Music is blanket transmitted (for example, via satellite downlink transmission) to each customer's computer-based user station. Customers preselect from a list of available music in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay only for music that they choose to have recorded for unlimited playback, for example, by a “CD burner”. An antipiracy “ID tag” is woven into the recorded music so that any illegal copies therefrom may be traced to the purchase transaction. Music is transmitted on a fixed schedule or through an active scheduling process that monitors music requests from all or a subset of satellite receivers and adjust scheduling according to demand for various CD's. Receivers store selections that are likely to be preferred by a specific customer. In those instances where weather conditions, motion atmospheric layers or dish obstructions result in data loss, the system downloads the next transmission of the requested CD and uses both transmissions to produce a “good copy”. In conjunction with the blanket transmission of more popular music, an automated CD manufacturing facility may be provided to manufacture CD's that are not frequently requested and distribute them by ground transportation.

Music distribution systems

A moving picture coding apparatus for performing inter-picture predictive coding for pictures constituting a moving picture is provided with a coding unit for performing predictive error coding for image data; a decoding unit for performing predictive error decoding for an output from the coding unit; a reference picture memory for holding output data from the decoding unit; and a motion vector detection unit for detecting motion vectors on the basis of the decoded image data stored in the memory. When coding a B picture as a target picture, information indicating whether or not the target picture should be used as a reference picture when coding another picture is added as header information. Therefore, in a decoding apparatus for decoding a bit stream Bs outputted from the moving picture coding apparatus, management of a memory for holding the reference picture can be facilitated on the basis of the header information.

Moving picture coding method and moving picture decoding method

The present invention discloses methods of digitally converting 2D motion pictures or any other 2D image sequences to stereoscopic 3D image data for 3D exhibition. In one embodiment, various types of image data cues can be collected from 2D source images by various methods and then used for producing two distinct stereoscopic 3D views. Embodiments of the disclosed methods can be implemented within a highly efficient system comprising both software and computing hardware. The architectural model of some embodiments of the system is equally applicable to a wide range of conversion, re-mastering and visual enhancement applications for motion pictures and other image sequences, including converting a 2D motion picture or a 2D image sequence to 3D, re-mastering a motion picture or a video sequence to a different frame rate, enhancing the quality of a motion picture or other image sequences, or other conversions that facilitate further improvement in visual image quality within a projector to produce the enhanced images.

Methods and systems for converting 2d motion pictures for stereoscopic 3d exhibition

Coding techniques for a video image compression system involve improving an image quality of a sequence of two or more bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames, where each of the frames includes multiple pixels. One method involves determining a brightness value of at least one pixel of each bi-directionally predicted intermediate frame in the sequence as an equal average of brightness values of pixels in non-bidirectionally predicted frames bracketing the sequence of bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames. The brightness values of the pixels in at least one of the non-bidirectionally predicted frames is converted from a non-linear representation.

Interpolation of Video Compression Frames

Movies are distributed to customer households in a secure format on digital media such as optical disks for playing back via proprietary set-top boxes (14) A system operator produces movie disks in large quantities and delivers the disks to widely geographically dispersed distribution agents Agents produce copies of the disks with unique agent identification codes embedded therein, and distribute the disks to local customers who have compatible playback devices When customers view movies, information identifying the movie and a distribution agent who is responsible for the movie being distributed to that customer are communicated to the central computer of the system operator (20) The content providers are then paid royalties due and responsible distribution agents are compensated

Video distribution system

A method and apparatus for image compression using temporal and resolution layering of compressed image frames. In particular, layered compression allows a form of modularized decomposition of an image that supports flexible application of a variety of image enhancement techniques. Further, the invention provides a number of enhancements to handle a variety of video quality and compression problems. Most of the enhancements are preferably embodied as a set of tools which can be applied to the tasks of enhancing images and compressing such images. The tools can be combined by a content developer in various ways, as desired, to optimize the visual quality and compression efficiency of a compressed data stream, particularly a layered compressed data stream. Such tools include improved image filtering techniques, motion vector representation and determination, de-interlacing and noise reduction enhancements, motion analysis, imaging device characterization and correction, an enhanced 3-2 pulldown system, frame rate methods for production, a modular bit rate technique, a multi-layer DCT structure, variable length coding optimization, an augmentation system for MPEG-2 and MPEG-4, and guide vectors for the spatial enhancement layer.

