A method for inserting a logo into a stereo video image to generate an overlaid stereo image, the method comprising: detecting presence of stereo pictures in the video image and, when stereo pictures are detected, determining the 3D format of said stereo pictures, said 3D format being a stereo spatially multiplexed format; generating a stereo logo comprising stereo spatially multiplexed logo pictures including a representation of the logo, said stereo spatitally multiplexed logo pictures being arranged in said 3D format; and combining the stereo logo and the video image to generate the overlaid stereo image in said 3D format.
H04N 13/183 - On-screen display [OSD] information, e.g. subtitles or menus
H04N 13/261 - Image signal generators with monoscopic-to-stereoscopic image conversion
H04N 13/293 - Generating mixed stereoscopic images; Generating mixed monoscopic and stereoscopic images, e.g. a stereoscopic image overlay window on a monoscopic image background
2.
Methods and apparatus for the use of slice groups in encoding multi-view video coding (MVC) information
There are provided methods and apparatus for the use of slice groups in encoding and decoding multi-view video coding (MVC) information. An apparatus and method are described which encodes at least two views corresponding to multi-view video content using multiple slice groups. Furthermore, an apparatus and method are described for decoding at least two views corresponding to multi-view video content using multiple slice groups.
H04N 19/597 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
H04N 19/467 - Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process characterised by the embedded information being invisible, e.g. watermarking
H04N 19/61 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using transform coding in combination with predictive coding
H04N 19/70 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals characterised by syntax aspects related to video coding, e.g. related to compression standards
D21H 21/02 - Agents for preventing deposition on the paper mill equipment, e.g. pitch or slime control
D21H 17/00 - Non-fibrous material added to the pulp, characterised by its constitution; Paper-impregnating material characterised by its constitution
A method and apparatus are disclosed for processing content recording requests. The method includes producing a prioritized set of recording requests from all pending recording requests, analyzing the prioritized set of requests with respect to available resources, and producing a list of content requests to be excluded from a recording schedule due to resource constraints. Content recording is performed based on results of the analysis.
H04N 21/458 - Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules
H04N 9/79 - Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
Methods and apparatus are provided for unified significance map coding. An apparatus includes a video encoder (400) for encoding transform coefficients for at least a portion of a picture. The transform coefficients are obtained using a plurality of transforms. One or more context sharing maps are generated for the transform coefficients based on a unified rule. The one or more context sharing maps are for providing at least one context that is shared among at least some of the transform coefficients obtained from at least two different ones of the plurality of transforms.
H04N 7/12 - Systems in which the television signal is transmitted via one channel or a plurality of parallel channels, the bandwidth of each channel being less than the bandwidth of the television signal
H04N 11/02 - Colour television systems with bandwidth reduction
H04N 11/04 - Colour television systems using pulse code modulation
H03M 7/40 - Conversion to or from variable length codes, e.g. Shannon-Fano code, Huffman code, Morse code
H04N 19/13 - Adaptive entropy coding, e.g. adaptive variable length coding [AVLC] or context adaptive binary arithmetic coding [CABAC]
H04N 19/18 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being a set of transform coefficients
H04N 19/64 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using transform coding using sub-band based transform, e.g. wavelets characterised by ordering of coefficients or of bits for transmission
5.
Methods and apparatus for reduced complexity template matching prediction for video encoding and decoding
There are provided methods and apparatus for reduced complexity template matching prediction for video encoding and decoding. The encoding method encodes at least an image block in a picture using template matching prediction (615, 620, 640, 641, 642), wherein the template matching prediction is selectably constrained using one or more constraining criterion that reduces a complexity of performing the template matching prediction (615, 625, 640).
H04N 19/00 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals
H04N 19/523 - Motion estimation or motion compensation with sub-pixel accuracy
H04N 19/56 - Motion estimation with initialisation of the vector search, e.g. estimating a good candidate to initiate a search
H04N 19/105 - Selection of the reference unit for prediction within a chosen coding or prediction mode, e.g. adaptive choice of position and number of pixels used for prediction
H04N 19/176 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
H04N 19/70 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals characterised by syntax aspects related to video coding, e.g. related to compression standards
H04N 19/46 - Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process
H04N 19/103 - Selection of coding mode or of prediction mode
H04N 19/117 - Filters, e.g. for pre-processing or post-processing
H04N 19/186 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being a colour or a chrominance component
H04N 19/174 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a slice, e.g. a line of blocks or a group of blocks
H04N 19/57 - Motion estimation characterised by a search window with variable size or shape
H04N 19/13 - Adaptive entropy coding, e.g. adaptive variable length coding [AVLC] or context adaptive binary arithmetic coding [CABAC]
H04N 19/15 - Data rate or code amount at the encoder output by monitoring actual compressed data size at the memory before deciding storage at the transmission buffer
H04N 19/159 - Prediction type, e.g. intra-frame, inter-frame or bidirectional frame prediction
H04N 19/573 - Motion compensation with multiple frame prediction using two or more reference frames in a given prediction direction
H04N 19/61 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using transform coding in combination with predictive coding
H04N 19/172 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a picture, frame or field
H04N 19/182 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being a pixel
6.
Methods and apparatus for uni-prediction of self-derivation of motion estimation
Methods and apparatus are provided for uni-prediction of self-derivation of motion estimation. An apparatus includes a video encoder (300) for encoding at least a portion of a picture. The video encoder includes a self derivation motion estimator (333) for performing self derivation motion estimation for the portion. The self derivation motion estimation is used for selectively performing uni-prediction or bi-prediction for the portion based on one or more criterion.
H04N 7/12 - Systems in which the television signal is transmitted via one channel or a plurality of parallel channels, the bandwidth of each channel being less than the bandwidth of the television signal
H04N 11/02 - Colour television systems with bandwidth reduction
H04N 11/04 - Colour television systems using pulse code modulation
H04N 19/52 - Processing of motion vectors by encoding by predictive encoding
H04N 19/105 - Selection of the reference unit for prediction within a chosen coding or prediction mode, e.g. adaptive choice of position and number of pixels used for prediction
H04N 19/139 - Analysis of motion vectors, e.g. their magnitude, direction, variance or reliability
H04N 19/176 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
H04N 19/70 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals characterised by syntax aspects related to video coding, e.g. related to compression standards
H04N 19/46 - Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process
A method and apparatus are disclosed for processing content recording requests. The method includes producing a prioritized set of recording requests from all pending recording requests, analyzing the prioritized set of requests with respect to available resources, and producing a list of content requests to be excluded from a recording schedule due to resource constraints. Content recording is performed based on results of the analysis.
H04N 21/458 - Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules
H04N 9/79 - Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
There are provided methods and apparatus for the use of slice groups in encoding and decoding multi-view video coding (MVC) information. An apparatus (100) and method (500) are described which encodes at least two views corresponding to multi-view video content using multiple slice groups (510, 515, 520). Furthermore, an apparatus (200) and method (600) are described for decoding at least two views corresponding to multi-view video content using multiple slice groups (620).
H04N 19/174 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a slice, e.g. a line of blocks or a group of blocks
H04N 19/597 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
H04N 19/70 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals characterised by syntax aspects related to video coding, e.g. related to compression standards
H04N 19/61 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using transform coding in combination with predictive coding
H04N 19/467 - Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process characterised by the embedded information being invisible, e.g. watermarking
D21H 21/02 - Agents for preventing deposition on the paper mill equipment, e.g. pitch or slime control
D21H 17/00 - Non-fibrous material added to the pulp, characterised by its constitution; Paper-impregnating material characterised by its constitution
Robust Header Compression (ROHC) offers a way to compress packet header information for more efficient transmission of data. The compression is achieved through various confidence modes set up by the transmitter and the receiver. The Initialization and Refresh state (IR) is the first state of the compressor. This provides a complete, uncompressed context of the data that is being transmitted. In typically operation, the ROHC compressor will periodically transmit IR packets providing context information allowing the ROHC decompressor to decompress one or more packets following the IR packet. However, under certain conditions such as decompressor start-up, it is possible for the decompressor to miss an IR packet. Exemplary methods and apparatus are described in which a decompressor uses a later-received IR packet to decompress earlier packets for which the decompressor had not received context information.
Systems and low bandwidth methods to encode and broadcast a video multiplex that allows a receiving device, e.g., a set-top box, to select and decode reduced resolution stereoscopic three-dimensional video, full resolution two-dimensional video and full resolution stereoscopic three-dimensional video is provided. The systems and methods provide for receiving a data signal, the data signal including a first video signal representing a two-dimensional image at a first video resolution and a second video signal representing a three-dimensional image at a second resolution, decoding the first video signal if an output display type is a two-dimensional display type, decoding the second video signal if the output display type is a first three-dimensional display type, and decoding the first video signal and second video signal simultaneously if the output display type is a second three-dimensional display type.
H04N 19/597 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
H04N 21/4402 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display
A system and method for enabling a user to display and interact with a social networking structure on a video device connected to a network enabled host device is provided. A user interface (UI) is also provided for displaying content (e.g. messages or tweets) that is output in an overlay for display on a display while program video is playing. The method provides for accessing a social networking site in response to a user input, the user input initiated while outputting a program for display, generating at least one keyword for searching the social networking site based on at least one characteristic associated with the program, retrieving content from the social networking site based the at least one keyword and outputting the retrieved content in an overlay for display simultaneous with the program.
