4:4:4 Video Encoding with Dual Mode Color Component Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional video encoding systems, such as those using the 4:2:0 format, are limited in their ability to efficiently encode high-resolution video signals without downsampling chrominance components, leading to suboptimal encoding performance when color components contribute equally to image structure, as in the 4:4:4 format.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a dual encoding process for digital moving image signals in the 4:4:4 format, where three color components can be encoded either in a common mode or independent modes, allowing flexible selection of inter prediction modes and color spaces, enabling optimal encoding even with diverse color space definitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If chrominance components are downsampled before encoding (4:2:0 format), then the amount of original information is reduced and encoding efficiency is improved, but the resolution and quality of the encoded video signal deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencoding efficiencyVSAvoidvideo signal quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the color space definition flexible and adaptive rather than fixed. The encoding system can dynamically select between different color spaces (YCbCr, RGB, XYZ, etc.) based on the specific video content and requirements, allowing optimization of encoding efficiency while maintaining quality for different scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of color space definition from a fixed state to a variable state. By allowing multiple color space definitions and enabling selection based on video content characteristics, the system can adjust the encoding parameters to achieve both high encoding efficiency and maintained video quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If prediction is performed between different color components (inter-plane prediction), then data size is reduced, but parallel processing efficiency deteriorates and real-time processing becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata sizeVSAvoidparallel processing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by separating the encoding process into independent color component streams. Each color component can be encoded independently without requiring complex inter-plane prediction, enabling parallel processing while still achieving data reduction through other means such as independent intra prediction and flexible color space selection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If motion compensation prediction is performed using common information for all color components, then encoding complexity is reduced, but encoding efficiency deteriorates when color components make equal contributions to image structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencoding complexityVSAvoidencoding efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the prediction strategy dynamic by allowing different prediction modes for different color components based on their contribution to image structure. When color components make equal contributions (as in 4:4:4 format), the system can selectively apply independent prediction to maintain encoding efficiency while managing complexity through intelligent decision-making

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP1947860B1Image encoding device, image decoding device, image encoding method, and image decoding method
Publication Date: 2017.03.01 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP1947860B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1947860B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1947860B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There are provided an encoding device, a decoding device, an encoding method, and a decoding method that enhance optimality in a case of encoding moving image signals having no sample ratio distinction between color components such as a 4 : 4 : 4 format. In a case of conducting compression encoding by inputting digital moving image signals of the 4 : 4 : 4 format, there are prepared a first encoding process of encoding three color component signals of the input moving image signals in a common encoding mode, and a second encoding process of encoding the three color component signals of the input moving image signals in respective independent encoding modes. The encoding process is executed by selecting any one of the first encoding process and the second encoding process, and the compression data contains an identification signal for specifying which process is selected.