Abstract: A media stream transcoding set top box including an RF input interface, an RF receiver configured to receive from the RF input interface an RF signal including an original digital media stream, and produce an input digital media stream based, at least in part, on the original digital media stream, the input digital media stream including one or more channels, the channels carrying at least one media stream, a decoder configured to receive the input digital media stream and extract therefrom an uncompressed media stream, a processor configured to process the uncompressed media stream, to produce a processed media stream, an encoder configured to compress the processed media stream, to produce a compressed processed digital media stream, and an output interface configured to output the compressed processed digital media stream in a format suitable for a client device. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A method for estimating image-to-image motion of a pixel block in a stream of images which includes a current image which includes the pixel block and a reference image, the method including performing a hierarchical search in a search area of the reference image, including producing a decimated reference image and a decimated pixel block, searching for a location in the search area of the decimated reference image which best fits the decimated pixel block, repeating the producing and the searching for more than one level of hierarchy, determining a first candidate location in the reference image which corresponds to the best fitting location, determining a second candidate location in the reference image by a method other than the hierarchical search, performing a search in the reference image for refined locations of the first and the second candidate locations, selecting one final location from the refined candidate locations, and using the final location for estimating the motion.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing multiplexing and de-multiplexing of packetized digital data streams, including receivers for receiving data packets from packetized digital data streams, validating the packets, and transmitting only valid packets, PID filters for filtering packets according to a Packet ID included in the packets, the filters receiving valid packets from the receivers, and associating a store-or-drop value with each valid packet, input FIFO buffers for receiving valid packets from the receivers, receiving the store-or-drop value from the PID filters, and storing data based, at least in part, on the store-or-drop value, an input/output unit for transmitting the stored data from the input FIFO buffers to an external memory and reading data from the external memory, output FIFO buffers for receiving data from the input/output unit and storing the data, and transmitters for reading digital data packets from the output FIFO buffers and transmitting the packets as a packetized digital data stream, thereby d

Abstract: A home gateway for a home media network. The home gateway comprises a number of input interfaces each configured for receiving encrypted & unencrypted data from a content source, a layout generation unit adapted to generate substantially simultaneously a number of different composite layout streams. Each one of the different composite layout streams is generated according to one or more of the number of input interfaces. The home gateway further comprises a number of output interfaces for providing a number of client stations with the ability to access one or more of the number of different composite layout streams in encrypted & unencrypted manner.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for pre-processing, encoding, decoding, transcoding, indexing, blending, post-processing and display of media streams, in accordance with a variety of compression algorithms, DRM schemes and related industry standards and recommendations such as OCAP, ISMA, DLNA, MPAA etc. The integrated circuit comprises an input interface configured for receiving the media streams from content sources, a plurality of processing units, system CPU, and sophisticated switch and memory controller, electronically connected to the input interface and directly connected to each one of the processing units. The integrated circuit further comprises an output interface that is operatively connected to the switch and configured for outputting the simultaneously processed media streams.