Adaptive Intra-Prediction Smoothing for Video Coding Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-resolution and high-quality image data requires efficient compression techniques to reduce transmission and storage costs, but existing methods do not effectively address the increased data volume and potential picture quality deterioration due to contouring artifacts in large blocks.
Innovation Solution
An intra-prediction method that determines whether to perform smoothing on reference pixels based on the size of the transform block and intra-prediction mode, using either a bi-linear filter or a smoothing filter with coefficients [1,2,1], to adaptively select the smoothing method and improve picture quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If high-resolution and high-quality image data is transmitted or stored using existing methods, then image quality is maintained, but transmission costs and storage costs are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the transform block size based on the gradient magnitude of the image data. When gradient magnitude exceeds a threshold, larger transform blocks are used to better preserve edges and contours, while smaller blocks are used in smooth regions. This adaptive parameter adjustment optimizes both compression efficiency and image quality without requiring uniform high-bitrate encoding across the entire image.
2Quantity of substance
If existing compression techniques are used on high-resolution images, then data volume is reduced, but picture quality deteriorates due to contouring artifacts in large blocks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image into multiple transform blocks of different sizes based on local gradient characteristics. By dividing the image adaptively rather than using uniform block sizes, the method preserves fine details and contours in high-variation regions while applying efficient compression in smooth regions, thereby reducing contouring artifacts and maintaining picture quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using different transform block sizes for different regions of the image based on their gradient magnitude. Regions with high gradient magnitude (edges, contours) use larger blocks to preserve structural integrity, while regions with low gradient magnitude (smooth areas) use smaller blocks for better compression efficiency. This localized adaptation prevents contouring artifacts in critical regions.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex smoothing methods are applied to reduce contouring artifacts, then picture quality is improved, but coder and decoder complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by calculating gradient magnitude and determining transform block sizes before the actual transform and compression processes. This pre-processing step enables adaptive block segmentation that prevents contouring artifacts from occurring in the first place, rather than requiring complex post-processing smoothing operations, thereby maintaining picture quality while keeping coder and decoder complexity manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are a method and apparatus for filtering a reference pixel. A method of smoothing a reference pixel may include determining whether or not to perform smoothing on a reference pixel based on the size of a transform block and information about an intra-prediction mode for the transform block and determining a smoothing method by comparing the size of the transform block with the size of a maximum transform block. Accordingly, image coding efficiency can be increased, and picture quality can be improved.