Intra Merge Skip Mode for Null-Residual Video Block Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video compression technologies face challenges in efficiently leveraging intra prediction modes, particularly in scenarios where residual prediction is null, leading to suboptimal compression efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an intra merge skip mode that determines whether residual prediction is null and selects an intra mode from a list of candidates, excluding the Intra Block Copy mode, to encode or decode video blocks more efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional intra prediction modes are used for all blocks, then prediction accuracy is maintained, but compression efficiency deteriorates due to unnecessary encoding of residual prediction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidprediction accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a new parameter (intra merge skip mode flag) that changes the encoding state from conventional residual-based prediction to skip-mode prediction. When this flag is set, the encoder switches to a different prediction approach that does not require residual encoding, thereby improving compression efficiency while maintaining acceptable prediction accuracy for suitable blocks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If intra merge skip mode is applied to all intra modes, then compression efficiency improves, but reliability deteriorates due to potential loss of prediction accuracy for certain modes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidprediction reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the intra merge skip mode selectively rather than universally. Different intra modes are evaluated individually to determine whether they benefit from skip-mode encoding. This localized application ensures that only modes suitable for skip encoding (where residual is likely null) use this mode, while other modes continue with conventional encoding, thus maintaining overall prediction reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic selection of encoding modes based on block characteristics. The encoder evaluates each block to determine whether intra merge skip mode is appropriate, rather than using a fixed encoding approach. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize between compression efficiency and prediction reliability on a per-block basis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If residual prediction is always encoded, then prediction accuracy is maintained, but device complexity increases due to additional encoding steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprediction accuracyVSAvoidencoding complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the residual encoding step from the conventional intra prediction process for blocks where it is unnecessary. By identifying blocks where the residual is likely null and applying intra merge skip mode, the patent removes the redundant residual encoding operations, thereby reducing encoding complexity without significantly impacting prediction accuracy for those specific blocks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4668737A1Merge skip specialization for intra modes
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS SAS
  • EP4668737A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4668737A1 patent drawingFigure 1C
  • EP4668737A1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A method and an apparatus for encoding or decoding an image or a video are provided wherein it is determined, for a block of a video, whether or not an intra merge skip mode is used for the block, the intra merge skip mode indicating that residual prediction of the block is inferred to be null and an intra mode for predicting the block is selected in a list of intra mode candidates. The list of intra mode candidates is obtained based on a set of intra modes for which the intra merge skip mode is enabled, the set of intra modes comprising at least one intra mode distinct from an Intra Block Copy mode. If the intra merge skip mode is used for the block, the block is encoded or reconstructed using a selected intra mode candidate in the list of intra mode candidates.