Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provides systems and methods for processing video content. The methods include: reconstructing a chroma block based on a plurality of luma samples associated with the chroma block, wherein reconstructing the chroma block includes: determining whether the chroma block has non-zero chroma residuals; and in response to a determination that the chroma block has no non-zero chroma residuals, bypassing a process of averaging the plurality of luma samples, wherein the process of averaging is used for reconstructing the chroma block.

Abstract: An image decoding method, a decoder and a storage medium are provided. The method includes: receiving code stream data, and parsing the code stream data to obtain a coding tree unit corresponding to the code stream data; parsing an i-th node of i-th layer corresponding to the coding tree unit to obtain i-th state parameter and i-th flag parameter corresponding to the i-th node; performing detection processing on the i-th node according to the i-th state parameter and the i-th flag parameter to obtain an i-th detection result; acquiring a (i+1)th node of a (i+1)th layer corresponding to the coding tree unit; continuing to perform detection processing on the (i+1)th node, and traversing all the nodes corresponding to the coding tree unit until all the coding unit data corresponding to the coding tree unit is obtained; and generating a decoded image corresponding to the code stream data.

Abstract: A method for picture decoding, a method for picture encoding, a decoder, and an encoder are provided. The method includes the following. A bitstream corresponding to a current picture is acquired. The bitstream is parsed to obtain a flag corresponding to the current picture. A cross-decoding function is disabled when a decoding manner indicated by the flag is independent decoding of colour components, where the cross-decoding function allows decoding based on a dependency relationship between two chroma components. The cross-decoding function is enabled when the decoding manner indicated by the flag is cross-decoding of colour components. The current picture is decoded in a direct mode (DM).

Abstract: Processors, systems and methods are provided for thread level parallel processing. A processor may include a sequencer configured to: decode instructions that include scalar instructions and vector instructions, execute decoded scalar instructions, and package decoded vector instructions as configurations. The processor may further include a plurality of columns of vector processing units coupled to the sequencer. The plurality of columns of vector processing units may include a plurality of processing elements (PEs) and each of the PEs may include a plurality of Arithmetic Logic Units (ALUs). The sequencer may be configured to send the configurations to the plurality of columns of vector processing units.

Abstract: There is provided a method for processing an input signal (700). The input signal (700) is processed at least by converting the input signal (700) from a first colour space to a second colour space, to produce a first processed signal. The processed signal is encoded by a first encoding module (703) to generate a first encoded signal (710). A decoded signal is generated by decoding the first encoded signal (710). The decoded signal is processed at least by converting the decoded signal from the second colour space to the first colour space to produce a second processed signal. The second processed signal and the input signal (700) are processed by a second encoding module (707) to generate a second encoded signal (720).

Abstract: An electronic apparatus performs a method of decoding video data. The method comprises: receiving, from a bitstream, a first control flag that indicates merge mode with motion vector difference (MMVD) is enabled for one or more coding units in a video sequence; receiving a first syntax from the video data that identifies a set of motion vector difference (MVD) offsets from a plurality sets of MVD offsets; receiving, a second control flag corresponding to a respective coding unit of the one or more coding units, which indicates the MMVD is applied to the coding unit; receiving a second syntax that selects an MVD offset from the identified set of MVD offsets, and a third syntax that selects an MVD direction; forming MVD based on the selected MVD offset and MVD direction; and reconstructing the coding unit by applying the formed MVD to generate motion vectors to the coding unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present application relate to a network slice allocation method, a terminal and a storage medium, and belong to the field of communications. The method includes if it is monitored that an application program is in a running state, determining an application type to which the application program belongs; and selecting at least one network slice from network slices corresponding to the application type, and allocating the at least one network slice to the application program; and the network slices corresponding to the application type refer to the network slices which are matched with the application type in advance.

Abstract: Innovations in syntax and semantics of coded picture buffer removal delay (“CPBRD”) values potentially simplify splicing operations. For example, a video encoder sets a CPBRD value for a current picture that indicates an increment value relative to a nominal coded picture buffer removal time of a preceding picture in decoding order, regardless of whether the preceding picture has a buffering period SEI message. The encoder can signal the CPBRD value according to a single-value approach in which a flag indicates how to interpret the CPBRD value, according to a two-value approach in which another CPBRD value (having a different interpretation) is also signaled, or according to a two-value approach that uses a flag and a delta value. A corresponding video decoder receives and parses the CPBRD value for the current picture. A splicing tool can perform simple concatenation operations to splice bitstreams using the CPBRD value for the current picture.

