Merge Data Syntax Signaling for Low-Overhead Video Inter Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing demand for high-resolution, high-quality images and videos, particularly in virtual reality and augmented reality, necessitates a more efficient image/video compression technique to reduce transmission and storage costs while effectively handling diverse image/video characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A method for enhancing image coding efficiency by optimizing inter prediction processes, reducing unnecessary signaling, and efficiently signaling merge mode information during inter prediction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If high resolution and high quality image/video are transmitted, then image quality is improved, but transmission cost and storage cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidtransmission cost and storage cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and transmits only the essential difference information (merge index and motion vector difference) rather than complete motion information. By separating and transmitting only the necessary differential data, the system achieves high quality inter prediction while significantly reducing the amount of transmitted data, thereby lowering transmission and storage costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation by using differential encoding (motion vector difference instead of absolute motion vector) and index-based representation (merge index instead of complete motion information). This parameter transformation reduces the bit rate required to represent the same visual information, enabling cost-effective high quality transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If merge data syntax is fully signaled, then inter prediction accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinter prediction accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the critical components of merge data syntax (merge index and motion vector difference) while omitting redundant information. This selective extraction maintains sufficient inter prediction accuracy for high quality reconstruction while dramatically reducing signaling overhead in the bitstream.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial signaling by transmitting only the necessary portion of merge data syntax rather than complete information. The merge index and motion vector difference provide sufficient accuracy for high quality inter prediction without the excessive overhead of signaling all possible motion parameters, achieving an optimal balance between accuracy and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3989583B1Signaling method and device for merge data syntax in video/image coding system
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3989583B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3989583B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3989583B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A decoding method performed by a decoding device according to the present document comprises: a step for determining the prediction mode of a current block on the basis of information on a prediction mode acquired from a bitstream; a step for deriving movement information on the current block on the basis of the prediction mode; a step for generating prediction samples of the current block on the basis of the movement information; and a step for generating reconstructed samples on the basis of the prediction samples, wherein the step for determining the prediction mode may include a step for acquiring a regular merge flag from the bitstream on the basis of a combined inter-picture merge and intra-picture prediction (CIIP) available flag that indicates whether or not a CIIP is available.