Direct Simplified Depth Coding Reduces Computational Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Simplified Depth Coding (SDC) methods require high computational overhead and bit-width for deriving prediction samples and calculating their averages, especially when dealing with large numbers of samples in 3D and multi-view video coding systems.
Innovation Solution
The direct Simplified Depth Coding (dSDC) method bypasses the two-step prediction process by directly deriving prediction values from neighboring reconstructed depth samples using linear functions or simple averaging operations, reducing the need for intermediate prediction samples and bit-depth requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the two-step SDC prediction approach is used to derive prediction values, then prediction accuracy is improved, but computational overhead and bit-width requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the intermediate prediction samples generation step from the conventional two-step SDC process. By directly computing prediction values from neighboring reconstructed samples without generating full prediction samples, the method eliminates unnecessary computational operations while preserving the essential prediction functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of following the conventional approach of first generating prediction samples and then averaging them, the patent inverts the process by directly computing the average prediction value from neighboring samples using a simplified formula. This reversal eliminates the intermediate step and reduces computational complexity from O(N) to O(1) where N is the block size.
2Quantity of substance
If the two-step SDC prediction approach with subsampling is used, then bit-width requirements are reduced, but computational overhead remains high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the subsampling operation entirely and directly computes the prediction value using a closed-form formula based on neighboring samples. This extraction of the essential computation eliminates both the subsampling step and the subsequent averaging operation, reducing computational overhead while maintaining reasonable bit-width requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simple arithmetic formula that requires minimal computational resources and produces results that can be directly used without further processing. The approach trades off some precision for significantly reduced computational cost, using basic operations that are inexpensive and fast to execute.
3Reliability
If conventional SDC methods are used, then decoding performance is maintained, but bit-rate efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the computational parameters by using a direct formula-based approach instead of sample-based averaging. This parameter change in the computation method reduces the precision requirements and allows for more efficient encoding of the prediction values, improving bit-rate efficiency while maintaining decoding performance through the use of appropriate clipping and rounding operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for direct Simplified Depth Coding (dSDC) to derive prediction value directly for each segment without deriving depth prediction samples or depth prediction subsamples. The dSDC method substantially reduces the computations associated with deriving the prediction samples or subsamples and calculating the average of the prediction samples or subsamples by deriving the prediction value directly based on the reconstructed neighboring depth samples. The direct SDC can be applied to derive the two prediction values, P0 and P1 for the two segments of a depth block coded by SDC depth modelling mode 1 (DMM-1).