Abstract: Methods and systems for processing graphical data received at a computing system from a remote source are described. One method includes decoding received graphical content, the received graphical content including an image being compressed using a plurality of codecs, wherein decoding the received graphical content includes creating a decoded image. The method also includes, based on quality of the received graphical content, selecting from among a plurality of filters to apply to the decoded image. The method further includes applying a plurality of filters to at least a portion of the decoded image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a deblocking filtering method, a method for inducing bs (boundary strength) therefor, and a method and an apparatus for encoding/decoding using the same. The method for inducing the bS of the present invention comprises the steps of: inducing a boundary of a deblocking filtering unit block as a unit block for applying the deblocking filtering; and setting the bS according to each bS setting unit block within the deblocking filtering unit block, wherein the bS setting step can set a bS value for a target boundary corresponding to a boundary of the deblocking filtering unit block as the bs setting unit block.

Abstract: A decoder may apply a resource-focused interpolation mode to enable or disable interpolation or extrapolation of video units, such as frames, based on power and quality considerations. In one mode, interpolation may be disabled to conserve power when reference frames are not likely to produce satisfactory quality. In another mode, the threshold may be adjustable as a function of power saving requirements. This disclosure also describes selection of reference video frames to be used for interpolation or extrapolation of a video frame. A decoder may apply a quality-focused mode to select a reference frame based on quality criteria. The quality criteria may indicate a level of quality likely to be produced by a reference frame. If no reference frames satisfy the quality criteria, interpolation or extrapolation may be disabled. Display of an interpolated or extrapolated frame may be selectively enabled based on a quality analysis of the frame.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptively applying a deblocking filter using a maximum bitrate and/or resolution thresholds are disclosed. In one embodiment, post-processing encoded video data utilizing an adaptive deblocking filter include determining threshold values for maximum bitrate and resolution of encoded video based upon a minimum acceptable video quality for a playback device, selecting a video stream comprising encoded video data with an associated maximum bitrate and resolution, where the video stream is selected based upon an available bandwidth between the playback device and a content distribution server, obtaining encoded video data for a portion of the video stream, decoding the video data for the portion of the video stream, adaptively applying the deblocking filter to the decoded video data for the portion of the video stream, where the deblocking filter is applied utilizing at least one of the determined maximum bitrate and resolution thresholds.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus including a decoding section that decodes quad-tree information identifying a first quad-tree set to a first layer of a scalable-video-decoded image containing the first layer and a second layer higher than the first layer, and a setting section that sets a second quad-tree to the second layer using the quad-tree information decoded by the decoding section.

Abstract: Herein described is a method and system of vertically filtering a graphics image such that an enhanced image is provided to a display. Filtering of the graphics image may be accomplished by using one or more window descriptors. The method may be implemented by computing a weighted average of one or more pixel intensities. The system may comprise a memory, a processor, and a graphics engine. The graphics engine may comprise a graphics blender. The graphics blender may comprise one or more multipliers and one or more adders. The processor may execute software resident in the memory, such that the one or more window descriptors may be used to compute the weighted average.

Abstract: A signal adaptive filtering method for reducing blocking effect and ringing noise, a signal adaptive filter, and a computer readable medium. The signal adaptive filtering method capable of reducing blocking effect and ringing noise of image data when a frame is composed of blocks of a predetermined size includes the steps of: (a) generating blocking information for reducing the blocking effect and ringing information for reducing the ringing noise, from coefficients of predetermined pixels of the upper and left boundary regions of the data block when a frame obtained by deconstructing a bitstream image data for inverse quantization is an intraframe; and (b) adaptively filtering the image data passed through inverse quantization and inverse discrete cosine transform according to the generated blocking information and ringing information. Therefore, the blocking effect and ringing noise can be eliminated from the image restored from the block-based image, thereby enhancing the image restored from compression.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention uses an abbreviated blanking period, in comparison to the standard VESA and CEA-EIA blanking periods, in order to send data, including low bandwidth, non-timing information, over one or more channels of the digital video link. By shortening the blanking period, the amount of time available for sending data in each scan line is increased, enabling the system to send more data over each channel. The inactive video portion of a scan line sent during vertical sync may also be used to send additional digital data. Shortening the blanking periods and/or using the inactive video sections of the horizontal scan lines adds to the overall data capacity of the link and may be used to send other digital data, such as multichannel audio, video, control, timing, closed captioning or other digital data.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a noise filter. The noise filter includes a motion estimation (ME) engine. The ME receives a current frame and a reference frame. The current frame comprising a current block and the reference frame includes a plurality of reference blocks. The ME engine generates final motion vectors. The current block comprises a plurality of current pixels. A motion compensation unit generates a motion compensated block based on the final motion vectors and the reference frame. The motion compensated block includes a plurality of motion compensated pixels. A weighted average filter multiplies each current pixel of the plurality current pixels and a corresponding motion compensated pixel of the plurality of motion compensated pixels with a first weight and a second weight respectively. The weighted average filter generates a filtered block. A blockiness removal unit is coupled to the weighted average filter and removes artifacts in the filtered block.

