Abstract: A method of sharpening video data may include, for at least some pixels in the video data, determining a motion value for a pixel. The sharpness of the pixel may be changed inversely in relation to the motion value of the pixel. Pixels that have higher velocities may be sharpened less than slower moving or stationary pixels in an image of video data.

Abstract: Techniques and tools are presented for controlling artifacts such as banding artifacts, ringing artifacts and film scan artifacts in video. For example, before encoding, a pre-processor performs combined filtering and dithering on video such that the weight of dithering at a location depends on the results of filtering at the location. For the combined filtering and dithering, the pre-processor can determine a lowpass signal and highpass residual, weight dithering based on local characteristics of the highpass residual, and then combine the lowpass signal with the weighted dithering. Or, to determine the relative weight, the pre-processor can use a filter whose normalization factor varies depending on how many sample values around a location are within a threshold of similarity to a current sample value at the location. The filtering and dithering can use different strengths for luma and chroma channels.

Abstract: A deblocking filter module can be used in a video processing device that processes a video input signal in accordance with a plurality of coding parameters. The deblocking filter module includes an adaptive deblocking filter that receives a plurality of samples and produces a plurality of filtered samples in response thereto, the adaptive deblocking filter having at least one filter parameter that is controllable in response to a filter control signal. A filter control module generates the filter control signal based on the plurality of coding parameters.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing the quality of an audio signal produced by an audio codec are described herein. In accordance with the systems and methods, a pitch-based pre-filter adaptively filters an input audio signal to produce a filtered audio signal. An audio encoder encodes the filtered audio signal to generate a compressed audio bit stream. An audio decoder decodes the compressed audio bit stream to generate a decoded audio signal. A pitch-based post-filter adaptively filters the decoded audio signal to produce an output audio signal, wherein adaptively filtering the decoded audio signal comprises undoing at least part of a signal-shaping effect of the pitch-based pre-filter.

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: A system for performing finite input response filtering. The system includes an array of random access memories (RAMs) for storing at least one two-dimensional (2D) block of pixel data. The pixel data is stored such that one of each type of column or row from the 2D block of pixel data is stored per RAM. A control block provides address translation between the 2D block of pixel data and corresponding addresses in the array of RAMs. An input crossbar writes pixel data to the array of RAMs as directed by the control block. An output crossbar simultaneously reads pixel data from each of the array of RAMs and passes the data to an appropriate replicated data path, as directed by the control block. A single instruction multiple data path block includes a plurality of replicated data paths for simultaneously performing the FIR filtering, as directed by the control block.

Abstract: An adaptive temporal motion filter for a video decoder system operates in an infinite impulse response (IIR), a max or a bypass mode. The adaptive temporal motion filter includes an adaptive time constant control module and a filter gain module. A gain factor of the filter gain module is varied by the adaptive time constant control module for every pixel in a current composite video signal. The adaptive time constant control module selects a variable gain for the filter gain module based on the motion magnitude, motion polarity and chroma luma status of the pixel.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods whereby a base coded video signal is provided to a decoder having a set of post-processing stages. The base coded video signal can be decoded to produce a base decoded video signal. Post-processing of the base decoded video signal can be used to produce an enhanced quality video output signal. Application of a post-processing stage can be implemented according to the capabilities of the decoder and/or the instantaneous operating parameters of the decoder and/or characteristics of a display. A control signal, communicated over a dedicated channel separate from the base coded video signal, can be used initiate and/or aid implementation of a post-processing stage. The control signal can also provide information to assist/manage the decoding of the base coded video signal. The use of additional post-processing stages increases the complexity of an overall decoding process while improving the quality of a resulting reproduced video sequence.

