US 10218995

US Patent 10,218,995: Moving Picture Encoding and Decoding Systems with Super-Resolution

Title: Moving picture encoding system, moving picture encoding method, moving picture encoding program, moving picture decoding system, moving picture decoding method, moving picture decoding program, moving picture reencoding system, moving picture reencoding method, moving picture reencoding program

Assignee: Advanced Coding Technologies LLC (Current Assignee); JVCKenwood Corp (Original Assignee)

Inventors: Satoru Sakazume

Filing Date: 2015-04-21

Issue Date: 2019-02-26

Abstract:
The patent describes a moving picture encoding system that processes moving picture sequences for tasks like super-resolution enlargement. The system aims to enhance encoding efficiency by utilizing correlations between different spatial resolutions. It includes components like a first encoder for standard resolution encoding/decoding, a first super-resolution enlarger to create higher-resolution pictures, a first resolution converter to bring these back to standard resolution, and a second encoder that uses these processed pictures as reference pictures for further encoding. The system can also incorporate a second super-resolution enlarger and a second resolution converter to process decoded pictures as additional reference material. The core idea is to enrich the information used for encoding by exploiting potential frequency components not sufficiently expressed at standard resolution, leading to more efficient encoding, accumulation, and transmission of high-information-density moving pictures.

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Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

Independent Claim 1 (System Claim):
This claim describes a moving picture encoding system. It includes:

• A first encoder that takes standard-resolution moving pictures, encodes and decodes them, producing a first stream of encoded bits and a set of standard-resolution decoded pictures.
• A first super-resolution enlarger that processes the original standard-resolution moving pictures to create higher-resolution "super-resolution enlarged pictures."
• A first resolution converter that takes these high-resolution pictures and converts them back to the standard resolution, creating "super-resolution enlarged and converted pictures."
• A second encoder that uses the "super-resolution enlarged and converted pictures" (from the first resolution converter) as its target for encoding. This second encoder also uses the standard-resolution decoded pictures (from the first encoder) as reference pictures to perform prediction and encoding, generating a second stream of encoded bits.

Independent Claim 13 (Method Claim):
This claim outlines a moving picture encoding method, essentially mirroring the steps of the system described in Claim 1:

• Step 1: Encode and decode standard-resolution moving pictures to create a first bit stream and standard-resolution decoded pictures.
• Step 2: Apply a super-resolution enlargement process to the original standard-resolution moving pictures to create higher-resolution pictures.
• Step 3: Convert these higher-resolution pictures back to standard resolution.
• Step 4: Use these converted pictures as encoding targets and the decoded pictures from Step 1 as reference pictures to perform a second prediction and encoding process, generating a second bit stream.

Independent Claim 14 (Program Claim):
This claim describes a computer program that, when executed, causes a computer to perform the method steps of Claim 13.

Independent Claim 15 (System Claim for Decoding):
This claim describes a moving picture decoding system:

• A demultiplexer that takes an encoded bit stream and separates it into standard-resolution encoded bits.
• A first decoder that decodes these standard-resolution bits to create standard-resolution decoded pictures.
• A first super-resolution enlarger that takes these standard-resolution decoded pictures and performs super-resolution enlargement to create higher-resolution decoded pictures.
• A first resolution converter that takes these super-resolution enlarged decoded pictures and converts them back to standard resolution, creating "super-resolution decoded pictures."

Independent Claim 17 (Method Claim for Decoding):
This claim outlines a moving picture decoding method, mirroring the decoding system of Claim 15:

• Step 1: Demultiplex an input bit stream to output standard-resolution encoded bits.
• Step 2: Decode the standard-resolution encoded bits to create standard-resolution decoded pictures.
• Step 3: Perform super-resolution enlargement on the standard-resolution decoded pictures to create super-resolution enlarged decoded pictures.
• Step 4: Perform resolution conversion on the super-resolution enlarged decoded pictures to create standard-resolution super-resolution decoded pictures.

Independent Claim 18 (Program Claim for Decoding):
This claim describes a computer program that, when executed, causes a computer to perform the method steps of Claim 17.

