Entropy Encoding Partitions for Adaptive Syntax Compression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing entropy coding schemes face challenges in achieving a balance between coding complexity and compression efficiency, particularly when dealing with time-varying source statistics and higher-order probability modeling, as they often require substantial algorithmic complexity and implementation costs.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves decomposing the value range of syntax elements into a sequence of n partitions, where components within each partition are coded separately using a combination of Variable-Length Coding (VLC) and Arithmetic Coding, allowing for adaptive encoding based on the partition each value falls into.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If arithmetic coding is used to handle time-varying source statistics and higher-order probability modeling, then compression efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases substantially

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidalgorithmic complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the probability distribution into multiple discrete probability levels (e.g., 8 levels from 1/256 to 128/256). Each level is handled by a dedicated VLC table, avoiding the need for complex arithmetic coding while still adapting to varying source statistics. This segmentation transforms the continuous probability space into discrete bins that can be efficiently encoded.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation by using discrete probability levels instead of continuous probability values. Each syntax element is associated with a probability level parameter that selects one of the predefined VLC tables. This parameter change enables adaptive coding without requiring complex arithmetic operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If Huffman codes are adapted to handle time-varying source statistics, then compression efficiency is improved, but device complexity and implementation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidimplementation costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-computing and storing multiple VLC tables corresponding to different probability levels before actual encoding begins. These tables are prepared in advance and selected based on the current probability level, eliminating the need for real-time adaptation calculations during encoding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamics by making the VLC table selection adaptive to the current probability level of the syntax element. The system dynamically switches between different VLC tables based on the estimated probability, allowing efficient adaptation to time-varying source statistics without complex real-time computation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If multiple sets of VLC tables are used for higher-order probability modeling, then compression efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of VLC tables
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the VLC tables universal by designing them to handle multiple probability levels and different syntax element types. The same set of VLC tables can be used for different probability distributions by simply selecting the appropriate table based on the probability level, rather than requiring separate tables for each specific case.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3349360B1Entropy encoding and decoding scheme
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 GE VIDEO COMPRESSION LLC
  • EP3349360B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3349360B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~1C
  • EP3349360B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

Decomposing a value range of the respective syntax elements into a sequence of n partitions with coding the components of z laying within the respective partitions separately with at least one by VCL coding and with at least one by PIPE or entropy coding is used to greatly increase the compression efficiency at a moderate coding overhead since the coding scheme used may be better adapted to the syntax element statistics. Accordingly, in accordance with embodiments, syntax elements are decomposed into a respective number n of source symbols si with i=1...n, the respective number n of source symbols depending on as to which of a sequence of n partitions (1401-3) into which a value range of the respective syntax elements is sub-divided, a value z of the respective syntax elements falls into, so that a sum of values of the respective number of source symbols si yields z, and, if n>1, for all i=1...n-1, the value of si corresponds to a range of the ith partition.