Abstract: Reduced complexity inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) masks and a method for reducing the number of IDCT calculations in video decoding are provided. The method comprises: accepting an n×m matrix of DCT coefficients; performing (n?y) horizontal IDCT operations, where y is greater than 0; performing y scaling operations; and, generating an n×m block of pixel information. Some aspects of the method further comprise: performing (m?z) vertical IDCT operations, where z is in the range between 0 and m/2. In some aspects, performing (n?y) horizontal ICDT operations includes performing IDCT operations for the first (n?y) horizontal rows. Then, performing y scaling operations includes: selecting the DC component from the first position of each horizontal row; scaling the selected DC component; and, copying the scaled DC component into the remaining positions of each of horizontal row.

Abstract: Methods and systems for efficient organization and communication of pixel intra-prediction modes.

Abstract: Adjacent blocks are identified in an image. Coding parameters for the adjacent blocks are identified. Deblock filtering between the identified adjacent blocks is skipped if the coding parameters for the identified adjacent blocks are similar and not skipped if the coding parameters for the identified adjacent blocks are substantially different.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for using global motion predictors (GMPs) in predictive motion estimation for the compression of video. The method comprises: receiving video frames; generating a set of global motion parameters for a current frame of video; in response to the global motion parameters, generating GMPs for image blocks in the current frame; estimating motion between the current frame and a reference frame; subtracting reference blocks in the reference frame from image blocks in the current frame, leaving residual image blocks; and, encoding the residual image blocks in a video stream. Some aspects of the method further comprise: generating local motion predictors (LMPs). Then, estimating motion between the current frame and a reference frame includes estimating motion using the GMPs and the LMPs. The process of estimating motion typically involves using previously encoded information, such as temporarily distant reference frames or other image blocks in the current frame.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for signaling layer characteristics of multi-layer video sequences and for employing these signals in encoding, decoding and translation operations.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for estimating a pixel prediction mode to be used in a video encoding or decoding process.

Abstract: A lossless video coding method is provided. The method comprises: accepting a current input macroblock (MB) of pixel information; subtracting a current prediction MB from the current input MB, creating a current difference MB; entropy encoding the current difference MB with current predictive information; summing the current difference MB with the current prediction MB, creating a current summed MB; buffering the current summed MB, creating a current buffered MB; and, using buffered MBs to generate a subsequent prediction MB and subsequent predictive information, for subsequently accepted input MBs. Generating a subsequent prediction MB and subsequent predictive information includes using either inter-mode or intra-mode coding. The method may further comprise: transmitting the entropy encoded MB; sending a predetermined quantization parameter (QP), signaling that the entropy encoded MB is losslessly encoded; and, losslessly decoding.

Abstract: Reduced complexity inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) masks and a method for reducing the number of IDCT calculations in video decoding are provided. The method comprises: accepting an n×m matrix of DCT coefficients; performing (n?y) horizontal IDCT operations, where y is greater than 0; performing y scaling operations; and, generating an n×m block of pixel information. Some aspects of the method further comprise: performing (m?z) vertical IDCT operations, where z is in the range between 0 and m/2. In some aspects, performing (n?y) horizontal ICDT operations includes performing IDCT operations for the first (n?y) horizontal rows. Then, performing y scaling operations includes: selecting the DC component from the first position of each horizontal row; scaling the selected DC component; and, copying the scaled DC component into the remaining positions of each of horizontal row.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for adaptive rate control in the transcoding of video streams. The method comprises: accepting frames of an input MPEG encoded video stream; decoding the video stream; determining video stream complexity; for each frame, calculating an output video stream quantization parameter (Qo) responsive to determined video stream complexity; and, encoding the output video stream into a protocol using Qo. Some aspects further comprise accepting a target bit rate ratio (r) for transcoding that is equal to the ratio of the target output video stream number of bits per frame (No), to the input video stream number of bits per frame (Ni). Then, Qo is also calculated in response to the value of r. More explicitly, Qo is calculated in response to a complexity ratio of: an accumulated complexity in the output video stream, to an accumulated complexity in the input video stream.