Independent Claim 19 (System Claim for Reencoding):
This claim describes a moving picture reencoding system:

• A demultiplexer that processes an input encoded bit stream to output standard-resolution encoded bits.
• A decoder that decodes these standard-resolution bits to create standard-resolution decoded pictures.
• A first super-resolution enlarger that takes these standard-resolution decoded pictures and performs super-resolution enlargement to create higher-resolution decoded pictures.
• A first resolution converter that takes these super-resolution enlarged decoded pictures and converts them back to standard resolution, creating "super-resolution decoded pictures."

Independent Claim 21 (Method Claim for Reencoding):
This claim outlines a moving picture reencoding method, mirroring the reencoding system of Claim 19:

• Step 1: Demultiplex an input bit stream.
• Step 2: Decode standard-resolution encoded bits to create standard-resolution decoded pictures.
• Step 3: Perform super-resolution enlargement on the standard-resolution decoded pictures to create super-resolution enlarged decoded pictures.
• Step 4: Perform resolution conversion on the super-resolution enlarged decoded pictures to create standard-resolution super-resolution decoded pictures.

Independent Claim 22 (Program Claim for Reencoding):
This claim describes a computer program that, when executed, causes a computer to perform the method steps of Claim 21.

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CAFC 2026 Dockets for US Patent 10,218,995:

A review of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for 2026 (April, May, June) did not immediately reveal any scheduled cases specifically referencing patent number 10218995. While the CAFC website provides access to scheduled cases, a direct search function for specific patent numbers within these dockets for the current year (2026) was not readily available through general search. Therefore, I cannot definitively confirm or deny any CAFC litigation related to US10218995 in 2026 based on the provided search capabilities.## US Patent 10,218,995: Moving Picture Encoding and Decoding Systems with Super-Resolution

Title: Moving picture encoding system, moving picture encoding method, moving picture encoding program, moving picture decoding system, moving picture decoding method, moving picture decoding program, moving picture reencoding system, moving picture reencoding method, moving picture reencoding program

Assignee: Advanced Coding Technologies LLC (Current Assignee); JVCKenwood Corp (Original Assignee)

Inventors: Satoru Sakazume

Filing Date: 2015-04-21

Issue Date: 2019-02-26

Abstract:
The patent describes a moving picture encoding system that processes moving picture sequences for tasks like super-resolution enlargement. The system aims to enhance encoding efficiency by utilizing correlations between different spatial resolutions. It includes components like a first encoder for standard resolution encoding/decoding, a first super-resolution enlarger to create higher-resolution pictures, a first resolution converter to bring these back to standard resolution, and a second encoder that uses these processed pictures as reference pictures for further encoding. The system can also incorporate a second super-resolution enlarger and a second resolution converter to process decoded pictures as additional reference material. The core idea is to enrich the information used for encoding by exploiting potential frequency components not sufficiently expressed at standard resolution, leading to more efficient encoding, accumulation, and transmission of high-information-density moving pictures.

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Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

Independent Claim 1 (Moving Picture Encoding System):
This claim describes a system for encoding moving pictures. It includes:

• A first encoder that processes a sequence of standard-resolution moving pictures. It performs both encoding (to create a first stream of encoded bits) and decoding (to create a set of standard-resolution decoded pictures).
• A first super-resolution enlarger that also processes the original standard-resolution moving pictures. Its purpose is to perform a "first super-resolution enlargement" to generate a set of "super-resolution enlarged pictures" with a resolution higher than the standard.
• A first resolution converter that takes the "super-resolution enlarged pictures" and performs a "first resolution conversion" to create "super-resolution enlarged and converted pictures" at the standard resolution.
• A second encoder that takes the "super-resolution enlarged and converted pictures" from the first resolution converter as its target pictures for encoding. Crucially, it uses the "decoded pictures" from the first encoder as reference pictures to perform prediction and encoding, thereby generating a "second sequence of encoded bits."

Independent Claim 13 (Moving Picture Encoding Method):
This claim describes a method for encoding moving pictures, mirroring the functionality of the system in Claim 1:

• A step of implementing a first combination of processes for an encoding and a decoding on a sequence of standard-resolution moving pictures, resulting in a first sequence of encoded bits and a set of standard-resolution decoded pictures.
• A step of implementing a process for a first super-resolution enlargement on the standard-resolution moving pictures, creating a set of super-resolution enlarged pictures with a higher resolution.
• A step of implementing a process for a first resolution conversion on the super-resolution enlarged pictures, creating a set of super-resolution enlarged and converted pictures with the standard resolution.
• A step of using the super-resolution enlarged and converted pictures as encoding target pictures and the decoded pictures (from the first encoding/decoding step) as reference pictures, to implement a second combination of processes for prediction and encoding, creating a second sequence of encoded bits.

