H.264 Video Encoder Chip Parallel DC AC Coefficient Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing H.264 video encoder hardware faces challenges in achieving high-resolution and real-time video transmission due to inefficiencies in coding speed, particularly in evaluating and processing direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) coefficients sequentially, which limits its performance in high-definition video applications.
Innovation Solution
The advanced video coding and decoding chip employs dedicated hardware for parallel evaluation and processing of DC and AC coefficients using Hadamard transform and quantization, allowing simultaneous processing of DC and AC coefficients, thereby speeding up the coding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If DC and AC coefficients are processed sequentially in existing H.264 encoder hardware, then the hardware structure remains simple, but the coding speed is slow and real-time video transmission is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the coefficient processing into separate DC coefficient evaluation hardware and AC coefficient evaluation hardware modules. This segmentation allows each module to process its specific coefficients independently in parallel, resolving the contradiction by improving coding speed through parallel processing while maintaining manageable hardware complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from sequential processing (one-dimensional time sequence) to parallel processing (two-dimensional simultaneous execution). By introducing a time dimension for parallel operations, the system achieves faster coding speed without proportionally increasing hardware complexity, as the parallel architecture allows overlapping of DC and AC coefficient evaluations
2Reliability
If sequential evaluation of DC and AC coefficients is used, then hardware complexity is low, but real-time video transmission performance is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The DC coefficient evaluation hardware performs its evaluation operation before the AC coefficient evaluation hardware completes its evaluation. This preliminary action of DC processing allows the system to prepare transform coefficients in advance, improving real-time transmission performance by reducing the critical path length while maintaining acceptable hardware complexity through structured dependency management
3Productivity
If parallel processing of DC and AC coefficients is implemented, then coding speed is significantly enhanced, but the hardware structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the DC coefficient evaluation hardware and AC coefficient evaluation hardware into a unified transform coefficient evaluation device. This combining approach allows parallel processing to enhance coding speed while managing hardware complexity through integration, as the merged structure shares common resources and control logic while maintaining independent processing capabilities for DC and AC coefficients
Data Source
AI summary
An advanced video coding and decoding chip and a method with a hardware design that calculates direct current coefficients in discrete-cosine-transformed residual blocks corresponding to sixteen sub-blocks within a macroblock and alternating current coefficients in the discrete-cosine-transformed residual blocks corresponding to the sixteen sub-blocks within the macroblock separately and in parallel.