Abstract: Upsampling filters for use in scalable video coding may be selected from a set of filters each with a different phase. In order to accommodate a phase offset introduced from downsampling required to maintain proper luma/chroma color space positions after upsampling, an offset parameter may be used in computing the filter index. Moreover, a different offset may be used for each filter index. These offsets in effect provide a re-mapping of the filter indices. By remapping the filter indices in this manner the performance of the upsampling process can be improved and errors introduced by rounding or which are caused by the finite precision of the process used to compute the filter indices can be taken into account.

Abstract: Performing deblock filtering on video data may include determining, for a first non-luma color component of the video data, whether to perform deblock filtering based on a first deblock filtering process or a second deblock filtering process. Next, deblock filtering may be performed on the first non-luma color component in accordance with the determined deblock filtering process.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved video encoding and decoding method, which maintains the advantages of LCU-based filter parameter signaling as compared to frame-based filter parameter signaling, but considerably reduces signaling overhead. Therefore, signaling syntax is modified by grouping LCUs (Largest Coding Units) together for signaling employing a mapping function. Consequently, filter parameters no longer need to be signaled for each single LCU, but for a group of several LCUs. The syntax structure of the invention avoids redundancies present in the state of the art as far as possible and thus increases the information content of the syntax elements. At the decoder side, the mapping function is applied to infer information about the filter parameters to be applied to a current LCU from information encoded in different syntax structures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loop filter processing of boundary pixels across a block boundary aligned with a slice or tile boundary is disclosed. Embodiments according to the present invention use a parameter of a neighboring slice or tile for loop filter processing across slice or tile boundaries according to a flag indicating whether cross slice or tile loop filter processing is allowed not. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the parameter is a quantization parameter corresponding to a neighboring slice or tile, and the quantization parameter is used for filter decision in deblocking filter.

Abstract: A combiner processing system and a method of operating the combiner processing system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the combiner processing system is utilized for a support layer processing in a bit-rate reduction system that separates video data into a main layer and a support layer with separated encodings for the two layers for bit-rate reduction and data transmission efficiency. Preferably, the combiner processing system for the support layer processing is capable of processing repeat patterns, small high frequency details, and textual information contained in one or more images. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the combiner processing system for the support layer processing provides a motion vector detection on a full image reconstruction, a non-linear quantization which retains both textual information and small high frequency details, utilization of full combination motion vectors, and a separate processing path for textual information with an internal bit-rate reduction unit.

Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods that use video compression techniques when browsing web pages referencing static image data or video content. In non-limiting examples, this can include using modern video compression techniques when browsing web pages referencing compressed static image data to obtain increased efficiency in transmission and/or rendering of the static image data on a browser at a client device. In an embodiment, a system includes a browser that browses a received web page having a content identifier and an associated video compression data signature. The browser includes a decoder that decodes compressed video content associated with the content identifier in accordance with a type of video compression identified by the video compression data signature to obtain static image data.

