Patents by Inventor Muneaki Yamaguchi

Muneaki Yamaguchi 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).

  • Patent number: 11546627
    Abstract: High-quality video is provided using a small amount of coded bits. The moving picture decoding method performs inter-frame prediction processing. With the aforementioned inter-frame prediction processing, blocks with similar motion vectors from among the motion vectors in multiple blocks that have already been decoded are combined and a combined area is computed. A predicted vector for a target block to be decoded is computed using the motion vector of the aforementioned combined area, and a motion vector for the aforementioned target block is computed based on the aforementioned predicted vector and a difference vector which is included in a coded stream that is input. A predicted image is generated using the aforementioned motion vector, and a difference image which is included in the aforementioned coded stream and the aforementioned predicted image are added to generate a decoded image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Takahashi, Muneaki Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Ito, Takehiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 11496764
    Abstract: Some examples include a video encoding/decoding technique for improving compression efficiency. For instance, the technique includes selecting a prediction mode to be performed among a plurality of prediction modes including an intra-prediction mode and an inter-prediction mode. The technique further includes calculating a predictive motion vector in case an inter-prediction mode is selected as the prediction mode to be performed, and calculating a motion vector by summing the calculated predictive motion vector and a differential motion vector decoded from a coded stream, in case the inter-prediction mode is selected as the prediction mode to be performed. Further, some examples may include performing an inter-prediction process of the selected prediction mode using the calculated motion vector in case the inter-prediction mode is selected as the prediction mode to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Takahashi, Muneaki Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20210385486
    Abstract: High-quality video is provided using a small amount of coded bits. The moving picture decoding method performs inter-frame prediction processing. With the aforementioned inter-frame prediction processing, blocks with similar motion vectors from among the motion vectors in multiple blocks that have already been decoded are combined and a combined area is computed. A predicted vector for a target block to be decoded is computed using the motion vector of the aforementioned combined area, and a motion vector for the aforementioned target block is computed based on the aforementioned predicted vector and a difference vector which is included in a coded stream that is input. A predicted image is generated using the aforementioned motion vector, and a difference image which is included in the aforementioned coded stream and the aforementioned predicted image are added to generate a decoded image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Masashi TAKAHASHI, Muneaki YAMAGUCHI, Hiroaki ITO, Takehiro FUJITA
  • Patent number: 11134263
    Abstract: High-quality video is provided using a small amount of coded bits. The moving picture decoding method performs inter-frame prediction processing. With the aforementioned inter-frame prediction processing, blocks with similar motion vectors from among the motion vectors in multiple blocks that have already been decoded are combined and a combined area is computed. A predicted vector for a target block to be decoded is computed using the motion vector of the aforementioned combined area, and a motion vector for the aforementioned target block is computed based on the aforementioned predicted vector and a difference vector which is included in a coded stream that is input. A predicted image is generated using the aforementioned motion vector, and a difference image which is included in the aforementioned coded stream and the aforementioned predicted image are added to generate a decoded image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Takahashi, Muneaki Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Ito, Takehiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 11109054
    Abstract: Provided is a video encoding/decoding technique for improving the compression efficiency by reducing the motion vector code amount. In a video decoding process, the prediction vector calculation method is switched from one to another in accordance with a difference between predetermined motion vectors among a plurality of motion vectors of a peripheral block of a block to be decoded and already decoded. The calculated prediction vector is added to a difference vector decoded from an encoded stream so as to calculate a motion vector. By using the calculated motion vector, the inter-image prediction process is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Takahashi, Muneaki Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20210176487
    Abstract: Some examples include a video encoding/decoding technique for improving compression efficiency. For instance, the technique includes selecting a prediction mode to be performed among a plurality of prediction modes including an intra-prediction mode and an inter-prediction mode. The technique further includes calculating a predictive motion vector in case an inter-prediction mode is selected as the prediction mode to be performed, and calculating a motion vector by summing the calculated predictive motion vector and a differential motion vector decoded from a coded stream, in case the inter-prediction mode is selected as the prediction mode to be performed. Further, some examples may include performing an inter-prediction process of the selected prediction mode using the calculated motion vector in case the inter-prediction mode is selected as the prediction mode to be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Masashi TAKAHASHI, Muneaki YAMAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10878584
    Abstract: Disclosed is an autonomous distributed system for detecting and tracking a falling object within a region being monitored by using a plurality of camera assemblies cooperating with each other, and disclosed is a camera assembly therefor. Each of the camera assembly, normally, operates in a falling object detecting mode, but, when detecting a falling object, shifts to a tracking mode. In the tracking mode, a degree of danger of the falling object is determined by referring to the size of the falling object in real space and the movement of a falling. In addition, when the falling object is further tracked and moved outside of the angle of view, a search request including information of the degree of danger as to the falling object is issued to surrounding camera assemblies, such that the multiple camera assemblies search for the falling object in cooperation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Agata, Kunihiro Soga, Muneaki Yamaguchi, Yuichiro Komiya
