Abstract: An image signal compression method and system. Without involving the current processing pixel, an encryption key and a decryption key are respectively and separately generated by a compression subsystem and a decompression subsystem. Both of the encryption and decryption keys are separately generated using the same principle of pixel prediction. Both of the encryption and decryption keys have the same value. In the compression subsystem, the encryption key is subtracted from the pixel value of the current processing pixel to generate a compressed data. In the decompression subsystem, the decryption key is added to the compressed data to recover the pixel value of the current processing pixel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deconstructing video into a hierarchical structure, distributing the deconstructed video and reconstructing the deconstructed video to form a video signal having characteristics that match the capabilities of a user device. The video stream may be deconstructed using a single dimension deconstruction or a multidimensional deconstruction.

Abstract: A FIFO memory receives data transfer requests before data is stored in the FIFO memory. Multiple concurrent data transfers, delivered to the FIFO memory as interleaved multiple concurrent transactions, can be accommodated by the FIFO memory (i.e., multiplexing between different sources that transmit in distributed bursts). The transfer length requirements associated with the ongoing data transfers are tracked, along with the total available space in the FIFO memory. A programmable buffer zone also can be included in the FIFO memory for additional overflow protection and/or to enable dynamic sizing of FIFO depth.

Abstract: At a data receiving terminal, if a received-data of a particular time section received from a data sending terminal does not satisfy a predetermined accumulation quality as the result of discrimination by a received-data quality discriminating section, an alternative-data sending requesting section requests a data sending terminal for alternative data satisfying the accumulation quality for the unsatisfied data of the particular time section. The result is that the data receiving terminal can realize both reproduction of data with less sending delay and accumulation of high-quality data.

Abstract: In special reproduction, pictures whose display timings are set in advance are sequentially transferred to a decoder side. When a decode start instruction is outputted during the first transfer of a picture, the second transfer of the picture is started at the transfer completion timing of the first transfer if a transfer completion timing of the second transfer comes before a transfer start timing corresponding to the display timing of a subsequent picture.

Abstract: A database managing apparatus, which can immediately obtain desired data from a database. A database managing apparatus includes a CPU, an input/output device, a main memory and an external memory. The CPU has a controller that initially obtains one article record from stored records via the input/output device. The controller reads out definition data in a database definition file. Then, the controller classifies the obtained records according to attributions based on the definition data. The controller does not compress the data regarding the record group belonging to the attribution A, which is the record group to be searched, but compresses data regarding the record groups belonging to the attributions B-E, which are the record groups other than the record group to be searched. As a result, the controller can reduce the unnecessary decompression of record data belonging to other attributions than the attribution to be searched. As a result, the controller can quickly retrieve the requested record.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of processing a digital video data signal (DVS) in order to insert binary shape data into the digital video data signal. Such a method is used for processing the digital video data signal containing data relating to rectangular pictures, and segmented video data signals (SVS) provided by a segmentation step (SEG) of the digital video data signal, a segmented video data signal containing a video object (VO) which is a region of the rectangular picture. Said method of processing comprises the steps of identifying (ID) with an identifier to which video object of the segmented video data signals (SVS) a pixel of the rectangular picture belongs, inserting (INS) the identifiers into the digital video data signal so as to form a modified digital video data signal (DVSm), and encoding (ENC) the modified digital video data signal using a video-object-based encoding framework so as to obtain an encoded data signal (ES).

Abstract: An improved loss recovery method for coding streaming media classifies each data unit in the media stream as an independent data unit (I unit), a remotely predicted unit (R unit) or a predicted data unit (P unit). Each of these units is organized into independent segments having an I unit, multiple P units and R units interspersed among the P units. The beginning of each segment is the start of a random access point, while each R unit provides a loss recovery point that can be placed independently of the I unit. This approach separates the random access point from the loss recovery points provided by the R units, and makes the stream more impervious to data losses without substantially impacting coding efficiency. The most important data units are transmitted with the most reliability to ensure that the majority of the data received by the client is usable. The I units are the least sensitive to transmission losses because they are coded using only their own data.

Abstract: A method of expanding data to a high-speed serial video link in such a way that it is invisible to existing receivers and such that auxiliary data, i.e. audio data, can be transmitted without any knowledge of the capabilities of the display to receive the auxiliary data.

