Abstract: The present invention is directed to improve compression efficiency by variable-length coding in accordance with characteristics of image data to be processed. An apparatus for compressing quantized data by variable-length coding includes: a statistical information storing memory (212) for storing statistical information (MBTyp and CBPL) of coded image data; a variable-length code table generating unit (213) for generating a variable-length code table on the basis of the statistical information stored in the memory; and a variable-length coding unit (205) for performing variable-length coding on the basis of the variable-length code table.

Abstract: Statistical content block matching for video pre-processing, for example in fast motion estimation, uses a second-order distortion criterion for processing steps such as identifying a best reference image portion for comparison with a current image portion. The second-order distortion criterion is a Lagrange-optimized combination of a mean squared error criterion with an entropy criterion. Then a fast motion estimation search advantageously includes performing a diamond search using the second-order distortion criterion to identify a candidate best reference image portion, and performing a nearest neighbor search starting using said second-order distortion criterion to identify the best reference image portion within a search range limited by an adaptive search range cap. A better motion vector can then be calculated.

Abstract: A macro-block level parallel video decoder for a parallel processing environment is provided. The video decoder includes a Variable Length Decoding (VLD) block for decoding the encoded Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) coefficients, a master node that receives the decoded DCT coefficients, and multiple slave nodes/processors for parallel implementation of Inverse Discrete Cosine Transform (IDCT) and motion compensation at the macro-block level. Also provided is a method for macro-block level video decoding in a parallel processing system.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a moving image encoding apparatus includes a calculation unit, a selection unit, and a compression unit. The calculation unit calculates, for each unit of processing, amounts of code using plural variable length compression modes, the variable length compression modes having compression rates different from each other. The selection unit selects a compression mode in which an accumulated amount of code is smaller than or equal to a predetermined amount of code, the compression mode being selected from the variable length compression modes and a fixed length compression mode on the basis of the amounts of code calculated for the variable length compression modes and an amount of code obtained when the image data is compressed by the fixed length compression mode. The compression unit compresses the unit of processing of image data by the compression mode selected and generates compressed data.

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for encoding a scalable wideband audio signal, the method including: filtering a voiced signal by performing linear prediction on the voiced signal and modulating the filtered signal; encoding the modulated signal in the time domain, and outputting a core layer encoding result of the voiced signal; subtracting a signal obtained by decoding the core layer encoding result from the modulated signal and outputting an error signal; and encoding the error signal and outputting an enhancement layer encoding result of the voiced signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides an entropy coding method for coding video prediction residual coefficients, comprising the steps of: firstly, zig-zag scanning coefficients of blocks to be coded to form a sequence of (level, run) pairs; secondly, selecting a type of code table for coding a current image block to be coded according to a type of macro block; then switching and coding each (level, run) pair in the obtained sequence of (level, run) pairs with multiple tables, with the reverse zig-zag scanning order for the coding order of the pairs; at last, coding a flag of End of Block EOB with the current code table. The present invention of an entropy coding method for coding video prediction residual coefficients fully considers the context information and the rules of symbol's conditional probability distribution by designing different tables for different block types and different regions of level. The coding efficiency is improved and no impact to computational implementation complexity is involved.

Abstract: An implementation of the present invention comprises a voice encoder and decoder method and system that uses voice excitation, eliminating the voice/unvoiced pitch tracking, and the first formant up to 2400 Hertz for synchronous and up to 1600 Hertz for asynchronous, does not use pulse code modulation encoding, but uses the zero crossings only of the first formant, frequency dividing by two and sampling at the formant frequency. The resulting combination uses half or less of the bit rate for excitation and the remainder for short-term spectrum analysis. The spectrum could be updated each 20 milliseconds using 49 bits for the spectrum frame and 49 bits for excitation and one frame bit for synchronous Asynchronous operation could be update at 21.25 milliseconds using 49 bits for the spectrum information and 34 bits for excitation with one bit for frame synchronization.

