Unified Block Merging and Skip Mode Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing picture and video codecs face inefficiencies in balancing the amount of side information for prediction parameters and the freedom of picture subdivision, particularly when combining block merging and skip mode, leading to increased bit rates and redundant data transmission.
Innovation Solution
A common signaling mechanism is introduced in the bitstream to activate both merging and skip mode simultaneously, reducing the need for separate signaling of these modes and optimizing coding efficiency by merging blocks and determining prediction residuals on a group basis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate signaling mechanisms are used for block merging and skip mode, then the freedom in subdividing pictures is increased, but the bit rate overhead increases due to redundant data transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the signaling of block merging and skip mode into a single unified syntax element. When this combined syntax element indicates a first state, it simultaneously signals that blocks are merged and that skip mode is applied, eliminating the need for separate signaling mechanisms and reducing bit rate overhead while maintaining the freedom to apply both modes together
2Adaptability or versatility
If block merging is applied to increase the number of possible picture subdivisions, then the freedom in subdividing pictures is increased, but the amount of side information necessary to signalize the subdivision increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the signaling functions for block merging and skip mode into a single syntax element, reducing the amount of side information required. By combining these two signaling mechanisms, the patent enables flexible picture subdivision through block merging while minimizing the overhead of side information needed to signalize the subdivision
3Quantity of substance
If skip mode is used to suppress residual data transmission, then the bit rate is reduced, but the coding quality may be compromised due to loss of residual information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies skip mode selectively and partially - only when the combined syntax element indicates both merging and skip mode together. This partial application allows the system to achieve bit rate reduction through skip mode while compensating for quality loss by using block merging to maintain coding precision in regions where skip mode is applied
Data Source
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AI summary
A coding efficiency increase is achieved by using a common signalization within the bitstream with regard to both activation of merging and activation of the skip mode. That is, one of the possible states of one or more syntax elements within the bitstream may signalize for a current sample set of a picture that the respective sample set is to be merged and has no prediction residual encoded and inserted into the bitstream. Alternatively speaking, a common flag may commonly signalize whether the coding parameters associated with a current sample set are to be set according to a merge candidate or to be retrieved from the bitstream, and whether the current sample set of the picture is to be reconstructed merely based on a prediction signal depending on the coding parameters associated with the current sample set, without any residual data, or to be reconstructed by refining the prediction signal depending on the coding parameters associated with the current sample set by means of residual data within the bitstream.