Abstract: Digitally compressed video/audio bit streams, when transmitted over digital communication channels such as digital subscriber loop (DSL) access networks, ATM networks, satellite, or wireless digital transmission facilities, can be corrupted due to lack of sufficient channel bandwidth. This invention describes schemes to ensure lossless transmission of bit streams containing pre-compressed video signals within the communication channels. The schemes herein comprises a rate conversion system that converts the bit rate of a pre-compressed video bit stream from one bit rate to another, and that is integrated with a digital communication channel, and to convey the maximum channel transmission rate to the rate conversion system to allow satisfactory transmission of the bit stream from the input of the rate converter through the transmission facility.

Abstract: A CCD is driven so as to output a video signal at a rate of one line out of four up to an enlargement ratio of 2×. If the enlargement ratio of 2× is surpassed, the CCD is controlled so as to output a video signal at a rate of one line out of two. Since resolution of the image represented by the video signal output from the CCD is raised, an image having a comparatively high resolution is obtained even when the image is enlarged by an electronic zoom function.

Abstract: A data processing system comprises a data compression decoder arranged in operation to decode first and second encoded data to produce first and second uncompressed data representative of first and second source data from which the first and second encoded data were produced in accordance with a compression encoding algorithm respectively. The data compression decoder also produces first and second compression parameter data representative of encoding decisions made by the compression encoding algorithm when the first and second source data was compression encoded.

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms are provided for scheduling and multiplexing compressed bitstreams. A compressed bitstream includes bit rate information describing the bit rate of video data. The bit rate information is used to improve the scheduling and multiplexing efficiency of compressed bitstreams. Compressed video data can be transmitted over communication channels at bit rates that comply with available channel bandwidth.

Abstract: An image transmission system and method thereof is disclosed. A first frame converting unit is used for receiving a first video signal and removing redundant video fields to obtain a second video signal. A MPEG encoder is used for encoding the second video signal to obtain a third video signal, which is then converted to a transmission signal and is transmitted by a signal transmitter. A signal receiver is used for converting the transmission signal to a fourth video signal. A MPEG decoder is used for decoding the fourth video signal to obtain a fifth video signal. A second frame converting unit is used for generating redundant video fields by reproducing part of the video fields of the fifth video signal and adding the redundant video fields to the fifth video signal to obtain a sixth video signal. The sixth video signal is outputted to an image display to be displayed.

Abstract: A full service channel access protocol that supports the integrated transport of voice, video and data communications is provided by dividing a communication channel into a plurality of frames, dividing each of the frames into a plurality of slots, and dividing some of the plurality of slots into a plurality of mini-slots. The mini-slots are provided for use by the multiple communication sources to request the establishment of a new voice, data, or video transmission connection over the communication channel. Additionally, a second one of the plurality of slots is divided into a plurality of second mini-slots for use by the multiple communication sources to request the establishment of a new voice, data, or video transmission connection over the communication channel and for use by the multiple communication sources to augment an existing video connection over the communication channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for demultiplexing coded data corresponding to multimedia objects. The data is organized in a bitstream divided into individually accessible portions—for instance Access Units for an MPEG-4 compliant bitstream—themselves subdivided into smaller data entities—SL-packets in the cited example—which all the demultiplexing operations are applied to. The operations are mainly, for all the data received at the input of the demultiplexing device: reading and formatting of a buffer, extraction of successive Access Unit segments, progressive reconstruction of a complete Access Unit, transmission of the Access Unit to an output buffer or file.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for reducing the video decoder processing requirements are presented herein. During a rewind operation, a reference picture for a group of pictures is decoded and stored into a reference frame buffer. By storing a reference picture for the group, the reference picture need not be decoded to display each picture in the group during the rewind operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing video data. The apparatus is composed of a plurality of reducers. A block is received, corresponding to a plurality of color space components and having a width defined by a plurality of pixels digitally represented by bytes. The video data is first reduced by performing power of two reduction. This is followed by fine scale reduction to achieve the final reduced image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for video motion compensation, power of two reduction and color format conversion is disclosed. The motion compensation engine performs the MPEG-2 functions of half pel compensation, inverse discrete cosine transform and merge. Dual prime, field-based and frame-based macroblocks are supported. Data reduction may be performed in the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, or both.

