Plural Patents (Class 375/240.14)
  • Patent number: 8243803
    Abstract: A moving picture encoding device includes a motion vector detection section configured to detect a motion vector of a predetermined area to be encoded in a frame picture, a prediction section configured to predict the motion vector of the predetermined area to be encoded by using an encoded motion vector of a predetermined area in the frame picture, a determination section configured to determine whether or not the motion vector detected by the motion vector detection section is a predetermined motion vector set in accordance with the motion vector predicted by the prediction section, and a switching section configured to switch a method of calculating a motion compensation value of the predetermined area to be encoded depending on whether or not the motion vector detected by the motion vector detection section is the predetermined motion vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Minoru Etoh, Satoru Adachi, Mitsuru Kobayashi, Sadaatsu Kato
  • Patent number: 8243802
    Abstract: In a moving picture encoding apparatus 10, as an embodiment of the present invention, a predicted image generator 16 generates a predicted image with respect to a target image, using a reference image stored in a frame memory 20. A difference image generator 18 performs a difference operation between the target image and the predicted image to generate a difference image. An encoder 22 encodes the difference image to generate an encoded difference signal. A decoder 28 decodes the encoded difference signal to generate a decoded difference image. A reproduced image generator 30 performs a summation of the decoded difference image and the predicted image to generate a reproduced image. An image updater 32 performs a weighted summation of a first image which is one of the reproduced image and the reference image, and a second image which is the other of the reproduced image and the reference image, to generate an updated image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Choong Seng Boon, Thiow Keng Tan
  • Publication number: 20120201301
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to video coding techniques that support spatial scalability using a generalized fine granularity scalability (FGS) approach. Various degrees of spatial scalability can be achieved by sending spatially scalable enhancement layers in a generalized FGS format. Spatially scalable enhancement bitstreams can be arbitrarily truncated to conform to network conditions, channel conditions and/or decoder capabilities. Coding coefficients and syntax elements for spatial scalability can be embedded in a generalized FGS format. For good network or channel conditions, and/or enhanced decoder capabilities, additional bits received via one or more enhancement layers permit encoded video to be reconstructed with increased spatial resolution and continuously improved video quality across different spatial resolutions. The techniques permit spatial scalability layers to be coded as FGS layers, rather than discrete layers, permitting arbitrary scalability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Yiliang Bao, Yan Ye
  • Publication number: 20120201303
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a device for encoding and decoding videos, and relate to the communication field, and an efficient transformation matrix corresponding to features of each residual block is selected for transformation, which therefore improves encoding efficiency. The solution provided in an embodiment of the present invention is: generating a prediction residual according to input video data; selecting a set of best transformation matrixes among multiple candidate transformation matrixes according to an intra-frame prediction mode and rate-distortion criteria to perform transform-coding on the prediction residual and obtain a transformation result; and generating an encoded stream according to the transformation result and selected transformation matrix index information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mingyuan YANG, Dong WANG, Lianhuan XIONG, Xin ZHAO, Li ZHANG, Siwei MA, Wen GAO
  • Publication number: 20120201302
    Abstract: A method of decoding images including the steps of: extracting motion vector information from input information to be decoded; synthesizing a prediction image by performing motion compensation using the motion vector information and a reference image which is a previously decoded image; and synthesizing a decoded image by adding the prediction image to an error image, wherein the motion compensation includes specifying either a positive rounding method or a negative rounding method for interpolating intensity values of pixels in performing the motion compensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventor: Yuichiro NAKAYA
  • Patent number: 8238426
    Abstract: The image encoding apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention comprises a coding mode determination unit, a prediction image generation unit, a storage unit, and an encoding unit. The coding mode determination unit determines a coding mode relating to which of the first image prediction processing or second image prediction processing is used for generating prediction image of a partial area of input images. The prediction image generation unit extracts the prediction assist information by the first image prediction processing and generates a prediction image based on the prediction assist information. The storage unit stores the reproduced image that is based on the prediction image. The encoding unit generates a bit stream comprising data obtained by encoding the coding mode information and prediction assist information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Choong Seng Boon, Kazuo Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8238432
