Combining measurements and estimates for carbon emissions reporting

Abstract

Examples are provided herein of combining measurements and estimates for carbon emission reporting. In an example, a content provider transmits a video segment to a first set of display devices and a second set of display devices. The content provider receives energy consumption reports from the first set of display devices, each energy consumption report including energy consumption for processing and display of the video segment by a respective display device of the first set of display devices. Further, the content provider aggregates the energy consumption reports for the first set of display devices to obtain a first total energy consumption. Also, the content provider estimates a second total energy consumption for the second set of display devices. Moreover, the content provider combines the first total energy consumption and the second total energy consumption into a final total energy consumption.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] The examples and embodiments described herein relate to measuring and estimating emissions and energy consumption by devices displaying content. More specifically, the content is video content, and the emissions and energy consumption by an audience watching the content is totaled by an enterprise that provides the content or by a third party.

[0002] A greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory is a list of emission sources and the associated emissions quantified using standardized methods. Organizations develop GHG inventories for a variety of reasons. A GHG inventory, and related reporting, may include emissions categorized under three scopes. Scope 1 are direct GHG emissions that occur from sources that are controlled or owned by an organization (for example, emissions associated with fuel combustion in boilers, furnaces, vehicles). Scope 2 emissions are indirect GHG emissions associated with the purchase of electricity, steam, heat, or cooling. Although Scope 2 emissions physically occur at the facility where they are generated, they are accounted for in an organization's GHG inventory because they are a result of the organization's energy use.

[0003] Scope 3 emissions are the result of activities from assets not owned or controlled by the reporting organization or enterprise, but that the organization indirectly affects in its value chain. An organization's value chain consists of both its upstream and downstream activities. Scope 3 emissions, also referred to as value chain emissions, may often represent the majority of an organization's total GHG emissions.SUMMARY

[0004] Examples are provided herein of combining measurements and estimates for carbon emission reporting. In an example, a content provider transmits a video segment to a first set of display devices and a second set of display devices. The content provider receives energy consumption reports from the first set of display devices, each energy consumption report including energy consumption for processing and display of the video segment by a respective display device of the first set of display devices. Further, the content provider aggregates the energy consumption reports for the first set of display devices to obtain a first total energy consumption. Also, the content provider estimates a second total energy consumption for the second set of display devices. Moreover, the content provider combines the first total energy consumption and the second total energy consumption into a final total energy consumption.

[0005] In a further example, a display device receives a video segment from a content provider. Further, the display device determines energy consumed by the display device to display the video segment. Also, the display device generates an energy consumption report based on the determined energy consumed by the display device. Moreover, the display device transmits the energy consumption report to the content provider. Additionally or alternatively, the display device transmits the energy consumption report to a data collector. Additionally or alternatively, the data collector then reports the energy consumption to a regulatory body. Additionally or alternatively, the display device transmits the energy consumption report to the regulatory body.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The following detailed description will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which there are shown examples of one or more of the multiple embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood, however, that the embodiments described herein are not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings. In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example system according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example video encoder according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example video decoder according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is flowchart diagram illustrating an example of a content provider combining measured and estimated energy consumption; FIG. 5 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an example of a display device generating and transmitting an energy consumption report; FIG. 6 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an example of a content provider combining measured and estimated emissions; and FIG. 7 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an example of a display device generating and transmitting an emissions report. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0007] In describing the various embodiments of the present disclosure, certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and should not be considered as limiting such embodiments. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are employed for designating the same elements throughout the several figures and the present description.

[0008] Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a block diagram illustrating an example system 100 in which embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. The system 100 may be an electronic device including, for example, a personal computer, laptop computer, mobile phone, tablet computer, multimedia set-top box, digital television receiver, personal video recording system, connected home appliance, vehicle control and / or entertainment system, and server. One or more elements of the system 100, singly or in combination, may be implemented as an integrated circuit (IC), multiple ICs, and / or discrete components. For example, in one embodiment, the processing, encoding and / or decoding elements of system 100 are distributed across multiple ICs and / or discrete components. In some embodiments, the system 100 is communicatively coupled to and / or in communication with other systems or devices, via, for example, a communications bus or dedicated input / output ports.

[0009] One or more of the elements of system 100 may be provided within an integrated housing, with such elements being interconnected and able to transmit data therebetween using any suitable connection arrangement 115 generally known in the art, including, for example, an internal bus (e.g., I2C bus), wiring, and printed circuit boards.

[0010] The system 100 includes at least one processor 110 configured to execute instructions for implementing the embodiments described herein, including signal / data coding and processing. The processor 110 may be a general-purpose processor or microprocessor, digital signal processor (DSP), one or more microprocessors in association with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), a state machine, and the like. The processor 110 may include at least one central processing unit (CPU), embedded memory, input and output interfaces, and other circuitries.

[0011] The system 100 includes at least one memory 120, for example, a volatile memory device and / or a non-volatile memory device. The system 100 includes a storage device 140, that may be or include non-volatile memory and / or dynamic volatile memory, including EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, DDR, flash, magnetic disk drives, solid state drives (SSD) and / or optical disk drives. The storage device 140 may be or include, for example, an internal storage device, an attached storage device, and / or a network accessible storage device. Although shown separately, the memory 120 and the storage device 140 may be collocated, integrated together, or otherwise combined.

[0012] The system 100 includes an encoder / decoder module 130 configured to process video data and to provide encoded video data or decoded video data. The encoder / decoder module 130 may include one or more processors and / or memory (not shown). Although FIG. 1 depicts the encoder / decoder module 130 as a separate element of system 100, it will be understood that the processor 110 and the encoder / decoder module 130 may be collocated and / or integrated together as a combination of hardware and / or software, e.g., in an electronic package or chip. The encoder / decoder module 130 may be or include one or more modules that may be included in one or more separate devices that perform encoding and / or decoding functions.

[0013] Instructions for execution by the processor 110 and / or the encoder / decoder module 130 may be stored in the storage device 140 and subsequently loaded into memory 120 for execution by the processor 110. In some embodiments, one or more of processor 110, memory 120, storage device 140, and encoder / decoder module 130 may store one or more items when performing the processes disclosed herein. Such items may include input video, decoded video or portions thereof, bitstreams, matrices, variables, operational logic, and intermediate and / or final results from processing of equations, formulas, or operations.

[0014] In some embodiments, the memory of the processor 110 and / or the encoder / decoder module 130 is used to store instructions and / or provide working memory for video encoding and decoding functions. In some embodiments, memory external to the processor 110 and / or the encoder / decoder module 130 (e.g., the memory 120 and / or the storage device 140) is used for one or more of these functions and / or, for example, to store the operating system of a television.

[0015] The system 100 may obtain or receive information via one or more input devices, interfaces, and / or ports as indicated in input block 105. Examples of the input devices include a radio frequency (RF) device for transmitting and / or receiving RF signals over various media, for example, RF signals received over the air from a broadcaster; component video (COMP) inputs; a Universal Serial Bus (USB) input; and / or a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) input. Other examples include composite video input (not shown). In some embodiments, the input devices are associated with respective input processing elements, e.g., those generally known in the art. For example, the RF device may be associated with elements suitable for selecting a desired frequency (e.g., selecting or band-limiting a signal) or performing error correction on the signal. The USB and / or HDMI inputs may include respective interface processors and transceivers (or transmitters and receivers) for coupling the system 100 to other devices via USB and / or HDMI ports or connections. Various forms of input processing may be implemented, for example, by and / or within a separate input processing device or the processor 110.

[0016] The system 100 includes a communication interface 150 that enables wired and / or wireless communication with other devices, e.g., via a communication channel 190. The communication interface 150 may include one or more transceivers, modems, network cards and the like. The communication channel 190 may be or include wired and / or wireless mediums.

[0017] In some embodiments, data may be streamed to the system 100 via wired and / or wireless networks. Examples of such wireless networks include cellular, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (e.g., IEEE 802.11) networks. The wired and / or wireless networks may include one or more base stations (e.g., cellular base stations, access points, etc.), and / or user equipment (e.g. cellular user equipment, stations, etc.), and / or other network elements that communicate with the system 100 via the communication interface 150 and communication channel 190, whereby the system 100 may obtain data streamed from streaming applications (e.g., OTT services) via various networks, including the Internet. In some embodiments, data is streamed to the system 100 via the input block 105 (e.g., using a set-top box that delivers data via the HDMI connection or the RF connection). In some embodiments, data is received by the system 100 in a non-streaming manner.

[0018] The system 100 may provide one or more output signals to one or more output devices. The output devices may include a display device 165 (e.g., touchscreen display, monitor, etc.), an audio device 175 (e.g., speakers), and other peripheral devices 185, including, for example, a stand-alone DVR, a disk player, a stereo system, a lighting system, and other devices that provide a function based on the output of the system 100. The display device 165 can be for a television, tablet, laptop, mobile phone, head-mounted display, or other device. In some embodiments, control signals are communicated between the system 100 and the display device 165, the audio device 175, and / or the peripheral devices 185, enabling device-to-device control with or without user intervention. The output devices may couple to and / or communicate with the system 100 via dedicated connections via respective display, audio, and peripheral interfaces 160, 170, 180. Alternatively, the output devices may couple to and / or communicate with the system 100 via the communication channel 190 and the communication interface 150.

