Abstract: A method and apparatus for luma-based chroma intra prediction for a current chroma block are disclosed. The chroma intra predictor is derived from reconstructed luma pixels of a current luma block according to the chroma sampling format. Depending on the chroma sampling format, either sub-sampling, down-sampling or no processing is applied to the reconstructed luma pixels in horizontal or vertical direction. The information associated with the chroma sampling format can be incorporated in the sequence parameter set (SPS), the picture parameter set (PPS), the adaptation parameter set (APS) or the slice header of a video bitstream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deblocking of reconstructed video are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method divides a block boundary into two sub-boundaries and separates lines or column across the sub-boundaries into two groups. The deblocking filter decision for each group is determined based on the lines or columns in the respective group. In another embodiment, the method divides block edges of blocks in the LCUs into two edge groups, where the first edge group corresponds to horizontal block edges between two LCUs and the second edge group corresponds to remaining block edges not included in the first edge group. The number of lines processed by a vertical filter in the first edge group is less than the number of lines processed by a vertical filter in the second edge group. Accordingly, a system embodying the present invention has reduced storage requirement.

Abstract: A method for performing parallel coding with ordered entropy slices includes: providing a plurality of entropy slices to a plurality of processing elements with a causal criterion on processing order, wherein each entropy slice includes a plurality of macroblocks; and respectively starting to perform a coding procedure for the plurality of entropy slices according to the causal criterion, so that at least a portion of the processing elements are processed in parallel during at least a portion of processing time. An associated apparatus for performing parallel coding with ordered entropy slices includes: a plurality of processing elements; and a controller. The processing elements are arranged to process the entropy slices. In addition, the controller is arranged to provide the plurality of entropy slices with the causal criterion, and controls the operations of the processing elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for clipping a transform coefficient are disclosed. Embodiments according to the present invention avoid overflow of the quantized transform coefficient by clipping the quantization level adaptively after quantization. In one embodiment, the method comprises generating the quantization level for the transform coefficient of a transform unit by quantizing the transform coefficient according to a quantization matrix and quantization parameter. The clipping condition is determined and the quantization level is clipped according to the clipping condition to generate a clipping-processed quantization level. The clipping condition includes a null clipping condition. The quantization level is clipped to fixed-range represented in n bits for the null clipping condition, where n correspond to 8, 16, or 32. The quantization level may also be clipped within a range from ?m to m?1 for the null clipping condition, where m may correspond to 128, 32768, or 2147483648.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for clipping a transform coefficient are disclosed. In one implementation, a method is implemented in a video encoder for clipping a quantization level. The method operates by generating the quantization level for a transform coefficient of a transform unit by quantizing the transform coefficient according to a quantization matrix and quantization parameter, determining a clipping condition in the video encoder based on video source bit-depth, and clipping the quantization level according to the clipping condition to generate a clipping-processed quantization level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deriving a motion vector predictor (MVP) candidate set for motion vector coding of a current block. Embodiments according to the present invention determine a redundancy-removed spatial-temporal MVP candidate set. The redundancy-removed spatial-temporal MVP candidate set is derived from a spatial-temporal MVP candidate set by removing any redundant MVP candidate. The spatial-temporal MVP candidate set includes a top spatial MVP candidate, a left spatial MVP candidate and one temporal MVP candidate. The method further checks whether candidate number of the redundancy-removed spatial-temporal MVP candidate set is smaller than a threshold, and adds a zero motion vector to the redundancy-removed spatial-temporal MVP candidate set if the candidate number is smaller than the threshold. Finally, the method provides the redundancy-removed spatial-temporal MVP candidate set for encoding or decoding of the motion vector of a current block.

