Video signal decoding arrangement and method for improved error concealment

• US 6,381,282 B1
• Filed: 06/07/1999
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 8X8, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 8X8, Inc.
• Inventors: Voois, Paul A., Kwan, Katherine W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard
• Application Number:
  US09/326,917
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 375/240.27, 348/845.1
• US Class Current: 375/240.27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/895 in combination with error concealment

Abstract

A video signal decoding arrangement conceals visible artifacts attributable to errors in a data stream. The arrangement includes a data processing arrangement that decodes the data stream into image data and that replaces data corrupted by the errors with replacement data generated as a function of a previous frame. The image data is optionally stored in first and second memories.

Claims

1. A video signal processing arrangement for decoding a data stream into a series of images, the video signal processing arrangement comprising:

an error detecting arrangement configured and arranged to detect an error in the data stream by detecting a delimiter code for a predefined data set at an unexpected location and to output an indication of the error;

a video decoder adapted to respond to the data stream and to the previous image and to generate the current image from the data stream and from a prediction based on the previous image; and

an error concealment arrangement, responsive to the indication output by the error detecting arrangement, adapted and configured to identify a corrupt segment of the current image and replace the corrupt segment with a replacement segment generated as a function of the previous image.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the delimiter code represents at least one of:

a beginning of the data set, and an end of the data set; and

wherein the error is caused by a previous error in the data stream.

5. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein the error detecting arrangement is further configured and arranged to detect the error counting consecutive bits of a common binary state.

6. The arrangement of claim 5, further including means, responsive to detecting the error, for determining whether to search for another delimiter code based on the counted consecutive bits.

2. A video signal processing arrangement for decoding a data stream into a series of images, comprising:

error detecting means for detecting an error in the data stream by detecting a delimiter code for a predefined data set at an unexpected location and to output an indication of the error;

video means, responsive to the data stream and to the previous image, for generating the current image from the data stream and from a prediction based on the previous image; and

error concealment means, responsive to the indication output by the error detecting means for identifying a corrupt segment of the current image and replace the corrupt segment with a replacing segment generated as a function of the previous image.

7. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the delimiter code represents at least one of:

a beginning of the data set, and an end of the data set; and

wherein the error is caused by a previous error in the data stream.

8. The arrangement of claim 7, wherein the error-detecting means detects the error by counting consecutive bits of a common binary state.

9. The arrangement of claim 8, further including means, responsive to detecting the error, for determining whether to search for another delimiter code based on the counted consecutive bits.

3. A video signal processing method for decoding a data stream into a series of images, comprising:

detecting an error in the data stream by detecting a delimiter code for a predefined data set at an unexpected location;

responsive to the data stream and to a previous image, generating a current image from the data stream and from a prediction based on the previous image; and

responsive to the error, replacing a corrupt segment of the current image with a segment generated as a function of the previous image.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the delimiter code represents at least one of:

a beginning of the data set, and an end of the data set; and

wherein the error is caused by a previous error in the data stream.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting further includes detecting the error by counting consecutive bits of a common by state.

12. The method of claim 11, responsive to detecting the error, further includes determining whether to search for another delimiter code based on the counted consecutive bits.