公开(公告)号：US6016163A

公开(公告)日：2000-01-18

申请号：US815259

申请日：1997-03-12

Applicant: Arturo A. Rodriguez ,  Neilesh R. Patel ,  Timothy W. Simerly

Inventor： Arturo A. Rodriguez ,  Neilesh R. Patel ,  Timothy W. Simerly

IPC: H04N20060101 ,  H04N3/00 ,  H04N5/00 ,  H04N7/12 ,  H04N7/24 ,  H04N7/26 ,  H04N11/02 ,  H04N11/04

CPC classification number: H04N19/433

Abstract: Techniques for comparing blocks of pixels in digital image encoding. The techniques apply a pattern of elements containing contiguous pixels to the blocks being compared, and only the pixels in the elements are compared. The pixels are contiguous in the horizontal dimension of the digital image, which ensures that the block matching process is sensitive to small-scale vertical features of the image. A version of the technique which is particularly advantageous for use with DSPs that can process the pixels in a word in parallel uses checkerboard patterns in which each element is a word. Variations on the patterns take into account the fact that the block of pixels being compared may be word-aligned, misaligned by one pixel, misaligned by two pixels, and misaligned by three pixels. Misalignment may be dealt with by not comparing pixels that do not belong to the blocks being compared or by using an aligned pattern which does not completely cover the block and adding elements in the portion covered by the pattern to compensate for the elements that are not covered.

Abstract translation: 用于比较数字图像编码中的像素块的技术。 该技术将包含连续像素的元素的图案应用于正被比较的块，并且仅比较元素中的像素。 像素在数字图像的水平维度上是连续的，这确保块匹配过程对图像的小尺度垂直特征敏感。 特别适用于可以并行处理单词中的像素的DSP的技术的一种版本使用每个元素是单词的棋盘格图案。 模式的变化考虑到被比较的像素块可能是字对准的，由一个像素偏移，两个像素对准，并且不对齐三个像素。 可以通过不比较不属于正在比较的块的像素或通过使用不完全覆盖块的对齐图案并且在由图案覆盖的部分中添加元素以补偿未被覆盖的元素来处理未对准 。

公开(公告)号：US08458756B2

公开(公告)日：2013-06-04

申请号：US11567890

申请日：2006-12-07

Applicant: Arturo A. Rodriguez ,  Timothy W. Simerly ,  Luis A. Rovira ,  William E. Wall, Jr. ,  Neilesh R. Patel

Inventor： Arturo A. Rodriguez ,  Timothy W. Simerly ,  Luis A. Rovira ,  William E. Wall, Jr. ,  Neilesh R. Patel

IPC: H04N7/173

CPC classification number: H04N7/148 ,  H04N7/147 ,  H04N7/15 ,  H04N21/236 ,  H04N21/4223 ,  H04N21/42676 ,  H04N21/4316 ,  H04N21/4788 ,  H04N21/6118 ,  H04N21/64322

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a videophone system implemented over a cable television network. The instant invention provides a videophone comprising a camera for capturing images associated with a videophone signal, a videophone unit and a set top terminal or cable modem connecting the videophone to a cable television network. Videophone signals created at the call origination site are encoded and transported to a predetermined destination over an existing cable television network. The system uses IP addresses as phone number on the network. Additionally, transport of videophone signals between different cable systems is accomplished via a high-speed long distance data network, such as, for example, a satellite network, that provides communication between the headends of the different cable television systems. The set top terminal may be a conventional subscriber terminal, a cable modem or a subscriber terminal configured to operate as a cable modem. The set top terminal provides the interface between the videophone and the cable television system. More than one videophone may be connected to a single set top terminal. Display of videophone data may be achieved using any conventional display device, including a television set or a personal computer monitor. Accordingly, the videophone system described herein takes advantage of increased bandwidth and lower cost realized by using existing cable television infrastructure and technology.