H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
G06F 17/30 - Information retrieval; Database structures therefor
H04N 7/173 - Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
G06F 3/0484 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
H04N 21/2668 - Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. by inserting targeted commercials into a video stream based on end-user profiles
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabi
12.
Apparatus and system for determining block averages for film grain simulation
The present invention provides apparatuses and systems for determining block averages in film grain simulation including determining block averages during a display process and determining block averages during a decoding process. The apparatuses and systems of the present invention exhibit different characteristics in terms of memory requirements and computational cost. More specifically, the first apparatus and system use no external memory, but require either extra reads of the blocks, or internal memory in the display pipeline, while the second apparatus and system require extra memory bandwidth and extra external memory (e.g., RAM).
H04N 19/46 - Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process
H04N 19/44 - Decoders specially adapted therefor, e.g. video decoders which are asymmetric with respect to the encoder
H04N 19/467 - Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process characterised by the embedded information being invisible, e.g. watermarking
H04N 19/423 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals - characterised by implementation details or hardware specially adapted for video compression or decompression, e.g. dedicated software implementation characterised by memory arrangements
H04N 19/85 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression
13.
Method for initiating a non-standard mode for an xDSL transmission system and residential gateway using the method
The invention defines a method for providing an xDSL broadband transmission service between a central office and a customer premises equipment which comprises the steps: initiating a handshaking procedure between the central office and the customer premises equipment, determining an xDSL transmission standard for providing the xDSL broadband transmission service, utilizing a non standard information field during the handshaking procedure to indicate a support of a non-standard mode between the central office and the customer premises equipment, and initiating the non-standard mode, in case no synchronization is established between the central office and the customer premises equipment after the handshaking procedure.
H04B 1/38 - Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
A method and apparatus are described including receiving a first signal including first data in a first time slot of a first channel, receiving a second signal including second data in a second time slot of a second channel, determining a first pre-coding matrix, determining a second pre-coding matrix, applying the first pre-coding matrix to the first data to produce pre-coded first data, applying the second pre-coding matrix to the second data to produce pre-coded second data, generating a third signal by combining the pre-coded first data and the pre-coded second data and transmitting the third signal on the first channel and on the second channel. Also described are a method and apparatus including transmitting a first signal, receiving a second signal including a first training sequence and decoding the second signal by removing the first training sequence and removing the first signal.
H04B 7/02 - Diversity systems; Multi-antenna systems, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas
H04B 7/04 - Diversity systems; Multi-antenna systems, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas
H04B 7/06 - Diversity systems; Multi-antenna systems, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station
H04B 7/26 - Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field for communication between two or more posts at least one of which is mobile
15.
Method and apparatus for performing hierarchical super-resolution of an input image
Super-resolution refers to a process of recovering the missing high-frequency details of a given low-resolution image. Known single image SR algorithms are often computationally intractable or unusable for most of the practical applications. The invention relates to a method for performing hierarchical super-resolution based on self content neighboring patches information is based on pyramidal decomposition. The intrinsic geometric property of an input LR patch neighborhood is obtained from the input LR patch and its K nearest neighbors taken from different down-scaled versions of the LR image.
H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clock; Client middleware
H04N 5/60 - Receiver circuitry for the sound signals
H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabi
H04N 21/439 - Processing of audio elementary streams
H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
H04N 21/242 - Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References]
H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
17.
Method and device for correcting distortion errors due to accommodation effect in stereoscopic display
The invention concerns a method and a device for correcting distortion errors in a 3D content viewed by an observer on a screen. The method comprises the step of determining a rendered roundness factor (rrf) of a pinhole model projected cylinder, estimating a rendered roundness factor table depending on the defined distance of the observer to the screen and the disparity values of objects of the image, determining for the observer a disparity transform function (TD) as a function of the estimated rendered roundness factor table and modifying the object disparity values using the disparity transform so that a perceived roundness factor of one is provided.
Various implementations provide techniques to prevent excessive parallax, depth, or disparity from being passed through to a viewer. In one particular implementation, it is determined that a depth indicator for an object in a stereoscopic image pair of a video sequence is outside of a target range. One or more images of the stereoscopic image pair is modified so that the depth indicator for the object is within the target range. In other implementations, a depth transition between the object and another portion of the video sequence is smoothed. In further implementations, the stereoscopic image pair is replaced with a 2D image pair that includes the object. In yet further implementations, a resulting video sequence includes (i) one or more stereoscopic image pairs having non-zero disparity and for which the depth indicator is within the target range for the entire image pair, and (ii) one or more 2D image pairs.
A 3D model can be modeled using pattern-instance representation, wherein an instance component may be represented as transformation (for example, rotation, translation, and scaling) of a pattern. Quantization errors may be introduced when encoding rotation information, causing different vertex coordinate errors at different vertices of an instance. To efficiently compensate the vertex coordinate errors, an upper bound can be estimated for the vertex coordinate error of a vertex. Based on the upper bound, the codec decides whether the vertex coordinate error of the vertex needs to be compensated, and decides a quantization parameter for compensating the vertex coordinate error if compensation is needed. The upper bound can be estimated at both the encoder and decoder, and thus, no explicit signaling is needed to indicate whether vertex coordinate error compensation is used or to indicate the quantization parameter for the vertex coordinate error.
G06K 9/46 - Extraction of features or characteristics of the image
G06K 9/36 - Image preprocessing, i.e. processing the image information without deciding about the identity of the image
H04N 19/62 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using transform coding by frequency transforming in three dimensions
H04N 19/117 - Filters, e.g. for pre-processing or post-processing
H04N 19/172 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a picture, frame or field
H04N 19/44 - Decoders specially adapted therefor, e.g. video decoders which are asymmetric with respect to the encoder
H04N 19/82 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals - Details of filtering operations specially adapted for video compression, e.g. for pixel interpolation involving filtering within a prediction loop
H04N 19/423 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals - characterised by implementation details or hardware specially adapted for video compression or decompression, e.g. dedicated software implementation characterised by memory arrangements
H04N 19/523 - Motion estimation or motion compensation with sub-pixel accuracy
H04N 19/59 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding involving spatial sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. alteration of picture size or resolution
H04N 19/42 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals - characterised by implementation details or hardware specially adapted for video compression or decompression, e.g. dedicated software implementation
H04N 19/105 - Selection of the reference unit for prediction within a chosen coding or prediction mode, e.g. adaptive choice of position and number of pixels used for prediction
H04N 19/146 - Data rate or code amount at the encoder output
H04N 19/176 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
H04N 19/80 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals - Details of filtering operations specially adapted for video compression, e.g. for pixel interpolation
H04N 19/159 - Prediction type, e.g. intra-frame, inter-frame or bidirectional frame prediction
H04N 19/152 - Data rate or code amount at the encoder output by measuring the fullness of the transmission buffer
H04N 19/33 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using hierarchical techniques, e.g. scalability in the spatial domain
21.
Method of, and apparatus for, controlling a wireless connection in a MIMO system using multi-sector directional antennas
A method of selecting antenna segments for transmission and/or reception in a MIMO wireless transmission system using sectorized directional antennas, includes the steps of selecting, from an initial set of ranked link antenna patterns, a link antenna pattern having the best average rank, at predetermined time intervals, successively selecting a subset of link antenna patterns having average ranks within a predetermined distance to the best average rank, determining an average link performance of the link antenna patterns selected in the preceding step, determining an average rank of the link antenna patterns, for which the average link performance has been determined in the preceding step, selecting the link antenna pattern having the best average rank, and repeating the process at the next predetermined time interval.
H04B 7/02 - Diversity systems; Multi-antenna systems, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas
H04B 7/04 - Diversity systems; Multi-antenna systems, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas
H04B 7/06 - Diversity systems; Multi-antenna systems, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station
H04B 7/08 - Diversity systems; Multi-antenna systems, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the receiving station
22.
Method for the synchronization of 3D devices and corresponding synchronization device
transmitting a first item of synchronization information to the at least two 3D devices so as to synchronize the at least two 3D devices for the rendering of the at least one stereoscopic image.
The invention also relates to a synchronization device.
H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clock; Client middleware
The present invention concerns a slot antenna for an electronic device, e.g. a set top box. A printed circuit board (210) comprising a dielectric material (310, 320, 330, 340, 350) and electrodes (240, 360) extends into a rectangular slot (120) in the metal enclosure (110) of the device such that the electrodes are coupled with locations on opposite edges of the long dimension of the rectangular slot. The coupling may be capacitively in order to affect the level of coupling or to optimize the driving point return loss. The presence of the dielectric in the slot allows the use of a shorter slot for a given wavelength.
A method and apparatus are disclosed for processing content recording requests. The method includes producing a prioritized set of recording requests from all pending recording requests, analyzing the prioritized set of requests with respect to available resources, and producing a list of content requests to be excluded from a recording schedule due to resource constraints. Content recording is performed based on results of the analysis.
