Getgo, Inc.

Logmeln, Inc.

Steffen Schulze

Eugen Wige

Sascha Kuemmel

Paul Elsner

Robert Chalmers

Mathias Buhr

Alexander Mueller

Martin Unzner

A technique for processing video includes receiving a pixel array, such as a block or layer of video content, as well as a mask that distinguishes masked, 'don't-care' pixels in the pixel array from unmasked, 'care' pixels. The technique encodes the pixel array by taking into consideration the care pixels only, without regard for the don't-care pixels. An encoder operating in this manner can produce a simplified encoding of the pixel array, which represents the care pixels to any desired level of precision, without regard for errors in the don't-care pixels, which are irrelevant to reconstruction. Further embodiments apply a polynomial transform in place of a frequency transform for encoding partially-masked video content, and/or video content meeting other suitable criteria.

Processing partially masked video content

A technique for synchronizing video receivers with a video stream already in progress includes caching a key frame in a transport protocol component of a video communication system and providing the key frame on demand to any receiver attempting to join the stream and/or to rejoin the stream after an error, such as a dropped packet. Once a receiver obtains the key frame, the receiver requests that the source of the video stream issue a new sync-point frame, where the sync-point frame depends on the key frame but on no other frame for its content. The receiver may then proceed to display rendered video beginning with the sync-point frame.

Synchronizing video signals using cached key frames

Techniques are provided for a source computer to generate an encoded video stream having layered sub-streams with differing bitrates while allowing a streaming server to intelligently distribute the appropriate sub-streams to recipients based on their available bandwidth. This may be accomplished by having the source computer generate and send metadata along with the encoded stream to allow the streaming server to detect which data packets belong to each sub-stream. The streaming server is then able to selectively send consistent video sub-streams at appropriate bitrates to each recipient.

Techniques for scalably sharing video through a streaming server

A technique for decoding video signals includes receiving, by electronic decoding circuitry, a set of video data representing a two-dimensional array of pixels of a video signal. The set of video data includes (i) multiple residual layers, each residual layer providing an incomplete, lossily-compressed representation of the two-dimensional array of pixels (ii) multiple sets of prediction information, one for each of the residual layers, and (iii) a set of masks for directing reconstruction of the two-dimensional array of pixels. The method further includes generating multiple decompressed layers based on the residual layers and on the sets of prediction information for the respective residual layers and combining the decompressed layers, as directed by the set of masks, to generate a complete reconstruction of the two-dimensional array of pixels of the video signal.

Layer-based video decoding

A technique processes an initial recording of a meeting. The technique involves receiving the initial recording of the meeting, and performing a content classification operation that electronically classifies the initial recording of the meeting into a set of relevant conference portions and a set of irrelevant conference portions. The technique further involves, based on the initial recording of the meeting, providing a shortened recording of the meeting. The shortened recording includes the set of relevant conference portions and omits the set of irrelevant conference portions.

Providing shortened recordings of online conferences

A technique for encoding a video signal includes generating a representative value for each block of one or more video frames by applying a predetermined function to the pixels of the respective block. To perform a block matching operation for a current block, the technique applies the predetermined function to the current block and interrogates representative values of blocks at specified locations in a spatial and/or temporal vicinity of the current block to find a matching block whose representative value matches the one generated for the current block.

Efficient video block matching

A technique for encoding a video signal generates multiple layers and multiple corresponding masks for each of a set of blocks of the video signal. Each of the layers for a given block is a rendition of that block, and each of the masks distinguishes pixels of the respective layer that are relevant in reconstructing the block from pixels that are not. The encoder applies lossy compression to each of the layers and transmits the lossily compressed layers and a set of the masks to a decoder, such that the decoder may reconstruct the respective block from the layers and the mask(s).

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Dresden, Germany

Steffen Schulze