[0019] The display device 165 and the audio device 175 may be collocated, integrated, or otherwise combined with the other components of system 100 in a single unit (e.g., a television). Alternatively, the display device 165 and the audio device 175 may be separate from one or more of the other components of the system 100. In embodiments in which the display device 165 and the audio device 175 are external components, the output signals may be provided via dedicated outputs and / or connections, including, for example, HDMI ports, USB ports, or COMP outputs.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example video encoder 200 that may be employed by the system 100 (e.g., via the encoder / decoder module 130) described with respect to FIG. 1. The video encoder 200 may be an encoder that employs video compression technologies, standards, specification, or protocols, including Advanced Video Coding (AVC, H.264 / MPEG-4), High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC, H.265), Versatile Video Coding (WC, H.266), Essential Video Coding (EVC, MPEG-5), AOMedia Video 1 (AV1), VP9, or the Enhanced Compression Model (ECM), and variations or improvements thereof. Those skilled in the art will understand that the various embodiments described herein are not limited to a specific standard and can be applied to other standards and recommendations, as well as extensions thereof.

[0021] Some embodiments disclosed herein are described with reference to a coding unit (CU) or block of a video frame (or a video image or picture) to which coding tools may be applied by the video encoder 200 and / or by the video decoder 300 (described below with reference to FIG. 3). Generally, embodiments described herein may be applied to a video region formed by a video partition of any shape or size. The video region may be a video slice, a coding tree unit (CTU), or a CU (to which inter prediction or intra prediction can be applied), or a partition thereof, each of which can include samples of a luma component, Y, and chroma components, U and V (also denoted herein by C).

[0022] Referring generally to FIG. 2 and the video encoder 200, video data (e.g., one or more video frames) is encoded generally as described below. Prior to encoding, video data may be pre-processed by a precoding processor (not shown). The pre-processing may include, for example, applying a color model transform to the input color components of the input video data (e.g., conversion from RGB 4:4:4 to YUV 4:2:0) or mapping the color components of the input video data to obtain a signal distribution that is more resilient to compression (for instance, applying a histogram equalizer and / or a denoising filter to one or more of the video data's color components). The pre-processing may include associating metadata (for example, a supplemental enhancement information (SEI) message) with the video data that can be attached to a coded video bitstream. After pre-processing, if any, an image (frame) to be encoded is partitioned into CUs (blocks) by an image partitioner 202.

[0023] In general, a CU includes a luma block and associated chroma blocks. As such, functions of the video encoder 200 described herein as applied to a CU refer generally to the luma block and the respective chroma blocks. The CUs may be encoded using an intra prediction mode performed by an intra predictor 260. In intra prediction mode, the content of a CU in a frame is predicted based on content from one or more other CUs of the same frame (or region), using reconstructed blocks of other CUs output from an adder 255. The CUs may also or alternatively be encoded using an inter prediction mode, in which motion estimation and motion compensation are performed by a motion estimator 275 and a motion compensator 270, respectively. In inter prediction mode, the content of a CU in a frame is predicted based on content from one or more reconstructed areas of reference frames, available from a reference picture buffer 280.

[0024] The video encoder 200 selects or otherwise determines at 205 which prediction mode (intra prediction mode and / or inter prediction mode) to use for encoding a CU. The selected prediction mode may be enhanced (e.g., filtered) by a prediction enhancer 285. Based on the selected mode, a prediction for the CU is generated. A residual block is determined based on the prediction (i.e., prediction block, predicted CU) and the input CU. In some embodiments, such determination is made by a subtractor 210.

[0025] The residual block or a partition thereof (e.g., a transform block) is transformed into transform coefficients by a transformer 220. The transform coefficients are quantized by a quantizer 230. An entropy encoder 245 performs entropy encoding of the quantized transform coefficients and coding parameters (e.g., syntax elements including motion vectors and other control data) to form a bitstream of coded video data.

[0026] In addition to coding the original video blocks as described herein, the video encoder 200 reconstructs the coded blocks to provide references for future predictions. Thus, quantized transform coefficients (from the quantizer 230) are de-quantized by an inverse quantizer 240, and inverse transformed by an inverse transformer 250, to reconstruct (decode) the residual blocks. The reconstructed residual blocks and prediction blocks are combined (e.g., by the adder 255) to form reconstructed blocks. Thus, the video encoder 200 performs decoding operations through which the encoded images (frames) are reconstructed.

[0027] In-loop filters 265 may be applied to the reconstructed image (formed by the reconstructed blocks). The filtered reconstructed image(s) are stored in the reference picture buffer 280 and used by the motion estimator 275 and motion compensator 270, as explained above. The in-loop filters 265 can be applied to the reconstructed samples of an image to reduce distortions introduced by the encoding process. For example, a deblocking filter (DBF), bilateral filter (BIF), sample adaptive offset (SAO), and / or adaptive loop filter (ALF) can be applied to reduce encoding artifacts.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of video decoder 300 that may be employed by the system 100 (e.g., via the encoder / decoder module 130) described with respect to FIG. 1. Generally, operational features of the video decoder 300 are reciprocal to operational features of the video encoder 200. In the video decoder 300, a coded video bitstream (e.g., generated by the video encoder 200 or another video encoding device or process) is entropy-decoded by an entropy decoder 330 to obtain transform coefficients, motion vectors, and other coding parameters. Based on the coding parameters, an image partitioner 335 divides the picture accordingly. The quantized transform coefficients are de-quantized by an inverse quantizer 340 and inverse transformed by an inverse transformer 350 to decode (reconstruct) respective residual blocks. Depending on the selected prediction mode, a predicted block can be obtained at 370 from an intra predictor 360 (i.e., intra prediction) or from a motion compensator 375 (i.e., inter prediction) and may be enhanced (e.g., filtered) by a prediction enhancer 390, generating a prediction block. The reconstructed residual blocks are combined with prediction blocks (e.g. by an adder 355), resulting in reconstructed blocks.

[0029] In-loop filters 365 (e.g., DBF, BIF, SAO, and / or ALF) can be applied to the reconstructed image (formed by the reconstructed blocks), to output reconstructed (decoded) video. The filtered reconstructed image is also stored in a reference picture buffer 380 for reference by the motion compensator 375.

[0030] A post-decoding processor (not shown) can process the reconstructed video data. For example, post-decoding processing can include an inverse color model transform (e.g., conversion from YUV 4:2:0 to RGB 4:4:4) or an inverse mapping to reverse the mapping process performed by the pre-encoding processor described with respect to FIG. 2. The post-decoding processor can use metadata derived by the pre-encoding processor and / or signaled in the video bitstream.

[0031] In embodiments and examples provided herein, a broadcaster, content creator, streaming platform, content diffusing enterprise, or other content provider can estimate its Scope 3 carbon impact. Likewise, embodiments and examples herein include measuring the carbon impact of televisions or other video display devices, as well as methods for reporting this impact back to the broadcaster. Importantly, to arrive at a single number for carbon impact for a given broadcast program, the embodiments and examples provided herein describe a method for combining the estimates with the measurements.

[0032] Accordingly, the embodiments and examples presented in this disclosure are essential components useful for Scope 3 reporting of data communication systems. It would allow broadcasters and streaming platforms to assess their Scope 3 impact more effectively than could be done with existing methods.

[0033] Additionally or alternatively, a third party, such as a data collector, may receive the reports from the video display devices, and combine the estimates with the measurements. The third party or data collector may then report the carbon impact to a regulatory body. Additionally or alternatively, the display device may transmit the energy consumption report directly to the regulatory body.

[0034] Methods applicable to a content provider, such as a content diffusing enterprise, broadcaster, streaming platform, and the like, include estimating the amount of energy and the associated carbon footprint involved in broadcasting a content. Examples are such estimating are found in European Patent Application No. 24305262.8, filed February 15, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. This involves notably an estimate of the energy used by television screens that receive and display the content. It is based on globally available parameters on the installed base of televisions, and the globally known carbon intensity of electricity generation. It also involves an audience estimate. These features together make that this invention represents an enabling technology that can provide a first estimate of the Scope 3 carbon impact of such content diffusing enterprises.

[0035] The method described in prior estimating is, however, necessarily imprecise, as they are based on relatively rough estimates. However, the method can be refined by providing measurements. Examples of such measurements are found in European Patent Application No. 24315189.1, filed April 18, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In examples of such measurements, each display device measures its own energy use, and reports this information to the originator of the content that it is displaying. This allows a broadcaster or streaming service to measure its energy impact.

