# US 5,351,085 A · Method and system for generating compressed image signals

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- Number: US 5,351,085 A
- Document ID: US5351085A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/078,931
- Filed: 1993-06-16
- Granted: 1994-09-27
- Earliest claimed: 1993-06-16
- Assignees: Intel Corporation
- Inventors: Rohan Coelho; Stuart Golin; Brian Nickerson; Michael Keith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5351085A

## CPC

- H04N 9/8042: {involving data reduction}
- H04N 7/54: the signals being synchronous {(H04N21/23602, H04N21/23614, H04N21/2365, H04N21/2368, H04N21/4341, H04N21/4342, H04N21/4347, H04N21/4348 take precedence)}
- H04N 19/00: Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals
- H04N 19/132: Sampling, masking or truncation of coding units, e.g. adaptive resampling, frame skipping, frame interpolation or high-frequency transform coefficient masking
- H04N 19/176: the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
- H04N 19/186: the unit being a colour or a chrominance component
- H04N 19/46: Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process (H04N19/517, H04N19/68, H04N19/70 take precedence)
- H04N 19/507: using conditional replenishment
- H04N 19/61: in combination with predictive coding
- H04N 5/781: on disks or drums
- H04N 5/85: on discs or drums
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A method and system for generating compressed image signal. The system generates an analog image signal corresponding to the image, generates unencoded three-component image data from the analog image signal, and encodes the unencoded image data. After encoding, the image data has an OPERATING SYSTEM header, a BITSTREAM header, a Y-COMPONENT DATA field, a U-COMPONENT DATA field, and a V-COMPONENT DATA field. Each of the DATA fields has a four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field, an MC VECTORS field, and an ENCODED DATA field that has interleaved binary tree codes and region codes. The system also stores the OPERATING SYSTEM header, BITSTREAM header, Y-COMPONENT DATA field, U-COMPONENT DATA field, and V-COMPONENT DATA field. In a preferred embodiment, the invention generates compressed video signals.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for processing an image, comprising the steps of:
(a) generating an analog image signal corresponding to said image;
(b) generating unencoded three-component image data from said analog image signal;
(c) generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said unencoded image data;
(d) generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said unencoded image data;
(e) generating at least one component data field in accordance with said unencoded image data; and
(f) storing said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one component data field.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises the steps of:
(1) generating a Y-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said unencoded image data;
(2) generating a U-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said unencoded image data; and
(3) generating a V-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said unencoded image data.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein step (e)(1) comprises the steps of:
(A) generating a Y-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field;
(B) generating a Y-component MC VECTORS field; and
(C) generating a Y-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes;
step (e)(2) comprises the steps of:
(A) generating a U-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field;
(B) generating a U-component MC VECTORS field; and
(C) generating a U-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; and
step (e)(3) comprises the steps of:
(A) generating a V-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field;
(B) generating a V-component MC VECTORS field; and
(C) generating a V-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises the steps of:
(1) generating a two-byte unsigned FLAGS field;
(2) generating a four-byte integer DATA SIZE field;
(3) generating a one-byte integer CB OFFSET field;
(4) generating a two-byte integer IMAGE HEIGHT field;
(5) generating a two-byte integer IMAGE WIDTH field;
(6) generating a four-byte integer Y DATA OFFSET field;
(7) generating a four-byte integer U DATA OFFSET field;
(8) generating a four-byte integer V DATA OFFSET field; and
(9) generating a sixteen-byte integer ALT QUANT field.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein step (d)(1) comprises the steps of:
(A) generating a BS.sub.-- STILL.sub.-- PERIOD bit;
(B) generating a BS.sub.-- STILL bit;
(C) generating a BS.sub.-- STILL.sub.-- NEXT bit;
(D) generating a BS.sub.-- MC.sub.-- OFF bit;
(E) generating a BS.sub.-- DISPOSABLE bit; and
(F) generating a BS.sub.-- BUFFER bit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein step (d)(9) comprises the step of generating one or more one-byte pairs of vector-quantization table numbers, wherein the high-order bits of each byte correspond to a primary vector-quantization table and the low-order bits of each byte correspond to a secondary vector-quantization table.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises the step of generating said unencoded image data in YUV9 format.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
(g) decoding said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one component data field;
(h) converting said decoded image data of step (g) for display; and
(i) displaying said converted image data.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:
(g) further encoding said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one component data field.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:
(h) decoding said further-encoded OPERATING SYSTEM header, said further-encoded BITSTREAM header, and said at least one further-encoded component data field;
(i) converting said decoded image data of step (h) for display; and
(j) displaying said converted image data.

