GLOBAL MOTION CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62/838,615, filed on April 25, 2019, and titled“ADAPTIVE MOTION VECTOR PREDICTION CANDIDATES IN FRAMES WITH GLOBAL MOTION,” which is

incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of video compression. In particular, the present invention is directed to adaptive motion vector prediction candidates in frames with global motion.

BACKGROUND

A video codec can include an electronic circuit or software that compresses or decompresses digital video. It can convert uncompressed video to a compressed format or vice versa. In the context of video compression, a device that compresses video (and/or performs some function thereof) can typically be called an encoder, and a device that decompresses video (and/or performs some function thereof) can be called a decoder.

A format of the compressed data can conform to a standard video compression specification. The compression can be lossy in that the compressed video lacks some information present in the original video. A consequence of this can include that decompressed video can have lower quality than the original uncompressed video because there is insufficient information to accurately reconstruct the original video.

There can be complex relationships between the video quality, the amount of data used to represent the video (e.g., determined by the bit rate), the complexity of the encoding and decoding algorithms, sensitivity to data losses and errors, ease of editing, random access, end-to- end delay (e.g., latency), and the like.

Motion compensation can include an approach to predict a video frame or a portion thereof given a reference frame, such as previous and/or future frames, by accounting for motion of the camera and/or objects in the video. It can be employed in the encoding and decoding of video data for video compression, for example in the encoding and decoding using the Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG)-2 (also referred to as advanced video coding (AYC) and H.264) standard. Motion compensation can describe a picture in terms of the transformation of a reference picture to the current picture. The reference picture can be previous in time when compared to the current picture, from the future when compared to the current picture. When images can be accurately synthesized from previously transmitted and/or stored images, compression efficiency can be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In an aspect, a decoder includes comprising circuitry configured to receive a bitstream, determine, for a current block and using the bitstream, a global motion vector candidate utilized by an adjacent block; construct a motion vector candidate list including adding the determined global motion vector candidate to the motion vector candidate list, and reconstruct pixel data of the current block and using the motion vector candidate list.

In another aspect, a method includes receiving, by a decoder, a bitstream, determining, for a current block and using the bitstream, a global motion vector candidate utilized by an adjacent block, constructing a motion vector candidate list, wherein constructing the motion vector candidate list further comprises adding the determined global motion vector candidate to the motion vector candidate list, and reconstructing pixel data of the current block and using the motion vector candidate list.

The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show aspects of one or more embodiments of the invention. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein: FIG. l is a diagram illustrating motion vectors of an example frame with global and local motion;

FIG. 2 illustrates three example motion models that can be utilized for global motion including their index value (0, 1, or 2);

FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram according to some example implementations of the current subject matter; FIG. 4 is a system block diagram of an example decoder according to some example implementations of the current subject matter;

FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram according to some example implementations of the current subject matter;

FIG. 6 is a system block diagram of an example encoder according to some example

implementations of the current subject matter; and

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a computing system that can be used to implement any one or more of the methodologies disclosed herein and any one or more portions thereof.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be illustrated by phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the embodiments or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Global motion in video refers to the motion that occurs in an entire frame. Global motion may be caused by camera motion; for example, camera panning and zooming creates motion in a frame that may typically affect the entire frame. Motion present in portions of a video may be referred to as local motion. Local motion may be caused by moving objects in a scene, such as without limitation an object moving from left to right in the scene. Videos may contain a combination of local and global motion. Some implementations of the current subject matter may provide for efficient approaches to communicate global motion to the decoder and use of global motion vectors in improving compression efficiency.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating motion vectors of an example frame 100 with global and local motion. Frame 100 may include a number of blocks of pixels illustrated as squares, and their associated motion vectors illustrated as arrows. Squares (e.g., blocks of pixels) with arrows pointing up and to the left may indicate blocks with motion that may be considered to be global motion and squares with arrows pointing in other directions (indicated by 104) indicate blocks with local motion. In the illustrated example of FIG. 1, many blocks have identical global motion. Signaling global motion in a header, such as a picture parameter set (PPS) and/or sequence parameter set (SPS), and using signaled global motion may reduce motion vector information needed by blocks and may result in improved prediction. Although for illustrative purposes examples described below refer to determination and/or application of global or local motion vectors at a block level, global motion vectors may be determined and/or applied for any region of a frame and/or picture, including regions made up of multiple blocks, regions bounded by any geometric form such as without limitation regions defined by geometric and/or exponential coding in which one or more lines and/or curves bounding the shape may be angled and/or curved, and/or an entirety of a frame and/or picture. Although signaling is described herein as being performed at a frame level and/or in a header and/or parameter set of a frame, signaling may alternatively or additionally be performed at a sub-picture level, where a sub picture may include any region of a frame and/or picture as described above.

