Point Cloud Entropy Coding with Adaptive Neighbor Occupancy Models

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current point cloud compression techniques are inefficient and lack effective encoding and decoding processes, hampering the adoption and deployment of point cloud data in applications such as autonomous vehicles and virtual reality, due to the large datasets and complex geometric representations involved.

Innovation Solution

The method involves encoding and decoding point clouds using a tree structure, where nodes are split into sub-volumes, and entropy encoding is applied based on the occupancy patterns of neighboring nodes, selecting from multiple probability distributions to optimize compression, and updating these distributions dynamically during the encoding and decoding processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional entropy coding methods are used for point cloud compression, then the coding complexity remains low, but the compression efficiency is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidcoding complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies context-adaptive probability distributions that are locally optimized for each node's occupancy pattern. Different probability distributions are selected based on the specific geometric characteristics of neighboring nodes, allowing the encoding to adapt to local geometric correlations rather than using a uniform approach throughout the entire point cloud.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically updates probability distributions during the encoding process based on previously encoded occupancy patterns. The context model evolves as encoding progresses, adapting to the statistical properties of the point cloud data being processed, which improves compression efficiency without requiring a complete reanalysis of the data structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If simple occupancy encoding is used, then the coding complexity is low, but the compression performance is poor due to ignoring geometric correlations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression performanceVSAvoidencoding complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a context model that uses feedback from previously encoded occupancy patterns to inform the encoding of current nodes. The probability distributions are updated based on the occupancy patterns of neighboring nodes, creating a feedback loop that continuously refines the encoding strategy to match the actual geometric correlations present in the data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary analysis of occupancy patterns in neighboring nodes before encoding the current node. By pre-selecting appropriate probability distributions based on the occupancy status of adjacent nodes, the encoding process is optimized in advance, capturing geometric correlations before the actual encoding occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3514968B1Methods and devices for entropy coding point clouds
Publication Date: 2023.03.08 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP3514968B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3514968B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3514968B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Methods and devices for encoding a point cloud. A current node associated with a sub-volume is split into further sub-volumes, each further sub-volume corresponding to a child node of the current node, and, at the encoder, an occupancy pattern is determined for the current node based on occupancy status of the child nodes. A probability distribution is selected from among a plurality of probability distributions based on occupancy data for a plurality of nodes neighbouring the current node. The encoder entropy encodes the occupancy pattern based on the selected probability distribution to produce encoded data for the bitstream and updates the selected probability distribution. The decoder makes the same selection based on occupancy data for neighbouring nodes and entropy decodes the bitstream to reconstruct the occupancy pattern.