Entropy Coding Context Initialization With Low-Precision Probability States

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing context-adaptive binary entropy coding methods face challenges in achieving a balance between coding efficiency and implementation complexity, particularly in accurately initializing probability estimations for video codecs, where high accuracy can lead to increased memory demands and low accuracy results in suboptimal compression.

Innovation Solution

Reducing the accuracy of slope and offset values for initializing probability estimations in context-adaptive binary entropy coding, which reduces memory requirements and improves coding efficiency by allowing for a more representative blend of video content statistics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If high accuracy slope and offset values are used for initializing probability estimations, then coding precision is improved, but memory demands and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of probability estimation initializationVSAvoidmemory demands and implementation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses low-precision 8-bit fixed-point arithmetic for slope and offset values instead of high-precision floating-point representations. This disposable approximation approach accepts minor precision loss in exchange for dramatically reduced memory requirements and computational complexity, enabling efficient implementation in resource-constrained video coding systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the parameter representation from high-precision floating-point to low-precision fixed-point format. By changing the numerical representation parameters (precision, data type, storage format), the system achieves a practical balance between initialization accuracy and implementation feasibility, reducing memory demands while maintaining sufficient coding performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If high accuracy slope and offset values are used for initializing probability estimations, then coding efficiency is improved, but implementation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoding efficiencyVSAvoidimplementation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs simplified 8-bit fixed-point arithmetic structures that are computationally inexpensive and easy to implement. These low-complexity initialization values provide sufficient coding efficiency without requiring complex floating-point units or extensive memory resources, making the system practical for real-world video coding applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex floating-point computational mechanisms with simpler fixed-point arithmetic operations. This substitution eliminates the need for complex hardware floating-point units and reduces software computation overhead, significantly lowering implementation complexity while maintaining acceptable coding efficiency through the use of integer-based arithmetic

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If the number of contexts is increased, then probability estimation accuracy is improved, but adaptation fails due to low symbol frequency in individual contexts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprobability estimation accuracyVSAvoidadaptation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple context models with similar statistical characteristics into shared probability estimation structures. By merging contexts that handle similar syntax elements or spatial regions, the system ensures sufficient symbol frequency in each context for reliable adaptation while still maintaining differentiated probability estimates for different video content types through the use of multiple merged context groups

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3343781B1Context initialization in entropy coding
Publication Date: 2021.12.01 GE VIDEO COMPRESSION LLC
  • EP3343781B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3343781B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3343781B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A decoder for decoding a video from a data stream into which syntax elements are coded using binarizations of the syntax elements, comprises an entropy decoder configured to derive a number of bins of the binarizations from the data stream using binary entropy decoding by selecting a context among different contexts and updating probability states associated with the different contexts, dependent on previously decoded portions of the data stream; a desymbolizer configured to debinarize the binarizations of the syntax elements to obtain integer values of the syntax elements; a reconstructor configured to reconstruct the video based on the integer values of the syntax elements using a quantization parameter, wherein the entropy decoder is configured to distinguish between 126 probability states and to initialize the probability states associated with the different contexts according to a linear equation of the quantization parameter, wherein the entropy decoder is configured to, for each of the different contexts, derive a slope and an offset of the linear equation from first and second four bit parts of a respective 8 bit initialization value.