Abstract: An information-seeking dialogue system can be trained using a pipeline process having stages, or components, of passage retrieval (selecting passages relevant to a query from a corpus or knowledge base), re-ranking, and generating a response to the query based on one or more of the re-ranked passages. Each stage, or component, of the pipeline can be individually optimized based on ground truth data.

Abstract: A boost table stores adjusted target levels for pairs of original and target pixel levels. The adjusted target levels can be used to as a substitute for the target pixel level to improve pixel response in reaching the desired target pixel level. A reduced boost table can be used, storing a subset of the adjusted target levels. Fuzzy logic control rules can be used to calculate adjusted target levels not actually stored in the reduced boost table.

Abstract: A boost table stores adjusted target levels for pairs of original and target pixel levels. The adjusted target levels can be used to as a substitute for the target pixel level to improve pixel response in reaching the desired target pixel level. A reduced boost table can be used, storing a subset of the adjusted target levels. Fuzzy logic control rules can be used to calculate adjusted target levels not actually stored in the reduced boost table.

Abstract: A compressed pixel level for a pixel in a frame of an image is compared with the (compressed) pixel level for the same pixel in a previous image frame. If the pixel level is unchanged, then the pixel is not moving. An uncompressed pixel level is then used for that pixel in the current image. If the pixel level is changed, then the pixel is moving, and a decompressed, boosted pixel level is used for that pixel in the current image.

Abstract: A boost table stores adjusted target levels for pairs of original and target pixel levels. The adjusted target levels can be used to as a substitute for the target pixel level to improve pixel response in reaching the desired target pixel level. A reduced boost table can be used, storing a subset of the adjusted target levels. Fuzzy logic control rules can be used to calculate adjusted target levels not actually stored in the reduced boost table.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for reducing mosquito noise and blockiness in an image frame of a video signal. A border of a pixel block is determined, and if the region surrounded by the border is determined to be associated with mosquito noise or blockiness, then the mosquito noise or blockiness, respectively, is reduced in the region only.

Abstract: An adaptive color enhancer applies different scale factors to different pixels in a digital image. More color enhancement occurs for bright pixels and for dim pixels than for average-intensity pixels. Also, more color enhancement is applied to the more colorful pixels while less color enhancement is applied to dull, less-colorful pixels. Rather than enhance all pixels to the same extent, the bright, colorful pixels are enhanced further than the average. Likewise, dim areas are color enhanced more than average. A calculation unit receives a YUV pixel. The Y value is compared to range limits and a piece-wise-linear (PWL) function generates an intermediate scale factor. The absolute values of the U and V color values are combined to create a colorfulness factor. The colorfulness factor is also used with a PWL function and the intermediate scale factor to generate a final scale factor for that pixel. The final scale factor is then multiplied by the U and V values of the pixel to generate a color-corrected pixel.

Abstract: A digital-camera processor receives mono-color digital pixels from an image sensor. Each mono-color pixel is red, blue, or green. The stream of pixels from the sensor has alternating green and red pixels on odd lines, and blue and green pixels on even lines in a Bayer pattern. Each mono-color pixel is white balanced by multiplying with a gain determined in a previous frame and then stored in a line buffer. A horizontal interpolator receives an array of pixels from the line buffer. The horizontal interpolator generates missing color values by interpolation within horizontal lines in the array. The intermediate results from the horizontal interpolator are stored in a column buffer, and represent one column of pixels from the line buffer. A vertical interpolator generates the final RGB value for the pixel in the middle of the column register by vertical interpolation. The RGB values are converted to YUV. The vertical interpolator also generates green values for pixels above and below the middle pixel.

Abstract: A digital-camera processor receives mono-color digital pixels from an image sensor. Each mono-color pixel is red, blue, or green. The stream of pixels from the sensor has alternating green and red pixels on odd lines, and blue and green pixels on even lines in a Bayer pattern. Each mono-color pixel is white balanced by multiplying with a gain determined in a previous frame and then stored in a line buffer. A horizontal interpolator receives an array of pixels from the line buffer. The horizontal interpolator generates missing color values by interpolation within horizontal lines in the array. The intermediate results from the horizontal interpolator are stored in a column buffer, and represent one column of pixels from the line buffer. A vertical interpolator generates the final RGB value for the pixel in the middle of the column register by vertical interpolation. The RGB values are converted to YUV. The vertical interpolator also generates green values for pixels above and below the middle pixel.

Abstract: An adaptive color enhancer applies different scale factors to different pixels in a digital image. More color enhancement occurs for bright pixels and for dim pixels than for average-intensity pixels. Also, more color enhancement is applied to the more colorful pixels while less color enhancement is applied to dull, less-colorful pixels. Rather than enhance all pixels to the same extent, the bright, colorful pixels are enhanced further than the average. Likewise, dim areas are color enhanced more than average. A calculation unit receives a YUV pixel. The Y value is compared to range limits and a piece-wise-linear (PWL) function generates an intermediate scale factor. The absolute values of the U and V color values are combined to create a colorfulness factor. The colorfulness factor is also used with a PWL function and the intermediate scale factor to generate a final scale factor for that pixel. The final scale factor is then multiplied by the U and V values of the pixel to generate a color-corrected pixel.