Abstract: A method and system is provided for calculating motion vectors of macroblocks in a digital image of a digital video stream. The method and system reduces the computational overhead of calculating motion vectors computing difference measures using a predetermined pattern of pixels in each macroblock rather than all the pixels of the macroblock. Reduction of computational overhead can be further enhanced first using a subpattern, i.e., a sub-sample of the predetermined pattern on a subset of the macroblocks to determine close matching macroblocks and then using the predetermined pattern to determine the best matching macroblock from within the close matching macroblocks.

Abstract: Methods and systems for obtaining a motion vector between two frames of video image data are disclosed. Specifically, methods and systems of the present invention may be used to estimate a motion vector for each macroblock of a current frame with respect to a reference frame in a multi-stage operation. In a transcoder, motion estimation may be performed in the compressed domain eliminating the need to fully decode the compressed data in the first format before reencoding in a second format. In a first stage, an application implementing the process of the present invention obtains a motion vector between first and second pictures of video image data in a video sequence. Each picture includes a plurality of supermacroblocks, each having a plurality of macroblocks. For each supermacroblock of the first picture, a match supermacroblock in the second picture is determined that best matches the supermacroblock of the first picture.

Abstract: A processor array includes element processors which are arranged in a matrix in correspondence to respective pixels of a template block, which is a current picture image pixel block. Each element processor stores pixel data of a search window block, which is a corresponding reference picture image pixel block, and obtains an evaluation function value component with respect to the template block pixel data. A summing part sorts the evaluation function components received from the respective element processors of the processor array in accordance with a plurality of predictive modes and sums up the components for the respective sorts, for forming evaluation function values for the respective predictive modes. A comparison part compares the evaluation function values received from the summing part for each predictive mode, to decide a displacement vector providing the best similarity as a motion vector for each predictive mode.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for restoring a deteriorated signal to an undeteriorated signal. A deteriorated signal consists of a plurality of deteriorated and undeteriorated data points. The data signal is preprocessed into a motion compensated signal. For each deteriorated data point, a plurality of class types including a motion vector class is created based upon characteristics of the area containing the deteriorated data point. A motion vector is detected and data is shifted according to the detected motion vector. The data point is classified with respect to one of the plurality of class types and assigned a corresponding input signal class. The undeteriorated signal is generated by adaptively filtering the deteriorated input signal in accordance with the input signal classification result. More than one classification method is used to create the plurality of class types.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of two-dimensional sub-band coding techniques, extended to video data by including the temporal domain within the decomposition: in order to deal with objects having large displacements, motion estimation and compensation are added, which may however result in considerable information overhead to the detriment of texture. For a good trade-off between the need of a true motion field and the size of the resulting motion information to be encoded, the invention relates to a method allowing to keep the amount of motion vector information reasonably low and to allocate more bits to texture in non-moving areas. Said method first performs a preliminary analysis which allows to identify parts of the image not requiring a precise description of the motion information, followed by a motion estimation on the basis of this preliminary information.

Abstract: A first condition determining portion 6 determines whether or not a picture moves corresponding to inter-field variations of space variation amounts SG (t), SG (t−1), and SG (t+1). A second condition determining portion 7 determines whether a picture moves corresponding to inter-field differences FiGu (t−1), FiGu (t), FiGd (t−1), and FiGd (t). A third condition determining portion 8 determines whether or not a picture moves corresponding to a ratio gf of the inter-frame difference FrG to the space variation amount SG (t). When one of the first to third conditions is satisfied, an OR gate 9 outputs data “1” that represents that a picture moves.

Abstract: A video encoding apparatus is provided with a resolution converting section, an encoding section, and a transmitting section. The resolution converting section enlarges or reduces a binary picture which represents the shape of an object. The encoding section encodes a binary picture reduced by the resolution converting section. The reduction ratio used by the resolution converting section is encoded, and the transmitting section transmits this encoded reduction ratio along with encoded data on the binary picture. The amount of encoded data produced from the encoding section is controlled by changing the enlargement/reduction ratio used by the resolution converting section.

Abstract: A conventional MPEG video encoder searches forward motion vectors with respect to a previous image and backward motion vectors with respect to a subsequent image in order to provide a motion-compensated prediction image for encoding B-pictures. This requires 2N accesses to the memory in which said images are stored. Searching the motion vectors for P-pictures requires N memory accesses. The invention uses the spare capacity by running a two-pass motion vector search in the P-coding mode. In the second pass, the precision of the motion vectors found in the first pass is further refined. This provides more accurate motion vectors for P-pictures.

Abstract: A decoder is used in an end-to-end scalable video delivery system operable over heterogeneous networks. The decoder may software-based and computationally low complexity, or may be implemented inexpensively in ROM hardware. The system utilizes a scalable video compression algorithm based on a Laplacian pyramid decomposition to generate an embedded information stream. At the receiving end, the decoder extracts from the embedded stream different streams at different spatial and temporal resolutions. Decoding a 160×120 pixel image involves only decompressing a base layer 160×120 pixel image. Decoding a 320×240 pixel image involves decompressing and up-sampling (e.g., interpolating) the base layer to yield a 320×240 pixel image to which is added error data in a first enhancement layer following its decompression.