As an example, and still referring to FIG. 1, simple translational motion may be described using a motion vector (MV) with two components MVx, MVy that describes displacement of blocks and/or pixels in a current frame. More complex motion such as rotation, zooming, and warping may be described using affine motion vectors, where an“affine motion vector,” as used in this disclosure, is a vector describing a uniform displacement of a set of pixels or points represented in a video picture and/or picture, such as a set of pixels illustrating an object moving across a view in a video without changing apparent shape during motion. Some approaches to video encoding and/or decoding may use 4-parameter or 6-parameter affine models for motion compensation in inter picture coding.

For example, and with continued reference to FIG. 1, a six parameter affine motion may be described as:

x’ = ax + by + c

y’ = dx + ey + f

As a further example, four parameter affine motion may be described as:

x’ = ax + by + c

y’ = -bx + ay + f

where (x,y) and (x’,y’) are pixel locations in current and reference pictures, respectively; a, b, c, d, e, and f are parameters of affine motion model.

Still referring to FIG. 1. parameters used describe affine motion may be signaled to a decoder to apply affine motion compensation at the decoder. In some approaches, motion parameters may be signaled explicitly or by signaling translational control point motion vectors (CPMVs) and then deriving affine motion parameters from the translational motion vectors. Two control point motion vectors (CPMVs) may be utilized to derive affine motion parameters for a four-parameter affine motion model and three control point translational motion vectors

(CPMVs) may be utilized to obtain parameters for a six-parameter motion model. Signaling affine motion parameters using control point motion vectors may allow the use of efficient motion vector coding methods to signal affine motion parameters.

In an embodiment, and with continued reference to FIG. 1, an sps_affine_enabled_flag in a PPS and/or SPS may specify whether affine model based motion compensation may be used for inter prediction. If sps affme enabled flag is equal to 0, the syntax may be constrained such that no affine model based motion compensation is used in the code later video sequence (CLVS), and inter affme flag and cu affine type flag may not be present in coding unit syntax of the CLVS. Otherwise (sps affme enabled flag is equal to 1), affine model based motion compensation can be used in the CLVS.

Further referring to FIG. 1, sps_affine_type_flag in a PPS and/or SPS may specify whether 6-parameter affine model based motion compensation may be used for inter prediction. If sps affme type flag is equal to 0, syntax may be constrained such that no 6-parameter affine model based motion compensation is used in the CLVS, and cu affine type flag may not present in coding unit syntax in the CLVS. Otherwise (sps affme type flag equal to 1), 6- parameter affine model based motion compensation may be used in CLVS. When not present, the value of sps affme type flag may be inferred to be equal to 0.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, treating a list of MV prediction candidates may be a step performed in some compression approaches that utilize motion compensation at a decoder. Some prior approaches may define use of spatial and temporal motion vector candidates. Global motion signaled in a header, such as an SPS or PPS, may indicate presence of global motion in video. Such global motion may be expected to be common to most blocks in a frame. Motion vector coding may be improved and bitrate reduced by using global motion as prediction candidate. Candidate MV added to MV prediction list may be selected depending on a motion model used to represent global motion and/or a motion model used in inter coding.

Still referring to FIG. 1, some implementations of global motion may be described with one or more control point motion vectors (CPMVs) depending on a motion model used.

