Video encoding method for television applications

A method for encoding a video signal, comprising the steps of

• continuously monitoring at least a present frame, a past frame, and a future frame in said video signal,
• determining whether said present frame is similar to said future frame,
• determining whether said past frame and said present frame are similar,
• I) if said present and future frames are determined to be similar, and said past and present frames are determined to be similar, then representing the present frame by one of the past or future frames based on a certain measure and encoding the future frame in high-resolution format,
• II) if said present and future frames are determined to be different and said past and present frames are determined to be similar, then representing the present frame by the past frame and encoding the future frame in high-resolution format,
• III) if said present and future frames are determined to be similar and said past and present frames are determined to be different, then representing the present frame by the future frame and encoding the future frame in high-resolution format,
• IV) if said present and future frames are determined to be different, and said past and present frames are determined to be different, then encoding the present frame in low-resolution format.

A method for encoding a video signal, comprising the steps of

• continuously monitoring at least a present frame, a past frame, and a future frame in said video signal,
• determining whether said present frame is similar to said future frame,
• determining whether said past frame was encoded in high-resolution format or in low-resolution format,
• if said past frame was encoded in high-resolution format, determining whether said past frame and said present frame are similar,
• I) if said present and future frames are determined to be similar, and said past and present frames are determined to be similar, and said past frame was encoded in high-resolution format, then representing the present frame by one of the past or future frames based on a certain measure and encoding the future frame in high-resolution format,
• II) if said present and future frames are determined to be different and said past and present frames are determined to be similar and said past frame was encoded in high-resolution format, then representing the present frame by the past frame and encoding the future frame in high-resolution format,
• III) if said present and future frames are determined to be similar and said past and present frames are determined to be different and said past frame was encoded in high-resolution format, then representing the present frame by the future frame and encoding the future frame in high-resolution format,
• IV) if said present and future frames are determined to be different, and said past and present frames are determined to be different, and said past frame was encoded in low-resolution format, then encoding the present frame in low-resolution format,
• V) if said present and future frames are determined to be similar and said past frame was encoded in low-resolution format, then representing the present frame by the future frame and encoding the future frame in high-resolution format, and
• VI) if said present and future frames are determined to be different, and said past frame was encoded in low-resolution format, then encoding the present frame in low-resolution format.

A method for receiving decoded video frames from a decoder and transmitting said decoded frames, comprising the following steps:

• receiving said video signal as a series of frames, some of which were encoded as high-resolution frames and others of which were encoded as low-resolution frames;
• selectively receiving indications whether a frame is to be re-displayed;
• providing a first buffer and a second buffer wherein said first buffer contains a first decoded frame;
• and
• I) if the next decoded frame received is low-resolution frame, then storing said next decoded frame in said second buffer and transmitting said first decoded frame;
• II) if the next decoded frame received is high-resolution and an indication is received to re-display said first decoded frame, then receiving a portion of said next decoded frame and transmitting said first decoded frame, and then receiving the remainder of said next decoded frame and re-transmitting said first decoded frame;
• III) if the next decoded frame received is high-resolution and there is no indication to re-display said first decoded frame, then receiving a portion of said next decoded frame in said second buffer and transmitting said first decoded frame, and then receiving the remainder of said next decoded frame and transmitting said next decoded frame.

A method for receiving decoded video frames from a decoder and transmitting said decoded frames comprising the following steps:

• receiving said video signal as a series of frames, some of which were encoded as high-resolution frames and others from which were encoded as low-resolution frames;
• providing a first buffer, a second buffer, and a third buffer, wherein said first buffer contains a first decoded frame and said second buffer contains a second decoded frame;
• I) if the next decoded frame is a low-resolution frame, then receiving said next decoded frame in said third buffer and transmitting said first decoded frame;
• II) if the next decoded frame is a high-resolution frame, then receiving a portion of said next decoded frame in said third buffer and transmitting said first decoded frame, and then receiving the remainder of said next decoded frame and transmitting said second decoded frame.