Abstract: The present invention includes a dongle, with embedded computing capability, placed in a communication path and capable of passing information from a control device through a smart gateway to a machine, the dongle comprising a network interface configured to receive instructions and an associated identification number from an access point; a machine interface configured to interface with a machine; a memory for storing instructions; and a processor configured to execute the instructions.

Abstract: A novel Medium Access Control (MAC) architecture for IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks is disclosed. The illustrative embodiment partitions the medium access control into an Upper Medium Access Control for providing medium-access-control services that are independent of a Physical Control, and a Lower Medium Access Control for providing medium-access-control services that are dependent on the Physical Control. By partitioning the Medium Access Control in this manner, a single Upper Medium Access Control can be employed for any existing or future Physical Control while maintaining full compatibility with the huge installed base of existing IEEE 802.11 equipment. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention for networks that employ protocols other than IEEE 802. 11.

Abstract: A system for planning maintenance activities in a communication network is provided. The system comprises a query execution module, an out of sync record generator module, and a network maintenance function command module. The query execution module is operative to search a database to identify elements in the network that are out of sync. The out of sync record generator module is operative to record the identity of all the elements identified by the query execution module as being out of sync. The network maintenance function command module is operative to issue a series of commands wherein each command is operative to cause one of the out of sync elements to become in sync. The command module is also operative to issue the commands during a scheduled maintenance window.

Abstract: A method and telecommunications system for subscriber administration in a variety of telecommunications networks, wherein first setting information for a first subscriber of a line-switching communications network and second setting information for a second subscriber of a packet-switching communications network are generated using a controller. The first setting information is transmitted between the controller and at least a first control unit of the line-switching communications network, and the second setting information is transmitted between the controller and at least a second control unit of the packet-switching communications network. Using the transmitted setting information, the first control unit sets service features and other features at the first subscriber and the second control unit sets service features and other features at the second subscriber.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a packet network; a plurality of VoIP endpoints; and a plurality of VoIP feature servers. The VoIP endpoints are able to send configuration request messages to the feature servers. The feature servers respond with information indicative of supported features. The VoIP endpoints can then update the system configurations based on the response information. Further, newly added feature servers transmit feature availability messages to endpoints when initially installed. The endpoints then respond to configure themselves appropriately.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device having multiple communication modes is provided. The integrated circuit device includes a transceiver coupled to first and second data lines. The integrated circuit device further includes a voltage control circuit. The voltage control circuit determines whether or not an external device is connected to the integrated circuit device. In the case where the external device is connected to the integrated circuit device, the voltage control circuit controls the voltage of the first data line so as to cause the external device to not recognize the integrated circuit device for a predetermined time.

Abstract: Logical ports allow multiple customers to be connected to and to receive different services over a common physical port of a packet forwarding device. Such logical ports allow for customer separation and may be created based on VLAN ID and MPLS labels. In one embodiment, each service provided via a packet forwarding device is associated with a unique logical port. The logical port may span multiple physical ports.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and data structure are described which enables complete datagram reception by a plurality of clients using a UDP multicast transport mechanism, wherein missing packets are retransmitted from a server using either a multicast transport mechanism or a unicast connection, in response to receipt by the server of client request to retransmit. Data structure of packets includes a new sequence identifier field in the header for identification of proper packet position within a data stream.

Abstract: Methods for increasing the number of UTOPIA ports in an ATM device include multiplexing data for a plurality of UTOPIA PHY ports over a first UTOPIA PHY port and providing backpressure information to the ATM device via a second UTOPIA PHY port. The backpressure information is preferably formatted in a single 56-byte UTOPIA cell. The presently preferred apparatus includes a sixty-four port UTOPIA Level 2 interface for coupling to up to sixty-four PHY devices, a two port UTOPIA Level 2 interface for coupling to the ATM device, and various buffers and controllers for controlling the flow of data between the two UTOPIA Level 2 interfaces. One of the ports in the two port UTOPIA Level 2 interface is used for configuration and control and the other is used for data.

