Adaptive Loop Filtering Composite Filter Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current video coding technologies face limitations in compression efficiency due to restricted direction and activity values for adaptive loop filtering (ALF), which can lead to decreased video quality and increased hardware complexity.

Innovation Solution

Applying a combination of multiple filters to video blocks instead of a single filter, using a linear function of these filters to generate a new filter for each block, allowing for more flexible filtering without increasing the number of filter sets to be transmitted.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single filter is applied to each video block, then the hardware complexity is reduced, but the video quality and compression efficiency deteriorate due to restricted direction and activity values

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehardware complexityVSAvoidvideo quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple filters (first filter and second filter) to form a composite filter that is applied to video blocks. This merging approach allows the system to achieve better filtering performance and video quality without requiring a large number of separate filter sets to be transmitted, thus resolving the contradiction between hardware complexity and video quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal filtering mechanism where a composite filter formed from multiple filters can adapt to different video block characteristics (different directions and activities). This multi-functional approach allows a single composite filter structure to handle various filtering scenarios, improving video quality without proportionally increasing hardware complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple filter sets are transmitted to achieve better filtering, then the video quality improves, but the compression efficiency deteriorates due to increased data transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo qualityVSAvoidcompression efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of transmitting multiple separate filter sets, the patent transmits parameters for forming a composite filter from multiple base filters. This merging approach reduces the total number of filter sets that need to be transmitted while achieving comparable or better filtering performance, thus improving compression efficiency without sacrificing video quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation from transmitting complete filter sets to transmitting parameters that define how to form composite filters from base filters. This parameter transformation reduces the bitrate required for filter transmission while maintaining the ability to achieve high-quality filtering, resolving the contradiction between video quality and compression efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If restricted direction and activity values are used for ALF, then the hardware complexity is reduced, but the compression efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehardware complexityVSAvoidcompression efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal composite filter structure that can adapt to different direction and activity values without requiring separate hardware for each case. The composite filter formed from multiple base filters can handle various video block characteristics, improving compression efficiency while maintaining manageable hardware complexity through a unified filtering mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3459245B1Confusion of multiple filters in adaptive loop filtering in video coding
Publication Date: 2022.07.27 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3459245B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3459245B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3459245B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus for encoding or decoding video data reconstructs one or more blocks of a current picture of the video data. The one or more blocks of the current picture comprise reconstructed samples of the current picture. In addition, after reconstructing the one or more blocks of the current picture, the apparatus applies a particular function of a plurality of filters to a current block of the current picture. The current block comprising the reconstructed samples of the current picture.