Chroma Block Splitting Restriction for Video Encoding Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for high-resolution and high-quality images, such as HD and UHD images, leads to a significant increase in the amount of transmitted and stored information, resulting in higher transmission and storage costs. There is a need for high-efficient image compression technology to address this challenge.
Innovation Solution
An image encoding/decoding method and apparatus that restricts the splitting of chroma blocks and does not signal splitting information when chroma block splitting is restricted, thereby reducing the amount of bitstreams and improving encoding/decoding efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If chroma block splitting is allowed without restriction, then encoding flexibility and adaptability are improved, but the amount of bitstream increases due to signaling of splitting information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of chroma block splitting by imposing size-based restrictions. When chroma block width or height is less than or equal to a threshold (e.g., 64 or 32 samples), splitting is prohibited. This parameter change reduces the number of splitting operations that need to be signaled, thereby reducing bitstream amount while maintaining encoding flexibility for larger blocks where splitting is still permitted.
2Measurement precision
If chroma block splitting information is signaled for all blocks, then decoding accuracy is improved, but transmission cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the signaling parameter by conditionally disabling split information transmission based on block size. For chroma blocks meeting the size threshold criterion, the split information parameter is omitted from the bitstream. The decoder infers no splitting occurred based on the size condition, maintaining decoding accuracy while reducing transmission cost by not sending redundant splitting information for small blocks.
3Quantity of substance
If chroma block splitting is restricted based on size, then the amount of bitstream is reduced, but encoding complexity increases due to size checking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing size checking of chroma blocks before the encoding process begins. The encoder pre-evaluates whether each chroma block's width or height meets the threshold criterion (≤64 or ≤32 samples) and determines in advance whether splitting is permitted. This preliminary size assessment simplifies the overall encoding complexity by establishing clear size-based rules that guide subsequent encoding decisions, reducing the need for complex real-time evaluations.
Data Source
AI summary
An image encoding/decoding method and apparatus are provided. An image decoding method performed by an image decoding apparatus includes determining whether predetermined splitting is allowed for a current block based on a size of the current block, obtaining information on splitting of the current block based on whether the predetermined splitting is allowed, splitting the current block based on the information on splitting of the current block, and decoding the current block. Whether the predetermined splitting is allowed may be determined based on whether a width or height of the current block is a predetermined sample length.