CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING A REGION OF AN ENCODED IMAGE
A video processing circuit includes a processor that receives an encoded image having first and second regions, decodes the first region of the image, modifies the decoded first region, and re-encodes the modified first region. Such a circuit allows one to modify a region of an image by decoding and re-encoding only that region instead of the entire image. For example, if one wishes to overlay an EPG on a bottom portion of a video frame, then the circuit can decode only the EPG and the bottom portion of the frame, overlay the decoded EPG on the bottom frame portion, and re-encode the overlaid bottom frame portion. Therefore, this technique often reduces the processing time, and thus the cost and complexity of the processing circuit, as compared to a circuit that decodes and re-encode the entire frame during an image overlay process.
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This application is a divisional of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/390,241, filed on Sep. 3, 1999, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe invention relates generally to image-processing techniques, and more particularly to a circuit and method for modifying a region of a encoded image. For example, the invention allows one to blend an electronic program guide (EPG) with a region of an encoded video frame without decoding the entire frame.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Typically, one views a sequence of video frames 6 in their respective entireties. But one may sometimes wish to view another image, i.e., an overlay image, in one of the regions 7 and 8. For example, one may wish to view an electronic program guide (EPG) in the region 8 while he/she is watching a program in the region 7 (and also in the region 8 if the EPG is transparent). Or, one may wish to view an internet order menu in the region 8 while he/she is viewing merchandise for sale in the region 7 (and also in the region 8 if the menu is transparent). Thus, the overlay image is typically a partial frame that is the same size as or that is smaller than the frame region that it overlays, although the overlay frame can overlay an entire video frame. But for simplicity, both partial and full overlay frames are referred to as “overlay frames”.
More specifically, the processing circuit 14 includes a command decoder 18, which decodes the commands from the remote control 12 and generates corresponding control signals, such as an overlay signal, that control other portions of the processing circuit 14. A channel selector 20 receives the broadcast signal from the terminal 15 and, in response to a channel-select signal from the command decoder 18, demultiplexes the selected channel from the broadcast signal. In response to an overlay signal from the decoder 18, the selector 20 also demultiplexes the selected overlay frames from the broadcast signal. For example, the selector 20 may demultiplex the EPG that corresponds to the selected channel. A video decoder 22 decodes the video frames of the selected channel into pixel-domain frames, i.e., frames of pixel luminance and chromanance values. In response to the overlay signal, the video decoder 22 also decodes the selected overlay frames into the pixel domain, and an overlay/video combiner 24 blends the decoded video frames with the decoded overlay frames. Conversely, if the command decoder 18 does not generate an overlay signal, then the selector 20 does not demultiplex the overlay frames, and thus the combiner 24 merely passes through the decoded video frames from the decoder 22. In one embodiment, the output terminal of the combiner 24 is coupled directly to the output terminal 17. But because it is sometimes undesirable to couple decoded video frames (blended or unblended) directly to the display 13, in another embodiment the circuit 14 includes an optional re-encoder 26, which re-encodes the decoded video frames from the combiner 24 before providing them to the display 13. Although shown as including a number of separate circuit blocks, the processing circuit 14 mav include one or more processors that perform the functions of the above-described circuit blocks 18, 20, 22, 24, and 26.
Still referring to
In operation during a period when the viewer wants to view an overlay frame, he selects a channel as described above and also selects an overlay frame or a series of overlay frames, such as an EPG, with the remote control 12. The decoder 18 generates the channel-select signal and an overlay signal, which together cause the channel selector 20 to recover both the encoded video signal of the selected channel and the encoded video signal containing the overlay frame or frames. The overlay signal causes the video decoder 22 to decode the recovered channel and 20 overlay video signals from the channel selector 20 into respective sequences of frames, and causes the combiner 24 to blend the overlay frames with the channel frames to generate blended frames. The optional re-encoder 26 re-encodes these blended frames and provides them to the display 13, which decodes the re-encoded blended frames. If, however, the re-encoder 26 is omitted, then the combiner 24 provides the blended frames directly to the display 13.