Abstract translation: 本发明涉及一种通过有线电视网络实现的可视电话系统。 本发明提供了一种可视电话，其包括用于捕获与可视电话信号相关联的图像的相机，可视电话单元以及将可视电话连接到有线电视网络的机顶终端或电缆调制解调器。 在呼叫发起站点创建的视频电话信号被编码并通过现有的有线电视网络传输到预定的目的地。 系统使用IP地址作为网络上的电话号码。 另外，在不同的有线电视系统之间传输视频电话信号是通过提供不同有线电视系统的头端之间的通信的高速长距离数据网络，例如卫星网络实现的。 机顶终端可以是被配置为作为电缆调制解调器工作的常规用户终端，电缆调制解调器或用户终端。 机顶终端提供可视电话和有线电视系统之间的接口。 多个可视电话可以连接到单个机顶终端。 可以使用包括电视机或个人计算机监视器的任何常规显示设备来实现可视电话数据的显示。 因此，本文描述的可视电话系统利用通过使用现有的有线电视基础设施和技术实现的增加的带宽和更低的成本。

公开(公告)号：US5999207A

公开(公告)日：1999-12-07

申请号：US857261

申请日：1997-05-16

Applicant: Arturo A. Rodriguez ,  Dean F. Jerding ,  Neilesh R. Patel ,  Timothy W. Simerly ,  Luis A. Rovira ,  Xin Li

Inventor： Arturo A. Rodriguez ,  Dean F. Jerding ,  Neilesh R. Patel ,  Timothy W. Simerly ,  Luis A. Rovira ,  Xin Li

IPC: H04N7/14

CPC classification number: H04N7/141 ,  H04N7/147

Abstract: A graphical user interface for a videophone in a cable television system allows the user to access the videophone functionalities with an input control device and a television monitor. The user can place a call, receive a call and store/access/call addresses using a remote in conjunction with the graphical user interface display screens. The videophone has several elements including a user interface, a graphics engine, a network interface, a remote control interface, and an output audio/video line connected to a television monitor. The user interface receives and processes control inputs using a microprocessor and the graphics engine generates the display screens using a DSP. Depending on processing requirements, the DSP may implement the user interface rather than the microprocessor. Also, anti-aliasing fonts are used to generate a high quality display. To save processing cycles, the anti-aliasing fonts may be retrieved from a look-up table rather than being generated in real time. The videophone may be implemented as a plug-in device to a set-top box, a standalone unit, or a standalone unit with a set-top box between the monitor and the videophone unit. When implemented with a set-top box the same remote control unit may be used to control the television and videophone functions.

Abstract translation: 用于有线电视系统中的可视电话的图形用户界面允许用户通过输入控制设备和电视监视器来访问视频电话功能。 用户可以使用遥控器与图形用户界面显示屏幕进行呼叫，接收呼叫和存储/访问/呼叫地址。 视频电话具有多个元件，包括用户界面，图形引擎，网络接口，遥控接口以及连接到电视监视器的输出音频/视频线。 用户界面使用微处理器接收和处理控制输入，图形引擎使用DSP生成显示屏幕。 根据处理要求，DSP可以实现用户界面而不是微处理器。 此外，抗锯齿字体用于生成高质量的显示。 为了节省处理周期，可以从查找表中检索抗锯齿字体，而不是实时生成。 视频电话可以被实现为机顶盒，独立单元或具有在监视器和可视电话单元之间的机顶盒的独立单元的插件设备。 当使用机顶盒实现时，可以使用相同的遥控单元来控制电视和视频电话功能。

