Barbara L Hall

US Patent:

6356589, Mar 12, 2002

Filed:

Jan 28, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/239381

Inventors:

Charlene Ann Gebler - Vestal NY
Barbara A. Hall - Endwell NY
Agnes Yee Ngai - Endwell NY
Michael Patrick Vachon - Johnson City NY

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H04B 166

US Classification:

3752401, 37524016, 37524024, 382234

Abstract:

A digital video encode system, method and computer program product are described wherein a picture is divided into multiple active areas that are parallel encoded using multiple encoders. The encoders associated with adjoining active areas of the picture are configured to exchange reference data to facilitate avoiding appearance of a seam between the adjoining active areas of a subsequent picture in a sequence of pictures due to separate encoding thereof by the multiple encoders. The reference data transferred from one encoder to an adjoining encoder is an encoded and decoded section of the picture and is used by the adjoining encoder as an expanded reference area for motion estimation when encoding the subsequent picture.

US Patent:

6720893, Apr 13, 2004

Filed:

Feb 22, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/080828

Inventors:

James D. Greenfield - Binghamton NY
Barbara A. Hall - Endwell NY
Agnes Y. Ngai - Endwell NY
Edward F. Westermann - Endicott NY

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H03M 700

US Classification:

341 50

Abstract:

A technique is provided for programmably controlling output of compressed data from, for example, a video encoder. The technique can be implemented within the video encoder and includes buffering the compressed data in a write buffer, followed by transferring the compressed data from the write buffer to a read buffer. At least one programmable output mode is provided for selectively controlling output of the compressed data from the read buffer. When the read buffer is full, the compressed data is stored to the encoders external memory to await transfer to the read buffer. The at least one programmable mode can include a slave mode, a gated master mode, a multi-cycle speed mode, and a paced master mode, which may be employed individually or in combination. A mechanism for inserting pad bytes of data into the compressed data is also provided.

US Patent:

6788227, Sep 7, 2004

Filed:

Mar 28, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/114012

Inventors:

Barbara A. Hall - Endwell NY
Agnes Y. Ngai - Endwell NY
Michael P. Vachon - Johnson City NY

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H03M 738

US Classification:

341 51, 341 50, 37524014

Abstract:

Two encoders are used in cascade wherein one encoder functions as a preprocessor for the other by collecting statistics concerning partially processed input data. The statistics thus derived are autonomously transferred to a second decoder in a self-synchronized manner, avoiding any need for external glue logic, and utilized to select encoding options for encoding and/or compressing the data so that the quality of encoded data is optimized based on the content of current input data.

US Patent:

6823015, Nov 23, 2004

Filed:

Jan 23, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/055395

Inventors:

Barbara A. Hall - Endwell NY
Agnes Y. Ngai - Endwell NY
John M. Sutton - Endicott NY
Edward F. Westermann - Endicott NY

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H04B 766

US Classification:

37524024

Abstract:

A technique is provided for encoding macroblocks of a frame of a sequence of video frames initially employing luminance data only to analyze temporal redundancy of the macroblocks within the frame. Upon deciding to code at least one macroblock as a non-intra macroblock, the technique includes considering whether to switch the coding decision for the at least one macroblock from non-intra to intra by evaluating chrominance data of the at least one macroblock. The evaluating of the chrominance data can include determining whether chrominance difference data, obtained by comparing chrominance values of a current macroblock with a reference macroblock, is greater than a user set chrominance difference threshold, and if so then the technique includes switching the macroblock coding decision. As a further qualification, the switching might occur only if the chrominance difference data is also greater than the corresponding luminance difference data.

US Patent:

6895048, May 17, 2005

Filed:

Mar 20, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/046118

Inventors:

Charles E. Boice - Endicott NY, US
Barbara A. Hall - Endwell NY, US
Agnes Y. Ngai - Endwell NY, US
Charles J. Stein - Peckville PA, US
Edward F. Westermann - Endicott NY, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H04N007/12

US Classification:

37524002, 375240, 37524001, 37524012

Abstract:

Method, system and computer program product are provided for adaptively encoding in hardware, software or a combination thereof a series of still or partially still pictures using motion video encoding. A pre-encode statistics measurement unit is employed to derive statistics on each frame of the sequence of video frames to be encoded. The statistics are determinative of whether the frame comprises a still frame. If so, at least one controllable parameter to be used to encode the still frame is modified, and an encoding engine employs the at least one controllable parameter to encode the still frame so that pulsation artifacts are prevented between still frames of the series of still frames. Partial still picture encoding to prevent pulsation artifacts on a macroblock level is also addressed.

US Patent:

6956899, Oct 18, 2005

Filed:

Mar 23, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/046285

Inventors:

Barbara A. Hall - Endwell NY, US
John A. Murdock - Apalachin NY, US
Agnes Y. Ngai - Endwell NY, US
Edward F. Westermann - Endicott NY, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H04N007/12

US Classification:

37524003, 375240, 37524001, 37524012, 37524016

Abstract:

A method and system for encoding digital video picture data. In accordance with this method, the video picture data is partitioned into a group of blocks, at least some of those blocks are selected, one block at a time, and each of the selected blocks of data is encoded to form an encoded coefficient having an associated number of bits. The encoded coefficients are outputted, and an accumulated sum of the number of bits in the outputted encoded coefficients is kept. The outputting of the encoded coefficients is terminated at a defined time in order to prevent the accumulated sum from exceeding a given number.

US Patent:

6980598, Dec 27, 2005

Filed:

Feb 22, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/081778

Inventors:

James D. Greenfield - Binghamton NY, US
Barbara A. Hall - Endwell NY, US
Agnes Y. Ngai - Endwell NY, US
John M. Sutton - Endicott NY, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H04N007/12

US Classification:

37524029

Abstract:

A technique is provided for programmably vertically filtering pixel values of frames of a sequence of video frames. The technique includes separating luminance components and chrominance components of the pixel values within a vertical filter buffer, then vertically filtering luminance components of the pixel values using programmable luminance filter coefficients, and vertically filtering chrominance components of the pixel values using programmable chrominance filter coefficients. The filtered luminance component data and filtered chrominance component data is subsequently merged onto a single luminance/chrominance bus for further filtering and/or encoding. The luminance and chrominance filter coefficients are programmable and may be changed dynamically and repeatedly at picture boundaries. In one embodiment, the programmable vertical filter includes a four tap luminance component filter and a five tap chrominance component filter.

US Patent:

6993078, Jan 31, 2006

Filed:

Mar 28, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/112314

Inventors:

Barbara A. Hall - Endwell NY, US
Agnes Y. Ngai - Endwell NY, US
John M. Sutton - Endicott NY, US
Edward F. Westermann - Endicott NY, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H04N 7/12

US Classification:

37524016

Abstract:

A technique for encoding macroblocks of a frame is provided which includes switching a coding decision for a macroblock from a non-intra decision to a skip macroblock decision when the absolute prediction error for the macroblock is less than a prediction error threshold and the magnitude of the motion vector for the at least one macroblock is less than a motion vector threshold. In one embodiment, the prediction error threshold is multiple programmable prediction error thresholds, which are for comparison with the absolute luminance and chrominance summation components and the maximum luminance and chrominance difference values. The motion vector threshold may be a preset value when the macroblock is to be predictive coded, and may be the magnitude of the motion vector of the previous macroblock when the macroblock is to be bi-directionally encoded.