Abstract: A weighted prediction module includes a weighted prediction parameter generation module configured to generate a plurality of initial weighted prediction parameters, to analyze the plurality of initial weighted prediction parameters, and to generate a refinement flag that indicates one of: enable parameter refinement and disable parameter refinement. A weighted prediction parameter refinement module is configured to generate a plurality of refined weighted prediction parameters by refining the plurality of initial weighted prediction parameters, when the refinement flag indicates that the parameter refinement is enabled. A weighted prediction flag generation module is configured to generate a weighted prediction flag that indicates one of: enable weighted prediction and disable weighted prediction, based on the refinement flag.

Abstract: A video encoder includes a motion search module that determines a motion search motion vector for a region of a selected picture of the plurality of pictures. The motion search module determines the region by merging selected ones of a plurality of blocks of the selected picture based on an evaluation of a cost matrix associated with the plurality of blocks of the selected picture.

Abstract: A metric representing the sum of variances for pixel blocks of a region of an image are used to identify the presence a video feature of the image, and a transcoding is performed responsive to identifying the presence of the video feature. The identified video feature can include, but is not limited to, a scene change, the presence of a black border region or a caption region, or the complexity of the image. The transcoding operation can include, but is not limited to, coding the image as an Intra-frame, omitting the content corresponding to the black border region or the caption region from the transcoded image or allocating a relatively lower bit budget for the black border region or a relatively higher bit budget to the caption region during transcoding of the image, or setting the bit budget for rate control during transcoding.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system that includes a pattern recognition module for generating index data describing content of an image sequence that is time-coded to the image sequence. The pattern recognition module generates the index data based on coding feedback data that includes color histogram data and further based on audio data. A video codec generates a processed video signal based on the image sequence and by generating the color histogram data in conjunction with the processing of the image sequence. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A video processing device includes a complexity estimation module to determine a first sum of variances metric and a first estimated picture encoding cost metric for a first picture of a video stream. The video processing device further includes a scene analysis module to determine a first threshold based on a first statistical feature for sum of variance metrics of a set of one or more pictures preceding the first picture in the video stream and a second threshold based on a second statistical feature for estimated picture encoding cost metrics of the set of one or more pictures. The scene analysis module further is to identify a scene change as occurring at the first picture based on the first sum of variances metric, the first estimated picture encoding cost metric, the first threshold, and the second threshold.

Abstract: A video processing device includes a rate control module to determine more accurate initial quantization parameters at each scene switching point and to adjust the QP parameters in response to scene changes using a sum of variances metric and an estimated picture encoding cost metric from a coding complex estimation block. To determine a first quantization parameter set, a sum of variances metric and an estimated picture encoding cost metric for an initial set pictures of a video stream are used. A bit allocation module is to set a target bit allocation for infra-encoded pictures as substantially proportional to the sum of variances metric and substantially inversely proportional to the estimated picture encoding cost metric, and set a target bit allocation for forward predictive and bi-predictive pictures as substantially proportional to the estimated picture encoding cost metric and substantially inversely proportional to the sum of variances metric.

Abstract: A video decoder includes an entropy decoding device that generates entropy decoded (EDC) data from an encoded video signal. A multi-format video decoding device includes a plurality of vector processor units that generate a decoded video signal from the EDC data. The plurality of vector processing units are programmed via VPU instructions formatted to include a vector instruction portion, a scalar instruction portion, and a branching instruction portion.

Abstract: A technique for encoding and decoding video information uses a plurality of video processing modules (VPMs), whereby each video processing module is dedicated to a particular video processing function, such as filtering, matrix arithmetic operations, and the like. Information is transferred between the video processing modules using a set of first-in first-out (FIFO) buffers. For example, to transfer pixel information from a first VPM to a second VPM, the first VPM stores the pixel information at the head of a FIFO buffer, while the second VPM retrieves information from the tail of the FIFO buffer. The FIFO buffer thus permits transfer of information between the VPMs without storage of the information to a cache or other techniques that can reduce video processing speed.

Abstract: A video processing device includes a video processing unit that decodes a video input signal into a decoded video signal in accordance with a video compression protocol, based on uncompressed video frame data. A tile engine includes a tile accumulation module that accumulates the uncompressed video frame data into a plurality of tile units, wherein each of the plurality of tile units includes a plurality of video span units. A tile compression/decompression module generates compressed video frame data for storage in a compressed video frame buffer by compressing the plurality of video span units into a plurality of compressed video span units and further that retrieves the compressed video frame data from the compressed video frame buffer by retrieving the plurality of compressed video span units and generating the uncompressed video frame data by decompressing the plurality of compressed video span units.

Abstract: A video processing device includes a video processing unit that decodes a video input signal into a decoded video signal in accordance with a video compression protocol, based on uncompressed video frame data. A data object compression/decompression module generates compressed video frame data by compressing a plurality of video data objects into a plurality of compressed video data objects, storing the plurality of compressed video data objects in a compressed frame buffer. The data object compression/decompression module retrieves a selected portion of video frame data from the compressed video frame buffer by identifying selected ones of plurality of compressed video data objects that correspond to the selected portion of video frame data, retrieving the selected ones of the plurality of compressed video data objects and generating the uncompressed video frame data by decompressing the selected ones of the plurality of compressed video data objects.