### Claim 11

A method for processing an image, comprising the steps of:
(a) generating an analog image signal corresponding to said image;
(b) generating unencoded YUV9 image data from said analog image signal;
(c) generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said unencoded image data;
(d) generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said unencoded image data, wherein step (d) comprises the steps of:
(1) generating a two-byte unsigned FLAGS field, wherein step (d)(1) comprises the steps of:
(A) generating a BS.sub.-- STILL.sub.-- PERIOD bit;
(B) generating a BS.sub.-- STILL bit;
(C) generating a BS.sub.-- STILL.sub.-- NEXT bit;
(D) generating a BS.sub.-- MC.sub.-- OFF bit;
(E) generating a BS.sub.-- DISPOSABLE bit; and
(F) generating a BS.sub.-- BUFFER bit;
(2) generating a four-byte integer DATA SIZE field;
(3) generating a one-byte integer CB OFFSET field;
(4) generating a two-byte integer IMAGE HEIGHT field;
(5) generating a two-byte integer IMAGE WIDTH field;
(6) generating a four-byte integer Y DATA OFFSET field;
(7) generating a four-byte integer U DATA OFFSET field;
(8) generating a four-byte integer V DATA OFFSET field; and
(9) generating a sixteen-byte integer ALT QUANT field, wherein step (d)(9) comprises the step of generating one or more one-byte pairs of vector-quantization table numbers, wherein the high-order bits of each byte correspond to a primary vector-quantization table and the low-order bits of each byte correspond to a secondary vector-quantization table;
(e) generating a Y-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said unencoded image data, wherein step (e) comprises the steps of:
(1) generating a Y-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field;
(2) generating a Y-component MC VECTORS field; and
(3) generating a Y-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes;
(f) generating a U-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said unencoded image data, wherein step (f) comprises the steps of:
(1) generating a U-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field;
(2) generating a U-component MC VECTORS field; and
(3) generating a U-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes;
(g) generating a V-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said unencoded image data, wherein step (g) comprises the steps of:
(1) generating a V-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field;
(2) generating a V-component MC VECTORS field; and
(3) generating a V-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes;
(h) storing said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, said Y-COMPONENT DATA field, said U-COMPONENT DATA field, and said V-COMPONENT DATA field;
(i) further encoding said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, said Y-COMPONENT DATA field, said U-COMPONENT DATA field, and said V-COMPONENT DATA field;
(j) decoding said further-encoded OPERATING SYSTEM header, said further-encoded BITSTREAM header, said further-encoded Y-COMPONENT DATA field, said further-encoded U-COMPONENT DATA field, and said further-encoded V-COMPONENT DATA field;
(k) converting said decoded image data of step (j) for display; and
(l) displaying said converted image data.

### Claim 12

A system for processing an image, comprising:
(a) means for generating an analog image signal corresponding to said image;
(b) means for generating unencoded three-component image data from said analog image signal;
(c) means for generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said unencoded image data;
(d) means for generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said unencoded image data;
(e) means for generating at least one component data field in accordance with said unencoded image data; and
(f) means for storing said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one component data field.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein means (e) comprises:
(1) means for generating a Y-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said unencoded image data;
(2) means for generating a U-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said unencoded image data; and
(3) means for generating a V-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said unencoded image data.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein means (e)(1) comprises:
(A) means for generating a Y-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field;
(B) means for generating a Y-component MC VECTORS field; and
(C) means for generating a Y-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes;
means (e)(2) comprises:
(A) means for generating a U-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field;
(B) means for generating a U-component MC VECTORS field; and
(C) means for generating a U-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; and
means (e)(3) comprises:
(A) means for generating a V-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field;
(B) means for generating a V-component MC VECTORS field; and
(C) means for generating a V-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein means (d) comprises:
(1) means for generating a two-byte unsigned FLAGS field;
(2) means for generating a four-byte integer DATA SIZE field;
(3) means for generating a one-byte integer CB OFFSET field;
(4) means for generating a two-byte integer IMAGE HEIGHT field;
(5) means for generating a two-byte integer IMAGE WIDTH field;
(6) means for generating a four-byte integer Y DATA OFFSET field;
(7) means for generating a four-byte integer U DATA OFFSET field;
(8) means for generating a four-byte integer V DATA OFFSET field; and
(9) means for generating a sixteen-byte integer ALT QUANT field.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein means (d)(1) comprises:
(A) means for generating a BS.sub.-- STILL.sub.-- PERIOD bit;
(B) means for generating a BS.sub.-- STILL bit;
(C) means for generating a BS.sub.-- STILL.sub.-- NEXT bit;
(D) means for generating a BS.sub.-- MC.sub.-- OFF bit;
(E) means for generating a BS.sub.-- DISPOSABLE bit; and
(F) means for generating a BS.sub.-- BUFFER bit.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein means (d)(9) comprises means for generating one or more one-byte pairs of vector-quantization table numbers, wherein the high-order bits of each byte correspond to a primary vector-quantization table and the low-order bits of each byte correspond to a secondary vector-quantization table.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein means (b) comprises means for generating said unencoded image data in YUV9 format.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein:
means (a) comprises one of a video camera, VCR, and laser disc player;
a capture board comprises means (b) through (e), means (c) through (e) comprising a video processor; and
means (f) comprises one of a CD-ROM and a computer hard drive.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, further comprising:
(g) means for decoding said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one component data field;
(h) means for converting said decoded image data of means (g) for display; and
(i) means for displaying said converted image data.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein means (g) and (h) are implemented on a general-purpose processor.

### Claim 22 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, further comprising:
(g) means for further encoding said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one component data field.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The system of claim 22, wherein means (g) is implemented on a general-purpose processor.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The system of claim 22, further comprising:
(h) means for decoding said further-encoded OPERATING SYSTEM header, said further-encoded BITSTREAM header, and said further-encoded at least one component data field;
(i) means for converting said decoded image data of means (h) for display; and
(j) means for displaying said converted image data.

