Rca Inc.

Sarnoff Corporation

Rca Licensing Corporation

Rca Thomson Licensing Corp.

General Electric Company

David Sarnoff Research Center, Inc.

Akikaze Technologies, LLC

Akikase Technologies, LLC

Charles Benjamin Dieterich

Arthur Lee Greenberg

Tao Chen

Todd J Christopher

Michael Anthony Isnardi

Hans Andreas Baumgartner

Edmond Chalom

Michael Allen Plotnick

Patrick Michael Sheehan

Ted N Altman

Frank B Lang

Tzy-Hong S Chao

Ragnar Hlynur Jonsson

Charles August Asmuth

Charles Weaver Christine

Paul Harquail Meehan

Bruce J Anderson

Kent Charles Koping

Dennis R McClary

Robert William Shideleff

Elizabeth Annella Martina Seip

A method and apparatus for producing a variable bit rate audio signal is disclosed. An audio signal is encoded into a plurality of encoded audio signals at different bit rates. A variable bit rate audio signal is produced by selecting between the plurality of encoded audio frames of different bit rates in accordance with a selection criterion.

Adaptive variable bit rate audio encoding

Method and apparatus for adaptive variable bit rate audio encoding

A data structure, such as a digital television signal, includes (a) a video stream representing a picture and (b) auxiliary information, such as a closed caption stream. In one embodiment, the picture has special content that is not visible when a decoder correctly processes the auxiliary information. When an error occurs in the decoder processing, the special content becomes visible, thereby indicating the existence of the error to an observer of the rendered picture. In another embodiment, the video stream represents a sequence of time-varying pictures that provides a temporal reference for characterizing the relative timing of the decoder's processing of the auxiliary information.

Video streams for closed caption testing and the like

A data structure, such as a digital television signal, includes (a) a video stream representing a picture and (b) auxiliary information, such as a closed caption stream. In one embodiment, the picture has an inset window representative of a reduced version of the picture properly overlaid by the auxiliary information. In another embodiment, the data structure has two or more auxiliary information streams, and the picture is used to independently test the auxiliary information processing of each of the auxiliary information streams.

A method and apparatus for analyzing and monitoring packet streams in 'real time'. The packet analyzer comprises an input buffer, a real-time analysis unit, a non-real-time analysis unit, a graphics unit, a monitor and a flushing circuit. A packet stream is received into the input buffer where the data is either read by the real-time analysis unit or flushed by the flushing circuit. Messages are passed between the real-time analysis unit and the non-real-time analysis unit to report on detected errors or to update packet stream information. In turn, real time packet stream information are displayed and updated on a display via the graphic unit. A method of detecting framing errors in a packet stream is incorporated by setting a 9th bit in the input buffer for each byte of data in a packet.

Method and apparatus for analyzing and monitoring packet streams

A method of testing a decoder of a coded bitstream utilizes a test bitstream, containing in part embedded reference data, that is applied to a decoder being tested to produce a test result image that evidences whether or not the decoder correctly or incorrectly decodes the test bitstream. In an MPEG or an MPEG-like coding, for example, the test bitstream comprises a sequence of pictures representing at least one reference image portion, wherein at least one picture of the sequence of pictures typically is an intra-coded representation of the reference image portion and subsequent pictures of the sequence of pictures include an intra-coded representation of the reference image portion and a predictively coded representation of the reference image portion.

Bitstream testing method and apparatus employing embedded reference data

A method and apparatus for adjusting an embedded portion of a television signal. The embedded portion is adjusted such that a downstream receiver effects no change on a displayed video upon decoding the adjusted embedded portion.

Method and apparatus for adjusting an embedded portion of a television signal

An apparatus and concomitant method for creating and applying an encoded bitstream to evaluate the performance of a black box video decoder. The encoded bitstreams are designed such that the results from the DUT can be evaluated without the need of a human observer. The method applies the encoded bitstream to both a DUT and a compliant reference decoder and compares the results from both decoders to determine compliance of the DUT. Additional embodiments address postprocessing and the selection of a subset of test frames for evaluation.