H04N 21/458 - Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules
H04N 9/79 - Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
It is provided a method for triggering an action on a second device. It comprises the steps of obtaining audio of a multimedia content presented on a first device; comparing the obtained audio with reference audio data in a database; if finding the obtained audio exists in the database containing reference audio, determining an action corresponding to the matched reference audio; and triggering the action in the second device.
A method for processing a transport command at a local content controller to control the playback of shared content in synchrony with other, remote content controllers commences by first determining whether a received transport command originated from the local content controller or from at least one remote content controller. In the event of a locally originated transport command, the local content controller will prioritize the locally originated transport command with recently received transport commands. Thereafter, the local controller will transmit the locally originated transport command to at least one remote content controller for execution thereby if the locally originated transport command has priority. In the event of a remotely originated transport command, the local controller will prioritize the remotely originated transport command with recently received transport commands and then execute the prioritized transport commands in accordance with the latency between content controllers.
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
H04N 21/242 - Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References]
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
27.
Apparatus and method for providing operational status for multiple communication networks
An apparatus and method for providing operational status for multiple communication networks is described. The apparatus includes a first transceiver circuit configured to communicate with first devices using a first communication network medium and including a visual indicator representing the status of communication, a second transceiver circuit configured to communicate with a plurality of second devices using a second communication network medium, and a controller determining the status of communication between the apparatus and the plurality of second devices and providing the status to the visual indicator. The method includes determining if a device is operating in a first communication network, determining if the device is operating in a second communication network, and displaying a visual indication that the device is operating in the first communication network using a visual indicator on the device, the visual indicator being shared by the first communication network and the second communication network.
There are provided a method and apparatus for providing reduced resolution update mode for multi-view video coding. A video encoder includes an encoder for encoding a picture using a reduced resolution update mode. The picture is one of a set of pictures corresponding to multi-view content having different view points with respect to a same or similar scene. The picture represents one of the different view points.
H04N 13/00 - PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - Details thereof
H04N 19/597 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
H04N 19/159 - Prediction type, e.g. intra-frame, inter-frame or bidirectional frame prediction
H04N 19/176 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
H04N 19/70 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals characterised by syntax aspects related to video coding, e.g. related to compression standards
H04N 19/46 - Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process
H04N 19/51 - Motion estimation or motion compensation
H04N 19/61 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using transform coding in combination with predictive coding
H04N 19/117 - Filters, e.g. for pre-processing or post-processing
H04N 19/174 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a slice, e.g. a line of blocks or a group of blocks
H04N 19/86 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression involving reduction of coding artifacts, e.g. of blockiness
H04N 19/59 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding involving spatial sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. alteration of picture size or resolution
H04N 19/50 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding
H04N 19/80 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals - Details of filtering operations specially adapted for video compression, e.g. for pixel interpolation
A method and apparatus for serving targeted advertising to a user via a user device are described including receiving content provided by a content provider, rendering the provided content, viewing a commercial, wherein the commercial was spliced into the content based on a default commercial selection algorithm at a commercial break, determining if the user wants to rate the commercial, accepting the user's rating of the commercial if the user wants to rate the commercial and communicating the user's rating of the commercial to the content provider.
H04N 7/16 - Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
H04N 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
G06Q 30/02 - Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
H04N 21/2668 - Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. by inserting targeted commercials into a video stream based on end-user profiles
A user interface for a content distribution system is disclosed which allows a manager of an environment of TV sets to view which content is playing on individual TV sets, and to change, track and otherwise adjust the content. The invention advantageously provides these features without interfering with other TV sets' programming when another TV set is being adjusted, changes or tracked by the manager.
H04N 21/24 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth or upstream requests
H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
H04N 21/647 - Control signaling between network components and server or clients; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. controlling the quality of the video stream, by dropping packets, protecting content from unauthorised alteration within the network, monitoring of network load or bridging bet
H04N 21/485 - End-user interface for client configuration
H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
H04N 21/414 - Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
H04N 21/436 - Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or inside the home
H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
H04N 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
H04N 21/266 - Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system or merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
A method for providing a web page in a web server accessed by a user device, comprising: obtaining access behavior information to the web page by the user; and providing page contents and page layout adaptor of the web page to the user device so that a updated web page with an adapted page layout is generated by the user device according to the access behavior information.
It is provided a method for providing an interactive service. At the side of a device among a plurality of devices, each being assigned one of two types, the method comprises the steps of receiving a first request associated with the interactive service requesting for responses associated with the interactive service, wherein the first request includes conditional information associated with the devices; and in response to an input from a user, if said device is of a first type, sending the response; and if said device is of a second type, sending the response only if the device meets the conditional information included in the first request.
H04N 21/239 - Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client requests
H04N 21/40 - Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of, or interaction with, content, e.g. STB [set-top-box]; Operations thereof
H04N 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
H04N 21/437 - Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server
H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
H04N 21/478 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application
H04N 21/647 - Control signaling between network components and server or clients; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. controlling the quality of the video stream, by dropping packets, protecting content from unauthorised alteration within the network, monitoring of network load or bridging bet
33.
System and method for combining multiple communication links
This invention relates to a client device capable of receiving a multicast content through multiple communication networks, comprising at least one broadband network having a broadband bandwidth and one broadcast network for connection respectively to at least one broadband interface and one receive-only broadcast interface of the client device, wherein said client device comprises an adapter selector capable of selecting the interface to be used in order to save the broadband band-width.
H04J 3/16 - Time-division multiplex systems in which the time allocation to individual channels within a transmission cycle is variable, e.g. to accommodate varying complexity of signals, to vary number of channels transmitted
H04L 12/18 - Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference
H04L 12/28 - Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
34.
Method and system for providing universal follow-me functionality
A method and system includes a plurality of video players and a plurality of remote control devices for implementing follow-me functionalities. Each remote control device has a unique ID and can control all the video players. The method and system receives a first control signal from a first remote control device to interrupt playback of a program by a first video player, interrupts playback of the program at the first video player, and stores the ID of the first remote control device and the status of the playback of the program. The method and system then receives a second control signal from a second remote control device to resume playback of the program at a second video player, checks the stored ID and the ID of the second remote control device, and if the two IDs are identical, resumes playback of the program at the second video player according to the status.
A device is intended to obtain content by means of at least two transport protocols having different requirements in terms of available network bandwidth. Such content is available in different versions on at least a content server and the versions correspond to different transmission binary bit rates and are subdivided into chunks adapted to be transmitted via a communication network. This device is arranged to request to said at least one server a transmission of at least one chunk according to a version of a content and according to a transport protocol, the transport protocol and the version being selectable in response to a current value of the available bandwidth of said communication network.
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
H04L 29/08 - Transmission control procedure, e.g. data link level control procedure
A particular implementation forms an initial reconstructed image block from inverse quantization and inverse transform, and further refines the reconstructed image block using pixels from neighboring reconstructed blocks. The image block may be refined using a bilateral filter, whose space parameter and range parameter are adaptive to the quantization parameter. The particular implementation can be used in both encoding and decoding when reconstructing an image block. When used in encoding, the particular implementation can be used jointly with coefficient truncation, where some non-zero transform coefficients are set to zero. The number of remaining non-zero transform coefficients after coefficient truncation may be adaptive to the quantization parameter, the variance of the image block, the number of non-zero transform coefficients of the image block, and the index of the last non-zero transform coefficient in a zigzag scanning order.
H04N 19/136 - Incoming video signal characteristics or properties
H04N 19/176 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
H04N 19/147 - Data rate or code amount at the encoder output according to rate distortion criteria
H04N 19/103 - Selection of coding mode or of prediction mode
H04N 19/117 - Filters, e.g. for pre-processing or post-processing
H04N 19/132 - Sampling, masking or truncation of coding units, e.g. adaptive resampling, frame skipping, frame interpolation or high-frequency transform coefficient masking
H04N 19/14 - Coding unit complexity, e.g. amount of activity or edge presence estimation
H04N 19/82 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals - Details of filtering operations specially adapted for video compression, e.g. for pixel interpolation involving filtering within a prediction loop
H04N 19/192 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the adaptation method, adaptation tool or adaptation type used for the adaptive coding the adaptation method, adaptation tool or adaptation type being iterative or recursive
H04N 19/86 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression involving reduction of coding artifacts, e.g. of blockiness
37.
Method for controlling bandwidth and corresponding device
The present invention concerns a device and a method at the device, the device comprising a first interface to a first network comprising an adaptive streaming server, a second interface to a second network comprising at least one adaptive streaming client device, a stream identifier for detecting at least one streaming content requested by the at least one adaptive streaming client device, the at least one streaming content being available at more than one data rate, a bandwidth manager for selecting a data rate among the more than one data rate, a scheduler for transmitting at the second interface the at least one streaming content to the at least one client device at a data rate above said selected data rate but below any higher data rate available for said streaming content.
A Multi-tuner reception system includes at least a first tuner and a second tuner. The first tuner is adapted to translate a frequency of a first received signal into a first translated frequency. The first tuner includes a first local oscillator operating at a first local oscillator frequency. The second tuner is adapted to translate a frequency of a second received signal into a second translated frequency. The second tuner includes a second local oscillator operating at a second local oscillator frequency. The second local oscillator frequency is equal to a sum of the first local oscillator frequency and a continually time variable offset frequency.
H04N 7/167 - Systems rendering the television signal unintelligible and subsequently intelligible
H04N 21/4408 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs involving video stream encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
H04H 20/82 - Wired systems using signals not modulated onto a carrier
H04H 40/90 - Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
H04H 60/23 - Arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication or key distribution
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
H04N 7/20 - Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite
H04N 21/214 - Specialised server platform, e.g. server located in an airplane, hotel or hospital
H04N 21/2389 - Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream encrypting
H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
H04N 21/2662 - Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
H04N 21/61 - Network physical structure; Signal processing
H04N 21/63 - Control signaling between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
H04N 21/647 - Control signaling between network components and server or clients; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. controlling the quality of the video stream, by dropping packets, protecting content from unauthorised alteration within the network, monitoring of network load or bridging bet
H04L 12/18 - Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference
G06F 21/10 - Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material
H04N 21/2347 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving video stream encryption
40.
Method for reducing the size of a stereoscopic image
In an image processing method to display a stereoscopic image on a target screen, a disparity information (200) is associated with the stereoscopic image and is adapted for the display of the stereoscopic image on an original screen, the size of the original screen being different from the size of the target screen, the stereoscopic image comprising a first image (20) and a second image (21). In order to optimize the disparity of the stereoscopic image, the method comprises selecting a part of said first image according to at least one property associated with the first image; calculating a target disparity information associated with the selected part of the image according to the viewing conditions associated with the target screen and the original disparity information associated with the selected part of the first image.
H04N 13/00 - PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - Details thereof
G06K 9/00 - Methods or arrangements for reading or recognising printed or written characters or for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints
G09G 5/00 - Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators
G09G 5/22 - Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators characterised by the display of individual characters or indicia using display control signals derived from coded signals representing the characters or indicia with a character-code memory
G06T 3/40 - Scaling of a whole image or part thereof
A particular implementation receives geometry data of a 3D mesh, and represents the geometry data with an octree. The particular implementation partitions the octree into three parts, wherein the symbols corresponding to the middle part of the octree are hierarchical entropy encoded. To partition the octree into three parts, different thresholds are used. Depending on whether a symbol associated with a node is an S1 symbol, the child node of the node is included in the middle part or the upper part of the octree. In hierarchical entropy encoding, a non-S1 symbol is first encoded as a pre-determined symbol ‘X’ using symbol set S2={S1, ‘X’} and the non-S1 symbol itself is then encoded using symbol set S0 (S2⊂S0), and an S1 symbol is encoded using symbol set S2. Another implementation defines corresponding hierarchical entropy decoding. A further implementation reconstructs the octree and restores the geometry data of a 3D mesh from the octree representation.
H03M 5/00 - Conversion of the form of the representation of individual digits
H03M 7/00 - Conversion of a code where information is represented by a given sequence or number of digits to a code where the same information is represented by a different sequence or number of digits
Reframing is used to re-size an image or video content, e.g. for displaying video signals with a given aspect ratio on a display having a different aspect ratio. Window cropping parameters (position and size over time) are constrained in order to optimise the rate/distortion of the encoded output video signal. Initial reframing is improved by computing a saliency map representing a user attention map which considers the video coding context and by providing a macroblock coding efficiency cost map and then taking the saliency map or a combined saliency/coding cost map into account so that the coding cost for said reframed video signal is smaller than the coding cost for other candidate reframing windows' sizes and positions.
H04N 7/12 - Systems in which the television signal is transmitted via one channel or a plurality of parallel channels, the bandwidth of each channel being less than the bandwidth of the television signal
G06F 3/00 - Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
H04N 19/176 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
H04N 19/196 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the adaptation method, adaptation tool or adaptation type used for the adaptive coding being specially adapted for the computation of encoding parameters, e.g. by averaging previously computed encoding parameters
H04N 19/115 - Selection of the code volume for a coding unit prior to coding
H04N 19/14 - Coding unit complexity, e.g. amount of activity or edge presence estimation
H04N 19/154 - Measured or subjectively estimated visual quality after decoding, e.g. measurement of distortion
H04N 19/17 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object
H04N 19/85 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression
A high density interactive media guide interface (100) provides for the selection of a source from a dense array of available sources (105, 110) by displaying an array of available sources (105, 110) in a dense format that illustrates the availability of a high number of sources and expanding the display of selected sources (120, 130) to provide additional information regarding that source. “Clickless selection” is provided by either positioning the cursor over the desired selection or positioning the desired selection under a pre-designated position.
G06F 3/00 - Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
G06F 13/00 - Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units
H04N 5/445 - Receiver circuitry for displaying additional information
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
It is provided a method for delivering a 3D content comprising a 2D part and a metadata part which are divided into equal number of segments and are transmitted in two multicast streams, the method comprising the steps of receiving a request for the 3D content with a starting time point corresponding to a starting segment of the 2D part and a starting segment of the metadata part; and scheduling the transmission of at least one segment of the 2D part including the starting segment of the 2D part in a first multicast stream and the transmission of at least one segment of the metadata part including the starting segment of the metadata part in a second multicast stream, wherein, the transmission of the starting segment of the 2D part and the transmission of the starting segment of the metadata part are synchronized.
Higher-order Ambisonics HOA is a representation of spatial sound fields that facilitates capturing, manipulating, recording, transmission and playback of complex audio scenes with superior spatial resolution, both in 2D and 3D. The sound field is approximated at and around a reference point in space by a Fourier-Bessel series. The invention uses space warping for modifying the spatial content and/or the reproduction of sound-field information that has been captured or produced as a higher-order Ambisonics representation. Different warping characteristics are feasible for 2D and 3D sound fields. The warping is performed in space domain without performing scene analysis or decomposition. Input HOA coefficients with a given order are decoded to the weights or input signals of regularly positioned (virtual) loudspeakers.
H04S 5/00 - Pseudo-stereo systems, e.g. in which additional channel signals are derived from monophonic signals by means of phase shifting, time delay or reverberation
G10L 21/00 - Processing of the speech or voice signal to produce another audible or non-audible signal, e.g. visual or tactile, in order to modify its quality or its intelligibility
H04S 3/00 - Systems employing more than two channels, e.g. quadraphonic
46.
Method and apparatus for automatic recording according to user preferences
A method and apparatus searches a program for automatic recording according to user preferences, which include entries entered by a user and entries automatically added by the apparatus according to a recording habit of the user. A user can assign a priority to a user entered entry and the apparatus can assign a priority to an automatically entered entry, but the priority of an automatically entered entry can be modified by the user. The apparatus searches program information of programs in an electronic program guide having a match to any of the entries and selects a matched program for automatic recording.
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/458 - Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules
H04N 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
H04N 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
47.
Method and device for processing of an image by regularization of total variation
The invention addresses the problem that traditional Total Variation only enforces the horizontal and vertical intensity continuity and thus fails to reconstruct oblique edges well. In an embodiment, Directional Total Variation is defined which supports multiple gradient directions. It first pre-processes the image and determines the direction of edges/texture; Directional TV is calculated based on the gradients along the determined direction and its orthogonal direction. By utilizing adaptive weights to different directions in the regularization, Directional TV is capable of preserving edges independent from their orientation nicely. Thus, Directional TV regularization based image denoising, compression or super resolution tend to obtain better quality.
An apparatus and method for generating a disparity map in a receiving device, e.g., a set-top box, that enables user control for adjusting image depth in a stereo image set are provided. The apparatus and method provide for receiving a signal comprising a left eye image and a right eye image, encoding the left eye image as a reference image, predictively coding the right eye image using the coded left eye image as the reference image, capturing motion indicators generated during encoding of the right eye image, and generating a disparity map between the left eye image and right eye image using the motion indicators.
H04N 19/597 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
49.
Reproduction device and method for operating a graphics subsystem in the reproduction device
A method for operating a graphics subsystem of a reproduction device for display of video information comprising auxiliary information is described. Wherein the graphics subsystem is capable of generating left and right channel data for stereoscopic 3D display of auxiliary information in a 3D mode and of generating 2D data for 2D display of auxiliary information in a 2D mode, and can be switched between the display modes. The method has the steps of: providing 3D auxiliary information in the 3D mode, receiving a signal indicative to a change of the display mode, and leaving the graphics subsystem in the 3D mode while providing 2D auxiliary information to the graphics subsystem in response to said signal so as to provide the left and right channel with identical 2D auxiliary information to provide a 2D display of the same.
The present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for sending live streams to regular HTTP clients. An incoming live media stream is segmented into segment files. A segment list is used to maintain the logical representation of the segment segment files so that they look like one continuous file. Each segment file is sent to the client through regular HTTP protocol once it is available. Old segment files can be deleted to save storage space and reduce management overhead.
A system and method as described herein involve materially improving the quality of encoded content generated on systems or platforms such as remote or CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) platforms. An aspect of the described system and method comprises profiling the source content, for example, on a per title basis, and generating profile information as a set of metadata that reflects the optimal transcoding parameters. This metadata is transmitted along with the content to be transcoded to the remote device which can then perform a superior process on the content, compared to a generic non-hinted transcode. Other aspects of the described system and method comprise separation of profiling analysis from the actual transcoding at a remote location, and encapsulation of profile information with the program content for delivery to the remote premises.