Therefore, depending on a motion model used, one to three control point motion vectors may be available and may be used as candidates for prediction. In some implementations, all available CPMVs may be added as prediction candidates to list. A general case of adding all available CPMVs may increase likelihood of finding a good motion vector prediction and improve compression efficiency. Table 1 :

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, treating a list of motion vector (MV) prediction candidates may be a step in performing motion compensation at a decoder.

Still referring to FIG. 1, global motion signaled in a header, such as a SPS, may indicate presence of global motion in video. Such global motion may be likely to be present in many blocks in a frame. Thus, a given block may be likely to have motion similar to global motion. Motion vector coding may be improved and bitrate reduced by using global motion as prediction candidate. Candidate MV may be added to a MV prediction list and candidate MV may be selected depending on a motion model used to represent global motion and a motion model used in inter coding.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, global motion may be described with one or more control point motion vectors (CPMVs) depending on a motion model used. Therefore, depending on motion model used, one to three control point motion vectors may be available and may be used as candidates for prediction. A list of MV prediction candidates may be reduced by selectively adding one CPMV to prediction candidate list. Reducing list size may reduce computational complexity and improve compression efficiency. In some implementations, and still referring to FIG. 1, selection CPMV as a candidate may be according to a predefined mapping, such as is illustrated in the following Table 3 :

Still referring to FIG. 1, use of selective prediction candidate from global motion may be signaled in a picture parameter set of sequence parameter set, thereby reducing encoding and decoding complexity.

Further referring to FIG. 1, since a block is likely to have motion similar to global motion, adding a global motion vector as a first candidate in a prediction list may reduce the bits necessary to signal prediction candidates used and to encode motion vector differences.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, treating a list of motion vector (MV) prediction candidates may be a step in performing motion compensation at the decoder.

Still referring to FIG. 1, global motion signaled in a header, such as an SPS, may indicate the presence of global motion in video. Such global motion is likely present in many blocks in a frame. Thus, a given block is likely to have motion similar to global motion. Motion vector coding may be improved and bitrate reduced by using global motion as prediction candidate.

Further referring to FIG. 1, for example, a candidate MV added to a MV prediction list may be adaptively selected depending on which control point motion vector (CPMV) is selected as a prediction candidate in neighboring blocks (e.g., prediction units (PUs)).

As a further example, and still referring to FIG. 1, if neighboring PUs use a specific CPMV as a prediction MV for a specific control point, that CPMV may be added to MV candidate list. If neighboring PUs use more than one CPMV as a prediction MV (e.g., left PUs uses CPMVO and top PU uses CPMV1), then all the CPMVs used as prediction candidates may be added to list. If neighboring PUs do not use a CPMV, then no CPMVs may be added to prediction list. In some implementations, global motion information may be added as a first candidate in prediction list.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, use of adaptive prediction candidate from global motion may be signaled in a header, such as a PPS and/or SPS, thereby reducing encoding and decoding complexity.

Still referring to FIG. 1, since a block is likely to have motion similar to global motion, adding a global motion vector as a first candidate in a prediction list may reduce bits necessary to signal prediction candidates used and to encode motion vector differences. FIG. 2 illustrates three example motion models 200 that may be utilized for global motion including their index value (0, 1, or 2).

Still referring to FIG. 2, PPSs may be used to signal parameters that can change between pictures of a sequence. Parameters that remain the same for a sequence of pictures may be signaled in a sequence parameter set to reduce a size of PPS and reduce video bitrate. An example picture parameter set (PPS) is shown in Table 2:

Additional fields may be added to the PPS to signal global motion. In case of global motion, presence of global motion parameters in a sequence of pictures may be signaled in a SPS and a PPS may reference the SPS by SPS ID. SPS in some approaches to decoding may be modified to add a field to signal presence of global motion parameters in SPS. For example a one-bit field may be added to the SPS. If global motion present bit is 1, global motion related parameters may be expected in a PPS. If global motion present bit is 0, no global motion parameter related fields may be present in PPS. For example, the PPS of Table 2 may be extended to include a global motion present field, for example, as shown in Table 3:

Similarly, the PPS can include a pps global motion parameters field for a frame, for example as shown in Table 4:

In more detail, a PPS may include fields to characterize global motion parameters using control point motion vectors, for example as shown in Table 5:

As a further non-limiting example, Table 6 below may represent an exemplary SPS:

An SPS table as above may be expanded as described above to incorporate a global motion present indicator as shown in Table 7:

Additional fields may be incorporated in an SPS to reflect further indicators as describee in this disclosure.

