Abstract: A system and methods are disclosed for enhancing license plate recognition (LPR) and vehicle feature recognition processes in automatic vehicle access control, parking management, automatic toll collection and security applications. The system uses optical character recognition (OCR) to read license plates, while utilizing image feature recognition to verify plate reading results, and correct any OCR read errors, thereby increasing system accuracy. The system automatically controls the actuation of one or a plurality of gates/barriers to allow entry and exit of authorized vehicles to or from a premises, a parking lot or a toll station.

Abstract: A reconfigurable license plate recognition (LPR) processing apparatus and method for facilitating rapid development of LPR applications of various kinds and forms are disclosed. The LPR apparatus consists of processing hardware and software that can be configured manually or automatically into a plurality of operating modes that are designed to match the needs of various LPR applications. One or a plurality of appropriately configured LPR processing apparatuses along with LPR cameras and other required equipment can be assembled and operated in desired modes to build a variety of small-scale and large-scale LPR products. In addition, the LPR processing apparatus can be reconfigured when needed to match the changing requirements of an evolving LPR application, thereby eliminating the need to develop application-specific LPR hardware and software.

Abstract: The present invention describes a decentralized symmetric configuration of digital video recorders (DVCRs) for monitoring, controlling, analyzing, recording, playback and streaming of audio/visual (A/V) media over a network. Each DVCR is an autonomous device able to operate in its local environment as well as access and operate another DVCR available on the network to facilitate the overall working of the disclosed system. Each DVCR also exhibits storage fail-safe feature whereby it recovers data automatically if storage media gets corrupted such as due to sudden power failure. A DVCR can be configured to scan the network for other DVCR units. A list of discovered DVCRs is displayed. Each DVCR can access, after authentication, any of the listed DVCR for configuration, monitoring, controlling, recording, playback and other available functionality over the network.

Abstract: This disclosure describes unique video encoding and decoding processes compliant to one or more specific coding standards, such as the H.264/AVC standard, without sacrificing coding efficiency. A higher resolution input image is divided into a corresponding set of lower resolution sub-sampled images. The first image of each set is coded as an independent I picture, or coded with respect to the first image of one or more other sets as a P or B picture. Each subsequent image of a set, other than the first image in each set, is encoded with respect to the first image of the same set or an image of another set as a regular P or B picture. A decoding process may employ a decoder conforming to the specific coding standard to decode the encoded data, by rearranging the decoded lower resolution sub-sampled images of each set into corresponding higher resolution output images.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the manually optimizing the scheduling of code are disclosed. Accordingly, a software development tool with a graphical user interface enables manually ordering the scheduling of operations for architectures that execute multiple instructions/operations per machine cycle, such as very long instruction word (VLIW) processors. Assistance is provided at the instruction scheduling stage of VLIW compilation process to increase instruction level parallelism (ILP). The apparatus provides graphical views of assembly code and related information. An interactive, user friendly method to manipulate the code during or after scheduling is provided. The programmer can temporarily pause the automated scheduling, override decision taken by the scheduler, and then resume scheduling. The method lets the programmer interact graphically with scheduling decisions in a feedback environment.

Abstract: This disclosure describes unique video encoding and decoding processes compliant to one or more specific coding standards, such as the H.264/AVC standard, without sacrificing coding efficiency. A higher resolution input image is divided into a corresponding set of lower resolution sub-sampled images. The first image of each set is coded as an independent I picture, or coded with respect to the first image of one or more other sets as a P or B picture. Each subsequent image of a set, other than the first image in each set, is encoded with respect to the first image of the same set or an image of another set as a regular P or B picture. A decoding process may employ a decoder conforming to the specific coding standard to decode the encoded data, by rearranging the decoded lower resolution sub-sampled images of each set into corresponding higher resolution output images.