H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
H04N 19/46 - Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process
H04N 19/40 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using video transcoding, i.e. partial or full decoding of a coded input stream followed by re-encoding of the decoded output stream
A system and method are disclosed for displaying different captions for selective viewing. A display is used for showing the captions in different color and/or polarization combinations, and color-selective filters and/or polarizers are used for separately viewing the individual captions.
G03B 21/26 - Projecting separately subsidiary matter simultaneously with main image
H04N 7/088 - Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band with signal insertion during the vertical blanking interval the inserted signal being digital
G03B 21/00 - Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor
A method and a device are described for modifying a video frame for encoding or decoding wherein values of pixels of the video frame are represented an increased bit depth.
The described method comprises using processing means for executing the step of offsetting the pixel values of increased bit depth with offsets, the offsets depending on a spatial neighbourhood of the pixel to-be-offset.
Such local adaptive offsetting of pixel values de-emphasizes high frequencies in the transform domain artificially emphasized by the bit depth increase.
H04N 19/80 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals - Details of filtering operations specially adapted for video compression, e.g. for pixel interpolation
H04N 19/82 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals - Details of filtering operations specially adapted for video compression, e.g. for pixel interpolation involving filtering within a prediction loop
H04N 19/85 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression
H04N 19/86 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression involving reduction of coding artifacts, e.g. of blockiness
H04N 19/597 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
54.
Associating information with electronic program guide entries
An information processor determines what media content is currently and/or could be displayed on a primary viewing screen. The information processor then mines other sources of information to obtain associated information. This information can then be accessed by a user as raw data and/or further processed by the information processor and then accessed by the user. Typically, the associated information is displayed on a secondary screen. This allows, for example, an electronic programming guide to be enhanced with additional information.
H04N 5/445 - Receiver circuitry for displaying additional information
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/41 - Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabi
H04N 21/4722 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content for requesting additional data associated with the content
An electronic program guide includes a plurality of elements arrayed in a grid of rows and columns, with the rows corresponding to program sources and the columns corresponding to time intervals. Each element corresponds to a program played out from a particular program source during a corresponding time interval. The background of each element changes, such as by way of a color gradient or changing shape, to indicate one of a program beginning or ending. In this way, a viewer can ascertain the length of the program even if the element gets clipped upon updating the electronic program guide.
G06F 3/00 - Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
G06F 13/00 - Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units
H04N 5/445 - Receiver circuitry for displaying additional information
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
56.
Method for setting a watching level for an audiovisual content
The invention discloses a method for setting a watching level to an audiovisual content which some frames are already annotated with watching levels. Upon the reception of the audiovisual content, frames annotated with watching levels are extracted and displayed in a single view. One of the displayed frames is selected by the user, the watching level of the selected frame being set as watching level to the audiovisual content.
H04N 7/167 - Systems rendering the television signal unintelligible and subsequently intelligible
H04N 21/454 - Content filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
H04N 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
G11B 27/32 - Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel by using information detectable on the record carrier by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording on separate auxiliary tracks of the same or an auxiliary record carrier
57.
Method for coding and reconstructing a pixel block and corresponding devices
code the residue.
transforming the first transformed block into a second block transformed with a second transform of inverse the first transform whose basis functions are shifted by at least a part of each component of the motion vector, the prediction block being extracted from the second transformed block.
Various implementations provide filtering for pictures. Several such implementations attempt to reduce artifacts caused by over-filtering in a decoding loop. Certain of these implementations provide multiple loop filters, and select a loop filter based on the result of a deblocking 5 filter. One particular implementation applies a first filter to a picture to produce a filtered picture. A second filter is selected based on a difference between a value of a particular pixel in the filtered picture and a value of a corresponding pixel in the picture. The second filter is applied to the particular pixel in the filtered picture. In another implementation, a signal or signal structure includes 10 an indication of the second filter, an encoding of at least a portion of a picture, and an encoding of at least a portion of a subsequent picture that has been encoded based on the output of the second filter above.
H04N 7/12 - Systems in which the television signal is transmitted via one channel or a plurality of parallel channels, the bandwidth of each channel being less than the bandwidth of the television signal
H04N 19/86 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression involving reduction of coding artifacts, e.g. of blockiness
H04N 19/51 - Motion estimation or motion compensation
H04N 19/82 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals - Details of filtering operations specially adapted for video compression, e.g. for pixel interpolation involving filtering within a prediction loop
H04N 19/42 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals - characterised by implementation details or hardware specially adapted for video compression or decompression, e.g. dedicated software implementation
59.
Method and apparatus for quality of experience management for network services
The present invention provides a QoE (Quality of Experience) management solution, wherein QoE feedback is used to optimize the usage of QoS provisioning techniques, thus improving the utilization efficiency of network resources. According to one aspect of the invention, a method for QoE management for a network service provided to a user device, the method comprising: displaying a user interface on the user device for a user to input an expected QoE value of the network service; receiving the expected QoE value of the network service from the user; evaluating an objective QoE value of the network service as a function of network QoS parameters; and adjusting the QoS parameters of the network service if the objective QoE value is less than the expected QoE value.
H04L 12/851 - Traffic type related actions, e.g. QoS or priority
H04L 12/24 - Arrangements for maintenance or administration
H04L 12/923 - Dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation requested by the user or upon changing network conditions requested by the network initiated by the network
H04L 12/927 - Allocation of resources based on type of traffic, QoS or priority
Methods and apparatus are provided for video encoding and decoding using a motion matrix. An apparatus includes a video encoder for encoding a picture in a video sequence using a motion matrix. The motion matrix has a rank below a given threshold and a sparse representation with respect to a dictionary. The dictionary includes a set of atoms and basis vectors for representing the picture and for permitting the picture to be derived at a corresponding decoder using only the set. The dictionary formed from a set of reference pictures in the video sequence.
H04N 7/26 - using bandwidth reduction (information reduction by code conversion in general H03M 7/30)
H04N 19/51 - Motion estimation or motion compensation
H04N 19/172 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a picture, frame or field
H04N 19/132 - Sampling, masking or truncation of coding units, e.g. adaptive resampling, frame skipping, frame interpolation or high-frequency transform coefficient masking
H04N 19/517 - Processing of motion vectors by encoding
A method and a controller for power state control of a device that is connected to two or more other devices are described. Also described are a method and a controller for configuring the power state control. Power states of related devices among the two or more other devices are monitored. In case all related devices among the two or more other devices are in a low power mode, the device is switched to a low power mode. Alternatively, in case all related devices among the two or more other devices are in a low power mode, the device is switched to a normal power mode. Which of the other devices are related devices is determined in a configuration procedure.
Methods and apparatus are provided for implicit adaptive motion vector predictor selection for video encoding and decoding. The method encodes an image block using implicit adaptive motion vector predictor selection. The motion vector for encoding the block is predicted by defining a set of motion vector predictor candidates for the block based on a plurality of spatio-temporal neighboring motion vectors; and then selecting from the set a particular motion vector predictor candidate as the motion vector for encoding the bloc. The selection is made responsive to respective values for a fidelity of the spatio-temporal neighboring motion vectors.
H04N 19/00 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals
H04N 19/56 - Motion estimation with initialisation of the vector search, e.g. estimating a good candidate to initiate a search
H04N 19/109 - Selection of coding mode or of prediction mode among a plurality of temporal predictive coding modes
H04N 19/52 - Processing of motion vectors by encoding by predictive encoding
H04N 19/70 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals characterised by syntax aspects related to video coding, e.g. related to compression standards
H04N 19/46 - Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process
H04N 19/61 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using transform coding in combination with predictive coding
H04N 19/567 - Motion estimation based on rate distortion criteria
63.
Switch mode power supply module and associated hiccup control method
The invention concerns a method and device for controlling the switching operation in a switch mode power supply module. The switch mode power supply module is intended to supply power to an item of equipment. The method comprises the steps of measuring, in the switch mode power supply module, the load current and comparing the measured load current with a predefined load current threshold value, and, cyclically interrupting the switching operation if the measured load current inside the device is less than the predefined load current threshold value.
H02M 3/156 - Conversion of dc power input into dc power output without intermediate conversion into ac by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode using devices of a triode or transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
H02M 1/42 - Circuits or arrangements for compensating for or adjusting power factor in converters or inverters
H02M 3/335 - Conversion of dc power input into dc power output with intermediate conversion into ac by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate ac using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only
H02M 3/337 - Conversion of dc power input into dc power output with intermediate conversion into ac by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate ac using devices of a triode or a transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only in push-pull configuration
H02M 5/458 - Conversion of ac power input into ac power output, e.g. for change of voltage, for change of frequency, for change of number of phases with intermediate conversion into dc by static converters using discharge tubes or semiconductor devices to convert the intermediate dc into ac using devices of a triode or transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only
H02M 3/22 - Conversion of dc power input into dc power output with intermediate conversion into ac
H02M 1/36 - Means for starting or stopping converters
H02M 1/00 - APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF - Details of apparatus for conversion
64.