    Abstract: A weighting factor calculation unit (1903) calculates a weighting factor using characteristics respectively corresponding to a picture to be predicted and a selected reference picture in accordance with a weighting factor equation derived from a fade effect generation principle. For each picture, an intra-picture characteristic calculation unit (1901) calculates the characteristics as characteristics closed in the picture. The weighting factor of a fade picture can be obtained with a small calculation amount at high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Corportion
    Inventor: Hirofumi Aoki
  • Patent number: 8233542
    Abstract: Moving picture motion compensation coding/decoding predicts a motion vector in a coding block from a motion vector of the adjacent position and codes a differential motion vector calculated from the motion vector to be coded and its prediction motion vector. The coding is performed by switching the coding accuracy between a coding accuracy of the differential motion vector (1) and a coding accuracy of the prediction motion vector and the coding motion vector (2) for each block. Moreover, when decoding the motion vector from the differential motion vector coded by the aforementioned coding, a reversed processing with respect to the coding is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8233781
    Abstract: There is provided an image reproduction apparatus for seamlessly reproducing a connected stream which is obtained by connecting plural streams that are respectively coded by different codec methods. An image reproduction apparatus (100) for reproducing a connected stream which is obtained by connecting plural streams of different codec methods such as an MPEG-2 method and an MPEG-4 AVC method is provided with a stream buffer (102) in which the connected stream Bst is stored, and plural decoders Dd1˜Ddn corresponding to the various kinds of codec methods, and a decoder for decoding each stream in the connected stream Bst that is outputted from the stream buffer (102) is selected from among the plural decoders according to the codec method of each stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Nishi, Satoshi Kondo, Masayasu Iguchi, Tadamasa Toma, Hisao Sasai, Toshiyasu Sugio
  • Publication number: 20120189055
    Abstract: A method of coding video data includes determining a candidate motion vector for each of one or more candidate portions of a video frame and determining a current motion vector for a current portion of a current frame. The current motion vector identifies a portion of a reference frame that at least partially matches the current portion of the current frame. The method also includes calculating a motion vector difference between the current motion vector and each of the candidate motion vectors, selecting one of the candidate motion vectors based on the calculated motion vector differences, signaling an index identifying the candidate portion having the selected one of the candidate motion vectors, and signaling the corresponding motion vector difference calculated with respect to the selected one of the candidate motion vectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Wei-Jung Chien, Peisong Chen, Marta Karczewicz
  • Patent number: 8228999
    Abstract: An apparatus for reproduction of an image frame in an image receiving system is disclosed. The apparatus includes a demultiplexer for restoring a received signal to a decodable bitstream and generating start information of each image frame of the bitstream, and an image decoder for decoding the bitstream restored by the demultiplexer, thereby generating a reproducible I frame or P frame, which is an image frame; an image reproduction time uniformity processing module for buffering each image frame output from the image decoder, and then outputting the buffered I frame or P frame while delaying the I frame or P frame based on the start information of each image frame provided by the demultiplexer according to a preset delay time. The present delay time has been preset to be greater than a processing time period required for decoding of an I frame and to be less than a time interval between image frames in the image bitstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-O Park, Kwang-Pyo Choi, Young-Hun Joo
  • Patent number: 8228989
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding and decoding based on inter prediction are provided. In the encoding method, a current block is encoded by respectively performing intra prediction on the current block and a reference block in a reference picture which corresponds to the current block, and performing inter prediction on the current block based on the results of performing intra prediction. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the size of data regarding the current block, which is generated as a result of performing inter prediction, thereby improving the compression rate of video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: So-young Kim, Woo-jin Han
  • Patent number: 8229000
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for enabling inhibition or reduction in the amount of processing to decode and to re-encode image data to be compatible with a transmission capacity upon delivery of converted images. Image data converter 205 converts and transfers an image of a conversion start frame in an intra-mode. Switch 206 transfers the image in the intra-mode, which was transferred by image data converter 205, as the conversion start frame, and transfers image data 103 demultiplexed from received data 100 for the remaining frames. Data synchronization/output unit 208 establishes the synchronization of image with audio by temporally adjusting audio data backward when the converted image data increases in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Ito, Kazunori Osawa
  • Publication number: 20120183068
    Abstract: Embodiments for high efficiency low complexity interpolation filters for High Efficiency Video Coding are disclosed herein, specifically novel techniques for a video compression system. In order to estimate and compensate sub-pel displacements, the image signal on these sub-pel positions is generated by an interpolation process. In HEVC, sub-pel pixel interpolation is performed using filters. Generally, the filter may have 8 taps to determine the sub-pel pixel values for sub-pel pixel positions, such as half-pel and quarter-pel positions. The taps of an interpolation filter weight the integer pixels with coefficient values to generate the sub-pel signals. Different coefficients may produce different compression performance in signal distortion and noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jian Lou, Limin Wang
