Abstract: An exemplary region growing method include at least the following steps: selecting a seed point of a current frame as an initial growing point of a region in the current frame; determining a background confidence value at a neighboring pixel around the seed point; and utilizing a processing unit for checking if the neighboring pixel is allowed to be included in the region according to at least the background confidence value.

Abstract: One of the embodiments of the invention provides an input-output calibration method performed by a processing unit connected to an output device and an input device. The output device and the input device correspond to an output device coordinate system and an input device coordinate system, respectively. The processing unit first derives M calibration points' coordinates in the input device coordinate system by using the input device to sense a viewer specifying the M calibration points' positions, wherein M is a positive integer. Then, the processing unit uses the M calibration points' coordinates in the output device coordinate system and coordinates in the input device coordinate system to derive the relationship between the output device coordinate system and the input device coordinate system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for deriving a motion vector predictor are disclosed. A search set comprising of multiple (spatial, or temporal) search MVs with priority is determined, wherein the search MVs for multiple neighboring reference block or one or more co-located reference blocks arc configured into multiple search MV groups. In order to improve coding efficiency, embodiments according to the present invention, perform redundancy check every time after a search MV group is searched to determine whether an available search MV found. If an available search MV is found and the available search MV is not the same as a previously derived motion vector predictor (MVP), the available search MV is used as the MVP and the MVP derivation process terminates. Otherwise, the MVP derivation process moves to the next reference block. The search MV group can be configured to include different search MV(s) associated with reference blocks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deriving a motion vector predictor (MVP) are disclosed. The MVP is selected from spatial MVP and temporal MVP candidates. The method uses a flag to indicate whether temporal MVP candidates are disabled. If the flag indicates that the temporal MVP candidates are disabled, the MVP is derived from the spatial MVP candidates only. Otherwise, the MVP is derived from the spatial and temporal MVP candidates. The method may further skip spatial redundant MVP removal by comparing MV values. Furthermore, the parsing error robustness scheme determines a forced temporal MVP when a temporal MVP is not available and the temporal MVP candidates are allowed as indicated by the flag. The flag may be incorporated in sequence, picture, slice level, or a combination of these levels.

Abstract: A region-based method for iterative regularization image enhancement, includes: for each region of a plurality of regions of an image, performing at least one gradient calculation of an objective function of a latest representative function of the region and updating the latest representative function according to the gradient calculation; and for the region of the plurality of regions of the image, when at least one predetermined convergence criterion is not satisfied, iteratively updating the latest representative function according to at least one gradient calculation of the same objective function of the latest representative function. In particular, the region-based method further includes: for the region of the plurality of regions of the image, when the predetermined convergence criterion is satisfied, performing postprocessing on the latest representative function of the region to generate an iteratively regularized partial image corresponding to the region.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes depth images captured by a depth camera to detect foreground/background. In one embodiment, the method comprises establishing a single background distribution model, updating the background distribution model if a new depth value for the pixel can be represented by the background distribution model, skipping update of the background distribution model if the pixel is before the background, and replacing the background distribution model if the pixel is behind the background. In case that the background distribution model does not exist initially, a new background distribution model is created. In one embodiment of the present invention, the non-meaningful pixels are handled. In another embodiment, fluctuation of the depth value due to noise is handled by using a candidate background distribution model. In yet another embodiment, the noise for pixels around object edges is handled by using a mixture of two background distribution models.

Abstract: A method for generating a final depth information related map includes the following steps: receiving a coarse depth information related map, wherein a resolution of the coarse depth information related map is smaller than a resolution of the final depth information related map; and outputting the final depth information related map reconstructed from the coarse depth information related map by receiving an input data and performing a guided interpolation operation upon the coarse depth information related map according to the input data.