Abstract: A video transcoder for converting a compressed input video bit-stream having one spatial resolution into a compressed output video bit-stream having a different spatial resolution in a manner that enables the transcoder to dynamically change the amount of computational resources allocated to the conversion process. In one embodiment, the video transcoder has a plurality of configurable processing paths whose configuration determines the amount of allocated computational resources. Exemplary processing-path configuration changes may include, but are not limited to engaging or disengaging a processing path, redirecting a data flow from flowing through one processing path to flowing through another processing path, and attaching or detaching one or more processing modules to an engaged processing path.

Abstract: It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a video encoding apparatus, a video decoding apparatus, a video encoding method, a video decoding method, and a computer program, which allow adaptive filter coefficients to be used with a reduced amount of coding. A video encoding apparatus AA selects a suitable coefficient from among multiple kinds of interpolation filter coefficients determined beforehand by means of a component external to the video encoding apparatus AA. Subsequently, the video encoding apparatus AA records identification information uniquely defined for the selected interpolation filter coefficient in control information for each slice. Furthermore, the video encoding apparatus AA uses the interpolation filter coefficient thus selected to generate encoded data c including the identification information uniquely defined for the interpolation filter coefficient thus selected.

Abstract: A video filter processes a video input signal having a frame type. The video filter includes a horizontal deblocking filter that is coupled to receive the video input signal and to produce a filtered video signal in response thereto. A vertical deblocking filter includes a mode controller that generates a mode control signal based on the frame type. A filter is selectively enabled based on the mode control signal, and wherein, when the filter is selectively enabled, the filter video deblock filters the filtered video signal to generate the processed video signal.

Abstract: A framework for efficient sum of absolute difference (SAD) computations for variable block size, sub-pixel motion estimation is presented. Simultaneous, or parallelized, SAD computations can be performed by storing and re-using previous SAD computational information, which can speed up the performance of a motion estimation module by reducing the number of cycles necessary to perform a particular motion estimation algorithm.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a type of picture encoding of a decompressed video signal by detecting periodic changes of high frequency content of individual fields of the video signal. The determination may be used in particular to align picture types in successive video compression systems in a video compression concatenation chain.

Abstract: A picture processing apparatus for carrying out decoding processing to produce picture data from a bit stream generated previously in processing performed typically by a coding apparatus to code the picture data by selection of setting of picture types from a frame structure of the picture data and from a field structure of the picture data and by execution of an orthogonal transform process for each orthogonal transform process unit of the picture data on a prediction error, which is a difference between a predicted value generated for each predicted-value generation unit of the picture data and the true value of the picture data.

Abstract: The present technology relates to an image processing device and an image processing method which allow a deblocking filtering process to apply filtering appropriately. A pixel (p0i) of which the value is 255 (solid line) before a deblocking process changes greatly to 159 (dot line) after a conventional deblocking process. Therefore, a clipping process having a clipping value of 10 is performed in strong filtering, whereby the pixel (p0i) of which the value is 255 (solid line) before the deblocking process becomes 245 (bold line). Thus, a change in the pixel value occurring in the conventional technique can be suppressed as much as possible. This disclosure can be applied to an image processing device, for example.

Abstract: A depth image encoding apparatus and a depth image decoding apparatus are provided. The depth image encoding apparatus may compute coefficients used to restore an edge region and a smooth region of a depth image, and may restore the depth image using the depth image and a color image.

Abstract: A video transmission method is provided, which includes receiving state information from at least one mobile terminal that intends to perform a video stream service through a wireless network, determining a size of an image by selecting a specified spatial layer bit stream on the basis of the state information of the mobile terminal from a plurality of spatial layer bit streams generated at different bit rates during encoding of the bit stream, selecting a specified time and an SNR layer bit stream by increasing or decreasing time of the image and a layer position of the SNR layer bit stream on the basis of network parameters included in the state information of the mobile terminal, and transmitting the bit stream generated by extracting the specified layer bit stream of the selected layer to the mobile terminal.

