Flexible Chroma Block Partitioning for Video Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current video encoding formats, such as AV1, have limited quantization step size resolution, particularly evident in 10-bit and 12-bit internal bit depth, which affects the granularity of bit rates and compression efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The proposed method involves flexible block partitioning for chroma components, where luma and chroma blocks are partitioned based on different structures depending on threshold conditions, allowing for increased quantization step size resolution and improved compression efficiency by decoupling the block partitioning of luma and chroma components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If luma and chroma blocks are partitioned using the same block structure, then the encoding complexity is reduced, but the compression efficiency is limited due to inability to adapt to different component characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the block partitioning process into separate handling for luma and chroma components. When the luma block size exceeds a threshold, chroma blocks are further segmented into different partitioning modes (horizontal, vertical, or no partitioning) based on specific conditions, allowing adaptive optimization for each component's characteristics while maintaining manageable complexity through structured decision logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic block partitioning where the chroma block partitioning structure changes based on the luma block size and other conditions. The partitioning is not fixed but adapts dynamically: when luma block size > threshold, chroma may be partitioned horizontally, vertically, or not at all, depending on specific conditions, thereby optimizing compression efficiency for different content scenarios.
2Measurement precision
If quantization step size resolution is limited, then the encoder complexity is reduced, but the bit rate granularity and compression efficiency are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the quantization parameter handling by introducing separate quantization step sizes for luma and chroma components under specific conditions. When chroma blocks are partitioned differently from luma blocks, independent quantization parameters can be applied, effectively increasing the resolution and granularity of quantization control, which improves bit rate precision and compression efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If chroma blocks are always partitioned with the same structure as luma blocks, then the decoding process is simplified, but the ability to optimize for different color component characteristics is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by treating luma and chroma components differently based on their specific characteristics. When luma block size exceeds a threshold, chroma blocks can be partitioned with different structures (horizontal, vertical, or no partitioning) suited to their local requirements, rather than forcing a uniform partitioning structure on all components regardless of their needs.
Data Source
AI summary
An approach for encoding/decoding video data including parsing video data to obtain partitioning parameters; obtaining a partitioned super block; and decoding based on the partitioned super block, wherein based on a luma block area size, or a luma splitting depth of the smallest luma block, either luma blocks and chroma blocks of the partitioned super block are partitioned based on a first block partitioning structure, or the luma blocks are partitioned based on the first block partitioning structure, and the chroma blocks are partitioned based on a second block partitioning structure.