US5703966A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Block selection using motion estimation error
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1995-06-27
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Granted: 1997-12-30
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Expires: 2015-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A computer-implemented method and apparatus for encoding a current block of pixels of a current picture of a sequence of pictures, the sequence of pictures comprising a previous picture having a previous reference block and a subsequent picture having a subsequent reference block. A previous residual error is determined between the current block and the previous reference block, and a subsequent residual error is determined between the current block and the previous reference block. At least one interpolated picture interpolated between the previous and subsequent pictures is defined, the interpolated picture having an interpolated reference block. An interpolated residual error is determined between the current block and the at least one interpolated reference block from the previous and subsequent residual errors.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian Astle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:02
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N19/00; H04N19/50; H04N19/503; H04N19/51; H04N19/577; H04N11/00; H04N11/06; H04N11/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A computer-implemented method for encoding a current block of pixels of a current picture of a sequence of pictures, the sequence of pictures comprising a previous picture having a previous reference block and a subsequent picture having a subsequent reference block, the method comprising the steps of: (a) determining a previous residual error between the current block and the previous reference block; (b) determining a subsequent residual error between the current block and the subsequent reference block; (c) defining at least one interpolated picture interpolated between the previous and subsequent pictures, the interpolated picture having an interpolated reference block; and (d) determining, from the previous and subsequent residual errors, an interpolated residual error between the current block and the at least one interpolated reference block, wherein the interpolated residual error is for reproducing said current block from said interpolated reference block.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A computer-implemented method for encoding a current block of pixels of a current picture of a sequence of pictures, the sequence of pictures comprising a previous picture having a previous reference block and a subsequent picture having a subsequent reference block, the method comprising the steps of: (a) determining a previous residual error between the current block and the previous reference block; (b) determining a subsequent residual error between the current block and the subsequent reference block; (c) defining at least one interpolated picture interpolated between the previous and subsequent pictures, the interpolated picture having an interpolated reference block; and (d) determining, from the previous and subsequent residual errors, an interpolated residual error between the current block and the at least one interpolated reference block, wherein the interpolated residual error is for reproducing said current block from said interpolated reference block.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the previous, subsequent, and interpolated residual errors are mean absolute errors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the mean absolute errors are determined with reference to differences between luminance pixels of the current block and luminance pixels of the respective reference blocks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the previous, subsequent, and interpolated residual errors are mean square errors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the mean square errors are determined with reference to differences between luminance pixels of the current block and luminance pixels of the respective reference blocks.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: step (a) comprises the step of calculating the previous residual error f 2 in accordance with the formula f 2 =Σ(p-t) 2 , wherein t are luminance pixel values of the current block and p are luminance pixel values of the previous reference block; and step (b) comprises the step of calculating the subsequent residual error b 2 in accordance with the formula b 2 =Σ (n-t 2 )!(n-t) 2 , wherein n are luminance pixel values of the subsequent reference block.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 6, wherein step (d) comprises the step of estimating the interpolated residual error e 2 in accordance with the formula e 2 =1/4f 2 +1/4b 2 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: step (a) comprises the step of calculating the previous residual error f in accordance with the formula f=Σ|p-t|, wherein t are luminance pixel values of the current block and p are luminance pixel values of the previous reference block; and step (b) comprises the step of calculating the subsequent residual error b in accordance with the formula b=Σ|n-t|, wherein n are luminance pixel values of the subsequent reference block.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 8, wherein step (d) comprises the step of estimating the interpolated residual error e in accordance with the formula e=1/2√(f 2 +b 2 ).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: (e) selecting one of the reference blocks in accordance with the residual errors for use in prediction-encoding the current block.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10, wherein step (e) comprises the step of selecting the reference block having the lowest residual error.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 10, wherein step (e) comprises the step of selecting the interpolated reference block if the previous residual error and subsequent residual error are within a predetermined ratio of one another.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for encoding a current block of pixels of a current picture of a sequence of pictures, the sequence of pictures comprises a previous picture having a previous reference block and a subsequent picture having a subsequent reference block, the apparatus comprises: (a) means for determining a previous residual error between the current block and the previous reference block; (b) means for determining a subsequent residual error between the current block and the subsequent reference block; (c) means for defining at least one interpolated picture interpolated between the previous and subsequent pictures, the interpolated picture having an interpolated reference block; and (d) means for determining, from the previous and subsequent residual errors, an interpolated residual error between the current block and the at least one interpolated reference block, wherein the interpolated residual error is for reproducing said current block from the said interpolated reference block.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for encoding a current block of pixels of a current picture of a sequence of pictures, the sequence of pictures comprises a previous picture having a previous reference block and a subsequent picture having a subsequent reference block, the apparatus comprises: (a) means for determining a previous residual error between the current block and the previous reference block; (b) means for determining a subsequent residual error between the current block and the subsequent reference block; (c) means for defining at least one interpolated picture interpolated between the previous and subsequent pictures, the interpolated picture having an interpolated reference block; and (d) means for determining, from the previous and subsequent residual errors, an interpolated residual error between the current block and the at least one interpolated reference block, wherein the interpolated residual error is for reproducing said current block from the said interpolated reference block.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the previous, subsequent, and interpolated residual errors are mean absolute errors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the mean absolute errors are determined with reference to differences between luminance pixels of the current block and luminance pixels of the respective reference blocks.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the previous, subsequent, and interpolated residual errors are mean square errors.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the mean square errors are determined with reference to differences between luminance pixels of the current block and luminance pixels of the respective reference blocks.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein: means (a) comprises means for calculating the previous residual error f 2 in accordance with the formula f 2 =Σ(p-t) 2 , wherein t are luminance pixel values of the current block and p are luminance pixel values of the previous reference block; and means (b) comprises means for calculating the subsequent residual error b 2 in accordance with the formula b 2 =Σ (n-t 2 )!(n-t) 2 , wherein n are luminance pixel values of the subsequent reference block.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein means (d) comprises means for estimating the interpolated residual error e 2 in accordance with the formula e 2 =1/4f 2 +1/4b 2 .
