Block Partitioning and Merging to Cut Video Coding Redundancy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing picture and video codecs face inefficiencies in achieving a balance between the amount of side information needed for prediction parameters and the freedom of picture subdivision, particularly when combining block merging and subdivision, leading to increased bit usage and redundancy.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves avoiding certain coding parameter candidates for further blocks when block merging is signaled, specifically removing candidates that would result in supported partitioning patterns, thereby reducing redundancy and signaling overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If block merging is combined with block subdivision to increase freedom of picture subdivision, then the variety of achievable partitioning patterns is increased, but the signaling overhead increases due to redundancy between partitioning coding and merging coding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevariety of partitioning patternsVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes redundant coding parameter candidates from the merge candidate list. Specifically, when a block is subdivided into further blocks, coding parameter candidates that would result in supported partitioning patterns when merged are removed from the candidate list. This extraction of redundant information reduces signaling overhead while preserving the ability to achieve diverse partitioning patterns through the combination of subdivision and merging operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If coding parameters are transmitted in full for merged blocks, then the same coding efficiency as direct subdivision is achieved, but the amount of side information increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoding efficiencyVSAvoidamount of side information
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by selectively removing only the redundant coding parameter candidates from the merge candidate list, rather than removing all candidates or transmitting all parameters in full. This partial removal strategy reduces the amount of side information needed to signal merge candidates while maintaining sufficient candidates to achieve the desired coding efficiency. The reduction is excessive enough to eliminate redundancy but not so much as to compromise coding flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4727135A2Picture coding supporting block partitioning and block merging
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 DOLBY VIDEO COMPRESSION LLC
  • EP4727135A2 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4727135A2 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4727135A2 patent drawingFigure 5A~5B

AI summary

A further coding efficiency increase may be achieved if for a current block of a picture, for which the bit stream signals one of supported partitioning patterns, a reversal of the partitioning by block merging is avoided. In particular, if the signaled one of the supported partitioning patterns specifies a subdivision of the block into two or more further blocks, a removal of certain coding parameter candidates for all further blocks, except a first further block of the further blocks in a coding order, is performed. In particular, those coding parameter candidates are removed from the set of coding parameter candidates for the respective further block, the coding parameters of which are the same as coding parameters associated with any of the further blocks which, when being merged with the respective further block, would result in one of the supported partitioning pattern. By this measure, redundancy between partitioning coding and merging coding is avoided.