Unfortunately, the set-top box 11 cannot utilize the decoding ability of the display 13, and thus includes its own redundant decoding circuitry, which often adds significant size and cost to the box 11. Typically, the display 13 includes channel-select and full decoding circuitry respectively similar to the channel selector 20 and the decoder 22 of the box 11. Thus, the display 13 typically can directly receive the encoded, multiplexed broadcast video signal, recover the encoded video signal of the selected channel, and decode and display the video frames of the recovered video signal. But the display 13 typically cannot blend overlay frames with the video frames. Therefore, to allow such blending, the box 11 includes the same decoding capability (the decoder 22) as the display 13. The viewer, however, typically requests the display of overlay frames for only a small portion of the time that he/she spends watching a program. Therefore, because the blending abilities of the box 11 are needed only a small part of the time, the decoding abilities of the box 11 are redundant to those of the display 13 most of the time. That is, the viewer paid for two full decoders when one decoder will do the job the vast majority of the time! Furthermore, where it is desired to provide the display 13 with an encoded video signal, the processing circuitry also includes the re-encoder 26, which adds even more size and expense to the box 11!
To help the reader more easily understand the concepts discussed below in the description of the invention, following is a basic overview of conventional video-compression techniques.
To electronically transmit a relatively high-resolution image over a relatively low-band-width channel, or to electronically store such an image in a relatively small memory space, it is often necessary to compress the digital data that represents the image. Such image compression typically involves reducing the number of data bits necessary to represent an image. For example, High-Definition-Television (HDTV) video images are compressed to allow their transmission over existing television channels. Without compression, HDTV video images would require transmission channels having bandwidths much greater than the bandwidths of existing television channels. Furthermore, to reduce data traffic and transmission time to acceptable levels, an image may be compressed before being sent over the Internet. Or, to increase the image-storage capacity of a CD-ROM or server, an image may be compressed before being stored thereon.
Referring to
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Referring to
More specifically, the encoder 50 includes a frame-reorder buffer 52, which receives the pre-compression data for a sequence of one or more frames and reorders the frames in an appropriate sequence for encoding. Thus, the reordered sequence is often different than the sequence in which the frames are generated and will be displayed. The encoder 50 assigns each of the stored frames to a respective group, called a Group Of Pictures (GOP), and labels each frame as either an intra (I) frame or a non-intra (non-I) frame. For example, each GOP may include three I frames and 12 non-I frames for a total of fifteen frames. The encoder 50 always encodes an I frame without reference to another frame, but can and often does encode a non-I frame with reference to one or more of the other frames in the GOP. The encoder 50 does not, however, encode a non-I frame with reference to a frame in a different GOP.
During the encoding of an I frame, the 8×8 blocks (
If the I frame will be used as a reference (as it often will be) for one or more non-I frames in the GOP, then, for the following reasons, the encoder 50 generates a corresponding reference frame by decoding the encoded I frame with a decoding technique that is similar or identical to the decoding technique used by the decoder (
Therefore, to generate a reference frame for the encoder that will be similar to or the same as the reference frame for the decoder, the encoder 50 includes a dequantizer 70 and an inverse DCT 72, which are designed to mimic the dequantizer and inverse DCT of the decoder (
During the encoding of a non-I frame, the encoder 50 initially encodes each macro-block of the non-I frame in at least two ways: in the manner discussed above for I frames, and using motion prediction, which is discussed below. The encoder 50 then saves and transmits the resulting code having the fewest bits. This technique insures that the macro blocks of the non-I frames are encoded using the fewest bits.
