Abstract: Video streams, either in form of on-demand streaming or live streaming, usually have to be transcoded based on the characteristics of clients' devices. Transcoding is a computationally expensive and time-consuming operation; therefore, streaming service providers currently store numerous transcoded versions of the same video to serve different types of client devices. Due to the expense of maintaining and upgrading storage and computing infrastructures, many streaming service providers recently are becoming reliant on cloud services. However, the challenge in utilizing cloud services for video transcoding is how to deploy cloud resources in a cost-efficient manner without any major impact on the quality of video streams. To address this challenge, in this paper, the Cloud-based Video Streaming Service (CVSS) architecture is disclosed to transcode video streams in an on-demand manner.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to reduce audio streaming latency between audio and Gigabit Ethernet subsystems are disclosed herein. An example integrated circuit disclosed herein to process an audio stream associated with an endpoint device on a network includes an Ethernet subsystem to access the network and an audio subsystem to process audio data associated with the audio stream. The disclosed example integrated circuit also includes a direct hardware path between the Ethernet subsystem and the audio subsystem to exchange audio data between the Ethernet subsystem and the audio subsystem without the audio data being processed by a first software driver that is to provide access to the Ethernet subsystem or a second software driver that is to provide access to the audio subsystem.

Abstract: Video streams, either in form of on-demand streaming or live streaming, usually have to be transcoded based on the characteristics of clients' devices. Transcoding is a computationally expensive and time-consuming operation; therefore, streaming service providers currently store numerous transcoded versions of the same video to serve different types of client devices. Due to the expense of maintaining and upgrading storage and computing infrastructures, many streaming service providers recently are becoming reliant on cloud services. However, the challenge in utilizing cloud services for video transcoding is how to deploy cloud resources in a cost-efficient manner without any major impact on the quality of video streams. To address this challenge, in this paper, the Cloud-based Video Streaming Service (CVSS) architecture is disclosed to transcode video streams in an on-demand manner.

Abstract: A driving assist apparatus acquires vehicle information which includes a gear state and speed of a vehicle; judges a state of preparing for movement, a state of starting movement, and a state during movement; generates a wide-angle image that is an image that can see a wide range although having distortion when the vehicle state is the state of preparing for movement or the state of starting movement; and generates a no-distortion image that is an image in which the distortion due to the lens shape and the distortion by the projection system are eliminated from the camera image when the vehicle state is the state during movement.

Abstract: A triple-mode connectivity apparatus for enabling interoperability between a multimedia display interface and a data interface. The apparatus comprises a universal connector installed in a first device and structured to enable connectivity between the multimedia display interface and the data interface of a second device, the first device is connected to the second device using a cable having a first connector compliant with the universal connector and a second connecter compliant with the data interface of the second device; a physical layer interface for processing signals compliant with the multimedia display interface and the data interface; and a detector for detecting an interface type of the second device and setting the apparatus to process signals according to the determined interface type.

Abstract: Provided is a video processing device capable of displaying an easily viewable video utilizing a broader area in a display. A video processing unit that is included in the video processing device and processes an input video includes a first memory that stores the input video, a second memory that stores the input video, a compression/expansion control unit that compresses and/or expands a first area of the input video stored in the first memory and compresses and/or expands a second area of the input video stored in the second memory, and an image composing unit that generates an output video in which a video of the first area compressed and/or expanded by the compression/expansion control unit and a video of the second area compressed and/or expanded by the compression/expansion control unit are horizontally aligned.

Abstract: In one embodiment an apparatus for splicing an ad into a data stream includes an ad segmenter, an ad variant generator coupled to the ad segmenter, and an ad variant selector coupled to the ad variant generator. The ad segmenter designates end portions, including beginning and ending portions, of the ad and designates an intermediate portion between the end portions. The ad variant generator generates a plurality of variants of at least one end portion. Each variant corresponds to a unique bit-rate. The ad variant selector selects at least one variant for splicing into the data stream based on a buffer level of a data stream buffer.

Abstract: The invention provides a solution for secure and non-manipulatable processing of a data stream in a receiver, possibly in conjunction with a smartcard. A packet identity and a content type identifier associated with the packet identifier are received in encrypted form and securely processed within the receiver to allow an encrypted payload of the data stream to be processed without the possibility to manipulate the content type identifier in an attempt to intercept the payload after decryption.