Abstract: An exemplary method for determining a control output in a control domain includes: obtaining a control input of an input domain, wherein the control input includes a previous input value and a current input value; and dynamically adjusting a control resolution setting, and converting the control input of the input domain into the control output in the control domain according to the control resolution setting, wherein the control output includes a previous output value and a current output value corresponding to the previous input value and the current input value, respectively, the control resolution setting for the current input value is determined according to at least the previous input value, and the current output value is identical to the previous output value when the current input value and the previous input value are generated in response to a same user input.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for deriving a motion vector predictor are disclosed. In video coding systems, the spatial and temporal redundancy is exploited using spatial and temporal prediction to reduce the information to be transmitted or stored. Motion vector prediction has been used to further conserve the bitrate associated with motion vector coding. In a conventional coding system, a motion vector predictor (MVP) is selected from the spatial MVPs and temporal MVP. The spatial MVP according to a conventional approach is based on motion vectors (MVs) of neighboring blocking pointing to a target reference picture in a given reference list. Embodiments according to the present invention perform the MVP search among an extended search set including MVs pointing to other reference pictures in the given reference list or the other reference list and MVs pointing to the target reference picture in the given reference list or the other reference list.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deriving a temporal motion vector predictor (MVP) are disclosed. The MVP is derived for a current block of a current picture in Inter, or Merge, or Skip mode based on co-located reference blocks of a co-located block and a flag is used to indicate the co-located picture. More than one co-located reference blocks can be used to derive the temporal MVP and the co-located reference blocks can be selected from the co-located block as well as neighboring blocks of the co-located block. A search set comprises search motion vectors associated with the co-located reference block(s) is formed. The search motion vector (MV) corresponding to the co-located reference block in the same reference list is searched before the search MV in a different reference list. Various schemes to accommodate implicit method of deriving co-located picture are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding a video sequence comprising a plurality of pictures are disclosed. In video coding systems, the temporal redundancy is exploited using motion compensated prediction. The video sequence is often organized into multiple GOP (group of pictures) where different types of GOP may be used. In conventional coding systems, IPPP and IBBP GOP structure is often used. In H.264/AVC and the emerging High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), hierarchical GOP structure, including hierarchical P GOP structure and hierarchical B GOP structure, has been introduced to allow temporal scalability. Furthermore, low-delay IBBB GOP structure has been also introduced, for low-delay application. In the present invention, a low-delay hierarchical B GOP structure is disclosed. The new structure uses low-delay B-pictures only so as to minimize the processing delay while the hierarchical structure provides the temporal scalability.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deriving a temporal motion vector predictor (MVP) are disclosed. The MVP is derived for a current block of a current picture in Inter, or Merge, or Skip mode based on co-located reference blocks of a co-located block. The co-located reference blocks comprise an above-left reference block of the bottom-right neighboring block of the co-located block. The reference motion vectors associated with the co-located reference blocks are received and used to derive the temporal MVP. Various configurations of co-located reference blocks can be used to practice the present invention. If the MVP cannot be found based on the above-left reference block, search for the MVP can be continued based on other co-located reference blocks. When an MVP is found, the MVP is checked against the previously found MVP. If the MVP is the same as the previously found MVP, the search for MVP continues.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a motion vector predictor (MVP) or a MVP candidate based on a MVP set are disclosed. In video coding systems, the spatial and temporal redundancy is exploited using spatial and temporal prediction to reduce the video data to be transmitted or stored. Motion vector prediction has been used to further conserve the bitrate associated with motion vector coding. Motion vector prediction technique being developed for the current high efficiency video coding (HEVC) only uses a MVP candidate set including spatial MVP candidates and a temporal candidate corresponding to the co-located block. In the current disclosure, the spatial and temporal motion vector predictor set is extended to include at least one spatially neighboring block associated with list 0 reference pictures and list 1 reference pictures, and co-located block and its neighboring block associated with list 0 reference pictures and list 1 reference pictures.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for deriving a motion vector predictor or a motion vector predictor candidate or a motion vector or a motion vector candidate for a current block are disclosed. In video coding systems, the spatial and temporal redundancy is exploited using spatial and temporal prediction to reduce the information to be transmitted or stored. Motion Vector Prediction (MVP) has been used to further conserve the bitrate associated with motion vector coding. The MVP technique being developed for the current HEVC only considers the motion vector having the same reference list and the same reference picture index as the current block to be an available spatial motion vector predictor candidate. It is desirable to develop a MVP scheme that can improve the availability of the motion vector predictor candidate based on motion vectors from the spatially neighboring block.