  • Patent number: 8223842
    Abstract: A moving image decoding device decodes moving image data encoded by a predictive encoding method. In decoding a block that has been encoded by an inter-screen predictive encoding, if a reference block is not stored in frame memory, the moving image decoding device decodes the block assuming that the block has been encoded by an intra-screen predictive encoding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Ikuo Fuchigami
  • Patent number: 8213514
    Abstract: A video frame arithmetical context adaptive encoding and decoding scheme is presented which is based on the finding, that, for sake of a better definition of neighborhood between blocks of picture samples, i.e. the neighboring block which the syntax element to be coded or decoded relates to and the current block based on the attribute of which the assignment of a context model is conducted, and when the neighboring block lies beyond the borders or circumference of the current macroblock containing the current block, it is important to make the determination of the macroblock containing the neighboring block dependent upon as to whether the current macroblock pair region containing the current block is of a first or a second distribution type, i.e., frame or field coded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Detlev Marpe, Heiko Schwarz, Thomas Wiegand
  • Patent number: 8213513
    Abstract: A data reading method for motion estimation in an embedded system is provided. The embedded system includes an external memory device and a video encoding device, wherein the external memory device stores a first frame, and the video encoding device has an internal memory. First, a second frame is divided into M×N sub frame sets, wherein each of the sub frame sets has O×P sub frames. Then, each of the sub frame sets is selected in a calculation sequence, and the selected sub frame set is stored into the internal memory. Next, a predicted search path of each sub frame in the selected sub frame set is calculated. Thereafter; a predicted reading range is determined, wherein the predicted reading range includes the predicted search paths of the sub frames. Finally, a comparison data is read from the first frame according to the predicted reading range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Shih-Chia Huang, Sy-Yen Kuo
  • Patent number: 8213503
    Abstract: Techniques and tools for skip modes in encoding and decoding of inter-layer residual video are described. For example, an encoder encodes multiple macroblocks of a picture of inter-layer residual video. For a current macroblock that is skipped, the encoder selects a skip mode from among multiple available skip modes and uses the selected skip mode when encoding the current macroblock. The skip modes can include intra skip mode and predicted-motion skip mode. A corresponding decoder, for the current macroblock, selects and uses the skip mode for the current macroblock during decoding. As another example, an encoder encodes multiple channels of a picture of inter-layer residual video. For each channel, the encoder determines whether to skip the channel. The encoder signals channel skip information to indicate which channels are skipped. A corresponding decoder parses the channel skip information and determines on a channel-by-channel basis whether to skip the respective channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Chengjie Tu, Shankar Regunathan, Shijun Sun, Chih-Lung Lin
  • Patent number: 8204125
    Abstract: Scalable Video Coding is recently attracting attentions due to its high flexibility. The current H.264/AVC scalable extension has adopted the Motion Compensated Temporal Filter (MCTF) framework to provide temporal scalability. In this paper, described is another fast motion estimation (ME) algorithm based on the MCTF framework. Simulation results show that the herein described algorithm can reduce the encoding complexity significantly while maintaining similar bit rate and PSNR, comparing with existing fast ME algorithms implemented in the reference software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Tsai Sheng Group LLC
    Inventors: Oscar Chi Lim Au, Sui Yuk Lam
  • Patent number: 8204127
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for encoding an image by using motion prediction and a method and apparatus for decoding an image by using motion prediction. The method of encoding an image by using motion prediction, the method includes: determining at least one candidate predictor set including at least one candidate predictor within a candidate predictor range away from a location of a current predictor in a reference frame; determining a reference predictor based on a distortion rate of hypothesis predictors determined according to the at least one candidate predictor of each of the at least one candidate predictor set; performing motion prediction with regard to a current frame by using a reference block corresponding to the reference predictor and a current block; and encoding image data including the current frame based on a result of the motion prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Il-koo Kim, Woo-jin Han, Yu-mi Sohn
  • Publication number: 20120147957
    Abstract: A video encoding method and apparatus and a video decoding method and apparatus. In the video encoding method, a first predicted coding unit of a current coding unit that is to be encoded is produced, a second predicted coding unit is produced by changing a value of each pixel of the first predicted coding unit by using each pixel of the first predicted coding unit and at least one neighboring pixel of each pixel, and the difference between the current coding unit and the second predicted coding unit is encoded, thereby improving video prediction efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Elena ALSHINA, Alexander Alshin, Vadim Seregin, Nikolay Shlyakhov, Maxim Koroteev