[0036] Further prior methods extends this notion to include carbon emissions information, based on locally available information, which may be different for each television due to its geographical location, its energy source, or both. Examples of measuring and determining the intensity of carbon emissions, based on locally available information, are found in European Patent Application No. 24306247.8, filed July 24, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Further examples of generating information regarding carbon emission caused by consumption of content are found in European Patent Application No. 24306658.6, filed October 10, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0037] It is unlikely that all televisions will be able to provide such reports in the foreseeable future. However, a more likely scenario is that some televisions will be able to report their energy, their carbon impact, or both; and that other televisions will not be able to provide such information. In this case, a broadcaster or streaming platform will receive energy and emissions reports from some televisions, but not all televisions. As a consequence, some portion of the total energy and carbon impact of a broadcaster can be measured, whereas the remainder would continue to be estimated. To achieve this, the measured energy and carbon impact of a broadcaster can be meaningfully combined with the estimated energy and carbon impact of the broadcaster. By doing so, the final estimate will be more accurate that an estimate without any added measurements. Further, this approach allows measurement techniques to be meaningfully employed by a broadcaster or streaming service.

[0038] In the following embodiments and examples, it will be assumed that an estimate of audience size M for a given television program is estimated according to examples found in European Patent Application No. 24305262.8. It is also assumed that any of the following information is available for a given frame f in a given broadcast program (as indicated by the subscripts f). Further, it can be assumed that a broadcaster has received a number of reports from various televisions that are tuned in to its programming, a number equal to M f for frame f. This approach is consistent with inventions examples in European Patent Application No. 24315189.1 and European Patent Application No. 24306247.8. In further examples, the reports may be provided for a video segment of a frame, or of time units longer than a frame, such as for multiple frames, for one or more seconds, for one or more minutes, for one or more hours, for an entire program, and the like.

[0039] Further, per frame estimates of total energy consumption E f ′ and total greenhouse gas emissions G f ′ are estimated through examples found in European Patent Application No. 24305262.8. Further, equivalent measured values for total energy consumption E f and total greenhouse gas emissions G f are determined based on the reports received by using examples found European Patent Application No. 24315189.1 and European Patent Application No. 24306247.8.

[0040] The measured total energy consumption E f for frame f will cover M f televisions, of a total of kM televisions receiving the programme. Given that there is on average more than one viewer per television, a multiplier k is introduced to convert the estimated audience M to an estimated number of televisions kM. Typically, k will be smaller than 1 to reflect the fact that a television on average serves more than one viewer.

[0041] In the hypothetical case that all televisions submit reports and that the estimates for k and M are accurate, then M f = kM.

[0042] Further, when some number of televisions submit reports, so that M f < kM, then the final estimate E f * of energy used by all televisions receiving a program can be determined as follows: E f * = kM − M f kM E f ′ + E f = M − M f k M E f ′ + E f

[0043] Likewise, the final estimate of greenhouse gas emissions G f * caused by all televisions receiving a program can be determined as follows. G f * = kM − M f kM G f ′ + G f = M − M f k M G f ′ + G f

[0044] The factor kM − M f kM is included to avoid double counting. To avoid onerous estimates as a consequence of inaccuracies in the audience measurement, this factor may be clamped as follows: max 0 kM − M f kM

[0045] In the case of streaming services, no external audience measurement is necessary, as existing technologies allow accurate measurements of the number of times a content is streamed. This means that the value of kM can be replaced with a measured number of times M total a content has been streamed. A subset of these events will have generated reports, so that M f ≤ M total . The total energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are then determined as follows: E f * = M total − M f M total E f ′ + E f G f * = M total − M f M total G f ′ + G f

[0046] A complication for streaming platforms is that content is not diffused in one go, but it is delivered one by one if and when the consumer wishes to view the content. In such cases, it may be convenient to accumulate the reporting over a set period of times. For example, the energy and carbon impact of a specific content can be evaluated once per day, once per month, week or year. In this case, the above two equations can be modified to count reports and total number of streams over the specified period of time, after which the counts are reset and reporting restarts.

[0047] As the influx of reports cannot be directly controlled, the final estimate E f ∗ may have to be evaluated multiple times. Assuming that E f ∗ has already been evaluated for a number of reports M f , and that since its evaluation a new set of reports M f 2 has been received with a total energy of E f 2 , a second evaluation of E f ∗ , labelled E f ∗ 2 , can be obtained as follows: E f ∗ 2 = kM − M f 2 kM E f ∗ + E f 2

[0048] Additionally or alternatively, reports may be provided for audio content, alternative reality (AR) content, virtual reality (VR) content, mixed reality content, game downloads, real-time game data, or other data used by devices. Additionally or alternatively, reports may be provided for machine-to-machine data, such as machine-to-machine video data. The reports may be combined with the reports regarding video content or may be sent by the devices separately.

[0049] FIG. 4 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an example of a content provider combining measured and estimated energy consumption. As shown in flowchart diagram 400, a content provider transmits a video segment to a first set of display devices and a second set of display devices 420. The content provider receives energy consumption reports from the first set of display devices, each energy consumption report including energy consumption for processing and display of the video segment by a respective display device of the first set of display devices 440. Additionally or alternatively, each energy consumption report includes energy consumption for processing of the video segment. Additionally or alternatively, each energy consumption report includes energy consumption for display of the video segment. Further, the content provider aggregates the energy consumption reports for the first set of display devices to obtain a first total energy consumption 460. Also, the content provider estimates a second total energy consumption for the second set of display devices 470. Moreover, the content provider combines the first total energy consumption and the second total energy consumption into a final total energy consumption 480.

[0050] Additionally or alternatively, the content provider reports the final total energy consumption to a regulatory agency. Additionally or alternatively, the content provider publicly reports the final total energy consumption. Additionally or alternatively, the first set of display devices includes one display device. Additionally or alternatively, the first set of display devices includes multiple display devices. Additionally or alternatively, the second set of display devices includes one display device. Additionally or alternatively, the second set of display devices includes multiple display devices. Additionally or alternatively, the display device transmits the energy consumption report to a third party. Additionally or alternatively, the third party then reports the energy consumption to a regulatory body. Additionally or alternatively, the display device transmits the energy consumption report to the regulatory body. Additionally or alternatively, the report may be provided to an end user of the display device. Additionally or alternatively, the report may be combined with energy consumption information from data centers, content delivery networks (CDNs), network providers, and others who expend energy serving the video segment to the end user.

[0051] FIG. 5 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an example of a display device generating and transmitting an energy consumption report. As shown in flowchart diagram 500, a display device receives a video segment from a content provider 520. Further, the display device determines energy consumed by the display device to display the video segment 540. Also, the display device generates an energy consumption report based on the determined energy consumed by the display device 560. Moreover, the display device transmits the energy consumption report to the content provider 580.

[0052] FIG. 6 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an example of a content provider combining measured and estimated emissions. As shown in flowchart diagram 600, a content provider transmits a video segment to a first set of display devices and a second set of display devices 620. Further, the content provider receives emissions reports from the first set of display devices, each emissions report including emissions for processing and display of the video segment by a respective display device of the first set of display devices 640. Additionally or alternatively, each emissions report includes emissions for processing of the video segment. Additionally or alternatively, each emissions report includes emissions for display of the video segment. Also, the content provider aggregates the emissions reports for the first set of display devices to obtain a first total emissions 660. In addition, the content provider estimates a second total emissions for the second set of display devices 670. Moreover, the content provider combines the first total emissions and the second total emissions into a final total emissions 680.

[0053] Additionally or alternatively, the content provider reports the final total emissions to a regulatory agency. Additionally or alternatively, the content provider publicly reports the final total emissions. Additionally or alternatively, the first set of display devices includes one display device. Additionally or alternatively, the first set of display devices includes multiple display devices. Additionally or alternatively, the second set of display devices includes one display device. Additionally or alternatively, the second set of display devices includes multiple display devices. Additionally or alternatively, the display device transmits the emissions report to a third party. Additionally or alternatively, the third party then reports the emissions to a regulatory body. Additionally or alternatively, the display device transmits the emissions report to the regulatory body. Additionally or alternatively, the report may be provided to an end user of the display device. Additionally or alternatively, the report may be combined with emissions information from data centers, CDNs, network providers, and others who produce, directly or indirectly, emissions serving the video segment to the end user.

[0054] FIG. 7 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an example of a display device generating and transmitting an emissions report. As shown in flowchart diagram 700, a display device receives a video segment from a content provider 720. Further, the display device determines energy consumed by the display device to display the video segment 740. In addition, the display device generates an energy consumption report based on the determined energy consumed by the display device 760. Moreover, the display device transmits the energy consumption report to the content provider 780.

[0055] Additionally or alternatively, the display devices includes an antenna configured to receive a signal, the signal including the video segment. Further, the display devices includes a band limiter to limit the received signal to a band of frequencies that includes the video segment. Moreover, the display devices includes a display configured to display an output representation of the video segment.