Abstract: A variable length coding method is comprised of: a coefficient value scanning step in which an RL sequence generation unit 203, a reordering unit 202, and a binarization unit 203 scan coefficient values within a block in a predetermined scanning order starting at a higher-frequency component toward a lower-frequency component; and an arithmetic coding step in which an arithmetic coding unit 205 and a table storage unit 204 perform arithmetic coding on the absolute values of the coefficient values according to the scanning order used in the coefficient value scanning step, by switching between probability tables 1˜4 for use, wherein, in the arithmetic coding step, a probability table to be used is switched to another probability table in one direction, when the arithmetic-coded absolute values of the coefficient values include an absolute value exceeding a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A decoding apparatus includes a decoder configured to receive a series of encoded pictures and to decode each of the encoded pictures to produce a series of decoded pictures, each of the encoded pictures being either intra-encoded or inter-encoded, and each of the decoded pictures being either referred or, non-referred, a blocking noise suppressor configured to suppress blocking noise of each of the decoded pictures, and a controller configured to detect an amount of a load, to run each of the referred decoded pictures through the blocking noise suppressor if the detected amount of the load is no lower than a given threshold, and to have each of the non-referred decoded pictures bypass the blocking noise suppressor if the detected amount of the load is no lower than the threshold.

Abstract: Multimedia application data formats often use data packets and may contain packetized hierarchical layers with a base layer (BL) and one or more enhancement layers (EL). Packets that comprise variable length coded data typically provide padding bits, which can be used for adding checksum information. The checksum information refers to both, the decoded base layer and decoded enhancement layer packet data, and is used for detecting synchronization loss between the layers. Though the packets provide different individual amounts of padding bits, this variable amount of bits per packet is sufficient for adding check-sum information for synchronization related purposes. This allows e.g. out-of-sync detection even if the enhancement layer encoding provides no overhead information for synchronization, in particular no packet headers and no packet synchronization words.

Abstract: A method of encoding a digital image signal comprising a plurality of samples. The method comprises the following steps, applied during the encoding of each sample with a view to its storage in a buffer. The level of occupancy of the buffer is determined, and the level of occupancy is compared with a predetermined threshold. An encoding mode is determined from among a plurality of encoding modes when the level of occupancy is above the predetermined threshold, and encoding the sample according to the determined encoding mode, and the sample is encoded according to a default encoding mode when the level of occupancy is below the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An audio signal is encoded by a first waveform encoder (103) to generate a first waveform based bit-stream component. A second encoder (105) encodes the audio signal to generate a second bit-stream component comprising first enhancement data and a third encoder (107) encodes the audio signal to generate a third bit-stream component comprising second enhancement data for the first waveform based bit-stream component. The first and second bit-stream components correspond to a first representation of the audio signal and the first and third bit-stream components correspond to a second representation of the audio signal. A scalable audio bit-stream is generated by a bit-stream generator (109). The different representations may be selected between by a decoder thereby allowing a flexible and scalable bit-stream to be communicated. The second encoder (105) may specifically be a waveform encoder and the third encoder (107) may specifically be a parametric encoder.

Abstract: In a method for transmission of video information between HTTP servers and clients in a shared network resource, particularly Internet, the video information is stored as a video file consisting of packet-divided video streams compression-coded with average bit rates t(c) which cover the clients' expected channel bit rates s. Each packet and the video file are supplied with a header containing information for realizing a bandwidth-scalable video transmission over a suitable version of HTTP. During transmission switching between the video streams takes place on the basis pf an estimation of the channel bit rate s and the information in the packet header, such that the bit rate t(c) is adapted to the client's actual channel bit rate s. In a method for client-executed search and retrieval of video information in a shared network resource, particularly searching of a video frame Fx in a packet-divided video stream, the packets in a video stream are divipacket packet in each group.

Abstract: Provided is a method of coding and decoding a moving image, which can optimize the coding rate and reduce the time required for decoding the first image frame during an operation of displaying the image. The coding method includes receiving an image, determining the number of frames in a GOP to be decoded with respect to the image, performing a 3D wavelet transformation on the GOP, and coding the results of the 3D wavelet transformation.

Abstract: A video decoding method includes receiving video data and transforming the video data from a Huffman tree to at least one full tree and at least one one-side tree. One microcode corresponding to the video coding standard that has encoded the received video data is read where a format of the read microcode is determined. The method further includes reading video data from the transformed video data according to the consuming length of the read microcode if the format of the read microcode is a leaf, and decoding the read video data according to the decoding field of the read microcode to output a decoding result.

Abstract: Transform coefficients of sample blocks of a macroblock of a video picture are encoded by adaptively encoding a combination, the number of non-zero coefficients before the trailing one coefficients and the number of trailing one coefficients. The transform coefficients may be further encoded by adaptively encoding one or more of the signs of the trailing one coefficients, the level measures of the interposed in the non-zero coefficients. Adaptive encoding of the number and trailing one coefficients may be performed in view of one or more neighboring sample blocks, whereas adaptive encoding of level measure may be performed in view of quantization parameters of a macroblock and previously encoded level measures. Decoding may be performed in an inverse manner.