Abstract: An image decoding method, a decoder and a storage medium are provided. The method includes: receiving code stream data, and parsing the code stream data to obtain a coding tree unit corresponding to the code stream data; parsing an i-th node of i-th layer corresponding to the coding tree unit to obtain i-th state parameter and i-th flag parameter corresponding to the i-th node; performing detection processing on the i-th node according to the i-th state parameter and the i-th flag parameter to obtain an i-th detection result; acquiring a (i+1)th node of a (i+1)th layer corresponding to the coding tree unit; continuing to perform detection processing on the (i+1)th node, and traversing all the nodes corresponding to the coding tree unit until all the coding unit data corresponding to the coding tree unit is obtained; and generating a decoded image corresponding to the code stream data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, device and computer-readable medium of a seamless switch between resolutions based on software and hardware decoding and belongs to a field of the Internet technology.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provides systems and methods for processing video content. The methods include: reconstructing a plurality of luma samples associated with a picture; and reconstructing a chroma block associated with the picture. The reconstructing of the chroma block includes: determining whether the chroma block has non-zero residues; and in response to a determination that the chroma block has one or more non-zero chroma residues, determining an averaged value of the plurality of reconstructed luma samples, and scaling residues of the chroma block based on the averaged value, prior to reconstructing the chroma block.

Abstract: An image decoding method, a decoder and a storage medium are provided. The method includes: receiving code stream data, and parsing the code stream data to obtain a coding tree unit corresponding to the code stream data; parsing an i-th node of i-th layer corresponding to the coding tree unit to obtain i-th state parameter and i-th flag parameter corresponding to the i-th node; performing detection processing on the i-th node according to the i-th state parameter and the i-th flag parameter to obtain an i-th detection result; acquiring a (i+1)th node of a (i+1)th layer corresponding to the coding tree unit; continuing to perform detection processing on the (i+1)th node, and traversing all the nodes corresponding to the coding tree unit until all the coding unit data corresponding to the coding tree unit is obtained; and generating a decoded image corresponding to the code stream data.

Abstract: Processor-guided execution of offloaded instructions using fixed function operations is disclosed. Instructions designated for remote execution by a target device are received by a processor. Each instruction includes, as an operand, a target register in the target device. The target register may be an architected virtual register. For each of the plurality of instructions, the processor transmits an offload request in the order that the instructions are received. The offload request includes the instruction designated for remote execution. The target device may be, for example, a processing-in-memory device or an accelerator coupled to a memory.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques for effectively utilizing a standby mode of a set top box (STB). The techniques according to the present disclosure comprise detecting a standby mode of the STB and in response to detecting the standby mode of the STB, selectively toggling an audio decoder of the STB to an ON state or selectively maintaining an ON state of the audio decoder. Accordingly, the techniques according to the present disclosure enable audio only playback from the STB in the standby mode.

Abstract: A method includes performing a conversion between a video comprising a video unit and a bitstream of the video, wherein the bitstream conforms to a format rule, and wherein the format rule specifies that a first syntax element indicating whether an in-loop filtering operation is performed across tile boundaries is selectively included in the bitstream based on whether or how the video unit is partitioned into tiles.

Abstract: Low-latency video coding methods and apparatuses include receiving input data associated with a current Intra slice composed of Coding Tree Units (CTU), where each CTU includes luma and chroma Coding Tree Blocks (CTBs), partitioning each CTB into non-overlapping pipeline units, and encoding or decoding the CTUs in the current Intra slices by performing processing of chroma pipeline units after beginning processing of luma pipeline units in at least one pipeline stage. Each of the pipeline units is processed by one pipeline stage after another pipeline stage, and different pipeline stages process different pipeline units simultaneously. The pipeline stage in the low-latency video coding methods and apparatuses simultaneously processes one luma pipeline unit and at least one previous chroma pipeline unit within one pipeline unit time interval.

Abstract: An encoded representation of a picture of a video stream is decoded by retrieving buffer description from the encoded representation. The buffer description information is used to determine at least one picture identifier identifying a respective reference picture as decoding reference for the picture. A decoded picture buffer is updated based on the determined picture identifier. The encoded representation of the picture itself comprises the information needed by a decoder to identify the reference pictures required to decode the encoded representation.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method and an apparatus including processing circuitry for video decoding. The processing circuitry decodes, from a coded video bitstream, a first syntax element indicating whether a first component in the coded video bitstream is coded based on a second component in the coded video bitstream. The processing circuitry determines whether to decode one or more second syntax elements for a chroma related coding tool based on the first syntax element. The chroma related coding tool is a luma mapping with chroma scaling coding tool or a cross-component adaptive loop filter. The one or more second syntax elements are decoded when the first syntax element indicates that the first component is coded based on the second component. The one or more second syntax elements are not decoded when the first syntax element indicates that the first component is not coded based on the second component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus analyze a difference of at least two gradings of an image on the basis of: obtaining a first graded picture (LDR) with a first luminance dynamic range; obtaining data encoding a grading of a second graded picture (HDR) with a second luminance dynamic range, different from the first luminance dynamic range; and determining a grading difference data structure (DATGRAD) on the basis of at least the data encoding the grading of the second graded picture (HDR), which allows more intelligently adaptive encoding of the imaged scenes, and consequently also better use of those pictures, such as higher quality rendering under various rendering scenarios.

Abstract: A video processing method is provided to include performing a conversion between a coded representation of a video comprising one or more video regions and the video, wherein the coded representation includes a first side information at a first level, and wherein a second side information at a second level is derived from the first side information such that the second side information provides parameters for a video unit coded with in-loop reshaping (ILR) in which a reconstruction of the video unit of a video region is based on a representation of a video unit in a first domain and a second domain and/or scaling chroma residue of a chroma video unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing in-loop luma mapping with chroma scaling are described. One of the methods includes receiving a chrome block and a luma block associated with a picture. The method also includes determining luma scaling information associated with the luma block. The method also includes determining a luma scaling factor of the luma block based on the luma scaling information. The method also includes determining the chroma scaling factor based on a value of the luma scaling factor. The method also includes processing residuals of the chroma block using the chroma scaling factor.

Abstract: An image decoding method, a decoder and a storage medium are porovided. The method includes: receiving code stream data, and parsing the code stream data to obtain a coding tree unit corresponding to the code stream data; parsing an i-th node of i-th layer corresponding to the coding tree unit to obtain i-th state parameter and i-th flag parameter corresponding to the i-th node; performing detection processing on the i-th node according to the i-th state parameter and the i-th flag parameter to obtain an i-th detection result; acquiring a (i+1)th node of a (i+1)th layer corresponding to the coding tree unit; continuing to perform detection processing on the (i+1)th node, and traversing all the nodes corresponding to the coding tree unit until all the coding unit data corresponding to the coding tree unit is obtained; and generating a decoded image corresponding to the code stream data.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an indoor positioning method, an indoor positioning system, an indoor positioning apparatus and a computer readable medium. The indoor positioning method includes: determining an initial position of a target object using combination of wireless positioning and visual feature map matching positioning; and according to the initial position of the target object, performing real-time positioning on the target object using combination of short-time interframe feature matching positioning and the visual feature map matching positioning.

Abstract: A storage system and method for frame trimming to optimize network bandwidth are provided. In one embodiment, a controller of the storage system is configured to receive a request from a host for a video stream stored in the memory, wherein the request comprises an instruction to reduce a frame rate of the video stream due to bandwidth consumption on a network connecting the host and a playback system being more than a threshold; retrieve the video stream from the memory of the storage system; remove frames from the video stream to reduce the frame rate of the video stream per the instructions from the host; and send the reduced-frame-rate video stream to the host. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A video decoding and video encoding method of performing inter prediction in a bi-directional motion prediction mode, in which a prediction pixel value of a current block may be generated by not only using a pixel value of a first reference block of a first reference picture and a pixel value of a second reference block of a second reference picture, but also using a first gradient value of the first reference block and a second gradient value of the second reference block, in a bi-directional motion prediction mode. Accordingly, encoding and decoding efficiency may be increased since a prediction block similar to an original block may be generated.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a video encoder selects a block of intermediate size from a set of block sizes for intra-prediction estimation for encoding a video signal. A set of neighbouring blocks with the intermediate size are tested for combining. If the set of neighbouring blocks are determined to be combinable, the video encoder selects a larger block size formed by the tested neighbouring blocks for encoding. On the other hand, if the set of neighbouring blocks are determined to be not combinable, the video encoder selects a smaller block size from the set of tested neighbouring blocks for prediction. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the best mode for intra-prediction is determined by first intra-predicting a block with intermediate modes in a set of modes. Then the intra-predictions are performed for the neighbouring modes of at least one intermediate mode.

Abstract: A bit rate allocation method for video coding and a bit rate allocation method for code units are applied to a client or a server. The method includes: obtaining a target bit rate and a coded bit rate of a current frame; determining a frame uncoded bit rate based on the target bit rate and the coded bit rate; obtaining current code unit prediction costs and frame uncoded unit prediction costs that are determined based on precoding; and determining a target bit rate of a current to-be-coded code unit based on the frame uncoded bit rate and a cost ratio, the cost ratio being a ratio of the current code unit prediction costs to the frame uncoded unit prediction costs.

Abstract: Techniques are described for implementing format configurations for multi-directional video and for switching between them. Source images may be assigned to formats that may change during a coding session. When a change occurs between formats, video coders and decoder may transform decoded reference frames from the first format to the second format. Thereafter, new frames in the second configuration may be coded or decoded predictively using transformed reference frame(s) as source(s) of prediction. In this manner, video coders and decoders may use intra-coding techniques and achieve high efficiency in coding.

Abstract: A method for processing video can include storing input video frame data at a video data buffer and outputting the stored video frame data from the video data buffer at an output video frame rate based on at least an amount of video frame data stored at the video data buffer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe a system main memory comprising two levels of memory that include cached subsets of system disk level storage. This main memory includes “near memory” comprising memory made of volatile memory, and “far memory” comprising volatile or nonvolatile memory storage that is larger and slower than the near memory. The far memory is presented as “main memory” to the host OS while the near memory is a cache for the far memory that is transparent to the OS, thus appearing to the OS the same as prior art main memory solutions. The management of the two-level memory may be done by a combination of logic and modules executed via the host CPU. Near memory may be coupled to the host system CPU via high bandwidth, low latency means for efficient processing. Far memory may be coupled to the CPU via low bandwidth, high latency means.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method for recognizing a picture, device, and apparatus. The method comprises: acquiring a to-be-recognized picture from an Internet-based on-line database; extracting characteristics from the to-be-recognized picture and a previously acquired copy-righted picture, to obtain the characteristics of the to-be-recognized picture and the copy-righted picture; comparing the extracted characteristics of the to-be-recognized picture and the copy-righted picture; and determining the to-be-recognized pictures as a suspected pirated picture based on the comparison result. According to the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application, suspected pirated pictures can be accurately and quickly recognized, with no need of manual screening, thereby greatly reducing the labor cost, and increasing the recognition efficiency for suspected pirated pictures.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods for hosting online video games, performing video compression, and streaming video for video games are provided. One method includes receiving a request from a user for playing a low latency video game, processing control signals received from a client, and touting the control signals to a server on which the requested video game is to be executed. The method further includes, executing the low latency video game on the server to generate a compressed video stream that is subsequently decompressed at the client. Some embodiments of the method include dynamically adjusting a determined maximum data rate of the compressed video stream in response to a current detected level of packet loss or latency by modifying the compression quality or image resolution or modifying the image rate.

Abstract: System and method for storing a dataset of image tiles. Method includes determining a number of zoom levels, accessing a cluster file that includes a subset of the zoom levels, and accessing the image tiles. For each of the image tiles, a cluster name is computed. For each of the image tiles, if the cluster file has a name that matches the computed cluster name, an image tile pointer is stored in a fixed length index, and the image tile associated with the computed cluster name is stored. For each of the image tiles, if the cluster file name does not match the computed cluster name, another subset of the zoom levels is computed, a new cluster file is created, an image tile pointer is created and stored, and the image tile is stored associated with the computed cluster name in the new cluster file according to the image tile pointer.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for depth concatenation using a matrix computation unit. One of the methods includes: receiving a request to process network inputs to a neural network using an integrated circuit, the neural network comprising a depth concatenation neural network layer; and generating instructions that, when executed by the integrated circuit, cause the integrated circuit to performing operations comprising: for each spatial location in a first input tensor to the depth concatenation layer and a second input tensor to the depth concatenation layer: multiplying, using the matrix computation unit, a second depth vector for the spatial location by a shift weight matrix for the depth concatenation layer to generate a shifted second depth vector; and adding the shifted second depth vector and a first input depth vector for the spatial location to generate a concatenated depth vector.