[0056] One or more embodiments provide a computer program comprising instructions which when executed by one or more processors cause such processors to perform the encoding and / or decoding methods according to any of the embodiments described above. One or more embodiments also provide a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions for encoding or decoding video data according to the methods described above.

[0057] One or more embodiments provide a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon video data generated according to the methods described above. One or more embodiments also provide a method and apparatus for transmitting or receiving video data generated according to the methods described above.

[0058] The embodiments described herein may be implemented in, for example, a method or a process, an apparatus, a software program, a data stream, or a signal. Even if only discussed in the context of a single form of implementation (e.g., as a method), the implementation of such features may also be implemented in other forms. An apparatus may be implemented in, for example, appropriate hardware, software, and firmware. Corresponding methods may be implemented in, for example, a processor.

[0059] Various methods and aspects described herein can be used to modify one or more modules. For example, the intra predictors and inter predictors described with respect to FIGs. 2 and 3 may be implemented as one or more modules and modified according to the various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0060] The various embodiments described herein provide at least the following features, devices or aspects, alone or on any combination, across various claim categories and types: i. Encoding, into coded video data, syntax elements that can enable the decoder to decode the coded video data, according to any of the embodiments described herein. ii. A bitstream that includes one or more of the described syntax elements, or variations thereof, whether transmitted, stored, or otherwise made available. iii. Creating, transmitting, receiving, and / or decoding of the bitstream. iv. An electronic device (e.g., TV, set-top box, mobile phone, tablet, etc.) that tunes a channel to receive a bitstream or that receives such bitstream over the air. The electronic device decodes the syntax elements from the bitstream, and, optionally, displays (e.g., via a monitor or other type of display) a resulting image.

[0061] Various methods are described herein, and such methods comprise one or more steps or actions for achieving the described method. Unless a specific order of steps or actions is required for the proper operation of the method, the order and / or use of specific steps and / or actions may be modified or combined. Additionally, terms such as "first", "second", etc. may be used in various embodiments to modify an element, component, step, operation, etc., for example, a "first decoding" and a "second decoding". Use of such terms does not imply an order to the operations unless specifically required.

[0062] The present disclosure may refer to "determining" various pieces of information. Determining information may include one or more of, for example, estimating, calculating, predicting, or retrieving (e.g., from memory) the information.

[0063] The present disclosure may refer to "accessing" various pieces of information. Accessing information may include one or more of, for example, receiving, retrieving (e.g., from memory), storing, moving, copying, calculating, determining, predicting, or estimating the information. Similarly, the present disclosure may refer to "receiving" various pieces of information. Receiving information may include one or more of, for example, accessing or retrieving (e.g., from memory) the information.

[0064] "Decoding," as used herein, encompasses all or part of the processes performed, for example, on an encoded sequence to produce an output suitable for display. In some embodiments, such processes include one or more of the processes typically performed by a decoder, for example, entropy decoding, inverse quantization, etc. Whether the phrase "decoding process" is intended to refer to a subset of operations or generally to the broader decoding process will be clear based on the context of the specific description and will be well understood by those skilled in the art.

[0065] "Encoding," as used herein, encompasses all or part of the processes performed, for example, on input video data an order to produce an encoded bitstream. Additionally, the terms "reconstructed" and "decoded" may be used interchangeably, the terms "encoded" or "coded" may be used interchangeably, the terms "image," "picture," "sub-picture," "slice," and "frame" may be used interchangeably, and the terms "pixel" and "sample" may be used interchangeably.

[0066] The present disclosure refers to information, for example, syntax elements, that can be transmitted or stored. Such information can be packaged or arranged in a variety of manners, including for example manners common in video standards such as putting the information into a sequence parameter set (SPS), a picture parameter set (PPS), a network abstraction layer (NAL) unit, a header (for example, a NAL unit header, or a slice header), or an SEI message. Other manners are also available, including, for example, manners that are common for system level or application-level standards such as signaling the information into one or more of the following: i. session description protocol (SDP), for example as described in RFCs and / or used in conjunction with real-time transport protocol (RTP) transmission. ii. hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) live Streaming (HLS) manifest transmitted over HTTP. iii. dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH) media presentation description (MPD) descriptors, for example as used in DASH and transmitted over HTTP. iv. RTP header extensions, for example as used during RTP streaming. v. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) base media file format, for example, as used in Omnidirectional MediA Format (OMAF).

[0067] As used herein, "signal" and "signaling" refer to, among other things, indicating information to a decoder. For example, in some embodiments the encoder signals a quantization matrix for de-quantization, whereby the same parameter is used for both encoding and decoding. In some embodiments, the signaling may be explicit, such that information (e.g., a particular parameter) is transmitted to the decoder enabling the decoder to use the same particular parameter. In some embodiments, the signaling may be implicit, in that the information (e.g., a particular parameter) is indicated based on other information at or transmitted to the decoder or derived or selected by the decoder based on information available at the decoder. By not transmitting the information (e.g., the particular parameter), a bit savings is thus realized in some embodiments. In some embodiments, one or more syntax elements or flags are used to signal information to a decoder. While the preceding relates to the verb form of the word "signal", the word "signal" can also be used herein as a noun.

[0068] In some embodiments, signals may be produced that are formatted to carry information that may be stored or transmitted. Such information may include, for example, instructions for performing a method, or data produced by one of the described implementations (e.g., a bitstream of a described embodiment). Such a signal may be formatted, for example, as an electromagnetic wave or as a baseband signal. The formatting may include, for example, encoding a data stream and modulating a carrier with the encoded data stream. The information that the signal carries may be, for example, analog or digital information. The signal may be transmitted over a variety of different wired or wireless links and may be stored on a processor-readable medium.

[0069] It is to be understood that use of any of the following " / ", "and / or", and "at least one of" is intended to encompass all possible selections of listed items, taken either individually or in any combination thereof.

[0070] While specific embodiments have been described in the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that embodiments described herein are examples only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present disclosure or the following claims. Although features and elements are described herein in particular combinations, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that such features or elements may be used alone or in any combination with the other features and elements. It is understood, therefore, that the overall teachings of the present disclosure are not limited to the particular embodiments, implementations, and examples disclosed herein, but are intended to cover variations, modifications, and alternatives as defined by the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.

[0071] Further, although features and elements are described above in particular combinations, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that each feature or element can be used alone or in any combination with the other features and elements. In addition, the methods described herein may be implemented in a computer program, computer program product, software, or firmware incorporated in a computer-readable medium for execution by a computer or processor. Examples of computer-readable media include electronic signals (transmitted over wired or wireless connections) and computer-readable storage media. Examples of computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a register, cache memory, semiconductor memory devices, magnetic media such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical media, and optical media such as CD-ROM disks, and digital versatile disks (DVDs). A processor in association with software may be used to implement a radio frequency transceiver for use in a WTRU, UE, terminal, base station, RNC, or any host computer.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0007]In describing the various embodiments of the present disclosure, certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and should not be considered as limiting such embodiments. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are employed for designating the same elements throughout the several figures and the present description.

[0008]Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a block diagram illustrating an example system 100 in which embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. The system 100 may be an electronic device including, for example, a personal computer, laptop computer, mobile phone, tablet computer, multimedia set-top box, digital television receiver, personal video recording system, connected home appliance, vehicle control and / or entertainment system, and server. One or more elements of the system 100, singly or in combination, may be implemented as an integrated circuit (IC), multiple ICs, and / or discrete components. For example, in one e...

BACKGROUND

[0001] The examples and embodiments described herein relate to measuring and estimating emissions and energy consumption by devices displaying content. More specifically, the content is video content, and the emissions and energy consumption by an audience watching the content is totaled by an enterprise that provides the content or by a third party.

[0002] A greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory is a list of emission sources and the associated emissions quantified using standardized methods. Organizations develop GHG inventories for a variety of reasons. A GHG inventory, and related reporting, may include emissions categorized under three scopes. Scope 1 are direct GHG emissions that occur from sources that are controlled or owned by an organization (for example, emissions associated with fuel combustion in boilers, furnaces, vehicles). Scope 2 emissions are indirect GHG emissions associated with the purchase of electricity, steam, heat, or cooling. Although Scope 2 emissions physically occur at the facility where they are generated, they are accounted for in an organization's GHG inventory because they are a result of the organization's energy use.

[0003] Scope 3 emissions are the result of activities from assets not owned or controlled by the reporting organization or enterprise, but that the organization indirectly affects in its value chain. An organization's value chain consists of both its upstream and downstream activities. Scope 3 emissions, also referred to as value chain emissions, may often represent the majority of an organization's total GHG emissions.SUMMARY

[0004] Examples are provided herein of combining measurements and estimates for carbon emission reporting. In an example, a content provider transmits a video segment to a first set of display devices and a second set of display devices. The content provider receives energy consumption reports from the first set of display devices, each energy consumption report including energy consumption for processing and display of the video segment by a respective display device of the first set of display devices. Further, the content provider aggregates the energy consumption reports for the first set of display devices to obtain a first total energy consumption. Also, the content provider estimates a second total energy consumption for the second set of display devices. Moreover, the content provider combines the first total energy consumption and the second total energy consumption into a final total energy consumption.