With respect to motion prediction, an object in a frame exhibits motion if its relative position changes in the succeeding frames. For example, a horse exhibits relative motion if it gallops across the screen. Or, if the camera follows the horse, then the background exhibits relative motion with respect to the horse. Generally, each of the succeeding frames in which the object appears contains at least some of the same macro blocks of pixels as the preceding frames. But, such matching macro blocks in a succeeding frame often occupy respective frame locations that are different than the respective frame locations they occupy in the preceding frames. Alternatively, a macro block that includes a portion of a stationary object (e.g., tree) or background scene (e.g., sky) may occupy the same frame location in each of a succession of frames, and thus exhibit “zero motion”. In either case, instead of encoding each frame independently, it takes fewer data bits to tell the decoder “the macro blocks R and Z of frame I (non-I frame) are the same as the macro blocks that are in the locations S and T, respectively, of frame 0 (I frame).” This “statement” is encoded as a motion vector. For a relatively fast moving object, the location values of the motion vectors are relatively large. Conversely, for a stationary or relatively slow-moving object or background scene, the location values of the motion vectors are relatively small or equal to zero.
Reierring again to
Furthermore, because a macro block in the non-I frame and a matching macro block in the reference frame are often similar but not identical, the encoder 50 encodes these differences along the with motion vector so that the decoder can account for them. More specifically, the motion predictor 78 provides the decoded Y values of the matching macro block of the reference frame to the summer 54, which effectively subtracts, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, these Y values from the pre-compression Y values of the matching macro block of the non-I frame. These differences, which are called residuals, are arranged in 8×8 blocks and are processed by the DOT 56, the quantizer 58, the coder 66, and the buffer 68 in a manner similar to that discussed above, except that the quantized DC coefficients of the residual blocks are coupled directly to the coder 66 via the line 60, and thus are not predictively encoded by the prediction encoder 44.
Additionally, it is possible to use a non-I frame as a reference frame. When a non-I frame will used as a reference frame, the quantized residuals from the quantizer 58 are respectively dequantized and inverse transformed by the dequantizer 70 and the inverse DCT 72 so that this non-I reference frame will be the same as the one used by the decoder for the reasons discussed above. The motion predictor 78 provides to the summer 74 the decoded Y values of the I reference frame from which the residuals were generated. The summer 74 adds the respective residuals from the circuit 72 to these decoded Y values of the I reference frame to generate the respective Y values of the non-I reference frame. The reference frame buffer 76 then stores the non-I reference frame along with the I reference frame for use in encoding subsequent non-I frames.
Still referring to
For I frames and macro blocks of non-I frames that are not motion predicted, a variable-length decoder 84 decodes the variable-length codes received from the encoder 50. A prediction decoder 86 decodes the predictively encoded DC coefficients, and a dequantizer 87, which is similar or identical to the dequantizer 70 of
For motion-predicted macro blocks of non-I frames, the decoder 84, dequantizer 87, and inverse DOT 88 process the residuals as discussed above in conjunction with
Referring to
More detailed discussions of the MPEG encoder 50 and decoder 82 of
In one aspect of the invention, a video processing circuit includes a processor that receives an encoded image having first and second regions, decodes the first region of the image, modifies the decoded first region, and re-encodes the modified first region.
Such a circuit allows one to modify a region of an image by decoding and re-encoding only that region instead of the entire image. For example, if one wishes to overlay an EPG on a bottom portion of a video frame, then the circuit can decode only the EPG and the bottom portion of the frame, overlay the decoded EPG on the bottom frame portion, and re-encode the overlaid bottom frame portion. Therefore, this technique often reduces the processing time, and thus the cost and complexity of the processing circuit, as compared to a circuit that decodes and re-en codes the entire frame during an image overlay process.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Formatting Encoded Video Images Into Respective Multiple Independent Regions
For example purposes, the structure and operation of the video processing circuit 1021 is discussed in detail, it being understood that the processing circuits 1022-102N are similar. The processing circuit 1021, includes a decoder 1081 for decoding the channel signal 1, which in one embodiment is encoded according to a compression standard that is the same as or is similar to the MPEG compression standard described in conjunction with
Referring to
The decoder 1081 decodes the video frames, motion vectors, and other components of the channel I signal. In one embodiment, the decoder 1081, conventionally decodes each macro block in every frame down to its respective pixel values, i.e., down to the pixel domain. But as discussed below, because the decoder 1081 does not decode the channel I signal for display, it may conventionally decode the macro blocks down only to their DOT coefficients, i.e., down to the transform domain. Alternatively, as discussed below, the decoder 1081 may decode only some of the macro blocks in a frame. Such partial decoding often reduces the cost, complexity, and decoding time of the decoder 1081 as compared to known decoders.