Method for reconstructing a current block of an image and corresponding encoding method, corresponding devices as well as storage medium carrying an images encoded in a bit stream
The invention is made in the field of image block encoding and reconstruction. A method for reconstructing a current block of an image is described, the current block being encoded using predictive encoding of segments resulting from geometry adaptive block partitioning of said current block. After decoding encoded data comprising at least one flag and motion vectors, wherein blocks referenced by the motion vectors are used for prediction of segments of the current block, the at least one flag and an encoding order of the motion vectors in the encoded data is used for determining which of the referenced blocks exhibits a geometry that matches the geometry of the current block and for determining a segment of the determined block, wherein prior to determining the segment, the determined block is geometry adaptive block partitioned into segments from which the segment is determined for predicting one of the segments of the current block.
H04N 19/543 - Motion estimation other than block-based using regions
H04N 19/176 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
H04N 19/159 - Prediction type, e.g. intra-frame, inter-frame or bidirectional frame prediction
65.
System and method for managing out of coverage broadcasts
A mobile content distribution system in an airplane, a train, or a bus is capable of receiving wireless broadcast channels from a wireless service provider. The system offers a user purchase of wireless services including one or more broadcast channels provided by the wireless service provider, receives information indicative of a route from an originating location to a destination location, and determines if the content distribution system is authorized to receive services from the wireless service provider according to the information; and if the content distribution system is not authorized to receive services from the wireless service provider according to the information, the system provide a refund to the user. If the system is within an authorized area, the system determines if the system is authorized to provide full service from the wireless service provider according to the information and if the system is not authorized to provide full service, the system provides a partial refund to the user.
G06Q 20/12 - Payment architectures specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
G06Q 20/32 - Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices using wireless devices
H04H 20/62 - Arrangements specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for traffic information or for mobile receivers for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast for transportation systems, e.g. in vehicles
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
H04W 4/00 - Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
H04W 4/04 - in a dedicated environment, e.g. buildings or vehicles
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04H 40/72 - Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups specially adapted for stereophonic broadcast receiving for FM stereophonic broadcast receiving for noise suppression
H04H 40/90 - Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
A remote control device is operative to enable and facilitate user control of video systems that are operative to provide one or more three-dimensional (3D) viewing effects. According to an exemplary embodiment, the remote control device includes a user input terminal having an input element operative to receive user inputs to adjust at least one of a volume setting and a channel setting of a video system, and further operative to receive user inputs to adjust a three-dimensional (3-D) viewing effect of the video system. A transmitter is operative to transmit control signals to the video system in response to the user inputs.
generating a resulting surface according to the attributes representative of transparency associated with the said voxels.
The invention also relates to a device for processing the data representative of the corresponding depth.
Trick mode play for controlling video content playback can be realized using a semantic based criterion in order to achieve a more uniform playback experience for the viewer, when that viewer wishes to observe the video content presented according to a selected semantic. In one embodiment of the method, semantics associated with shorter time intervals in the video content are replayed in trick mode play proportionally slower than semantics associated with longer time intervals, wherein the proportionally is determined, at least in part, to the time interval associated with each semantic. In various embodiments, semantics can include scenes, audio, metadata, tags, and the like. The semantics based trick mode play approach allows for a more uniform viewing experience, on a time duration basis, from one semantic to the next.
G11B 27/28 - Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel by using information detectable on the record carrier by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording
H04N 5/783 - Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
69.
System and method for navigation in a user interface
The disclosed methods and systems are related to a navigation of user interfaces that is vector based. Vector based navigation combines the efficiency of orthogonal direction navigation (up/down/left/right) with the flexibility of pointer-based (e.g. mouse/touch-pad) navigation. User interface elements can be arranged arbitrarily in 2D (or 3D) space and described in term of vector relationships from the currently active UI element. Directional gestures coming from control devices such as a track-ball, touch-pad, or gyroscopic remote can be translated into vector movements to affect navigation between UI elements.
G06F 3/0346 - Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user; Accessories therefor with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
G06F 3/0484 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
G06F 3/0481 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
G06F 3/023 - Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
G06F 3/0489 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
G06F 3/0488 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
70.
System and method for configuration access via connected devices
Systems and methods are shown for configuring a cable modem using a dedicated user device that include providing a dedicated port on a cable modem for connecting to a user service device, initiating a configuration connection between the user service device and a cable modem that bypasses the cable modem's authentication process, and changing settings on the cable modem in accordance with input from the user service device.
H04B 1/38 - Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
H04M 11/06 - Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
H04L 12/28 - Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
H04L 12/24 - Arrangements for maintenance or administration
The invention relates to three dimensional video imaging, in which at least a left view and a right view of a moving scene are produced and a map of disparities is produced for all pixels of the successive images of a video sequence.
Methods and apparatus for coding occlusion layers, such as occlusion video data and occlusion depth data in 3D video, are disclosed. A decoding method comprising the steps of: extracting an indicator representative of an original format for received occlusion data, the original format selected from one of a sparse occlusion data format and a filled occlusion data format; arranging 2D data, which is associated with the occlusion data, at location 0 in a reference picture list; decoding the occlusion data to produce decoded occlusion data; when the indicator indicates the sparse occlusion data format for the occlusion data, filling a non-occlusion area of the occlusion data with data indicative of a defined characteristic to produce decoded occlusion data; when the indicator indicates the filled occlusion data format for the occlusion data, replacing the occlusion data in a non-occlusion area of the occlusion data with sample values from a corresponding area of associated 2D data to produce decoded occlusion data; and outputting the decoded occlusion.
H04N 13/00 - PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - Details thereof
H04N 11/04 - Colour television systems using pulse code modulation
H04N 19/597 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
H04N 19/70 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals characterised by syntax aspects related to video coding, e.g. related to compression standards
H04N 19/30 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using hierarchical techniques, e.g. scalability
H04N 19/17 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object
73.
Recovering a pruned version of a picture in a video sequence for example-based data pruning using intra-frame patch similarity
Method and apparatus for recovering a pruned version of a picture in a video sequence are disclosed. The apparatus includes a divider for dividing the pruned version of the picture into a plurality of non-overlapping blocks. The apparatus also includes a metadata decoder for decoding metadata for use in recovering the pruned version of the picture. The apparatus further includes a patch library creator for creating a patch library from a reconstructed version of the picture. The patch library includes a plurality of high resolution replacement patches for replacing the one or more pruned blocks during a recovery of the pruned version of the picture. The apparatus additionally includes a search and replacement device for performing a searching process using the metadata to find a corresponding patch for a respective one of the one or more pruned blocks from among the plurality of non-overlapping blocks and replace the respective one of the one or more pruned blocks with the corresponding patch. The signature is respectively created for each of the one or more pruned blocks, and the pruned version of the picture is recovered by comparing respective distance metrics from signatures for each of the plurality of high resolution patches to signatures for each of the one or more pruned blocks, sorting the respective distance metrics to obtain a rank list for each of the one or more pruned blocks, wherein a rank number in the rank list for a particular one of the one or more pruned blocks is used to retrieve a corresponding one of the plurality of high resolution patches in the patch library to be used to replace the particular one of the one or more pruned blocks. A patch dependency graph having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges is used to recover the pruned version of the picture. Each of the plurality of nodes represents a respective one of the plurality of overlapping blocks, and each of the plurality of edges represents a respective dependency of at least the respective one of the plurality of overlapping blocks.
G06K 9/36 - Image preprocessing, i.e. processing the image information without deciding about the identity of the image
H04N 19/85 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression
H04N 19/176 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
H04N 19/46 - Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process
H04N 19/196 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the adaptation method, adaptation tool or adaptation type used for the adaptive coding being specially adapted for the computation of encoding parameters, e.g. by averaging previously computed encoding parameters
H04N 19/61 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using transform coding in combination with predictive coding
H04N 19/593 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding involving spatial prediction techniques
H04N 19/463 - Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process by compressing encoding parameters before transmission
H04N 19/132 - Sampling, masking or truncation of coding units, e.g. adaptive resampling, frame skipping, frame interpolation or high-frequency transform coefficient masking
H04N 19/14 - Coding unit complexity, e.g. amount of activity or edge presence estimation
H04N 19/44 - Decoders specially adapted therefor, e.g. video decoders which are asymmetric with respect to the encoder
H04N 19/587 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding involving temporal sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. decimation or subsequent interpolation of pictures in a video sequence
H04N 19/59 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding involving spatial sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. alteration of picture size or resolution
74.
Braille display system and method for operating a refreshable Braille display
A Braille display system and a method for operating a refreshable Braille display 14 is provided. A string of characters is assigned to a drive signal for specifying the activation or deactivation of a tuple of dots which are raised through holes in a touch and sense surface of the Braille display 14 upon activation and which are retracted upon deactivation. The Braille display 14 is driven by a drive signal which is configured to activate and/or to deactivate the tuple of dots so as to generate a dynamic tactile display of said string of characters. The time dependent characteristic of activation and/or deactivation of the tuple of dots is defined by the string of characters.
This invention relates to a system for adaptive streaming in a multipath environment comprising a plurality of servers being respectively capable of transmitting multimedia content in a RTP/RTSP environment through a respective data path to a client, wherein the client includes a controller means being capable of probing each of said data paths in order to determine a respective bandwidth associated to each of said data paths and to request a chunk of said multimedia content for each of said servers according to the respective bandwidth. In addition, the invention relates to a method for adaptive streaming in a multipath environment.