Abstract: A system configured to decode video data in a packetized elementary stream (PES) including frames of image data. The system includes a processor configured to receive a transport stream including control information associated with the image data including video metadata parameters associated with application specific functions applicable to the image data. The processor is also configured to receive the PES including the frames of image data in video access units. The processor is configured to retrieve and decode the retrieved video access units using the control information to form a signal including the frames of image data. The system also includes a storage device configured to store the frames of image data and the control information.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a request for an audio stream associated with a video output may be received. Upon receiving the request, the requested audio stream may be encoded for transmission over a network and sent to a user device associated with the request.

Abstract: Embodiments for video content source resolution detection are provided. Embodiments enable systems and methods that measure video content source resolution and that provide image-by-image source scale factor measurements to picture quality (PQ) processing modules. With the source scale factor information, PQ processing modules can be adapted dynamically (on a picture-by-picture basis) according to the source scale factor information for better picture quality enhancement. In addition, embodiments provide source resolution detection that is minimally affected by video coding artifacts and superimposed content (e.g., graphics).

Abstract: An image processing method includes: receiving a plurality of image frames; receiving a definition signal; and performing an noise reduction operation upon the image frames according to the definition signal, where the definition signal is utilized for representing a sharpness level of the image frames, and a degree of the noise reduction operation the image frames being processed is varied with the sharpness level of the image frames.

Abstract: A down-sampling operation is performed on moving image data to reduce a sample count of the data to 1/M times the original sample count. In the down-sampling operation, a band-limitation operation is performed on the moving image data using a low-pass filter. The low-pass filter has a stop band frequency that prevents a harmonic component having a K-th order or higher, of harmonic components generated in the down-sampling operation, from overlapping an original signal component. The down-sampling operation is then performed on the band-limited moving image data, thereby compressing the moving image data. Aliasing distortion caused by a harmonic component of a high order is controlled. The resulting compressed image is free from a substantial loss of a high-frequency component of the original signal.

Abstract: A video processor controlled by a set of non-shadow registers is provided. A list of updates for one or more of the non-shadow registers may be prepared in a memory module. A frame buffer is updated with video data for a display coupled to the video processor. A blanking interval is detected after updating the frame buffer. A direct memory access engine is triggered to transfer the list of updates from the memory module to the non-shadow registers during the blanking interval.

Abstract: A video encoding apparatus provides with a generator to generate a decoded image corresponding to an image obtained by decoding an encoded image obtained by encoding an original image by a first prediction scheme, a selector to select one of the original image and the decoded image as an input image according to a flicker of an image, and an encoder to encode the input image by a second prediction scheme to generate encoded data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for signaling tone map data to an image recipient.

Abstract: An image encoding integrated circuit and an encoded image data transmission method thereof are provided. The image encoding integrated circuit is utilized in a webcam and includes a central processing unit, an image sensing control unit, an image encoder unit, a bit rate monitoring unit, a transmission unit, and a bit rate control unit. The central processing unit, the image sensing control unit, the bit rate monitoring unit, and the transmission unit respectively produce a demand adjustment signal, a sensing status signal, a bit rate signal, and a transmission status signal. The bit rate control unit utilizes at least one of the signals to produce a quantization parameter signal. The image encoding unit transmits encoded image data in a specific bit rate, wherein the bit rate is adjusted according to the quantization parameter signal. The output bit rate of the image encoding unit is adjusted in consideration of even more system parameters, so as to improve the efficiency of the bit rate control.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, method, and article to process a flexible macroblock ordering and arbitrary slice ordering are described. The apparatus may include a video decoder. The video decoder includes a processor to store coding parameters of one or more neighboring macroblocks in a data buffer. The neighboring macroblocks are previously decoded macroblocks and are adjacent to a current macroblock. The processor is to store control parameters for each of the one or more neighboring macroblocks in the data buffer. The processor is to reconstruct coding parameters for the current macroblock using availability information associated with the neighboring macroblocks.

Abstract: In order to inhibit artifacts (even when a special image has been input) a visual processing device is provided with a spatial processing portion extracting surrounding image information US from an input image signal IS, and a special image detection portion outputting a special image effect adjustment signal DS according to a degree of a statistical bias of the image signal IS. The visual processing device also includes a continuous changing portion outputting an effect adjustment signal MOD in which the special image effect adjustment signal DS is continuously changed between frames, an effect adjustment portion outputting a synthesized signal MUS in which the effect of the visual processing differs depending on the effect adjustment signal MOD, and a visual processing portion outputting a processed signal OS obtained by visually processing the image signal IS based on the image signal IS and the synthesized signal MUS.