Abstract: A method for performing hybrid multihypothesis prediction during video coding of a coding unit includes: processing a plurality of sub-coding units in the coding unit; and performing motion vector derivation of a portion of the sub-coding units. More particularly, the step of performing motion vector derivation of the portion of the sub-coding units further includes: deriving a plurality of motion vectors for multihypothesis motion-compensated prediction of a specific sub-coding unit of the portion of the sub-coding units from at least one other sub-coding/coding unit or by performing motion estimation. The method further includes performing multihypothesis motion-compensated prediction on the specific sub-coding unit according to the plurality of motion vectors, and more particularly, includes utilizing a linear combination of a plurality of pixel values derived from the plurality of motion vectors as a predicted pixel value of the specific sub-coding unit. An associated apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A method for performing localized multihypothesis prediction during video coding of a coding unit includes processing the coding unit. More particularly, the step of processing the coding unit further includes: obtaining at least two sets of motion information derived from a set of coded units for multihypothesis motion compensation of the coding unit; and utilizing a linear combination of a plurality of pixel values derived from the at least two sets of motion information derived from the set of coded units as a predicted pixel value of the coding unit. An associated apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for motion vector prediction for a current block in a picture are disclosed. In video coding systems, the spatial and temporal redundancy is exploited using spatial and temporal prediction to reduce the information to be transmitted. Motion Vector Prediction (MVP) has been used to further conserve the bitrate associated with motion vector. In conventional temporal MVP, the predictor is often based on a single candidate such as the co-located motion vector in the previous frame/picture. If the co-located motion vector in the previous frame/picture does not exist, the predictor for the current block is not available. A technique for improved MVP is disclosed where the MVP utilized multiple candidates based on co-located motion vectors from future and/or past reference pictures. The candidates are arranged according to priority order to provide better availability of MVP and also to provide more accurate prediction.

Abstract: A method for performing localized multihypothesis prediction during video coding of a coding unit includes: dividing the coding unit into a plurality of sub-coding units; and performing motion vector prediction of each of the sub-coding units. More particularly, the step of performing motion vector prediction of each of the sub-coding units further includes: obtaining a plurality of motion vectors for multihypothesis motion compensation of a specific sub-coding unit of the sub-coding units from a plurality of other sub-coding/coding units. The method further includes performing multihypothesis motion compensation on the specific sub-coding unit according to the plurality of motion vectors, and more particularly, includes utilizing a linear combination of a plurality of pixel values of the plurality of other sub-coding/coding units as a predicted pixel value of the specific sub-coding unit. An associated apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A method for performing local motion vector derivation during video coding of a coding unit includes: processing a plurality of sub-coding units in the coding unit; and performing motion vector prediction of each of the sub-coding units. More particularly, the step of performing motion vector prediction of each of the sub-coding units further includes: deriving a motion vector of a specific sub-coding unit of the sub-coding units by utilizing at least one motion vector of at least one other sub-coding/coding unit. Thus, the method performs motion compensation on the specific sub-coding unit according to the motion vector of the specific sub-coding unit. An associated apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing multimedia-based data transmission includes an image capturing device and a processing circuit. The image capturing device is a peripheral device for a user to capture images. In addition, in a situation where the apparatus is utilized as a target apparatus, the image capturing device is arranged to capture at least one multi-dimensional barcode image carrying data. Additionally, the processing circuit is arranged to control operations of the apparatus, wherein in the situation where the apparatus is utilized as the target apparatus, the processing circuit is arranged to extract the data carried by the multi-dimensional barcode image for further use. In particular, the aforementioned at least one multi-dimensional barcode image may represent a plurality of multi-dimensional barcode images. An associated method is also provided.