  • Patent number: 10853949
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a technology which adaptively switches video analysis methods according to a congestion situation within a video, and which carries out a suitable video analysis by a limited computational volume. Provided is an image processing device 100, wherein a congestion estimation unit 102 estimates a congestion situation within a video which is acquired from an image input unit 101. A control unit 103 switches methods for video analysis according to the congestion situation. In a situation of low congestion, an image analysis unit for use in normal situations 105 carries out the video analysis by a basic method. In a situation of high congestion, an image analysis unit for use in congested situations 106 carries out a high-precision video analysis, such as an analysis which spans a plurality of frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Komiya, Muneaki Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Nakakita, Kazunari Iwanaga, Junichi Togashi, Yohei Akimoto, Masaya Okada, Atsushi Sassa, Wataru Ito
  • Publication number: 20200351516
    Abstract: High-quality video is provided using a small amount of coded bits. The moving picture decoding method performs inter-frame prediction processing. With the aforementioned inter-frame prediction processing, blocks with similar motion vectors from among the motion vectors in multiple blocks that have already been decoded are combined and a combined area is computed. A predicted vector for a target block to be decoded is computed using the motion vector of the aforementioned combined area, and a motion vector for the aforementioned target block is computed based on the aforementioned predicted vector and a difference vector which is included in a coded stream that is input. A predicted image is generated using the aforementioned motion vector, and a difference image which is included in the aforementioned coded stream and the aforementioned predicted image are added to generate a decoded image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Masashi TAKAHASHI, Muneaki YAMAGUCHI, Hiroaki ITO, Takehiro FUJITA
  • Patent number: 10764599
    Abstract: High-quality video is provided using a small amount of coded bits. The moving picture decoding method performs inter-frame prediction processing. With the aforementioned inter-frame prediction processing, blocks with similar motion vectors from among the motion vectors in multiple blocks that have already been decoded are combined and a combined area is computed. A predicted vector for a target block to be decoded is computed using the motion vector of the aforementioned combined area, and a motion vector for the aforementioned target block is computed based on the aforementioned predicted vector and a difference vector which is included in a coded stream that is input. A predicted image is generated using the aforementioned motion vector, and a difference image which is included in the aforementioned coded stream and the aforementioned predicted image are added to generate a decoded image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Takahashi, Muneaki Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Ito, Takehiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 10531094
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing device which performs scaling and applies super-resolution in accordance with the complexity of the image. On the compression side, a complexity calculation unit calculates the transmission image complexity, which indicates the complexity of the input image, multiplexes and outputs it to an encoded stream, and a control unit configures the cutoff frequency of a low pass filter and the scaling coefficient of an image reduction unit in accordance with the transmission image complexity. On the decompression side, a complexity calculation unit calculates the decoded image complexity indicating the complexity of a decoded and expanded image, a complexity comparison unit compares the transmission image complexity and the decoded image complexity and outputs the difference or ratio, and, on the basis of output, a parameter calculation unit optimizes and configures the scaling coefficient of an image enlargement unit and the folding frequency of a super-resolution processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Tadakazu Kadoto, Masatoshi Kondo, Muneaki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10521885
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus that can reduce degradation in image quality due to heat haze and the like. An input image memory 110 stores an input image group 200 and an input image 210. A time-series smoothed image memory 112 stores a time-series smoothed image 220 obtained by time series smoothing. A moving body removed image memory 113 stores a moving body removed image 230 that is a background image. A histogram analyzing unit 130 computes a differential of histograms of partial images for the input image 210 and the time-series smoothed image 220 or the moving body removed image 230, and calculates similarity information between the images. On the basis of the similarity information, a region dividing unit 140 divides the input image 210 into a moving body region, and a region other than the moving body region. An image correcting unit 150 performs image synthesis of the input image 210 or the time series-smoothed image 220, for each of the regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Masashi Takahashi, Nobuhiro Chihara, Muneaki Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20190391754
    Abstract: Provided is a video encoding/decoding technique for improving the compression efficiency by reducing the motion vector code amount. In a video decoding process, the prediction vector calculation method is switched from one to another in accordance with a difference between predetermined motion vectors among a plurality of motion vectors of a peripheral block of a block to be decoded and already decoded. The calculated prediction vector is added to a difference vector decoded from an encoded stream so as to calculate a motion vector. By using the calculated motion vector, the inter-image prediction process is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Masashi TAKAHASHI, Muneaki YAMAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10448045
