Abstract: Systems and methods are provided through which marks are generated for combination with a host image, in which source or user information is encoded into the mark either as a visually perceptibly unobtrusive pattern, or encoded by an arrangement of visually perceptible marks. Systems and methods are also provided for decoding or estimating the user information from images that contain the marks and determining the user or source that the mark indicates within a measure of certainty.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided through which a template in the spatial domain is generated and combined with an image. Later, the combined image can be decoded to determine the extent of scaling and or shifting or the combined image. The template comprises at least one vertical or horizontal band. The horizontal band(s) determine the extent of scaling and/or shifting along the vertical axis, and the vertical bands determine the extent of scaling and/or shifting along the horizontal axis of the combined image. Using both horizontal and vertical bands enables decoding of shifting and scaling along both axis, and creates a grid. Each band specifies a predetermined characteristic of modifying the luminance of the corresponding pixels of the image. In one alternative, the modification of the image is performed to the extent that the bands are invisible to the naked eye.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing data access in accordance with memory access patterns are described. In one embodiment, the method includes the determination, in response to a memory access instruction, of a memory access pattern of data requested by the memory access instruction. Once the memory access pattern is determined, the data requested by the memory access instruction is accessed according to the determined memory access pattern. Finally, once the data is accessed, the data is processed according to the memory access instruction. Accordingly, in this embodiment of the present invention, data is accessed according to memory access patterns including zig-zag patterns scan, Zerotree scan, bit plane extraction, fine granularity scalability or the like.

Abstract: An apparatus and method facilitating memory data access with generic read/write patterns are described. In one embodiment, the method includes the detection, in response to a load instruction, of a cache hit/cache miss of data requested by the load instruction within a re-tiling (RT) cache. When a cache miss is detected, a block of data is loaded into the RT cache according to the load instruction. This block of data will contain the data requested by the load instruction. Once loaded, a non-horizontally sequential access of the data requested by the load instruction is performed from the RT cache. Finally, the data accessed from the RT cache may be stored into a destination data storage device according to the load instruction.

Abstract: One inventive aspect pertains to a watermarking mechanism that allows a watermark to be determined from only a part of the video sequence without human intervention and without reference to the original watermarked frames. This watermark has improved invisibility, detection reliability and robustness. Invisibility is improved through the inclusion of frame difference parameters to calculate the amplitude of the watermark. Detection reliability and robustness can be improved by assuring that opposite signed values for the pseudo-random number sequence are spatially near each other and using data blocks forming the data sets, respectively. Another inventive aspect pertains to a watermarking mechanism that is exclusively dependent on the data contained in the data sets and is completely interoperable between spatial and compressed domains.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for variable length coding is described. A method comprises receiving a group of data having a group of set values, identifying a group of positions of the group of set values within the group of data without branching, for each of the group of positions, encoding a run of non-set values preceding each of the group of positions.

Abstract: A method for dequantizing quantized data is provided, where the quantized data includes multiple encoded versions of source data. An initial encoding of the source data is received, where the initial encoding includes a sequence of quantized symbols. At least one additional encoding of the source data is received, where the at least one additional encoding includes a sequence of quantized symbols. The initial encoding and the at least one additional encoding are independently encoded. The initial encoding and the at least one additional encoding are aligned. A quantization interval of a symbol in the initial encoding is determined. A quantization interval of a corresponding symbol in the at least one additional encoding is determined. An intersection of the quantization intervals of the symbol in the initial encoding and the corresponding symbol in at least one additional encoding is determined. Based on the intersection, a dequantized symbol is generated.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided through which a template in the spatial domain is generated and combined with an image. Later, the combined image can be decoded to determine the extent of scaling and or shifting or the combined image. The template comprises at least one vertical or horizontal band. The horizontal band(s) determine the extent of scaling and/or shifting along the vertical axis, and the vertical bands determine the extent of scaling and/or shifting along the horizontal axis of the combined image. Using both horizontal and vertical bands enables decoding of shifting and scaling along both axis, and creates a grid. Each band specifies a predetermined characteristic of modifying the luminance of the corresponding pixels of the image. In one alternative, the modification of the image is performed to the extent that the bands are invisible to the naked eye.