  • Patent number: 8199821
    Abstract: A method for context-modeling coding information of a video signal for compressing or decompressing the coding information is provided. An initial value of a function for probability coding of coding information of a video signal of an enhanced layer is determined based on coding information of a video signal of a base layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Byeong Moon Jeon, Doe Hyun Yoon, Ji Ho Park, Seung Wook Park
  • Patent number: 8199834
    Abstract: System and method of providing improved signal compression using frame decimation through frame simplification and generating an encoded bitstream of video frames therefrom are disclosed. The encoding method comprises zeroing a difference frame generated by an encoder by using a feedback loop that injects a reconstructed frame, generated by the encoder of the difference frame, as a next frame of the video frames to be processed by the encoder. The encoding system comprises an input configured to provide a stream of video frames; a first process configured to generate a difference frame, and a second process configured to generate a reconstructed frame. A feedback loop of the system is configured to inject a generated reconstructed frame from the second process of a generated difference frame from the first process as a next frame of the video frames in the stream to be processed into the encoded bitstream by the encoding system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: University of Dayton
    Inventors: Frank Scarpino, Eric Balster, Thaddeus Marrara
  • Patent number: 8194746
    Abstract: Moving picture motion compensation coding/decoding predicts a motion vector in a coding block from a motion vector of the adjacent position and codes a differential motion vector calculated from the motion vector to be coded and its prediction motion vector. The coding is performed by switching the coding accuracy between a coding accuracy of the differential motion vector (1) and a coding accuracy of the prediction motion vector and the coding motion vector (2) for each block. Moreover, when decoding the motion vector from the differential motion vector coded by the aforementioned coding, a reversed processing with respect to the coding is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8194738
    Abstract: A weighting factor mode determination unit determines whether to code an interlaced picture in a field mode or a frame mode, based on a value of a flag “AFF” indicating whether or not to switch between the field mode and the frame mode on a block-by-block basis and notifies switches and a multiplexing unit of the determined mode. The switches select either the field mode or the frame mode according to the notified mode. A field weighting factor coding unit or a frame weighting factor coding unit performs respectively the coding of respective weighting factors when the respective modes are selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Kadono, Satoshi Kondo, Kiyofumi Abe
  • Patent number: 8189114
    Abstract: The automated detection of scene boundaries supports the user in browsing a video. Establishing the similarity between two respective frame sequences is made by choosing and comparing respective key-frames from each frame sequence, which are temporally as far apart from each other as possible but lie outside gradual transitions. Additionally or alternatively, film grammar- and probability-based taking into account of all types of transitions with respect to their separating and/or merging effect on the frame sequences surrounding the transitions and a differently weighted incorporation of the effects of the different types of transitions into uniting frame sequences k into scenes is provided. Thus, all types of transitions are incorporated in determining frame sequence boundaries as scene boundaries with a corresponding weighting, both their separating and merging effect is taken into account, and this knowledge is introduced on a probability basis into the decision in existing scene detection methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Christian Petersohn
  • Patent number: 8189687
    Abstract: A data embedding apparatus including: a selecting unit for selecting, based upon the second data, a prediction system of calculating a prediction value with respect to data to be processed within the first data; a predicting unit for calculating the prediction value of the data to be processed by the prediction system selected by the selecting unit; a difference calculating unit for calculating a prediction error of the data to be processed by employing the prediction value; and a prediction error calculating unit for outputting the coded data, in which the predicting unit includes: a 0-embedding time predicting unit for performing prediction when a bit value of the second data is “0”; a 1-embedding time predicting unit for performing prediction when the bit value of the second data is “1”; and an embedding end time predicting unit for performing prediction when embedding of the second data is accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Sugimoto, Shunichi Sekiguchi, Yuichi Idehara, Yoshihisa Yamada, Yoshiaki Kato, Kohtaro Asai
  • Patent number: 8184711
    Abstract: To stop the decline of the quality of image associated with encoding. The present invention multiplies a decoding rescaling factor (RFr) possibly used in the decoding process by only a transformation matrix (D), which is scale change, to calculate a rescaling factor (RF), which is a plurality of division factors, and then calculates, for each detection unit, the sum (?Y) of evaluation values (Y) based on a residue (r) obtained as a result of dividing an element of a DCT coefficient by a plurality of rescaling factors (RF). Moreover, the present invention compares correlations of the sum (?Y) of the evaluation values (Y) with a plurality of rescaling factors (RF), and detects, based on the rescaling factor (RF) whose sum (?Y) of the evaluation values (Y) is a minimum value, a quantization factor used in the previous process of encoding the input image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuya Horiuchi, Shojiro Shibata, Takaaki Fuchie
