Showing papers on "Filter (video) published in 1998"

Interacting multiple model methods in target tracking: a survey

Abstract: The Interacting Multiple Model (IMM) estimator is a suboptimal hybrid filter that has been shown to be one of the most cost-effective hybrid state estimation schemes. The main feature of this algorithm is its ability to estimate the state of a dynamic system with several behavior modes which can "switch" from one to another. In particular, the IMM estimator can be a self-adjusting variable-bandwidth filter, which makes it natural for tracking maneuvering targets. The importance of this approach is that it is the best compromise available currently-between complexity and performance: its computational requirements are nearly linear in the size of the problem (number of models) while its performance is almost the same as that of an algorithm with quadratic complexity. The objective of this work is to survey and put in perspective the existing IMM methods for target tracking problems. Special attention is given to the assumptions underlying each algorithm and its applicability to various situations.

The OMERACT filter for Outcome Measures in Rheumatology.

Abstract: 198 It is of note that the OMERACT process has been emulated by 2 other independent groups: one in the field of chronic juvenile arthritis5, and one in ankylosing spondylitis6. The former first developed a core set followed by response criteria, closely mimicking the process of the American College of Rheumatology and OMERACT for adult rheumatoid arthritis. The latter initially formulated a core set for ankylosing spondylitis, but has since decided to bring their process under the OMERACT umbrella.

Embolic protection device.

Abstract: An embolic protection device (100) including: a tubular sleeve (104) a collapsible filter element (105) mounted on the tubular sleeve (104), the tubular sleeve (104) being mounted in a filter holder (101) to facilitate placement of the filter element (105) through a vascular system of a patient, extending the tubular sleeve (104) substantially the entire length of the filter element (105) being rotatable filter element (105) relative to the filter support (101) being movable filter element (105) between a collapsed stored position against the tubular sleeve (104) for movement through the vascular system and an expanded position for occluding a blood vessel position so that the blood passing through the blood vessel is delivered through the filter element (105) including the filter element (105) a body collapsible filter (110) having an inlet end and an outlet end, having the inlet end of the filter body (110) one or more inlet openings (117) sized to allow entering blood and embolic material in the filter body (110) in the expanded position, tapering the proximal end input the filter body (110) distally radially outwardly; having the outlet end of the filter body (110) a plurality of outlet holes (119) sized to allow passage of blood but to retain undesired embolic material within the filter body (110), and retrieval device tubular filter (118) having an open distal end for reception of the filter element (105) being slidable said distal end of the retrieval device (118) on the filter body (110) from the inlet to the outlet end for folding progressively the filter body (110) against the tubular sleeve (104) and receive the filter body (110) within the recovery device (118).

A self-organizing state-space model

Abstract: A self-organizing filter and smoother for the general nonlinear non-Gaussian state-space model is proposed. An expanded state-space model is defined by augmenting the state vector with the unknown parameters of the original state-space model. The state of the augmented state-space model, and hence the state and the parameters of the original state-space model, are estimated simultaneously by either a non-Gaussian filter/smoother or a Monte Carlo filter/smoother. In contrast to maximum likelihood estimation of model parameters in ordinary state-space modeling, for which the recursive filter computation has to be done many times, model parameter estimation in the proposed self-organizing filter/smoother is achieved with only two passes of the recursive filter and smoother operations. Examples such as automatic tuning of dispersion and the shape parameters, adaptation to changes of the amplitude of a signal in seismic data, state estimation for a nonlinear state space model with unknown parameters. and seasonal adjustment with a nonlinear model with changing variance parameters are shown to exemplify the usefulness of the proposed method.

