Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and devices for coding and decoding a coded data stream as well as a signal format for a coded data stream. The coded data stream includes at least one high-level data packet having partitions of data (56, 62, 68) requiring different protection rates. Partition detectors (50) are inserted between two such partitions by a partition detector inserter, in order to provide guidance for coding the partitions with different protection rates. Information about the code rates used for the different fields is extracted by a controller on the receiving side in order to decode the partitions with the right code rate.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and devices for coding and decoding a coded data stream as well as a signal format for a coded data stream. The coded data stream includes at least one high-level data packet having partitions of data (56, 62, 68) requiring different protection rates. Partition detectors (50) are inserted between two such partitions by a partition detector inserter, in order to provide guidance for coding the partitions with different protection rates. Information about the code rates used for the different fields is extracted by a controller on the receiving side in order to decode the partitions with the right code rate.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of, and related apparatus for discriminating between synthetic and natural regions of an image composed of a matrix of rows and columns of pixels. The method comprises the steps of: dividing a matrix of luminance values of the pixels of the image into blocks, the blocks representing a block map identifying whether the blocks are of a natural image type or a synthetic image type by analysis of a gradient matrix (G) of luminance gradients of the luminance values in the block and clustering blocks of a same image type into respective natural and synthetic regions of the image. The step of identifying whether the blocks are of the natural image type or the synthetic image type comprises the step of calculating the gradient matrix (G) within each block on the basis of a first order difference value of the luminance values L of the pixels in a row and a column direction of the block.

Abstract: Decompression of a compressed encoded video signal is provided wherein the compressed encoded signal is decoded (7) to obtain a decoded signal, and wherein the decoded signal is subjected to post-processing by temporal up-conversion (10) and, prior to said temporal up-conversion (10), spatial enhancement (9). The compressed encoded signal is preferably a signal at a reduced resolution, such as a SIF signal according to an MPEG coding standard.

Abstract: Noise filtering an image sequence (V1) is provided wherein statistics (S) in at least one image of the image sequence (V1) is determined (11) and at least one filtered pixel value (Pt′) is calculated from a set of original pixel values (Pt, Mi) obtained from the at least one image, wherein the original pixel values (Pt, Mi) are weighted (13) under control (12, &agr;) of the statistics (11).

Abstract: In order to form argyle intarsia patterns, stacked arrays of selection levers cooperate with selection butts, the levers being capable of selecting the needles to be raised. Each array of selection levers is located symmetrically between two adjacent yarn feeding stations for cooperation with one or the other feeding station to select the desired needles depending upon the direction of machine reciprocating motion. The jack lifting and lowering profiles on the respective operative cam rings are symmetrical with respect to the feeding stations and to the arrays of selection levers. The jack lifting profiles include "V" shaped notches in alignment with the selection levers, and, correspondingly, the intermediate-jack lowering profiles include "V" shaped projections provided for further lowering the intermediate jacks.