Abstract: A video decoder performs a sequential error handling process to detect and conceal errors within a corrupted data segment of video data units. The decoder sequentially decodes a current data unit. Upon detecting an error, the decoder sets an error flag and resynchronizes decoding at the start of the next unit. If the error flag is set, the video decoder identifies the end of the corrupted data segment based on the start of the later unit. The decoder conceals data between the start of the current unit and the end of the corrupted data segment. If the error flag is not set, the decoder may decode the remainder of the current unit and proceed to decode the next available unit without performing error handling and concealment for the current unit. The decoder also may address reference unit mismatches caused by lost video data units.

Abstract: Provided is a new design and fabrication of scratch drive actuator (SDA) micro rotary motor with low driving voltage and high lifetime characteristics. To substantially reduce the driving voltage from 30˜150 Vo-p to 12˜30 Vo-p ac amplitude, a silicon wafer with very low resistivity (<0.004 ?-cm) was firstly adopted as the substrate of SDA micro motor. Furthermore, a novel SDA structure and geometric design for the improvement of lifetime (>75 hrs) and rotational speed (˜30 rpm) of SDA micro motor was also demonstrated in this patent.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to video rate adaptation techniques that may use information from a medium access control (MAC) layer and radio link protocol (RLP) layer. The techniques may greatly reduce video delay by adjusting video encoding rate. For real-time video telephony (VT) applications, these techniques may provide graceful quality degradation and improve user experience, especially when the channel conditions degrade.

Abstract: Provided is a new design and fabrication of scratch drive actuator (SDA) micro rotary motor with low driving voltage and high lifetime characteristics. To substantially reduce the driving voltage from 30˜150 Vo-p to 12˜30 Vo-p ac amplitude, a silicon wafer with very low resistivity (<0.004 ?-cm) was firstly adopted as the substrate of SDA micro motor. Furthermore, a novel SDA structure and geometric design for the improvement of lifetime (>75 hrs) and rotational speed (˜30 rpm) of SDA micro motor was also demonstrated in this patent.

Abstract: One technique for implementing error control in response to a video data error comprises receiving an indication of a video data error from a video decoder, determining whether the video data error occurred on a reverse link of a wireless network between a video encoder and a network device, and applying error control in response to the video data error if the video data error did not occur on the reverse link. For example, the indication of the video data error may include a first sequence number (SN) of a packet comprising lost data, and determining whether the video data error occurred on the reverse link may include comparing first SN with a second SN of a packet associated with a most recent RL error.

Abstract: Based on the voltage-division theory, this invention proposes a new method to decrease the driving voltage of the micro scratch drive actuator (SDA) by using an ultra-low resistivity silicon wafer as substrate. This patent has compared two SDA actuators with the same layout and fabricating processes but under different resistivity of substrate. The SDA fabricated on the ultra-low resistivity silicon wafer has demonstrated a lower driving voltage of only about 4˜12 Vo-p. However, the conventional SDA using normal silicon wafer needs higher driving voltage (30˜75 Vo-p), thus has lower probability for commercial applications. On the other hand, this invention presents a new SDA process to overcome the inherent 2 ?m line-width limitation of conventional mask aligner with 4360 ? UV wavelength light source (g-line) and further to reduce the driving voltage of SDA.

Abstract: To improve the yield, lifetime and driving voltage of the micro scratch drive actuator (SDA), this invention proposes a novel layout design including the etch holes and flange structure designs. Once the etch holes added to the layout of conventional SDA plate, the releasing of structure layer can be accelerated and the accumulated residual charges in the front end of SDA plate is reduced. In this innovative design, a longer lifetime and lower driving voltage of the SDA device can be achieved. On the other hand, adding the flange structure design in the corner of the beam-to-plate conjunction can improve the flexural rigidity of the narrow polysilicon supporting beam which will further enhance the yield of the SDA device and reduce the crack failure under actuating situation.