Method and apparatus for managing internetwork and intranetwork activity

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a network management program (80) is provided that manages the communication of data packets between an intranetwork (44) and an internetwork (40) An operator of a computer connected to the intranetwork (44) inputs vital information regarding users of computers connected to the intranetwork (44), mapping information regarding computers connected to the intranetwork (44), and policies to be applied against those users and computers, using a graphical user interface (GUI 70) The GUI (70) communicates the vital user information, mapping information and policies to a database (72) which stores and organizes the vital user information, mapping information and policies A filter executive (76) optimizes the policies stored in the database (72) into a set of rules for each user and passes the rules to a filter engine (78) The filter engine (78) filters all outbound data packets transmitted from the intranetwork (44) to the internetwork (40) and verifies all inbound data packets from the internetwork (40) according to the rules provided by the filter executive (76) The filter executive (76) also communicates the mapping information stored in the database (72) to a naming service manager (74) which further updates the mapping information and returns the updated mapping information to the filter executive (76) Consequently, the filter executive (78) filters the data packets according to the most recent mapping information

Active filter system implementation

Abstract: Adjustable speed AC drives with low input current THD are becoming increasingly important in industry. This article has detailed the implementation of a parallel active filter, which is integrated within a 450 kW adjustable speed drive to provide an overall system which conforms to IEEE 519, and which provides significant benefits on a system level. The design of the active filter is seen to be driven by overall system specifications which include input current THD, efficiency, displacement power factor, a high level of integration with the load converter, and cost targets. Active filter operation and control has been analyzed at a detailed level, and fundamental issues relating to current regulator topology and operation, limits on compensation capability, DC bus control, switching frequency ripple suppression, etc., have all been addressed, and have all been shown to be very important in terms of helping the system meet its performance objectives. The overall drive system including the active filter, meets IEEE 519 by reducing the supply current THD from 26.8% without the active filter to 4.1% with the active filter operating. This is achieved in presence of supply voltage THD of 2.3% and filter terminal voltage V/sub f/ unbalance of 1.3% and, includes an ASD load induced subharmonic component at 33 Hz. Further, individual harmonic limits are met up to the 35th harmonic.

Video OCR for digital news archive

Abstract: Video OCR is a technique that can greatly help to locate topics of interest in a large digital news video archive via the automatic extraction and reading of captions and annotations. News captions generally provide vital search information about the video being presented, the names of people and places or descriptions of objects. In this paper, two difficult problems of character recognition for videos are addressed: low resolution characters and extremely complex backgrounds. We apply an interpolation filter, multi-frame integration and a combination of four filters to solve these problems. Segmenting characters is done by a recognition-based segmentation method and intermediate character recognition results are used to improve the segmentation. The overall recognition results are good enough for use in news indexing. Performing video OCR on news video and combining its results with other video understanding techniques will improve the overall understanding of the news video content.

An embolic protection device

Abstract: An embolic protection device has a collapsible filter element (105) mounted on a carrier such as a guidewire (101). The filter element (105) collapses into the outer end of a catheter (118) for deployment and retrieval through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element (105) has a collapsible filter body with a proximal inlet end and a distal outlet end. The proximal inlet end has inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body. The outlet end has outlet openings which allow through passage of blood but retain embolic material within the filter body. After use, the catheter (118) is movable along the guidewire (101) to engage the proximal end of the filter element and close the inlet openings before sliding over the filter element from the proximal end to the distal end to progressively collapse the filter body on the guidewire (101) for retrieval. The filter element (105) may conveniently be mounted on a tubular sleeve (104) which is slidable and rotatable on the guidewire (101) between spaced-apart stops (106, 120) on the guidewire (101) which allows some manipulation of the guidewire independently of the filter when the filter is in use.

Orthogonal transmultiplexers in communication: a review

Abstract: This paper presents conventional and emerging applications of orthogonal synthesis/analysis transform configurations (transmultiplexer) in communications. It emphasizes that orthogonality is the underlying concept in the design of many communication systems. It is shown that orthogonal filter banks (subband transforms) with proper time-frequency features can play a more important role in the design of new systems. The general concepts of filter bank theory are tied together with the application-specific requirements of several different communication systems. Therefore, this paper is an attempt to increase the visibility of emerging communication applications of orthogonal filter banks and to generate more research activity in the signal processing community on these topics.

