Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for determining by-storyline data from by-episode data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for determining by-storyline data from by-episode data.

Abstract: A data coder prepares a frame of data for transmission over a data channel. The frame is first broken into a series of non-overlapping blocks. The blocks are analyzed to determine if they are a “picture” block or a “non-picture” block. Picture blocks are compressed to produce one or more layers of data, including a base layer and, optionally, one or more enhanced layers. Non-picture blocks are similarly compressed, but according to different compression procedures. Prior to sending the compressed layers of data to a scheduler for transmission on the data channel, the blocks are checked to see if they have changed more than a threshold amount from the last time they were sent. If the block has changed more than the threshold, the changed block is sent to the scheduler, in compressed form. If the block has not changed more than the threshold, only an indication of the block, and not the block itself, is sent to the scheduler.

Abstract: Ringing artifacts in digital images are predicted by determining a number of pixels of a block of pixels exhibiting luminance exceeding a luminance threshold adequate for detecting a ringing artifact and a number of these higher luminance pixels having sufficient contrast with neighbor pixels to be a likely source of a ringing artifact.

Abstract: To improve compression efficiency and decompressed image quality, images are decomposed into separate layers each containing a limited number of image element types (text, line art, or photographic). Each layer can then be compressed separately with a process that is optimal for the type of image element included in the layer. Images are decomposed into foreground, background, and mask layers. The value of a pixel in the mask layer designates whether the spatially corresponding pixel of the recomposed image will be selected from the spatially corresponding pixels of either the foreground or the background layer. The present invention provides a method of determining the value of a pixel for a mask layer. The image is partitioned into large and small sub-images or blocks. A sub-image mask is created for each sub-image by sorting pixels of the sub-image into clusters centered on the luminance of pixels of a pair of pixels of maximum luminance gradient.

Abstract: A data coder prepares a frame of data for transmission over a data channel. The frame is first broken into a series of non-overlapping blocks. The blocks are analyzed to determine if they are a “picture” block or a “non-picture” block. Picture blocks are compressed to produce one or more layers of data, including a base layer and, optionally, one or more enhanced layers. Non-picture blocks are similarly compressed, but according to different compression procedures. Prior to sending the compressed layers of data to a scheduler for transmission on the data channel, the blocks are checked to see if they have changed more than a threshold amount from the last time they were sent. If the block has changed more than the threshold, the changed block is sent to the scheduler, in compressed form. If the block has not changed more than the threshold, only an indication of the block, and not the block itself, is sent to the scheduler.

Abstract: Ringing artifacts in digital images are predicted by determining a number of pixels of a block of pixels exhibiting luminance exceeding a luminance threshold adequate for detecting a ringing artifact and a number of these higher luminance pixels having sufficient contrast with neighbor pixels to be a likely source of a ringing artifact.