Abstract: An encoding/decoding apparatus and method for an orientation interplator node are provided. The encoding/decoding apparatus for an orientation interpolator node, which provides rotational information of an object in a 3-dimensional space, is formed of “key information” which indicates a time when a rotational movement occurs and “key value information” which indicates a rotational posture corresponding to the time. A predictive coding apparatus is used in the encoding process for compressing the information of the key and key value information. Therefore, in encoding an input orientation interpolator node in an information compression method of a predictive encoding method, the efficiency of encoding is improved and an reverse rotation due to an encoding error from lossy coding can be corrected.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for encoding, storing, transmitting and decoding multimedia information in the form of scalable, streamed digital data. A base stream containing basic informational content and subsequent streams containing additive informational content are initially created from standard digital multimedia data by a transcoder. Client computers, each of which may have different configurations and capabilities are capable of accessing a stream server that contains the scalable streamed digital data. Each different client computer, therefore, may access different stream combinations according to a profile associated with each different client computer. Thus, the streams accessed from the server are tailored to match the profile of each client computer so that the best combination of streams can be provided to maximize the resolution of the 3D, audio and video components.

Abstract: This invention provides an adaptive transcoder which streams predictive coded video data over variable bandwidth networks and to devices having varying processing capabilities. The invention dynamically and continuously determines an available network bandwidth and a client device's processing capabilities. This invention uses bit stream transcoding of video data to reduce the bandwidth required to stream the video. Certain frames of a bit stream are replaced with Pseudo-P frames according to the results of rate control feedback and frame ranking. The invention thus transmits a single MPEG stream to multiple devices having varying capabilities and does not add redundancy into the network.

Abstract: Data compression apparatus in which input data is compressed according to a target output data quantity using a stage of data quantization, the apparatus comprises: one or more trial quantizers for selecting a degree of quantization so that the target output data quantity is not exceeded; a data selector for selecting a subset of the current data to be quantized; a data store for storing the subset of data; a backsearch quantizer and dequantizer for sequentially quantizing and dequantizing the subset of data at a plurality of degrees of quantization including the degree of quantization selected by the trial quantizer(s) and one or more harsher degrees of quantization; a comparator for comparing data quantized and dequantized by the backsearch quantizer with the stored subset of data, to detect errors introduced by the quantization and dequantization by the backsearch quantizer; and a quantization selector for selecting a final degree of quantization for use in compression of the current data, the final degree

Abstract: Still picture images are encoded and transmitted at reduced rates using the MPEG-2 standard. Video frames are captured for processing at a still picture capture rate that is lower than the video input frame rate. The captured frames are compressed as Intra frames at the input frame rate. Selected ones of the compressed frames are inserted in the MPEG-2 transport stream for communication to a decoder at a still picture repetition rate which is no less, in frames per second, than the capture rate.

Abstract: Processing is applied to convert an input compressed video bitstream into an output compressed video bitstream having a different bit rate and/or representing different imagery from the input bitstream. The bitstream conversion processing is adjusted based on control parameters that are generated by comparing analogous measurements made to the input and output bitstreams so that subsequent measurements of the output bitstream will more closely match subsequent measurements of the input bitstream. In certain embodiments, the bitstream conversion processing involves decoding the input bitstream, optionally applying image processing functions to the resulting decoded video data, and re-encoding the resulting processed video data to generate the output bitstream.

Abstract: In the method for managing a variable bit rate so as to provide a streaming service and in the record medium capable of being read through a computer having a record of a program to realize the inventive method, a frame rate controlling system through a removal of a frame and a fidelity controlling system are used to change a bit rate of multimedia video data and thereby provide a multimedia streaming service based on the various bit rates according to a bandwidth change of a communication network, the fidelity controlling system being gotten by differently providing selection ranges for discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients in a unit of a block within a frame.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system includes an ultrasonic transducer having an image data array and a tracking array at each end of the image data array. The tracking arrays are oriented transversely to the image data array. Images from the image data array are used to reconstruct a three-dimensional representation of the target. The relative movement between respective frames of the image data is automatically estimated by a motion estimator, based on frames of data from the tracking arrays. As the transducer is rotated about the azimuthal axis of the image data array, features of the target remain within the image planes of the tracking arrays. Movements of these features in the image planes of the tracking arrays are used to estimate motion as required for the three-dimensional reconstruction. Similar techniques estimate motion within the plane of an image to create an extended field of view.