Abstract: Video frames of a higher-resolution chroma sampling format such as YUV 4:4:4 are packed into video frames of a lower-resolution chroma sampling format such as YUV 4:2:0 for purposes of video encoding. For example, sample values for a frame in YUV 4:4:4 format are packed into two frames in YUV 4:2:0 format. After decoding, the video frames of the lower-resolution chroma sampling format can be unpacked to reconstruct the video frames of the higher-resolution chroma sampling format. In this way, available encoders and decoders operating at the lower-resolution chroma sampling format can be used, while still retaining higher resolution chroma information. In example implementations, frames in YUV 4:4:4 format are packed into frames in YUV 4:2:0 format such that geometric correspondence is maintained between Y, U and V components for the frames in YUV 4:2:0 format.

Abstract: Cross-plane filtering may be used to restore blurred edges and/or textures in one or both chroma planes using information from a corresponding luma plane. Adaptive cross-plane filters may be implemented. Cross-plane filter coefficients may be quantized and/or signaled such that overhead in a bitstream minimizes performance degradation. Cross-plane filtering may be applied to select regions of a video image (e.g., to edge areas). Cross-plane filters may be implemented in single-layer video coding systems and/or multi-layer video coding systems.

Abstract: A method of encoding a plurality of adaptive filter coefficients (104, 107, 112) into a bitstream (110). The method comprises the steps of entropy encoding (109) the adaptive filter coefficients (104, 107, 112) into the bitstream (110), whereby a prediction (202) for an instance (204) of the adaptive filter coefficients is determined (201) based on at least one of the remaining adaptive filter coefficients (206), a prediction error (205) is determined (203) based on the difference between the instance (204) of the adaptive filter coefficients and the prediction (202), and wherein the step of entropy encoding (109) the plurality of adaptive filter coefficients (104, 107, 112) comprises entropy encoding (109) the prediction error (205) for the instance (204) of the adaptive filter coefficients and entropy encoding (109) the remaining adaptive filter coefficients (206).

Abstract: Presented herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for real-time high definition television encoding. In one embodiment, there is a method for encoding video data. The method comprises performing motion estimation in parallel of a plurality of pictures using original reference pictures associated with the plurality of pictures; examining the plurality of pictures to determine whether their content is complex; and low pass filtering pictures with complex content to smooth them before proceeding to continue with the encoding process.

Abstract: An encoder/decoder obtains pixel data from one or more field lines associated with a first block in an interlaced frame coded picture comprising plural macroblocks each having an equal number of top and bottom field lines. The encoder/decoder obtains pixel data from one or more field lines associated with a second block and performs in-loop deblocking filtering across a boundary. The in-loop deblocking filtering comprises filter operations performed on pixel data from field lines of same polarity only. In another aspect, an encoder/decoder obtains transform size information for plural blocks of macroblock, obtains field/frame type information for the macroblock and selects one or more boundaries for in-loop deblocking based at least in part on the transform size information and the field/frame type information. In-loop deblocking can be performed on horizontal block boundaries prior to vertical block boundaries.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for adjusting certain pixel values in an image. In an embodiment of the invention, an average pixel value of pixels at given distances from a selected pixel are examined to determine if the pixel is in a high-contrast area. If the pixel is in a smooth color gradient transition area, the pixel value may be adjusted in some embodiments using an additional dither or dither pattern to reduce differences between the pixel values of the selected pixel and the additional average pixel values exceeding the lower threshold.

Abstract: The subject invention has both apparatus and method aspects. A first embodiment of the method aspect is for encoding a video signal having a plurality of frames, each frame having a plurality of blocks. The method includes identifying a first frame from the plurality of frames as an I-frame, the first frame having an original resolution. The method also includes determining a variance for the first frame using a processor. If the variance exceeds an intra threshold: (a) selecting a frame resolution for the first frame that is less than the original resolution, and (b) encoding the first frame using the selected frame resolution is performed.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for displaying video data without displaying delay in a video decoder which cannot judge the end of a picture. The method includes receiving video data including a picture formed of blocks; extracting an address of a current block in the received video data; and selectively displaying the picture based on the extracted address of the current block.