[0005] In a further example, a display device receives a video segment from a content provider. Further, the display device determines energy consumed by the display device to display the video segment. Also, the display device generates an energy consumption report based on the determined energy consumed by the display device. Moreover, the display device transmits the energy consumption report to the content provider. Additionally or alternatively, the display device transmits the energy consumption report to a data collector. Additionally or alternatively, the data collector then reports the energy consumption to a regulatory body. Additionally or alternatively, the display device transmits the energy consumption report to the regulatory body.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The following detailed description will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which there are shown examples of one or more of the multiple embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood, however, that the embodiments described herein are not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings. In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example system according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example video encoder according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example video decoder according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is flowchart diagram illustrating an example of a content provider combining measured and estimated energy consumption; FIG. 5 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an example of a display device generating and transmitting an energy consumption report; FIG. 6 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an example of a content provider combining measured and estimated emissions; and FIG. 7 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an example of a display device generating and transmitting an emissions report. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0007] In describing the various embodiments of the present disclosure, certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and should not be considered as limiting such embodiments. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are employed for designating the same elements throughout the several figures and the present description.

[0008] Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a block diagram illustrating an example system 100 in which embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. The system 100 may be an electronic device including, for example, a personal computer, laptop computer, mobile phone, tablet computer, multimedia set-top box, digital television receiver, personal video recording system, connected home appliance, vehicle control and / or entertainment system, and server. One or more elements of the system 100, singly or in combination, may be implemented as an integrated circuit (IC), multiple ICs, and / or discrete components. For example, in one embodiment, the processing, encoding and / or decoding elements of system 100 are distributed across multiple ICs and / or discrete components. In some embodiments, the system 100 is communicatively coupled to and / or in communication with other systems or devices, via, for example, a communications bus or dedicated input / output ports.

[0009] One or more of the elements of system 100 may be provided within an integrated housing, with such elements being interconnected and able to transmit data therebetween using any suitable connection arrangement 115 generally known in the art, including, for example, an internal bus (e.g., I2C bus), wiring, and printed circuit boards.

[0010] The system 100 includes at least one processor 110 configured to execute instructions for implementing the embodiments described herein, including signal / data coding and processing. The processor 110 may be a general-purpose processor or microprocessor, digital signal processor (DSP), one or more microprocessors in association with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), a state machine, and the like. The processor 110 may include at least one central processing unit (CPU), embedded memory, input and output interfaces, and other circuitries.

[0011] The system 100 includes at least one memory 120, for example, a volatile memory device and / or a non-volatile memory device. The system 100 includes a storage device 140, that may be or include non-volatile memory and / or dynamic volatile memory, including EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, DDR, flash, magnetic disk drives, solid state drives (SSD) and / or optical disk drives. The storage device 140 may be or include, for example, an internal storage device, an attached storage device, and / or a network accessible storage device. Although shown separately, the memory 120 and the storage device 140 may be collocated, integrated together, or otherwise combined.

[0012] The system 100 includes an encoder / decoder module 130 configured to process video data and to provide encoded video data or decoded video data. The encoder / decoder module 130 may include one or more processors and / or memory (not shown). Although FIG. 1 depicts the encoder / decoder module 130 as a separate element of system 100, it will be understood that the processor 110 and the encoder / decoder module 130 may be collocated and / or integrated together as a combination of hardware and / or software, e.g., in an electronic package or chip. The encoder / decoder module 130 may be or include one or more modules that may be included in one or more separate devices that perform encoding and / or decoding functions.

[0013] Instructions for execution by the processor 110 and / or the encoder / decoder module 130 may be stored in the storage device 140 and subsequently loaded into memory 120 for execution by the processor 110. In some embodiments, one or more of processor 110, memory 120, storage device 140, and encoder / decoder module 130 may store one or more items when performing the processes disclosed herein. Such items may include input video, decoded video or portions thereof, bitstreams, matrices, variables, operational logic, and intermediate and / or final results from processing of equations, formulas, or operations.

[0014] In some embodiments, the memory of the processor 110 and / or the encoder / decoder module 130 is used to store instructions and / or provide working memory for video encoding and decoding functions. In some embodiments, memory external to the processor 110 and / or the encoder / decoder module 130 (e.g., the memory 120 and / or the storage device 140) is used for one or more of these functions and / or, for example, to store the operating system of a television.

[0015] The system 100 may obtain or receive information via one or more input devices, interfaces, and / or ports as indicated in input block 105. Examples of the input devices include a radio frequency (RF) device for transmitting and / or receiving RF signals over various media, for example, RF signals received over the air from a broadcaster; component video (COMP) inputs; a Universal Serial Bus (USB) input; and / or a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) input. Other examples include composite video input (not shown). In some embodiments, the input devices are associated with respective input processing elements, e.g., those generally known in the art. For example, the RF device may be associated with elements suitable for selecting a desired frequency (e.g., selecting or band-limiting a signal) or performing error correction on the signal. The USB and / or HDMI inputs may include respective interface processors and transceivers (or transmitters and receivers) for coupling the system 100 to other devices via USB and / or HDMI ports or connections. Various forms of input processing may be implemented, for example, by and / or within a separate input processing device or the processor 110.

[0016] The system 100 includes a communication interface 150 that enables wired and / or wireless communication with other devices, e.g., via a communication channel 190. The communication interface 150 may include one or more transceivers, modems, network cards and the like. The communication channel 190 may be or include wired and / or wireless mediums.

[0017] In some embodiments, data may be streamed to the system 100 via wired and / or wireless networks. Examples of such wireless networks include cellular, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (e.g., IEEE 802.11) networks. The wired and / or wireless networks may include one or more base stations (e.g., cellular base stations, access points, etc.), and / or user equipment (e.g. cellular user equipment, stations, etc.), and / or other network elements that communicate with the system 100 via the communication interface 150 and communication channel 190, whereby the system 100 may obtain data streamed from streaming applications (e.g., OTT services) via various networks, including the Internet. In some embodiments, data is streamed to the system 100 via the input block 105 (e.g., using a set-top box that delivers data via the HDMI connection or the RF connection). In some embodiments, data is received by the system 100 in a non-streaming manner.

[0018] The system 100 may provide one or more output signals to one or more output devices. The output devices may include a display device 165 (e.g., touchscreen display, monitor, etc.), an audio device 175 (e.g., speakers), and other peripheral devices 185, including, for example, a stand-alone DVR, a disk player, a stereo system, a lighting system, and other devices that provide a function based on the output of the system 100. The display device 165 can be for a television, tablet, laptop, mobile phone, head-mounted display, or other device. In some embodiments, control signals are communicated between the system 100 and the display device 165, the audio device 175, and / or the peripheral devices 185, enabling device-to-device control with or without user intervention. The output devices may couple to and / or communicate with the system 100 via dedicated connections via respective display, audio, and peripheral interfaces 160, 170, 180. Alternatively, the output devices may couple to and / or communicate with the system 100 via the communication channel 190 and the communication interface 150.

[0019] The display device 165 and the audio device 175 may be collocated, integrated, or otherwise combined with the other components of system 100 in a single unit (e.g., a television). Alternatively, the display device 165 and the audio device 175 may be separate from one or more of the other components of the system 100. In embodiments in which the display device 165 and the audio device 175 are external components, the output signals may be provided via dedicated outputs and / or connections, including, for example, HDMI ports, USB ports, or COMP outputs.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example video encoder 200 that may be employed by the system 100 (e.g., via the encoder / decoder module 130) described with respect to FIG. 1. The video encoder 200 may be an encoder that employs video compression technologies, standards, specification, or protocols, including Advanced Video Coding (AVC, H.264 / MPEG-4), High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC, H.265), Versatile Video Coding (WC, H.266), Essential Video Coding (EVC, MPEG-5), AOMedia Video 1 (AV1), VP9, or the Enhanced Compression Model (ECM), and variations or improvements thereof. Those skilled in the art will understand that the various embodiments described herein are not limited to a specific standard and can be applied to other standards and recommendations, as well as extensions thereof.

[0021] Some embodiments disclosed herein are described with reference to a coding unit (CU) or block of a video frame (or a video image or picture) to which coding tools may be applied by the video encoder 200 and / or by the video decoder 300 (described below with reference to FIG. 3). Generally, embodiments described herein may be applied to a video region formed by a video partition of any shape or size. The video region may be a video slice, a coding tree unit (CTU), or a CU (to which inter prediction or intra prediction can be applied), or a partition thereof, each of which can include samples of a luma component, Y, and chroma components, U and V (also denoted herein by C).