Abstract: In a system and method for processing a form comprising a plurality of entry markings, an area-array image sensor may capture an image of the form in free-space without requiring relative movement of the sensor and the form. A processor may interpret the captured image to determine at least a first entry selection based, at least in part, on the position of at least one of the plurality of entry markings with respect to at least one other marking in the image.

Abstract: Disclosed is a management apparatus and method of 32-bit double VLD buffers capable of reading a bitstream for video decoding in a digital TV receiver in a predetermined bit data unit length. Particularly, the first VLD buffer is used for directly storing an input stream in bytes, and the second VLD buffer is used for reading and storing the bitstream from the first VLD buffer, reading the bitstream with the required bit length of the VLD by bit unit, and outputting it to the VLD. As a result, 32-bit data can be processed at once. In addition, the double VLD buffer structure also reduces the number of accesses to the VLD buffer and thus, the repetitive memory access procedure can be simplified for the VLD.

Abstract: A motion picture encoding method includes searching for a first motion vector between an object block of an input motion picture and a reference image for a frame-based prediction mode, searching for a second motion vector between the object block and the reference image for a field-based prediction mode, generating a first and second predictive residuals in accordance with the first and second motion vector, extracting a first and second feature quantities indicating a first and second similarity between lines of the first and second predictive residual, selecting the frame-based prediction mode in a case where the first similarity is larger than the second similarity based on the first and the second feature quantity, selecting the field-based prediction mode in a case where the second similarity is larger than the first similarity, and inter-frame-coding the input motion picture in accordance with the selected prediction mode.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a video signal with N frames is provided. The apparatus includes an encoding module and a selecting module. The encoding module performs a 1st through a Nth encoding procedure. The 1st through the Nth encoding procedure respectively encodes the 1st through the Nth frame among the N frames in a full-image-encoding mode, encodes other frames in an adaptive-image-encoding mode, and calculates the data amount of the N encoded frames in each encoding procedure, respectively. The selecting module selects the N encoded frames with the smallest data amount among the encoding procedures been performed.

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.

Abstract: A variable-length coding apparatus which receives image data block by block, and generates coded data from syntax elements. A storage unit temporarily stores the image data, while, at the same time, a first syntax element calculating unit calculates a first syntax element from the image data. A first coding unit generates coded data of the first syntax element from a value of the first syntax element. A second syntax element is calculated from the image data by a second syntax element calculating unit that reads out the image data stored in the storage unit. A second coding unit generates coded data of the second syntax element on the basis of the values of the first and second syntax elements, and a packing unit connects the coded data of the first and second syntax elements.

Abstract: A video encoding method, a video encoder, and a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) are disclosed. The PVR includes: a first video decoder for decoding an input MPEG-2 video signal, calculating reference picture information of the MPEG-2 video signal and a motion vector of a reference picture, and outputting the calculated result; a first video encoder for encoding the decoded MPEG-2 video signal into a H.264 video signal using the motion vector and the reference picture information generated from the first video decoder; and a storage unit for storing the H.264 video signal generated from the first video encoder. Therefore, the PVR can effectively transcode the MPEG-2 format image into the H.264 format image, can display a desired image or video signal without deterioration of an image quality, and can quickly transform a compression format of the image into another format.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus in which there are provided a first storage unit for storing signals to which indexes are given in order to distinguish each of a plurality of signals that are to be coded; a first index computing unit for computing first indexes of non-zero signals among the signals stored in the first storage unit; a second index computing unit for computing second indexes from a base index and the first indexes; a second index storage position search unit for searching for a storage position in a second storage unit in which the second indexes are to be stored based on values of the indexes stored in the second storage unit; a second index preserving unit for preserving the second index in the second storage unit based on a storage position searched for by the second index storage position search unit; and a control unit for giving the base index to the second index computing unit and for controlling operation of the first index computing unit, the second index computing unit the second index stor

Abstract: A variable-length encoding apparatus receives image data on a block basis, generates a plurality of syntax elements from the image data, and outputs an encoded stream by performing variable-length encoding of the syntax elements. This apparatus includes a block memory unit group including at least two block memory units which store image data on a block basis, generates at least one syntax element by reading out transformation coefficients from the block memory units, independently variable-length-encodes each of syntax elements and outputs variable-length codewords, includes a variable-length code memory unit group including at least two variable-length code memory units which independently store the variable-length codewords as codeword streams, and generates one encoded stream from the respective codeword streams supplied from the variable-length code memory unit group.