Method and apparatus for automated testing of a video decoder

A method and apparatus for pre-processing an image sequence to extract side information concerning the image sequence is disclosed. In one embodiment, the side information is inserted into the image sequence, such that upon being encoded at a later time, the encoder can utilize the side information to best select one or more coding parameters. Alternatively, the side information can be stored on a storage device and is then made available to an encoder that is tasked with encoding the image sequence.

Apparatus and method for using side information to improve a coding system

A method and apparatus for analyzing and monitoring packet streams in &ldquo;real time&rdquo;. The packet analyzer comprises an input buffer, a real-time analysis unit, a non-real-time analysis unit, a graphics unit, a monitor and a flushing circuit. A packet stream is received into the input buffer where the data is either read by the real-time analysis unit or flushed by the flushing circuit. Messages are passed between the real-time analysis unit and the non-real-time analysis unit to report on detected errors or to update packet stream information. In turn, real time packet stream information are displayed and updated on a display via the graphic unit. A method of detecting framing errors in a packet stream is incorporated by setting a 9th bit in the input buffer for each byte of data in a packet.

Compressed bitstreams are characterized by generated graphical displays that display useful information related, for example, to the quality of the data contained in the bitstream. One set of graphical displays indicates lead time between receipt of packetized data and the corresponding decode or presentation time-stamp. Another set of bar graphical displays provides information related to bits per picture by (A) indicating fractions of useful bits versus zero-stuffing bits per picture, (B) distinguishing field pictures from frame pictures, and (C) plotting bars as a function of presentation or decode time rather than picture number to indicate the presence of 3:2 pulldown frame structure in the bitstream. Yet another set of graphical displays corresponds to coefficient/quantization (C/Q) diagrams that plot combinations of quantization level and number of non-zero quantized coefficients for sets of picture blocks.

Measures for characterizing compressed bitstreams

A bitstream analyzer for detecting and verifying errors in the bitstream such as inconsistencies of time base and program specific information in real time is disclosed. Frequency tracking is provided with only a single time reference, by tracking the time of reception of various time-elements.

Apparatus and method for analyzing bitstreams

A method and apparatus for creating a plurality of encoded bitstreams that represent selected waveforms in different ways such that when an audio decoder decodes the bitstream, an audible tone or lack thereof, will signify the failure of the audio decoder. The method employs a waveform having a set of baseline parameters but encodes the waveform in different ways by varying the parameter under test. The method monitors the audio decoder's ability to properly decode these alternating waveforms, by listening for an audible tone change or lack thereof. Since the behavior of the selected waveform is predictable, the method provides a set of simple and effective tests for evaluating black box audio decoders which may have no accessible internal nodes.

Method and apparatus for evaluating an audio decoder

A method and apparatus for pre-processing an image sequence to extract side information concerning the image sequence. In one embodiment, the side information is inserted into the image sequence, such that upon being encoded at a later time, the encoder can utilize the side information to best select one or more coding parameters. Alternatively, the side information can be stored on a storage device and is then made available to an encoder that is tasked with encoding the image sequence.

Apparatus and method for using side information to improve a coding

A method and apparatus for creating and using an encoded bitstream to evaluate a video decoder. The bitstream contains a sequence of pictures or frames such that when a video decoder decodes the bitstream correctly, a desired visible pattern is produced on a video display. Specifically, various display parameters or flags are varied in the bitstream to test the video decoder's ability to implement display features such as '3:2 pulldown'. For example, the bitstream is capable of demonstrating incorrect decoding of the top.sub.-- field.sub.-- first and repeat.sub.-- first.sub.-- field flags by a MPEG compliant video decoder.

Growing community of inventors

Kingston, NJ, United States of America

Charles Benjamin Dieterich