Abstract: A system and method that reduces computational complexity of a decoder by identifying a skippable region in an overlaid area. The invention provides a system for processing encoded video data, comprising: an analysis system that determines if a current video frame having an overlaid area acts as a reference for future video frames; and a system for identifying a skippable region in the overlaid area. The invention may also include a system for identifying a portion of the overlaid area as the skippable based on analysis of motion vectors or motion vector ranges.

Abstract: Network streams and a method for encapsulating media packets having data therein into the network streams. The network streams includes a base layer stream and an enhancement layer stream. Base-layer media packets are encapsulated into the network packets of the base layer stream, wherein each network packet of the base layer stream includes one, and no more than one, corresponding base-layer media packet. Enhancement-layer media packets are encapsulated into the network packets of the enhancement layer stream, wherein a first portion and a second remaining portion of any enhancement-layer media packet may be respectively included in successive network packets of the enhancement layer stream in order to have each network packet of the enhancement layer stream filled to a constant number of bits that does not exceed a maximum number of bits. The media packets are, but not limited to, video packets or audio packets.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed that provide a simple and efficient layered video coding technique using a backward adaptive rate-distortion optimized data partitioning (RD-DP) of DCT coefficients. The video coding system may include an rate-distortion optimized data partitioning encoder and decoder. The RD-DP encoder adapts the partition point block-by-block which greatly improves the coding efficiency of the base layer bit stream without explicit transmission thereby saving the bandwidth significantly. The RD-DP decoder can also find the partition location in backward-fashion from the decoded data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for extracting coding parameters from uncoded video data. Encoded video data is decoded using an MPEG decoder to produce decompressed video data. A DC computation operation is performed to recover an intra-dc-precision level from the decompressed video data, such that if the intra-dc-precision level is less than a first predetermined threshold, the decompressed video data is classified as an intra-coded picture. If the intra-dc-precision level is equal to the first predetermined threshold, a discrete cosine transform (DCT) is performed to produce a set of DCT coefficients for at least one AC frequency band in the decompressed video data. Then, an average quantizer step size is computed based on the AC data and if the average quantizer step size is greater than a second predetermined threshold, the decompressed video data being processed is classified as an intra-coded picture.

Abstract: A method and system of reducing the computation load of an MPEG decoder by changing the encoding algorithms in a video-processing system are provided. During an encoding mode, a stream of data blocks is received and at least one motion vector and one motion compensation prediction value for each macro-block are generated. The prediction value is transformed into a set of DCT coefficients. Prior to the quantizing step, the set of DCT coefficients are modified according to predetermined criteria. To this end, the total energy level of the DCT coefficients excluding the lowest 2×2 DCT coefficients is computed, and last column and last row of the DCT coefficients is discarded alternatively until the total energy level of the DCT coefficients reaches a predetermined energy level. Therafter, the discarded column or row is assigned to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A video processing system comprising: a decoder having a complexity reduction system; and a post-processing system for processing an output of the decoder, wherein the post-processing system includes a filter for intentionally blurring a set of frames in a group of pictures (GOP) to achieve a smooth visual transition between frames.

Abstract: A method and system of regulating the computation load of an MPEG decoder in a video processing system are provided. The video processing system processes the header information of a compressed video data stream including a plurality of macroblocks with a motion vector associated therewith. Then, the computation load of each functional block of the MPEG decoder is adjusted according to predetermined criteria; thus, substantial computational overhead is desirably avoided.

Abstract: A scalable decoder system having a decoder reconstruction system, wherein the decoder reconstruction system comprises: an estimation algorithm x ~ i , n e = a i , n + E Z ? { d i , n ? ( ? ; x ~ i , n - 1 e + Z ) } for estimating a lost discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficient, which incorporates the quantization noise of previous enhancement layer data into the expectation, wherein the estimation algorithm includes a density distribution dependent on at least one unknown parameter {circumflex over (?)}l; and a parameter estimation algorithm for estimating {circumflex over (?)}l according to the equation: ? ^ l = - log ? ( 1 - P ^ l ) b l , wherein bl denotes each of a set of quantizer decision levels l, and {circumflex over (P)}l is the sum of a set of a normalized frequency of occurrences of data quantized to each quantizer decision level 1,2, . . . , l.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to MPEG decoding with embedded resizing that includes detecting and interpolating moving areas in interlaced video in order to eliminate irregularities in the output video. According to the present invention, the decoding includes down scaling a motion vector. Also, detecting a moving area in an interlaced video reference frame and modifying the reduced resolution motion vector. Further, retrieving pixel values from the interlaced video reference frame according to the modified motion vector.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for encoding video data in an embedded fashion in order to achieve fine granular scalable video. The method includes the video data being transformed into a plurality of DCT coefficients. Further, the DCT coefficients are arranged into sub-groups and the DCT coefficients are scanned according to the sub-groups. The DCT coefficients being scanned by the sub-groups enables a higher level of scalability to be achieved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for evaluating the quality of encoded video data without gaining access to the source data or the compressed video bitstream. The system is configured to decode compressed video data using an MPEG decoder to produce decompressed video data. The decoded data is analyzed to determine whether the decompressed video data is intra-coded. If so, a discrete cosine transform (DCT) is performed to produce a set of DCT coefficients for at least one AC frequency band in the decompressed video data. At the same time, quantization matrix data of a frame of the decompressed video data as well as a quantizer scale for each block of the decompressed video data are extracted. Thereafter, the variance of the converted DCT coefficients is obtained, and then an average quantization error for each set of said DCT coefficients is determined based on the variance, the quantization matrix, and the quantizer scale.