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
H04N 21/2665 - Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
H04N 21/63 - Control signaling between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
H04N 21/6373 - Control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components for rate control
A method for toning mapping high dynamic range (HDR) video for display in low dynamic range display comprises accessing the HDR video; producing a luminance information for the individual frames; partitioning different consecutive groups of frames into segments responsive to the luminance information; classifying the segments into static luminance segments and transient luminance segments; producing a tone mapping parameter set for the static luminance segments; producing a tone mapping parameter set for at least one of the transient luminance segments responsive to the tone mapping parameter set of an adjacent static luminance segment; and tone mapping the static luminance segments and transient luminance segments according to the respective tone mapping parameter sets.
Remote control device of a data receiver, the data being representative of an audiovisual content, the data receiver receiving information relating to payment of an object and data representative of the object, the remote control device comprising means of configuring the data receiver useful for processing data representative of an audiovisual content, remote control device being characterized in that it comprises a user interface for initializing a payment transaction, a first wireless interface for receiving information useful for payment of the object and a second wireless interface for transmitting payment information with a remote payment unit.
A method of filtering a disparity mesh from pixel images according to the invention, where the disparity mesh comprises a plurality of points, where each point is associated with values of two planar coordinates (X, Y) and a disparity value (D) and where the values are quantization pitches, comprises the step: filtering planes by filtering 2D-lines in 2D-spaces (X-D, Y-D) of the planar coordinates (X,Y) and the disparity (D).
The invention relates to a method for transmitting an information representative of a disparity setting of a stereoscopic image, the stereoscopic image comprising a first image and a second image representative of a same scene according to two different viewpoints. The method comprises a transmission step of said setting information at a given time, the transmission time being determined according to a time period associated with a transition time between the sequential display of the first and second images. The invention also relates to a disparity setting method according to the disparity information received as well as a device configured for the transmission of an information representative of a disparity setting.
The present invention concerns a method to control the transmission and transmission data rate between at least two servers and a receiver. The servers being adapted to transmit data representative of an audiovisual content. The audiovisual content being available from each of said at least two servers in at least two versions. The versions corresponding respectively to different transmission bit-rates. The servers being adapted to transmit audiovisual contents in successive parts, each of said successive parts being chosen as one of at least two versions in response to transmission requests sent by the receivers, said transmission requests comprising a transmission parameter.
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
81.
Color calibration and compensation for 3D display systems
A method and system for calibration and compensation of color in a three dimensional display system includes user calibration of individual color channels using a multiplicity of grey screens while viewing with three dimensional glasses. Look-up tables are generated to ease conversion of input pixels to color corrected pixels to pre-distort the color of the pixels being driven by the three dimensional display system. Input pixels are then converted using the look-up tables and color corrected frames are displayed to a user. The pre-distortion effect allows a user to perceive colors in the three dimensional system as intended with the distortions caused by the viewing glasses and other aspects of the three dimensional display system.
G09G 5/06 - Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators characterised by the way in which colour is displayed using colour palettes, e.g. look-up tables
G09G 3/00 - Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
A method for operating an apparatus, such as a video signal receiver, having first and second stand-by modes when the apparatus is in an off state, wherein the first stand-by mode provides a different start-up time and consumes a different amount of power than the second stand-by mode, is capable of saving power without requiring a user to wait a long time for a start-up sequence. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method includes enabling display of a user interface allowing user selections for a plurality of different time periods of a day; and enabling a user to select, via the user interface, one of at least three different options for each one of the different time periods, wherein a first one of the options includes setting the apparatus to the first stand-by mode for the time period, a second one of the options includes setting the apparatus to the second stand-by mode for the time period, and a third one of the options includes setting the apparatus to a statistical mode for the time period, wherein the statistical mode includes setting the apparatus to one of the first and second stand-by modes for the time period based on a user's past viewing habits during the time period.
A method for coding a current block is disclosed. The method comprises an iterative step of decomposition into atoms of a first dictionary of a vector of data comprising at least reconstructed image data associated with pixels situated in a causal neighboring area of a current block.
updating the residue vector according to the selected atom.
A television, such as an HDTV receiver, includes a plurality of signal inputs each of which is adapted to receive television signals comprising a plurality of channels and communicate the received television signals to a processor/tuner for selection of the various channels by a user for viewing on a display of the television. A channel search routine for the detection of channels in the television signal is accomplished on the currently designated signal input rather than on all signal inputs of the television. The channels detected during the search of the currently designated signal input are included in a channel list that is stored in memory of the television. A GUI is preferably used to initiate the channel search and is capable of displaying the detected channels relating to the currently selected signal input. Channel lists for each signal input are updated as the channels are detected. A complete channel list may be maintained for all signal inputs as well as individual channel lists for each signal input.
A method and apparatus are described including receiving a first signal including first data in a first time slot of a first channel (705), receiving a second signal including second data in a second time slot of a second channel (710), determining a first pre-coding matrix (715), determining a second pre-coding matrix (720), applying the first pre-coding matrix to the first data to produce pre-coded first data (725), applying the second pre-coding matrix to the second data to produce pre-coded second data (730), generating a third signal by combining the pre-coded first data and the pre-coded second data (735) and transmitting the third signal on the first channel and on the second channel (740). Also described are a method and apparatus including transmitting a first signal (605), receiving a second signal including a first training sequence (610) and decoding the second signal by removing the first training sequence and removing the first signal (615).
H04B 7/04 - Diversity systems; Multi-antenna systems, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas
H04B 7/02 - Diversity systems; Multi-antenna systems, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas
H04B 7/06 - Diversity systems; Multi-antenna systems, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station
A system for grounding in a electronic device is disclosed. The system comprises a first electronic board, this latter comprising a first ground plane and at least one footprint intended to connect the first ground plane to a component, the at least one footprint defining a closed line on said first electronic board adapted to connect the component, at least a second electronic board comprising a second ground plane, the second electronic board being superposed on the first electronic board, a grounding metallic piece comprising a wall perpendicular to said first electronic board and a base parallel to said first electronic board. The system being notable in that the metallic piece is dimensioned such that the wall corresponds to a perpendicular projection of said closed line defined by one of the at least one footprints and such that the shape of base corresponds to the shape defined by the closed line, and in that the base comprises elements providing a contact with the second electronic board thus electrically connecting the second ground plane with the first ground plane. The elements providing a contact with the second electronic board are for example contact strips or balls.
The method includes determining at least one candidate motion vector associated with a neighboring block of said current block. A prediction motion vector is determined from the candidate motion vector, and the current block is coded from the prediction motion vector. The prediction motion vector is determined according by determining, for the candidate motion vector, a corrective motion vector so as to minimize a distortion calculated between the neighoboring block successively coded and reconstructed and a prediction block motion compensated by the at least one candidate motion vector modified by the corrective motion vector. The prediction motion vector is then determined from the candidate motion vector modified by the corrective motion vector.
G06F 15/00 - Digital computers in general; Data processing equipment in general
H04N 19/52 - Processing of motion vectors by encoding by predictive encoding
H04N 19/176 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
H04N 19/61 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using transform coding in combination with predictive coding
H04N 19/132 - Sampling, masking or truncation of coding units, e.g. adaptive resampling, frame skipping, frame interpolation or high-frequency transform coefficient masking
H04N 19/523 - Motion estimation or motion compensation with sub-pixel accuracy
88.
Method for determining identifiers of segments forming an audiovisual document and receiver implementing the method
The invention relates to a method for determining identifiers associated with segments of a document. Each segment consists of a series of individual elements such as images or sound sequences. Each segment of the document is subdivided into a determined number of portions comprising the same number of individual elements. An individual element is extracted from the most central portion of each segment and associated with the segment as identifier.
The invention also relates to the receiver capable of implementing the method.
G06F 17/30 - Information retrieval; Database structures therefor
G06F 17/27 - Automatic analysis, e.g. parsing, orthograph correction
89.
Method and apparatus for searching in a layered hierarchical bit stream followed by replay, said bit stream including a base layer and at least one enhancement layer
A two-layer hierarchical audio bit stream can have a frame-based structure for the base layer bit stream and can be decoded independently from a higher layer and the decoding can start following every sync header. In the extension layer bit stream the frame structure may not be reflected on bit stream level. To facilitate seek operations with such highly compressed extension-layer data, the header of the extension layer bit stream comprises an FAT table with seek target positions. Because there are fewer entry points in the enhancement layer than sync headers in the base layer, a re-synchronization and some base layer frames are required to start decoding of the enhancement layer and to generate the full audio quality. Three seeking ways of seeking are described, of which each one offers a different compromise between seeking accuracy, re-synchronization latency and audio quality.