Abstract: In a sequence of digitized images having a plurality of pixels, a signal is coded for each of the images that is dependent on the image content of the images. The uncoded signal is reconstructed and reconstructed images are derived therefrom in the course of the coding process. The reconstructed images undergo filtering in which a particular reconstructed image is divided into partitions with at least one filter parameter defined for each partition. At least some of the partitions are respectively described using one or more parameters of a function that describes the curve of pixels within a predetermined image region, the pixel curve dividing the predetermined image region into at least two partitions.

Abstract: A method of encoding video data includes encoding a quantization parameter delta value in a coding unit (CU) of the video data before coding a version of a block of the CU in a bitstream so as to facilitate deblocking filtering. Coding the quantization parameter delta value may comprise coding the quantization parameter delta value based on the value of a no_residual_syntax flag that indicates whether no blocks of the CU have residual transform coefficients.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to systems and methods for picture up-sampling using direct interpolation. Some aspects of the present invention provide an up-sampling procedure designed for the Scalable Video Coding extension of H.264/MPEG-4 AVC.

Abstract: In video encoding and decoding predictions may be generated by intra-frame prediction. Intra-frame prediction uses reconstructed pixels in a reconstructed frame. Intra-frame prediction is performed by extending the reconstructed pixels into a predicted block using intra-frame prediction modes, each intra-frame prediction mode indicating a direction of the extension. In order to reduce the number of possible intra-frame prediction modes, a subset is selected from a predetermined set of possible intra-frame prediction modes. A subset of intra-frame prediction modes can be created by forming preselection sets of intra-frame prediction modes on the basis of similarity of their associated predicted blocks and selecting a representative intra-frame prediction mode from each preselection set.

Abstract: Methods and systems for video image coding are provided. Sets of filters may be selected and applied to video information at least partially based on phase displacement information between a first and second layer of video information. For example, the phase displacement information may correspond to a difference between a position of a pixel in the first layer and a corresponding position of the pixel in the second layer. The selected filter set can be an up-sampling filter or a down-sampling filter. The phase displacement information may be encoded as a syntax element embedded in the video bit stream.

Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus and method for decoding an encoded bitstream to generate a video signal are taught. A decoder receives the bitstream and decodes a portion thereof to obtain at least a portion of a predictive reference frame. The reference frame is generated by, for example, selecting a filter set including a target frame with a block having a plurality of pixels and at least one adjacent frame, determining a coding mode associated with the block, determining a block-specific factor derived from the coding mode, determining weighted averages of pixels in the filter set and using the weighted averages to generate the predictive reference frame. The decoder also generates a residual from another portion of the encoded bitstream that represents a portion of a frame of the plurality of frames and reconstructs the portion of the frame by adding the residual to the predictive reference frame.

Abstract: Blocking artifacts at a block boundary between a block and a neighboring block in a video frame are reduced by calculating an offset based on pixel values of pixels in a line of pixels in the block and based on pixel values of pixels in a corresponding line of pixels in the neighboring block. The offset is added to the pixel value of the pixel closest to the block boundary in the line of pixels and is subtracted from the pixel value of the pixel closest to the block boundary in the corresponding line of pixels. The resulting deblocking filter has good low-pass characteristics and is efficient for reducing blocking artifact.

Abstract: A method for compressing a stream by means of a codec (C), provided for assigning to a compressed stream an encoding throughput (Q) measured in bits per second, using a pre-filter (X1) replacing in the header (T1) of the original stream, the restoration frequency (R) with a frequency equal to the product (R×K) of the restoration frequency (R) by a coefficient (K) and then for retransmitting the thereby filtered stream (FX1) to the codec; the post-filter (X2) replacing the restoration frequency (R) into the header (TX2) of a stream (FX2) resulting from the encoding of the pre-filtered stream (FX1) by the codec C.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image processor configured to: receive an image, take area-specific samples (11) of the image information of the area and calculate (12) a reference value (REF) on the basis of the samples; store into a memory (16) or to transmit (17) the reference value (REF) calculated for an area and the area identifier (ALUE) area-specifically; check (13) whether the reference value (REF) obtained as a result of the calculation and the image information (INF) corresponding to it have already been stored in the memory (16) or transmitted (15); and to store into the memory (16) or to transmit (15) the calculated reference value (REF) and the corresponding image information (INF), if the reference value (REF) and the corresponding image information (INF) have not been stored into the memory or transmitted previously.