Abstract: A video processing device includes a video processing unit that decodes a video input signal into a decoded video signal in accordance with a video compression protocol, based on uncompressed video frame data. A data object compression/decompression module generates compressed video frame data for storage in a compressed video frame buffer by compressing a plurality of video data objects into a plurality of compressed video data objects, wherein a first subset of the plurality of video data objects are compressed via lossless compression and a second subset of the plurality of video data objects are compressed via lossy compression.

Abstract: A device encodes a video signal having a sequence of images into an encoded video signal. The device includes a group of picture (GOP) adaption module that detects a high complexity scene in the sequence of images and that generates GOP adaption data indicating the high complexity scene when the high complexity scene is detected. An encoding module generates the encoded video signal with hierarchical B frames disabled when the GOP adaption data indicates the high complexity scene.

Abstract: A video processing device includes an interface to receive an input video stream and an interface to provide an encoded video stream. The input video stream includes a sequence of frames. Each frame comprises two fields. The video processing device further includes an encoder to encode the input video stream to generate the encoded video stream. The encoder is to dynamically switch between a first encoding mode and a second encoding mode responsive to a variable quantization parameter. In the first encoding mode the encoder is to encode both fields or the complete frame of a corresponding frame of the sequence. In the second encoding mode the encoder is to encode only one field of the two fields of a corresponding frame of the sequence. This approach can achieve a specified low bit rate with reduced quantization effects while keeping the horizontal resolution unchanged.

Abstract: A metric representing the sum of variances for pixel blocks of a region of an image are used to identify the presence a video feature of the image, and a transcoding is performed responsive to identifying the presence of the video feature. The identified video feature can include, but is not limited to, a scene change, the presence of a black border region or a caption region, or the complexity of the image. The transcoding operation can include, but is not limited to, coding the image as an Intra-frame, omitting the content corresponding to the black border region or the caption region from the transcoded image or allocating a relatively lower bit budget for the black border region or a relatively higher bit budget to the caption region during transcoding of the image, or setting the bit budget for rate control during transcoding.

Abstract: A scaled motion search section can be used in a video processing device that processes a video input signal that includes a plurality of pictures. The scaled motion search section includes a downscaling module that downscales the plurality of pictures to generate a plurality of downscaled pictures, wherein the downscaling module includes a horizontal downscaling filter and a vertical downscaling filter, and wherein the vertical downscaling filter generates downscaled pixels for a macroblock pair using only pixels from the macroblock pair. A transfer function that models the scaled motion vectors is determined and used to identify a final set of motion vector candidates used in a larger scale motion search.

Abstract: A video encoder includes a forward path section that processes a video input signal in accordance with a video compression standard, based on a plurality of reference pictures, to generate a processed video signal and a plurality of transformed quantized residual pixel values. A decoding engine decodes the plurality of transformed quantized residual pixel values in accordance with the video compression standard to the plurality of reference pictures.

Abstract: Encoding a video signal according to a scalable video coding (SVC) technique employs two different encoding paths for the base layer and the enhancement layers respectively, whereby the two encoding paths share common hardware encoding modules. For example, a control module can route received video information associated with the base layer directly to the hardware encoder modules for encoding, while routing video information associated with the enhancement layers to an upscaler. The upscaled video information is then provided to the hardware encoder module for processing in similar fashion to the base layer information. The hardware encoder provides encoded video information to another control module, which determines whether to route the information to a hardware or software entropy encoder, based on whether the encoded video information is associated with the base layer or an enhancement layer, respectively.

Abstract: A technique for encoding and decoding video information uses a plurality of video processing modules (VPMs), whereby each video processing module is dedicated to a particular video processing function, such as filtering, matrix arithmetic operations, and the like. Information is transferred between the video processing modules using a set of first-in first-out (FIFO) buffers. For example, to transfer pixel information from a first VPM to a second VPM, the first VPM stores the pixel information at the head of a FIFO buffer, while the second VPM retrieves information from the tail of the FIFO buffer. The FIFO buffer thus permits transfer of information between the VPMs without storage of the information to a cache or other techniques that can reduce video processing speed.

Abstract: A motion identification signal is generated, based on a sequence of pictures of a video signal. A motion adaptive filter is adapted based on the motion identification signal. A scene change detection signal is generated based on the motion identification signal. A cadence detection signal can also be generated based on the motion identification signal.

Abstract: A video encoder includes a forward path section that processes a video input signal in accordance with a video compression standard, based on a plurality of reference pictures, to generate a processed video signal and a plurality of transformed quantized residual pixel values. A decoding engine decodes the plurality of transformed quantized residual pixel values in accordance with the video compression standard to the plurality of reference pictures.