### Claim 25

A system for processing an image, comprising:
(a) means for generating an analog image signal corresponding to said image;
(b) means for generating unencoded YUV9 image data from said analog image signal;
(c) means for generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said unencoded image data;
(d) means for generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said unencoded image data, wherein means (d) comprises:
(1) means for generating a two-byte unsigned FLAGS field, wherein means (d)(1) comprises:
(A) means for generating a BS.sub.-- STILL.sub.-- PERIOD bit;
(B) means for generating a BS.sub.-- STILL bit;
(C) means for generating a BS.sub.-- STILL.sub.-- NEXT bit;
(D) means for generating a BS.sub.-- MC.sub.-- OFF bit;
(E) means for generating a BS.sub.-- DISPOSABLE bit; and
(F) means for generating a BS.sub.-- BUFFER bit;
(2) means for generating a four-byte integer DATA SIZE field;
(3) means for generating a one-byte integer CB OFFSET field;
(4) means for generating a two-byte integer IMAGE HEIGHT field;
(5) means for generating a two-byte integer IMAGE WIDTH field;
(6) means for generating a four-byte integer Y DATA OFFSET field;
(7) means for generating a four-byte integer U DATA OFFSET field;
(8) means for generating a four-byte integer V DATA OFFSET field; and
(9) means for generating a sixteen-byte integer ALT QUANT field, wherein means (d)(9) comprises means for generating one or more one-byte pairs of vector-quantization table numbers, wherein the high-order bits of each byte correspond to a primary vector-quantization table and the low-order bits of each byte correspond to a secondary vector-quantization table;
(e) means for generating a Y-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said unencoded image data, wherein means (e) comprises:
(1) means for generating a Y-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field;
(2) means for generating a Y-component MC VECTORS field; and
(3) means for generating a Y-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes;
(f) means for generating a U-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said unencoded image data, wherein means (f) comprises:
(1) means for generating a U-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field;
(2) means for generating a U-component MC VECTORS field; and
(3) means for generating a U-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes;
(g) means for generating a V-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said unencoded image data, wherein means (g) comprises:
(1) means for generating a V-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field;
(2) means for generating a V-component MC VECTORS field; and
(3) means for generating a V-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes;
(h) means for storing said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, said Y-COMPONENT DATA field, said U-COMPONENT DATA field, and said V-COMPONENT DATA field;
(i) means for further encoding said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, said Y-COMPONENT DATA field, said U-COMPONENT DATA field, and said V-COMPONENT DATA field;
(j) means for decoding said further-encoded OPERATING SYSTEM header, said further-encoded BITSTREAM header, said further-encoded Y-COMPONENT DATA field, said further-encoded U-COMPONENT DATA field, and said further-encoded V-COMPONENT DATA field;
(k) means for converting said decoded image data of means (j) for display; and
(l) means for displaying said converted image data.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25, wherein:
means (a) comprises one of a video camera, VCR, and laser disc player;
a capture board comprises means (b) through (g), means (c) through (g) comprising a video processor;
means (h) comprises one of a CD-ROM and a computer hard drive; and
means (i), (j), and (k) are implemented on a general-purpose processor.

### Claim 27

A system for processing an image, comprising:
(a) an image generator for generating an analog image signal corresponding to said image;
(b) a capture processor for generating unencoded three-component image data from said analog image signal;
(c) a first encoder for generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header, a BITSTREAM header, and at least one component data field in accordance with said unencoded image data; and
(d) a mass storage device for storing said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one component data field.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The system of claim 27, wherein said at least one component data field comprises a Y-COMPONENT DATA field, a U-COMPONENT DATA field, and a V-COMPONENT DATA field.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The system of claim 28, wherein each of said DATA fields comprises a four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field, an MC VECTORS field, and an ENCODED DATA field, said ENCODED DATA field comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes.

### Claim 30 (depends on 27)

The system of claim 27, wherein said BITSTREAM header comprises:
(1) a two-byte unsigned FLAGS field;
(2) a four-byte integer DATA SIZE field;
(3) a one-byte integer CB OFFSET field;
(4) a two-byte integer IMAGE HEIGHT field;
(5) a two-byte integer IMAGE WIDTH field;
(6) a four-byte integer Y DATA OFFSET field;
(7) a four-byte integer U DATA OFFSET field;
(8) a four-byte integer V DATA OFFSET field; and
(9) a sixteen-byte integer ALT QUANT field.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The system of claim 30, wherein said FLAGS field comprises:
(A) a BS.sub.-- STILL.sub.-- PERIOD bit;
(B) a BS.sub.-- STILL bit;
(C) a BS.sub.-- STILL.sub.-- NEXT bit;
(D) a BS.sub.-- MC.sub.-- OFF bit;
(E) a BS.sub.-- DISPOSABLE bit; and
(F) a BS.sub.-- BUFFER bit.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

The system of claim 30, wherein said ALT QUANT field comprises one or more one-byte pairs of vector-quantization table numbers, wherein the high-order bits of each byte correspond to a primary vector-quantization table and the low-order bits of each byte correspond to a secondary vector-quantization table.