In an embodiment, and still referring to FIG. 2, an sps_affine_enabled_flag in a PPS and/or SPS may specify whether affine model based motion compensation may be used for inter prediction. If sps affme enabled flag is equal to 0, the syntax may be constrained such that no affine model based motion compensation is used in the code later video sequence (CLVS), and inter affme flag and cu affme type flag may not be present in coding unit syntax of the CLVS. Otherwise (sps affme enabled flag is equal to 1), affine model based motion compensation can be used in the CLVS.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2, sps_affine_type_flag in a PPS and/or SPS may specify whether 6-parameter affine model based motion compensation may be used for inter prediction. If sps affme type flag is equal to 0, syntax may be constrained such that no 6-parameter affine model based motion compensation is used in the CLVS, and cu affme type flag may not present in coding unit syntax in the CLVS. Otherwise (sps affme type flag equal to 1), 6- parameter affine model based motion compensation may be used in CLVS. When not present, the value of sps affme type flag may be inferred to be equal to 0.

Still referring to FIG. 2, translational CPMVs may be signaled in PPS. Control points may be predefined. For example, control point MV 0 may be relative to a top left corner of a picture, MV 1 may be relative to a top right corner, and MV 3 may be relative to a bottom left comer of the picture. Table 5 illustrates an example approach for signaling CPMV data depending on a motion model used.

In an exemplary embodiment, and still referring to FIG. 2, an array amvr_precision_idx, which may be signaled in coding unit, coding tree, or the like, may specify a resolution

AmvrShift of a motion vector difference, which may be defined as a non-limiting example as shown in Table 8 as shown below. Array indices xO, yO may specify the location ( xO, yO ) of a top-left luma sample of a considered coding block relative to a top-left luma sample of the picture; when am vr preci si on_i dx [ xO ][ yO ] is not present, it may be inferred to be equal to 0. Where an inter_affme_flag[ xO ][ yO ] is equal to 0, variables MvdL0[ xO ][ yO ][ 0 ],

MvdL0[ xO ][ yO ][ 1 ], MvdLl [ xO ][ yO ][ 0 ], MvdLl [ xO ][ yO ][ 1 ] representing modsion vector difference values corresponding to consered block, may be modified by shifting such values by AmvrShift, for instance using MvdL0[ xO ][ yO ][ 0 ] =

MvdL0[ xO ][ yO ][ 0 ] « AmvrShift; MvdL0[ xO ][ yO ][ 1 ] =

MvdL0[ xO ][ yO ][ 1 ] « AmvrShift; MvdLl [ xO ][ yO ][ 0 ] =

MvdLl [ xO ][ yO ][ 0 ] « AmvrShift; and MvdLl [ xO ][ yO ][ 1 ] =

MvdLl [ xO ][ yO ][ 1 ] « AmvrShift. Where inter_affme_flag[ xO ][ yO ] is equal to 1, variables MvdCpL0[ xO ][ yO ][ 0 ][ 0 ], MvdCpL0[ xO ][ yO ][ 0 ][ 1 ],

MvdCpL0[ xO ][ yO ][ 1 ][ 0 ], MvdCpL0[ xO ][ yO ][ 1 ][ 1 ], MvdCpL0[ xO ][ yO ][ 2 ][ 0 ] and MvdCpL0[ xO ][ yO ][ 2 ][ 1 ] may be modified via shifting, for instance as follows:

MvdCpL0[ xO ][ yO ][ 0 ][ 0 ] = MvdCpL0[ xO ][ yO ][ 0 ][ 0 ] « AmvrShift;