Abstract: A method and system is provided to allow wireless systems to support many new voice and data services. An example of a service provided is the ability to switch a requested voice call into a packet data call and vise versa without the interaction of the user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control system of a network element (18) capable of handling transmission signals of an optical transport network (16) (OTN) and transmission signals of a synchronous digital transport network (16) (SDH), said network element (18) comprising a first subsystem (28) for handling transmission signals of said optical transport network (16), a second subsystem (30) for handling transmission signals of said synchronous digital transport network (16) and a number of dedicated interconnections (40) between said two subsystems (28, 30), wherein said control system comprises a management information base comprising managed objects (54) related to said first subsystem (28), managed objects (52) related to said second subsystem (30) and a further managed object (56) (interconnection object) related to said number of interconnections (40). The invention further relates to a network element comprising said control system and a method for managing said network element.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a routing apparatus for routing data in a receiver/decoder. The routing apparatus comprises means for receiving realtime user routing control information and means for routing the data from an input to an output, to storage means, and to both the output and the storage means in accordance with the received realtime user routing control information. In other aspects, a command for controlling a data transfer of a bit stream between a source and a destination, where the command is adapted to change at least one of the source and destination of the transfer, and apparatus for receiving and processing data comprising means for receiving the data and means for synchronising the data in two or more different modes, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A multicast network system utilizes a high speed link, such as a satellite link, to multicast multimedia information from the Internet to a plurality of receivers, such as personal computers Information from selected web sites is organized into “channels” and provided to a multicast network for multicast transmission to the receivers. Updated channel information is also periodically provided. The receivers store the received channel such that a user can access the web page content in the channel at hard disk speed. Preferably, a conditional access system ensures that only authorized receivers receive the channels.

Abstract: A transmission managing apparatus included in an information transmitting system comprising a communication bus (B), an indicating device (NI), which has a transmission state memory (5) for storing a channel used for an information transmission executed in a time division manner on the communication bus and a transmission occupation period occupied for the information transmission, for indicating the channel and the transmission occupation period and an information processing apparatus (N) for insuring a non-used channel, which is the channel that is not used, and a preservable period, which is the transmission occupation period, that can be occupied, while referring to a memory content of the transmission state memory, to thereby carry out the information transmission.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system and article of manufacture for data communications. A transmitter transmits a plurality of packets, wherein each packet is transmitted after a time interval. A receiver receives at least one part of the plurality of packets. The receiver determines whether all parts of a packet are received before expiration of the time interval, wherein the received packet is valid if all parts are received before the expiration of the time interval.

Abstract: An apparatus (220) and a method for partitioning data to improve error resilience for subband-encoded image data. Specifically, one or more segment markers (symbols) are entropy encoded along with the bitstream (payload) into a packet.

Abstract: A scalable encoder (100) for encoding a media signal is described. It comprises first encoding means (210) for producing a first data stream (102), which is a core data stream relating to the media signal (101), having a first bit-rate; second encoding means (230) for producing a second data stream (103), which comprises a set of enhancement data streams relating to the media signal, having a second bit-rate; and a multiplexer (110) for combining at least the first data stream and the second data stream into a third data stream (104). The scalable encoder it further comprises control means (420, 421, 422), which is arranged to receive control information (401), to determine a target combination of the first data stream and the second data stream in the third data stream according to the control information and to adjust the combination of the first data stream and the second data stream in the third data stream by affecting the first and the second bit-rates.

Abstract: A method of determining a start of a transmitted frame at a receiver on a frame-based communications network. A preamble format for the transmitted frame is provided wherein a plurality of identical copies of a preamble symbol sequence are transmitted sequentially. A received transmitted frame is filtered using filter coefficients matched to the preamble symbol sequence to provide a correlation sequence. A squared-magnitude of the correlation sequence is computed. The squared-magnitude of the correlation sequence is low-pass filtered to provide a low-pass filtered correlation signal low-pass filtered signal. The low-pass filtered correlation signal is delayed to provide a delayed low-pass filtered correlation signal. The delayed low-pass filtered correlation signal is multiplied by a first fixed predetermined threshold to provide a multiplied correlation signal. The multiplied correlation signal is compared with the low-pass filtered correlation signal to provide a correlation difference indicator.