Abstract: An integrated chromatography-immunoassay system for integrated chromatography-immunoassay system includes a chromatographic unit that receives labeled nano-structured probes comprising nano particles and antibodies attached to the nano particles, and a test membrane comprising coating antigens. The chromatographic unit allows the labeled nano-structured probes to diffuse there through and into the test membrane, wherein the antibodies on the nano particles are bound to the coating antigens. A laser device emits a laser light to illuminate the labeled nano-structured probes having the antibodies bound to the coating antigens on the test membrane. A spectral analyzer obtains a Raman spectrum from light scattered from the labeled nano-structured probes having the antibodies bound to the coating antigens on the test membrane, and to identify a spectral signature in the Raman spectrum associated with the antibody-antigen pair, which enables detection and identification of the antibody.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices for the rapid and automated processing of sample populations are provided. Described are multiplexer tiplexer microfluidic devices configured to serially deliver a plurality of distinct sample populations to a sample processing element rapidly and automatically, without cross-contaminating the distinct sample populations. Also provided are microfluidic sample processing elements that can be used to rapidly and automatically manipulate and/or interrogate members of a sample population. The microfluidic devices can be used to improve the throughput and quality of experiments involving model organisms, such as C. elegans.

Abstract: A method for detecting crude oil or gas in a drilling sample includes introducing a drilling sample into a sample solution containing nano particles, illuminating the sample solution comprising the drilling sample and the nano particles by a laser beam, collecting light scattered by the drilling sample and the nano particles in the sample solution, obtaining a Raman spectrum from the light scattered by the drilling sample and the nano particles in the sample solution, identifying, in the Raman spectrum, a spectral signature associated with a substance around a predetermined Raman shift, and detecting targeted chemicals correlated with crude oil or gas existence underground from where the drilling sample, based on the spectral signature of the substance in the Raman spectrum.

Abstract: An adaptive screen and video coding system adaptively selects different coding schemes for coding an image block of a screen or video image based on a type of content included in the image block. The adaptive screen and video coding system further includes a screen coding scheme that classifies pixels of the image block into major colors and escape pixels and convert values of the pixels into index values assigned to the major colors and the escape pixels. Since the number of index values is usually less than a normal range of pixel values, using the index values instead of actual pixel values further facilitate compression and coding of the image block, thus improving coding accuracy and efficiency of the screen or video image. In one embodiment, the adaptive screen and video coding system may be used for screen sharing application.

Abstract: An integrated chemical separation device includes a chemical separation unit configured to separate a plurality of substances in a sample solution, a mixing chamber configured to receive the plurality of substances in the sample solution at different times, a chemical separation and detection controller, and a multi-channel valve configured to direct the plurality of substances in the sample solution to the mixing chamber under the control of the chemical separation and detection controller. The chemical separation and detection controller can introduce nano particles in the mixing chambers to allow each of the plurality of substances to be adsorbed on the nano particles. A Raman scattering spectrometer unit emits a laser beam to illuminate molecules adsorbed on the surfaces of the nano particles and obtains Raman spectra from the plurality of substances.