MvdCpLl [ xO ][ yO ] [ 0 ][ 1 ] = MvdCpLl [ xO ][ yO ][ 0 ][ 1 ] « AmvrShift;

MvdCpL0[ xO ][ yO ][ 1 ][ 0 ] = MvdCpL0[ xO ][ yO ][ 1 ][ 0 ] « AmvrShift;

MvdCpLl [ xO ][ yO ] [ 1 ][ 1 ] = MvdCpLl [ xO ][ yO ][ ! ][ ! ] « AmvrShift; MvdCpL0[ xO ][ y0 ][ 2 ][ 0 ] = MvdCpL0[ xO ][ y0 ][ 2 ][ 0 ] « AmvrShift; and MvdCpLl[ xO ][ yO ] [ 2 ][ 1 ] = MvdCpLl[ xO ][ y0 ][ 2 ][ 1 ] « AmvrShift

FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process 300 of constructing a motion vector candidate list using a global motion vector candidate utilized by an adjacent block.

At step 305, and still referring to FIG. 3, a current block is received by a decoder. Current block may be contained within a bitstream that decoder receives. Bitstream may include, for example, data found in a stream of bits that is an input to a decoder when using data

compression. Bitstream may include information necessary to decode a video. Receiving may include extracting and/or parsing block and associated signaling information from bit stream. In some implementations, a current block may include a coding tree unit (CTU), a coding unit (CU), or a prediction unit (PU).

At step 310, and further referring to FIG. 3, a global motion vector candidate utilized by an adjacent block may be determined for a current block and using the bitstream. At step 330, a motion vector candidate list can be constructed including adding the determined global motion vector candidate to the motion vector candidate list. At step 140, pixel data of the current block can be reconstructed using the motion vector candidate list.

FIG. 4 is a system block diagram illustrating an example decoder 400 capable of decoding a bitstream including by constructing a motion vector candidate list using a global motion vector candidate utilized by an adjacent block. Decoder 400 may include an entropy decoder processor 404, an inverse quantization and inverse transformation processor 408, a deblocking filter 412, a frame buffer 416, a motion compensation processor 420 and/or an intra prediction processor 424.

In operation, and still referring to FIG. 4, bit stream 428 may be received by decoder 400 and input to entropy decoder processor 404, which may entropy decode portions of bit stream into quantized coefficients. Quantized coefficients may be provided to inverse quantization and inverse transformation processor 408, which may perform inverse quantization and inverse transformation to create a residual signal, which may be added to an output of motion

compensation processor 420 or intra prediction processor 424 according to a processing mode. An output of the motion compensation processor 420 and intra prediction processor 424 may include a block prediction based on a previously decoded block. A sum of prediction and residual may be processed by deblocking filter 412 and stored in a frame buffer 416.

FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a process 500 of encoding a video including constructing a motion vector candidate list using a global motion vector candidate utilized by an adjacent block according to some aspects of the current subject matter that can reduce encoding complexity while increasing compression efficiency. At step 505, a video frame may undergo initial block segmentation, for example and without limitation by using a tree-structured macro block partitioning scheme that can include partitioning a picture frame into CTUs and CUs. At step 510, global motion may be determined for a block. At step 515, block may be encoded and included in bitstream. Encoding may include constructing a motion vector candidate list using a global motion vector candidate utilized by an adjacent block. Encoding may include utilizing inter prediction and intra prediction modes, for example.

FIG. 6 is a system block diagram illustrating an example video encoder 00 capable of constructing a motion vector candidate list using a global motion vector candidate utilized by an adjacent block. Example video encoder 600 may receive an input video 604, which may be initially segmented or dividing according to a processing scheme, such as a tree-structured macro block partitioning scheme (e.g., quad-tree plus binary tree). An example of a tree-structured macro block partitioning scheme may include partitioning a picture frame into large block elements called coding tree units (CTU). In some implementations, each CTU may be further partitioned one or more times into a number of sub-blocks called coding units (CU). A final result of this portioning may include a group of sub-blocks that may be called predictive units (PU). Transform units (TU) may also be utilized.

