Image Slicing with Unequal Line Distribution for Encoding Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image processing techniques face inefficiencies in processing load and processing time due to overlapping slice areas in image slicing, leading to reduced processing efficiency and potential image quality degradation.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that sets a second boundary within partial areas to divide them into slices with unequal numbers of lines, ensuring the bottom slice does not have the most lines, allowing for parallel processing and reduced processing time by distributing the load more evenly across cores.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If slicing is performed such that areas of slices overlap to improve motion compensation accuracy, then image quality at boundaries is improved, but processing load increases and processing efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The image is divided into multiple slices with unequal numbers of lines, where the bottom slice has fewer lines than other slices. This segmentation approach allows different processing loads to be distributed across slices, reducing redundant computation in overlapping areas while maintaining boundary quality through selective overlap only where necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetric slicing where slices have unequal numbers of lines, specifically making the bottom slice shorter than others. This asymmetry breaks the uniform redundancy pattern of traditional equal-sized slices, reducing overall processing load while still providing sufficient overlap for motion compensation at critical boundaries.
2Ease of operation
If equal numbers of lines are assigned to each slice for uniform processing, then load distribution is simplified, but processing time increases due to redundant encoding in overlapping areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of slice line distribution from uniform (equal numbers of lines) to non-uniform (unequal numbers of lines). Specifically, the bottom slice is assigned fewer lines than other slices, which reduces the total number of encoding operations in overlapping regions while maintaining adequate coverage for motion compensation, thereby reducing processing time.
3Area of stationary object
If the bottom slice has the most lines to maximize coverage, then boundary coverage is improved, but processing load becomes unbalanced and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the bottom slice the longest to maximize coverage (conventional approach), the patent inverts this logic by making the bottom slice the shortest. This inversion reduces the processing load in the bottom region where overlap with the frame below is minimal or unnecessary, while other slices maintain sufficient length for their respective boundary requirements, overall improving processing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus and an image processing method are provided. The image processing apparatus includes: a division control unit that, on the basis of a first boundary dividing an image into a plurality of partial areas, further sets a second boundary and divides each of the partial areas into a plurality of slices; and an encoding unit that encodes the image on the basis of the first boundary and the second boundary, in which the division control unit sets the second boundary such that the plurality of slices included in the partial area has unequal numbers of lines, and the slice situated at the bottom among the plurality of slices included in the partial area is not a slice having the most lines in the partial area.