Video encoding device

Abstract

A video encoding system includes a video source providing a multiple frame video signal, a compressed data interface, a host interface and a video encoding device. The video encoding device includes a video input processor, a global controller, a motion estimation processor, a digital signal processor and a bit-stream processor. The video input processor receives the video signal. The global controller controls the global operation of the video encoding device. The motion estimation processor is connected to the global controller. The digital signal processor is connected to the global controller and to the motion estimation processor. The bit-stream processor is connected to the digital signal processor, the global controller and the compressed data interface. The global controller stores encoding commands received from the host interface thereby programming the video input processor, the motion estimation processor, the digital signal processor and the bit-stream processor.

1 - 31 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         32 . A method for controlling video processing, the method comprising: 
 operating a controller in at least two operating modes either singly or simultaneously;    programming a plurality of processors based upon externally received program instructions and video processing instructions;    synchronizing the plurality of processors, wherein the plurality of processors operate in one of a parallel and a serial mode;    estimating motion differences between current video information and reference video information; and    transferring video information to an output buffer based upon the estimated motion differences.    
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising storing encoding commands received from a host interface and programming at least one of a video input processor, a motion estimation processor, a digital signal processor, and a bit-stream processor.  
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 preprocessing a video signal;    accumulating preprocessed video information; and    transferring the preprocessed video information to a global controller.    
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising 
 retrieving and loading a current picture macro-block and a reference picture macro block from a memory unit into an motion estimation processor; and    scheduling at least one of video processing and information transferring.    
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 comparing a current picture macro-block with a reference picture macro-block;    estimating motion of the current picture macro-block;    using the estimation to remove temporal redundancy of a video signal;    transferring the estimation, the current picture macro-block, and a reference picture macro-block to the digital signal processor.    
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising at least one of: 
 performing a resolution reduction to decrease image information;    perform at least one search to produce full resolution motion analysis;    multiply resolution of image information to enable motion prediction; and    synchronizing a low resolution processor, a full resolution processor, and a hyper resolution processor;    
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 reducing spatial redundancy in a video signal by producing a sequence of compression commands; and    transferring a sequence of compressed information to a bit-stream processor.    
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 performing encoding procedures;    compressing information into a standard format; and    transferring standard format information to a compressed data interface.    
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein operating in at least two modes comprises at least one of operating in a programming mode, operating in an operational mode, and operating in both modes simultaneously.