公开(公告)号：US06195389B1

公开(公告)日：2001-02-27

申请号：US09061625

申请日：1998-04-16

Applicant: Arturo A. Rodriguez ,  Timothy W. Simerly ,  Neilesh R. Patel

Inventor： Arturo A. Rodriguez ,  Timothy W. Simerly ,  Neilesh R. Patel

IPC: H04N712

CPC classification number: H04N19/433 ,  H04N19/51

Abstract: Techniques for doing motion estimation in video encoding. A predictor block which is a best match for a current block is located by comparing the current block of the picture currently being encoded with candidate blocks that are located using the motion vectors of blocks that are either spatially or temporally proximate to the current block. If a given proximate block does not have a usable motion vector, another proximate block is used. The temporally proximate blocks are blocks in the last picture to be encoded prior to the current picture. The candidate blocks are further used to define a minimized portion of the search space which will fit inside the local RAM of the processor used to compare the current block with the candidates. The minimized search space is used in a two-phase method which begins with the candidates located using the proximate blocks and continues with a diamond-shaped search space centered on the best candidate located using the proximate blocks. The duration of the search method is controlled by three thresholds. Each succeeding one of the thresholds requires a closer match for the predictor than the previous threshold. The size and shape of the diamond-shaped search space may vary according to the motion vectors of previous predictors and according to the number of processor cycles that are available to perform the search. Similarly, the number and locations of the proximate blocks may vary according to the motion vectors of previous predictors and the number of processor cycles available.

Abstract translation: 在视频编码中进行运动估计的技术。 通过将当前正被编码的图像的当前块与使用空间上或时间上接近于当前块的块的运动矢量定位的候选块进行比较来定位与当前块最佳匹配的预测块。 如果给定的邻近块不具有可用的运动矢量，则使用另一个邻近块。 时间上最接近的块是在当前图像之前要编码的最后图像中的块。 候选块还用于定义搜索空间的最小化部分，其将适合用于将当前块与候选者进行比较的处理器的本地RAM内部。 最小化的搜索空间以两相方法使用，其以使用邻近块定位的候选开始，并且以使用邻近块定位的最佳候选为中心的菱形搜索空间继续进行。 搜索方法的持续时间由三个阈值控制。 每个后续的一个阈值需要预测器比先前阈值更接近的匹配。 菱形搜索空间的尺寸和形状可以根据先前预测器的运动矢量和根据可用于执行搜索的处理器周期的数量而变化。 类似地，邻近块的数量和位置可以根据先前预测器的运动矢量和可用的处理器周期的数量而变化。

公开(公告)号：US5982424A

公开(公告)日：1999-11-09

申请号：US838948

申请日：1997-04-23

Applicant: Timothy W. Simerly ,  Arturo A. Rodriguez ,  Neilesh R. Patel

Inventor： Timothy W. Simerly ,  Arturo A. Rodriguez ,  Neilesh R. Patel

IPC: H04N5/235 ,  H04N5/238

CPC classification number: H04N5/2352 ,  H04N5/235

Abstract: A charge coupled device (CCD) camera includes a CCD imager circuit, a compression engine, and a control circuit coupled to both the CCD imager circuit and the compression engine. The CCD imager circuit is characterized by an integration time defined by clock pulses from the control circuit. The compression engine generates successive frame requests. The control circuit generates the clock pulses to define the integration time based on a time between the sucessive frame requests. The camera further includes a histogram accumulator and an automatic gain controlled (AGC) amplifier coupled between the CCD imager circuit and the histogram accumulator. The CCD imager circuit is characterized by a predetermined maximum imager dynamic range and generates successive frames of imager data values, each successive frame of imager data values being characterized by an imager data value dynamic range and each frame of imager data values being generated based on a corresponding integration time. The AGC amplifier is characterized by an AGC gain defined by a gain control signal and characterized by a maximum output dynamic range. The AGC amplifier processes the successive frames of imager data values into corresponding successive frames of gain controlled data values, each successive frame of gain controlled data values being characterized by a gain controlled data value dynamic range. The histogram accumulator processes a first frame of gain controlled data values to determine a first frame result. The control circuit generates the clock pulses based on the first frame results to define the integration time that corresponds to a second frame of imager data values so that the integration time is maximized while the imager data value dynamic range is less than the maximum imager dynamic range, and the control circuit further generates the gain control signal based on the first frame results and the maximum imager dynamic range to minimize the AGC gain required so that the gain controlled data value dynamic range is equal to a predetermined range within the maximum output dynamic range.