Abstract: An apparatus for efficient processing of images that are expressed as flows of pixels is disclosed. The proposed pixel flow processor consists of a number of readout units each of them capable of reading images as continuous flows of pixels and flows of pixels provided in bursts, a plurality of pixel flow output units each of them capable of generating images, at least one pixel processing pipeline implementing functions like color conversion, color balancing, scaling and feature extraction, and at least one component labeling unit. This apparatus can be further enhanced with an integral image calculation unit. The apparatus provides output image as continuous flows of pixels and flows of pixels provided in bursts, which can become input to equivalent structures or stored to bus-accessible devices.

Abstract: A device is provided comprising an intelligent optical network linecard. An intelligent optical linecard can utilize localized processing that facilitates scaling, enables switching in the optical domain, promotes management of dissimilar networks, provides the ability for bandwidth allocation on demand and in general can interface and utilize optical control plane signaling to dynamically control linecard functions.