Abstract: The present invention describes a multi-module USB system consisting of a multi-function USB apparatus and associated USB cap. The multi-function USB apparatus operates as a USB host as well as a USB client. The USB cap houses a rechargeable battery pack and when docked with the multi-function USB apparatus provides power to the multi-function USB apparatus. The multi-function USB apparatus and USB cap can also operate independently. The USB system is a multi-functional device having modes that embody, including recording, sharing, playback, storage, and charging battery of USB based portable media devices. Further, the USB system configures itself automatically for the various modes based on use of its interfaces with no specific settings required from the user.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording audio-visual (A/V) contents directly from an A/V input source to a portable media player (PMP) is disclosed. The recorded A/V contents can be played back by the portable media player immediately upon stopping the recording. The recording apparatus does not involve the use of any intermediate computing or storage device other than the portable media player and the recording apparatus itself. The A/V contents for recording may come in the form of analog/digital signals or as digital data in compressed or uncompressed form from transmission and/or storage devices. Depending upon the nature of the input, the recording apparatus digitizes, encodes and/or transcodes the A/V contents and stores the processed A/V contents directly into the portable media player in playback ready format. The recording apparatus includes a one-button control interface for starting and stopping the recording of A/V contents to the portable media player.

Abstract: A method for providing audio-only recording is disclosed. According to the method, a combined video stream and an audio stream are received from a source. The audio stream is digitized, if in analog form. The digitized audio stream is compressed using an audio encoding engine. The encoded audio stream is saved in a storage device. The storage device can be local or on a network. In the case of the input A/V signal being a multiplexed and compressed digital signal, the audio segment(s) are separated using a demultiplexer and saved in a storage device. The encoding format of the stored audio data follows that of the original audio data embedded in the multiplexed A/V stream. To store the audio data in a different encoded format, the audio data is first decoded using an appropriate audio decoder and then re-encoded in the desired encoding format. Alternatively, an audio transcoder can be used to store the audio data in the desired encoding format.

Abstract: The present invention describes a decentralized symmetric configuration of digital video recorders (DVCRs) for monitoring, controlling, analyzing, recording, playback and streaming of audio/visual (A/V) media over a network. Each DVCR is an autonomous device able to operate in its local environment as well as access and operate another DVCR available on the network to facilitate the overall working of the disclosed system. Each DVCR also exhibits storage fail-safe feature whereby it recovers data automatically if storage media gets corrupted such as due to sudden power failure. A DVCR can be configured to scan the network for other DVCR units. A list of discovered DVCRs is displayed. Each DVCR can access, after authentication, any of the listed DVCR for configuration, monitoring, controlling, recording, playback and other available functionality over the network.

Abstract: A system comprising a media processing apparatus and a computer where the media processing apparatus emulates a mass storage device and interfaces with the computer is disclosed. In one embodiment the media processing apparatus appears to the computer as a Universal serial bus (USB) mass storage device, and the operating system (OS) on the computer, using its pre-installed USB mass storage device driver, establishes bi-directional communication channel with the media processing apparatus. Thus, the need to develop an OS specific kernel-mode device driver for the media processing apparatus is eliminated. The system may employ a proprietary communication protocol on the USB bus to send and receive data between the computer and the media processing apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention describes a multi-module USB system consisting of a multi-function USB apparatus and associated USB cap. The multi-function USB apparatus operates as a USB host as well as a USB client. The USB cap houses a rechargeable battery pack and when docked with the multi-function USB apparatus provides power to the multi-function USB apparatus. The multi-function USB apparatus and USB cap can also operate independently. The USB system is a multi-functional device having modes that embody, including recording, sharing, playback, storage, and charging battery of USB based portable media devices. Further, the USB system configures itself automatically for the various modes based on use of its interfaces with no specific settings required from the user.