[0022] Referring generally to FIG. 2 and the video encoder 200, video data (e.g., one or more video frames) is encoded generally as described below. Prior to encoding, video data may be pre-processed by a precoding processor (not shown). The pre-processing may include, for example, applying a color model transform to the input color components of the input video data (e.g., conversion from RGB 4:4:4 to YUV 4:2:0) or mapping the color components of the input video data to obtain a signal distribution that is more resilient to compression (for instance, applying a histogram equalizer and / or a denoising filter to one or more of the video data's color components). The pre-processing may include associating metadata (for example, a supplemental enhancement information (SEI) message) with the video data that can be attached to a coded video bitstream. After pre-processing, if any, an image (frame) to be encoded is partitioned into CUs (blocks) by an image partitioner 202.

[0023] In general, a CU includes a luma block and associated chroma blocks. As such, functions of the video encoder 200 described herein as applied to a CU refer generally to the luma block and the respective chroma blocks. The CUs may be encoded using an intra prediction mode performed by an intra predictor 260. In intra prediction mode, the content of a CU in a frame is predicted based on content from one or more other CUs of the same frame (or region), using reconstructed blocks of other CUs output from an adder 255. The CUs may also or alternatively be encoded using an inter prediction mode, in which motion estimation and motion compensation are performed by a motion estimator 275 and a motion compensator 270, respectively. In inter prediction mode, the content of a CU in a frame is predicted based on content from one or more reconstructed areas of reference frames, available from a reference picture buffer 280.

[0024] The video encoder 200 selects or otherwise determines at 205 which prediction mode (intra prediction mode and / or inter prediction mode) to use for encoding a CU. The selected prediction mode may be enhanced (e.g., filtered) by a prediction enhancer 285. Based on the selected mode, a prediction for the CU is generated. A residual block is determined based on the prediction (i.e., prediction block, predicted CU) and the input CU. In some embodiments, such determination is made by a subtractor 210.

[0025] The residual block or a partition thereof (e.g., a transform block) is transformed into transform coefficients by a transformer 220. The transform coefficients are quantized by a quantizer 230. An entropy encoder 245 performs entropy encoding of the quantized transform coefficients and coding parameters (e.g., syntax elements including motion vectors and other control data) to form a bitstream of coded video data.

[0026] In addition to coding the original video blocks as described herein, the video encoder 200 reconstructs the coded blocks to provide references for future predictions. Thus, quantized transform coefficients (from the quantizer 230) are de-quantized by an inverse quantizer 240, and inverse transformed by an inverse transformer 250, to reconstruct (decode) the residual blocks. The reconstructed residual blocks and prediction blocks are combined (e.g., by the adder 255) to form reconstructed blocks. Thus, the video encoder 200 performs decoding operations through which the encoded images (frames) are reconstructed.

[0027] In-loop filters 265 may be applied to the reconstructed image (formed by the reconstructed blocks). The filtered reconstructed image(s) are stored in the reference picture buffer 280 and used by the motion estimator 275 and motion compensator 270, as explained above. The in-loop filters 265 can be applied to the reconstructed samples of an image to reduce distortions introduced by the encoding process. For example, a deblocking filter (DBF), bilateral filter (BIF), sample adaptive offset (SAO), and / or adaptive loop filter (ALF) can be applied to reduce encoding artifacts.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of video decoder 300 that may be employed by the system 100 (e.g., via the encoder / decoder module 130) described with respect to FIG. 1. Generally, operational features of the video decoder 300 are reciprocal to operational features of the video encoder 200. In the video decoder 300, a coded video bitstream (e.g., generated by the video encoder 200 or another video encoding device or process) is entropy-decoded by an entropy decoder 330 to obtain transform coefficients, motion vectors, and other coding parameters. Based on the coding parameters, an image partitioner 335 divides the picture accordingly. The quantized transform coefficients are de-quantized by an inverse quantizer 340 and inverse transformed by an inverse transformer 350 to decode (reconstruct) respective residual blocks. Depending on the selected prediction mode, a predicted block can be obtained at 370 from an intra predictor 360 (i.e., intra prediction) or from a motion compensator 375 (i.e., inter prediction) and may be enhanced (e.g., filtered) by a prediction enhancer 390, generating a prediction block. The reconstructed residual blocks are combined with prediction blocks (e.g. by an adder 355), resulting in reconstructed blocks.

[0029] In-loop filters 365 (e.g., DBF, BIF, SAO, and / or ALF) can be applied to the reconstructed image (formed by the reconstructed blocks), to output reconstructed (decoded) video. The filtered reconstructed image is also stored in a reference picture buffer 380 for reference by the motion compensator 375.

[0030] A post-decoding processor (not shown) can process the reconstructed video data. For example, post-decoding processing can include an inverse color model transform (e.g., conversion from YUV 4:2:0 to RGB 4:4:4) or an inverse mapping to reverse the mapping process performed by the pre-encoding processor described with respect to FIG. 2. The post-decoding processor can use metadata derived by the pre-encoding processor and / or signaled in the video bitstream.

[0031] In embodiments and examples provided herein, a broadcaster, content creator, streaming platform, content diffusing enterprise, or other content provider can estimate its Scope 3 carbon impact. Likewise, embodiments and examples herein include measuring the carbon impact of televisions or other video display devices, as well as methods for reporting this impact back to the broadcaster. Importantly, to arrive at a single number for carbon impact for a given broadcast program, the embodiments and examples provided herein describe a method for combining the estimates with the measurements.

[0032] Accordingly, the embodiments and examples presented in this disclosure are essential components useful for Scope 3 reporting of data communication systems. It would allow broadcasters and streaming platforms to assess their Scope 3 impact more effectively than could be done with existing methods.

[0033] Additionally or alternatively, a third party, such as a data collector, may receive the reports from the video display devices, and combine the estimates with the measurements. The third party or data collector may then report the carbon impact to a regulatory body. Additionally or alternatively, the display device may transmit the energy consumption report directly to the regulatory body.

[0034] Methods applicable to a content provider, such as a content diffusing enterprise, broadcaster, streaming platform, and the like, include estimating the amount of energy and the associated carbon footprint involved in broadcasting a content. Examples are such estimating are found in European Patent Application No. 24305262.8, filed February 15, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. This involves notably an estimate of the energy used by television screens that receive and display the content. It is based on globally available parameters on the installed base of televisions, and the globally known carbon intensity of electricity generation. It also involves an audience estimate. These features together make that this invention represents an enabling technology that can provide a first estimate of the Scope 3 carbon impact of such content diffusing enterprises.

[0035] The method described in prior estimating is, however, necessarily imprecise, as they are based on relatively rough estimates. However, the method can be refined by providing measurements. Examples of such measurements are found in European Patent Application No. 24315189.1, filed April 18, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In examples of such measurements, each display device measures its own energy use, and reports this information to the originator of the content that it is displaying. This allows a broadcaster or streaming service to measure its energy impact.

[0036] Further prior methods extends this notion to include carbon emissions information, based on locally available information, which may be different for each television due to its geographical location, its energy source, or both. Examples of measuring and determining the intensity of carbon emissions, based on locally available information, are found in European Patent Application No. 24306247.8, filed July 24, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Further examples of generating information regarding carbon emission caused by consumption of content are found in European Patent Application No. 24306658.6, filed October 10, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0037] It is unlikely that all televisions will be able to provide such reports in the foreseeable future. However, a more likely scenario is that some televisions will be able to report their energy, their carbon impact, or both; and that other televisions will not be able to provide such information. In this case, a broadcaster or streaming platform will receive energy and emissions reports from some televisions, but not all televisions. As a consequence, some portion of the total energy and carbon impact of a broadcaster can be measured, whereas the remainder would continue to be estimated. To achieve this, the measured energy and carbon impact of a broadcaster can be meaningfully combined with the estimated energy and carbon impact of the broadcaster. By doing so, the final estimate will be more accurate that an estimate without any added measurements. Further, this approach allows measurement techniques to be meaningfully employed by a broadcaster or streaming service.

[0038] In the following embodiments and examples, it will be assumed that an estimate of audience size M for a given television program is estimated according to examples found in European Patent Application No. 24305262.8. It is also assumed that any of the following information is available for a given frame f in a given broadcast program (as indicated by the subscripts f). Further, it can be assumed that a broadcaster has received a number of reports from various televisions that are tuned in to its programming, a number equal to M f for frame f. This approach is consistent with inventions examples in European Patent Application No. 24315189.1 and European Patent Application No. 24306247.8. In further examples, the reports may be provided for a video segment of a frame, or of time units longer than a frame, such as for multiple frames, for one or more seconds, for one or more minutes, for one or more hours, for an entire program, and the like.

[0039] Further, per frame estimates of total energy consumption E f ′ and total greenhouse gas emissions G f ′ are estimated through examples found in European Patent Application No. 24305262.8. Further, equivalent measured values for total energy consumption E f and total greenhouse gas emissions G f are determined based on the reports received by using examples found European Patent Application No. 24315189.1 and European Patent Application No. 24306247.8.