Assembly for collecting emboli and method of use

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating cerebral blood vessels such as carotid arteries. The system generally includes an apparatus and method for safely and easily deploying a self-expanding stent in a vessel while preventing embolic migration using a filter.

Modular filter with delivery system

Abstract: This invention is a modular blood filter device (10) and delivery system, comprising an arterial cannula (20) with a modular filter device (10). The arterial cannula (20) includes a distal end (24) adapted to enter an artery, and a side port (32) for receiving a modular filter cartridge (42). The modular filter cartridge (42) includes a tubular cartridge (42), and a shaft (62) having a handle (68) on one end and an expandable filter device (60) on the other end. The expandable filter device (60) includes filter mesh (80) and an expansion frame (72) capable of assuming enlarged and contracted conditions. The shaft (62) is inserted into the cartridge, thereby containing the expandable filter device (60) therein. The cartridge (42) may be then removably received by the side port (32) on the cannula. The cannula (20) may be introduced into a blood vessel, and the expandable filter device (60) may be deployed through the cannula (20) into the vessel. The expansion frame (72) may be expanded to the enlarged condition to capture embolic material in the mesh (80), may be collapsed to the contracted condition, and may be removed from the vessel. The modular filter cartridge (42) may be removed from the cannula (20), and a new modular filter cartridge (42) may then be received therein.

Sensor fault detection and identification in a mobile robot

Abstract: Multiple model adaptive estimation (MMAE) is used to detect and identify sensor failures in a mobile robot. Each estimator is a Kalman filter with a specific embedded failure model. The filter bank also contains one filter which has the nominal model embedded within it. The filter residuals are postprocessed to produce a probabilistic interpretation of the operation of the system. The output of the system at any given time is the confidence in the correctness of the various embedded models. As an additional feature the standard assumption that the measurements are available at a constant, common frequency, is relaxed. Measurements are assumed to be asynchronous and of varying frequency. The particularly difficult case of 'soft' sensor failure is also handled successfully. A system architecture is presented for the general problem of failure detection and identification in mobile robots. As an example, the MMAE algorithm is demonstrated on a Pioneer I robot in the case of three different sensor failures.

Method and apparatus for extracting digital data from a video stream and using the digital data to configure the video stream for display on a television set

Abstract: An apparatus and method for combining digital information with at video stream and for using the digital information to modify or augment video frames in the video stream is disclosed. The apparatus for decoding a video stream comprises a video receiver configured to receive a video stream, the video stream including a plurality of video frames. A video processor is configured to receive auxiliary data corresponding to the video stream, the auxiliary data including the information indicative of at least one video frame of the plurality of video frames. The video processor is further configured to modify the video frame in accordance with the auxiliary data. The video processor uses the received auxiliary data to identify a portion of the at least one video frame, the portion being modified in the act of modifying the video frame, other portions of the at least one video frame not being so modified. The video processor applies a filter to the portion of the at least one video frame.

Video control of speech recognition

Abstract: Method and apparatus for using video input to control speech recognition systems is disclosed. In one embodiment, gestures of a user of a speech recognition system are detected from a video input, and are used to turn a speech recognition unit on and off. In another embodiment, the position of a user is detected from a video input, and the position information supplied to a microphone array point of source filter to aid the filter in selecting the voice of a user that is moving about in the field of the camera supplying the video input.