G10L 19/00 - Speech or audio signal analysis-synthesis techniques for redundancy reduction, e.g. in vocoders; Coding or decoding of speech or audio signals, using source filter models or psychoacoustic analysis
G10L 19/24 - Variable rate codecs, e.g. for generating different qualities using a scalable representation such as hierarchical encoding or layered encoding
H04N 21/439 - Processing of audio elementary streams
H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabi
H04N 19/44 - Decoders specially adapted therefor, e.g. video decoders which are asymmetric with respect to the encoder
A method and system for adjustable 3-dimensional content are described in which a viewer can adjust the depth range according to the viewer's own visual comfort level and/or viewing preference. The depth change is achieved by shifting the left and right images of stereoscopic content image pairs so that corresponding pixels in the shifted left and right images of a stereoscopic pair exhibit a new horizontal disparity sufficient to achieve the desired depth change. By shifting the left and right images in an image pair, content objects in the scene can appear closer to, or farther away from the viewer than those same objects in the un-shifted image pair. This technique achieves a viewer controlled customization of the sensation of depth in the stereoscopic 3-dimensional content.
n) via a set-top box (14). The set-top-box collects metadata identifying the audio-visual content viewed by the viewer and provides that metadata to a database (26) that searches for and identifies to the set-top-box the source(s) of alternative audio-if any. The set-top box will alert the viewer who can then select one of the identified sources of alternative audio in place of the audio embedded in the currently viewed audio-visual content.
H04N 5/445 - Receiver circuitry for displaying additional information
G06F 13/00 - Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units
G06F 3/00 - Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
92.
Learned transform and compressive sensing for video coding
Methods and apparatus are provided for video encoding and decoding with learned transform and compressive sensing. An apparatus includes a video encoder for encoding an image block in a picture by determining from a training data set an adaptive transform for transforming a signal capable of representing the image block into zero coefficients and non-zero coefficients, reconstructing the image block in a pixel domain to obtain a reconstructed version of the image block by minimizing a number of the non-zero coefficients in a transform domain corresponding to the transform responsive to information of the signal and a prediction of the image block, and incorporating the reconstructed version of the image block into a coding mode that is absent from any video coding standards and video coding recommendations.
H04N 19/00 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals
H04N 19/60 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using transform coding
H04N 19/176 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
H04N 19/134 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the element, parameter or criterion affecting or controlling the adaptive coding
H04N 19/122 - Selection of transform size, e.g. 8x8 or 2x4x8 DCT; Selection of sub-band transforms of varying structure or type
H04N 19/61 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using transform coding in combination with predictive coding
H04N 19/86 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression involving reduction of coding artifacts, e.g. of blockiness
A method and apparatus for allowing a configuration of the operation of one or more antennas in a device, such as a gateway device or other network device, is provided. The method and apparatus operate in a manner such that the configuration allows a static configuration of a specific antenna in a multiple antenna device or system. In some cases the accompanying transmission and reception circuit are configured to operate or transact specifically with another device (e.g., network client device).
H04B 7/08 - Diversity systems; Multi-antenna systems, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the receiving station
94.
Method for controlling the display for an item of equipment in standby mode and associated device
Method for controlling a display device in an electronic device and associated control device. The electronic device includes a control unit and the display device comprising a plurality of display elements, a display controller and a switching circuit. The display elements have a plurality of pictograms. The display controller having a plurality of storage elements associated with the display elements. The method includes the steps of writing into the storage elements of a contents for display on the display elements, the configuration in standby mode of the electronic device making the storage elements associated with the display elements by the control unit inaccessible, the detection of an event to be indicated by display, and the control of a switching circuit to vary the active pictograms by alternately displaying the contents of at least two of the storage elements on the same display element.
H04N 5/445 - Receiver circuitry for displaying additional information
H04N 5/63 - Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers
H04N 21/443 - OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
G09G 3/04 - Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of a single character by selection from a plurality of characters, or by composing the character by combination of individual elements, e.g. segments
A circuit for correcting the output of an audio level meter comprises input means for generating the square or the absolute value of an input signal, a low pass filter having a predetermined attack time and release time, and output means for converting the output signal from a linear scale to a logarithmic scale. The circuit further comprises a correction means to which an information about whether the input signal to the audio level meter was subject to squaring or converting into an absolute value at the input, as well as the attack and release time of the low pass filter, are supplied as input values, and which provides, at its output, a value representing the difference between the output of the audio level meter and the true signal power of the input signal.
Methods and apparatus are provided for uni-prediction of self-derivation of motion estimation. An apparatus includes a video encoder for encoding at least a portion of a picture. The video encoder includes a self derivation motion estimator for performing self derivation motion estimation for the portion. The self derivation motion estimation is used for selectively performing uni-prediction or bi-prediction for the portion based on one or more criterion.
H04N 7/12 - Systems in which the television signal is transmitted via one channel or a plurality of parallel channels, the bandwidth of each channel being less than the bandwidth of the television signal
H04N 11/02 - Colour television systems with bandwidth reduction
H04N 11/04 - Colour television systems using pulse code modulation
H04N 19/44 - Decoders specially adapted therefor, e.g. video decoders which are asymmetric with respect to the encoder
H04N 19/105 - Selection of the reference unit for prediction within a chosen coding or prediction mode, e.g. adaptive choice of position and number of pixels used for prediction
H04N 19/139 - Analysis of motion vectors, e.g. their magnitude, direction, variance or reliability
H04N 19/176 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
H04N 19/70 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals characterised by syntax aspects related to video coding, e.g. related to compression standards
H04N 19/46 - Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process
Methods and apparatus are provided for unified significance map coding. An apparatus includes a video encoder for encoding transform coefficients for at least a portion of a picture. The transform coefficients are obtained using a plurality of transforms. One or more context sharing maps are generated for the transform coefficients based on a unified rule. The one or more context sharing maps are for providing at least one context that is shared among at least some of the transform coefficients obtained from at least two different ones of the plurality of transforms.
H04N 7/12 - Systems in which the television signal is transmitted via one channel or a plurality of parallel channels, the bandwidth of each channel being less than the bandwidth of the television signal
H04N 11/02 - Colour television systems with bandwidth reduction
H04N 11/04 - Colour television systems using pulse code modulation
H03M 7/40 - Conversion to or from variable length codes, e.g. Shannon-Fano code, Huffman code, Morse code
H04N 19/13 - Adaptive entropy coding, e.g. adaptive variable length coding [AVLC] or context adaptive binary arithmetic coding [CABAC]
H04N 19/18 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being a set of transform coefficients
H04N 19/64 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using transform coding using sub-band based transform, e.g. wavelets characterised by ordering of coefficients or of bits for transmission
98.
Methods and apparatus for constrained transforms for video coding and decoding having transform selection
Methods and apparatus are provided for constrained transforms for video coding and decoding having transform selection. An apparatus includes a video encoder for encoding at least a block in a picture by selecting a particular transform from at least a first transform and a second transform that is different than the first transform, and applying the particular transform to a residue of the block. Transform coefficients for the second transform are selected responsive to a deblocking filter that is present in the video encoder.
H04N 19/86 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression involving reduction of coding artifacts, e.g. of blockiness
H04N 19/176 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
H04N 19/147 - Data rate or code amount at the encoder output according to rate distortion criteria
H04N 19/46 - Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process
H04N 19/122 - Selection of transform size, e.g. 8x8 or 2x4x8 DCT; Selection of sub-band transforms of varying structure or type
H04N 19/12 - Selection from among a plurality of transforms or standards, e.g. selection between discrete cosine transform [DCT] and sub-band transform or selection between H.263 and H.264
G06K 9/36 - Image preprocessing, i.e. processing the image information without deciding about the identity of the image
99.
Media registration and authorization on a media player
The disclosed methods and systems provide for the registry and authorization of media on a media player. The method involves maintaining a registry of registered media. Media to be played by the media player is compared to the maintained registry of registered media. If media is registered, authorization it then required to play the registered media.
H04N 21/454 - Content filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
H04N 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
H04N 5/765 - Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
H04N 5/775 - Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
H04N 5/85 - Television signal recording using optical recording on discs or drums
H04N 9/82 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only
100.
Methods and apparatus for reducing vector quantization error through patch shifting
Methods and apparatus are provided for reducing vector quantization error through patch shifting. A method generates, from an input video sequence, one of more high resolution replacement patches, the one or more high resolution replacement patches for replacing one or more low resolution patches during a reconstruction of the input video sequence. This generating step generates the one or more high resolution replacement patches using data corresponding to a patch spatial shifting process, the patch spatial shifting process for reducing jittery artifacts caused by a motion-induced vector quantization error in the one or more high resolution replacement patches, the data for at least deriving a patch size of the one or more high resolution replacement patches such that the one or more high resolution replacement patches are generated to have the patch size greater than a patch size of the one or more low resolution patches in order to be suitable for use in the patch spatial shifting process.
H04N 7/12 - Systems in which the television signal is transmitted via one channel or a plurality of parallel channels, the bandwidth of each channel being less than the bandwidth of the television signal
H04N 19/105 - Selection of the reference unit for prediction within a chosen coding or prediction mode, e.g. adaptive choice of position and number of pixels used for prediction
H04N 19/139 - Analysis of motion vectors, e.g. their magnitude, direction, variance or reliability
H04N 19/593 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding involving spatial prediction techniques
H04N 19/14 - Coding unit complexity, e.g. amount of activity or edge presence estimation
H04N 19/59 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding involving spatial sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. alteration of picture size or resolution