Abstract: There is disclosed a video encoder comprising a base layer encoder and an enhancement layer encoder. The base layer encoder receives an input stream of video frames and generates compressed base layer video data suitable for transmission to a streaming video receiver. The enhancement layer encoder receives the input stream of video frames and a decoded version of the compressed base layer video data and generates enhancement layer video data associated with the compressed base layer video data and suitable for transmission to the streaming video receiver. The video encoder also comprises a controller associated with the enhancement layer circuitry for receiving a quantization parameter associated with the base layer video data and determining therefrom at least one all-zero bit plane associated with at least one block of the enhancement layer video data. The controller is capable of causing the enhancement layer circuitry not to transmit the at least one all-zero bit plane to the streaming video receiver.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed that provide a single layer bit stream syntax with advanced DCT data partitioning designed to combat bit error and packet losses during transmission. The bit stream syntax may be used as a single layer bit stream or may be used to de-multiplex video packets into base and enhancement layers in order to allow unequal error protection. One advantage of this syntax is that the de-multiplexing and merging of received video packets is made simple while allowing for flexible bit allocation for the base and enhancement layers.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed that provide an advanced design of coded video packets using a resynchronization maker for video transmission applications. The resynchronization marker has a fixed ranged bit length within each video object plane or video frame and is cyclically updated video frame by video frame. This coded video packet structure allows decoders to automatically find the video object plane boundary without additional bit stream overhead. This has a particular advantage when a video object plane header is lost during transmission.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed that provide a simple and efficient layered video coding technique using a backward adaptive rate-distortion optimized data partitioning (RD-DP) of DCT coefficients. The video coding system may include an rate-distortion optimized data partitioning encoder and decoder. The RD-DP encoder adapts the partition point block-by-block which greatly improves the coding efficiency of the base layer bit stream without explicit transmission thereby saving the bandwidth significantly. The RD-DP decoder can also find the partition location in backward-fashion from the decoded data.

Abstract: A system for coding video data comprised of one or more frames codes a portion of the video data using a frame-prediction coding technique, and generates residual images based on the video data and the coded video data. The system then codes the residual images using a fine-granular scalability coding technique, and outputs the coded video data and at least one of the coded residual images to a receiver.

Abstract: A video processing system comprising: a decoder having a complexity reduction system; and a post-processing system for processing an output of the decoder, wherein the post-processing system includes a filter for intentionally blurring a set of frames in a group of pictures (GOP) to achieve a smooth visual transition between frames.

Abstract: A video coding system and method for coding an input frame in which the evolution of discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients is modeled as a Laplace-Markov process, the system comprising: a base layer processing system for generating a base layer reconstruction; an enhancement layer processing system for generating an enhancement layer reconstruction; and an entropy constrained scalar quantizer (ECSQ) system for descritizing a prediction residual between the input frame and an estimation theoretic (ET) prediction output; wherein the ECSQ system utilizes an ECSQ that comprises a uniform threshold quantizer with a deadzone size defined by the equation: 1 Γ ⁡ ( α , t * ) = 2 ⁢ ( 1 1 - ρ 2 ⁢ ⅇ t * - 1 ) , where ⁢ ⁢ Γ ⁡ ( α , β ) = ( ⅇ α - 1 ) ⁢ exp ⁢ { - α ⁡ [ d ⁡ ( α - δ ⁡ ( α ) ) - d ⁡ ( - β ) d ⁡ ( α -

Abstract: A scalable decoder system having a decoder reconstruction system, wherein the decoder reconstruction system comprises: an estimation algorithm 1 x ~ i , n e = a i , n + E Z ⁢ { d i , n ⁡ ( ρ ; x ~ i , n - 1 e + Z ) }

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for estimating the quality of encoded video data without gaining access to the source data. The system is configured to decode compressed video data using an MPEG/H.263 decoder to produce decompressed video data. The decoded data is subject to a discrete cosine transform (DCT) to produce a set of DCT coefficients of the decompressed video data is determined to be intra-coded. Meanwhile, the quantization matrix including a quantizier step size for each block of the decompressed video data are extracted. Following this, statistical properties of the DCT coefficients are extracted from the decoded video. Then, an average quantization error for both AC and DC coefficients is determined using information regarding the quantization and the statistical properties. Finally, this estimated quantization error is used for in computing a peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR).