Abstract: An excimer laser device capable of suppressing deterioration of optical elements provided in a laser chamber even if output energy per pulse is increased more than the conventional level, in which a width of a laser beam applied to the optical elements provided in the laser chamber is enlarged so as to reduce the energy density of the laser beam within such a range that a laser output of no less than a desired level is obtained.

Abstract: A method of precisely measuring temperature of an object without having to setting the emissivity of the object over a wide temperature range from low to high temperature with a single radiation thermometer. The temperature-measuring device of the present invention includes a reference object having an emissivity of substantially 1 in a prescribed wavelength range; a bandpass filter transmitting radiant energy in the prescribed wavelength range; and a radiation thermometer for observing temperature by taking in the radiant energy transmitted through the bandpass filter.

Abstract: A signal transmission system shapes the spectrum of a signal in a block transmission system by applying an envelope function, the shaping means comprising: means for optimising the envelope function under one or more constraints selected from a set of predetermined constraints; and means for applying the optimised envelope function to the signal, wherein the means for optimising the envelope function is operable to employ a quasi-Newton optimisation of reduced complexity in comparison with the classical Newton optimisation technique, for reduced computation in real time.

Abstract: An electronic equipment includes a RAKE receiver that includes at least one finger having a settable delay, a transducer operable to provide a signal indicative of motion of the electronic equipment, and a delay estimator circuit operative to calculate a duration between fading nulls of a received signal based on the motion signal of the electronic equipment. The time delay of the at least one finger is set based on the duration between fading nulls.

Abstract: A spread spectrum clock signal generator and an accompanying method provide a spread spectrum clock signal of a reduced electromagnetic interference. The spread spectrum clock signal generator includes (a) a state machine, which maintains a current state of the spread spectrum clock signal generator, receives as input value a next state of the spread spectrum clock signal generator and generates a clock phase selection signal based on the current and next states; (b) a random number generator for generating the next state; and (c) a waveform generation circuit for generating a spread spectrum clock signal based on the clock phase selection signal.

Abstract: An m-code GPS receiver receives m-code GPS communication signals having a multimodal autocorrelation, using an m-code mode identifier unambiguously determining a mode value of one of the m-code modal peaks coherently aligned to a coherent unimodal detected envelope, based on sequential probability estimation in an m-code envelope tracking filter using filter residual estimation or with a coherent m-code and c/a-code tracking filter also based on filter residual estimation, for generating m-code phase errors, for unambiguous and precise m-code code phase tracking in closed feedback loops, for preferred use in navigation systems.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and computer program products for decoding of Walsh codewords are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a method for generating a preamble sequence group. The method includes creating a preamble sequence, calculating a cross-correlation value between sequences using the created preamble sequence, determining a limit cross-correlation value using the cross-correlation value to construct a preamble set used in the communication system, calculating a preamble set that satisfies the determined limit cross-correlation value, and terminating construction of the preamble set.

Abstract: In a transceiver, a transmitter circuit is provided substantially the same common-mode voltage regardless of whether the transceiver is in a transmitting or receiving mode. In one embodiment, the transmitter circuit includes a driver circuit which, in the transmission mode of the transceiver, drives an output differential signal, and which, in the receiving mode of the transceiver, provides a termination circuit for an input differential signal. A variable resistor is provided to connect between a supply voltage and the driver circuit, the resistance of the variable resistor is selected such that the common-mode voltage of the output differential signal of the transmission mode substantially equals the common-mode voltage in the input differential signal of the receiving mode.

Abstract: Seamless wideband support is afforded by utilizing split-band data streams. For wideband signals, the 8 kHz bandwidth is divided into a low band, with approximately 0-4 kHz bandwidth, and a high band, with approximately 4-8 kHz bandwidth. Narrowband functions and services operate on the low band, while wideband functions and services operate on both low and high bands.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for evaluating electrical characteristics of a transmitter in real time using cross-correlation of a reference signal with a signal transmitted by the transmitter. A code generator is configured to generate reference code and test code that both include a plurality of frames of data. The reference code is output at a first rate and the test code is output at a second rate that is different from the first rate. A modulator is configured to modulate the reference code into a first modulated code. A correlator is configured to correlate the first modulated code with test code that has been modulated and transmitted by a transmitter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating noise for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) are disclosed. A time domain difference signal and a frequency domain difference signal between two consecutive received pilot symbols are calculated. A time domain noise power is calculated from the time domain difference signal and a frequency domain noise power is calculated from the frequency domain difference signal. The time domain noise power and the frequency domain noise power are combined to estimate the noise power.

Abstract: Forward and backward equalization processes are effectively used in a communication system for equalizing a received signal of a frame including a known symbol part. The known symbol part is provided in a position other than both ends of the frame. An equalization filter unit acquires a signal of an equalization process result by performing an equalization filter process based on a signal serving as an equalization process target and a tap gain coefficient. An update unit updates the tap gain coefficient using a predefined algorithm. A first or second transmission unit transmits a received signal posterior or prior to the known symbol part to a first or second memory in a forward direction or reverse order.

Abstract: The power consumption of a receiving apparatus is reduced. A first equalization unit receives the input of digital signals and then performs equalization processing on them so as to output first equalizer output signals. A first selector selects either the digital signals or the first equalizer output signals, and outputs the selected signals to an despread unit or a second equalization unit. The despread unit carries out an despread, and an PSK demodulation unit demodulates the despread signal by PSK. The second equalization unit performs equalization processing, and a CCK demodulation unit performs CCK demodulation. A second selector operates in response to the second selector. A modulation scheme determining unit extracts information on a modulation scheme in use, from the signal demodulated by the PSK demodulation unit so as to decide on the modulation scheme. Based on the modulation scheme determined, a decision unit specifies the selection of signals at the first selector and the second selector.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cooperation procedure between terminals in a UWB pulse telecommunications system. A source terminal transmits a data symbol for a recipient terminal in the form of a signal, called a source signal, constituted by a sequence of identical frames, each frame containing a pulse that is position-modulated by means of a PPM modulation alphabet. A relay terminal, receiving said source signal, detects a modulation position of a pulse in at least one frame of the signal received and transmits a relayed signal containing, in at least one predetermined subsequent frame of this signal, a pulse the position of which is obtained on the basis of the first position by a permutation of the PPM modulation alphabet.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for resizing multimedia content for efficient statistical multiplexing. In response to a request to resize a current segment of data, an encoding module associated with the selected segment adjusts the amount of motion information to be encoded to resize the segment of data. For example, the encoding module associated with the selected segment of data may merge two or more motion vectors to reduce the amount of motion information to be encoded. As another example, the encoding module reselects encoding modes for one or more blocks of pixels of at least one frame within the segment of data.

Abstract: A method of coding a moving picture is provided that reduces blocking artifacts. The method can include defining a plurality of defining pixels S0, S1, and S2, which are centered around a block boundary. If a default mode is selected then frequency information of the surroundings of the block boundary is obtained. A magnitude of a discontinuous component in a frequency domain belonging to the block boundary is adjusted based on a magnitude of a corresponding discontinuous component selected from a pixel contained entirely within a block adjacent the block boundary. The frequency domain adjustment is then applied to a spatial domain. Or, a DC offset mode can be selected to reduce blocking artifacts in smooth regions where there is little motion.

Abstract: An image and motion corresponding to the image are presented in response to a request issued by an user. The user transmits image data from a terminal to a motion data generating apparatus. The motion data generating apparatus generates motion data from the received image data. The motion data generating apparatus transmits the generated motion data together with the image data, in a mutually related fashion, to an image/motion control apparatus. The motion data generating apparatus also transmits ID data assigned to the image data and the motion data to the terminal. The image/motion control apparatus stores the received data. When the image/motion control apparatus receives ID data input by a user via an image/motion presenting apparatus, the image/motion control apparatus reads image data and motion data corresponding to the received ID data and transmits the image data and the motion data to the image/motion presenting apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for reducing mosquito noise and blockiness in an image frame of a video signal. A border of a pixel block is determined, and if the region surrounded by the border is determined to be associated with mosquito noise or blockiness, then the mosquito noise or blockiness, respectively, is reduced in the region only.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a reduced cost HDTV/SDTV video decoder are disclosed. The described joint video decoder is capable of decoding HDTV pictures at approximately the resolution of standard definition television pictures and can be used to decode HDTV and/or SDTV pictures. The described video decoder may be used as part of a picture-in-picture decoder circuit for providing picture-in-picture capability without providing multiple full resolution video decoders. The reduction in decoder circuit complexity is achieved through the use of a plurality of data reduction techniques including the use of a preparser, downsampling, and truncating pixel values.

Abstract: A method of coding a moving picture is provided that reduces blocking artifacts. The method can include defining a plurality of defining pixels S0, S1, and S2, which are centered around a block boundary. If a default mode is selected then frequency information of the surroundings of the block boundary is obtained. A magnitude of a discontinuous component in a frequency domain belonging to the block boundary is adjusted based on a magnitude of a corresponding discontinuous component selected from a pixel contained entirely within a block adjacent the block boundary. The frequency domain adjustment is then applied to a spatial domain. Or, a DC offset mode can be selected to reduce blocking artifacts in smooth regions where there is little motion.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining quantization information of a first block. The first block includes a pixel to be filtered. The method further includes determining a filtering coefficient based on a value obtained from a table using the quantization information, and obtaining four successive filtered pixel values based on the filtering coefficient. Two of the four successive filtered pixels are included in the first block and two of the four successive filtered pixels are included in a second block adjacent the first block.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder configured to obtain quantization information of a first block including the pixel to be filtered, and obtain a block type of the first block and a second block. The second block is adjacent to the first block. The quantization information is compared to a threshold value by the decoder, and loop-filtering is performed by the decoder on the pixel to be filtered by using at least three successive pixels if the quantization information is greater than the threshold value and the type of the first and second block is an intra-coded block type. The at least three successive pixels include the pixel to be filtered.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder configured to obtain quantization information of a first block, and determine a filtering coefficient based on values obtained from a table using the quantization. Four successive filtered pixel values in horizontal direction are obtained by the decoder based on the filtering coefficient, and four successive filtered pixel values in the vertical direction are obtained by the decoder based on the filtering coefficient after obtaining the four successive filtered pixel values in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A video image sequence is coded or decoded. By motion compensated temporal filtering, using discrete wavelet decomposition, the discrete wavelet is decomposed by dividing the video image sequence into source and destination groups of images. An image in the destination group is determined from at least one image including pixels in the first group of the source group. The representative image includes pixels and subpixels determined from pixels and subpixels obtained by upsampling at least one image in the source group.

Abstract: A method of coding a moving picture is provided that reduces blocking artifacts. The method can include defining a plurality of defining pixels S0, S1, and S2, which are centered around a block boundary. If a default mode is selected then frequency information of the surroundings of the block boundary is obtained. A magnitude of a discontinuous component in a frequency domain belonging to the block boundary is adjusted based on a magnitude of a corresponding discontinuous component selected from a pixel contained entirely within a block adjacent the block boundary. The frequency domain adjustment is then applied to a spatial domain. Or, a DC offset mode can be selected to reduce blocking artifacts in smooth regions where there is little motion.

