Abstract: The object of the invention is to make the movable parts of a robot reproduce the movement of the movable parts of an animated object, via the transmission of movement parameters to the robot in a primary signal PS. The primary signal PS comprises sets of parameters associated with the movable parts of the animated object, the sets of parameters being inserted in said primary signal according to a hierarchical graph structure reflecting the structure of the movable parts of said animated object. The movable parts of the robot reproduce the movement characterized by the movement parameters comprised in the sets of parameters which are associated with them. Use: An animation system for a robot.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to make the movable parts of a robot reproduce the movement of the movable parts of an animated object, via the transmission of movement parameters to the robot in a primary signal PS. The primary signal PS comprises sets of parameters associated with the movable parts of the animated object, the sets of parameters being inserted in said primary signal according to a hierarchical graph structure reflecting the structure of the movable parts of said animated object. The movable parts of the robot reproduce the movement characterized by the movement parameters comprised in the sets of parameters which are associated with them. Use: An animation system for a robot.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and device for obtaining upscaled video frames including 2D graphic elements from primary video objects of smaller format, while ensuring no degradation of said 2D graphic elements will take place. To this end, separate and parallel processes are performed on video frames and on 2D graphic elements. The first process consists of generating rendered frames from said primary video objects, said rendered frames being afterwards upscaled to the desired output video format. The second process consists of directly rendering in said output format the 2D graphic elements by using a drawing algorithm ensuring no degradation of said 2D graphic elements will take place. In a final step, rendered 2D graphic elements are mapped on the upscaled video frames.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of playing a set of multimedia applications (A), each multimedia application including a list of tasks (TTD). The method includes the steps of creating a common scheduler (SCH) at a start time, in order to provide a target time, registering the tasks into the scheduler, and controlling the execution of the tasks as a function of the target time. The method also includes a step of giving a priority level to the task and the scheduler is adapted to control the execution of the tasks as a function of the target time and the priority level. The method further includes a step of computing a local time for a task from the target time provided by the scheduler and timing information associated with said task. With such a mechanism, each task has its own time reference, thus ensuring a correct operation of the overall application, while a global notion of schedule is maintained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transmitter comprising a multilayer multiplexing device for generating an output stream having an output rate, multiplexed from elementary input streams having elementary rates, the multilayer multiplexing device comprising at least a first, master multiplexer and, subsequent thereto, a second, slave multiplexer, the master multiplexer receiving an input stream, referred to as multiplexed input stream at at least one input, multiplexed by the slave multiplexer from at least a first and a second elementary input stream, and a third elementary input stream at at least a second input, the master multiplexer having means for controlling said output rate so as to guarantee a predetermined minimum average output rate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and device for obtaining upscaled video frames including 2D graphic elements from primary video objects of smaller format, while ensuring no degradation of said 2D graphic elements will take place. To this end, separate and parallel processes are performed on video frames and on 2D graphic elements. The first process consists of generating rendered frames from said primary video objects, said rendered frames being afterwards upscaled to the desired output video format. The second process consists of directly rendering in said output format the 2D graphic elements by using a drawing algorithm ensuring no degradation of said 2D graphic elements will take place. In a final step, rendered 2D graphic elements are mapped on the upscaled video frames.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of and device for composing an MPEG-4 video scene content 110 simultaneously from input video streams 102 encoded according to the MPEG-4 video standard, and according to non-MPEG-4 compliant video data 105 such as MPEG-2 video data. The method according to the invention relies on a video object creation step allowing to generate video objects 108 from said non-MPEG-4 compliant video data, thanks to the association of scene properties with said non-MPEG-4 compliant video data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cost-effective and optimized method of composing a scene content from digital video data streams containing video objects, said method comprising a decoding step for generating decoded object frames from said digital video data streams, and a rendering step for composing intermediate-composed frames in a composition buffer from said decoded object frames. The method of scene composition according to the invention comprises a scaling step applied to said intermediate-composed frames for generating output frames constituting scene content. Indeed, by performing a scaling step on intermediate-composed frames of the final scene, enlarged frames are obtained in a single processing step, which considerably reduces the computational load. The use of a signal co-processor for the scaling step provides a possibility of anticipating simultaneously the decoding of objects, performed by a signal processor, used in the composition of the future intermediate-composed frame.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of playing a set of multimedia applications (A), each multimedia application comprising a list of tasks (TTD), characterized in that said method comprises the steps of creating a common scheduler (SCH) at a start time, in order to provide a target time, registering the tasks into the scheduler, and controlling the execution of the tasks as a function of the target time. The method also comprises a step of giving a priority level to the task and the scheduler is adapted to control the execution of the tasks as a function of the target time and the priority level.