Abstract: A video processing system includes a data buffer and a storage controller. The data buffer is shared between a plurality of in-loop filters, wherein not all of the in-loop filters comply with a same video standard. The storage controller controls data access of the data buffer, wherein for each in-loop filter granted to access the data buffer, the data buffer stores a partial data of a picture processed by the in-loop filter. Another video processing system includes a storage device and a storage controller. The storage controller adaptively determines a size of a storage space according to a tile partition setting of a picture to be processed by an in-loop filter, and controls the storage device to allocate the storage space to serve as a data buffer for storing data of the in-loop filter.

Abstract: A method for performing temporal error concealment is provided. The method includes the following steps: detecting a damaged macroblock having four 8×8 damaged blocks; obtaining motion vectors of a plurality of 4×4 neighboring blocks surrounding the damaged macroblock; and for each of the 8×8 damaged blocks, determining a predicted motion vector according to motion vectors of six of the plurality of 4×4 neighboring blocks which are closest to the 8×8 damaged block.

Abstract: The invention is related to decoding of block wise coded video pictures. The determination of using de-blocking filtering between coded blocks is based on alternative characteristics compared to the characteristics used in H.264/AVC.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods and devices for upsampling images and design of upsampling filters. Some aspects relate to a determination of a phase offset position in a higher resolution picture relative to a lower resolution picture. Interpolation filter coefficients for some filters may then be selected based on the filter offset. Other aspects relate to selection of coefficients for filters that are not dependent on the phase offset. In certain implementations, a weighting factor may be used to combine the effects of a phase-offset-dependent filter and an independent filter.

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: A system, apparatus, and method for filtering a decoded video stream having a plurality of frames, each frame having a plurality of blocks. The method can include selecting a current block from a current frame of the plurality of frames and an adjacent block from the current frame of the plurality of frames, the current block being adjacent to and sharing an edge with the adjacent block and filtering the edge between the current block and the adjacent block using a processor if an output from an edge-detection function of the values of at least four pixels located about the edge and within a line of pixels extending through both the current block and the adjacent block is less than an edge threshold.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus including: area determination unit configured to determine whether or not an area of a control block functioning as control unit for filtering of an image includes a processing-target slice area of a plurality of slices formed in a frame of an encoded image; control information creation unit configured to create filter control information representing whether or not the filtering is performed for the area of the control block including a processing-target slice for each area of the control block including the processing-target slice when the area determination unit determines that the area of the control block includes the area of the processing-target slice; and filter unit configured to perform filtering for the image based on the filter control information created by the control information creation unit.

Abstract: A method of processing a video signal is disclosed. The present invention includes receiving prediction information of a macroblock and filter information, predicting a current picture using the prediction information of the macroblock, and applying a filter using the predicted current picture and the filter information. Accordingly, accuracy of prediction can be enhanced by applying a filter to a frame predicted before a residual for a predicted frame is coded. As the residual is reduced, efficiency of video signal processing can be enhanced.

Abstract: When an image processing apparatus capable of connecting to a digital camera is to perform image-correction processing on irreversible-compression encoded image data acquired from the digital camera, it is determined whether the image-correction processing can be executed by the connected digital camera. When the processing can be executed, it is confirmed whether or not RAW data that corresponds to the irreversible-compression encoded image data is present in the digital camera. If the corresponding RAW data is present in the digital camera, the digital camera is requested to execute the image-correction processing based on the RAW data. This makes it possible to suppress degradation in the image quality more than when directly correcting an irreversible-compression encoded image.