[0040] The measured total energy consumption E f for frame f will cover M f televisions, of a total of kM televisions receiving the programme. Given that there is on average more than one viewer per television, a multiplier k is introduced to convert the estimated audience M to an estimated number of televisions kM. Typically, k will be smaller than 1 to reflect the fact that a television on average serves more than one viewer.

[0041] In the hypothetical case that all televisions submit reports and that the estimates for k and M are accurate, then M f = kM.

[0042] Further, when some number of televisions submit reports, so that M f < kM, then the final estimate E f * of energy used by all televisions receiving a program can be determined as follows: E f * = kM − M f kM E f ′ + E f = M − M f k M E f ′ + E f

[0043] Likewise, the final estimate of greenhouse gas emissions G f * caused by all televisions receiving a program can be determined as follows. G f * = kM − M f kM G f ′ + G f = M − M f k M G f ′ + G f

[0044] The factor kM − M f kM is included to avoid double counting. To avoid onerous estimates as a consequence of inaccuracies in the audience measurement, this factor may be clamped as follows: max 0 kM − M f kM

[0045] In the case of streaming services, no external audience measurement is necessary, as existing technologies allow accurate measurements of the number of times a content is streamed. This means that the value of kM can be replaced with a measured number of times M total a content has been streamed. A subset of these events will have generated reports, so that M f ≤ M total . The total energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are then determined as follows: E f * = M total − M f M total E f ′ + E f G f * = M total − M f M total G f ′ + G f

[0046] A complication for streaming platforms is that content is not diffused in one go, but it is delivered one by one if and when the consumer wishes to view the content. In such cases, it may be convenient to accumulate the reporting over a set period of times. For example, the energy and carbon impact of a specific content can be evaluated once per day, once per month, week or year. In this case, the above two equations can be modified to count reports and total number of streams over the specified period of time, after which the counts are reset and reporting restarts.

[0047] As the influx of reports cannot be directly controlled, the final estimate E f ∗ may have to be evaluated multiple times. Assuming that E f ∗ has already been evaluated for a number of reports M f , and that since its evaluation a new set of reports M f 2 has been received with a total energy of E f 2 , a second evaluation of E f ∗ , labelled E f ∗ 2 , can be obtained as follows: E f ∗ 2 = kM − M f 2 kM E f ∗ + E f 2

[0048] Additionally or alternatively, reports may be provided for audio content, alternative reality (AR) content, virtual reality (VR) content, mixed reality content, game downloads, real-time game data, or other data used by devices. Additionally or alternatively, reports may be provided for machine-to-machine data, such as machine-to-machine video data. The reports may be combined with the reports regarding video content or may be sent by the devices separately.

[0049] FIG. 4 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an example of a content provider combining measured and estimated energy consumption. As shown in flowchart diagram 400, a content provider transmits a video segment to a first set of display devices and a second set of display devices 420. The content provider receives energy consumption reports from the first set of display devices, each energy consumption report including energy consumption for processing and display of the video segment by a respective display device of the first set of display devices 440. Additionally or alternatively, each energy consumption report includes energy consumption for processing of the video segment. Additionally or alternatively, each energy consumption report includes energy consumption for display of the video segment. Further, the content provider aggregates the energy consumption reports for the first set of display devices to obtain a first total energy consumption 460. Also, the content provider estimates a second total energy consumption for the second set of display devices 470. Moreover, the content provider combines the first total energy consumption and the second total energy consumption into a final total energy consumption 480.

[0050] Additionally or alternatively, the content provider reports the final total energy consumption to a regulatory agency. Additionally or alternatively, the content provider publicly reports the final total energy consumption. Additionally or alternatively, the first set of display devices includes one display device. Additionally or alternatively, the first set of display devices includes multiple display devices. Additionally or alternatively, the second set of display devices includes one display device. Additionally or alternatively, the second set of display devices includes multiple display devices. Additionally or alternatively, the display device transmits the energy consumption report to a third party. Additionally or alternatively, the third party then reports the energy consumption to a regulatory body. Additionally or alternatively, the display device transmits the energy consumption report to the regulatory body. Additionally or alternatively, the report may be provided to an end user of the display device. Additionally or alternatively, the report may be combined with energy consumption information from data centers, content delivery networks (CDNs), network providers, and others who expend energy serving the video segment to the end user.

[0051] FIG. 5 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an example of a display device generating and transmitting an energy consumption report. As shown in flowchart diagram 500, a display device receives a video segment from a content provider 520. Further, the display device determines energy consumed by the display device to display the video segment 540. Also, the display device generates an energy consumption report based on the determined energy consumed by the display device 560. Moreover, the display device transmits the energy consumption report to the content provider 580.

[0052] FIG. 6 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an example of a content provider combining measured and estimated emissions. As shown in flowchart diagram 600, a content provider transmits a video segment to a first set of display devices and a second set of display devices 620. Further, the content provider receives emissions reports from the first set of display devices, each emissions report including emissions for processing and display of the video segment by a respective display device of the first set of display devices 640. Additionally or alternatively, each emissions report includes emissions for processing of the video segment. Additionally or alternatively, each emissions report includes emissions for display of the video segment. Also, the content provider aggregates the emissions reports for the first set of display devices to obtain a first total emissions 660. In addition, the content provider estimates a second total emissions for the second set of display devices 670. Moreover, the content provider combines the first total emissions and the second total emissions into a final total emissions 680.

[0053] Additionally or alternatively, the content provider reports the final total emissions to a regulatory agency. Additionally or alternatively, the content provider publicly reports the final total emissions. Additionally or alternatively, the first set of display devices includes one display device. Additionally or alternatively, the first set of display devices includes multiple display devices. Additionally or alternatively, the second set of display devices includes one display device. Additionally or alternatively, the second set of display devices includes multiple display devices. Additionally or alternatively, the display device transmits the emissions report to a third party. Additionally or alternatively, the third party then reports the emissions to a regulatory body. Additionally or alternatively, the display device transmits the emissions report to the regulatory body. Additionally or alternatively, the report may be provided to an end user of the display device. Additionally or alternatively, the report may be combined with emissions information from data centers, CDNs, network providers, and others who produce, directly or indirectly, emissions serving the video segment to the end user.

[0054] FIG. 7 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an example of a display device generating and transmitting an emissions report. As shown in flowchart diagram 700, a display device receives a video segment from a content provider 720. Further, the display device determines energy consumed by the display device to display the video segment 740. In addition, the display device generates an energy consumption report based on the determined energy consumed by the display device 760. Moreover, the display device transmits the energy consumption report to the content provider 780.

[0055] Additionally or alternatively, the display devices includes an antenna configured to receive a signal, the signal including the video segment. Further, the display devices includes a band limiter to limit the received signal to a band of frequencies that includes the video segment. Moreover, the display devices includes a display configured to display an output representation of the video segment.

[0056] One or more embodiments provide a computer program comprising instructions which when executed by one or more processors cause such processors to perform the encoding and / or decoding methods according to any of the embodiments described above. One or more embodiments also provide a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions for encoding or decoding video data according to the methods described above.

[0057] One or more embodiments provide a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon video data generated according to the methods described above. One or more embodiments also provide a method and apparatus for transmitting or receiving video data generated according to the methods described above.

[0058] The embodiments described herein may be implemented in, for example, a method or a process, an apparatus, a software program, a data stream, or a signal. Even if only discussed in the context of a single form of implementation (e.g., as a method), the implementation of such features may also be implemented in other forms. An apparatus may be implemented in, for example, appropriate hardware, software, and firmware. Corresponding methods may be implemented in, for example, a processor.

[0059] Various methods and aspects described herein can be used to modify one or more modules. For example, the intra predictors and inter predictors described with respect to FIGs. 2 and 3 may be implemented as one or more modules and modified according to the various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0060] The various embodiments described herein provide at least the following features, devices or aspects, alone or on any combination, across various claim categories and types: i. Encoding, into coded video data, syntax elements that can enable the decoder to decode the coded video data, according to any of the embodiments described herein. ii. A bitstream that includes one or more of the described syntax elements, or variations thereof, whether transmitted, stored, or otherwise made available. iii. Creating, transmitting, receiving, and / or decoding of the bitstream. iv. An electronic device (e.g., TV, set-top box, mobile phone, tablet, etc.) that tunes a channel to receive a bitstream or that receives such bitstream over the air. The electronic device decodes the syntax elements from the bitstream, and, optionally, displays (e.g., via a monitor or other type of display) a resulting image.

[0061] Various methods are described herein, and such methods comprise one or more steps or actions for achieving the described method. Unless a specific order of steps or actions is required for the proper operation of the method, the order and / or use of specific steps and / or actions may be modified or combined. Additionally, terms such as "first", "second", etc. may be used in various embodiments to modify an element, component, step, operation, etc., for example, a "first decoding" and a "second decoding". Use of such terms does not imply an order to the operations unless specifically required.

[0062] The present disclosure may refer to "determining" various pieces of information. Determining information may include one or more of, for example, estimating, calculating, predicting, or retrieving (e.g., from memory) the information.