    Abstract: Provided is a video encoding/decoding technique for improving the compression efficiency by reducing the motion vector code amount. In a video decoding process, the prediction vector calculation method is switched from one to another in accordance with a difference between predetermined motion vectors among a plurality of motion vectors of a peripheral block of a block to be decoded and already decoded. The calculated prediction vector is added to a difference vector decoded from an encoded stream so as to calculate a motion vector. By using the calculated motion vector, the inter-image prediction process is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Takahashi, Muneaki Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20190306529
    Abstract: High-quality video is provided using a small amount of coded bits. The moving picture decoding method performs inter-frame prediction processing. With the aforementioned inter-frame prediction processing, blocks with similar motion vectors from among the motion vectors in multiple blocks that have already been decoded are combined and a combined area is computed. A predicted vector for a target block to be decoded is computed using the motion vector of the aforementioned combined area, and a motion vector for the aforementioned target block is computed based on the aforementioned predicted vector and a difference vector which is included in a coded stream that is input. A predicted image is generated using the aforementioned motion vector, and a difference image which is included in the aforementioned coded stream and the aforementioned predicted image are added to generate a decoded image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Masashi TAKAHASHI, Muneaki YAMAGUCHI, Hiroaki ITO, Takehiro FUJITA
  • Patent number: 10382775
    Abstract: High-quality video is provided using a small amount of coded bits. The moving picture decoding method performs inter-frame prediction processing. With the aforementioned inter-frame prediction processing, blocks with similar motion vectors from among the motion vectors in multiple blocks that have already been decoded are combined and a combined area is computed. A predicted vector for a target block to be decoded is computed using the motion vector of the aforementioned combined area, and a motion vector for the aforementioned target block is computed based on the aforementioned predicted vector and a difference vector which is included in a coded stream that is input. A predicted image is generated using the aforementioned motion vector, and a difference image which is included in the aforementioned coded stream and the aforementioned predicted image are added to generate a decoded image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Takahashi, Muneaki Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Ito, Takehiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 10348976
    Abstract: In a method for determining upper and lower limit values for a target brightness when image contrast is extended, an upper and lower limit value search processing unit establishes two adjacent areas in accordance with brightness of a grayscale histogram, and, while scanning the positions of those areas, compares the frequency of those areas to a threshold, and if one frequency value is greater than or equal to the threshold value and the other frequency value is lower than the threshold, performs upper and lower limit value search processing wherein a brightness value at the boundary of the two areas is determined as an upper or lower limit value. Thresholds for upper and lower limit value search start position and frequency are established based on the shape of the grayscale histogram of an image to be processed. The shape of the grayscale histogram is identified according to preset classifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Agata, Muneaki Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20190180447
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a technology which adaptively switches video analysis methods according to a congestion situation within a video, and which carries out a suitable video analysis by a limited computational volume. Provided is an image processing device 100, wherein a congestion estimation unit 102 estimates a congestion situation within a video which is acquired from an image input unit 101. A control unit 103 switches methods for video analysis according to the congestion situation. In a situation of low congestion, an image analysis unit for use in normal situations 105 carries out the video analysis by a basic method. In a situation of high congestion, an image analysis unit for use in congested situations 106 carries out a high-precision video analysis, such as an analysis which spans a plurality of frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Yuichiro KOMIYA, Muneaki YAMAGUCHI, Hiroaki NAKAKITA, Kazunari IWANAGA, Junichi TOGASHI, Yohei AKIMOTO, Masaya OKADA, Atsushi SASSA, Wataru ITO
  • Publication number: 20180376163
    Abstract: Provided is a video encoding/decoding technique for improving the compression efficiency by reducing the motion vector code amount. In a video decoding process, the prediction vector calculation method is switched from one to another in accordance with a difference between predetermined motion vectors among a plurality of motion vectors of a peripheral block of a block to be decoded and already decoded. The calculated prediction vector is added to a difference vector decoded from an encoded stream so as to calculate a motion vector. By using the calculated motion vector, the inter-image prediction process is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Masashi TAKAHASHI, Muneaki YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20180352177
    Abstract: An image-processing device for performing correction processing and event detection adaptively to the effect of a disturbance that an input image has received is disclosed. The device has a disturbance detection unit, an image correction unit, and an event detection unit. The disturbance detection unit analyzes an input image, detects the effects of a plurality of disturbances that the input image has received, and outputs the detected effects as disturbance information. The image correction unit applies correction processing to an input video in accordance with the disturbance information, and outputs a corrected image and correction information indicating the actually applied correction. The disturbance detection unit estimates the degree of the plurality of disturbances residual in the corrected image from the disturbance information and the correction information, and detects a specific event using a detection process selected in accordance with the degree of disturbances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicants: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC., HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Yuichiro KOMIYA, Muneaki YAMAGUCHI