Abstract: A system comprising a media processing apparatus and a computer where the media processing apparatus emulates a mass storage device and interfaces with the computer is disclosed. In one embodiment the media processing apparatus appears to the computer as a Universal serial bus (USB) mass storage device, and the operating system (OS) on the computer, using its pre-installed USB mass storage device driver, establishes bi-directional communication channel with the media processing apparatus. Thus, the need to develop an OS specific kernel-mode device driver for the media processing apparatus is eliminated. The system may employ a proprietary communication protocol on the USB bus to send and receive data between the computer and the media processing apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the manually optimizing the scheduling of code are disclosed. Accordingly, a software development tool with a graphical user interface enables manually ordering the scheduling of operations for architectures that execute multiple instructions/operations per machine cycle, such as very long instruction word (VLIW) processors. Assistance is provided at the instruction scheduling stage of VLIW compilation process to increase instruction level parallelism (ILP). The apparatus provides graphical views of assembly code and related information. An interactive, user friendly method to manipulate the code during or after scheduling is provided. The programmer can temporarily pause the automated scheduling, override decision taken by the scheduler, and then resume scheduling. The method lets the programmer interact graphically with scheduling decisions in a feedback environment.

Abstract: This disclosure describes unique video encoding and decoding processes compliant to one or more specific coding standards, such as the H.264/AVC standard, without sacrificing coding efficiency. A higher resolution input image is divided into a corresponding set of lower resolution sub-sampled images. The first image of each set is coded as an independent I picture, or coded with respect to the first image of one or more other sets as a P or B picture. Each subsequent image of a set, other than the first image in each set, is encoded with respect to the first image of the same set or an image of another set as a regular P or B picture. A decoding process may employ a decoder conforming to the specific coding standard to decode the encoded data, by rearranging the decoded lower resolution sub-sampled images of each set into corresponding higher resolution output images.

Abstract: A system and method of recording audio-visual (A/V) contents directly to a variety of portable media players (PMPs). The recorded contents can be played back by the portable media players immediately without further format conversions. To facilitate immediate playback of the recorded contents, the recording apparatus contains an identification device configured to automatically identify types of portable media players connected to an exemplary recording device that stores the A/V contents. Once the type of portable media player is identified, the recording device automatically generates compressed bit stream in a format that is compatible with the portable media player. Depending upon the nature of the input, the recording apparatus digitizes, encodes and/or transcodes the A/V contents and stores directly into the portable media player's local storage in playback ready format.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording audio-visual (A/V) contents directly from an A/V input source to a portable media player (PMP) is disclosed. The recorded A/V contents can be played back by the portable media player immediately upon stopping the recording. The recording apparatus does not involve the use of any intermediate computing or storage device other than the portable media player and the recording apparatus itself. The A/V contents for recording may come in the form of analog/digital signals or as digital data in compressed or uncompressed form from transmission and/or storage devices. Depending upon the nature of the input, the recording apparatus digitizes, encodes and/or transcodes the A/V contents and stores the processed A/V contents directly into the portable media player in playback ready format. The recording apparatus includes a one-button control interface for starting and stopping the recording of A/V contents to the portable media player.

Abstract: A method and processor for providing context-based adaptive binary arithmetic CABAC coding. Binarization is performed on one or more syntax elements to obtain a binary sequence. Data bits of the said binary sequence are provided to an arithmetic encoding unit in bulk. Binarization is performed on one or more syntax elements to generate exp Golomb code by converting mapped syntax-element values to corresponding floating point type values. Re-normalization of CABAC encoding is performed by restructuring the re-normalization into two processing units including an arithmetic encoding unit and a bit writing unit. The bit writing unit is configured to format signal bits into a multiple-bit sequence, and write multiple bits simultaneously during an execution of a bit writing loop.

Abstract: Cells producing recombinant retroviral particles are provided. The cells contain a first vector having a coding region encoding retroviral LTRs and a packaging signal under the control of an expression control system, a tRNA binding site located upstream from the packaging signal and origin of second strand DNA synthesis located downstream from the packaging signal. The cells also contain a second vector having a coding region encoding retroviral capsid proteins gag and pol under the control of an expression control system and a third vector having a coding region encoding a simian type D retrovirus envelope glycoprotein under the control of an expression control system.