  • Patent number: 8184715
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for employing a set of stream processors to greatly accelerate common video encoding and transcoding tasks, with the goal of making these tasks run at a reasonable rate on off-the-shelf hardware. Stream processors are most commonly found in the graphics processing unit (GPU), a commodity piece of computer hardware used to generate images for display. Embodiments of the invention are particularly advantageous to accelerate video encoding and transcoding tasks in which the blocks being processed have dependencies on their neighboring blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Elemental Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse J. Rosenzweig, Brian Gregory Lewis, Samuel Blackman
  • Patent number: 8184700
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image decoder which implements high speed image decoding with a low cost and simple configuration. By a stream dividing module, an input video stream is divided in units of frames as a plurality of frame rows for distribution. Each of plural decoders generates decoded images by decoding a distributed frame row. Of the decoded images generated by the decoders, reference images to be referred to when a subsequent frame is decoded is stored in a reference image frame memory. A timing control module receives information about stream distribution from the stream dividing module and controls the respective timings of decoding frames distributed to the decoders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Komi, Yusuke Yatabe, Keisuke Inata, Mitsuhiro Okada
  • Patent number: 8179966
    Abstract: A moving picture coding apparatus 1 includes a counter unit 102 which counts the number of pictures following an intra coded picture; and a motion estimation unit 101 which compares respectively only reference pictures which are the intra coded picture or the following pictures, selected from among a reference picture Ref1, a reference picture Ref2 and a reference picture Ref3 stored in memories 408˜410, with a picture signal Vin, and determines the reference picture whose inter picture differential value is smallest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Kadono, Satoshi Kondo, Makoto Hagai
  • Patent number: 8175159
    Abstract: Moving picture motion compensation coding/decoding predicts a motion vector in a coding block from a motion vector of the adjacent position and codes a differential motion vector calculated from the motion vector to be coded and its prediction motion vector. The coding is performed by switching the coding accuracy between a coding accuracy of the differential motion vector (1) and a coding accuracy of the prediction motion vector and the coding motion vector (2) for each block. Moreover, when decoding the motion vector from the differential motion vector coded by the aforementioned coding, a reversed processing with respect to the coding is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8175158
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for predicting a prediction parameter which may be used in the prediction of high dynamic range image elements from low dynamic range image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher A. Segall
  • Patent number: 8155213
    Abstract: A method of temporal error concealment for generating the image data of the missing macro-blocks in the current frame by using the previous frame and the correct data of the current frame is disclosed. The method includes the steps: first using Optimal Regression Plane to estimate the space motion vectors for each block in the missing macro-blocks; selecting appropriate motion vectors from the estimated space motion vectors and the correct temporal motion vectors in the previous frame as the candidate motion vectors; dividing the missing macro-block into sub-blocks with optimal size; fine tuning the candidate motion vectors as the predicted motion vectors; and using the predicted motion vectors to generate the predicted image data for the missing macro-block and further concealing the effect of the missing macro-blocks upon the image quality of the current frame. The method reduces the computation time, speeds up the process, and improves the image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Shih-Chia Huang, Sy-Yen Kuo
  • Patent number: 8155191
    Abstract: There are provided video encoders and corresponding methods for performing fast mode decision of B-frames. A video encoder for encoding video data for a B slice that is divisible into macroblocks includes an encoder (OO) for performing mode selection when encoding a current macroblock in the B slice by counting a number of neighboring macroblocks in the B slice coded in a DIRECT mode, and only checking one of the DIRECT MODE or a 16×16 mode for the current macroblock when the number of neighboring macroblocks coded in the DIRECT mode exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Xiaoan Lu, Peng Yin, Jill MacDonald Boyce
  • Patent number: 8144783
    Abstract: A method for transcoding from an H.264 format to an MPEG-2 format is disclosed. The method generally comprises the steps of (A) decoding an input video stream in the H.264 format to generate a picture having a plurality of macroblock pairs that used an H.264 macroblock adaptive field/frame coding; (B) determining a mode indicator for each of the macroblock pairs; and (C) coding the macroblock pairs into an output video stream in the MPEG-2 format using one of (i) an MPEG-2 field mode coding and (ii) an MPEG-2 frame mode coding as determined from the mode indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Guy Cote, Lowell L. Winger
  • Patent number: 8144791