Abstract: An encoder for receiving a video frame and performing encoding processes to generate an encoded bitstream includes: a fidelity enhancement block, for performing a fidelity enhancement technique on processed data utilizing a partition method, and generating fidelity enhancement information comprising at least one parameter associated with a partition structure, wherein the fidelity enhancement technique comprises applying discrepancy modeling based on DC offset; and an entropy coding block, coupled to the fidelity enhancement block, for encoding the fidelity enhancement information, and embedding the encoded fidelity enhancement information into the encoded bitstream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for video coding including an Intra transform Skip mode is disclosed. When the transform Skip mode is ON for a transform unit, embodiments according to the present invention apply different coding processes to the transform unit. The coding process with the transform Skip mode ON uses a different scan pattern from the coding process with the transform Skip mode OFF. According to various embodiments, the transform Skip mode is enabled when the transform unit size is 4×4, the prediction unit and the transform unit having the same size, or the prediction unit uses an INTRA_N×N mode. When the transform Skip mode is enabled, a flag can be signaled in the bitstream to indicate the transform Skip mode selection. Furthermore, the flag can be incorporated in a picture level, a slice level or a sequence level of the video bitstream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for chroma intra prediction based on reconstructed luma pixels and chroma pixels are disclosed. The chroma intra prediction is based on a linear model of derived co-located current luma pixels of the current luma block scaled by a scaling factor. The scaling factor comprises a product term of a division factor and a scaled covariance-like value associated with neighboring reconstructed luma and chroma pixels of a current block. The division factor is related to a first data range divided with rounding by a scaled variance-like value associated with the neighboring reconstructed luma pixels of the current block. The scaled covariance-like value, the first data range, or both of the scaled covariance-like value and the first data range are dependent on the internal bit depth, with which the chroma signal is processed during video coding process, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for decoding of a video bitstream are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises: decoding a first coded block flag (cbf) of the color component indicating whether a current coding unit (CU) of the color component has at least one non-zero transform coefficient (830). According to the first cbf of the color component, the method further comprises decoding four second cbfs, each indicating whether one of four sub-blocks in the current CU of the color component has at least one non-zero transform coefficient (850). The residual quad-tree (RQT) of the current CU of the color component is determined based on the first cbf of the color component (870), or based on the first cbf and the second cbfs of the color component if the second cbfs exist (860).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deriving a motion vector predictor (MVP) candidate set for motion vector coding of a current block. Embodiments according to the present invention determine a redundancy-removed spatial MVP candidate set by removing any redundant MVP candidate from the spatial MVP candidate set. The redundancy-removal process does not apply to the temporal MVP candidate. In another embodiment of the present invention, a redundancy-removed spatial-temporal MVP candidate set is determined and the number of candidates in the redundancy-removed spatial-temporal MVP candidate set is checked to determine whether it is smaller than a threshold. If the number of candidates is smaller than the threshold, a zero motion vector is added to the redundancy-removed spatial-temporal MVP candidate set. The redundancy-removed spatial-temporal MVP candidate set is then provided for encoding or decoding of the motion vector of the current block.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for luma-based chroma intra prediction for a current chroma block are disclosed. The chroma intra predictor is derived from reconstructed luma pixels of a current luma block according to the chroma sampling format. Depending on the chroma sampling format, either sub-sampling, down-sampling or no processing is applied to the reconstructed luma pixels in horizontal or vertical direction. The information associated with the chroma sampling format can be incorporated in the sequence parameter set (SPS), the picture parameter set (PPS), the adaptation parameter set (APS) or the slice header of a video bitstream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for de-quantizing a transform coefficient from a quantization level are disclosed. Embodiments according to the present invention avoid overflow of the de-quantized transform coefficient by clipping the quantization level adaptively before reconstructing the transform coefficient. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a decoded quantization level for the transform coefficient of a transform unit, wherein the decoded quantization level is decoded by an entropy decoder or is being processed by the entropy decoder. The clipping range is determined and then the decoded quantization level is clipped to the clipping range to generate a clipping-processed quantization level. A de-quantized transform coefficient can be generated using the clipping-processed quantization level. In another embodiment, the decoded quantization level is always clipped to [?N, M], where M and N are positive integers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deblocking of reconstructed video are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method divides a block boundary into two sub-boundaries and separates lines or column across the sub-boundaries into two groups. The deblocking filter decision for each group is determined based on the lines or columns in the respective group. In another embodiment, the method divides block edges of blocks in the LCUs into two edge groups, where the first edge group corresponds to horizontal block edges between two LCUs and the second edge group corresponds to remaining block edges not included in the first edge group. The number of lines processed by a vertical filter in the first edge group is less than the number of lines processed by a vertical filter in the second edge group. Accordingly, a system embodying the present invention has reduced storage requirement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deblocking of reconstructed video in a video coding system are disclosed. Embodiments according to the present invention determine boundary strength between two blocks without checking whether the block boundary is a coding unit (CU) boundary. In one embodiment according to the present invention, the method comprises determining whether any of the two blocks is Intra coded. If any of the two blocks is Intra coded, the boundary strength is assigned a first value. Otherwise, additional decision processing is performed to determine the boundary strength. In another embodiment, said determining the boundary strength for the block boundary comprises determining whether the block boundary is a TU boundary and whether any of the two blocks contains coefficients. In yet another embodiment, said determining the boundary strength for the block boundary comprises determining whether the two blocks have different reference pictures or different motion vectors.