Abstract: Disclosed are Video coding and decoding devices, methods and system thereof, in which the video coding device comprises a video coder for performing video coding on a frame including a plurality of macroblocks by a predefined coding technique so as to output a normal coded stream and for outputting a prediction error value for each of the macroblocks obtained through inter-frame movement prediction, a grading means for grading the macroblocks based on the prediction error values and allocating redundant bit to macroblocks at respective grades, a redundant coder for generating redundant information indicated by corresponding redundant bit for each of the graded macroblock, and a merger means for merging said normal coded stream and said redundant information to generate a final coded stream. With the configuration of the present invention, bit rate will not be increased significantly with content transmission quality being guaranteed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining first and second motion vectors of a block other than the current block. The other block neighbors the current block at one of a left, top and top right position. First and second motion vectors of the current block are determined using the first and second motion vectors of the other block such that the first motion vector of the current block has a same direction as the first motion vector of the other block and the second motion vector of the current block has a same direction as the second motion vector of the other block.

Abstract: In a moving picture encoding apparatus, a processing load detection section detects a load and outputs load information and a video encoder judges a load level based on the load information. A start pixel in target pixels is determined depending on the load level, the evaluation value is calculated from pixels specified by the start pixel, a encoding cost is calculated based on the evaluation value to select one of prediction modes for minimizing the encoding cost. The start pixel is so selected as to exclude the pixels which are spatially neighboring to reference pixels for prediction, instead of all pixels within a 4×4 pixel block as the processing load becomes large. Thus, the picture processing amount is reducing while suppressing the deterioration of the encoding performance.

Abstract: A method of coding a moving picture is provided that reduces blocking artifacts. The method can include defining a plurality of defining pixels S0, S1, and S2, which are centered around a block boundary. If a default mode is selected then frequency information of the surroundings of the block boundary is obtained. A magnitude of a discontinuous component in a frequency domain belonging to the block boundary is adjusted based on a magnitude of a corresponding discontinuous component selected from a pixel contained entirely within a block adjacent the block boundary. The frequency domain adjustment is then applied to a spatial domain. Or, a DC offset mode can be selected to reduce blocking artifacts in smooth regions where there is little motion.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the method includes selecting one motion vector of the co-located block in a first reference picture as the motion vector for deriving the motion vector of the bi-predictive block. A first temporal distance is derived from a difference between a current picture and a first reference picture. The current picture includes the bi-predictive block. A second temporal distance is derived from a difference between the first reference picture and a second reference picture. The selected motion vector is scaled based on the first and second temporal distances, and the motion vector of the bi-predictive block is derived based on the scaled motion vector.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a list0 motion vector of a co-located image block in a reference picture for the bi-predictive image block as a motion vector for deriving motion vectors of the bi-predictive image block regardless of whether the co-located block includes a list1 motion vector. At least one motion vector of the bi-predictive block is derived by applying a bit operation to the selected motion vector.

Abstract: A motion compensation module, that can be used in a video encoder for encoding a video input signal, includes a motion search module that generates a motion search motion vector for each macroblock of a plurality of macroblocks by contemporaneously evaluating a top frame macroblock and bottom frame macroblock from a frame of the video input signal and a top field macroblock and a bottom field macroblock from corresponding fields of the video input signal. A motion refinement module, when enabled, generates a refined motion vector for each macroblock of the plurality of macroblocks, based on the motion search motion vector.

Abstract: When motion vector is searched based on hierarchical search by designating any one of reference images of plural frames used every respective motion blocks, which have reference images of plural frames and are obtained by dividing an object frame image to be processed among successive frame images, a thinning unit (12) is operative to thin pixels of the motion compensation block having the largest pixel size caused to be uppermost layer among pixel sizes of the motion compensation block to thereby generate a contracted image of lower layer having a predetermined contraction factor; a reference frame determination unit (15) is operative to determine a contracted reference image on the contracted image; a motion compensation prediction unit (1/N2 resolution) (15) is operative to search motion vector by using the contracted image thus generated to search; with respect to an image before contraction, motion compensation prediction unit (full resolution) (17) is operative to search motion vector and perform motion