Packet classification method and apparatus employing two fields

Abstract: A packet filter for a router performs generalized packet filtering allowing range matches in two dimensions, where ranges in one dimension at least one dimension is defined as a power of two. To associate a filter rule with a received packet EP, the packet filter employs a 2-dimensional interval search and memory look-up with the filter-rule table. Values of s m of filter-rule r m =(s m ,d m ) in one dimension are desirably ranges that are a power of two, such as prefix ranges, which are represented by a binary value having a “length” defined as the number of bits to of the prefix. The d m may be single points, ranges defined as prefix ranges, and/or ranges defined as continuous ranges. The packet filter employs preprocessing of the filter-rules based on prefix length as a power of 2 in one dimension and decomposition of overlapping segments into non-overlapping intervals in the other dimension to form the filter-rule table. A preprocessing algorithm searches in one dimension through filter rules and arranges the corresponding filter-rule rectangle segments according to prefix length. Then, in the other dimension, the overlapping filter rectangle segments are decomposed into non-overlapping intervals, and the highest priority filter-rule overlapping each non-overlapping interval is associated with that interval. A filter-rule table is then constructed with entries ordered according to prefix length and non-overlapping interval, each entry associated with a particular filter-rule. A packet classification algorithm then matches the field or other parameter information in the packet to the filter-rule table entries to identify the filter-rule rectangle associated with the filter-rule to be applied to the packet.

Real-time user-defined creation of network device information collections

Abstract: Mechanisms for establishing and viewing groups of devices within a network of devices are disclosed. A filter mechanism is coupled to a database of information about devices in a network having multiple network devices such as switches and routers. The database stores a filter metadata table that describes criteria by which the information in the database can be filtered to establish groups of the devices. The filter metadata drives the presentation of a filter dialog that provides a set of filters and filter criteria that can be selected by a user. The filter mechanism receives a set of user-entered criteria, selected from among the filter criteria, that define a group of the devices. The filter mechanism constructs a Boolean query to the database based upon the user-entered criteria. The database provides a dynamic view of network devices that meet the user-entered criteria. The filter metadata table describes the order of filters displayed in the filter dialog, and sources of data that provide values for the filters to be displayed in the filter dialog. Filters are persistently stored and can be retrieved and viewed by name. The membership of each device group defined by a filter is dynamically evaluated when a view is requested for a filter. The mechanisms are data-driven and can accommodate different devices as well as changes in existing devices and introduction of new devices. The invention also encompasses a method, computer program product, and computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave that are configured to carry out the processes accomplished by the mechanisms.

Multifunction optical filter with a Michelson-Gires-Tournois interferometer for wavelength-division-multiplexed network system applications.

Abstract: We propose using a novel multifunction optical filter with a Michelson–Gires–Tournois interferometer (MGTI) for future smart wavelength-division-multiplexed network system applications. The MGTI filter is a typical Michelson interferometer in which one of its reflecting mirrors is replaced with a Gires–Tournois resonator. One unique feature of this device is that it can function as a channel-passing (CP), a channel-dropping (CD), or a wide-bandpass (BP) filter, depending on the interferometer arm-length difference. Other interesting features are that (1) the linewidths of both the CP and the CD filter are twice as narrow as that of a typical Fabry–Perot filter with similar parameters, (2) theoretical visibility is always unity regardless of the mirror reflectance value, and (3) the BP filter has an excellent boxlike response function. Numerical results showing these characteristics are presented.

Device and method for smoothing picture signal, device and method for encoding picture and device and method for decoding picture

Abstract: A great decrease of a step, i.e., block distortion, of such as unnatural, abnormal or artifact brightness and color, on a block boundary, leads to much visual improvement of picture quality. Against a picture that has been encoded and decoded by block, the smoothing filter characteristics is changed according to quantizing parameter, block activity of a decoded picture, the activity of each pixel of the decoded picture, and the position with respect to a block boundary of a pixel. A smoothing filter utilizes a weighted mean whose weight is the inverse number of a difference between a target pixel and its surrounding pixels. The weighted mean is obtained by adding a certain number to a weight before taking its inverse number. The value to be added is controlled by the parameter. Similarly, the mixing ratio of a pixel value after performing the smoothing filter and a decoded pixel value is changed depending on the parameter. A filter having strong edge preserving property is utilized for the inside of a block, and a filter having weak edge preserving property is utilized for a block boundary. A filter having edge preserving property is utilized for the post/loop filter.