Abstract: Steganographic techniques are used to embed financial information or authentication information within an image, audio, or video file using a quantization table and/or other filter. The file is then transmitted over an insecure network, such as a GSM cell phone network, and a server extracts the information from the image, audio, or video using the same quantization table and/or filter. Multiple sets of information, such as telephone numbers and/or payment account numbers, are extracted from the same image by those entities possessing the appropriate keys. The filters and tables used to embed financial information can be updated periodically or according to events. A video of images, some with embedded information, some with ‘dummy’ data, can be used to hide information over insecure networks for payment transactions.

Abstract: A method for sample adaptive offset (SAO) filtering and SAO parameter signaling in a video encoder is provided that includes determining SAO parameters for largest coding units (LCUs) of a reconstructed picture, wherein the SAO parameters include an indicator of an SAO filter type and a plurality of SAO offsets, applying SAO filtering to the reconstructed picture according to the SAO parameters, and entropy encoding LCU specific SAO information for each LCU of the reconstructed picture in an encoded video bit stream, wherein the entropy encoded LCU specific SAO information for the LCUs is interleaved with entropy encoded data for the LCUs in the encoded video bit stream. Determining SAO parameters may include determining the LCU specific SAO information to be entropy encoded for each LCU according to an SAO prediction protocol.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a receiving unit which receives image data of program contents and genre information regarding the program contents; a determining unit which determines a characteristic parameter indicating characteristics of a filter filtering a local image obtainable by decoding encoding data, which is generated by encoding the image data received by the receiving unit, in accordance with the genre information received by the receiving unit; a characteristic changing unit which changes the characteristics of the filter in accordance with the characteristic parameter determined by the determining unit; and an encoding unit which generates the encoding data by encoding the image data received by the receiving unit by executing a prediction process by use of a local decoded image filtered in accordance with the characteristics of the filter changed by the characteristic changing unit.

Abstract: A simplified parametric loop filter uses a set of fixed filters to remove or reduce noise and artifacts introduced during video coding. The simplified parametric loop filter uses the parameters such as direction and bandwidth to uniquely identify a fixed filter from the set of filters. The simplified parametric loop filter implements symmetry between filters, symmetry within each filter, unity DC gain and zero-forcing to 1) reduce the storage space in memorizing the fixed filters, and 2) reduce the computational complexity for performing filtering.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus configured to encode video information includes a memory unit and a processor. The memory unit is configured to store an inter-layer reference picture comprising video information. The processor is operationally coupled to the memory unit. In addition, the processor is configured to partition the inter-layer reference picture into a quadtree structure having a plurality of leafs; determine inter-component filter parameters specific to each individual leaf based upon the video information in each individual leaf and signal the inter-component filter parameters for each of the leafs.

Abstract: A deblocking filtering method, a boundary strength (bS) deriving method, and encoding/decoding method and apparatus using the methods are provided. The bS deriving method includes the steps of: deriving a boundary of a deblocking filtering unit block which is a unit block on which deblocking filtering is performed; and setting a bS for each bS setting unit block in the deblocking filtering unit block. Here, the step of setting the bS includes setting a bS value of a target boundary corresponding to the boundary of the deblocking filtering unit block as the bS setting unit block.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a device for coding and decoding at least a part of an image comprising a plurality of samples, each sample comprising at least two components, and the encoded image comprising at least one filtering parameter. The filtering comprises using at least one filtering parameter as a common filtering parameter for filtering both the first component and the second component of a reconstructed sample.

Abstract: Method for determining frame slice sizes of a frame for multithreaded decoding. The frame is encoded using at least two different slice types based on size where a large-type slice is at least two times larger than a small-type slice and/or the large-type slices comprise 70-90% of the frame. In some embodiments, the number of large-type slices is equal to the number of threads available for decoding and comprise the beginning slices of the frame to be decoded before the small-type slices. Methods for multithreaded deblocking of the frame under the H.264 codec is provided where first and second threads processes first and second sections of the frame in parallel. The first section comprises macroblocks on one side of a diagonal line and the second section comprises the remainder, the diagonal line extending from a first corner of a sub-frame to a second corner of the sub-frame.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that can be used for applying a deblocking filter to a video according to processor usage, in particular on a mobile device. To determine which of a plurality of deblocking filters to use, the system determines an environment indicator indicative of current processor usage, compares the environment indicator to a primary threshold, wherein the primary threshold is indicative of a maximum acceptable processor usage. If the primary threshold is met, the system foregoes any deblocking filtering. If however the primary threshold is not met, the environment indicator is compared to one or more secondary thresholds and a respective one of the plurality of deblocking filters is applied to the video according to which one of the secondary thresholds is met. Each of the plurality of deblocking filters has a different complexity and thus can be chosen to suit the current system environment.

