Patents by Inventor Ming-Chieh Lee

Ming-Chieh Lee has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20050159946
    Abstract: An audio encoder regulates quality and bitrate with a control strategy. The strategy includes several features. First, an encoder regulates quantization using quality, minimum bit count, and maximum bit count parameters. Second, an encoder regulates quantization using a noise measure that indicates reliability of a complexity measure. Third, an encoder normalizes a control parameter value according to block size for a variable-size block. Fourth, an encoder uses a bit-count control loop de-linked from a quality control loop. Fifth, an encoder addresses non-monotonicity of quality measurement as a function of quantization level when selecting a quantization level. Sixth, an encoder uses particular interpolation rules to find a quantization level in a quality or bit-count control loop. Seventh, an encoder filters a control parameter value to smooth quality. Eighth, an encoder corrects model bias by adjusting a control parameter value in view of current buffer fullness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Ge Chen, Naveen Thumpudi, Ming-Chieh Lee
  • Publication number: 20050159947
    Abstract: Quantization matrices facilitate digital audio encoding and decoding. An audio encoder generates and compresses quantization matrices; an audio decoder decompresses and applies the quantization matrices. The invention includes several techniques and tools, which can be used in combination or separately. For example, the audio encoder can generate quantization matrices from critical band patterns for blocks of audio data. The encoder can compute the quantization matrices directly from the critical band patterns, which can be computed from the same audio data that is being compressed. The audio encoder/decoder can use different modes for generating/applying quantization matrices depending on the coding channel mode of multi-channel audio data. The audio encoder/decoder can use different compression/decompression modes for the quantization matrices, including a parametric compression/decompression mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Ge Chen, Naveen Thumpudi, Ming-Chieh Lee
  • Publication number: 20050152457
    Abstract: A video codec efficiently signals that a frame is identical to its reference frame, such that separate coding of its picture content is skipped. Information that a frame is skipped is represented jointly in a coding table of a frame coding type element for bit rate efficiency in signaling. Further, the video codec signals the picture type (e.g., progressive or interlaced) of skipped frames, which permits different repeat padding methods to be applied according to the picture type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shankar Regunathan, Chih-Lung Lin, Thomas Holcomb, Jie Liang, Ming-Chieh Lee, Pohsiang Hsu
  • Publication number: 20050149323
    Abstract: Quantization matrices facilitate digital audio encoding and decoding. An audio encoder generates and compresses quantization matrices; an audio decoder decompresses and applies the quantization matrices. The invention includes several techniques and tools, which can be used in combination or separately. For example, the audio encoder can generate quantization matrices from critical band patterns for blocks of audio data. The encoder can compute the quantization matrices directly from the critical band patterns, which can be computed from the same audio data that is being compressed. The audio encoder/decoder can use different modes for generating/applying quantization matrices depending on the coding channel mode of multi-channel audio data. The audio encoder/decoder can use different compression/decompression modes for the quantization matrices, including a parametric compression/decompression mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Ge Chen, Naveen Thumpudi, Ming-Chieh Lee
  • Publication number: 20050149324
    Abstract: Quantization matrices facilitate digital audio encoding and decoding. An audio encoder generates and compresses quantization matrices; an audio decoder decompresses and applies the quantization matrices. The invention includes several techniques and tools, which can be used in combination or separately. For example, the audio encoder can generate quantization matrices from critical band patterns for blocks of audio data. The encoder can compute the quantization matrices directly from the critical band patterns, which can be computed from the same audio data that is being compressed. The audio encoder/decoder can use different modes for generating/applying quantization matrices depending on the coding channel mode of multi-channel audio data. The audio encoder/decoder can use different compression/decompression modes for the quantization matrices, including a parametric compression/decompression mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Ge Chen, Naveen Thumpudi, Ming-Chieh Lee
  • Publication number: 20050143991
    Abstract: An audio encoder regulates quality and bitrate with a control strategy. The strategy includes several features. First, an encoder regulates quantization using quality, minimum bit count, and maximum bit count parameters. Second, an encoder regulates quantization using a noise measure that indicates reliability of a complexity measure. Third, an encoder normalizes a control parameter value according to block size for a variable-size block. Fourth, an encoder uses a bit-count control loop de-linked from a quality control loop. Fifth, an encoder addresses non-monotonicity of quality measurement as a function of quantization level when selecting a quantization level. Sixth, an encoder uses particular interpolation rules to find a quantization level in a quality or bit-count control loop. Seventh, an encoder filters a control parameter value to smooth quality. Eighth, an encoder corrects model bias by adjusting a control parameter value in view of current buffer fullness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Ge Chen, Naveen Thumpudi, Ming-Chieh Lee
  • Publication number: 20050143993