Still referring to FIG. 6, example video encoder 600 may include an intra prediction processor 608, a motion estimation / compensation processor 612, which may also be referred to as an inter prediction processor, capable of constructing a motion vector candidate list including adding a global motion vector candidate to the motion vector candidate list, a transform

/quantization processor 616, an inverse quantization / inverse transform processor 620, an in loop filter 624, a decoded picture buffer 628, and/or an entropy coding processor 632. Bit stream parameters may be input to the entropy coding processor 632 for inclusion in the output bit stream 636.

In operation, and with continued reference to FIG. 6, for each block of a frame of input video 604, whether to process block via intra picture prediction or using motion estimation / compensation may be determined. Block may be provided to intra prediction processor 608 or motion estimation / compensation processor 612. If block is to be processed via intra prediction, intra prediction processor 608 may perform processing to output a predictor. If block is to be processed via motion estimation / compensation, motion estimation / compensation processor 612 may perform processing including constructing a motion vector candidate list including adding a global motion vector candidate to the motion vector candidate list, if applicable.

Further referring to FIG. 6, a residual may be formed by subtracting a predictor from input video. Residual may be received by transform / quantization processor 616, which may perform transformation processing (e.g., discrete cosine transform (DCT)) to produce coefficients, which may be quantized. Quantized coefficients and any associated signaling information may be provided to entropy coding processor 632 for entropy encoding and inclusion in output bit stream 636. Entropy encoding processor 632 may support encoding of signaling information related to encoding a current block. In addition, quantized coefficients may be provided to inverse quantization / inverse transformation processor 620, which may reproduce pixels, which may be combined with a predictor and processed by in loop filter 624, an output of which may be stored in decoded picture buffer 628 for use by motion estimation / compensation processor 612 that is capable of constructing a motion vector candidate list including adding a global motion vector candidate to the motion vector candidate list. With continued reference to FIG. 6, although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. For example, in some

implementations, current blocks may include any symmetric blocks (8x8, 16x16, 32x32, 64x64, 128 x 128, and the like) as well as any asymmetric block (8x4, 16x8, and the like).

In some implementations, and still referring to FIG. 6, a quadtree plus binary decision tree (QTBT) may be implemented. In QTBT, at a Coding Tree Unit level, partition parameters of QTBT may be dynamically derived to adapt to local characteristics without transmitting any overhead. Subsequently, at a Coding Unit level, a joint-classifier decision tree structure may eliminate unnecessary iterations and control the risk of false prediction. In some

implementations, LTR frame block update mode may be available as an additional option available at every leaf node of QTBT.

In some implementations, and still referring to FIG. 6, additional syntax elements may be signaled at different hierarchy levels of bitstream. For example, a flag may be enabled for an entire sequence by including an enable flag coded in a Sequence Parameter Set (SPS). Further, a CTU flag may be coded at a coding tree unit (CTU) level.

It is to be noted that any one or more of the aspects and embodiments described herein may be conveniently implemented using digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuitry, specially designed application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) computer hardware, firmware, software, and/or combinations thereof, as realized and/or implemented in one or more machines ( e.g ., one or more computing devices that are utilized as a user computing device for an electronic document, one or more server devices, such as a document server, etc.) programmed according to the teachings of the present specification, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the computer art. These various aspects or features may include implementation in one or more computer programs and/or software that are executable and/or interpretable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which may be special or general purpose, coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. Appropriate software coding may readily be prepared by skilled programmers based on the teachings of the present disclosure, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the software art. Aspects and implementations discussed above employing software and/or software modules may also include appropriate hardware for assisting in the implementation of the machine executable instructions of the software and/or software module.

