Abstract: A pixel data decompression method for decompressing a frame is provided. The method includes: loading memory storage addresses corresponding to to-be-decompressed blocks; reading and decompressing a pixel line of a current block according to a memory storage address of the current block; updating the memory storage address of the current block according to a decompression result; reading a memory storage address of a next block if decompression of a pixel line of the frame is not completed; and repeating the above steps until decompression of the frame is completed.

Abstract: An image compression method is provided. Residuals of a lot of pixel data are calculated. Respective compression costs of the residuals of the pixel data are estimated according to a lot of category residual relationships. The compression costs are compared and one of the category residual relationships is selected. The residuals of the pixel data are compressed according to the selected category residual relationship.

Abstract: A pixel data decompression method for decompressing a frame is provided. The method includes: loading memory storage addresses corresponding to to-be-decompressed blocks; reading and decompressing a pixel line of a current block according to a memory storage address of the current block; updating the memory storage address of the current block according to a decompression result; reading a memory storage address of a next block if decompression of a pixel line of the frame is not completed; and repeating the above steps until decompression of the frame is completed.

Abstract: A method for processing a raw high resolution image data comprising the following steps: obtaining the raw high resolution image data, compressing the raw high resolution image data and storing the compressed raw high resolution image data in a current image section of a memory, obtaining a reference image data from a reference image section of the memory, decompressing the raw high resolution image data and comparing the reference image data with the decompressed high resolution image data to generate a resulted image data, compressing the resulted image data and storing the compressed resulted image data in the reference image section of the memory.

Abstract: An image encoding integrated circuit and an encoded image data transmission method thereof are provided. The image encoding integrated circuit is utilized in a webcam and includes a central processing unit, an image sensing control unit, an image encoder unit, a bit rate monitoring unit, a transmission unit, and a bit rate control unit. The central processing unit, the image sensing control unit, the bit rate monitoring unit, and the transmission unit respectively produce a demand adjustment signal, a sensing status signal, a bit rate signal, and a transmission status signal. The bit rate control unit utilizes at least one of the signals to produce a quantization parameter signal. The image encoding unit transmits encoded image data in a specific bit rate, wherein the bit rate is adjusted according to the quantization parameter signal. The output bit rate of the image encoding unit is adjusted in consideration of even more system parameters, so as to improve the efficiency of the bit rate control.

Abstract: A method for object edge detection in a macroblock and a method for deciding quantization scaling factor are disclosed. This method calculates and compares the pixel means and means of absolutely difference of a plurality of pixel blocks in a macroblock to achieve the purpose of detecting if there is an object edge or flat area in a macroblock. In the meantime, the image structure of macroblock is analyzed and classified and its related messages are used for bit rate control, such that the visual effect of the compressed image can be appropriately enhanced.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for discrete cosine transform coefficient prediction are disclosed. The method comprises the steps as follows: providing a discrete cosine transformed block; performing an AC prediction mode variable length coding and a non-AC prediction mode variable length coding simultaneously; providing a first memory block and a second memory block for storing the bit strings of two coding; and using another coding as long as one of first and second memory blocks reaches its capacity limit.

Abstract: A mode decision system and method for motion vector fine search. Each macroblock in a frame has a pre-determined clock number. The system includes a first subtractor, an operation level generator and a determinator. The first subtractor has a first input terminal to receive a clock number and a second input terminal to receive the pre-determined clock number in order to subtract the clock number from the pre-determined clock number and accordingly generate a clock difference. The operation level generator is connected to the first subtractor in order to generate an operation level based on the clock difference. The determinator selects one or more modes in accordance with the operation level and accordingly performs the fine search on the macroblock.

Abstract: An image processing method and a method for detecting differences between different image macro-blocks are provided. The image processing method includes steps of: providing one of a plurality of macro-blocks of a processed image; performing a method for detecting the differences between the macro-blocks of different images, and there should be at least two images before the processed image in displaying time sequence for obtaining a macro-block difference table; and in the process of image encoding, if the processed image is a P-picture, determining whether the macro-block is a skip mode or not, by reference to the macro-block table in an auxiliary manner.

Abstract: A method for image encoding is provided, which are capable of encoding video images using a lower memory bandwidth. The method includes the following steps. First, a reference window of a reference frame is read and the position of the reference window is called a first position. Secondly, macroblocks of at least two of the estimated frames are read, and the position of macroblocks is called a second position, wherein the second position corresponds to the first position. Next, block matching is executed between macroblocks and the reference window. Finally, reading position of the first position and the second position are changed, and then the above steps are repeated until block matching of all macroblocks within at least two of the frames is finished in the estimated frames.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for discrete cosine transform coefficient prediction are disclosed. The method comprises the steps as follows: providing a discrete cosine transformed block; performing an AC prediction mode variable length coding and a non-AC prediction mode variable length coding simultaneously; providing a first memory block and a second memory block for storing the bit strings of two coding; and using another coding as long as one of first and second memory blocks reaches its capacity limit.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for saving image data are disclosed. This method adopts a pixel processor to separate the pixel values of an image data into a plurality of pixel groups according to the highest sub-sample rate and the data width of the memory. Then, those pixel groups are stored in different memory blocks of the memory after being recombined such that sub-sample images can be efficiently obtained under a condition that only full-resolution image is stored, thus improving disadvantage of storing low-resolution image separately in prior art. Besides, the data of those pixel groups are arranged alternately such that every memory block can be opened evenly and alternately when storing/reading sub-sample and original image, thus enhancing the efficiency of memory use.

Abstract: A method for object edge detection in a macroblock and a method for deciding quantization scaling factor are disclosed. This method calculates and compares the pixel means and means of absolutely difference of a plurality of pixel blocks in a macroblock to achieve the purpose of detecting if there is an object edge or flat area in a macroblock. In the meantime, the image structure of macroblock is analyzed and classified and its related messages are used for bit rate control, such that the visual effect of the compressed image can be appropriately enhanced.

Abstract: An image processing method and a method for detecting differences between different image macro-blocks are provided. The image processing method includes steps of: providing one of a plurality of macro-blocks of a processed image; performing a method for detecting the differences between the macro-blocks of different images, and there should be at least two images before the processed image in displaying time sequence for obtaining a macro-block difference table; and in the process of image encoding, if the processed image is a P-picture, determining whether the macro-block is a skip mode or not, by reference to the macro-block table in an auxiliary manner.

Abstract: A mode decision system and method for motion vector fine search. Each macroblock in a frame has a pre-determined clock number. The system includes a first subtractor, an operation level generator and a determinator. The first subtractor has a first input terminal to receive a clock number and a second input terminal to receive the pre-determined clock number in order to subtract the clock number from the pre-determined clock number and accordingly generate a clock difference. The operation level generator is connected to the first subtractor in order to generate an operation level based on the clock difference. The determinator selects one or more modes in accordance with the operation level and accordingly performs the fine search on the macroblock.