Abstract: The invention provides a solution for secure and non-manipulatable processing of a data stream in a receiver, possibly in conjunction with a smartcard. A packet identity and a content type identifier associated with the packet identifier are received in encrypted form and securely processed within the receiver to allow an encrypted payload of the data stream to be processed without the possibility to manipulate the content type identifier in an attempt to intercept the payload after decryption.

Abstract: A transcoder is provided for converting copyright information. The transcoder includes a separator configured to extract a video transport stream packet including a first video stream having copyright information, a non-video transport stream packet, and timing information from a first transport stream. A memory stores the timing information. The conversion unit generates a second video stream from the first video stream by converting the copyright information. A multiplexer multiplexes a video transport stream packet including the second video stream and the non-video transport stream packet based on the stored timing information to generate a second transport stream.

Abstract: A transcoding apparatus and associated methodology of transcoding a first video stream into a second video stream, is provided. A separator extracts a video transport stream packet including the first video stream, a non-video transport stream packet, and timing information from a first transport stream. The timing information indicates a time at which the non-video transport stream packet is formed and the first transport stream relative to the video transport stream packet. A memory is provided to store the timing information. A conversion unit generates the second video stream based on the first video stream. A multiplexer multiplexes a converted video transport stream packed including the second video stream and a converted non-video transport stream packet based on the stored timing information to generate a second transport stream, including the second video stream.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for re-mapping and interleaving transport packets of multiple transport streams for processing by a single transport demultiplexor. At least one PID re-map table is employed having re-map values indexed by n possible PID values of transport packets associated with at one transport stream of the multiple transport streams. The n possible PID values is less than or equal to the number of PID values which can be handled by the single transport demultiplexor, and is less than all possible PID values of transport packets within the multiple transport streams. The PID values within at least one transport stream are compared with the n possible PID values of the PID re-map table, and when a match is found, the table is indexed using the matching entry and a re-map value is generated therefrom. The re-map value replaces the original PID value within the transport packet.

Abstract: Alpha images are efficiently encoded for inclusion in video bitstreams. During encoding, alpha image data is quantized as a first step before differential encoding. The quantized alpha image data is then differential encoded and represented in a modulo domain before entropy encoding to take advantage of certain distribution features of typical alpha image data. During decoding, a decoder performs differential decoding of encoded alpha image data before dequantization. During differential decoding, the data is converted from a modulo domain to a continuous domain. Dequantization is performed using a technique which results in reconstructed alpha image values which include 0 and maximal values within the acceptable alpha image data range so that the process preserves these values for reconstructed alpha images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of mobile terminal devices, dongles and display device connected with external displays for mobile terminals. A mobile terminal device comprises a processing unit having the capability to process high resolution display content, a user interface comprising at least a low resolution display, connected to said processing unit to display low resolution display contents, and a video display interface connected to said processing unit, said display interface having high resolution display contents transferring capabilities to provide said high resolution display contents from said processing unit, wherein said mobile terminal device comprises high resolution display contents compression capabilities to reduce the data rate of said high resolution display contents, and a serial bus connector to transfer said high resolution display contents having a reduced data rate to an external display device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the method includes determining reference picture index numbers in a reference picture list. The reference picture index numbers increase for reference pictures having a decreasing display order with respect to a picture including the macroblock. The reference picture index numbers increase for reference pictures having an increasing display order with respect to the picture including the macroblock, and 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.

Abstract: A signal processing device (1) includes: a generation unit (32) which generates a second signal from a first signal that is obtained by downmixing two signals; a mixing coefficient determination unit (40) which determines, based on a value L and a value ?, a mixing degree for mixing the first signal and the second signal, the value L indicating a level ratio between the two signals, and the value ? indicating a phase difference between the two signals; and a mixing unit (50) which mixes the first signal and the second signal based on the mixing degree determined by the mixing coefficient determination unit (40). The generation unit (32) includes: a first filter (302) which generates a low frequency band signal in the second signal, from a low frequency band signal in the first signal; and a second filter (a processing unit 307) which generates a high frequency band signal in the second signal, from a high frequency band signal in the first signal.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses are disclosed for approximating vertical and horizontal correction values in a pixel value correction calculation. Multiple vertical and/or horizontal correction curves are used and may be employed for one or more color channels of the imager. The use of multiple correction curves allows for a more accurate approximation of the correction curves for image pixels.