Such software may be a computer program product that employs a machine-readable storage medium. A machine-readable storage medium may be any medium that is capable of storing and/or encoding a sequence of instructions for execution by a machine ( e.g ., a computing device) and that causes the machine to perform any one of the methodologies and/or

embodiments described herein. Examples of a machine-readable storage medium include, but are not limited to, a magnetic disk, an optical disc (e.g., CD, CD-R, DVD, DVD-R, etc.), a magneto optical disk, a read-only memory“ROM” device, a random access memory“RAM” device, a magnetic card, an optical card, a solid-state memory device, an EPROM, an EEPROM,

Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), and/or any combinations thereof. A machine-readable medium, as used herein, is intended to include a single medium as well as a collection of physically separate media, such as, for example, a collection of compact discs or one or more hard disk drives in combination with a computer memory. As used herein, a machine-readable storage medium does not include transitory forms of signal transmission.

Such software may also include information (e.g, data) carried as a data signal on a data carrier, such as a carrier wave. For example, machine-executable information may be included as a data-carrying signal embodied in a data carrier in which the signal encodes a sequence of instruction, or portion thereof, for execution by a machine (e.g, a computing device) and any related information (e.g, data structures and data) that causes the machine to perform any one of the methodologies and/or embodiments described herein.

Examples of a computing device include, but are not limited to, an electronic book reading device, a computer workstation, a terminal computer, a server computer, a handheld device (e.g, a tablet computer, a smartphone, etc.), a web appliance, a network router, a network switch, a network bridge, any machine capable of executing a sequence of instructions that specify an action to be taken by that machine, and any combinations thereof. In one example, a computing device may include and/or be included in a kiosk.

FIG. 7 shows a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of a computing device in the exemplary form of a computer system 700 within which a set of instructions for causing a control system to perform any one or more of the aspects and/or methodologies of the present disclosure may be executed. It is also contemplated that multiple computing devices may be utilized to implement a specially configured set of instructions for causing one or more of the devices to perform any one or more of the aspects and/or methodologies of the present disclosure. Computer system 700 includes a processor 704 and a memory 708 that communicate with each other, and with other components, via a bus 712. Bus 712 may include any of several types of bus structures including, but not limited to, a memory bus, a memory controller, a peripheral bus, a local bus, and any combinations thereof, using any of a variety of bus architectures.

Memory 708 may include various components ( e.g ., machine-readable media) including, but not limited to, a random-access memory component, a read only component, and any combinations thereof. In one example, a basic input/output system 716 (BIOS), including basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within computer system 700, such as during start-up, may be stored in memory 708. Memory 708 may also include (e.g., stored on one or more machine-readable media) instructions (e.g, software) 720 embodying any one or more of the aspects and/or methodologies of the present disclosure. In another example, memory 708 may further include any number of program modules including, but not limited to, an operating system, one or more application programs, other program modules, program data, and any combinations thereof.

Computer system 700 may also include a storage device 724. Examples of a storage device (e.g, storage device 724) include, but are not limited to, a hard disk drive, a magnetic disk drive, an optical disc drive in combination with an optical medium, a solid-state memory device, and any combinations thereof. Storage device 724 may be connected to bus 712 by an appropriate interface (not shown). Example interfaces include, but are not limited to, SCSI, advanced technology attachment (ATA), serial ATA, universal serial bus (USB), IEEE 1394 (FIREWIRE), and any combinations thereof. In one example, storage device 724 (or one or more components thereof) may be removably interfaced with computer system 700 (e.g, via an external port connector (not shown)). Particularly, storage device 724 and an associated machine-readable medium 728 may provide nonvolatile and/or volatile storage of machine- readable instructions, data structures, program modules, and/or other data for computer system 700. In one example, software 720 may reside, completely or partially, within machine-readable medium 728. In another example, software 720 may reside, completely or partially, within processor 704. Computer system 700 may also include an input device 732. In one example, a user of computer system 700 may enter commands and/or other information into computer system 700 via input device 732. Examples of an input device 732 include, but are not limited to, an alpha numeric input device ( e.g ., a keyboard), a pointing device, a joystick, a gamepad, an audio input device (e.g., a microphone, a voice response system, etc.), a cursor control device (e.g, a mouse), a touchpad, an optical scanner, a video capture device (e.g, a still camera, a video camera), a touchscreen, and any combinations thereof. Input device 732 may be interfaced to bus 712 via any of a variety of interfaces (not shown) including, but not limited to, a serial interface, a parallel interface, a game port, a USB interface, a FIREWIRE interface, a direct interface to bus 712, and any combinations thereof. Input device 732 may include a touch screen interface that may be a part of or separate from display 736, discussed further below. Input device 732 may be utilized as a user selection device for selecting one or more graphical representations in a graphical interface as described above.