The motion-vector analyzer 1101 then examines the decoded motion vectors from the decoder 1081 and identifies the macro blocks having motion vectors that point from one of the first regions 120a-120c to one of the second regions 122a-122c and vice versa. For example, the analyzer 1101 identifies the decoded motion vectors 124 and 126 (shown in solid line) as being “boundary-crossing” vectors. Specifically, the analyzer 1101 determines that the decoded motion vector 124 points from a macro block 123a in the region 120b of the frame 116 to a reference macro block 123b in the region 122a of the frame 114. Likewise, the analyzer 1101 determines that the decoded motion vector 126 points from a macro block 123c in the region 122c of the frame 118 to a reference macro block l23d in the region 120b of the frame 116. (The differences in the relative frame locations between the macro blocks 122a and 122c and the reference macro blocks 122b and 122d, respectively, are exaggerated for purposes of illustration.) Thus, the analyzer 1101 identifies the motion vectors 124 and 126 as crossing the “boundary” between the first regions 120a-120c and the second regions 122a-122c, and informs the re-encoder 1121 that the macro blocks 123a and 123c have boundary-crossing motion vectors.
In one embodiment, the re-encoder 1121 generates substitute motion vectors for the macro blocks having boundary-crossing motion vectors. For example, the re-encoder 1121 generates substitute motion vectors 128 and 130 (shown in dashed line) for the macro blocks 123a and 123d, respectively. Specifically, the substitute motion vector 128 points from its macro block 123a in the region 120b to a reference macro block 123e in the region 120a, and the substitute motion vector 130 points from its macro block 123c in the region 122c to a reference macro block 123f in the region 122b. Thus, neither of the substitute motion vectors 128 and 130 crosses the boundary between the first regions 120a-120c and the second regions 122a-122c. By eliminating boundary-crossing motion vectors such as the motion vectors 124 and 126, the re-encoder 112c re-encodes the regions 120a-120c so that they are independent of the regions 122a-122c. That is, the first regions 120a-120c are encoded with no reference to the second regions 122a-122c, and the second regions 122a-122c are encoded with no reference to the first regions 120a-120c. Such independent regions are often called “slices” in MPEG terminology. As discussed below in conjunction with
In one embodiment, the re-encoder 1121 generates the substitute motion vectors by conventionally scanning the appropriate frame regions for the best reference macro blocks and then motion encoding the original macro blocks using the new reference macro blocks. For example, to generate the substitute motion vector 128, the re-encoder 1121 scans the region 120a and determines that the macro block 123e is the best reference macro block in the region 120a. In one embodiment, the re-encoder 1121 starts scanning at the macro block 123g, which is the macro block in the region 120a that is closest to the original reference block 123b. Thus, the reference block 123e replaces the original reference block 123b. Then, as discussed above in conjunction with
To allow the re-encoder 1121 to perform such scanning and motion encoding, the decoder 1081 decodes at least the identified macro blocks, the reference macro blocks, and the macro blocks in the scan regions such as the region 120a. For example, if the re-encoder 1121 is constructed to generate substitute motion vectors that point to the same respective frames as the original motion vectors, then the decoder 1081 can be constructed to decode only the identified macro blocks and the frames to which the identified motion vectors point. Alternatively, the decoder 1081 can be constructed to decode only the identified macro blocks, the reference macro blocks, and the regions of the pointed-to frames that correspond to the regions containing the identified macro blocks. For example, the decoder 1081 can be constructed to recognize that the substitute motion vector 128 will point to the region 120a, which corresponds to the region 120b of the identified macro block 123a. Based upon this recognition, the decoder 1081 decodes the macro blocks 123a and 123b and all the macro blocks in the region 120a, which is the region to be scanned by the re-encoder 1121. Of course the decoder 1081 can be constructed to decode all of the frames in their entireties.