Abstract: A down-sampling operation is performed on moving image data to reduce a sample count of the data to 1/M times the original sample count. In the down-sampling operation, a band-limitation operation is performed on the moving image data using a low-pass filter. The low-pass filter has a stop band frequency that prevents a harmonic component having a K-th order or higher, of harmonic components generated in the down-sampling operation, from overlapping an original signal component. The down-sampling operation is then performed on the band-limited moving image data, thereby compressing the moving image data. Aliasing distortion caused by a harmonic component of a high order is controlled. The resulting compressed image is free from a substantial loss of a high-frequency component of the original signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for verifying automatically that a plurality of derivative audio (or other multimedia) files have acceptable sound quality. In one embodiment, each derivative file is compared on a byte-by-byte basis to a corresponding original file to generate a difference. The difference is compared a threshold value (that may be determined empirically). If the difference is too large for many bytes, the derivative file is tagged as having an unacceptable sound quality. In another embodiment, segments of the original and derivative files are converted to the frequency domain and analysis is performed in this domain. The resulting signal could be a tag indicating that whether the derivative file is acceptable, or could be a more comprehensive signal indicative what kind of errors were detected and in what temporal and/or spectral region for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: In a video TS packet separator, a video TS packet VTSP is extracted from a TS (transport stream). In a PES packet analyzer through a TS packet generator, the video TS packet is decoded, re-encodes at a predetermined bit rate, TS-packetized and supplied to a switch input terminal. The switch input terminal is also supplied with non-video TS packets UVTSP from a TS packet buffer. A controller is provided to control the TS packet generator and switch based on timing information and PCR from a TS packet timing manager. Thus, codes in the TS can be converted.

Abstract: Method, system and computer products are provided for re-mapping and interleaving transport packets of multiple transport streams for processing by a single transport demultiplexor. The re-mapping and interleaving technique ensures unique identification of transport packets associated with multiple transport streams to be multiplexed onto a transport channel for demultiplexing by a single transport demultiplexor. At least one PID re-map table is employed having re-map values indexed by n possible PID values of transport packets associated with at one transport stream of the multiple transport streams. The n possible PID values is less than or equal to the number of PID values which can be handled by the single transport demultiplexor, and is less than all possible PID values of transport packets within the multiple transport streams.

Abstract: In a video-processing unit comprising a processing means, memory means and a memory manager, an output of the processing means is coupled to the memory manager for storing of the processed data from the processing means in the memory means to allow execution of different processes in video-processing unit by a single processing means.

Abstract: A command frame according to the invention comprises at least one last command with a continue bit, and a number of padding bits so that the frame occupies an integer number of words. It is designed to allow the position of the continue bit of last command to be determined. A method according to the invention of concatenating a first and a second command frame comprises the following steps: a) determination of the position of the continue bit of the last command of the first frame, b) modification of the continue bit of the last command of the first frame, c) suppression of the non-significant bits of the first frame, d) insertion of at least one command from the second frame after the modified continue bit, e) addition of a number of padding bits in order to form a new frame that occupies an integer number of words.

Abstract: The MPEG2TS packet S3 as the digital broadcast data is obtained from the ECC decoder. The NIT detecting circuit detects NIT from this packet S3, changes the transmitting frequency information and deletes the information (service information) of the program to be limited for viewing, thereby to obtain the table NITb. The NIT replacing circuit detects NIT from the packet S3 and replaces it to the table NITb, thereby to obtain the MPEG2TS packet S4 as the digital broadcast data in CATV. The digital broadcast signal BS1 for CATV can be obtained by executing the error correction code adding process, modulating process and frequency-converting process to the packet S4. The receiving apparatus for receiving the predetermined program on the basis of the program information of NIT can no longer receive the program in relation to the program information deleted by NIT.

Abstract: The video decoding apparatus and method includes providing a storage pointer command over a bus for a video decoder, wherein the storage pointer command contains index data associated with compressed video data. The index data represents, for example, a buffer storage location in a buffer that stores both decoded video being displayed and simultaneously uses another portion of the same buffer for decoding, such that the index data represents the storage location where corresponding decoded data is finally stored before display. The index data is compared with a current index or pointer associated with a current display line of a display engine. The apparatus and method includes stalling storage of compressed or uncompressed video data based on the comparison.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transmitting video images between multimedia terminals (1,1′) in a data transmission system. In the video image transmission first video frames (I) are used, in which information encoded from one video image is transmitted, as well as second video frames (P, B) in which information encoded on the basis of two or more video images is transmitted, from which it is possible to generate a video image in the receiver multimedia terminal (1) by using at least one first (I) and at least one second video frame (P, B). In the method, the fast forward or fast rewind function of the video images is performed by transmitting primarily only first video frames (I).

