Adaptive Deblocking Filter Length for Video Coding Artifacts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Block-based video compression leads to visible discontinuities at block boundaries, known as block artifacts, which existing deblocking methods struggle to effectively address.

Innovation Solution

A deblocking filtering method that determines whether to apply a filter set based on inter-side and intra-side differences, filter lengths, and continuity thresholds, using adaptive filtering to reduce block artifacts by selecting from a set of candidate filters with varying tap lengths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If block-based video compression is used to achieve efficient video coding, then productivity is improved, but block artifacts appear causing video quality to deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo coding efficiencyVSAvoidblock artifacts
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The deblocking filter applies different filtering strengths to different regions along the block boundary based on local characteristics. The filter selectively processes samples where block artifacts are present while leaving other regions unchanged, achieving localized quality improvement without affecting the entire video frame.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The filter dynamically adjusts its operation parameters (filtering strength, tap length) based on the detected characteristics of the block boundary samples. By changing filtering parameters adaptively rather than applying a fixed filter, the system maintains coding efficiency while reducing block artifacts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If strong filtering is applied to reduce block artifacts, then video quality is improved, but filtering complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblock artifactsVSAvoidfiltering complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The deblocking filter transitions from static filtering to dynamic adaptive filtering. The filter's behavior changes based on real-time analysis of sample characteristics at the block boundary, adjusting its strength and scope to match the actual artifact severity, thereby reducing unnecessary filtering operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The block boundary is divided into multiple segments or regions, and the filter is applied selectively to specific segments where artifacts are detected. This segmentation approach reduces the overall filtering complexity by processing only the necessary portions rather than the entire boundary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If fixed filter length is used to simplify the filtering process, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different boundary characteristics deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering process simplicityVSAvoidfilter adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The filter length changes dynamically based on the characteristics of the block boundary samples. The system selects from multiple predefined filter lengths (e.g., 2-tap, 4-tap, 6-tap) depending on the detected artifact severity and sample variance, achieving adaptability without requiring complex real-time filter design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The filter applies varying degrees of filtering action to different parts of the block boundary. By using multiple filter lengths, the system can apply stronger filtering where needed and weaker or no filtering where unnecessary, optimizing the balance between complexity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3738307B1Length-adaptive deblocking filtering in video coding
Publication Date: 2024.09.11 HFI INNOVATION INC
  • EP3738307B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3738307B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3738307B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A deblocking filtering method includes receiving reconstructed video data associated with a block boundary in a video coding system. The block boundary has N lines of samples crossing the block boundary from a P side to a Q side of the boundary. The method further includes determining whether to apply a first filter set to reduce block artifacts at the block boundary based on whether a first inter-side difference of a first line of the N lines of samples is greater than an inter-side difference threshold, determining a filter length of a filter in the first filter set based on a first side length of the P side, and a second side length of the Q side when it is determined to apply the first filter set, and applying at least one filter in the first filter set with the determined filter length on the block boundary.