Abstract: A device having an encoder and a packet switched video assembler which first estimates how many packets should be generated for one frame based on an estimated frame size and an initial fixed target packet size. Then, an updated packet size is recalculated on a packet-by-packet or slice-by-slice basis. The video assembler includes a three-stage process. The first stage estimates the frame size with or without encoding the video sequence, wherein in the case where the first stage includes encoding, the encoded data is packed in to a simulation bitstream. The second stage estimates the number of packets using the target packet size, estimated frame size and a configuration mode. The third stage dynamically updates the packet size using one-MB look-ahead approach with pre-encoding each MB. In an alternate embodiment, the third stage turns off the look ahead feature when encoding a current macroblock takes place during the third stage.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to techniques for video source rate control for video telephony (VT) applications. The source video encoding rate may controlled using a dual-buffer based estimation of a frame budget that defines a number of encoding bits available for a frame of the video. The dual-buffer based estimation technique may track the fullness of a physical video buffer and the fullness of the virtual video buffer. The source video encoding rate is then controlled based on the resulting frame budget. The contents of the virtual buffer depend on constraints imposed by a target encoding rate, while the contents of the physical buffer depend on constraints imposed by varying channel conditions. Consideration of physical video buffer fullness permits the video source rate control technique to be channel-adaptive. Consideration of virtual video buffer fullness permits the video source rate control technique to avoid encoding excessive video that could overwhelm the channel.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to reverse link lower layer assisted video error control. A method may encode video data, form a packet with the encoded video data, and transmit the packet across a wireless channel to an access network. A medium access control (MAC) layer may receive a negative acknowledgement (NAK) from the access network. The method may determine whether the received NAK is associated with a packet that contains video data. If the received NAK is associated with a packet that contains video data, the method may perform error control.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to techniques for video packet shaping for video telephony (VT). The techniques can be used to prioritize audio packets to reduce audio delay. Channel conditions, excessive video content, or both can cause delays in audio transmission. When reverse link (RL) throughput is reduced, video packet size can overwhelm the RL and increase audio delay. The video packet may consume an excessive number of MAC RLP packets, resulting in delays between successive audio packets. The size of each video packet is adjusted so that audio packets are prioritized for transmission without substantial delay. The video packet size may be controlled based on channel conditions. The audio can be conveyed without substantial delay, even though the video may suffer from delay due to channel conditions. Although video may be compromised by channel conditions, video packet shaping ensures that the VT parties are able to smoothly carry on verbal conversation.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to techniques for picture-in-picture (PIP) processing for video telephony (VT). According to the disclosed techniques, a local video communication device transmits PIP information to a remote video communication device. Using the PIP information, the remote video communication device applies preferential encoding to non-PIP regions of video transmitted to the local video communication device.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to techniques for region-of-interest (ROI) processing for video telephone (VT) applications. According to the disclosed techniques, a recipient device defines ROI information for video information transmitted by a sender device, i.e., far-end video information. The recipient device transmits the ROI information to the sender device. Using the ROI information transmitted by the recipient device, the sender device applies preferential encoding to an ROI within a video scene. In this manner, the recipient device is able to remotely control ROI encoding of far-end video information by the sender device.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to techniques for region-of-interest (ROI) processing for video telephony (VT) applications. According to the disclosed techniques, a recipient device defines ROI information for video information transmitted by a sender device, i.e., far-end video information. The recipient device transmits the ROI information to the sender device. Using the ROI information transmitted by the recipient device, the sender device applies preferential encoding to an ROI within a video scene. ROI extraction may be applied to process a user description of a region of interest (ROI) to generate information specifying the ROI based on the description. The user description may be textual, graphical, or speech-based. An extraction module applies appropriate processing to generated the ROI information from the user description. The extraction module may locally reside with a video communication device, or reside in a distinct intermediate server configured for ROI extraction.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a hidden image, which is formed in a first area of a hologram, is disclosed. The apparatus has a laser device for generating a laser beam and projecting the laser beam to the hologram, and a sensing device for sensing light that reflects from the hologram. When the laser beam is emitted to the hologram at a first incident angle, at least one diffractive beam is generated by diffraction of the laser beam. The sensing device is capable of outputting a responding signal according to the characteristics of the diffractive beam. Additionally, if the laser beam is emitted to the hologram at an incident angle, which is not equal to the first incident angle, the diffractive beam cannot be generated so that the sensing device does not output the responding signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing video data are described. A set of candidate motion vectors is selected from motion vectors associated with macroblocks in a first frame of video data and from motion vectors associated with macroblocks in a second frame of the video data. A statistical measure of the set is determined. The statistical measure defines a motion vector for a macroblock of interest in the second frame.

Abstract: A video demultiplexer and video decoder include features for efficient video data recovery in the event of channel error. The demultiplexer detects a boundary between physical layer data units and adds boundary information to the bitstream produced by the demultiplexer. The demultiplexer produces adaptation layer data units, which are processed by the adaptation layer to produce an application layer bitstream. When the video decoder encounters an error in the bitstream, it uses the boundary information to limit the amount of data that must be concealed. In particular, the boundary information permits the error to be associated with a small segment of data. The video decoder conceals data from the beginning of the segment of data, rather than an entire slice or frame in which the segment resides. In this manner, the video decoder provides efficient data recovery, limiting the loss of useful data that otherwise would be purposely discarded for concealment purposes.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to techniques for encoder-assisted adaptive interpolation of video frames. According to the disclosed techniques, an encoder generates information to assist a decoder in interpolation of a skipped video frame, i.e., an S frame. The information permits the decoder to reduce visual artifacts in the interpolated frame and thereby achieve improved visual quality. The information may include interpolation equation labels that identify selected interpolation equations to be used by the decoder for individual video blocks. As an option, to conserve bandwidth, the equation labels may be transmitted for only selected video blocks that meet a criterion for encoder-assisted interpolation. Other video blocks without equation labels may be interpolated according to a default interpolation technique.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a video slicing technique that promotes low complexity, bandwidth efficiency and error resiliency. A video encoder places an RM close to the beginning of each logical transmission unit (LTU) so that all but a very small end segment of each video slice fits substantially within an LTU. Instead of requiring placement of RMs exactly at the LTU boundaries, a video encoder applies an approximate alignment technique. Video slices are encoded so that RMs are placed close to the beginning of each LTU, e.g., at the end of the first MB falling within the LTU. A portion of the last MB from the preceding slice carries over into the next LTU. Loss of an LTU results in loss of virtually the entire current slice plus a very small portion of the previous slice.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a hidden image, which is formed in a first area of a hologram, is disclosed. The apparatus has a laser device for generating a laser beam and projecting the laser beam to the hologram, and a sensing device for sensing light that reflects from the hologram. When the laser beam is emitted to the hologram at a first incident angle, at least one diffractive beam is generated by diffraction of the laser beam. The sensing device is capable of outputting a responding signal according to the characteristics of the diffractive beam. Additionally, if the laser beam is emitted to the hologram at an incident angle, which is not equal to the first incident angle, the diffractive beam cannot be generated so that the sensing device does not output the responding signal.