Abstract: A demodulator in a wireless communication network for combining symbols without the need to store the received symbols in buffers for subsequent retrieval and accumulation. The demodulator includes a plurality of accumulators capable of accumulating received symbols, each symbol associated with a physical channel and a propagation path. The demodulator includes a multiplexer for routing the received symbols to an appropriate accumulator selected from the plurality of accumulators. The symbols received from different propagation paths are each routed and accumulated to an appropriate accumulator based on a physical channel of the received symbol and a value of an indicator associated with a propagation path of the received symbol.

Abstract: A data encoding algorithm can be used (120) to generate overhead bits from original data bits, and the original data bits and overhead bits can be transmitted in respectively separate transmissions (121, 123), if the overhead bits are needed. At the receiver, the original data bits can be determined (125) from the received overhead bits, or the received data bits and the received overhead bits can be combined and decoded together (126) to produce the original data bits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing signaling links in a signaling link set accommodates a plurality of signaling links having different data link formats in a signaling link set connecting adjacent signaling points. The method is preferably one which manages signaling links a signaling system No. 7 (SS7) network. This method includes adding one or more signaling links having different data link formats to a signaling link set of the SS7 network, and processing signal message transfer between adjacent signaling points through one or more main signaling links which have superior bandwidth compared with the added links. Through this method, it is possible to make a natural development of a signaling network possible, boost stability of signaling network by diversifying media for transfer simultaneously, and get economic effects in constructing a signaling network through re-using data links used previously.

Abstract: A tone processing method and communications system which reduce the probability of falsely detecting modem and facsimile communications that occur on a communications link. The link connects a calling endpoint to an answering endpoint. In a preferred embodiment, when the answering endpoint goes off-hook in response to receiving a call from the calling endpoint, an elapse of time is measured while monitoring the link. If a predetermined amount of time elapses without detecting at least one tone on the link, tone detection criteria is modified to reduce tone detection sensitivity, or to ignore tones altogether. In another embodiment, the tone detection criteria is similarly modified if voice activity is detected on the link. In yet another embodiment, when tones and voice activity occur at different times during a call, at least one characteristic is modified to optimize the link for the type of communications occurring on the link.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling data during link suspend pulse and the silent line state of a network device operating in a low power link suspend mode is presented. Accordingly, a new generation of network devices capable of operating in both the full power operational mode of prior art network devices, and a low power “link-suspend” operational mode are presented. The low power “link-suspend” (LS) mode reduces the power consumption of a LAN communications link at the physical layer by eliminating the need to continuously transmit standard idles to maintain link between two linked partners. In the LS mode, a low duty cycle “link-suspend-packet” (LSP) is transmitted between periods of silent line state (SLS). During the SLS, which is a non-data transmission period, the transmitter may be turned off to conserve power therefore preventing the receiver from immediately knowing the phase of an incoming data.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a practical device for generating blue laser beam having a wavelength of 457 nm. The present invention provides a device for generating blue laser beam. The device has a solid-state laser oscillator 3 composed of Nd-doped YVO4 crystal and having a length of not smaller than 0.1 mm and not larger than 1.0 mm, a reflecting means 6A, 6B provided in the oscillator 3, an illuminating means 1 for illuminating pump light beam to the oscillator 3, and a waveguide-type device 5 for generating harmonic wave. The oscillator 3 and reflecting means 1 constitute a resonator 7. The waveguide-type device 5 is provided outside of the resonator 7. The oscillator 3 oscillates laser beam having a wavelength of 914±1 nm, and the waveguide-type device 5 oscillates blue laser “E” having a wavelength of 457±1 nm.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor laser device in which at least an n-type first cladding layer, an active layer and a p-type second cladding layer are formed on or above an n-type semiconductor substrate. An n-type current block layer having a stripe-shaped groove-like removed portion is formed on the second cladding layer and at least a p-type third cladding layer is formed on the current block layer including the stripe-shaped removed portion. The second cladding layer has a p-type C impurity concentration of 3×1017 cm−3 to 2×1018 cm−3.

Abstract: A compound semiconductor laser of a III group nitride semiconductor of the present invention includes a first cladding layer 104 of a first conduction type formed on a substrate 101, an active layer 106 formed on the first cladding layer, a second cladding layer 108 of a second conduction type formed on the active layer 106, and a buried layer 110 formed on the second cladding layer 108, the buried layer having an opening portion for constricting a current in a selected region of the active layer, wherein an upper portion of the second cladding layer 108 has a ridge portion, the ridge portion residing in the opening portion of the buried layer 110, and the buried layer 110 does not substantially absorb light output from the active layer 106, and the buried layer has a refractive index which is approximately identical with that of the second cladding layer 108.