Abstract: Disclosed are a filter and a method to improve the objective and subjective video coding performance The filter comprises: a parameter estimation unit configured to determine means and variances from a pilot frame; a filter unit configured to receive quantized residual coefficients in video coding process and restore coefficients from the quantized residual coefficients and the determined means and variances; an inverse ICT unit configured to apply an inverse ICT to the restored coefficients to obtain a filtered frame; a rate-distortion optimization unit configured to determine a quadtree block partition index; and an adaptive block selection unit configured to select final blocks according to quadtree block partition index, the final blocks being utilized to form the filtered frame.

Abstract: An apparatus for coding video information according to certain aspects includes a memory unit and a processor in communication with the memory unit. The memory unit stores difference video information associated with a difference video layer of pixel information derived from a difference between an enhancement layer and a corresponding base layer of the video information. The processor determines a value of a video unit based on a reference video unit or spatial neighboring video unit within the difference video layer and applies a smoothing filter to the reference video unit or spatial neighboring video unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-linear prediction filtering are described. The method may include performing motion compensation to generate a motion compensated prediction using a block from a previously coded frame. The method may also include performing non-linear filtering on the motion compensated prediction in the transform domain with a non-linear filter as part of a fractional interpolation process to generate a motion compensated non-linear prediction. The method may also include subtracting the motion compensated non-linear prediction from a block in a current frame to produce a residual frame, and coding the residual frame.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, information processing apparatus which decodes compressed and encoded video stream by software, selectively generates one of intra and inter prediction image on the basis of encoding mode of decoding object from video stream and decoded images thereof, generates a residual error decoded image on the basis of a quantization parameter of decoding object from video stream, generates decoded image by adding intra and inter prediction image selectively generated, and residual error decoded image, applies deblocking filter process for reducing block distortion onto decoded image, extracts at least one of information on a quantization parameter and information on encoding mode of decoding object from video stream, determines whether or not filter process is skipped on the basis of extracted information thereof, and selectively skips filter process on the basis of a result of determination, and selectively switches determination and processing of skip to be valid or invalid.

Abstract: Techniques are described that can be used to determine parameters of an adaptive Wiener filter to apply to a video region. The following parameters of the Wiener filter may be adjusted: coefficients, coefficient quantization, filter type, filter size, prediction mode, entropy encoding, and number of filter tables. The parameters associated with the lowest rate distortion cost of the encoder are selected for transmission with the encoded video. If not using adaptive Wiener filtering results in a lowest rate distortion cost, then adaptive Wiener filtering is not used for the video region. If using adaptive Wiener filtering results in a lowest rate distortion cost, then the parameters applied by the adaptive Wiener filtering that result in the lowest rate distortion cost are communicated with the filtered video region.

Abstract: Techniques and tools for bitstream-controlled filtering are described. For example, a video encoder puts control information into a bitstream for encoded video. A video decoder decodes the encoded video and, according to the control information, performs post-processing filtering on the decoded video with a de-ringing and/or de-blocking filter. Typically, a content author specifies the control information to the encoder. The control information itself is post-processing filter levels, filter selections, and/or some other type of information. In the bitstream, the control information is specified for a sequence, scene, frame, region within a frame, or at some other syntax level.

Abstract: Provided are a bS derivation process and a deblocking filtering method and apparatus using illumination compensation and/or chrominance compensation, such as a multi-view video coding, in a picture coding/decoding process in which a prediction coding is performed. If neither of the two blocks are intra-coded, neither of the two blocks do contain a none-zero transformed coefficient, and motion compensation for the two blocks is performed based on the identical reference frame and the absolute difference between the horizontal or vertical components of the two motion vectors of the two blocks is less than 1, the bS of the two blocks is derived by considering whether the two blocks are coded by illumination compensation (IC) according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, if both of the two blocks are coded by IC mode or neither of the two blocks are coded by IC mode, bS is set as such a value that filtering is unnecessary.