Abstract: An apparatus and method facilitating memory data access with generic read/write patterns are described. In one embodiment, the method includes the detection, in response to a load instruction, of a cache hit/cache miss of data requested by the load instruction within a re-tiling (RT) cache. When a cache miss is detected, a block of data is loaded into the RT cache according to the load instruction. This block of data will contain the data requested by the load instruction. Once loaded, a non-horizontally sequential access of the data requested by the load instruction is performed from the RT cache. Finally, the data accessed from the RT cache may be stored into a destination data storage device according to the load instruction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing data access in accordance with memory access patterns are described. In one embodiment, the method includes the determination, in response to a memory access instruction, of a memory access pattern of data requested by the memory access instruction. Once the memory access pattern is determined, the data requested by the memory access instruction is accessed according to the determined memory access pattern. Finally, once the data is accessed, the data is processed according to the memory access instruction. Accordingly, in this embodiment of the present invention, data is accessed according to memory access patterns including zig-zag patterns scan, Zerotree scan, bit plane extraction, fine granularity scalability or the like.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided through which a template in the spatial domain is generated and combined with an image. Later, the combined image can be decoded to determine the extent of scaling and or shifting or the combined image. The template comprises at least one vertical or horizontal band. The horizontal band(s) determine the extent of scaling and/or shifting along the vertical axis, and the vertical bands determine the extent of scaling and/or shifting along the horizontal axis of the combined image. Using both horizontal and vertical bands enables decoding of shifting and scaling along both axis, and creates a grid. Each band specifies a predetermined characteristic of modifying the luminance of the corresponding pixels of the image. In one alternative, the modification of the image is performed to the extent that the bands are invisible to the naked eye.

Abstract: A content distribution system comprising a server platform and a client platform. The server platform includes a memory unit to store digital content and access control logic to activate content protection mechanisms that provide multiple levels of access protection to the digital content. In communication with the server platform, the client platform plays back segments of the digital content at one of a plurality of quality levels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for variable length coding is described. A method comprises receiving a group of data having a group of set values, identifying a group of positions of the group of set values within the group of data without branching, for each of the group of positions, encoding a run of non-set values preceding each of the group of positions.

Abstract: Use of watermarking techniques allow accurate spatial and temporal localization of degraded or corrupted data sets without requiring access to an original source data set. For images, specific corrupted areas within the image can be identified. For audio or audiovisual data, the duration of corruption can be measured. Global or local corruption can be quantitatively measured.

Abstract: Dynamic monitoring and correction of network or transcoding service quality is accomplished by use of watermarking techniques that allow accurate spatial and temporal localization of degraded or corrupted data sets without requiring access to an original source data set. Damage to watermarks, corresponding to damage to a data set in which the watermark is embedded, can be reported to a data processor to permit near real time modifications to data bandwidth or encoding techniques to reduce further data corruption.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the invention includes a method of providing content including selecting a set of segments of content from a group of segments to be protected. The segments of the set are protected with protection that can be undone. The group of segments are transmitted. In other embodiments, the invention includes a method of receiving and processing content including receiving a group of segments of content. The set of segments in the group that are protected are identified. The protection is undone. The group of segments is played seamlessly with a media player. Additional embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to support a first peer node receiving an inquiry for data from a second peer node. In one embodiment, the first peer node transcodes the data before transmitting the data to the second peer node, wherein the transcoding includes converting the data into a format that can be processed by the second peer node, and transmitting the data to the second peer node in a transport specification as requested by the second peer node.

Abstract: A method to obtain a resource among nodes. In one embodiment, a first node receives an inquiry for a resource from a second node. The first node generates a cost evaluation of obtaining the resource and the first node transmits the cost evaluation to the second node for use in selecting where to obtain the resource.