Abstract: A system and method for characterizing the sensitivity of image data to compression. After a video signal is transformed to the frequency domain, statistical data regarding a video signal or frame of a video signal can be calculated. In one alternate, a contour map of the original signal can be calculated and the parameters of the contour map can be recorded. The same signal can be compressed and then upscaled and a second contour map can be calculated and the parameters of the second contour map can be recorded. Based on the difference between the first and second contour maps, a sensitivity of the video to compression can be determined.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for managing the encoding of a plurality of video streams, each of the plurality of video streams encoded by an associated one of a plurality of encoders, each of the plurality of encoders being a member of one of a plurality of encoder pools. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a parser, for capturing data of a plurality of encoded video streams from the plurality of encoders, an encoding analysis module, for determining, using a user-selectable temporal portion of the captured data, a video quality stress factor for each of the plurality of encoder pools, and a dashboard generator, for generating a user interface for managing the encoding of the plurality of data streams at least in part according to the determined statistical multiplexing weighting factor video quality stress factor.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for encoding at least one video stream at a constant bit rate according to a target quality of the encoded video stream.

Abstract: A constrained variable rate coding technique limits the number of bits used in an encoding process. A quality setting indicates a maximum level of quality to be used in the encoding process which limits the number of bits used in the encoding process. A bandwidth reclamation factor which indicates an amount of bandwidth to conserve may also be used with the quality setting. The constrained variable rate coding technique using a lower quality encoding process for less complex video data and a higher quality encoding technique for higher quality video data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an adaptive bit rate system. The method may include streaming media content at a server, determining a discontinuity in the streaming media content based on boundaries corresponding to changes in the streaming media content, and dividing the streaming media content into a plurality of variable duration segments, wherein a duration of one of the plurality of variable duration segments is to be adjusted based on the determined discontinuity to cause the one of the plurality of variable duration segments to end at the determined discontinuity in the streaming media content. The method may further include transmitting the plurality of variable duration segments of the streaming media content from the server.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for automatic discovery of elements in a system of encoders optionally controlled by a statmux controller. Discovery is implemented by sniffing a multicast IP address used by the elements of the system to communicate metadata.

Abstract: A method for processing a plurality of multilayer bit streams includes receiving a plurality of multilayer bit streams each having a base layer and at least one enhancement layer. One or more of the enhancement layers are extracted in whole or in part from at least one of the multilayer bit streams so that the plurality of multilayer bit streams are collectively reduced in their total bandwidth. Each of the multilayer bit streams are rewritten to a single layer bit stream. The single layer bit streams are multiplexed to form a multiplexed single layer bit stream.

Abstract: A video processing system enhances quality of an overlay image, such as a logo, text, game scores, or other areas forming a region of interest (ROI) in a video stream. The system separately enhances the video quality of the ROI, particularly when screen size is reduced. The data enhancement can be accomplished at decoding with metadata provided with the video data for decoding so that the ROI that can be separately enhanced from the video. In improve legibility, the ROI enhancer can increase contrast, brightness, hue, saturation, and bit density of the ROI. The ROI enhancer can operate down to a pixel-by-pixel level. The ROI enhancer may use stored reference picture templates to enhance a current ROI based on a comparison. When the ROI includes text, a minimum reduction size for the ROI relative to the remaining video can be identified so that the ROI is not reduced below human perceptibility.

Abstract: A system and method for characterizing the sensitivity of image data to compression. After a video signal is transformed to the frequency domain, statistical data regarding a video signal or frame of a video signal can be calculated. In one alternate, a contour map of the original signal can be calculated and the parameters of the contour map can be recorded. The same signal can be compressed and then upscaled and a second contour map can be calculated and the parameters of the second contour map can be recorded. Based on the difference between the first and second contour maps, a sensitivity of the video to compression can be determined.

Abstract: A video processing system is provided to create quantization data parameters based on human eye attraction to provide to an encoder to enable the encoder to compress data taking into account the human perceptual guidance. The system includes a perceptual video processor (PVP) to generate a perceptual significance pixel map for data to be input to the encoder. Companding is provided to reduce the pixel values to values ranging from zero to one, and decimation is performed to match the pixel values to a spatial resolution of quantization parameter values (QP) values in a look up table (LUT). The LUT table values then provide the metadata to provide to the encoder to enable compression of the original picture to be performed by the encoder in a manner so that bits are allocated to pixels in a macroblock according to the predictions of eye tracking.

