Abstract: Examples methods and apparatuses including a statistical multiplexer (statmux) system with multiple channel rate control are described herein. The statmux system includes a rate controller, multiplex control unit and a plurality of encoders. An encoder of the plurality of encoders may be configured to provide a respective encoded bitstream of encoded coding units. The rate controller may buffer respective coding units of at least two of the plurality of channels based on statistical information from the plurality of encoders. The multiplex control unit may adjust multiplexing instructions for multiplexing the plurality of channels based on statistical information from the plurality of encoders, and may provide feedback to the rate controller based on the adjusted multiplexing instructions. The rate controller may provide a quality parameter to the plurality of encoders having a value based on the amount of buffered coding units and the feedback from the multiplex control unit.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for adjusting coefficients for use in video encoding are described. An example apparatus may include an encoder that may be configured to receive transform coefficients and adjust selected ones of the transform coefficients (e.g. reset the selected ones to zero) based on a comparison with a threshold. The adjusted coefficients may then be quantized, which may result in effectively increasing a QP range of the encoder.

Abstract: Examples of methods and apparatuses for performing video quantization rate distortion calculations are described herein. An example apparatus may include an encoder configured to encode a macroblock of a frame. The encoder including a rate-distortion (RD) calculator configured to individually quantize a set of coefficient blocks using each of a subset of a plurality of quantization parameter (QP) values to provide individual sets of quantized coefficient blocks. Each of the individual sets of coefficient blocks is based on data of the macroblock. The RD calculator is further configured to determine individual accumulated rate and accumulated distortion value pairs for each of the plurality of QP values based on the individual sets of quantized coefficient blocks.

Abstract: A technique for improving the subject visual quality of encoded video that includes a video quality module configured to determine a video quality metric (VQM) for each data block of a plurality of data blocks and a modulator coupled to the video quality module. The modulator configured to modulate a video encoding parameter to improve the quality for each data block of the plurality of data blocks based on a normalized VQM for each data block of the plurality of data blocks.

Abstract: A video encoding method for encoding a stream of baseband video data. The stream of baseband video data is received as a plurality of coding units. Statistics of each coding unit in the plurality of coding units are gathered. A quantization parameter (QP) for each coding unit is determined from the corresponding statistics. The coding unit is trial encoded using the QP to generate a trial encoded coding unit; and the QP is updated based on the trial encoded coding unit. Trial encoding the coding unit and updating the QP are repeated until the trial encoded coding unit meets a predetermined criterion. Then the coding unit is final encoded using the updated QP to generate a final encoded coding unit.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for adjusting coefficients for use in video encoding are described. An example apparatus may include an encoder that may be configured to receive transform coefficients and adjust selected ones of the transform coefficients (e.g. reset the selected ones to zero) based on a comparison with a threshold. The adjusted coefficients may then be quantized, which may result in effectively increasing a QP range of the encoder.

Abstract: Examples methods and apparatuses including an encoding system with temporally adaptive quantization are described herein. An example apparatus may include an encoding system configured to receive a coding unit of a video signal. The coding unit may include a plurality of sub-coding units. The encoding system may be further configured to determine spatial complexity statistics and motion estimation statistics associated with a sub-coding unit of the plurality of sub-coding units. The encoding system may be further configured to modify a quantization parameter associated with the coding unit based on the spatial complexity statistics and the motion estimation statistics, and to encode the sub-coding unit using the modified quantization parameter.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for initializing a CABAC state are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may include an encoder configured to receive a macroblock dependent on at least one unencoded macroblock. The encoder may further be configured to receive a plurality of CABAC states and initialize CABAC in accordance with one of the plurality of CABAC states to encode the macroblock prior to the at least one unencoded macroblock being encoded.

Abstract: A method for managing local ports in a packet-oriented data network is proposed, wherein packets are assigned to a selected local port, and assignment of a local port is controlled based on observation of transmission on the network. The invention also relates to a local port managing device, a packet-oriented data network, a digital storage media, and a computer program product.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for adjusting a quantization parameter to improve subjective quality are described herein. An example apparatus may include an encoder that may be configured to receive a macroblock and calculate a ratio between a level of activity of the macroblock and a variance of the macroblock. The encoder may further be configured to selectively adjust a quantization parameter associated with the macroblock based, at least in part, on the ratio.