Abstract: An encoding apparatus for inputting a first image signal and a second image signal from an input source different from an input source of the first image signal adaptively decides a first bit rate and a second bit rate which are respectively assigned to a first encoding unit for encoding the input first image signal and a second encoding unit for encoding the input second image signal on the basis of the first image signal, on the basis of photographing mode information or distortion ratios of encoding by the encoding units.

Abstract: A picture processing apparatus is disclosed which includes: a memory; and a decoding circuit configured to decode encoded picture data; wherein the memory holds first and second fields of the decoded picture in different areas while holding field planes of a plurality of reference planes in different areas; the decoding circuit includes a motion compensation circuit configured to effect motion-compensating prediction by dividing into a plurality of divisions each of macro blocks making up the picture data in order to perform motion compensation in accordance with the motion-compensating prediction; and, upon transferring the decoded picture held in the memory during a motion compensation process, the compensation circuit rearranges transfer requests to at least either the same reference plane or the same field plane within a divided macro block on the basis of macro block division information and reference picture information, before transferring the rearranged transfer requests consecutively to the memory.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing video signals, the method comprising: decoding a current frame of a video signal in block units to generate a restored frame, and acquiring first and second flags to acquire a filter coefficient which is adaptively determined from the video signal for each slice on the basis of flag information, or performing deblocking filtering with a predetermined filter coefficient. The present invention relates to a video signal processing method which includes an inter-frame prediction method that determines a motion vector, and a method for performing inter-frame prediction for a residual image. The method for processing video signals can increase the compression encoding efficiency by performing accurate motion prediction and residual image prediction, and can improve the quality of a restored image by removing distortion and performing a filtering for restoring an image that is close to the original image.

Abstract: A hybrid access encoder includes one or more improvements to attenuation-based image and video encoders using images. The hybrid access encoder supports tradeoffs between encoded bit rate and decoded image and video quality. The hybrid access encoder monitors multiple redundancy removal filters and selects the best-performing filter for encoding. The hybrid access encoder operates in a mode that specifies a target decoded image quality and a target encoded bit rate, giving preference to one metric (image quality or bit rate) when both target values cannot be achieved. The hybrid access encoder performs a plurality of passes across each image and can optimize one or more parameters of the encoder settings between passes. A user interface allows users to control the tradeoff between decoded video quality and battery life for a mobile device.

Abstract: A method for image decoding, according to the present invention, includes the following steps: receiving image information including a plurality of filter coefficients; generating a restored block for a current block on the basis of the image information; and applying an adaptive loop filter to the restored block on the basis of the plurality of filter coefficients. According to the present invention, image encoding efficiency may be improved, and complexity may be reduced.

Abstract: A deblocking filter 24 performs filtering of decoded image data obtained by decoding image data encoded for each block, so as to remove block distortion. If at least one of block sizes on adjacent sides of two adjacent blocks is extended larger than a predetermined block size, a filter setting unit 41 sets the tap length to an extended length to increase the strength of distortion removal, or sets a filtering object pixel range to an extended range. When a macroblock having an extended size is used, the degree of smoothing is increased, and pixels including those distant from the block boundary are subjected to filtering. Consequently, even when various block sizes are employed or when blocks of extended sizes are used, images of high image quality can be achieved.

Abstract: This disclosure describes tools capable of generating messages for use in deblocking filtering a video stream, the messages based on prediction parameters extracted from the video stream.

Abstract: Provided is a method for a plurality of processing elements to filter a plurality of pixel blocks in a plurality of picture partitions for a single frame image. The method for filtering pixel blocks includes: checking the status of a second boundary pixel block adjacent to a picture partition boundary, the second boundary pixel block being one of a plurality of pixel blocks in a second picture partition and neighboring a first boundary pixel block in a first picture partition, the first boundary pixel block neighboring the picture partition boundary; selecting a filtering area for the first boundary pixel block based on the status of the second boundary pixel block; and filtering the filtering area for the first boundary pixel block.

