Avid Technology Limited

Hewlett-packard Company

Apollo Computer Inc.

Synapix, Inc.

Jeffrey D Kurtze

Harry Der

Peter J Fasciano

James A McKain

Stephen M DiSciullo

Paul H Greaves

Morton H Tarr

Eric C Peters

Peter Zawojski

Alex Vasilevsky

John Walsh, Jr

Robert A Gonsalves

Joseph H Rice

Raymond D Cacciatore

Bernard L Stumpf

Ray Cacciatore

Barry Horne

James Robert Hamilton

Dale Calvin Morris

Craig R Frink

William R Bryg

Ruby B Lee

John Stoddard Robotham

Stephen G Burger

Jean-Pierre Schott

Curt A Rawley

Barry J Flahive

Richard G Bahr

Hamed Eshraghian

Chia-Sheng Chou

Paul B Madden

Scott A Markinson

David Askey

Frank C Sarnowski

Michael F Lamenza

Anthony O'Connor

James Turner

Mark Kline

Mary Cacciatore

Joseph Henry

John Jr Walsh

A moving picture recording device includes a random-access, computer-readable and writable storage medium to provide non-linear access to recorded clips. The device provides digital capture of both video and audio information. Multiple data paths are provided to allow recording to and playback from the storage medium. Lists are maintained to manage recorded clips and edited events. An outtake list of deleted clips is also maintained. An event list includes a list of video events including clips from the storage medium as well as other video sources including a camera or external video. With switching circuitry, recorded clips can be viewed during editing while live images are output to a program output. An editing interface includes dedicated keys for performing standard recording functions as well as a display with associated input keys having adaptive functions. The textual display indicates the function currently associated with the input key. This display provides a simple interface for editing video without a mouse or other external input device or complex graphical user interface. The interface also may allow a user to input a value, stored as an attribute of a clip, that represents the merit of the clip. These attributes may be used to rank and/or select clips.

Combined editing system and digital moving picture recording system

A digital media recorder including a video camera digitizing circuitry and a digital computer readable and writable random access medium, such as magnetic or optical disk, in which sequences of digital still images are stored directly on the recording medium. Audio recording capabilities may also be provided. This system eliminates the need for video tape for recording video information, thereby providing the capability for a purely digital video system for capture, editing and playback.

Motion picture recording device using digital, computer-readable non-linear media

A portable moving picture recording device includes switching control to enable multiple data flow configurations. Two output encoders receive either composite or component digital video signals. The component video signals can come from one of three sources: decoded composite video, component video, and a random-access storage device. Inputs to a composite video analog-to-digital converter and a genlock decoder may be switched between at least two outputs, including a camera video and external video sources. The digital component signal may also be recorded onto the random access recording medium. These data paths are provided in a portable moving picture recording device, in combination with some editing capability.

Portable moving picture recording device including switching control for multiple data flow configurations

A media pipeline with two channels processes sequences of digital still images. A blender is provided so as to enable simple effects on these two streams of video data such as dissolves, wipes and chroma keys. Complex arbitrary three-dimensional effects and other effects may also be provided using an external interface. Thus, a system for processing sequences of digital still images to provide real-time digital video effects includes first and second channels for communicating first and second sequences of digital still images at a rate for simulating video. A controller directs still images to one of the first and second channels. A blender, having a first input connected to the first channel, a second input connected to the second channel, and an output, provides a combination of the first and second sequences of digital still images at a rate for simulating video.

Media pipeline with multichannel video processing and playback with compressed data streams

The system processes sequences of digital still images to provide real-time digital video effects, and includes first and second channels for communicating first and second sequences of digital still images at a rate for simulating video. A controller directs still images to one of the first and second channels. A blender, having a first input connected to the first channel, a second input connected to the second channel, and an output, provides a combination of the first and second sequences of digital still images at a rate for simulating video.

Media pipeline with multichannel video processing and playback

An encoding/decoding method and apparatus encodes an input data stream for compression purposes, and decodes the compressed data stream for use. The encoding process identifies trends in the data stream, and stores information about the trends in an encoded block. The trends may include runs, in which sequential, corresponding gropus in the data stream have constant values. The trends may also include ramps, where sequential, corresponging components in the data stream increase or decrease by a linear value. An encoded block may also be provided to transfer raw data. The encoded blocks do not store type information describing the type of the component associated with the block. Rather, the decoder infers the type of the components associated with the encoded block according to an original order of components in the data stream, the order of the encoded block in the sequence of encoded blocks and a number of the corresponding components encoded by each of the preceding encoded blocks. Once the type of the component is determined, the decoder reconstructs the data stream by translating the encoded trend information into component values. The encoded data stream is thus decoded without any loss in data accuracy. Because type information need not be transferred to the decoder, the size of the encoded block is further reduced, thereby enhancing the compression capabilities of the present invention.

Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding a data stream using inferential techniques

A technique for displaying a visual representation of an estimated three-dimensional scene structure and the values of various parameters associated with the scene, together with a visual representation of at least one two-dimensional image used in the scene structure estimation algorithm. A user inputs information by adjusting parameters and/or specifying an element or region of the visual representations and supplies mark-ups and other information such as attributes for the element or region to be applied during a next iteration of the scene structure estimation algorithm. The scene structure estimation algorithm is then re-executed and the process repeats until the user is satisfied with the resulting visual scene structure.

Computer assisted mark-up and parameterization for scene analysis

An architecture for performing real-time image processing on multiple image data streams using compressed or uncompressed image data includes a switch for forwarding data from multiple input sources to multiple destinations on a video processing device. The video processing device includes two independent processing pipelines for processing two different data streams. The switch may couple one or both input data stream to be multiple different destinations. Multiple video processing devices may be coupled via the switch to increase the number of data streams capable of being processed at any given time. Mixers are coupled in a cascaded fashion using the switch, thereby providing selective keying capability and allowing for multiple keying events to be entered during one phase of processing. Each of the processing pipelines on the video processing device includes dedicated processing logic, compression logic and frame buffer storage. Logic is provided with each frame buffer to support motion effects. By providing two distinct processing pipelines, greater control may be achieved for production of an output image. The architecture may be easily augmented to include a datapath for processing uncompressed image data. Data management techniques allow uncompressed image data to be processed in real time. A simple mechanism is provided to enable switching between processing using compressed data and uncompressed data at any point in the video production process.

Multistream switch-based video editing architecture

The present invention provides a generic interface which enables asynchronous data processing elements to be interconnected using an interconnection protocol that controls flow of data between the processing elements. The flow control allows the processing elements to be data independent from, i.e., the processing elements need not be designed for a fixed sample rate or resolution, sample format and other data dependent factors. When used with digital motion video data, the processing elements may process motion video data at various temporal and spatial resolutions and color formats. Flow of data between processing elements may be controlled by handshake signals indicating whether the sender has valid data and the receiver can receive data. When valid data is available at the sender and is requested by the receiver, a transfer of data occurs. The characteristics of the data, and functions to be performed on the data may be specified using control inputs to the processing elements. A counting circuit may be used to specify the number of the data samples for which the control inputs are valid. The interface allows each processing element to have a small number of storage locations for storing data, such as a pair of registers, which eliminates the need for large buffers and simplifies implementation of the processing element with such flow control as a simple integrated circuit.

Apparatus and method for controlling transfer of data between and

A computer apparatus which detects a store or load operation into or from a shared memory page by a program that does not provide for synchronization when executed by a CPU that completes instructions out of program order. After the store or load is detected, the CPU explicitly orders operations into the shared memory page. Store operations are ordered such that no new store into the shared memory page is performed until all prior store operations into the shared memory page are complete. Also, load operations are ordered such that load operations from the shared memory page are performed in program order. This ordering is achieved by maintaining a process bit and a memory attribute bit associated with a shared memory page. When both bits are true, all load or store operations referencing the shared memory page are ordered.

Computer that selectively forces ordered execution of store and load

Two channels of output of sequences of digital still images are input to a DVE system which has pipelined memory circuits rather than frame buffers. The DVE system includes a DVE unit which performs arbitrary three-dimensional, digital video effects on the two channels of input to provide a composite output sequence. The DVE system thus operates on sequences of digital still images rather than video signals. The DVE system is also adapted to prevent output upon receipt of a control signal, which may indicate that an output pipeline is full. The DVE system also provides a control signal to prevent input when it cannot receive input or it is not providing output.

Media pipeline with mechanism for real-time addition of digital video

Two channels of output of sequences of digital still images are input to a DYE system which has pipelined memory circuits rather than frame buffers. The DVE system includes a DVE unit which performs arbitrary three-dimensional, digital video effects on the two channels of input to provide a composite output sequence. The DVE system thus operates on sequences of digital still images rather than video signals. The DVE system is also adapted to prevent output upon receipt of a control signal, which may indicate that an output pipeline is full. The DVE system also provides a control signal to prevent input when it cannot receive input or it is not providing output.

Growing community of inventors

Nashua, NH, United States of America

Jeffrey D Kurtze