Abstract: This disclosure describes and adaptive bit rate encoding and distribution techniques for conserving bandwidth usage in a channel. The invention comprises, an encoder or transcoder, a video fragmenter, a video-quality analyzer that output complexity values, a streaming server, a process by which individual fragments are selected for distribution, a video-quality threshold, and, optionally a bandwidth reclamation factor. A video-quality analyzer inspects any combination of the input and output of the encoder, transcoder, or fragmenter, and produces a video-quality metric for each fragment. A fragment-selection process responds to request from a client device. If the video-quality value of the fragment requested exceeds the video-quality threshold, a different fragment having a lower vide-quality value is selected instead. Otherwise, the fragment that would have been selected is selected.

Abstract: Encoding a video signal including pictures includes generating perceptual representations based on the pictures. Reference pictures are selected and motion vectors are generated based on the perceptual representations and the reference pictures. The motion vectors and pointers for the reference pictures are provided in an encoded video signal. Decoding may include receiving pointers for reference pictures and motion vectors based on perceptual representations of the reference pictures. The decoding of the pictures in the encoded video signal may include selecting reference pictures using the pointers and determining predicted pictures, based on the motion vectors and the selected reference pictures. The decoding may include generating reconstructed pictures from the predicted pictures and the residual pictures.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for encoding at least one video stream at a constant bit rate according to a target quality of the encoded video stream.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for automatic discovery of elements in a system of encoders optionally controlled by a statmux controller. Discovery is implemented by sniffing a multicast IP address used by the elements of the system to communicate metadata.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for managing the encoding of a plurality of video streams, each of the plurality of video streams encoded by an associated one of a plurality of encoders, each of the plurality of encoders being a member of one of a plurality of encoder pools. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a parser, for capturing data of a plurality of encoded video streams from the plurality of encoders, an encoding analysis module, for determining, using a user-selectable temporal portion of the captured data, a video quality stress factor for each of the plurality of encoder pools, and a dashboard generator, for generating a user interface for managing the encoding of the plurality of data streams at least in part according to the determined statistical multiplexing weighting factor video quality stress factor.

Abstract: This disclosure describes and adaptive bit rate encoding and distribution techniques for conserving bandwidth usage in a channel. The invention comprises, an encoder or transcoder, a video fragmenter, a video-quality analyzer that output complexity values, a streaming server, a process by which individual fragments are selected for distribution, a video-quality threshold, and, optionally a bandwidth reclamation factor. A video-quality analyzer inspects any combination of the input and output of the encoder, transcoder, or fragmenter, and produces a video-quality metric for each fragment. A fragment-selection process responds to request from a client device. If the video-quality value of the fragment requested exceeds the video-quality threshold, a different fragment having a lower vide-quality value is selected instead. Otherwise, the fragment that would have been selected is selected.

Abstract: This disclosure describes and adaptive bit rate encoding and distribution techniques for conserving bandwidth usage in a channel. The invention comprises, an encoder or transcoder, a video fragmenter, a video-quality analyzer that output complexity values, a streaming server, a process by which individual fragments are selected for distribution, a video-quality threshold., and, optionally a bandwidth reclamation factor. A video-quality analyzer inspects any combination of the input and output of the encoder, transcoder, or fragmenter, and produces a video-quality metric for each fragment. A fragment-selection process responds to request from a client device. If the video-quality value of the fragment requested exceeds the video-quality threshold, a different fragment having a lower vide-quality value is selected instead. Otherwise, the fragment that would have been selected is selected.

Abstract: A constrained variable rate coding technique limits the number of bits used in an encoding process. A quality setting indicates a maximum level of quality to be used in the encoding process which limits the number of bits used in the encoding process. A bandwidth reclamation factor which indicates an amount of bandwidth to conserve may also be used with the quality setting. The constrained variable rate coding technique using a lower quality encoding process for less complex video data and a higher quality encoding technique for higher quality video data.

Abstract: A video processing system enhances quality of an overlay image, such as a logo, text, game scores, or other areas forming a region of interest (ROI) in a video stream. The system separately enhances the video quality of the ROI, particularly when screen size is reduced. The data enhancement can be accomplished at decoding with metadata provided with the video data for decoding so that the ROI that can be separately enhanced from the video. In improve legibility, the ROI enhancer can increase contrast, brightness, hue, saturation, and bit density of the ROI. The ROI enhancer can operate down to a pixel-by-pixel level. The ROI enhancer may use stored reference picture templates to enhance a current ROI based on a comparison. When the ROI includes text, a minimum reduction size for the ROI relative to the remaining video can be identified so that the ROI is not reduced below human perceptibility.

Abstract: A constrained variable rate coding technique limits the number of bits used in an encoding process. A quality setting indicates a maximum level of quality to be used in the encoding process which limits the number of bits used in the encoding process. A bandwidth reclamation factor which indicates an amount of bandwidth to conserve may also be used with the quality setting. The constrained variable rate coding technique using a lower quality encoding process for less complex video data and a higher quality encoding technique for higher quality video data.