Abstract: A Frequency Mapping Coding (FMC) scheme varies the application of error correction redundancy to transmitted data based on the channel transmission characteristics and the likelihood of error resulting from characteristics of the data stream being transmitted over the channel. The FMC is an error correction coding scheme making use of the non-linear feed-back mechanism and variable bit input step size to control redundancy applied. The FMC scheme accommodates the non-symmetrical nature of the SNR in bandwidth limited communications environments such as DSL to allow application of IQ based modulation, such as QAM, to these channels and is flexible for varying channel characteristics.

Abstract: A multi-dimensionally layered encoding and decoding system having reduced the bandwidth requirements for a channel that carries an image stream encoded by the system. A source image stream is partitioned multi-dimensionally into a lower resolution layer and higher resolution layer image stream. The lower resolution image stream is encoded and decoded in accordance with certain accepted standards such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and JPEG. In the encoding of the lower layer image stream, a number of indicator signals are derived that indicate where a compression loss and resolution loss occurs. Additionally, the lower layer image stream is non-linearly processed to create an improved image stream and non-linear indicator for use in the upper-layer encoder. The upper-layer encoder uses the non-linear processed image stream and a decoded, reconstructed upper-layer encoded stream to derive the motion vectors and prediction frames in a motion compensation process.

Abstract: An improved digital camera that produces digital images of high qualities without using expensive image sensors and optics is disclosed. The disclosed digital cameras use multiple image sensors with multiple lenses. One of the multiple image sensors is made to be responsive to all intensity information in visible color spectrum and a (gray intensity) image resulting from the sensor is used to compensate lost information in images from other image sensors responsive to certain colors. A final color image is obtained by a digital image processing circuitry that performs pixel registration process with reference to the gray intensity image so that a true color image with true resolution is obtained therefrom.

Abstract: For encoding signals corresponding to still images or video sequences, respective standards known as JPEG and MPEG have been proposed. These standards are based on digital cosine transform (DCT) compression. For economy of transmission, DCT coefficients may be "thresholded" prior to transmission, by dropping the less significant DCT coefficients. While maintaining JPEG or MPEG compatibility, threshold selection for the DCT coefficients of an image or video frame is based on optimizing for minimum distortion for a specified maximum target coding bit rate or, equivalently, for minimized coding bit rate for a specified maximum allowable distortion constraint. In the selection process, a dynamic programming method is used.