Arithmetic Coder Context Initialization for Adaptive CABAC Probability States

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video coding techniques, such as those in the HEVC standard, face inefficiencies in entropy coding due to fixed window sizes and probability updating speeds that do not adapt well to varying syntax element frequencies, leading to suboptimal probability estimation and increased resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of context-dependent window sizes and probability updating methods within the CABAC process, allowing different window sizes to be used for different contexts and syntax elements, which adaptively determine the probability state based on previously encoded bins.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If fixed window sizes are used in CABAC entropy coding, then device complexity is reduced, but probability estimation accuracy deteriorates for varying syntax element frequencies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprobability estimation accuracyVSAvoidcoding device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic window sizes that adapt based on syntax element frequency characteristics. Different contexts use different window sizes (e.g., larger windows for low-frequency elements, smaller windows for high-frequency elements), allowing the system to optimize probability estimation accuracy while managing complexity through selective adaptation rather than uniform complexity across all contexts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the window size parameter dynamically based on the specific syntax element being coded and its frequency characteristics. This parameter adaptation allows the probability estimation to be tuned for each context, improving accuracy without requiring a complete redesign of the CABAC structure, thus managing complexity through targeted parameter optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If larger window sizes are used for probability estimation, then probability estimation accuracy improves, but processing time and resource utilization increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprobability estimation accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different window sizes to different contexts based on local characteristics of syntax elements. High-frequency syntax elements use smaller windows for faster processing, while low-frequency elements use larger windows for better accuracy. This localized optimization ensures that processing time is not uniformly increased across all contexts, but only where necessary for accuracy-critical elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts the window size parameter based on the frequency characteristics of each syntax element. This adaptive parameter change allows the system to use larger windows only when needed for accuracy, rather than consistently using large windows for all elements, thus reducing overall processing time while maintaining accuracy where required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If context-adaptive probability updating is implemented, then coding efficiency improves, but device complexity and resource constraints increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoding efficiencyVSAvoidcoding device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the probability updating process into different contexts, each with its own probability model and updating characteristics. By dividing the entropy coding space into multiple contexts based on syntax element types and frequencies, the system can apply targeted probability updates only where needed, improving coding efficiency while managing complexity through modular context management rather than monolithic adaptive updating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3304909B1Advanced arithmetic coder
Publication Date: 2020.03.04 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3304909B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3304909B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3304909B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An example method of entropy coding video data includes obtaining a pre-defined initialization value for a context of a plurality of contexts used in a context-adaptive entropy coding process to entropy code a value for a syntax element in a slice of the video data, wherein the pre-defined initialization value is stored with N-bit precision; determining, using a look-up table and based on the pre-defined initialization value, an initial probability state of the context for the slice of the video data, wherein a number of possible probability states for the context is greater than two raised to the power of N; and entropy coding, based on the initial probability state of the context, a bin of the value for the syntax element.