A user may also input commands and/or other information to computer system 700 via storage device 724 (e.g, a removable disk drive, a flash drive, etc.) and/or network interface device 740. A network interface device, such as network interface device 740, may be utilized for connecting computer system 700 to one or more of a variety of networks, such as network 744, and one or more remote devices 748 connected thereto. Examples of a network interface device include, but are not limited to, a network interface card (e.g, a mobile network interface card, a LAN card), a modem, and any combination thereof. Examples of a network include, but are not limited to, a wide area network (e.g, the Internet, an enterprise network), a local area network (e.g, a network associated with an office, a building, a campus or other relatively small geographic space), a telephone network, a data network associated with a telephone/voice provider (e.g, a mobile communications provider data and/or voice network), a direct connection between two computing devices, and any combinations thereof. A network, such as network 744, may employ a wired and/or a wireless mode of communication. In general, any network topology may be used. Information (e.g, data, software 720, etc.) may be communicated to and/or from computer system 700 via network interface device 740.

Computer system 700 may further include a video display adapter 752 for

communicating a displayable image to a display device, such as display device 736. Examples of a display device include, but are not limited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT), a plasma display, a light emitting diode (LED) display, and any combinations thereof. Display adapter 752 and display device 736 may be utilized in combination with processor 704 to provide graphical representations of aspects of the present disclosure. In addition to a display device, computer system 700 may include one or more other peripheral output devices including, but not limited to, an audio speaker, a printer, and any combinations thereof. Such peripheral output devices may be connected to bus 712 via a peripheral interface 756. Examples of a peripheral interface include, but are not limited to, a serial port, a USB connection, a FIREWIRE connection, a parallel connection, and any combinations thereof.

The foregoing has been a detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the invention. Various modifications and additions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Features of each of the various embodiments described above may be combined with features of other described embodiments as appropriate in order to provide a multiplicity of feature combinations in associated new embodiments. Furthermore, while the foregoing describes a number of separate embodiments, what has been described herein is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Additionally, although particular methods herein may be illustrated and/or described as being performed in a specific order, the ordering is highly variable within ordinary skill to achieve embodiments as disclosed herein. Accordingly, this description is meant to be taken only by way of example, and not to otherwise limit the scope of this invention.

In the descriptions above and in the claims, phrases such as“at least one of’ or“one or more of’ may occur followed by a conjunctive list of elements or features. The term“and/or” may also occur in a list of two or more elements or features. Unless otherwise implicitly or explicitly contradicted by the context in which it is used, such a phrase is intended to mean any of the listed elements or features individually or any of the recited elements or features in combination with any of the other recited elements or features. For example, the phrases“at least one of A and B;”“one or more of A and B;” and“A and/or B” are each intended to mean“A alone, B alone, or A and B together.” A similar interpretation is also intended for lists including three or more items. For example, the phrases“at least one of A, B, and C;”“one or more of A,

B, and C;” and“A, B, and/or C” are each intended to mean“A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A and B and C together.” In addition, use of the term“based on,” above and in the claims is intended to mean,“based at least in part on,” such that an unrecited feature or element is also permissible.

The subject matter described herein can be embodied in systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles depending on the desired configuration. The implementations set forth in the foregoing description do not represent all implementations consistent with the subject matter described herein. Instead, they are merely some examples consistent with aspects related to the described subject matter. Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and/or variations can be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above can be directed to various combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and sub-combinations of several further features disclosed above. In addition, the logic flows depicted in the accompanying figures and/or described herein do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other implementations may be within the scope of the following claims.