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and medium for video synchronization are provided. The apparatus may include a PTS register storing a presentation time stamp (PTS) of a picture to be reproduced and skip enable flag information indicating whether the picture can be skipped, by using a position of the picture in a video decoder buffer in which pictures to be decoded are stored; and a controller controlling the picture reproduction by skipping, repeating, or reproducing the picture with reference to the PTS and the skip enable flag information stored in the PTS register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Choon-sik Jung, Cheul-hee Hahm
  • Publication number: 20120063514
    Abstract: A method for performing hybrid multihypothesis prediction during video coding of a coding unit includes: processing a plurality of sub-coding units in the coding unit; and performing motion vector derivation of a portion of the sub-coding units. More particularly, the step of performing motion vector derivation of the portion of the sub-coding units further includes: deriving a plurality of motion vectors for multihypothesis motion-compensated prediction of a specific sub-coding unit of the portion of the sub-coding units from at least one other sub-coding/coding unit or by performing motion estimation. The method further includes performing multihypothesis motion-compensated prediction on the specific sub-coding unit according to the plurality of motion vectors, and more particularly, includes utilizing a linear combination of a plurality of pixel values derived from the plurality of motion vectors as a predicted pixel value of the specific sub-coding unit. An associated apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Jian-Liang Lin, Yu-Pao Tsai, Shaw-Min Lei
  • Patent number: 8135073
    Abstract: A video stream containing encoded frame-based video information includes a first frame and a second frame. The encoding of the second frame depends on the encoding of the first frame. The encoding includes motion vectors indicating differences in positions between regions of the second frame and corresponding regions of the first frame, the motion vectors defining the correspondence between regions of the second frame and regions of the first frame. The first frame is decoded and a re-mapping strategy for video enhancement of the decoded first frame is determined using a region-based analysis. Regions of the decoded first frame are re-mapped according to the determined video enhancement re-mapping strategy for the first frame so as to enhance the first frame. The motion vectors for the second frame are recovered from the video stream and the second frame is decoded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Trident Microsystems (Far East) Ltd
    Inventor: Richard Chi-Te Shen
  • Patent number: 8135068
    Abstract: A camera comprising a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to perform image signal processing using encoding related information. The second circuit may be configured to encode image data using image signal processing related information. The first circuit may be further configured to pass the image signal processing related information to the second circuit. The second circuit may be further configured to pass the encoding related information to the first circuit. The second circuit may be further configured to modify one or more motion estimation processes based upon the information from the first circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: José R. Alvarez, Guy Cote
  • Patent number: 8135065
    Abstract: For decoding a scalable video stream, in which the images may be decoded by groups of several images, each group being constituted by at least three levels of image temporal hierarchy, the images of the lowest level having the lowest time frequency and the images of each following level having a time frequency at least twice that of the images of the preceding level, a temporal hierarchy level being formed by at least one predetermined time interval, a time interval separating two images in that temporal hierarchy level: during the decoding of at least one temporal hierarchy level, at least one item of information is obtained representing a parameter relative to the content of the video stream over at least one time interval, and an order in the decoding of the images of each group of images is defined as a function of said information obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Xavier Henocq, Fabrice Le Leannec
  • Patent number: 8130823
    Abstract: A video transmission system includes a transceiver module that transmits a video signal to a remote device over at least one RF communications channel wherein the video signal is transmitted as at least one separate video layer stream chosen from, an independent video layer stream and at least one dependent video layer streams that require the independent video layer for decoding. A control module determines at least one channel characteristic of the at least one RF channel and chooses the at least one separate video layer stream based on the at least one channel characteristic of the at least one RF channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen E. Gordon, Sherman (Xuemin) Chen, Michael Dove, David Rosmann, Thomas J. Quigley, Jeyhan Karaoguz
  • Patent number: 8121192
    Abstract: A process and system for improving a digital image of an object defined by pixels, acquired at the instant t and generated from an X-ray detector receiving X-rays emitted by a source. The process includes: determining a predicted image of the object at the instant t as a function of the images of the object acquired at the instants t?i, i being a positive whole number greater than or equal to 1, and moving of each of the layers constituting the image acquired at the instant t, the number of layers being previously fixed and the moving of each of the layers being previously determined; and generating a visualized image corresponding to a weighted sum of the predicted image and the image of the object acquired at the instant t, so as to attenuate the noise of the image of the object acquired at the instant t.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jean Lienard, Vincent Auvray, Régis Vaillant