Design and optimization of IIR filter structure using hierarchical genetic algorithms

Abstract: A new genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed for digital filter design. This scheme utilizes a new hierarchical multilayer gene structure for the chromosome formulation. This is a unique structure, which retains the conventional genetic operations, while the genes may take various forms to represent the system characteristics. As a result, both the system structure and the parametric variables can be optimized in a simultaneous manner, without extra computational cost and effort. It has been demonstrated that this technique not only fulfils all types of filter performance requirements, but that the lowest order of the filter can also be found.

System for remote powering and communication with a network of addressable, multichannel sensing modules

Abstract: A multidrop network of multichannel, addressable sensing modules (ASM's), to be embedded within a composite structure, remotely powered, and interrogated by a personal computer through a non-contacting inductive link. Each ASM contains a microprocessor with non-volatile memory, multiplexer, programmable gain and filter instrumentation amplifier, and sigma delta analog to digital converter (all housed in two thin surface mount packages). An embedded mothernode includes circuitry for power and data reception (into the structure), and data transmission (back out of the structure). The external interrogation system communicates into the network of ASM's by modulating the AC waveform that delivers power to the embedded electronics. Once addressed, each ASM powers up its programmable (gain & filter) sensing channels (3 full differential or 5 pseudo differential) and data conversion elements. Sensed data are pulse code modulated, including error checking, which serially modulate an RF carrier for wireless transmission out of the composite to the interrogating computer. These advanced, micro-miniature sensing networks may be applied to a wide variety of military, medical, & civil structures.

Method and apparatus for determining the sensitivity of inputs to a neural network on output parameters

Abstract: A distributed control system (14) receives on the input thereof the control inputs and then outputs control signals to a plant (10) for the operation thereof. The measured variables of the plant and the control inputs are input to a predictive model (34) that operates in conjunction with an inverse model (36) to generate predicted control inputs. The predicted control inputs are processed through a filter (46) to apply hard constraints and sensitivity modifiers, the values of which are received from a control parameter block (22). During operation, the sensitivity of output variables on various input variables is determined. This information can be displayed and then the user allowed to select which of the input variables constitute the most sensitive input variables. These can then be utilized with a control network (470) to modify the predicted values of the input variables. Additionally, a neural network (406) can be trained on only the selected input variables that are determined to be the most sensitive. In this operation, the network is first configured and trained with all input nodes and with all training data. This provides a learned representation of the output wherein the combined effects of all other input variables are taken into account in the determination of the effect of each of the input variables thereon. The network (406) is then reconfigured with only the selected inputs and then the network (406) again trained on only the input/output pairs associated with the select input variables.

Hdtv downconversion system

Abstract: A video decoder compliant with the Advanced Television Systems Standard (ATSC) includes circuitry which decodes an ATSC encoded image and employs a downconversion process to produce a standard definition video signal. The video decoder includes a frequency-domain filter to reduce the resolution of the ATSC encoded signal. The video decoder downconversion system also includes a formatting section having vertical and horizontal filters, as well as resampling processing, to format the decoded and downconverted video image for a particular display and aspect ratio. The decoder senses the display format of the encoded video signal and changes the processing provided by the decoder to produce a standard definition output signal regardless of the display format of the encoded input signal. The system also includes a format converter which may be programmed to use a plurality of methods to convert the aspect ratio of the input signal for display on a display device having a different aspect ratio. In one mode, the system sequences through the possible methods to allow the user to select one method.

Adaptive H^∞ filter: Its application to structural identification

Abstract: By adding the function of memory fading for past observation data to the \iH\d∞ filter, the adaptive \iH\d∞ filter was developed for identifying structural systems with nonstationary dynamic characteristics. Identification algorithms are proposed for time-varying structural systems in which the velocity and displacement of each floor are available for observation, as well as for the case when only the velocity and displacement of some floors are available. The Akaike-Bayes information criterion is used to determine the optimal forgetting factor. Identification algorithms that use the adaptive \iH\d∞ and Kalman filters are applied to a five-degree of freedom (DOF) linear system with nonstationary dynamic characteristics and to a five-DOF nonlinear structural system. Digital simulation results show that the adaptive \iH\d∞ filter efficiently traces the time-varying properties of structural systems. The behavior of the adaptive \iH\d∞ filter is better than that of the adaptive Kalman filter for identifying a structural system with time-varying dynamic characteristics. The former is more efficient and robust for identifying structural systems with nonstationary dynamic characteristics.