Abstract: A high average power, low optical distortion laser gain media is based on a flowing liquid media. A diode laser pumping device with tailored irradiance excites the laser active atom, ion or molecule within the liquid media. A laser active component of the liquid media exhibits energy storage times longer than or comparable to the thermal optical response time of the liquid. A circulation system that provides a closed loop for mixing and circulating the lasing liquid into and out of the optical cavity includes a pump, a diffuser, and a heat exchanger. A liquid flow gain cell includes flow straighteners and flow channel compression.

Abstract: A solid-state laser rod pumping module comprises a stack-type semiconductor laser including a plurality of bar-shaped (or rectangular) components that are stacked in a direction parallel to the axis of a solid-state laser rod, each of the plurality of bar-shaped components including a plurality of laser-light-emitting portions that are aligned and integrated in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the solid-state laser rod. The stack-type semiconductor laser has a large divergence angle in a longitudinal parallel to the axis of the solid-state laser rod.

Abstract: An optically pumped laser has a gain medium positioned inside of an optical resonator cavity and disposed about a resonator optical axis. An optical pumping source is positioned outside of the optical resonator cavity. A reflective coupler with a coupler body, and an interior volume passing therethrough is positioned proximal to the optical pumping source. Light from the pumping source passes into an entrance aperture of the reflective coupler to an exit aperture of the reflective coupler positioned distal to the optical pumping source. The interior volume of the reflective coupler is bounded by a reflective surface, an entrance aperture and the exit aperture, and is substantially transparent to radiation from the optical pumping source. The reflective surface has a high reflectivity matched to radiation from the optical pumping source.

Abstract: A discharge housing for connection to a plasma arc furnace outlet, having water quenching stations positioned inside the housing into the gas flow path, and having an inner flow path concentrically positioned inside an outer flow path, with an exhaust port on the downstream end of the outer flow path.

Abstract: A description is given of a device and a method for determining the temperature of a cooking vessel placed on a hotplate of a heating appliance, e.g. on the glass ceramic plate of an inductive cooker, in the vicinity of a heating zone. In the vicinity of the heating zone is applied to the top of the hotplate at least one flat measuring element, e.g. formed by a colour coating and whose top surface comes into flat contact with the cooking vessel bottom on setting down the cooking vessel. As a result the temperature of the measuring element, by heat conduction, reliably matches the cooking vessel temperature, so that by determining the measuring element temperature it is possible to determine the cooking vessel temperature. The measuring element can serve as a reference measuring surface for infrared temperature measurement through the hotplate, the precision of the temperature measurement not being dependent on the emission capacity of the set down cooking vessel.

Abstract: A temperature sensor utilizing optical temperature measuring techniques is constructed to make firm contact with a surface whose temperature is being measured, an example application being the monitoring of semiconductor wafers or flat panel displays while being processed. A cap is mounted near but spaced apart from an end of a lightwave guide, with a resilient element that applies force of the cap against a surface whose temperature is being measured as the cap is urged toward the optical fiber end. An optical temperature sensing element, such as luminescent material or a surface of known emissivity, is carried within the cap. A bellows with a closed end conveniently serves as both the cap and the resilient element. An alternative temperature measuring device installs an optical temperature sensing material within a test substrate behind an optical window, and then views the sensing material through the window.

Abstract: A temperature measuring method for a target substrate to be thermally processed in a semiconductor processing apparatus under a predetermined process condition is provided. This method includes the steps of detecting a heat flux supplied from at least part of the target substrate and detecting a temperature of a sensor by using the sensor facing the target substrate, and calculating a temperature of the target substrate from a parameter, including a thermal resistance between the sensor and the target substrate under the predetermined process condition, the detected heat flux, and the temperature of the sensor. The sensor is arranged opposite to heating means, through the target substrate, which heats the target substrate. The parameter may be obtained in advance by calibration.