Abstract: System and method for decoding digital video data. The decoding system employs hardware accelerators that assist a core processor in performing selected decoding tasks. The hardware accelerators are configurable to support a plurality of existing and future encoding/decoding formats. The accelerators are configurable to support substantially any existing or future encoding/decoding formats that fall into the general class of DCT-based, entropy decoded, block-motion-compensated compression algorithms. The hardware accelerators illustratively comprise a programmable entropy decoder, an inverse quantization module, a inverse discrete cosine transform module, a pixel filter, a motion compensation module and a de-blocking filter. The hardware accelerators function in a decoding pipeline wherein at any given stage in the pipeline, while a given function is being performed on a given macroblock, the next macroblock in the data stream is being worked on by the previous function in the pipeline.

Abstract: A video decoder, encoder, and corresponding methods for processing video data for an image block and a particular reference picture index to predict the image block are disclosed that utilize adaptive weighting of reference pictures to enhance video compression, where a decoder includes a reference picture weighting factor unit for determining a weighting factor corresponding to the particular reference picture index; an encoder includes a reference picture weighting factor assignor for assigning a weighting factor corresponding to the particular reference picture index; and a method for decoding includes receiving a reference picture index with the data that corresponds to the image block, determining a weighting factor for each received reference picture index, retrieving a reference picture for each index, motion compensating the retrieved reference picture, and multiplying the motion compensated reference picture by the corresponding weighting factor to form a weighted motion compensated reference picture

Abstract: A video encoder is composed of a DC/AC prediction unit performing DC/AC prediction, a motion vector prediction unit performing motion vector prediction, and a memory. The memory is accessible from both of the DC/AC prediction unit and the motion vector prediction unit.

Abstract: A moving image processor includes a first and a second moving image processing unit which are able to perform parallel operation, and a data transfer unit having a first buffer and a second buffer. The first moving image processing unit processes macroblocks MB00, - - - , of one row of one image sequentially, and the second moving image processing unit processes macroblocks MB10, - - - , of the next row sequentially. The first and the second moving image processors include a first and a second deblocking filters, respectively. Operation timing of the second filter is delayed by the processing time of two macroblocks, compared with operation timing of the first filter. The processing results of the first filter and the second filter are transferred to an external memory via the first buffer and the second buffer of the transfer unit.

Abstract: Subtitling aims at the presentation of text information and graphical data, encoded as pixel bitmaps. The size of subtitle bitmaps may exceed video frame dimensions, so that only portions are displayed at a time. The bitmaps are a separate layer lying above the video, e.g. for synchronized video subtitles, animations and navigation menus, and therefore contain many transparent pixels. An advanced adaptation for bitmap encoding for HDTV, e.g. 1920.times.1280 pixels per frame as defined for the Blu-ray Disc Prerecorded format, providing optimized compression results for such subtitling bitmaps, is achieved by a four-stage run length encoding. Shorter or longer sequences of pixels of a preferred color, e.g. transparent, are encoded using the second or third shortest code words, while single pixels of different color are encoded using the shortest code words, and sequences of pixels of equal color use the third or fourth shortest code words.

Abstract: Subtitling aims at the presentation of text information and graphical data, encoded as pixel bitmaps. The size of subtitle bitmaps may exceed video frame dimensions, so that only portions are displayed at a time. The bitmaps are a separate layer lying above the video, e.g. for synchronized video subtitles, animations and navigation menus, and therefore contain many transparent pixels. An advanced adaptation for bitmap encoding for HDTV, e.g. 1920.times.1280 pixels per frame as defined for the Blu-ray Disc Prerecorded format, providing optimized compression results for such subtitling bitmaps, is achieved by a four-stage run length encoding. Shorter or longer sequences of pixels of a preferred color, e.g. transparent, are encoded using the second or third shortest code words, while single pixels of different color are encoded using the shortest code words, and sequences of pixels of equal color use the third or fourth shortest code words.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a unique memory management scheme utilized by the DTP whereby data extracted from an external source is placed in a memory buffer and is then manipulated by the components without the need for copying the data to any other location in memory. While logically the data moves from component to component in the DFE for the various embodiments described herein, the data does not in fact change locations but, instead, the data resides in the buffer and is operated upon by a series of components that, in turn, access the data in the buffer via pointers and manipulate same.

