of the objects include a plurality of data words. The control logic is configured to control reading and writing to the memory, processing the object sent signal, and generating the object end signal.

Abstract: A data processor has a debug circuit arranged to monitor whether operand data used for execution of a program meets a debug exception condition. The debug exception condition tests a two or more of multi-bit subfields of a vector operand independently. Debug action is taken if one or more of the multi-bit subfields meet the corresponding conditions.

Abstract: Signal processing device for providing multiple output images by processing input images of an interlaced video signal, comprising a temporal interpolater circuit (18) and a memory buffer (26, 27) connected to the temporal interpolater circuit. The memory buffer (26, 27)is arranged for storing at least part of a previous input image (11, 13) and a current input image (12). The temporal interpolater circuit (18) is arranged for receiving at least the previous and current input image from the memory buffer (26, 27) and for providing multiple interlaced or de-interlaced frame data (15) at temporal positions between the previous input image temporal position and the current input image temporal position.

Abstract: The image processor (101) for motion compensated image processing comprises a motion compensation unit (106) for calculating an output image based on a particular motion vector field and based on a first input image and a second input image. The particular motion vector field can be calculated by a motion estimator (104) which is part of the image processor (101) or by an external unit (108). The image processor (101) is designed to select from which source, i.e. the motion estimator (104) or the external unit (108), the particular motion vector field is taken to calculate the output image. The external source is designed to calculate the particular motion vector field based on a motion vector field which was provided by the motion estimator (104) of the image processor (101).

Abstract: For compensation and/or estimation of motion in a digital video image a search area or window (S) is defined for an actual image segment (BD-B) such that all data that can be accessed via motion vectors from all pixels in the actual image segment (BD-B) is contained in the search area (S).

Abstract: The image processor (101) for motion compensated image processing comprises a motion compensation unit (106) for calculating an output image based on a particular motion vector field and based on a first input image and a second input image. The particular motion vector field can be calculated by a motion estimator (104) which is part of the image processor (101) or by an external unit (108). The image processor (101) is designed to select from which source, i.e. the motion estimator (104) or the external unit (108), the particular motion vector field is taken to calculate the output image. The external source is designed to calculate the particular motion vector field based on a motion vector field which was provided by the motion estimator (104) of the image processor (101).

Abstract: Estimating and/or compensating motion in a video image is provided wherein an image segment (B12) of the video image is selected, a search area (S) is defined around the image segment, the defining being based on a range of possible motion vectors (V) for the image segment, and image data related to said search area is retrieved. The search area is defined to have its center offset from a center of the image segment. The offset may be determined by a global motion parameter.