Abstract: A wireless base station (20). The base station comprises at least one receive antenna (ATRXn) for receiving communication signals from at least one transmitting station (UST), and the signals are spread with a plurality of chips. The base station further comprises circuitry (52) for selecting a set of chips corresponding to a first signal received by the at least one receive antenna and circuitry (60) for forming a set of de-spread chips corresponding to the set of chips and in response to a code. Still further, the base station comprises a functional data path (56) comprising an accumulator for receiving the set of de-spread chips and circuitry for receiving an instruction. The functional data path is operable in response to a first instruction, received by the circuitry for receiving an instruction, to accumulate (621 or 622) a first number of de-spread chips in the set of de-spread chips for producing at least one corresponding symbol.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for improving an intermodulation distortion characteristic by controlling a gain of an attenuator in a CDMA mobile terminal. The apparatus includes a converter for passing input signal components except an IF signal component, amplifying the passed input signal to a specific level, converting the amplified signal to a DC signal, comparing the DC signal with first and second thresholds, and generating a control signal for controlling an operating point of the attenuator by synthesizing the compared result signals.

Abstract: Methods and systems in a wireless receiver for enabling the reception of input signals at varied power levels in the presence of co-channel interference utilizing combinations of space-time adaptive processing (STAP), interference cancellation multi-user detection (MUD), and combined STAP/MUD techniques. In MUD, code, timing, and possibly channel information of multiple users are jointly used to better detect each individual user. The novel combination of adaptive signal reconstruction techniques with interference cancellation MUD techniques provides accurate temporal cancellation of interference with minimal interference residuals. Additional methods and systems extend adaptive signal reconstruction techniques to take Doppler spread into account. STAP techniques permit a wireless receiver to exploit multiple antenna elements to form beams in the direction of the desired signal and nulls in the direction of the interfering signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for encoding fractional bit rates in a pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) communication system are provided. The systems and methods enable a first PAM transceiver to specify to second PAM transceiver a desired fractional bit rate for transmitting data to the first PAM transceiver. In this manner, the systems and methods of the present invention for the first time enable a single standardized specification of a generalized transmitter that may be used to implement any type of fractional encoding or mapping.

Abstract: In a digital communication system where digitally modulated signals are transmitted in a signal path including a bi-directional channel, a multistage echo-canceller has two or more stages connected in a sequence to remove the linear and nonlinear echo of the outgoing signal from the incoming signal. Results are of importance both to systems with overlapping outgoing and incoming frequency bands and to those with separated bands (for which only the nonlinear echo is of concern). The two or more stages are each characterized by a respective function, and the sequence is characterized by alternation of the functions of the two or more stages between linear and nonlinear.

Abstract: A communication apparatus at a remote location is connectable to a communication apparatus at a central location. The apparatus includes a negotiation data transmitter that transmits negotiation data to the communication apparatus at the central location. The negotiation data includes an identification field that includes at least modulation independent information, a standard information field that includes at least modulation dependent information, and a non-standard information field that includes information other than information associated with the identification field and information associated with the standard information field.

Abstract: A system of distributing video and/or audio information employs digital signal processing to achieve high rates of data compression. The compressed and encoded audio and/or video information is sent over standard telephone, cable or satellite broadcast channels to a receiver specified by a subscriber of the service, preferably in less than real time, for later playback and optional recording on standard audio and/or video tape.

Abstract: A set of one and two-dimensional transforms is constructed subject to certain range limited constraints to provide a computationally efficient transform implementation, such as for use in image and video coding. The constraints can include that the transform has a scaled integer implementation, provides perfect or near perfect reconstruction, has a DCT-like basis, is limited to coefficient within a range for representation in n-bits (e.g., n is 16 bits), has basis functions that are close in norm, and provides sufficient headroom for overflow of the range. A set of transforms is constructed with this procedure having an implementation within a 16-bit integer range for efficient computation using integer matrix multiplication operations.

Abstract: Techniques and tools for signaling for fading compensation in video processing applications are described. For example, a video encoder performs fading compensation on a reference image, signals that fading compensation is used, and signals fading parameters for the fading compensation. A video decoder receives the signaled information and performs fading compensation on the reference image according to the fading parameters.