Moving image compression quality enhancement using displacement filters with negative lobes

Methods, systems, and computer programs for improved quality video compression. Image quality from MPEG-style video coding may be improved by preserving a higher number of bits during intermediate encoding and decoding processing steps. Problems of inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) mismatch can be eliminated by exactly matching the IDCT function numerical algorithm of the decoder to the IDCT function numerical algorithm used for the decoding portion of the encoder. Also included is an application of high precision compression to wide dynamic range images by extending the range of the “quantization parameter” or “QP”. The extension of QP may be accomplished either by increasing the range of QP directly, or indirectly through a non-linear transformation. Also included is an application of extended intermediate processing precision and an extended QP range to reduced contrast regions of an image to extend the precision with which the low-contrast portions are compression coded.

High precision encoding and decoding of video images

A method and apparatus for image compression using temporal and resolution layering of compressed image frames, and which provides encryption and watermarking capabilities. In particular, layered compression allows a form of modularized decomposition of an im age that supports flexible encryption and watermarking (1404) techniques. Using layered compression, the base layer and various internal components of the base layer can be used to encrypt a compressed layered movie data stream. By using such a layered subset of the bits, the entire picture stream can be made unrecognizable by encrypting only a small fraction of the bits of the entire stream. A variety of encryption algorithms and strengths can be applied to various portions of the layered stream, including enhancement layers. Encryption algorithms or keys can be changed at each slice boundary as well, to provide greater intertwining of the encryption and the picture stream. Watermarking (1404) tracks lost or stolen copies byck to the source, so that the nature of theft can be determine d and so that those involved in a theft can be identified. Watermarking (1404) preferably uses low order bits in certain coefficients in certain frames of a layered compression movie stream to provide reliable isentification while being invisible or nearly invisible to the eye. An enhancement layer can also have its own unique identifying watermark (1404) structure.

Encrypted and watermarked temporel and resolution layering in advanced television

Methods, systems, and computer programs for improving compressed image chroma information. In one aspect of the invention, a resolution for a red color component of a color video image is used that is higher than the resolution for a blue color component of the color video image. Another aspect includes utilizing a lower or higher value of a quantization parameter (QP) for one or more chroma channels as compared to the luminance channel. Another aspect is use of a logarithmic representation of a video image to benefit image coding. Another aspect uses more than two chroma channels to represent a video image.

Method and system for improving compressed image chroma information

A method, system, and computer program for coding video frames in a video compression system. One aspect includes automatically scaling coding mode biases as a function of the number of bits of coding precision in the video compression system, or dynamic range and/or contrast range, or quantization parameter. Another aspect includes selecting coding mode biases as a function of the total number of bits required for macroblock coding, or setting all biases to zero. Another aspect includes selecting one of a plurality of coding modes (1) resulting in no more than a selected number of coded bits, or (2) having at least a selected image quality, or (3) having a combination of number of coded bits and image quality. Another aspect includes selecting, as a preferred coding mode, one of a plurality of coding modes having a selected combination of number of coded bits and image quality based on various AC and DC motion vectors. Another aspect includes selecting, as a preferred frame coding choice, one of a plurality of frame coding choices having a selected combination of number of coded bits and image quality. The number of coded bits can also be determined for a set of selected quantization parameter (QP) values or quantization frequency weighting matrices, for each frame coding choice. This approach may also be used to select a preferred QP value or quantization frequency weighting matrix.

Gary A. Demos

Papers

Moving image compression quality enhancement using displacement filters with negative lobes

High precision encoding and decoding of video images

Encrypted and watermarked temporel and resolution layering in advanced television

Method and system for improving compressed image chroma information

Macroblock mode decision biasing for video compression systems