    Abstract: An audio encoder regulates quality and bitrate with a control strategy. The strategy includes several features. First, an encoder regulates quantization using quality, minimum bit count, and maximum bit count parameters. Second, an encoder regulates quantization using a noise measure that indicates reliability of a complexity measure. Third, an encoder normalizes a control parameter value according to block size for a variable-size block. Fourth, an encoder uses a bit-count control loop de-linked from a quality control loop. Fifth, an encoder addresses non-monotonicity of quality measurement as a function of quantization level when selecting a quantization level. Sixth, an encoder uses particular interpolation rules to find a quantization level in a quality or bit-count control loop. Seventh, an encoder filters a control parameter value to smooth quality. Eighth, an encoder corrects model bias by adjusting a control parameter value in view of current buffer fullness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Ge Chen, Naveen Thumpudi, Ming-Chieh Lee
  • Publication number: 20050143990
    Abstract: An audio encoder regulates quality and bitrate with a control strategy. The strategy includes several features. First, an encoder regulates quantization using quality, minimum bit count, and maximum bit count parameters. Second, an encoder regulates quantization using a noise measure that indicates reliability of a complexity measure. Third, an encoder normalizes a control parameter value according to block size for a variable-size block. Fourth, an encoder uses a bit-count control loop de-linked from a quality control loop. Fifth, an encoder addresses non-monotonicity of quality measurement as a function of quantization level when selecting a quantization level. Sixth, an encoder uses particular interpolation rules to find a quantization level in a quality or bit-count control loop. Seventh, an encoder filters a control parameter value to smooth quality. Eighth, an encoder corrects model bias by adjusting a control parameter value in view of current buffer fullness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Ge Chen, Naveen Thumpudi, Ming-Chieh Lee
  • Publication number: 20050143992
    Abstract: An audio encoder regulates quality and bitrate with a control strategy. The strategy includes several features. First, an encoder regulates quantization using quality, minimum bit count, and maximum bit count parameters. Second, an encoder regulates quantization using a noise measure that indicates reliability of a complexity measure. Third, an encoder normalizes a control parameter value according to block size for a variable-size block. Fourth, an encoder uses a bit-count control loop de-linked from a quality control loop. Fifth, an encoder addresses non-monotonicity of quality measurement as a function of quantization level when selecting a quantization level. Sixth, an encoder uses particular interpolation rules to find a quantization level in a quality or bit-count control loop. Seventh, an encoder filters a control parameter value to smooth quality. Eighth, an encoder corrects model bias by adjusting a control parameter value in view of current buffer fullness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Ge Chen, Naveen Thumpudi, Ming-Chieh Lee
  • Patent number: 6912584
    Abstract: An improved loss recovery method for coding streaming media classifies each data unit in the media stream as an independent data unit (I unit), a remotely predicted unit (R unit) or a predicted data unit (P unit). Each of these units is organized into independent segments having an I unit, multiple P units and R units interspersed among the P units. The beginning of each segment is the start of a random access point, while each R unit provides a loss recovery point that can be placed independently of the I unit. This approach separates the random access point from the loss recovery points provided by the R units, and makes the stream more impervious to data losses without substantially impacting coding efficiency. The most important data units are transmitted with the most reliability to ensure that the majority of the data received by the client is usable. The I units are the least sensitive to transmission losses because they are coded using only their own data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Albert Szu-chi Wang, Ming-Chieh Lee
  • Publication number: 20050053288
    Abstract: Techniques and tools for bitstream-controlled filtering are described. For example, a video encoder puts control information into a bitstream for encoded video. A video decoder decodes the encoded video and, according to the control information, performs post-processing filtering on the decoded video with a de-ringing and/or de-blocking filter. Typically, a content author specifies the control information to the encoder. The control information itself is post-processing filter levels, filter selections, and/or some other type of information. In the bitstream, the control information is specified for a sequence, scene, frame, region within a frame, or at some other syntax level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Sridhar Srinivasan, Chih-Lung Lin, Pohsiang Hsu, Thomas Holcomb, Ming-Chieh Lee, Jordi Ribas-Corbera
  • Publication number: 20050036759
    Abstract: Video coding efficiency is improved by jointly coding the x and y components of motion vectors with a single variable length code. The motion vector components for a block of pixels are predicted based on motion vectors of neighboring blocks of pixels. The predicted x and y components are then jointly coded by assigning a single variable length code corresponding to the pair of components, rather than a separate code for each component. If the x and y components do not have a corresponding entry in the coding table, they are coded with an escape code followed by fixed length codes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Lung Lin, Ming-Chieh Lee
  • Publication number: 20050013500
