The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 11, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 11, 1996
Christopher Mills, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Thomas R Ayers, San Jose, CA (US);
Michael P Lenihan, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Divicom Inc., Milpitas, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for differential video data encoding which utilizes a reduced number of bits per pixel to encode chroma and luma components of a video data stream. A 4-bit absolute code is determined for a given 8-bit luma or chroma component in the data stream. The determined absolute code is indicative of a particular one of a plurality of ranges into which the given component falls. The given component is encoded using the determined absolute code if the absolute code produces a lower encoding error than a 4-bit delta code which encodes the component as a difference relative to a previously-encoded component. If the delta code produces a lower encoding error than the determined absolute code, the given component is encoded using the delta code. In a situation in which the given component is the first component of its type on a line of video, an absolute code may be used regardless of whether or not the absolute code produces a higher encoding error than the delta code.