Abstract: A one-pass picture-layer rate control (RC) method and system for controlling a video encoder: The bit allocation and determination of quantization parameter (QP) in this rate control method and system are based on a Rate-Quantization (R-Q) scale model. The R-Q model is a linear one, wherein the number of bits per picture is in reverse ratio of quantization scale for that picture. A conversion of exponential-based QP to linear-scaled QP is taken in the calculation of complexity model and determination of QP. The conversion is integer-based and is consistent with the quantization array defined in the H.264 standard.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for communicating pixel prediction modes between video encoders and decoders.

Abstract: Video compression wherein intra mode selection is accelerated by examining the coding mode of neighboring blocks: With respect to a macroblocks in a P picture, the following macroblocks are examined to determine whether or not the intra mode calculations for a particular macroblock can be skipped: a) The neighboring macroblock above the particular macroblock. b) The neighboring macroblock to the left of the particular macroblock. c) The collocated macroblock in the first available reference picture. d) The neighboring macroblock below the collocated macroblock in the first available reference picture. e) The neighboring macroblock to the right of the collocated macroblock in the first available reference picture. With respect to macroblocks in a B picture, the following blocks are examined to determine whether or not the intra mode calculations for a particular macroblock can be skipped: a) The collocated macroblock in the first available forward reference picture.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for block-based residual upsampling. Some embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for residual upsampling for spatially scalable video coding.

Abstract: An encoding scheme dynamically adjusts a quantization rounding offset parameter used for encoding pictures according to statistics of previously encoded pictures of similar type. A look-up table can be used to store different relative quantization rounding offset parameters associated with different numbers of bits required to encode the pictures. The dynamically adjusted quantization rounding offset scheme achieves better coding performance at high bit rates. In one example, the dynamic quantization offset values are applied to a Uniform-Reconstruction-Quantizer (URQ) used for Laplacian sources.

Abstract: Reduced complexity inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) masks and a method for reducing the number of IDCT calculations in video decoding are provided. The method comprises: accepting an n×m matrix of DCT coefficients; performing (n?y) horizontal IDCT operations, where y is greater than 0; performing y scaling operations; and, generating an n×m block of pixel information. Some aspects of the method further comprise: performing (m?z) vertical IDCT operations, where z is in the range between 0 and m/2. In some aspects, performing (n?y) horizontal IDCT operations includes performing IDCT operations for the first (n?y) horizontal rows. Then, performing y scaling operations includes: selecting the DC component from the first position of each horizontal row; scaling the selected DC component; and, copying the scaled DC component into the remaining positions of each of horizontal row.

Abstract: Different combinations of global motion parameters are estimated for a current frame interpolated to derive local motion vectors for individual image blocks. Image blocks in a reference frame identified by the local motion vectors are compared to the image blocks in the current frame. The estimated global motion parameters that provide the best match between the image blocks in the current frame and the reference frame are selected for encoding the current frame. Selected sub regions of temporally consecutive image frame s can be used in order to release the computational burden for global motion estimation and provide more robust global motion estimation results. A data truncation method can also be used to remove bias caused by foreground moving objects.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for picture up-sampling and picture down-sampling. Some embodiments of the present invention provide an up-sampling and/or down-sampling procedure designed for the Scalable Video Coding extension of H.264/MPEG-4 AVC.

Abstract: Adjacent regions are identified in an image. Coding parameters for the adjacent regions are identified. Selective filtering is performed at the region between the identified adjacent regions.

Abstract: Adjacent regions are identified in an image. Coding parameters for the adjacent regions are identified. Selective filtering is performed at the region between the identified adjacent regions.

Abstract: Adjacent regions are identified in an image. Coding parameters for the adjacent regions are identified. Selective filtering is performed at the region between the identified adjacent regions.