Adaptive Spatial Layer Rate Allocation for Low-Distortion Video
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video encoding technologies face challenges in efficiently allocating bit rates across multiple spatial layers to ensure optimal video quality for different devices with varying capabilities, leading to potential compromises in user experience.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for determining a spatial rate factor based on variance estimations of transform coefficients, allowing adaptive bit rate allocation across spatial layers using exponential moving averages to minimize distortion and optimize video quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If bit rate is allocated uniformly across all spatial layers, then the encoding process is simple, but video quality deteriorates for high-resolution layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allocating different bit rates to different spatial layers based on their specific requirements. High-resolution spatial layers receive higher bit rates while lower-resolution layers receive proportionally less, ensuring each layer gets appropriate resources for optimal quality rather than uniform treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the bit rate parameter dynamically based on spatial layer characteristics. By calculating spatial rate factors that reflect the complexity and quality requirements of each spatial layer, the system adjusts bit rate allocation from static/uniform to dynamic/adaptive, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If higher bit rate is allocated to high-resolution spatial layers, then video quality improves, but total bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes bit rate parameters adaptively based on spatial layer characteristics. By calculating spatial rate factors that account for the specific quality requirements and complexity of each layer, the system optimizes bandwidth usage - allocating more to layers that need it for quality and less to layers that can operate at lower rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic bit rate allocation where the bit rate for each spatial layer is not fixed but adjusts based on real-time analysis of the video content and layer characteristics. This dynamic approach ensures optimal quality while minimizing unnecessary bandwidth consumption across all layers.
3Manufacturing precision
If bit rate is increased to reduce distortion in spatial layers, then video quality improves, but encoding cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the bit rate parameter for each spatial layer by calculating spatial rate factors that balance distortion reduction with encoding efficiency. This targeted parameter adjustment ensures sufficient bit rates are allocated only where needed to achieve acceptable quality, avoiding unnecessary encoding costs across the entire bit stream.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality principles to encoding cost optimization by treating different spatial layers differently. Rather than applying uniform encoding resources, the system allocates encoding cost proportionally to the quality requirements of each layer, reducing overall encoding cost while maintaining acceptable quality where it matters most.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method (400) includes receiving transform coefficients (226) corresponding to a scaled video input signal (120), the scaled video input signal (120) including a plurality of spatial layers (L) that include a base layer (Lo). The method also includes determining a spatial rate factor (332) based on a sample of frames (SF) from the scaled video input signal. The spatial rate factor defines a factor for bit rate allocation at each spatial layer of an encoded bit stream (204) formed from the scaled video input signal. The spatial rate factor is represented by a difference between a rate of bits per transform coefficient of the base layer and an average rate (RL) of bits per transform coefficient. The method also includes reducing a distortion for the plurality of spatial layers by allocating a bit rate to each spatial layer based on the spatial rate factor and the sample of frames.