Extended Intra Prediction for Video Coding Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limitation of using only left and upper side pixels for intra prediction in H.264 video coding standards hinders effective reduction of spatial redundancy, leading to degraded compression and decoding efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves determining the block mode of a current block and using neighboring blocks to perform extended intra prediction, including uni-directional, bidirectional, and average (DC) value predictions, to increase the availability of adjacent pixels for prediction, thereby improving compression and decoding efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If only left and upper side pixels are used for intra prediction in H.264 video coding, then the encoding process is simple and fast, but the compression efficiency and decoding efficiency are degraded due to inability to effectively reduce spatial redundancy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the prediction direction from traditional left and upper sides only to include right and lower side pixels by introducing extended intra prediction modes. This dimensional expansion allows the encoder to utilize pixels from all four directions (left, upper, right, lower) for prediction, thereby reducing spatial redundancy more effectively and improving compression efficiency without excessive complexity increase
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs extended intra prediction by utilizing already decoded neighboring blocks (including right and lower blocks) before finalizing the current block decoding. This preliminary action of using available neighboring pixel information from all directions enables better prediction accuracy and reduces the residual signal energy, improving compression efficiency
2Loss of information
If extended intra prediction using neighboring blocks is performed, then more adjacent pixels are available for prediction improving compression efficiency, but the decoding process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces extended intra prediction modes that utilize pixels from right and lower neighboring blocks in addition to traditional left and upper blocks. This dimensional expansion enables the decoder to use more adjacent pixels for prediction, effectively reducing spatial redundancy and information loss while maintaining manageable decoding complexity through standardized prediction mode definitions
3Measurement precision
If neighboring blocks are decoded first to increase available adjacent pixels for intra prediction, then the predicted signal is closer to the original signal improving compression efficiency, but the decoding order and process become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs extended intra prediction by utilizing already decoded neighboring blocks (including right and lower blocks) before finalizing the current block decoding. This preliminary action of using available neighboring pixel information from all directions enables better prediction accuracy and reduces the residual signal energy, improving compression efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic prediction mode selection where the encoder/decoder chooses between traditional intra prediction modes and extended intra prediction modes based on rate-distortion optimization. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to achieve higher prediction accuracy when extended modes are beneficial while maintaining flexibility in decoding order to manage complexity
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a video encoding apparatus and method and a video decoding apparatus and method. The video encoding apparatus, includes: a block mode determiner for determining a block mode of a current block; an NCI block intra encoder responsive if the block mode of the current block determined by the block mode determiner is an intra mode and neighboring blocks of the current block include an NCI block, for encoding the NCI block through an intra prediction of the NCI block; and a current block intra encoder responsive if the block mode of the current block determined by the block mode determiner is the intra mode and the neighboring blocks of the current block include the NCI block, for encoding the current block through an intra prediction of the current block.