Abstract: An automated, computerized method for processing a video is provided. The method includes providing a video file depicting a video, in a computer memory; providing a video file depicting a video, in a computer memory; scale separating the video file by applying an edge-preserving blurring filter to generate a detail scale-separated video and a level scale-separated video corresponding to the video; temporally blurring the detail scale-separated video and spatially blurring the level scale-separated video; combining the filtered detailed scale-separated video and the filtered level scale-separated video to provide an output video; and outputting the output video for use in a data compression operation.

Abstract: A de-blocking filter includes a reconstructed memory that is configured to store reconstructed pixels corresponding to a current macroblock of a video image to be filtered. The current macroblock includes a set of sub-blocks, each sub-block having horizontal edges and vertical edges. An internal pixel buffer in the de-blocking filter is configured to store pixels corresponding to the set of sub-blocks from the reconstructed memory, and to store partially filtered pixels corresponding to a set of partially filtered macroblocks. An edge order controller in the de-blocking filter is configured to load the pixels corresponding to the set of sub-blocks into a filter engine from the internal pixel buffer, to filter the set of sub-blocks, such that, at least one horizontal edge is filtered before filtering all vertical edges of the set of sub-blocks.

Abstract: Adjacent regions are identified in an image. Coding parameters for the adjacent regions are identified. Selective filtering is performed at the region between the identified adjacent regions.

Abstract: Techniques for signaling of sample adaptive offset (SAO) information that may reduce the coding rate for signaling such information in the compressed bit stream are provided. More specifically, techniques are provided that allow SAO information common to two or more of the color components to be signaled using one or more syntax elements (flags or indicators) representative of the common information. These techniques reduce the need to signal SAO information separately for each color component.

Abstract: A method for sample adaptive offset (SAO) filtering and SAO parameter signaling in a video encoder is provided that includes determining SAO parameters for largest coding units (LCUs) of a reconstructed picture, wherein the SAO parameters include an indicator of an SAO filter type and a plurality of SAO offsets, applying SAO filtering to the reconstructed picture according to the SAO parameters, and entropy encoding LCU specific SAO information for each LCU of the reconstructed picture in an encoded video bit stream, wherein the entropy encoded LCU specific SAO information for the LCUs is interleaved with entropy encoded data for the LCUs in the encoded video bit stream. Determining SAO parameters may include determining the LCU specific SAO information to be entropy encoded for each LCU according to an SAO prediction protocol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a simplified pipeline for Sample Adaptive Offset (SAO) and Adaptive Loop Filtering (ALF) in the in-loop decoding of a video encoder and a video decoder. According to the present invention, filter parameter setting regions and filtering processing windows are aligned, to reduce the required amount of memory for parameter sets necessary for delayed filtering. This is preferably achieved by a displacement of the filter parameter setting regions with respect to LCU boundaries in at least one (preferably: vertical) or both vertical and horizontal directions.

Abstract: Techniques related to quality restoration filtering for video coding are described.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for improving an estimation process, comprising providing an image; detecting a failure area within said image to obtain a failure area map; obtaining a motion or disparity estimation map containing estimation vectors determined in an estimation process; providing a local direction model, LDM, map comprising LDM vectors determined on the basis of said estimated vectors and said detected failure area, and adjusting said estimation process dependent on the local direction model map.

Abstract: An encoding and decoding method and technical equipment for the same. The method comprises encoding a picture at various resolutions; determining the position information of samples of each resolution; using the said determined position information during upsampling process of low resolution picture to a higher resolution; and signalling the determined position information of the samples.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive bitrate streaming of video information are provided. If a depth map can be derived or is independently available for the image sequence, the depth map can be used to selectively blur (effectively reducing the resolution of) background areas and to select encoding quantization parameters by image region in order to throttle the bitrate. In a cloud-based gaming application, the depth information can be used to selectively render background layers at lower resolutions thereby improving the compression efficiency of the rendered images.