Abstract: Examples methods and apparatuses including a statistical multiplexer with the bitrate smoother are described herein. An example apparatus may include a statistical multiplexing (statmux) system for use with a communication link. The statmux system includes a bitrate smoother and a plurality of encoders. An encoder of the plurality of encoders is configured to provide a respective encoded bitstream of encoded coding units. The bitrate smoother is configured to select a group of encoded coding units. The selected group of encoded coding units includes encoded coding units of at least two different respective encoded bitstreams. The bitrate smoother further configured to adjust respective transmission timing of the selected group of encoded coding units. The adjusted respective transmission timing of the group of encoded coding units of the at least two different respective encoded bitstreams overlap during a time interval.

Abstract: Examples methods and apparatuses including a statistical multiplexer with global rate control are described herein. An example apparatus may include a statistical multiplexing (statmux) system coupled to a communication link. The statmux system includes a global rate controller and a plurality of encoders. Each encoder of the plurality of encoders may receive data from a respective channel of a plurality of channels. The global rate controller may buffer respective coding units of at least two of the plurality of channels and estimate respective sizes of buffered coding units of the buffered respective coding units. The global rate controller may provide a quality parameter to the plurality of encoders having a value based on the estimated coded sizes of the buffered coding units.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for optimizing rate-distortion of syntax elements are disclosed herein. An optimization block may be used in a video encoder and may include a candidate generation block and a best cost block. The optimization block may be configured to generate a plurality of candidates corresponding to respective differential levels. Each of the plurality of candidates may be based, at least in part, on a DC coefficient and provide a respective rate-distortion cost. The best cost block may be coupled to the candidate generation block and may be configured to select a candidate of the plurality of candidates according to a criteria.

Abstract: A method of motion estimation (ME) refinement. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating an initial motion vector (MV) by conducting a first ME on an initial block in a picture, the initial block covering an initial area of the picture, (B) generating a current MV by conducting a second ME on a current block in the picture, (i) the current block covering a subset of the initial area and (ii) the second ME being seeded by the initial MV, (C) generating at least one additional MV by conducting at least one third ME on the current block, the at least one third ME being seeded respectively by at least one neighboring MV spatially adjacent to the current MV and (D) generating a refined MV of the current block by storing in a memory a best among the current MV and the additional MV.

Abstract: A method of motion estimation (ME) refinement. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating an initial motion vector (MV) by conducting a first ME on an initial block in a picture, the initial block covering an initial area of the picture, (B) generating a current MV by conducting a second ME on a current block in the picture, (i) the current block covering a subset of the initial area and (ii) the second ME being seeded by the initial MV, (C) generating at least one additional MV by conducting at least one third ME on the current block, the at least one third ME being seeded respectively by at least one neighboring MV spatially adjacent to the current MV and (D) generating a refined MV of the current block by storing in a memory a best among the current MV and the additional MV.

Abstract: A method of motion estimation (ME) refinement. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating an initial motion vector (MV) by conducting a first ME on an initial block in a picture, the initial block covering an initial area of the picture, (B) generating a current MV by conducting a second ME on a current block in the picture, (i) the current block covering a subset of the initial area and (ii) the second ME being seeded by the initial MV, (C) generating at least one additional MV by conducting at least one third ME on the current block, the at least one third ME being seeded respectively by at least one neighboring MV spatially adjacent to the current MV and (D) generating a refined MV of the current block by storing in a memory a best among the current MV and the additional MV.

Abstract: A method for implementing B-frame prediction in video compression comprising the steps of (A) setting a prediction flag (i) “off” if B-frames are used for block prediction and (ii) “on” if B-frames are not used for block prediction, (B) if the prediction flag is off, generating an output video signal in response to an input video signal by performing an inverse quantization step and an inverse transform step in accordance with a predefined coding specification and (C) if the prediction flag is on, bypassing the inverse quantization step and the inverse transform step.

Abstract: A method for filtering digital video is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) checking a plurality of original blocks in an original field for a plurality of artifacts, wherein detection of the artifacts is based on an adjustable threshold, (B) first filtering each of the original blocks having at least one of the artifacts to remove the at least one artifact and (C) second filtering each of the original blocks lacking at least one of the artifacts to remove noise, wherein the second filtering is (i) motion compensated and (ii) adaptive to a respective noise level in each of the original blocks.

Abstract: An acellular vaccine is provided which in use provides protection against Bordetella pertussis infections. The vaccine is based on the synergistic combination of two antigenes from B. pertussis, the 69 kDa, and the filamentous haemagglutinin antigens.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to generate a decoded video signal and syntax elements in response to an encoded bitstream. The second circuit may be configured to generate one or more overlay images in response to the syntax elements. The overlay images generally comprise graphical symbols representing the syntax elements of the encoded bitstream.