Continuous Dynamic Range Video Encoding for Multi-Display Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
The emergence of HDR displays with varying dynamic ranges poses challenges for content production and distribution, as existing methods require significant manual labor for grading content and are inefficient for transmitting multiple HDR streams simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
The creation and distribution of continuous dynamic range (CDR) content, which defines pixel luminance as a continuous function between minimum and maximum dynamic ranges, allowing for simultaneous grading of content for all possible display dynamic ranges with minimal overhead, using a graphical user interface for artistic control and compression with truncated polynomial series.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple HDR streams are transmitted for different dynamic ranges, then content can be optimized for each display type, but transmission complexity and bandwidth requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple dynamic range gradings into a single continuous dynamic range video stream. Instead of transmitting separate HDR streams for different dynamic ranges, the system creates one CDR stream that encompasses the full luminance range, allowing receivers to extract appropriate dynamic range content based on their display capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous dynamic range video stream serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides SDR content for standard displays, HDR content for high dynamic range displays, and can be segmented into multiple dynamic range versions. This single stream replaces the need for multiple separate transmission streams.
2Manufacturing precision
If content is graded for each specific dynamic range display, then optimal display quality is achieved, but manual labor and production time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary grading by creating a continuous dynamic range video stream that pre-calculates and encodes luminance information for the entire dynamic range spectrum. This preliminary action eliminates the need for subsequent manual grading for each specific display type, as the continuous function allows automatic extraction of appropriate dynamic range content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the grading process from discrete adjustments for each dynamic range to a continuous parameter representation. By defining luminance as a continuous function across the dynamic range, the system allows automatic generation of any specific dynamic range version through parameter extraction, eliminating repetitive manual grading work.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a continuous function defines luminance across all dynamic ranges, then a single stream serves multiple displays, but data compression and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous dynamic range video is segmented into discrete components during transmission: a base SDR stream and incremental HDR difference data. This segmentation allows the continuous function to be represented efficiently by transmitting only the additional information needed to convert SDR to various HDR levels, rather than transmitting the entire continuous dataset.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transmits partial information (SDR base stream plus incremental HDR differences) rather than the complete continuous dynamic range data for all possible displays. This partial action approach provides sufficient data for receivers to reconstruct appropriate dynamic range content without transmitting excessive redundant information.
Data Source
AI summary
Novel systems and methods are described for creating, compressing, and distributing video or image content graded for a plurality of displays with different dynamic ranges. In implementations, the created content is “continuous dynamic range” (CDR) content—a novel representation of pixel-luminance as a function of display dynamic range. The creation of the CDR content includes grading a source content for a minimum dynamic range and a maximum dynamic range, and defining a luminance of each pixel of an image or video frame of the source content as a continuous function between the minimum and the maximum dynamic ranges. In additional implementations, a novel graphical user interface for creating and editing the CDR content is described.