Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for improving the quality of an image as perceived by the Human Vision System by smoothing block artifacts in an image. In one embodiment, smoothing is accomplished by identifying target pixels to be smoothed and then replacing the pixel values of the target pixels with values derived from statistically similar neighboring pixels. The statistically similar neighboring pixels are chosen based on specific measurement criteria from within a region identified to contain such neighbors.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods in which, for a given amount of data required to represent a compressed video signal, the quality of the uncompressed displayed real-time video, as perceived by a typical human viewer, is improved. Systems and methods herein achieve this improvement by attenuating the appearance of blocks without necessarily having a priori knowledge of their locations. The methods described herein attenuate the appearance of these blocks such that the quality of the resultant real-time video, as perceived by the HVS, is improved.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for improving the quality of compressed digital video signals by separating the video signals into Deblock and Detail regions and, by smoothing the entire frame, and then by over-writing each smoothed frame by a preserved Detail region of the frame. The Detail region may be computed only in Key Frames after which it may be employed in adjacent frames in order to improve computational efficiency. This improvement is enhanced by computing an Expanded Detailed Region in Key Frames. The concept of employing a smooth Canvas Image onto which the Detail image is overwritten is analogous to an artist first painting the entire picture with an undetailed Canvas (usually using a broad large brush) and then over-painting that Canvas with the required detail (usually using a small fine brush).

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for compressing digital video signals in a manner that prevents the creation of block artifacts and improves compression efficiency by the selective removal of data representing visually imperceptible or irrelevant detail. Bandwidth control is improved through prioritized removal of data exceeding permissible bandwidth limits. This provides a process by which a coupled compressor and de-compressor system can effect the transmission or storage of video at low bitrates with high perceptual quality of the decompressed video. In one embodiment, the low frequency components are removed from a video stream and either stored or transmitted in compressed format separate from the storage or transmission of the high frequency components of the video stream. Certain high frequency video stream details can be suppressed to further reduce bitrate.

Abstract: A system and method providing for the generation of an image having enhanced three-dimensional attributes from a source image having only two-dimensional spatial domain information is disclosed. Object image discrimination through the use of machine vision techniques is utilized to identify objects within the source image. Thereafter, object images are dissected into image cells wherein the object images are supplemented to include missing information. Generation techniques are utilized to reassemble the image cells into an image having the desired enhanced three-dimensional attributes.

Abstract: A digital oscillator generates pairs of sampled sinusoidal signals having precisely established phase relationships, e.g., in near-perfect quadrature. The digital oscillator has first and second, interconnected multiplying-integrating modules. Each module has a multiplier for multiplying an input signal by a first coefficient, and a digital integrator for integrating the product over a period of time and thereby generating a different one of the sampled sinusoidal signals. Setting the multiplier coefficients appropriately controls the amplitudes of the generated sinusoidal signals. Likewise, the frequencies and phases of the sinusoidal signals are controlled in response to the values of the multiplier coefficients and to the period of integration. In a preferred embodiment, the first module has a delay-free-forward-path ("DFEP") integrator, and the second module uses a delay-forward-path ("DFP") integrator.