[0063] The present disclosure may refer to "accessing" various pieces of information. Accessing information may include one or more of, for example, receiving, retrieving (e.g., from memory), storing, moving, copying, calculating, determining, predicting, or estimating the information. Similarly, the present disclosure may refer to "receiving" various pieces of information. Receiving information may include one or more of, for example, accessing or retrieving (e.g., from memory) the information.

[0064] "Decoding," as used herein, encompasses all or part of the processes performed, for example, on an encoded sequence to produce an output suitable for display. In some embodiments, such processes include one or more of the processes typically performed by a decoder, for example, entropy decoding, inverse quantization, etc. Whether the phrase "decoding process" is intended to refer to a subset of operations or generally to the broader decoding process will be clear based on the context of the specific description and will be well understood by those skilled in the art.

[0065] "Encoding," as used herein, encompasses all or part of the processes performed, for example, on input video data an order to produce an encoded bitstream. Additionally, the terms "reconstructed" and "decoded" may be used interchangeably, the terms "encoded" or "coded" may be used interchangeably, the terms "image," "picture," "sub-picture," "slice," and "frame" may be used interchangeably, and the terms "pixel" and "sample" may be used interchangeably.

[0066] The present disclosure refers to information, for example, syntax elements, that can be transmitted or stored. Such information can be packaged or arranged in a variety of manners, including for example manners common in video standards such as putting the information into a sequence parameter set (SPS), a picture parameter set (PPS), a network abstraction layer (NAL) unit, a header (for example, a NAL unit header, or a slice header), or an SEI message. Other manners are also available, including, for example, manners that are common for system level or application-level standards such as signaling the information into one or more of the following: i. session description protocol (SDP), for example as described in RFCs and / or used in conjunction with real-time transport protocol (RTP) transmission. ii. hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) live Streaming (HLS) manifest transmitted over HTTP. iii. dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH) media presentation description (MPD) descriptors, for example as used in DASH and transmitted over HTTP. iv. RTP header extensions, for example as used during RTP streaming. v. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) base media file format, for example, as used in Omnidirectional MediA Format (OMAF).

[0067] As used herein, "signal" and "signaling" refer to, among other things, indicating information to a decoder. For example, in some embodiments the encoder signals a quantization matrix for de-quantization, whereby the same parameter is used for both encoding and decoding. In some embodiments, the signaling may be explicit, such that information (e.g., a particular parameter) is transmitted to the decoder enabling the decoder to use the same particular parameter. In some embodiments, the signaling may be implicit, in that the information (e.g., a particular parameter) is indicated based on other information at or transmitted to the decoder or derived or selected by the decoder based on information available at the decoder. By not transmitting the information (e.g., the particular parameter), a bit savings is thus realized in some embodiments. In some embodiments, one or more syntax elements or flags are used to signal information to a decoder. While the preceding relates to the verb form of the word "signal", the word "signal" can also be used herein as a noun.

[0068] In some embodiments, signals may be produced that are formatted to carry information that may be stored or transmitted. Such information may include, for example, instructions for performing a method, or data produced by one of the described implementations (e.g., a bitstream of a described embodiment). Such a signal may be formatted, for example, as an electromagnetic wave or as a baseband signal. The formatting may include, for example, encoding a data stream and modulating a carrier with the encoded data stream. The information that the signal carries may be, for example, analog or digital information. The signal may be transmitted over a variety of different wired or wireless links and may be stored on a processor-readable medium.

[0069] It is to be understood that use of any of the following " / ", "and / or", and "at least one of" is intended to encompass all possible selections of listed items, taken either individually or in any combination thereof.

[0070] While specific embodiments have been described in the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that embodiments described herein are examples only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present disclosure or the following claims. Although features and elements are described herein in particular combinations, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that such features or elements may be used alone or in any combination with the other features and elements. It is understood, therefore, that the overall teachings of the present disclosure are not limited to the particular embodiments, implementations, and examples disclosed herein, but are intended to cover variations, modifications, and alternatives as defined by the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.

[0071] Further, although features and elements are described above in particular combinations, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that each feature or element can be used alone or in any combination with the other features and elements. In addition, the methods described herein may be implemented in a computer program, computer program product, software, or firmware incorporated in a computer-readable medium for execution by a computer or processor. Examples of computer-readable media include electronic signals (transmitted over wired or wireless connections) and computer-readable storage media. Examples of computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a register, cache memory, semiconductor memory devices, magnetic media such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical media, and optical media such as CD-ROM disks, and digital versatile disks (DVDs). A processor in association with software may be used to implement a radio frequency transceiver for use in a WTRU, UE, terminal, base station, RNC, or any host computer.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0007]In describing the various embodiments of the present disclosure, certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and should not be considered as limiting such embodiments. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are employed for designating the same elements throughout the several figures and the present description.

[0008]Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a block diagram illustrating an example system 100 in which embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. The system 100 may be an electronic device including, for example, a personal computer, laptop computer, mobile phone, tablet computer, multimedia set-top box, digital television receiver, personal video recording system, connected home appliance, vehicle control and / or entertainment system, and server. One or more elements of the system 100, singly or in combination, may be implemented as an integrated circuit (IC), multiple ICs, and / or discrete components. For example, in one e...

Claims

1. A method comprising: transmitting a video segment to a first set of display devices and a second set of display devices; receiving energy consumption reports from the first set of display devices, each energy consumption report including energy consumption for processing and display of the video segment by a respective display device of the first set of display devices; aggregating the energy consumption reports for the first set of display devices to obtain a first total energy consumption; estimating a second total energy consumption for the second set of display devices; and combining the first total energy consumption and the second total energy consumption into a final total energy consumption.

2. An apparatus comprising: a processor; and memory operatively coupled to the processor; wherein the apparatus is configured to: transmit a video segment to a first set of display devices and a second set of display devices; receive energy consumption reports from the first set of display devices, each energy consumption report including energy consumption for processing and display of the video segment by a respective display device of the first set of display devices; aggregate the energy consumption reports for the first set of display devices to obtain a first total energy consumption; estimate a second total energy consumption for the second set of display devices; and combine the first total energy consumption and the second total energy consumption into a final total energy consumption.

3. A method for use in a display device, the method comprising: receiving a video segment from a content provider; determining energy consumed by the display device to display the video segment; generating an energy consumption report based on the determined energy consumed by the display device; and transmitting the energy consumption report to the content provider.

4. A display device comprising: a processor; and memory operatively coupled to the processor; wherein the display device is configured to: receive a video segment from a content provider; determine energy consumed by the display device to display the video segment; generate an energy consumption report based on the determined energy consumed by the display device; and transmit the energy consumption report to the content provider.

5. A method comprising: transmitting a video segment to a first set of display devices and a second set of display devices; receiving emissions reports from the first set of display devices, each emissions report including emissions for processing and display of the video segment by a respective display device of the first set of display devices; aggregating the emissions reports for the first set of display devices to obtain a first total emissions; estimating a second total emissions for the second set of display devices; and combining the first total emissions and the second total emissions into a final total emissions.

6. An apparatus comprising: a processor; and memory operatively coupled to the processor; wherein the apparatus is configured to: transmit a video segment to a first set of display devices and a second set of display devices; receive emissions reports from the first set of display devices, each emissions report including emissions for processing and display of the video segment by a respective display device of the first set of display devices; aggregate the emissions reports for the first set of display devices to obtain a first total emissions; estimate a second total emissions for the second set of display devices; and combine the first total emissions and the second total emissions into a final total emissions.

7. A method for use in a display device, the method comprising: receiving a video segment from a content provider; determining emissions generated by the display device as a result of displaying the video segment; generating an emissions report based on the determined emissions generated by the display device; and transmitting the emissions report to the content provider.

8. A display device comprising: a processor; and memory operatively coupled to the processor; wherein the display device is configured to: receive a video segment from a content provider; determine emissions generated by the display device as a result of displaying the video segment; generate an emissions report based on the determined emissions generated by the display device; and transmit the emissions report to the content provider.

9. The method of claim 1 or claim 3, or the apparatus of claim 2 or claim 4, wherein the final total energy consumption is reported to a regulatory agency.

10. The method of claim 5 or claim 7, or the apparatus of claim 6 or claim 8, wherein the final total emissions is reported to a regulatory agency.

11. The method of claim 3 or the apparatus of claim 4, wherein the final total energy consumption is reported to a data collector, which then reports the final total energy consumption to a regulatory agency.

12. The method of claim 7, or the apparatus of claim 8, wherein the final total emissions is reported to a data collector, which then reports the final total emissions to a regulatory agency.

13. A computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of any one of claims 1, 3, 5 or 7.

14. The display device of claim 4 or claim 8, further comprising: at least one of: an antenna configured to receive a signal, the signal including the video segment; a band limiter to limit the received signal to a band of frequencies that includes the video segment; and a display configured to display an output representation of the video segment.

Images