  • Patent number: 8107525
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a video communication system capable of providing adaptive compression of video image data. In particular, data regarding the range of possible motions and the respective probabilities of such motion within a scene are collected, and a compression algorithm appropriate to motions having high associated probabilities selected. In response to a change in the motions and associated probabilities within a scene, a new compression algorithm can be selected. The bit rate of data transmitted by a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will therefore vary, depending on the content of an imaged scene and based on the compression algorithm applied in order to compress image data while maintaining appropriate detail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Chan, Stéphane Laveau
  • Patent number: 8090026
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for variable accuracy inter-picture timing specification for digital video encoding is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention discloses a system that allows the relative timing of nearby video pictures to be encoded in a very efficient manner. In one embodiment, the display time difference between a current video picture and a nearby video picture is determined. The display time difference is then encoded into a digital representation of the video picture. In a preferred embodiment, the nearby video picture is the most recently transmitted stored picture. For coding efficiency, the display time difference may be encoded using a variable length coding system or arithmetic coding. In an alternate embodiment, the display time difference is encoded as a power of two to reduce the number of bits transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Barin Geoffry Haskell, David William Singer, Adriana Dumitras, Atul Puri
  • Patent number: 8090154
    Abstract: There are provided a video processing apparatus and a video processing method. The video processing apparatus includes a first motion correcting part which divides a video frame into blocks of a predetermined unit and corrects a motion with respect to at least some area of a present frame by using a motion vector of an adjacent block adjacent to the present block, a second motion correcting part which corrects the motion by using a motion vector of an adjacent frame adjacent to the present frame, and a controller which controls the first motion correcting part to correct the motion if the number of the adjacent blocks on which a video can be displayed is not smaller than a predetermined value, and controls the second motion correcting part to correct the motion if the number of the adjacent blocks on which the video can be displayed is smaller than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyeung-rae Cho
  • Patent number: 8090025
    Abstract: A residual picture is produced and encoded that is a residual picture that is a residual signal between a picture to be coded that is an input moving-picture video signal to be subjected to coding and a predictive picture produced from a reference picture that is a local decoded video signal for each of a plurality of rectangular zones, each composed of a specific number of pixels, into which a video area of the moving-picture video signal is divided. A boundary condition of each of a plurality of borders is obtained between the rectangular zones and another plurality of rectangular zones adjacent to the rectangular zones, and a border, of the reference picture, having a boundary condition that matches the boundary condition, is found by motion-vector search in the reference picture, and border motion-vector data is generated that is data on a motion vector from a border of the rectangular zone in the picture to be coded to the border of the reference picture thus found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoru Sakazume
  • Patent number: 8090014
    Abstract: A system for managing multiview streaming video data composed of a plurality of frames includes an encoder configured to encode multiple representations of at least one frame of the plurality of frames corresponding to multiple views using different reference frames for each of the multiple representations. The system also includes a controller configured to create a coding tree containing the plurality of frames and the multiple representations. The system further includes a data store configured to store the coding tree, wherein the controller is further configured to identify a storage constraint of the data store and to omit at least one of the multiple representations from the coding tree to cause the plurality of frames stored in the data store to remain within the storage constraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Gene Cheung, Antonio Ortega, Takashi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8085844
    Abstract: Techniques and tools for signaling reference frame distances are described. For example, a video encoder signals a code for a reference frame distance for a current field-coded interlaced video frame. The code indicates a count of frames (e.g., bi-directionally predicted frames) between the current frame and a preceding reference frame. The code may be a variable length code signaled in the frame header for the current frame. The encoder may selectively signal the use of a default value for reference frame distances rather than signal a reference frame distance per frame. A video decoder performs corresponding parsing and decoding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Holcomb, Kunal Mukerjee, Chih-Lung Lin
  • Patent number: RE43567
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for estimating a pixel prediction mode to be used in a video encoding or decoding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shijun Sun, Louis Joseph Kerofsky