Abstract: Input moving pictures are encoded with motion-compensated prediction. Detected first is an mount of codes generated for each encoded picture of the input moving pictures. Detected next is an average quantization scale factor of quantization scale factors used for quantizing the pictures of the input moving pictures when encoded. Also detected is picture characteristics of at least the input moving pictures. Complexity of each picture is calculated in response to the mount of codes generated for each picture, the average quantization scale factor and the picture characteristics. An amount of codes to be allocated to a present picture to be encoded is decided in response to the mount of codes generated for each picture, picture characteristics and the complexity of each picture, for obtaining a quantization scale factor for the present picture.

Abstract: A method is provided for the quantization of a coefficient. The method comprises: supplying a coefficient K; supplying a quantization parameter (QP); forming a quantization value (L) from the coefficient K using a mantissa portion (Am)(QP)) and an exponential portion (xAe(QP)). Typically, the value of x is 2. In some aspects of the method, forming a quantization value (L) from the coefficient K includes L=K*A(QP)=K*Am(QP)*(2Ae(QP)). In other aspects, the method further comprises: normalizing the quantization value by 2N as follows: Ln=L/2N=K*Am(QP)/2(N-Ae(QP)). In some aspects, forming a quantization value includes forming a set of recursive quantization factors with a period P, where A(QP+P)=A(QP)/x. Forming recursive quantization factors includes forming recursive mantissa factors, where Am(QP)=Am(QP mod P), and forming recursive quantization factors includes forming recursive exponential factors, where Ae(QP)=Ae(QP mod P)−QP/P.

Abstract: A media data processing apparatus includes an input unit that inputs media data and intellectual property management data for managing intellectual property of the media data, a first encoding unit that encodes the media data, a second encoding unit that encodes the intellectual property management data, and a transmission unit that transmitted in packets the encoded media data, first timing information that controls decoding timings for the media data, the encoded intellectual property management data, second timing information that controls decoding timings of the encoded intellectual property management data, and synchronizing information for synchronizing the intellectual property management data and the media data.

Abstract: An encoder, decoder, and corresponding method are disclosed for deblocking pixel data processed with block transformations, the encoder including a conditional deblocking filter for filtering only block transitions meeting chroma difference measure criteria; the decoder including a conditional deblocking filter for filtering only block transitions meeting chroma difference measure criteria; and the method for deblocking including receiving chroma level signals for at least two pixels disposed on opposite sides of a block transition, computing a distance measure between the chroma levels of the at least two pixels, comparing the distance measure with at least one threshold, and conditionally filtering adjacent pixels including the at least two pixels at the block transition in response to the comparison.

Abstract: A method for transforming a first data sequence, generated by a first moving picture coding system that switches an intra-frame coding mode and an inter-frame coding mode on a block unit basis to a second data sequence, generated by a second moving picture coding system that switches an intra-frame coding mode and in inter-frame coding mode on the block unit basis. The method includes increasing the number of blocks to be coded by the intra-frame coding mode in the second moving picture coding system when a generated code amount of the second data sequence is less than a target value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a moving picture coding method to enhance a coding efficiency for a moving picture coding sequence by inter mode and direct mode in a B picture using a long-term reference picture. In the present invention, a P picture is coded in inter mode according to scene change. The motion vectors of direct mode are calculated and coded according to the kind of the reference picture pointed by a motion vector of a co-located block in the specified picture.

Abstract: An open loop system and method of transcoding a stream of compressed video data to a required lower bit rate. The invention includes the steps of: examining motion vectors for each of a set of macroblocks in the stream; determining an importance of each of the set of macroblocks based the motion vectors; and selectively modifying DCT blocks in the set of macroblocks to reduce the bit rate, wherein the modification to each DCT block is based on the determined importance of the macroblock. High coefficient dropping or re-quantization may be utilized.

Abstract: A method and system for calculating a UME for each pixel in a frame of video data. A system for enhancing sharpness of a coded digital video signal representative a frame of block-based data is provided, comprising: a system for calculating a UME of each pixel in the frame in accordance with a frame type, wherein the calculating system includes: a mechanism that defines local spatial features in the frame; a mechanism that analyzes block-based motion estimation for the frame; a mechanism that detects a scene change in the frame; and a sharpness enhancer that improves sharpness to a decoded version of the digital video signal based on said UME.