Abstract: Some embodiments facilitate encoding/decoding of a frame by organizing frame data in a storage structure in a novel manner. Specifically, in a portion of the storage structure allocated for a frame slice, used partition entries are stored in a first section of the allocated portion and unused partition entries are stored in a second section of the allocated portion, the first and second sections each comprising a continuous area of storage in the storage structure so that used partition entries are not interspersed with nonused partition entries. In some embodiments, additional data useful in the encoding or decoding of video data is determined and stored into the unused bytes of used partition entries (such as macroblock header data or canonical reference frame index data). In some embodiments, two or more identical partitions of a macroblock are coalesced into a single partition.

Abstract: The invention is related to entropy coding/decoding of transform coefficient data in video compression systems. For entropy coding coefficients representing a block in a video image, a preferred embodiment of the present invention introduces events combining the position of the last non-zero coefficient in the block with whether the absolute value is greater than 1. Further, no information from outside the macroblock is used to decide what VLC to use. Coefficients are typically coded by starting in a Run-mode and continuing in Level-mode when the first coefficient with absolute value >1 is found.

Abstract: In high-end professional video cameras, a triax system transfers various signals back and forth over a single coaxial cable between the camera and a base unit using frequency multiplexing. Current low-cost camera systems transfer several signals as analogue signals over separate wires or cables. However, a standard serial SDI signal from the camera to a base unit replaces the analogue camera CVBS video output signal achieving a maximum data rate of 270 Mbit/s. To improve efficiency, a single SDI or HDSDI connection transmits a digital playback video signal as well as a digital teleprompter video signal from the base unit to the camera. A one-dimensional adaptive dynamic range compression reduces the data word length of the two video signals transmitted via the SDI/HDSDI connection. A smaller data word length is assigned to one of the two video signals than to the data word length of the other one.

Abstract: A block encode circuit (800) including a scanner (820) operable to scan a block having data values spaced apart in the block by run-lengths to produce a succession of pairs of values of Level and Run representing each data value and run-length, and wherein the Level values include one or more AC values succeeded by a DC value in the succession, and a Run-Level encoder (830) responsive to said scanner (820) to encode the values of Level and Run in a same AC to DC order as in the succession of pairs of values from said scanner (820) to deliver an encoded output. Other encoders, decoders, codecs and systems and processes for their operation and manufacture are disclosed.

Abstract: A moving picture encoding method capable of using a reference frame number in multi-frame motion prediction and variable-length code reference frame information corresponding to the number includes the steps of: calculating a reference frequency of the reference frame; acquiring, with the reference frequency, reference frame identification information so that a ratio of a reference frame index code occupying a bit stream is reduced; and multiplexing the reference frame identification information together with encoded moving picture data. Instead of the calculation of the reference frequency, the reference frequency of the reference frame may be estimated by calculating a frame similarity.

Abstract: An encoding system includes a video coding layer (VCL) to generate slices when encoding multimedia data, a generic adaptation layer (GAL) to create, from the slices, a set of GAL units having a format that is generic to various transport systems, and a network adaptation layer (NAL) associated with a specific transport system to map the set of GAL units to the format of the specific transport system.

Abstract: An apparatus including a parsing circuit and a control circuit. The parsing circuit may be configured to generate a plurality of decoded syntax elements in response to (i) a serial bitstream and (ii) a control signal. The control circuit may be configured to generate the control signal in response to the plurality of decoded syntax elements. The parsing circuit may generate the plurality of decoded syntax elements by grouping syntax elements for atomic decoding such that each (i) one or more consecutive syntax elements without context information relevant to the decoding and (ii) a non-zero syntax element presented at the end of each group.

Abstract: Techniques and tools are described for decoding jointly information. For example, a decoder decodes a variable length [“VLC”] signaled at macroblock level that jointly represents a transform type signal level, transform type, and subblock pattern. The decoder decodes one or more VLCs signaled at block level, each jointly representing a transform type and subblock pattern. The decoder may select between multiple VLC tables for the VLCs signaled macroblock level and/or block level.

Abstract: An entropy encoding apparatus comprises: a binarization unit configured to convert an input syntax element into binarized data; a context calculation unit configured to generate a context index; a context memory unit configured to hold context information; and an arithmetic coding unit configured to perform arithmetic coding using context information output corresponding to the generated context index, and the binarized data, is provided. The context memory unit comprises: a storage unit, an initial value generation unit configured to generate an initial value of context information, a control unit configured to output a control signal specifying which to select between the initial value and the context information which corresponds to the generated context index, a selection unit configured to select either of the initial value or the context information which corresponds to the generated context index, an updating unit configured to generate updated context information.