To allow the decoder 1081 to determine which macro blocks to decode, in one embodiment the decoder 1081 and analyzer 1101 interact in the following manner. First, the decoder 1081 decodes the motion vectors for a frame. Then, the analyzer 1101 determines the cross-bolmdary motion vectors, the macro blocks to which they belong, the reference macro blocks to which they point, and the frame scan regions that contain the reference macro blocks.
Next, the motion analyzer 1101 provides the decoder 1081 with the identifies of the macro blocks having cross-boundary motion vectors, the reference macro blocks, and the macro blocks in the scan regions that the re-encoder 1121 will scan during motion re-encoding. The decoder 1081 then decodes these identified macro blocks and provides the decoded macro blocks to the re-encoder 1121 via the analyzer 1101.
Alternatively, to decrease its complexity and encoding time, the re-encoder 1121 can be constructed to generate all the substitute motion vectors having location values of zero. This eliminates the need to scan a frame region because the substitute reference macro blocks are inherently known. For example, to generate the substitute motion vector 130 having a location value of zero as shown in
In another embodiment, to further reduce its complexity and encoding time, the re-encoder 1121 is constructed to encode the identified macro blocks as I-encoded blocks such that they have no motion vectors. Although encoding is faster and less complex than the motion (non-I) encoding techniques discussed above, it is often less efficient than motion encoding.
In addition to re-encoding the identified macro blocks, the re-encoder 1121 re-encodes the substitute motion vectors and any other decoded portions of the channel 1 signal and provides the re-encoded channel 1 signal, which includes the re-encoded video frames formatted into independent regions, to the multiplexer 104.
For any of the above described frame-formatting embodiments, the decoder 1081 can be constructed to decode down to either the transform domain or to the pixel domain. Because the DOT is a linear transform, the re-encoder 1121 can scan, motion encode, and I encode using DOT coefficients as well as using pixel valves.
Furthermore, although shown as including separate circuit blocks 1081, 1101 and 1121 the processing circuit 1021, may include one or more respective processors that perform the functions of these circuit blocks in hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. Additionally, the above-described functions may be performed in an order other than that described above.
Additionally, although shown as rectangles at the tops and bottoms of the frames 114, 116, and 118, the regions 120a-120c and 122a-122c can be located elsewhere within the respective frames and can have other dimensions. Therefore, in one embodiment, the processing circuit 1021 includes the region dimensions and locations in the re-encoded channel signal. As discussed below in conjunction with
As discussed below in conjunction with
Modifying An Image Region
The set-top box 136 of the system 130 includes a processing circuit 138, which receives an encoded, multiplexed broadcast video signal from a cable or satellite company. In response to a channel-select signal from a command decoder 140, a channel selector 142 demultiplexes the broadcast signal and provides a selected video-channel signal to an overlay-region decoder 144.
When the viewer wants to view an overlay frame such as an EPG, he manipulates the remote control 132 to generate an overlay command. The command decoder 140 generates an overlay signal in response to the overlay command. In response to the overlay signal, the decoder 144 decodes the overlay frames and the overlay frame regions with which the overlay frames will be blended. For example, referring to
An overlay/region combiner 147 is coupled to the output terminal 145 of the decoder 144 and blends the decoded overlay frames with the decoded frame overlay regions in a manner described below. For example, the decoder 144 blends the decoded EPG with the decoded overlay frame regions 122a-122c. An overlay region re-encoder 148 re-encodes the blended overlay frame regions using conventional encoding techniques similar to those discussed above in conjunction with
A frame buffer 150 receives the re-encoded overlay frame regions from the re-encoder 148 and receives the undecoded non-overlay frame regions that the overlay region decoder 144 passes through via the output terminal 146. The frame buffer 150 stores the undecoded and re-encoded frame regions in respective buffer sections to “reassemble” the video frames. For example, the buffer 150 stores the undecoded non-overlay regions 120a-120c in a first set of buffer sections, and stores the re-encoded overlay regions 122a-122c in a second set of buffer sections (buffer sections not shown in
A rate controller 154, which is similar to the rate controller 80 of
The display 134 decodes and displays the reassembled video frames from the set-top box 136. In the given example, the display 134 displays the frames 114, 116, and 118 having the EPG in the regions 122a, 122b, and 122c, respectively.