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein: means (a) comprises means for calculating the previous residual error f in accordance with the formula f=Σ|p-t|, wherein t are luminance pixel values of the current block and p are luminance pixel values of the previous reference block; and means (b) comprises means for calculating the subsequent residual error b in accordance with the formula b=Σ|n-t|, wherein n are luminance pixel values of the subsequent reference block.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein means (d) comprises means for estimating the interpolated residual error e in accordance with the formula e=1/2√(f 2 +b 2 ).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: (e) means for selecting one of the reference blocks in accordance with the residual errors for use in prediction-encoding the current block.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein means (e) comprises means for selecting the reference block having the lowest residual error.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein means (e) comprises means for selecting the interpolated reference block if the previous residual error and subsequent residual error are within a predetermined ratio of one another.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: (e) a bus; and (f) a memory device electrically connected to the bus.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
151 words
A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for encoding a current block of pixels of a current picture of a sequence of pictures, the sequence of pictures comprising a previous picture having a previous reference block and a subsequent picture having a subsequent reference block, the storage medium comprising: (a) means for causing a computer to determine a previous residual error between the current block and the previous reference block; (b) means for causing the computer to determine a subsequent residual error between the current block and the subsequent reference block; and (c) means for causing the computer to determine, from the previous and subsequent residual errors, an interpolated residual error between the current block and an interpolated reference block of at least one interpolated picture interpolated between the previous and subsequent pictures, wherein the interpolated residual error is for reproducing said current block from said interpolated reference block.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
151 words
A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for encoding a current block of pixels of a current picture of a sequence of pictures, the sequence of pictures comprising a previous picture having a previous reference block and a subsequent picture having a subsequent reference block, the storage medium comprising: (a) means for causing a computer to determine a previous residual error between the current block and the previous reference block; (b) means for causing the computer to determine a subsequent residual error between the current block and the subsequent reference block; and (c) means for causing the computer to determine, from the previous and subsequent residual errors, an interpolated residual error between the current block and an interpolated reference block of at least one interpolated picture interpolated between the previous and subsequent pictures, wherein the interpolated residual error is for reproducing said current block from said interpolated reference block.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The storage medium of claim 26, wherein the previous, subsequent, and interpolated residual errors are mean absolute errors.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The storage medium of claim 27, wherein the mean absolute errors are determined with reference to differences between luminance pixels of the current block and luminance pixels of the respective reference blocks.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The storage medium of claim 26, wherein the previous, subsequent, and interpolated residual errors are mean square errors.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The storage medium of claim 29, wherein the mean square errors are determined with reference to differences between luminance pixels of the current block and luminance pixels of the respective reference blocks.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
92 words
The storage medium of claim 26, wherein: means (a) comprises means for causing the computer to calculate the previous residual error f 2 in accordance with the formula f 2 =Σ(p-t) 2 , wherein t are luminance pixel values of the current block and p are luminance pixel values of the previous reference block; and means (b) comprises means for causing the computer to calculate the subsequent residual error b 2 in accordance with the formula b 2 =Σ(n-t) 2 , wherein n are luminance pixel values of the subsequent reference block.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The storage medium of claim 31, wherein means (c) comprises means for causing the computer to estimate the interpolated residual error e 2 in accordance with the formula e 2 =1/4f 2 +1/4b 2 .
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
82 words
The storage medium of claim 26, wherein: means (a) comprises means for causing the computer to calculate the previous residual error f in accordance with the formula f=Σ|p-t|, wherein t are luminance pixel values of the current block and p are luminance pixel values of the previous reference block; and means (b) comprises means for causing the computer to calculate the subsequent residual error b in accordance with the formula b=Σ|n-t|, wherein n are luminance pixel values of the subsequent reference block.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
The storage medium of claim 33, wherein means (c) comprises means for causing the computer to estimate the interpolated residual error e in accordance with the formula e=1/2√(f 2 +b 2 ).
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
The storage medium of claim 26, further comprising: (d) means for causing the computer to select one of the reference blocks in accordance with the residual errors for use in prediction-encoding the current block.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
The storage medium of claim 35, wherein means (d) comprises means for causing the computer to select the reference block having the lowest residual error.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
38 words
The storage medium of claim 35, wherein means (d) comprises means for causing the computer to select the interpolated reference block if the previous residual error and subsequent residual error are within a predetermined ratio of one another.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-12-29 | 2001-06-30 | 2001-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-29 | 2005-06-30 | 2005-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-29 | 2009-06-30 | 2009-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |