Paul E Haskell

US Patent:

6490298, Dec 3, 2002

Filed:

Feb 26, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/258508

Inventors:

Amanda L. Chin - Fremont CA
Paul E. Haskell - Saratoga CA
William L. Helms - Rollinsville CO

Assignee:

Harmonic Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

H04J 304

US Classification:

370532, 370537, 3703954, 370232, 370235

Abstract:

Apparatus and methods for multiplexing data received from a plurality of sources to a communication channel. Each of the sources is assigned to one of at least two scheduling layers based in part upon one or more bit rate characteristics of the sources.

US Patent:

6674796, Jan 6, 2004

Filed:

Feb 14, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/504335

Inventors:

Paul Haskell - Saratoga CA
Dackary Busch - Spokane WA

Assignee:

Harmonic, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

H04B 166

US Classification:

37524001, 382298, 3483851

Abstract:

A statistical multiplexing apparatus and method for encoding and combining a diversity of video signal resolutions and formats. Higher resolution signals are reduced to lower resolution signals for simplifying the a priori statistics gathering process. Alternately, input video signals in multiple formats are converted to a single common format prior to their application to an a priori statistics gatherer. A storage device contains the a priori statistics which are indicative of the encoding complexity of the video signals from which the encoded video bit streams will be generated. The original video signals are applied to encoders which compress the signals in accordance with bit allocation decisions generated by a statistics computer. The statistics computer uses the a priori statistics from the storage device to generate bit allocation decisions. Subsequently, the statistics computer may use both the a priori statistics and the a posteriori statistics received from the encoders in allocating bits.

US Patent:

7016407, Mar 21, 2006

Filed:

Apr 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/837496

Inventors:

James E. Kaye - Pleasanton CA, US
Paul E. Haskell - Saratoga CA, US
Arthur C. Manansala - Tracy CA, US

Assignee:

General Instrument Corporation - Horsham PA

International Classification:

H04N 7/12

US Classification:

37524001, 375240, 37524002, 37524012

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for bit rate allocation, or statistical multiplexing, in a multi-channel video data encoder. A pre-processor in each channel determines a bit rate need prior to compression and encoding. A control processes the bit rate need in each channel to arrive at an allocated bit rate for each channel. The video data is then compressed and encoded according to the allocated bit rate. The bit rate demand accounts for various characteristics of the current picture data in each channel, including spatial activity, temporal activity, image size, frame rate, scene change, brightness, flash, fade, and horizontal pixel resolution. The system also biases the bit rate allocation according to inter-frame distance, whether the average spatial activity level is below a lower threshold, whether the inter-frame distance is above an upper threshold or below a lower threshold, whether the quantization of previous frames is above an upper threshold, the length of the Group of Pictures (GOP), and a user-selectable priority factor. The system also allocates any surplus bit rate among the channels to avoid having unused bandwidth.

US Patent:

8121191, Feb 21, 2012

Filed:

Jan 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/014717

Inventors:

Paul Haskell - Saratoga CA, US

Assignee:

Harmonic Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H04B 1/66
H04L 12/28

US Classification:

3752401, 3703952

Abstract:

Roughly described, an input unencoded video stream is first encoded according to a high quality compression standard such as 1080P@60 AVC. The high quality compressed video stream is then transcoded into a scalable format, such as 1080P@60 SVC. Developing the scalable video stream by transcoding offers significant benefits over developing it natively from the original uncompressed picture sequence.

US Patent:

8170121, May 1, 2012

Filed:

Jan 14, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/014054

Inventors:

Paul Haskell - Saratoga CA, US

Assignee:

Harmonic Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H04N 11/02

US Classification:

37524026

Abstract:

A scalable video compression method and apparatus for encoding an input frame sequence having temporally sequential frames includes partitioning each of the frames of the input frame sequence into a top field and a bottom field to form a base layer sequence of fields and an enhancement layer sequence of fields. The base layer sequence and the enhancement layer sequence each comprise temporally alternating top and bottom fields of the partitioned frames of the input frame sequence. The base layer sequence and the enhancement layer sequence are encoded, wherein at least one field of the enhancement layer sequence is encoded in dependence upon at least one of the fields of the base layer sequence.

US Patent:

8228991, Jul 24, 2012

Filed:

Sep 20, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/858672

Inventors:

Paul Eric Haskell - Saratoga CA, US
Andrew W. Johnson - Cupertino CA, US
Damien Kessler - Sunnyvale CA, US

Assignee:

Harmonic Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H04N 7/12

US Classification:

37524016

Abstract:

Methods and systems for video coding are provided. A method includes receiving a digital video stream. The digital video stream includes multiple sequential independent frames. The method further includes storing a first frame of the digital video stream. The method also includes encoding a second frame of the digital video stream using motion compensation with the stored first frame as a reference.

US Patent:

20060062293, Mar 23, 2006

Filed:

Nov 10, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/271181

Inventors:

James Kaye - Pleasanton CA, US
Paul Haskell - Saratoga CA, US
Arthur Manansala - Tracy CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 11/04
H04N 11/02
H04B 1/66
H04N 7/12

US Classification:

375240030, 375240010

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for bit rate allocation, or statistical multiplexing, in a multi-channel video data encoder. A pre-processor in each channel determines a bit rate need prior to compression and encoding. A control processes the bit rate need in each channel to arrive at an allocated bit rate for each channel. The video data is then compressed and encoded according to the allocated bit rate. The bit rate demand accounts for various characteristics of the current picture data in each channel, including spatial activity, temporal activity, image size, frame rate, scene change, brightness, flash, fade, and horizontal pixel resolution. The system also biases the bit rate allocation according to inter-frame distance, whether the average spatial activity level is below a lower threshold, whether the inter-frame distance is above an upper threshold or below a lower threshold, whether the quantization of previous frames is above an upper threshold, the length of the Group of Pictures (GOP), and a user-selectable priority factor. The system also allocates any surplus bit rate among the channels to avoid having unused bandwidth.

US Patent:

20060104353, May 18, 2006

Filed:

Nov 16, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/990943

Inventors:

Andrew Johnson - Cupertino CA, US
Natan Peterfreund - Kiryat Tivon, IL
Paul Haskell - Saratoga CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 11/04
H04N 7/12
H04B 1/66
H04N 11/02

US Classification:

375240030, 375240120

Abstract:

Systems and methods for preprocessing a video signal are disclosed. In one method, a video signal is preprocessed prior to encoding by a motion compensated prediction encoding system. The method includes modifying an input video signal to maximize the input video signal's conformance with a prediction model used by the motion compensated prediction encoding system.