Therefore, by decoding and re-encoding only the overlay frame regions with which overlay frames will be blended, the processing circuit 138 can be much less complex, and thus much less expensive, than processing circuits that decode and re-encode the frames in their entirety.
In one embodiment as discussed above in conjunction with
Still referring to
Blended pixel value=(α)×(frame pixel value)+(1−α)×(overlay pixel value) (1)
Assuming that the overlay image is an EPG, if a particular EPG pixel (overlay pixel) is opaque, then α=0 such that the EPG pixel completely blocks the coincident overlay-frame-region pixel (frame pixel) from view. That is, the coincident frame pixel is invisible, i.e., transparent, if α=0. Likewise, if the particular EPG pixel is transparent, then α=1 such that coincident frame pixel is opaque. For 0 <α<1, as a increases from 0, the EPG pixel gradually fades out and the coincident frame pixel gradually fades in. Furthermore, because alpha blending is a linear function, the combiner 147 can perform it in the transform domain or in the pixel domain. Thus, as discussed above, the overlay region decoder 144 can decode the macro blocks of the regions 122a-122c (
In an embodiment where the overlay frame is opaque, the re-encoder 148 provides a relatively high number of quantization levels to preserve the higher frequencies in the overlay frame regions. For example, referring to
As discussed above for the re-encoder 1121 of the video-frame formatting system 100, the re-encoder 148 can re-encode the macro blocks of the blended overlay frame regions in a number of ways. For example, referring to
Alternatively, if the EPG scrolls at a known constant rate, then according to a third technique, the re-encoder 148 re-encodes at least some of the macro blocks to have motion vectors with constant, nonzero location values based on the scroll rate. That is, if the scroll rate is constant, then the re-encoder 148 can calculate from the scroll rate how far a macro block in the region 122 of one frame has moved in the region 122 of the next frame. If the EPG scrolls in a vertical direction, then the motion-vector location values will be (0, Y), where the value of Y is based on the vertical scroll rate. Conversely, if the EPG scrolls in a horizontal direction, then the motion-vector location values will be (X, 0), where the value of X is based on the horizontal scroll rate. This re-encoding technique is particularly efficient if the EPG is opaque. Sometimes, however, the EPG is not opaque. That is, the EPG characters are opaque but the spaces between the characters are transparent to show the original scene. In this situation, therefore, this re-encoding technique is often inefficient because of relatively large residuals.
According to a fourth technique, the re-encoder 148 re-encodes the blended overlay frame regions using full-scale motion encoding as discussed above in conjunction with
For example, the re-encoder 148 re-encodes the region 122b by scanning the region 122a for reference macro blocks and then generating corresponding motion vectors and residuals.
Generally, the first technique requires the least processing power but is the least efficient, the fourth technique requires the most processing power but is the most efficient, and the second and third techniques fall in between. Because the rate controller 152 ensures that there is no overflow of the buffer 150, the lower the efficiency of a re-encoding technique, the greater the losses incurred by the re-encoding process. These losses may show up as undesirable visual artifacts in the overlay frame regions when an overlay frame like the EPG is viewed.
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Referring to
Referring to
When a viewer does not want to view an overlay frame, the command decoder 140 generates no overlay signal. In the absence of the overlay signal, the converter 168 down converts the decoded video frames from the decoder 166 and provides the down-converted frames in their respective entireties to the re-encoder 170 via a line 172. The re-encoder 170 re-encodes the down-converted frames and provides them to the frame buffer 150. The display 162 decodes and displays the re-encoded frames from the buffer 150.
When the viewer wants to view an overlay frame, the command decoder 140 generates the overlay signal in response to a command from the remote control 132. Referring to
Referring to
From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A video processing circuit comprising a processor operable to:
- receive an encoded base image having first and second regions and an encoded overlay image;
- decode the overlay image and the first region of the base image;
- combine the decoded overlay image with the decoded first region of the base image to form a modified first region of the base image; and
- re-encode the modified first region of the base image.