Abstract: Some embodiments can factorize input data into a sequence of elements. Next, for at least one element in the sequence of elements, the embodiments can identify one or more prime data elements and determine a reconstitution program based on the element and the one or more prime data elements. The embodiments can then use the one or more prime data elements and the reconstitution program to generate a losslessly reduced representation of the element, and store the losslessly reduced representation of the element at a storage location. Next, in response to determining that a keyword is present in the element, the embodiments can (i) create a link that associates the keyword with the storage location, and (ii) store the link in the keyword index. The link can additionally associate the keyword with an offset where the keyword occurs in the element.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for efficiently coding and decoding multi-view video are provided. A method of decoding multi-view video includes: interpreting a first picture type indicating whether a current picture of the multi-view video is a reference video type for inter prediction; interpreting a block type indicating a method of determining a motion vector of a current block of the current picture; interpreting a chrominance compensation value of the current block based on at least one of the interpreted first picture type and the interpreted block type; and performing chrominance compensation on the current block by using the interpreted chrominance compensation value.

Abstract: A processor is described that includes an instruction execution pipeline having an instruction fetch unit to fetch and decode an instruction. The processor also has an execution unit to execute the instruction. The execution unit has a state machine and content addressable memory (CAM) circuitry. The state machine is to receive a pointer to a stream of DEFLATE encoded information, fetch a section of the DEFLATE encoded information and apply the section of the DEFLATE encoded information to the CAM to obtain decoded DEFLATE information.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a receiver. The receiver includes a video decoder and a frame throttle configured to receive a video sequence comprising a plurality of video frames. The frame throttle is further configured to drop one or more of the video frames from the video sequence before providing the video sequence to the video decoder.

Abstract: A video transmission system includes a transceiver module that transmits a video signal to a remote device over at least one communications channel wherein the video signal is transmitted as at least one separate video layer stream chosen from, an independent video layer stream and at least one dependent video layer streams that require the independent video layer for decoding. A control module determines at least one channel characteristic of the at least one channel and chooses the at least one separate video layer stream based on the at least one channel characteristic of the at least one channel.

Abstract: A hardware pixel processing pipeline and a video processing instruction set accelerate image processing and/or video decompression. The pixel processing pipeline uses hardware components to more efficiently perform color space conversion and horizontal upscaling. Additionally, the pixel processing pipeline also reduces the size of its output data to conserve bandwidth. A specialized video processing instruction set allows further acceleration of video processing or video decoding by allowing receipt of a single instruction to cause multiple addition operation or interpolation of multiple pairs of pixels in parallel.

Abstract: Techniques and tools described herein help manage memory efficiently during video decoding, especially when multiple video clips are concurrently decoded. For example, with clip-adaptive memory usage, a decoder determines first memory usage settings expected to be sufficient for decoding of a video clip. The decoder also determines second memory usage settings known to be sufficient for decoding of the clip. During decoding, memory usage is initially set according to the first settings. Memory usage is adaptively increased during decoding, subject to theoretical limits in the second settings. With adaptive early release of side information, the decoder can release side information memory for a picture earlier than the decoder releases image plane memory for the picture. The decoder can also adapt memory usage for decoded transform coefficients depending on whether the coefficients are for intra-coded blocks or inter-coded blocks, and also exploit the relative sparseness of non-zero coefficient values.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding video are provided. The encoding method includes: performing motion estimation on a current block according to a first sub-pixel unit, and obtaining a motion vector in the first sub-pixel unit with respect to the current block; interpolating a reference picture indicated by the motion vector according to a second sub-pixel unit smaller than the first sub-pixel unit; using the interpolated reference picture, selecting a second sub-pixel in the second sub-pixel unit adjacent to a first sub-pixel in the first sub-pixel unit of the reference picture; selecting a corresponding region that has a smaller error with the current block, from among a first corresponding region of the reference picture and obtained with respect to the first sub-pixel, and a second corresponding region of the current block and obtained with respect to the selected second sub-pixel; and encoding information of the selected corresponding region.

Abstract: There are provided methods and apparatus for video encoding and decoding geometrically partitioned bi-predictive mode partitions. An apparatus includes an encoder for encoding bi-predictable picture data for at least a portion of a picture using adaptive geometric partitioning. Geometric partitions for the adaptive geometric partitioning are predicted using at least one predictor selected from a first set of predictors corresponding to a first list of references pictures, a second set of predictors corresponding to a second list of references pictures, and a third set of predictors used for bi-prediction and including predictors from at least one of the first and second sets.

Abstract: A method of operating a digital television decoder is disclosed. The decoder includes a memory, the memory storing onboard software, and the decoder is operable in a run mode to execute the onboard software. The method comprises: activating a power saving mode on the decoder; and upon activating the power saving mode: maintaining power to the memory; suspending execution of the onboard software; acquiring an execution context of the onboard software; updating the execution context of the onboard software to form an updated execution context; and saving the updated execution context in the memory.

Abstract: A video encoded as a bit stream is decoded using trained sparse orthonormal transforms generated from decoded prediction residual signals, wherein the transforms have associated indices. A current macroblock is entropy decoded and inverse quantized to produce decoded coefficients. For the current macroblock, an L0-norm regularized training process generates a set of mode-dependent sparse orthonormal inverse transforms, selected according to a prediction mode signaled in the bit stream. Decoded coefficients are inverse transformed and then are combined with previously decoded macroblocks to generate an output macroblock of a reconstructed video.

Abstract: A video processing apparatus, method and computer program are disclosed. The video processing apparatus comprises: first stage video processing circuitry for receiving a bitstream of compressed encoded video data representing a plurality of frames of video data and configured to perform one or more processing operations on the input compressed video data; analyzing circuitry configured to analyze the processed bitstream and to determine for at least one of the plurality of frames at least one portion of the at least one frame that is not required in the decoding of other frames and to generate at least one indicator indicating the at least one portion.

Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided a video decoder including a first write port to write uncompressed video data to a first buffer in a first format adapted based on a format required by the video decoder. The video decoder also includes a second write port to write uncompressed video data to a second buffer in a second format adapted to provide the uncompressed video data for subsequent processing external to the video decoder.

Abstract: A method for parallel context modeling through reordering the bits of an input sequence to form groups of bits in accordance with a context model-specific reordering schedule. The reordering schedule is developed such that the groups of bits are formed to satisfy two conditions: first, that the context for each of the bits in a group of bits is different from the context of each of the other bits in that group, and the context of each of the bits in that group is determined independently from each of the other bits in that group. The parallel context modeling may be used in encoding or decoding operations.

Abstract: An encoding apparatus includes a receiving section receiving syntax information defined by an encoding standard, a first encoding section encoding the received syntax information to generate encoded information, a transferring section transferring transmission encoded information based on the encoded information generated by the first encoding section, a second encoding section encoding reproduced encoded information reproduced from the transferred transmission encoded information, a conversion section converting the encoded information encoded by the first encoding section into redefined encoded information, to generate the transmission encoded information in accordance with the transfer capacity of the transferring section and the processing speed of encoding in each of the first encoding section and the second encoding section so as not to cause delay in encoding in the first encoding section or the second encoding section, and an inverse conversion section inversely converting the converted redefined enco

Abstract: A system for decoding a stream of compressed digital video images comprises a graphics accelerator for reading the stream of compressed digital video images, creating, starting from said stream of compressed digital video images, three-dimensional scenes to be rendered, and converting the three-dimensional scenes to be rendered into decoded video images. The graphics accelerator is preferentially configured as pipeline selectively switchable between operation in a graphics context and operation for decoding the stream of video images. The graphics accelerator is controllable during operation for decoding the stream of compressed digital video images via a set of application programming interfaces comprising, in addition to new APIs, also standard APIs for operation of the graphics accelerator in a graphics context.