Abstract: A system and method for processing video are disclosed. The method may include, in a chip, parsing an encoded video stream to determine one or more identifiers that identifies one or more corresponding CODEC to be utilized for decoding one or more corresponding portions of said encoded video stream. Corresponding portions of the encoded video stream may be decoded utilizing the identified one or more corresponding CODECs. The corresponding portions of the encoded video stream may be concurrently decoded utilizing the identified one or more corresponding CODECs. The one or more corresponding CODECs to be utilized for the decoding of the one or more corresponding portions of the encoded video stream may be selected from a plurality of CODECs.

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.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to obtain a statistic multiplexing effect in an image transmission system using terminals stipulated by H.310 of an ITU-T recommendation. In a network including a first local area ATM network, a second local area ATM network and a public ATM network connected to the first and second ATM local area networks, multiplex gateway devices are interposed between the local area ATM networks and the public ATM network, respectively. The multiplex gateway apparatus includes ATM transmission line units 21 to 23 for calculating statistic information represented by a mean rate and a peak cell rate of ATM cells in the transmission ATM signal. A statistic multiplexing control unit 24 conducts rate addition after statistic multiplexing according to the statistic information and determines the rate addition result.

Abstract: To decode coded pictures each of which has dependencies within the picture, using conventional decoding circuits and without deteriorating the efficiency in parallel processing. An image decoding device (100) includes: a stream segmentation unit (110) which segments a bit stream such that each of the coded pictures are segmented into two areas; and decoding processing units (120, 130) each of which decodes a corresponding one of the two segmented bit streams. The respective decoding processing units (120, 130) include: decoding units (123, 133) each of which generates decoded data including pixel data and control data; transfer determination units (124, 134) each of which determines whether or not the decoded data is referred to in another one of the processing units; data transfer units (125, 135) each of which transfers decoded data to the other processing unit; and decoding determination units (122, 132) each of which determines whether or not the decoded data to be referred to has been obtained.

Abstract: A sequence of video images represented using multiple related timelines can be searched by identifying a first point on a first timeline associated with the sequence of video images, wherein the sequence of video images is comprised of one or more samples, determining a search range on a second timeline associated with the sequence of video images based on a positive offset and a negative offset associated with the one or more samples, and searching the second timeline based on the determined search range for a second point that corresponds to the identified first point. A display offset can be associated with each of the samples comprising the sequence of video images, wherein one or more of the display offsets can comprise a negative value. Additionally, the search range can be based on a maximum positive display offset and maximum negative display offset associated with the one or more samples.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of determining encoding type and predictive mode(s) selections for a macroblock of a video frame is provided. In some embodiments, a general method 1) selects the encoding type (16×16 or 4×4) that is initially considered for a macroblock using an encoding type selection algorithm (based on an attribute of the macroblock that is easy to compute), 2) if the 16×16 encoding type is selected in step 1, consider the four 16×16 prediction modes that may be used on the macroblock using conventional methods or an improved 16×16 predictive mode search algorithm based on distortion thresholds, and 3) if the 4×4 encoding type is selected in step 1, select the 4×4 prediction mode to be used for each of the sixteen 4×4 blocks of the macroblock using conventional methods or an improved 4×4 predictive mode search algorithm based on the positional relationships between predictive modes.

Abstract: A multi-scanner scans a signal according to several different patterns. A scanning pattern selector determines which scanning pattern produced the most efficient coding result, for example, for runlength coding, and outputs a coded signal, coded most efficiently, and a selection signal which identifies the scanning pattern found to be most efficient.

Abstract: A method that decodes serially received MPEG variable length codes by executing instructions in parallel. The method includes an execution unit, which includes multiple pipelined functional units. The functional units execute at least two of the instructions in parallel. The instructions utilize and share general purpose registers. The general purpose registers store information used by at least two of the instructions.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein to produce encoded video bitstreams and to similarly decode encoded video bitstreams according to a coding standard not supported by an on-chip encoder/decoder. For purposes of encoding, a video sequence is received at a first device. A first bitstream is generated at the first device by encoding the video sequence according to a first coding standard and information associated with the video sequence is generated at the first device according to a second coding standard. The first bitstream and the information are then transmitted to a second device. At the second device the first bitstream is decoded to produce a second bitstream. The second bitstream and the information are combined by removing syntax elements associated with the first coding standard from the second bitstream and adding the information to produce a third bitstream according to the second coding standard. Similar techniques are provided for decoding an encoded bitstream to recover a video sequence.