Abstract: A bus compression apparatus for compressing data is provided to suppress an EMI signal and to simplify a data bus structure. In the apparatus, the voltage levels of the digital output signals are summed in accordance with the resistance values of the data compression circuit to produce a compressed analog signal. The compressed analog signal is transmitted through a bus lines to a data decompressor which reproduces the digital data in response to the voltage levels of the compressed analog signal.

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

Abstract: A computer may be remotely accessed. At a first location, display commands are generated. The display commands are covered into a compressed video data stream. Each display element (5) is checked if it is encoded (52). If object is encoded, it is transcribed into MPEG (54). The image is adjusted for display (56) and compression (58). Additional steps of motion determination (60), change detection (62), compression depth and frame determination (66, 68) are executed. Then the data is transmitted to a second location. The display commands are decompressed and displayed as an image at the second location.

Abstract: An object data processing apparatus for decoding N pieces of coded data (N=positive integer) obtained by compressively coding N pieces of object data which constitute individual data to be recorded or transmitted and have a hierarchical structure, for each object data. This apparatus includes hierarchical information extraction means for extracting hierarchical information showing the hierarchical relationship of the N pieces of object data, according to the coded data; and table creation means for creating, according to the hierarchical information, an object table on which the respective object data are correlated with coded data of the respective object data. Therefore, the apparatus can perform extraction, selection, or retrieval of coded data corresponding to a specific object at high speed, and this enables the user to edit or replace the object data in short time with high controllability.

Abstract: That is, a hierarchical coding of an image data is generated. An image data of a second hierarchy is formed, having a number of pixels which is smaller than that of an image data of a first hierarchy. The image data of the second hierarchy is corrected to generate a corrected data. The image data of the first hierarchy is predicted in accordance with the corrected data and a predicted data of the first hierarchy, having a plurality of predicted pixels, is generated. Predictive error of the predicted data of the first hierarchy is calculated with respect to the image data of the first hierarchy. The suitability of the corrected data is determined in accordance with the predicted error. A difference data, between the image data of the first hierarchy and the predicted data of the first hierarchy, is generated in accordance with the determined suitability. The difference data has a plurality of difference values. The corrected data and the difference data are output as the coded image data.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for converting a high definition image to a relatively lower definition image is provided. Image data encoded with a discrete cosine transform (DCT) is decoded using an inverse wavelet transform (IDWT). A fast inverse discrete wavelet transform (FIDWT) is also provided that reduces the number of multiplication operations relative to the IDWT. Image data is also encoded using a discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and then decoded using an (IDWT).

Abstract: A block including a subject pixel is formed from an original image. A first class information generation circuit calculates similarity between a decimated block that is obtained by decimating pixels constituting the block and a reduced block obtained by reducing the block (self-similarity of an image). On the other hand, a second class information generation circuit detects a pattern of pixel values of pixels that are arranged in a direction with highest self-similarity in the reduced block (or the decimated block). A final class determination circuit determines a class of the block including the subject pixel based on outputs of both of the first class information generation circuit and the second class information generation circuit. A process corresponding to the thus-determined class is executed.

Abstract: A foveated imaging system, which can be implemented on a general purpose computer and greatly reduces the transmission bandwidth of images has been developed. This system has demonstrated that significant reductions in bandwidth can be achieved while still maintaining access to high detail at any point in an image. The system is implemented with conventional computer, display, and camera hardware. It utilizes novel algorithms for image coding and decoding that are superior both in degree of compression and in perceived image quality and is more flexible and adaptable to different bandwidth requirements and communications applications than previous systems. The system utilizes novel methods of incorporating human perceptual properties into the coding the decoding algorithms providing superior foveation. One version of the system includes a simple, inexpensive, parallel pipeline architecture, which enhances the capability for conventional and foveated data compression.