Image Coding With Channel Bit Control for Smaller Substream Buffers

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Solution Overview

Problem

The substream parallel technique requires larger substream buffers to ensure data integrity due to varying filling speeds, leading to increased hardware costs.

Innovation Solution

Implement encoding and decoding methods that control the number of bits for encoding blocks across channels, manage expansion rates, and utilize fallback modes to optimize substream buffer sizes, reducing hardware costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If substream parallel encoding is implemented with multiple entropy encoders, then encoding performance is improved, but substream buffer size must be increased to ensure data integrity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencoding performanceVSAvoidsubstream buffer size
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the encoder monitors the filling speeds of multiple substreams in real-time and dynamically adjusts encoding parameters to balance the filling speeds. This feedback control ensures that no single substream buffer becomes excessively large while maintaining parallel encoding performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic adjustment of encoding parameters (such as quantization parameters, transformation parameters, or entropy encoding parameters) for different channels based on their relative filling speeds. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain balanced buffer utilization while preserving the benefits of parallel encoding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If substream buffer size is increased to accommodate faster filling channels, then data integrity is ensured, but hardware costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidhardware costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the encoding process (such as bit allocation, quantization step sizes, or entropy encoding precision) across different channels to equalize the output rates. This parameter adjustment ensures that all substreams fill their buffers at comparable rates, eliminating the need for oversized buffers and reducing hardware costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary analysis and parameter configuration before actual parallel encoding begins. By pre-calibrating the encoding parameters based on channel characteristics and predicting filling speeds, the system proactively prevents buffer size imbalances, ensuring data integrity without requiring excessive buffer capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Volume of stationary object

If encoding parameters are adjusted to balance substream filling speeds, then buffer size is reduced, but encoding complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebuffer sizeVSAvoidencoding complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the encoding process into independent channel segments that can be controlled separately. Each channel's encoding parameters are adjusted independently based on its specific filling speed characteristics, allowing for localized optimization without requiring complex global coordination, thus managing encoding complexity effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4593382A1Image coding method and apparatus, image decoding method and apparatus, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 HANGZHOU HIKVISION DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
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  • EP4593382A1 patent drawingFigure 8~9

AI summary

Provided in the present application are an image encoding method and apparatus, an image decoding method and apparatus and a storage medium. The encoding method comprises: acquiring an encoding unit, wherein the encoding unit is an image block in an image to be processed, and comprises encoding blocks of a plurality channels, the plurality channels comprise a first channel, and the first channel is any one of the plurality channels; and encoding the encoding block of the first channel according to a first encoding mode. The method is suitable for image encoding and decoding processes, and is used for solving the problem of substream buffers being set to be excessively large.