Fast Acquisition, high sensitivity GPS receiver

Abstract: A method and apparatus of acquiring and tracking global positioning system signals with fast acquisition speed and high sensitivity is disclosed A pseudo-random noise matching filter operation is performed on a sample of global positioning system signals to provide a current matched filter result The current matched filter result is then accumulated with a prior matched filter result from a prior sample of global positioning system signals to produce an accumulated matched filter result Efficient means for implementing the matched filter are disclosed

Scaling algorithm and architecture for integer scaling in video

Abstract: A method for scaling of an image that includes providing an N-tap filter to be applied upon an image region and applying the N-tap filter variously to the image region and obtaining therefrom at least one scaled image pixel, such that N is equal to the scaling factor plus one. For instance, a 4:1 scaling procedure is achieved using a five-tap filter. By carefully selecting the coefficient of the five-tap filter, 2:1 scaling with a three-tap filter may be achieved using the same hardware and adding control signals and selectors. The scaling methodology and apparatus work directly in the CFA domain and provide efficient single pass dual-moded or multi-moded scaling capability.

Method and apparatus for illuminating and imaging eyes through eyeglasses using multiple sources of illumination

Abstract: A reliable method of illuminating and imaging an eye through eyeglasses uses a carefully selected subset of multiple monochromatic light sources, a camera with an imager that exhibits minimal blooming, and a narrow-bandwidth optical bandpass filter to filter out most of the ambient illumination while passing most of the light from the system's own illuminator.

Method and apparatus for authenticating connections to a storage system coupled to a network

Abstract: A data management technique for managing accesses to data at a shared storage system includes a filter at the storage system. The filter is coupled to a configuration table, which identifies which of a number of coupled host processors have accesses to each of the resources at the device. During operation, requests received from the host devices are filtered by the filter, and only those requests to resources that the individual host devices have privilege to access are serviced. Advantageously, data security is further enhanced by authenticating each of the requests received by the storage system to verify that the host processor that is represented as forwarding the request is the indicated host processor. In addition, transfers of data between the storage system and the host processor may be validated to ensure that data was not corrupted during the data transfer.

Selecting and applying content-reducing filters based on dynamic environmental factors

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable code with which environmental factors can be used to dynamically filter the content being delivered from a server to a user's workstation. A rule-based approach is used to select an appropriate filter, enabling varying types and degrees of content reduction to be applied based on currently-existing conditions. This provides a way to manage the volume of data received by the user, without requiring input from the user, by reducing the amount of data sent to him by a server. In the preferred embodiment, conditions to be monitored include billing information related to the user's account with his connection service provider; characteristics of the device he is currently using, including its available storage capacity; and/or behavioral characteristics of this user when he requests to download files.

Method and system of dynamic transformation of encrypted material

Abstract: This invention relates to metered usage, and prevention of piracy, of computer software and other intellectual property existing in electronic digital format. The end result of the invention enables software-on-demand and software subscription services by employing a transformation filter (104) to perpetually regulate, meter, and charge for the usage of software products. The apparatus is implemented as a virtually integral part of the operating system that monitors and 'filter' all read, write, and open/execute acccess to and from the I/O devices (106). As the protected material is being accessed, the transformation filter (104) positions itself in the path required for loading the material through the file system and application layers. The material enters the transformation filter (104) in its encrypted state and is decrypted in real-time as it goes through. The material is then handed over to the operating system components (107/108) to fulfill the user access requests.