Bi-directional Optical Flow Motion Vector Reconstruction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current video coding techniques, such as those in HEVC, face challenges in accurately predicting video blocks for bi-predicted inter-coded blocks, leading to inefficiencies in compression and quality due to limitations in motion compensation methods.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of bi-directional optical flow (BIO) techniques during motion compensation, which modifies predictive sample values based on optical flow trajectories to determine more accurate predictive blocks, allowing for per-pixel modifications to motion vectors and improved reference block construction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional motion compensation methods are used for bi-predicted inter-coded blocks, then device complexity is reduced, but prediction accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprediction accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The current block is divided into multiple sub-blocks, and motion vector reconstruction is performed separately for each sub-block using BIO. This segmentation allows the system to achieve higher prediction accuracy through per-sub-block optimization while managing computational complexity by processing smaller units independently rather than applying complex methods to the entire block.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different motion characteristics are applied to different regions of the block through sub-block-based BIO. Each sub-block can have its own motion vector reconstruction parameters, allowing the system to adapt to local motion variations and achieve higher prediction accuracy in regions with complex motion patterns while maintaining lower complexity in uniform regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If BIO is applied to all blocks, then prediction accuracy is improved, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepredictive block accuracyVSAvoidcomputational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

BIO is applied selectively rather than universally - the technique can be enabled only for blocks where it provides significant benefit, or applied to a subset of sub-blocks within a block. This partial application maintains prediction accuracy where needed while reducing overall computational complexity and improving processing throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

By dividing blocks into sub-blocks, the system can apply BIO to only certain sub-blocks rather than processing entire blocks uniformly. This selective sub-block processing allows the encoder/decoder to achieve accuracy improvements in critical regions while skipping less critical regions, thereby improving overall computational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If per-pixel motion vector modifications are implemented, then predictive block quality is improved, but memory bandwidth requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepredictive block qualityVSAvoidmemory bandwidth requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Motion vector reconstruction is performed on sub-blocks rather than entire blocks, which reduces the amount of reference pixel data that needs to be loaded from memory at once. This segmentation of the processing region decreases peak memory bandwidth requirements while still achieving high predictive block quality through localized per-pixel modifications within each sub-block.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3566441B1Motion vector reconstructions for bi-directional optical flow (BIO)
Publication Date: 2024.07.31 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3566441B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3566441B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3566441B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

For a bi-directional inter predicted block, a video decoder is configured, using a first MV, to locate a first predictive block in a first reference picture; using a second MV, locate a second predictive block in a second reference picture; for a first sub-block of the first predictive block, determine a first amount of bi-directional optical flow (BIO) motion; determine a first final predictive sub-block for the block of video data based on the first amount of BIO motion; for a second sub-block of the first predictive block, determine a second amount of BIO motion; determine a second final predictive sub-block for the block of video data based on the second amount of BIO motion; and based on the first final predictive sub-block and the second final predictive sub-block, determine a final predictive block for the block of video data.