Abstract: Apparatus and methods of using content information for encoding multimedia data are described. A method of processing multimedia data includes classifying content of multimedia data, and encoding the multimedia data in a first data group and in a second data group based on the content classification, wherein the first data group comprises a coefficient and the second data group comprises a first differential refinement associated with the first data group coefficient. An apparatus for using content information for encoding multimedia data includes a content classifying module configured to classify content of multimedia data and provide content classification data, and an encoder configured to encode the multimedia data in a first data group and in a second data group based on the content classification, wherein the first data group comprises a coefficient and the second data group comprises a first differential refinement associated with the first data group coefficient.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of using content information for encoding multimedia data are described. A method of processing multimedia data includes A method of processing multimedia data, including obtaining content information of multimedia data, and encoding the multimedia data to form an encoded bitstream, said encoding comprising inserting at least one redundant block of intra-coded data into the encoded bitstream based on the content information. In some aspects, the encoding comprises encoding the multimedia data into a base layer and an enhancement layer, and wherein the intra-coded data is encoded using the quantization parameter for the base layer. In other aspects, the intra-coded data is encoded using the quantization parameter for the enhancement layer.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of using content information for encoding multimedia data are described. A method of processing multimedia data includes receiving multimedia data, and encoding the multimedia data into a first data group and a second data group based on content of the multimedia data, the first data group being configured to be independently decodable from the second data group, and wherein the first and second data groups are encoded at different quality levels. The method can also include classifying the content of the multimedia data and encoding the multimedia data based on the content classification.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of using content information for encoding multimedia data are described. A method of processing multimedia data includes obtaining content information of multimedia data, and encoding the multimedia data so as to align a data boundary with a frame boundary in a time domain, wherein said encoding is based on the content information. In another aspect, a method of processing multimedia data includes obtaining a content classification of the multimedia data, and encoding blocks in the multimedia data as intra-coded blocks or inter-coded blocks based on the content classification to increase the error resilience of the encoded multimedia data. Apparatus that can process multimedia data described in these methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for video encoding and decoding a common guide media logic channel (MLC) to enable fast acquisition and re/synchronization of the video stream while preserving compression efficiency are provided. Systems and methods to process multimedia data using channel switch frames are presented. The system comprises an encoder operative to generate a common guide media logical channel (MLC) of a plurality of channel switch frames (CSFs), each respective active channel having one or more CSFs in the guide MLC. The decoder in the system is operative to decode a set of the plurality of CSFs from the guide MLC. The decoder simultaneously displays programming content of the decoded set of the plurality of CSFs on a display and automatically switches to a primary bitstream of an active channel associated with a selected one displayed CSF.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for second pass video coding in a multi-pass video coding scenario. The coding modes for some video blocks encoded during a second pass may be changed relative to the coding modes used for such video blocks in the first pass. However, motion information does not change for those video blocks that have the changed modes. In particular, mode changes can be made in the second coding pass relative to the modes used in the first coding pass without changing the manner in which motion information will be derived at the decoder, e.g., due to similarities between the original modes of the first pass and changed modes used in the second pass. The second pass coding techniques may also include quantization parameter adjustments, and the mode changes can cause such quantization parameter adjustments to have more profound refinements effects on the second pass coding.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to process multimedia data enabling faster channel acquisitions, improved error recovery and improved efficiency. An encoder device encodes a first portion of multimedia data using inter-coding to generate a first version, and encodes the first portion of multimedia data using intra-coding to generate a second version. A decoder device receives a first version of a first portion of multimedia data, wherein the first version is inter-coded, receives a second version of the first portion of multimedia data, wherein the second version is intra-coded, and selectively decodes the first and second received versions.

Abstract: A method and system for coding mode selection using estimated coding costs. To provide high compression efficiency, for example, an encoding device may attempt to select a coding mode for coding blocks of pixels that codes the data of the blocks with high efficiency. To this end, the encoding device may perform coding mode selection based on estimates of coding cost for at least a portion of the possible modes. The encoding device may estimate the coding cost for the different modes without actually coding the blocks. In fact, in some aspects, the encoding module device may estimate the coding cost for the modes without quantizing the data of the block for each mode. In this manner, the coding cost estimation techniques may reduce the amount of computationally intensive calculations needed to perform effective mode selection.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of using content information for encoding multimedia data are described. A method of processing multimedia data includes classifying content of multimedia data, and encoding the multimedia data in a first data group and in a second data group based on the content classification. The first and second groups are associated with quality levels. A user can request a target quality level.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for coding mode selection using estimated coding costs. To provide high compression efficiency, for example, an encoding device may attempt to select a coding mode for coding blocks of pixels that codes the data of the blocks with high efficiency. To this end, the encoding device may perform coding mode selection based on estimates of coding cost for at least a portion of the possible modes. In accordance with the techniques described herein, the encoding device estimates the coding cost for the different modes without actually coding the blocks. In fact, in some aspects, the encoding module device may estimate the coding cost for the modes without quantizing the data of the block for each mode. In this manner, the coding cost estimation techniques of this disclosure reduce the amount of computationally intensive calculations needed to perform effective mode selection.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for second pass video coding in a multi-pass video coding scenario. The coding modes for some video blocks encoded during a second pass may be changed relative to the coding modes used for such video blocks in the first pass. However, motion information does not change for those video blocks that have the changed modes. In particular, mode changes can be made in the second coding pass relative to the modes used in the first coding pass without changing the manner in which motion information will be derived at the decoder, e.g., due to similarities between the original modes of the first pass and changed modes used in the second pass. The second pass coding techniques may also include quantization parameter adjustments, and the mode changes can cause such quantization parameter adjustments to have more profound refinements effects on the second pass coding.

Abstract: Techniques for video encoding and decoding a common guide media logic channel (MLC) to enable fast acquisition and re/synchronization of the video stream while preserving compression efficiency are provided. Systems and methods to process multimedia data using channel switch frames are presented. The system comprises an encoder operative to generate a common guide media logical channel (MLC) of a plurality of channel switch frames (CSFs), each respective active channel having one or more CSFs in the guide MLC. The decoder in the system is operative to decode a set of the plurality of CSFs from the guide MLC. The decoder simultaneously displays programming content of the decoded set of the plurality of CSFs on a display and automatically switches to a primary bitstream of an active channel associated with a selected one displayed CSF.