2. The video processing circuit of claim 1 where the processor is operable to combine the encoded second region of the base image and the re-encoded modified first region of the base image to generate an encoded modified base image.
3. The video processing circuit of claim 1 where the processor is operable to:
- decode the overlay image and the first region of the base image into a transform domain; and
- combine the decoded overlay image with the decoded first region of the base image in the transform domain.
4. The video processing circuit of claim 1 where the processor is operable to:
- decode the overlay image and the first region of the base image into a pixel domain; and
- combine the decoded overlay image with the decoded first region of the base image in the pixel domain.
5. The video processing circuit of claim 1 where the overlay image comprises a program guide.
6. The video processing circuit of claim 1 comprising:
- a buffer; and
- where the processor is operable to store the encoded second region of the base image and the re-encoded modified first region of the base image in the buffer as an encoded modified base image.
7. A video processing circuit, comprising:
- a display output;
- a processor operable to receive an encoded base image having first and second regions, an encoded overlay image, and an overlay signal, the processor being coupled to the display output;
- where the processor, responsive to the overlay signal, is operable to: decode the overlay image and the first region of the base image; combine the decoded overlay image with the decoded first region of the base image to form a modified first region of the base image; re-encode the modified first region of the base image; combine the encoded second region of the base image and the re-encoded modified first region of the base image to form an encoded modified base image; and provide the encoded modified base image on the display output; and provide the encoded base image on the display output in the absence of the overlay signal.
8. The video processing circuit of claim 7 where the overlay image comprises a program guide.
9. The video processing circuit of claim 7 where the overlay signal comprises a remote-control overlay signal.
10. The video processing circuit of claim 7 comprising:
- a buffer; and
- where the processor is operable to combine the encoded second region of the base image and the re-encoded modified first region of the base image by storing the encoded second region and the re-encoded modified first region in the buffer.
11. A video processing circuit, comprising a processor operable to:
- receive encoded images each having respective first and second regions, each of the first and second regions divided into respective image subregions;
- decode at least one of the image subregions in the first region of an image;
- modify the decoded image subregion; and
- re-encode the modified image subregion.
12. The video processing circuit of claim 11 where the processor is operable to re-encode the modified image subregion as an intracoded subregion.
13. The video processing circuit of claim 11 where the processor is operable to re-encode the modified image subregion as non-intracoded subregion having a motion vector with a location value of zero.
14. The video processing circuit of claim 11 where the processor is operable to:
- receive an overlay image divided into overlay subregions;
- decode at least one of the overlay subregions;
- modify the decoded image subregion by combining the decoded image subregion with the decoded overlay subregion to form the modified image subregion; and
- re-encode the modified image subregion by intra-coding the modified image subregion.
15. The video processing circuit of claim 11 where the processor is operable to:
- receive an overlay image divided into overlay subregions;
- decode at least one of the overlay subregions;
- modify the decoded image subregion by combining the decoded image subregion with the decoded overlay subregion to form the modified image subregion; and
- re-encode the modified image subregion as a non-intra-coded subregion having a motion vector with a location value of zero.
16. The video processing circuit of claim 11 where the processor is operable to:
- receive overlay images divided into respective overlay subregions, the overlay images having a scroll rate;
- decode at least one of the overlay subregions;
- modify the decoded image subregion by combining L the decoded image subregion with the decoded overlay subregion to form the modified image subregions; and
- re-encode the modified image subregion as non-intra-coded subregion having a motion vector with a value based on the scroll rate.
17. The video processing circuit of claim 11 where the image subregions each comprise a respective macro block.
18. A video processing circuit, comprising:
- a display output;
- a processor coupled to the display output and operable to: receive a sequence of encoded images each having respective first and second regions, the sequence including intra-coded and non-intra-coded images; decode the first region of an intra-coded image; modify the decoded first region; re-encode the modified first region; combine the encoded second region of the intra-coded image and the reencoded modified first region of the intra-coded image to form an encoded modified intra-coded image; and provide the encoded modified intra-coded image on the display output.