Independent Claim 14 (Moving Picture Encoding Program):
This claim describes a computer program designed to instruct a computer to execute the steps of the encoding method as described in Claim 13.

Independent Claim 15 (Moving Picture Decoding System):
This claim describes a system for decoding moving pictures:

• A demultiplexer that receives a sequence of input encoded bits and separates them into sequences of encoded bits at a standard resolution.
• A first decoder that decodes the standard-resolution encoded bits (from the demultiplexer) to create a sequence of standard-resolution decoded pictures.
• A first super-resolution enlarger that takes the standard-resolution decoded pictures (from the first decoder) and performs a "prescribed super-resolution enlargement" to create a sequence of "super-resolution enlarged decoded pictures."
• A first resolution converter that takes the "super-resolution enlarged decoded pictures" (from the first super-resolution enlarger) and performs a "prescribed resolution conversion" to create a sequence of "super-resolution decoded pictures with the standard resolution."

Independent Claim 17 (Moving Picture Decoding Method):
This claim outlines a method for decoding moving pictures, corresponding to the system in Claim 15:

• A step of implementing a process for a prescribed demultiplexing on a sequence of input encoded bits, to output sequences of encoded bits with a standard resolution.
• A step of acquiring and decoding the standard-resolution encoded bits to create a sequence of standard-resolution decoded pictures.
• A step of acquiring the standard-resolution decoded pictures and implementing a process for a prescribed super-resolution enlargement to create a sequence of super-resolution enlarged decoded pictures.
• A step of acquiring the super-resolution enlarged decoded pictures and implementing a process for a prescribed resolution conversion to create a sequence of super-resolution decoded pictures with the standard resolution.

Independent Claim 18 (Moving Picture Decoding Program):
This claim describes a computer program configured to cause a computer to execute the steps of the decoding method as described in Claim 17.

Independent Claim 19 (Moving Picture Reencoding System):
This claim describes a system for reencoding moving pictures:

• A demultiplexer that processes an input sequence of encoded bits to output sequences of encoded bits with a standard resolution.
• A decoder that decodes the standard-resolution encoded bits (from the demultiplexer) to create a sequence of standard-resolution decoded pictures.
• A first super-resolution enlarger that takes the standard-resolution decoded pictures (from the decoder) and performs a "prescribed super-resolution enlargement" to create a sequence of "super-resolution enlarged decoded pictures."
• A first resolution converter that takes the "super-resolution enlarged decoded pictures" (from the first super-resolution enlarger) and performs a "prescribed resolution conversion" to create a sequence of "super-resolution decoded pictures with the standard resolution."

Independent Claim 21 (Moving Picture Reencoding Method):
This claim outlines a method for reencoding moving pictures, corresponding to the system in Claim 19:

• A step of implementing a process for a prescribed demultiplexing on a sequence of input encoded bits.
• A step of acquiring and decoding standard-resolution encoded bits to create a sequence of standard-resolution decoded pictures.
• A step of acquiring the standard-resolution decoded pictures and implementing a process for a prescribed super-resolution enlargement to create a sequence of super-resolution enlarged decoded pictures.
• A step of acquiring the super-resolution enlarged decoded pictures and implementing a process for a prescribed resolution conversion to create a sequence of super-resolution decoded pictures with the standard resolution.

Independent Claim 22 (Moving Picture Reencoding Program):
This claim describes a computer program configured to cause a computer to execute the steps of the reencoding method as described in Claim 21.

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CAFC 2026 Dockets for US Patent 10,218,995:

As of April 26, 2026, a search of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for 2026 did not reveal any scheduled cases specifically referencing patent number 10218995. While general information about CAFC scheduled cases for April, May, and June 2026 is available, a direct search function within these dockets for specific patent numbers was not accessible via general search. Therefore, without more specific search capabilities for patent numbers within CAFC dockets, I cannot definitively confirm or deny the existence of related litigation in 2026.