    Abstract: With intelligent differential quantization, a video codec intelligently quantizes video at differing strength levels within a frame, such as on a macroblock (MB) or a group of MB basis. This allows the codec to control bit usage on a finer granularity than a frame to meet hardware constraints, as well as providing perceptual optimization by coarsely quantizing unimportant regions, while finely quantizing important regions within a frame. The intelligent differential quantization uses motion information gathered from encoding and analysis of the video to classify the importance of different regions of the image, and quantizes the regions accordingly. In addition, the intelligent differential quantization include efficient signaling of information as to the differential quantization strengths in the compressed bit stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Publication date: January 20, 2005
    Inventors: Ming-Chieh Lee, Bruce Lin, Pohsiang Hsu, Thomas Holcomb
  • Publication number: 20040225506
    Abstract: A transcoder reduces excess requantization error in quantization of spectral data. The transcoder phase shifts data decompressed by a decompressor. The phase shifting causes a change to corresponding spectral data produced in later transform coding of the decompressed data. When the spectral data is then quantized to reduce bitrate, the earlier phase shifting reduces excess requantization error. After transcoding, a second decompressor can compensate for the phase shifting by, for example, reverse shifting by the amount of the phase shift. Instead of phase shifting, the transcoder can reduce excess requantization error by, for example, adding random noise to the decompressed data or changing transform block sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Ge Chen, Ming-Chieh Lee
  • Publication number: 20040189863
    Abstract: A semantic object tracking method tracks general semantic objects with multiple non-rigid motion, disconnected components and multiple colors throughout a vector image sequence. The method accurately tracks these general semantic objects by spatially segmenting image regions from a current frame and then classifying these regions as to which semantic object they originated from in the previous frame. To classify each region, the method perform a region based motion estimation between each spatially segmented region and the previous frame to computed the position of a predicted region in the previous frame. The method then classifies each region in the current frame as being part of a semantic object based on which semantic object in the previous frame contains the most overlapping points of the predicted region. Using this method, each region in the current image is tracked to one semantic object from the previous frame, with no gaps or overlaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Chuang Gu, Ming-Chieh Lee
  • Publication number: 20040131261
    Abstract: An encoder compresses a set of still images and parameterizes (with effect parameters) additional images synthesized from the set of still images. A decoder decompresses the set of still images and synthesizes the additional images using the effect parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Chieh Lee, Shou-Jen (Joseph) Wu, Sergey Smirnov, Brian D. Crites
  • Publication number: 20040126030
    Abstract: The coded block parameters used to code blocks of image samples into structures called macroblocks are compressed more efficiently by exploiting the correlation between chrominance and luminance blocks in each macroblock. In particular, the coded block pattern for chrominance and luminance are combined into a single parameter for the macroblock and jointly coded with a single variable length code. To further enhance coding efficiency, the spatial coherence of coded block patterns can be exploited by using spatial prediction to compute predicted values for coded block pattern parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Lung (Bruce) Lin, Ming-Chieh Lee
  • Patent number: 6757648
    Abstract: A transcoder reduces excess requantization error in quantization of spectral data. The transcoder phase shifts data decompressed by a decompressor. The phase shifting causes a change to corresponding spectral data produced in later transform coding of the decompressed data. When the spectral data is then quantized to reduce bitrate, the earlier phase shifting reduces excess requantization error. After transcoding, a second decompressor can compensate for the phase shifting by, for example, reverse shifting by the amount of the phase shift. Instead of phase shifting, the transcoder can reduce excess requantization error by, for example, adding random noise to the decompressed data or changing transform block sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Ge Chen, Ming-Chieh Lee
  • Patent number: 6735345
    Abstract: The coded block parameters used to code blocks of image samples into structures called macroblocks are compressed more efficiently by exploiting the correlation between chrominance and luminance blocks in each macroblock. In particular, the coded block pattern for chrominance and luminance are combined into a single parameter for the macroblock and jointly coded with a single variable length code. To further enhance coding efficiency, the spatial coherence of coded block patterns can be exploited by using spatial prediction to compute predicted values for coded block pattern parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Lung (Bruce) Lin, Ming-Chieh Lee
  • Patent number: 6711278
    Abstract: A semantic object tracking method tracks general semantic objects with multiple non-rigid motion, disconnected components and multiple colors throughout a vector image sequence. The method accurately tracks these general semantic objects by spatially segmenting image regions from a current frame and then classifying these regions as to which semantic object they originated from in the previous frame. To classify each region, the method performs a region based motion estimation between each spatially segmented region and the previous frame to compute the position of a predicted region in the previous frame. The method then classifies each region in the current frame as being part of a semantic object based on which semantic object in the previous frame contains the most overlapping points of the predicted region. Using this method, each region in the current image is tracked to one semantic object from the previous frame, with no gaps or overlaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Chuang Gu, Ming-Chieh Lee