Avid Technology Limited

Peter Zawojski

Michael Sporer

Eric C Peters

Jeffrey D Kurtze

John Walsh, Jr

James Robert Hamilton

Katherine H Cornog

Mark H Kline

Ray Cacciatore

Raymond D Cacciatore

John Jr Walsh

Random access to arbitrary fields of a video segment compressed using both interframe and intraframe techniques is enhanced by adding state information to the bitstream prior to each intraframe compressed image to allow each intraframe compressed image to be randomly accessed, by generating a field index that maps each temporal field to the offset in the compressed bitstream of the data used to decode the field, and by playing back segments using two or more alternatingly used decoders. The cut density may be improved by eliminating from the bitstream applied to each decoder any data corresponding to bidirectionally compressed images that would otherwise be used by the decoder to generate fields prior to the desired field.

Computer system and process for capture, editing and playback of motion video compressed using interframe and intraframe techniques

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

Random access to arbitrary fields of a video segment compressed using both interframe and intraframe techniques is enhanced by adding state information to the bitstream prior to each intraframe compressed image to allow each intraframe compressed image to be randomly accessed by generating a field index that maps each temporal field to the offset in the compressed bitstream of the data used to decode the field, and by playing back segments using two or more alternatingly used decoders. The cut density may be improved by eliminating from the bitstream applied to each decoder any data corresponding to bidirectionally compressed images that would otherwise be used by the decoder to generate fields prior to the desired field.

Computer system and process for capture editing and playback of motion

A digital motion video processing circuit can capture, playback and manipulate digital motion video information using the system memory of a computer as a data buffer for holding compressed video data from the circuit. The system memory may be accessed by the circuit over a standard bus. A controller in the circuit directs data flow between an input/output port which transfer a stream of pixel data and to the standard bus. The controller directs data to and from either the standard bus or the input/output port through processing circuitry for compression, decompression, scaling and buffering. The standard bus may be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus. The motion video processing circuit has a data path including pixel data and timing data indicative of a size of an image defined by the pixel data. The timing data is used and/or generated by each component which processes the pixel data, thereby enabling each component to process the pixel data without prior knowledge of the image format. By having processors for handling two compression formats for motion video data connected to this data path, conversion between compression formats, such as between MPEG to Motion JPEG, can be performed.

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Merrimack, NH, United States of America

Peter Zawojski