Abstract: A signal adaptive filtering method for reducing blocking effect and ringing noise, a signal adaptive filter, and a computer readable medium. The signal adaptive filtering method capable of reducing blocking effect and ringing noise of image data when a frame is composed of blocks of a predetermined size includes the steps of: (a) generating blocking information for reducing the blocking effect and ringing information for reducing the ringing noise, from coefficients of predetermined pixels of the upper and left boundary regions of the data block when a frame obtained by deconstructing a bitstream image data for inverse quantization is an intraframe; and (b) adaptively filtering the image data passed through inverse quantization and inverse discrete cosine transform according to the generated blocking information and ringing information. Therefore, the blocking effect and ringing noise can be eliminated from the image restored from the block-based image, thereby enhancing the image restored from compression.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a video content analysis system capturing a first set of video frames representative of a first video content instance and a second set of video frames representative of a second video content instance, applying a morphing heuristic to at least one of the first and second sets of video frames to result in the first and second sets of video frames having a common aspect ratio, a common resolution, and a common container, frame synchronizing, subsequent to the applying of the morphing heuristic, the first and second sets of video frames, and performing a comparative analysis of the frame synchronized first and second sets of video frames. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image processing device and method that enable improvement in processing efficiency in encoding or decoding. A type E0 of an LCU 115 and its coefficient are determined on the encoder side. The coefficient of the type E0 was sent to the decoder side at the time of the LCU 111, and has been stored in an EO buffer included in an adaptive offset filter on the decoder side. For the LCU 115, therefore, a copy of the coefficient of the type E0 in the EO buffer is used on decoder side without the sending of the coefficient of the type E0. As described above, the parameters of the adaptive offset filter, which are transmitted in one batch at the beginning of a frame in the related art, are sent sequentially at the beginning of an LCU for each LCU. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, an image processing device.

Abstract: A decoder can include a first stage operable for decoding (prior to deblocking) an encoded frame, and second stage coupled downstream of the first stage. The second stage includes a first deblocker and a second deblocker that can be used to deblock decoded frames in parallel. Each decoded frame can be classified as a type of frame and is sent to one of the deblockers depending on its classification.

Abstract: In a block-based motion compensated system, coding noises may arise due to lossy operations. Adaptive loop filter (ALF) is a technique used to improve the quality. A pixel adaptive (PA) ALF method was developed that uses the Sum-modified Laplacian Measure (SLM) to classify pixels and applies a respective ALF filter to each pixel according to the SLM. While the PA ALF achieves better performance over a conventional single filter (SF) based ALF, the PA ALF causes higher complexity and consumes more power due to the high complexity and per-pixel filter switching. Accordingly region based ALF scheme is disclosed which allows adaptive filter selection on a region by region basis and does not require per-pixel filter switching. In one embodiment according to the present invention, a picture is divided into M×N regions. The region based ALF also allows region merging for the M×N regions to improve performance.

Abstract: A deblocking filter includes a color resolution expansion unit, an edge filtering unit and a color resolution contraction unit. The color resolution expansion unit increases a color resolution of input video data to generate first video data. The edge filtering unit performs a blurring operation on a block edge of the first video data based on block size information to generate second video data. The color resolution contraction unit reduces a color resolution of the second video data to generate output video data, a color resolution of the output video data being the same as the color resolution of the input video data.

Abstract: A method for determining a resampling filter for resampling a video signal used in scalable video coding includes estimating a set of row filters based on a video signal. The video signal has a base resolution that is resampled to provide an output signal that enables more efficient coding of the video signal with an enhanced resolution higher than a base resolution. The set of row filters is applied to the video signal to generate a first output signal having rows that are interpolated to the enhanced resolution. A set of column filters is estimated based on the first output signal for resampling the columns in the video signal. The set of column filters is applied to the first output signal to generate a second output signal having columns as well as rows that are interpolated to the enhanced resolution.

Abstract: Adjacent blocks are identified in an image. Coding parameters for the adjacent blocks are identified. Deblock filtering between the identified adjacent blocks is skipped if the coding parameters for the identified adjacent blocks are similar and not skipped if the coding parameters for the identified adjacent blocks are substantially different.