H.264 to H.265 Transcoding via Macroblock Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transcoding video data streams from the H.264 format to the H.265 format is costly in terms of processing resources and latency, as it often requires complete decoding and re-encoding, which is inefficient for existing equipment and infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
A transcoding method that merges adjacent macroblocks based on frequency similarity of discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients after inverse quantization and determines motion vectors for the H.265 format by combining those of the H.264 format, without full decoding, thereby reducing processing requirements and latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If complete decoding and re-encoding is performed for transcoding from H.264 to H.265, then transcoding quality is improved, but processing resources and latency increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and reuses specific components from the H.264 decoded data (motion vectors, DCT coefficients, quantization parameters) without performing complete decoding and re-encoding. This selective extraction maintains transcoding quality while significantly reducing processing resources and latency by avoiding redundant processing of all video data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of H.264 macroblocks to identify candidates for merging based on DCT coefficient similarity before the actual transcoding process. This preliminary action enables the system to pre-determine which macroblocks can be merged in H.265 format, reducing processing complexity and latency during the main transcoding operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If complete decoding and re-encoding is performed for transcoding from H.264 to H.265, then transcoding quality is improved, but processing latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary components (motion vectors, DCT coefficients, macroblock identifiers) from H.264 data for transcoding to H.265, avoiding the time-consuming process of complete decoding and re-encoding. This extraction approach maintains quality by preserving essential information while dramatically reducing processing latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary identification of mergeable macroblocks by analyzing DCT coefficient similarity before the main transcoding process. This preliminary action reduces latency by pre-determining which macroblocks can be merged, eliminating the need for complex real-time analysis during transcoding.
3Productivity
If macroblocks are merged based on frequency similarity of DCT coefficients, then processing resources are reduced, but macroblock merging accuracy must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing strategies to different macroblocks based on their local characteristics. Macroblocks with high frequency similarity in DCT coefficients are merged to reduce processing, while those with low similarity are kept separate to maintain accuracy. This local quality approach ensures processing efficiency is improved without sacrificing overall merging accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter used for macroblock comparison from pixel-level data to frequency-domain DCT coefficients after inverse quantization. This parameter change enables more accurate identification of visually similar macroblocks, improving merging accuracy while reducing processing resources by working with compressed frequency representations rather than raw pixel data.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for transcoding a video data stream in the H.264 format into a video data stream in the H.265 format includes circuitry adapted for performing a merging of adjacent macroblocks of the data stream in the H.264 format according to a predetermined criterion of frequency similarity of the discrete cosine transform coefficients of said macroblocks after application of an inverse quantisation operation; and for determining motion vectors in the H.265 format on the basis of motion vectors in the H.264 format by performing, for the macroblocks resulting from the merging of macroblocks issuing from the data stream in the H.264 format, a combination of the motion vectors of said macroblocks issuing from the data stream in the H.264 format.