HDR Video Super-Resolution Neural Network Architecture

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Solution Overview

Problem

The broadcast infrastructure often lacks support for transmitting high dynamic range (HDR) video content in full resolution, necessitating improved techniques for super-resolution of HDR images to enhance coding efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method for super-resolution of HDR video involves a processor that receives current and auxiliary pictures at a first spatial resolution, generates neural network features, upscales the pictures using an upscaling neural network, and reconstructs the images to produce a super-resolution picture at a second spatial resolution, maintaining spatio-temporal consistency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If HDR video content is transmitted in full resolution, then picture quality is improved, but broadcast infrastructure compatibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial resolutionVSAvoidbroadcast infrastructure compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing super-resolution processing on HDR video content before transmission. The system pre-enhances the spatial resolution of HDR pictures using neural network-based upscaling algorithms, converting lower-resolution input pictures into higher-resolution output pictures. This preliminary enhancement allows the content to be transmitted at reduced resolution while maintaining the ability to deliver high-quality images at the receiver end, thus resolving the contradiction between transmission efficiency and picture quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If super-resolution processing is applied to HDR images, then coding efficiency is improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoding efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the super-resolution processing into distinct functional modules: a picture scaler that performs initial downscaling, a neural network feature extraction module that processes the scaled pictures, and a reconstruction module that generates the final high-resolution output. This modular segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, improving coding efficiency while managing processing complexity through specialized hardware or software implementations for each stage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing auxiliary pictures as intermediate elements in the super-resolution process. These auxiliary pictures serve as mediators that provide additional information to the neural network, enabling more accurate reconstruction of high-resolution details. The intermediary auxiliary pictures help bridge the gap between the scaled input and the desired high-resolution output, improving coding efficiency without requiring excessive processing complexity in the main processing path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If neural network upscaling is used, then picture details are preserved, but computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepicture detail preservationVSAvoidcomputational energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by selectively processing only the most critical aspects of picture detail preservation. The neural network is designed to focus computational resources on reconstructing essential high-frequency details and edges while using more efficient downscaling algorithms for lower-priority regions. This partial processing approach maintains acceptable picture detail preservation while significantly reducing the computational energy consumption compared to full-resolution neural network processing of all picture content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12283023B1Neural networks for high dynamic range video super-resolution
Publication Date: 2025.04.22 DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORP
  • US12283023B1 patent drawing
  • US12283023B1 patent drawing
  • US12283023B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods and systems for the super resolution of high dynamic range (HDR) video are described. Given a sequence of video frames, a current frame and two or more neighboring frames are processed by a neural-network (NN) feature extraction module, followed by a NN upscaling module, and a NN reconstruction module. In parallel, the current frame is upscaled using traditional up-sampling to generate an intermediate up-sampled frame. The output of the reconstruction module is added to the intermediate up-sampled frame to generate an output frame. Additional traditional up-sampling may be performed on the output frame to match the desired up-scaling factor, beyond the up-scaling factor for which the neural network was trained.