AVC Picture Interdependency Tracking for Stream Manipulation

Solution Overview

Problem

Processing video streams compressed with the Advanced Video Coding (AVC) standard is challenging due to high complexities in pictures' interdependencies, making it difficult to determine suitable stream manipulation operations and fulfill manipulation operations in network systems.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that tracks and ascertains picture interdependencies by using a tiered approach, where pictures are categorized into levels (Tiers) based on importance, allowing for independent decoding and reconstruction, and providing auxiliary information to convey interdependencies, enabling efficient stream manipulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If AVC standard compression is used, then compression efficiency is improved, but picture interdependency complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidpicture interdependency complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The video stream is segmented into multiple independent streams by separating pictures based on their interdependency tiers. Pictures are divided into different groups (first tier, second tier, etc.) where each tier represents a level of interdependency. This segmentation allows independent processing of each tier while maintaining the compression efficiency benefits of AVC.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An intermediary processing system is introduced that receives the compressed AVC stream, analyzes picture interdependencies, and separates them into multiple independent streams. This intermediary layer manages the complexity by organizing pictures into tiers based on their reference relationships, enabling downstream devices to work with simpler, independent streams.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If rich compression tools are used, then compression efficiency is improved, but stream manipulation difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidstream manipulation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The video stream is segmented into multiple independent streams by separating pictures based on their interdependency tiers. Pictures are divided into different groups (first tier, second tier, etc.) where each tier represents a level of interdependency. This segmentation allows independent processing of each tier while maintaining the compression efficiency benefits of AVC.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the organizational parameter of the video stream from a single complex interdependent structure to multiple independent streams with different interdependency characteristics. By transforming the stream structure and assigning pictures to different tiers based on their reference relationships, the system enables easier manipulation while preserving compression efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If temporal redundancies are exploited elaborately, then compression efficiency is improved, but picture interdependency complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidpicture interdependency complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The video stream is segmented into multiple independent streams by separating pictures based on their interdependency tiers. Pictures are divided into different groups (first tier, second tier, etc.) where each tier represents a level of interdependency. This segmentation allows independent processing of each tier while maintaining the compression efficiency benefits of AVC.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds a new dimension to picture organization by introducing temporal hierarchy levels (tiers). Instead of a single flat structure, pictures are organized in multiple temporal layers where each layer has its own interdependency characteristics. This dimensional transformation allows elaborate exploitation of temporal redundancies while managing complexity through hierarchical separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9716883B2Tracking and determining pictures in successive interdependency levels

Publication Date: 2017.07.25 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Systems and methods that receive a video stream comprising a sequence of compressed pictures, the compressed pictures comprising a plurality of levels of picture importance including a first picture level and a second picture level, track the compressed pictures to ascertain which of the compressed pictures correspond to the first level, and responsive to ascertaining which of the compressed pictures correspond to the first level, tracking the compressed pictures to ascertain which of the compressed pictures correspond to the second level.