Video content scene change determination

An apparatus for detecting scene changes between frames of a video sequence, comprising:

• a video frame processing element configured for comparing sequential video frames;
• and
• programming executable on said processing element for
• (i) partitioning the pixel arrays of sequential video frames into pixel groups,
• (ii) summing absolute differences between pixels within a given said pixel group and corresponding pixels within corresponding pixel groups, at an identical position, in an adjacent frame of said sequential video frames,
• (iii) detecting pixel groups within a frame which match the corresponding pixel group in said adjacent frame in response to comparing sum of absolute pixel differences against a match threshold,
• (iv) determining how many pixel groups match, to arrive at a number of matching pixel groups;
• and
• (v) generating a scene change output signal in response to comparing the number of matching pixel groups against a scene change threshold and without need of determining pixel-by-pixel content differences between pixels of adjacent frames.

A system for communicating media, comprising:

• a processor configured for preparing received video data content for transmission;
• a frame difference engine configured for generating a scene change signal in response to,
• (i) evaluating aggregate pixel differences between corresponding pixels within corresponding pixel groups, at an identical position, and determining which pixel groups match pixels groups at corresponding locations between adjacent frames,
• (ii) determining matching pixel blocks to arrive at a number of matching pixel blocks;
• (iii) detecting that said number of matching pixel groups in the frames being compared is insufficient, without the need of determining pixel-by-pixel content differences between the pixels of two adjacent frames;
• an encoder configured to receive video data from said processor and to encode sequential frames in response to said scene change signal;
• and
• a transmitter configured to transmit said encoded video data to a remote receiver.

A method of detecting scene changes within a video frame sequence, comprising:

• defining a plurality of pixel groups, each comprising a plurality of pixels, within pixel arrays of a first and second video frame;
• detecting pixel groups in said first frame which match the corresponding pixel group in said second frame in response to an evaluation of aggregate pixel differences between corresponding pixels within the corresponding pixel groups;
• and
• generating a scene change trigger in response to detecting an insufficient number of matching pixel groups between said first frame and said second frame;
• wherein said method is executed as programming for a computer processor;
• wherein said programming is executed within a frame difference engine;
• wherein said frame difference engine generates said scene change trigger in response to the number of matching pixel groups being found less than a predetermined scene change threshold value;
• and
• wherein said predetermined threshold value comprises a fraction of the total number of pixel groups in the video frame.

An apparatus for encoding scene changes within an interlaced video content data stream, comprising:

• a video frame processing element configured for receiving top and bottom field information of interlaced video for each of a first and second video data frame;
• said video frame processing element configured for performing de-interlacing and noise reduction on said first and second video data frames, and outputting processed video content data;
• a difference engine configured for receiving top and bottom field information for each of a first and second video data frame;
• said difference engine configured for performing a group-by-group pixel comparison and determining if a scene change has occurred in response to detecting that the number of matching pixel groups between frames exceeds a predetermined threshold;
• said different engine configured for outputting a scene change trigger in response to detecting a scene change;
• and
• an encoder configured for encoding said processed video content data from said video frame processing element responsive to said scene change trigger to output an encoded video content data stream.