Abstract: In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder configured to obtain a coded block pattern of first and second blocks. The coded block pattern is one of a plurality of coded block patterns, the plurality of coded block patterns include an intra-coded block, and the second block is adjacent to the first block. The decoder is configured to obtain a motion vector difference between a motion vector for the first block and a motion vector for the second block, and determine a non-zero filter strength value based on the obtained coded block pattern of the first and second block as first priority and the obtained motion vector difference as second priority. The blocking phenomenon is removed by the decoder according to the filter strength value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a list 1 motion vector of the co-located block in a first list 1 reference picture as the motion vector for deriving list 0 and list 1 motion vectors of the bi-predictive block, if the co-located block only has the list 1 motion vector. The first list 1 reference picture is a type of reference picture permitted to be located temporally before or after a current picture, and the selected list 1 motion vector points to a second list 1 reference picture which is a reference picture of the first list 1 reference picture. The current picture includes the bi-predictive block. At least one motion vector of the bi-predictive block is derived by applying a bit operation to the selected motion vector.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder. The decoder is configured to obtain first and second motion vectors and a reference picture index of blocks other than the current block. The other blocks neighbor the current block. The decoder is configured to determine first and second motion vectors of the current block using the first and second motion vectors of the other blocks. This determination includes applying a median operation to the first motion vectors of the other blocks and applying a median operation to the second motion vectors of the other blocks. The decoder is further configured to determine a reference picture index of the current block using the reference picture indices of the other blocks.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining first and second motion vectors and a reference picture index of a block other than the current block. First and second motion vectors of the current block are determined using the first and second motion vectors of the other block such that the first motion vector of the current block has a same direction as the first motion vector of the other block and the second motion vector of the current block has a same direction as the second motion vector of the other block. A reference picture index of the current block is determined using the reference picture index of the other block, and a direction of a reference picture for the current block is determined based on the determined reference picture index.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for quarter-pel motion compensated search are described in the context of an array processor with tightly coupled, multi-cycle hardware assist attached to each node. A quarter-pel motion compensated search (QPMCS) instruction initiates the quarter-pel motion compensated search pipeline operation. An instruction decode and instruction operation control unit generates a starting address for a 4×4 block of a current macro block search operation indicating where to fetch the pel values. An interpolation unit determines at least eight neighboring quarter-pels per pipeline stage based on the 4×4 block of pel values. An absolute value of difference function computes the absolute value of difference values between a current macro block pel and the at least eight neighboring quarter-pels per pipeline stage. An accumulator accumulates at least eight summation values for the 4×4 block at quarter-pel positions per pipeline stage.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder configured to obtain a block type of the second block and the third block. The second block is adjacent to the first block horizontally, and the third block is adjacent to the first block vertically. The decoder is configured to determine whether the second and third blocks have non-zero transform coefficient information if the block type of the second and third blocks, respectively, are not an intra-coded block. A horizontal filter strength value and vertical filter strength values are determined by the decoder based on the above steps. The blocking phenomenon in the first block is removed by the decoder according to the horizontal filter strength value firstly, then vertical filter strength value secondly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a video unified codec device and its method. According to an embodiment of this invention, the unified codec device comprises parsing and decoding functional units (PD FUs) extracting and grouping context information, control signals, and data in bit streams inputted according to different syntax data per codec, macro-block-based functional units (MB-based FUs) unified based on block-based process units of each codec, for decoding data outputted from PD FUs, and a global control unit (GCU) for controlling MB-based FUs grouped after corresponding control signals and context information received from PD FUs to each codec and processing. By this invention, a new concept and structure of unified codec corresponding to similarities, differences, and considerations between different codecs can be presented.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for scalable block pixel filtering are described. A block filtering instruction is issued to a processing element (PE) to initiate block pixel filtering hardware by causing at least one command and at least one parameter be sent to a command and control function associated with the PE. A block of pixels is fetched from a PE local memory to be stored in a register file of a hardware assist module. A sub-block of pixels is processed to generate sub-block parameters and the block of pixels is filtered in a horizontal/vertical edge filtering computation pipeline using the sub-block parameters.

Abstract: In one embodiment, loop-filtering is performed on four successive pixels if obtained quantization information for a first block is greater than the threshold value and the type of the first block and a second block is intra-coded block type. Two pixels of the four successive pixels are in the first block and two pixels of the four successive pixels are in the second block, which is adjacent the first block. The method still further includes performing additional filtering on two successive pixels on the block boundary based on a comparison result of the quantization information and a second threshold value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a block type of the second block and the third block. The second block is adjacent to the first block horizontally, and the third block is adjacent to the first block vertically. The method further includes determining whether the second and third blocks have non-zero transform coefficient information if the block type of the second and third blocks, respectively, are not an intra-coded block. A horizontal filter strength value and vertical filter strength values are determined based on the above steps. The blocking phenomenon in the first block is removed according to the horizontal filter strength value firstly, then vertical filter strength value secondly.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a reference picture list including multiple reference pictures, and determining an initial reference picture index of the multiple reference pictures in the reference picture list based on display order information for the multiple reference pictures. The reference picture index numbers increase for reference pictures having a decreasing display order with respect to a picture including the macroblock and the reference picture numbers increase for reference pictures having an increasing display order with respect to the picture including the macroblock. The reference picture index numbers of the reference pictures having a decreasing display order are less than the reference picture index numbers of the reference pictures having an increasing display order. The initial reference picture index is selectively modified to produce a determined reference picture index based on the macroblock level of the macroblock.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a reference picture list including multiple reference pictures, and determining an initial reference picture index of the multiple reference pictures in the reference picture list based on display order information for the multiple reference pictures. The initial reference picture index is selectively modified to produce a determined reference picture index based on the macroblock level of the macroblock. The determined reference picture index is the initial reference picture index if the macroblock level of the macroblock is a frame, and the determined reference picture index is the initial reference picture index divided by 2 if the macroblock level of the macroblock is a field. The macroblock is decoded by selecting at least one reference picture from the reference picture list using the determined reference picture index.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a reference picture list including multiple reference pictures, and determining an initial reference picture index of the multiple reference pictures in the reference picture list based on display order information for the multiple reference pictures. The reference picture index numbers increase for reference pictures having a decreasing display order with respect to a picture including the macroblock, and the reference picture numbers increase for reference pictures having an increasing display order with respect to the picture including the macroblock. The reference picture index numbers of the reference pictures having a decreasing display order are greater than the reference picture index numbers of the reference pictures having an increasing display order. The initial reference picture index is selectively modified to produce a determined reference picture index based on the macroblock level of the macroblock.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and device of statistical interleaving of at least two digital video sequences each comprising a plurality of coded pictures to be reproduced by a decoder, wherein the two digital video sequences form a single video stream and are destined for being successively reproduced in time, comprising statistical multiplexing a first digital video sequence with a second digital video sequence, wherein the pictures of the second digital video sequence are associated with timing information, which prevents a decoder from reproducing the pictures; transmitting the digital video sequences in an interleaved manner in accordance with a result of the statistical multiplexing to the decoder; and once the second digital video sequence is to be reproduced by decoder receiving the stream: transmitting dummy pictures, which are coded to refer to one or more pictures of the second video sequence transmitted in advance to the decoder.

Abstract: Techniques and tools for performing fading compensation in video processing applications are described. For example, during encoding, a video encoder performs fading compensation using fading parameters comprising a scaling parameter and a shifting parameter on one or more reference images. During decoding, a video decoder performs corresponding fading compensation on the one or more reference images.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture for encoding a compressed media stream are disclosed. A disclosed method encodes frames associated with one or more compressed media streams within the media signal on a frame-by-frame basis and releases for transmission an encoded version of the media signal containing the encoded frames on a packet-by-packet basis.