### Claim 33 (depends on 27)

The system of claim 27, wherein capture processor generates said unencoded image data in YUV9 format.

### Claim 34 (depends on 27)

The system of claim 27, wherein:
said image generator comprises one of a video camera, VCR, and laser disc player;
a capture board comprises said capture processor and said first encoder, said first encoder comprising a video processor; and
said mass storage device comprises one of a CD-ROM and a computer hard drive.

### Claim 35 (depends on 27)

The system of claim 27, further comprising:
(e) a decoder for decoding said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one component data field;
(f) a color converter for converting said decoded image data for display; and
(g) a display monitor for displaying said converted image data.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The system of claim 35, wherein said decoder and said color converter are implemented on a general-purpose processor.

### Claim 37 (depends on 27)

The system of claim 27, further comprising:
(e) a second encoder for further encoding said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one component data field.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The system of claim 37, wherein said second encoder is implemented on a general-purpose processor.

### Claim 39 (depends on 37)

The system of claim 37, further comprising:
(f) a decoder for decoding said further-encoded OPERATING SYSTEM header, said further-encoded BITSTREAM header, and said further-encoded at least one component data field;
(g) a color converter for converting said decoded image data for display; and
(h) a display monitor for displaying said converted image data.

### Claim 40

A system for processing an image, comprising:
(a) an image generator for generating an analog image signal corresponding to said image;
(b) a capture processor for generating unencoded YUV9 image data from said analog image signal;
(c) a first encoder for generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header, a BITSTREAM header, a Y-COMPONENT DATA field, a U-COMPONENT DATA field, and a V-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said unencoded image data, each of said DATA fields comprising a four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field, an MC VECTORS field, and an ENCODED DATA field, said ENCODED DATA field comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes, wherein said BITSTREAM header comprises:
(1) a two-byte unsigned FLAGS field, wherein said FLAGS field comprises:
(A) a BS.sub.-- STILL PERIOD bit;
(B) a BS.sub.-- STILL bit;
(C) a BS.sub.-- STILL NEXT bit;
(D) a BS.sub.-- MC OFF bit;
(E) a BS.sub.-- DISPOSABLE bit; and
(F) a BS.sub.-- BUFFER b i t;
(2) a four-byte integer DATA SIZE field;
(3) a one-byte integer CB OFFSET field;
(4) a two-byte integer IMAGE HEIGHT field;
(5) a two-byte integer IMAGE WIDTH field;
(6) a four-byte integer Y DATA OFFSET field;
(7) a four-byte integer U DATA OFFSET field;
(8) a four-byte integer V DATA OFFSET field; and
(9) a sixteen-byte integer ALT QUANT field,
wherein said ALT QUANT field comprises one or more one-byte pairs of vector-quantization table numbers, wherein the high-order bits of each byte correspond to a primary vector-quantization table and the low-order bits of each byte correspond to a secondary vector-quantization table;
(d) a mass storage device for storing said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, said Y-COMPONENT DATA field, said U-COMPONENT DATA field, and said V-COMPONENT DATA field;
(e) a second encoder for further encoding said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, said Y-COMPONENT DATA field, said U-COMPONENT DATA field, and said V-COMPONENT DATA field;
(f) a decoder for decoding said further-encoded OPERATING SYSTEM header, said further-encoded BITSTREAM header, said further-encoded Y-COMPONENT DATA field, said further-encoded U-COMPONENT DATA field, and said further-encoded V-COMPONENT DATA field;
(g) a color converter for converting said decoded image data for display; and
(h) a display monitor for displaying said converted image data.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The system of claim 40, wherein:
said image generator comprises one of a video camera, VCR, and laser disc player;
a capture board comprises said capture processor and said first encoder, said first encoder comprising a video processor;
said mass storage device comprises one of a CD-ROM and a computer hard drive; and
said second encoder, said decoder, and said color converter are implemented on a general-purpose processor.