Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for reconstruction video information lost as a result of transmission errors. The system and method have four aspects, including: (1) changing the bit and/or packet rate; (2) inserting redundant information into the video bitstream; (3) providing automatic refresh of certain regions of the video on a periodic basis; and (4) interleaving coded macroblocks into diversity groups for transmission to spatially spread the effect of lost packets. The image reconstruction may then take advantage of these three aspects to provide an enhanced result in the presence of transmission losses.

Abstract: The present invention allows higher quality video images to be transmitted without a concomitant increase in a total number of video data bits transmitted per frame. Quantization parameters are applied to coefficients of macroblocks within a given video frame. A lower value of the quantization parameter is applied near a central region of a video frame. This central region is referred to as a prime video region. Applying the lower quantization parameter to the prime video region has the effect of increasing the video data bit density within that area. Outside of the prime video region, the video data bit density per macroblock is decreased so as to have a zero net-gain in bit density over the entire video frame. Furthermore, there may be a plurality of prime video regions where quantization parameters are dynamically coded. In this case, the value of the quantization parameter will increase or decrease within a given prime video region based on a relative importance of a particular prime video region.

Abstract: A method for encoding digital video with low delay for transport on a multi-channel QoS packet-switched network using multiple reference pictures with specially designated “key frames” to minimize the undesired effects of packet loss on video quality.

Abstract: A method for encoding digital video with low delay for transport on a multi-channel QoS packet-switched network using multiple reference pictures with specially designated “key frames” to minimize the undesired effects of packet loss on video quality.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a system and method for concealing video errors. The system includes a coding engine for processing each frame of a video signal to generate macroblocks, selecting a refresh interval based upon network communication parameters, and encoding one or more of the macroblocks as refresh intra-coded macroblocks based upon the selected refresh interval. The refresh intra-coded macroblocks are placed into discrete data packets for transmission across a network to one or more remote devices. Upon receiving other refresh intra-coded macroblocks from a remote device via the network, the coding engine decodes the received intra-coded macroblocks, and places the decoded macroblocks in a newly decoded video frame to be used as reference frame macroblocks for reducing video errors associated with prediction drift.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a system and method for concealing video errors. The system includes a coding engine for processing each frame of a video signal to generate macroblocks, selecting a refresh interval based upon network communication parameters, and encoding one or more of the macroblocks as refresh intra-coded macroblocks based upon the selected refresh interval. The refresh intra-coded macroblocks are placed into discrete data packets for transmission across a network to one or more remote devices. Upon receiving other refresh intra-coded macroblocks from a remote device via the network, the coding engine decodes the received intra-coded macroblocks, and places the decoded macroblocks in a newly decoded video frame to be used as reference frame macroblocks for reducing video errors associated with prediction drift.

Abstract: The present invention allows higher quality video images to be transmitted without a concomitant increase in a total number of video data bits transmitted per frame. Quantization parameters are applied to coefficients of macroblocks within a given video frame. A lower value of the quantization parameter is applied near a central region of a video frame. This central region is referred to as a prime video region. Applying the lower quantization parameter to the prime video region has the effect of increasing the video data bit density within that area. Outside of the prime video region, the video data bit density per macroblock is decreased so as to have a zero net-gain in bit density over the entire video frame. Furthermore, there may be a plurality of prime video regions where quantization parameters are dynamically coded. In this case, the value of the quantization parameter will increase or decrease within a given prime video region based on a relative importance of a particular prime video region.

Abstract: The present invention combines a data processing structure with a graphical user interface (GUI) to create an information analysis tool wherein multiple functions are combined in a network to extract information from multiple data sources. The functional network is created, and graphically represented to the user, by linking individual operations together. The combination of individual operations is not limited by the input or output characteristic of any single operation. The form of the input to or output from any individual operation, whether from a database or from another operation, is the same. That is, both the input to and the output from an analysis function is a list of document identifiers and corresponding document characteristics. Because the form of the input and output from each operation is the same, arbitrary combinations of operations may be created. Moreover, functional networks of individual operations can then be used for database retrieval as well as to filter data streams.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating a personal computer based presentation with a videoconferencing system. A coupling device includes a card, insertable into a PCMCIA slot of a laptop computer or like machine, which includes a cable coupled to the card at a first end and to a connector coupled at a second end. The card includes firmware for loading into RAM of the computer and software operable to execute code.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating a personal computer based presentation with a videoconferencing system. A coupling device includes a card, insertable into a PCMCIA slot of a laptop computer or like machine, which includes a cable coupled to the card at a first end and to a connector coupled at a second end. The card includes firmware for loading into RAM of the computer and software operable to execute code.

Abstract: The present invention allows video images with improved subjective quality to be transmitted without a concomitant increase in a total number of bits transmitted per frame. Quantization parameters are applied to coefficients of macroblocks within a given video frame. A lower value of quantization parameter is applied near a central region of a video frame. This central region is referred to as a prime video region. Applying a lower quantization parameter to the prime video region has the effect of increasing the bit density within that area thereby improving the video quality. Outside of the prime video region, the bit density is progressively decreased on a macroblock-by-macroblock basis so as to have a zero or near-zero net-gain in bit density over the entire video frame.

Abstract: Disclosed herein in one embodiment is an adaptive coding threshold algorithm for a videoconference system which alleviates problems due to the erroneous recoding of stationary areas of images caused by image noise. The algorithm, which is preferably implementable on a videoconference encoder, assesses the coding parameters for a current macroblock and the coding parameters for that same macroblock the last time it was coded. If for both macroblocks the coding was non-intra, with a [0,0] motion vector, and with a low quantization parameter, a determination is made that the current macroblock depicts a stationary image. Accordingly, the algorithm increases the coding threshold (T1) for the blocks within that macroblock, so that it becomes more difficult for those particular blocks to be recoded. This renders the block with stationary content less susceptible to erroneous recoding, while preserving system bandwidth and improving image quality.

Abstract: A method for reducing or eliminating coding artifacts in video pictures processed using intra block prediction methods, for example, according to the H.264 standard. The causes of the coding artifacts are identified to be the intra prediction modes with prediction directions that are not in the direction of the raster scan. Filtering the affected blocks with a simple one-dimensional spatial filter will reduce or even eliminate these coding artifacts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for detecting macroblocks of a video frame that are located in one or more motion wake regions of the video frame. In one embodiment, a motion wake engine is configured to select a subset of macroblocks comprising non-peripherally located macroblocks selected to be inter-coded with motion vector magnitudes less than a predetermined motion vector threshold. Then, the motion wake engine identifies which macroblocks of the subset of macroblocks are located in first, second, third, or fourth motion wake regions of the video frame based upon a motion vector analysis of nearest neighbor macroblocks. In another embodiment of the invention, the motion wake engine applies error concealment/video improvement techniques to the identified macroblocks for video error concealment and for reducing visual artifacts associated with the motion wake regions.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a system and method for concealing video errors. The system encodes, reorders, and packetizes video information into video data packets for transmission over a communication network such that the system conceals errors caused by lost video data packets when the system receives, depacketizes, orders, and decodes the data packets. In one embodiment, the system and method encodes and packetizes video information, such that adjacent macroblocks are not placed in the same video data packets. Additionally, the system and method may provide information accompanying the video data packets to facilitate the decoding process. An advantage to such a scheme is that errors due to video data packet loss are spatially distributed over a video frame. Thus, if regions of data surrounding a lost macroblock are successfully decoded, the decoder may predict motion vectors and spatial content with a higher degree of accuracy, which leads to higher video quality.

Abstract: A system for establishing a voice and signaling link through a PBX system from an remote telephone device includes a PBX system, a setless gateway, and an remote telephone device. The PBX system is coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) via a trunk connection. The PBX system is also coupled to the setless gateway via a digital phone port, which includes a first bearer channel B1 and a second bearer channel B2. DTMF tone sequences from the remote telephone device are decoded by the setless gateway, which acts as a proxy to the PBX system. The setless gateway routes voice and signaling from the second bearer channel B2 to the first bearer channel B1, so as to extend the remote telephone device from the PBX system.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating a personal computer point to point with a videoconferencing system. A coupling device includes a card, insertable into a PCMCIA slot of a laptop computer or like machine, which includes a cable coupled to the card at a first end and to a connector coupled at a second end. The card includes firmware for loading into RAM of the computer and software operable to execute code. This integration enables dual stream communication between the computer and the videoconferencing system.

Abstract: A method for encoding digital video with low delay for transport on a multi-channel QoS packet-switched network using multiple reference pictures with specially designated “key frames” to minimize the undesired effects of packet loss on video quality.

Abstract: A system for establishing a voice and signaling link through a PBX system from an remote telephone device includes a PBX system, a setless gateway, and an remote telephone device. The PBX system is coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) via a trunk connection. The PBX system is also coupled to the setless gateway via a digital phone port, which includes a first bearer channel B1 and a second bearer channel B2. DTMF tone sequences from the remote telephone device are decoded by the setless gateway, which acts as a proxy to the PBX system. The setless gateway routes voice and signaling from the second bearer channel B2 to the first bearer channel B1, so as to extend the remote telephone device from the PBX system.