19. The video processing circuit of claim 18 where the processor is operable to uncouple the respective first and second regions of the nonintra-coded images from the display output.
20. The video processing circuit of claim 18 where the processor is operable to uncouple the respective second regions of the non-intracoded images from the display output.
21. The video processing circuit of claim 18 where the processor is operable to:
- decode the first region of a non-intra-coded image;
- modify the decoded first region of the non-intra-coded image;
- re-encode the modified first region of the non-intra-coded image;
- combine the encoded second region of the intra-coded image and the reencoded modified first region of the non-intra-coded image to form an encoded modified image; and
- provide the encoded modified image on the display output.
22. A method, comprising:
- decoding an encoded overlay image and a first region of an encoded base image having the first region and a second region;
- combining the decoded overlay image with the decoded first region of the base image to form a blended first region of the base image; and
- re-encoding the blended first region of the base image.
23. The method of claim 22 comprising:
- combining the encoded second region of the base image and the re-encoded first region of the base image to form an encoded modified base image.
24. The method of claim 22 where:
- the decoding comprises decoding the overlay image and the first region of the base image into a transform domain; and
- the combining comprises combining the decoded overlay image and the decoded first region in the transform domain.
25. The method of claim 22 where:
- the decoding comprises decoding the overlay image and the first region of the base image into a pixel domain; and
- the combining comprises combining the decoded overlay image and the decoded first region in the transform domain.
26. The method of claim 22 where the overlay image comprises a program guide.
27. A method, comprising:
- decoding at least one image subregion in a first region of an encoded image having the first region and a second region divided into respective image subregions;
- modifying the decoded image subregion; and
- re-encoding the modified image subregion.
28. The method of claim 27 comprising:
- receiving an overlay image divided into respective overlay subregions;
- decoding at least one of the overlay subregions;
- where the modifying comprises combining the decoded image subregion with the decoded overlay subregion to form the modified image subregion; and
- where the re-encoding comprises intra coding the modified image subregion.
29. The method of claim 27 comprising:
- receiving an overlay image divided into respective overlay subregions;
- decoding at least one of the overlay subregions;
- where the modifying comprises combining the decoded image subregion with the decoded overlay subregion to form the modified image subregion; and
- where the re-encoding comprises non-intra coding and generating a motion vector for the modified image subregion, the motion vector having a location value of zero.
30. The method of claim 27 comprising:
- receiving an overlay image divided into respective overlay subregions, the overlay images having a scroll rate;
- decoding at least one of the overlay subregions;
- where the modifying comprises combining the decoded image subregion with the decoded overlay subregion to form the modified image subregion; and
- where the re-encoding comprises non-intra coding and generating a motion vector for the modified image subregion, the motion vector having a location value based on the scroll rate.
31. A method. comprising:
- receiving an encoded image having first and second regions;
- decoding the first and second regions;
- changing the resolution of the first and second regions; modifying the first region after changing its resolution; and
- re-encoding the modified first region.
32. The method of claim 31 where the changing comprises reducing the resolution of the first and second regions.
33. The method of claim 31 comprising combining the encoded second region of the image and the re-encoded first region of the image to generate an encoded modified image.
34. The method of claim 31 where the changing comprises changing the resolution of the first and second regions in the transform domain.
35. A method, comprising:
- receiving an encoded base image and an encoded overlay image;
- decoding the base image and the overlay image; and
- combining the decoded base image and the decoded overlay image in the transform domain to form a modified image.
36. The method of claim 35 comprising re-encoding the modified image.
37. The method of claim 35 where the combining comprises alpha blending the decoded base image and the decoded overlay image.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 12, 2007
Publication Date: Jun 14, 2007
Applicant: EQUATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (Campbell, CA)
Inventors: Venkat Easwar (Cupertino, CA), John O'Donnell (Seattle, WA), Ramachandran Natarajan (Santa Clara, CA), Robert Gove (Los Gatos, CA)
Application Number: 11/674,121
International Classification: G09G 5/00 (20060101);