Abstract: A method for storing video frame data in a memory includes the steps of: sequentially receiving the video frame data; dividing the video frame data into a first part and a second part; storing the first part in the memory; storing the second part in the memory while the stored first part is read from the memory for a certain purpose; and reading the second part stored in the memory for the certain purpose.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit which enables an error bit to be set simply without causing an increase in the size of the circuit even if the packet size is changed and which enables realization of stable operation without the system stopping even if the value of the time stamp is impossible. A pre-reception processing circuit decides if a received packet is normally continuous or discontinuous from data in the DBC region of the CIP header. When deciding it is discontinuous, it sets an error bit ERM allocated to one bit of the upper significant 7 bits of the source packet header to “1”, and writes this in an FIFO. A post-reception processing circuit, when reading from the FIFO, outputs the data stored in the FIFO to the application side when the error bit ERM is “0” and resets the error bit and outputs a dummy error packet when the error bit EMR is “1”.

Abstract: Circuitry for identifying digital data packets, each comprising a useful signal and a header signal containing data pertaining to the contents of the useful signal is provided. The circuitry includes a means (30) for extracting data from each header signal, which data is representative of a corresponding useful signal, a means for storing reference data in a memory, at addresses each corresponding to a packet type, and a means for comparing the data extracted from each header signal with said reference data stored in memory, and for the delivery, to a data processing unit (32,34), of an address signal indicating the nature of the corresponding packet. The data storage means and the comparison means preferably employ an associative memory (38) adapted to ensure the simultaneous comparison of the data extracted from each header signal with the reference data stored in memory.

Abstract: An image signal expressing pel values and a significance signal declaring for each pel whether the pel value is significant are supplied as input signals. By referring to the input significance signal values for the pels proximal to the pel being processed, the significant pels are identified and a resolution conversion characteristics selector selects one of two or more frequency conversion characteristics to be used for resolution conversion of the image signal using only significant pels. A resolution converter then converts the resolution of the input image signal using the selected resolution conversion characteristic, and outputs the result as the image conversion apparatus output signal. Resolution conversion of the input image signal can therefore be accomplished by means of pel subsampling or interpolation without being affected by nonsignificant pels, and resolution conversion with minimal image quality loss caused by the conversion process is achieved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for transmitting digital data within an analog TV signal. Digital data are received from a data source. The digital data are then multilevel encoded and a plurality of data symbols in dependence thereupon is provided. Each of the plurality of data symbols is modulated in frequency domain onto a carrier of a plurality of carriers such that each carrier carries a different data symbol. The modulation step is based on an OFDM method and is performed using a serial to parallel converter. After modulation a digital data signal is provided. Some carriers of the plurality of carriers are turned off in the modulation process in order to shape the spectrum of the digital data signal such that the spectrum of the digital data signal comprises notches at locations coinciding with locations of spectral components in the vestigial sideband of the video carrier of the analog TV signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for MPEG2 has a variable length decoder; a variable length coder; a decoder; and a coder. An information bus switch passes an information bus signal to the variable length coder, and as a control to the decoder and to the coder; and a picture bus signal switch is capable of routing signals through the coder and the decoder and to the variable length coder.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit which enables an error bit to be set simply without causing an increase in the size of the circuit even if the packet size is changed and which enables realization of stable operation without the system stopping even if the value of the time stamp is impossible. A pre-reception processing circuit decides if a received packet is normally continuous or discontinuous from data in the DBC region of the CIP header. When deciding it is discontinuous, it sets an error bit ERM allocated to one bit of the upper significant 7 bits of the source packet header to “1”, and writes this in an FIFO. A post-reception processing circuit, when reading from the FIFO, outputs the data stored in the FIFO to the application side when the error bit ERM is “0” and resets the error bit and outputs a dummy error packet when the error bit EMR is “1”.

Abstract: In a video decoding device for decoding a coded video signal which is supplied as packets each of which containing a plurality of coded block data units which have been generated by encoding blocks each of which is composed of a predetermined number of pixels of a frame of a video signal, an error detection section conducts error detection for each packet by use of error detection code which has been contained in the packet. A packet partitioning section partitions the packet into the coded block data units, while outputting an address signal indicating addresses of blocks that have been contained in the packets to which the errors have occurred. A video decoding section successively decodes the coded block data units. A first invalid block judgment section conducts an invalid block judgment process only for blocks that are designated by the address signal.