Non-Binary Profile Constraint Signaling for Video Interoperability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current video codecs, such as HEVC and VVC, face challenges in ensuring interoperability between encoders and decoders due to variations in bitstream encoding, leading to potential decoding failures, despite using the same codec format, as there is no standardized mechanism for signaling interoperability points.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for encoding and decoding non-binary profile constraints in video bitstreams, enabling the signaling of interoperability points defined by third parties, using a fixed number of bits for easier management and compatibility, ensuring forward and backward compatibility, and reducing computational resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If binary constraint flags are used to indicate decoder capabilities, then the signaling mechanism is simple and standardized, but it cannot represent non-binary profile constraint values and limits interoperability flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter type from binary (0 or 1) to non-binary (multiple possible values), allowing profile constraint values to represent different decoder capability levels. This enables more flexible interoperability signaling while maintaining a standardized syntax structure that can be extended to support various constraint types without requiring complete redesign of the signaling mechanism.
2Reliability
If full bitstream decoding is performed to determine decoder capability, then accurate compatibility verification is achieved, but computational resources and processing time are excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential interoperability information (profile constraint values) from the full bitstream and uses this extracted data for decoder capability verification. This avoids the need to decode the entire bitstream while still providing sufficient information to determine compatibility, significantly reducing computational resource consumption and processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary capability verification using profile constraint values before committing to full bitstream decoding. This preliminary check allows the decoder to quickly determine compatibility and avoid unnecessary computational resources if the bitstream is not supported, improving efficiency while maintaining reliable verification for compatible streams.
3Measurement precision
If variable number of bits is used for profile constraint signaling, then precise representation of constraint values is achieved, but bitstream management and parsing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic bit allocation scheme where the number of bits used for profile constraint signaling is determined by the maximum constraint value that needs to be represented. This dynamic approach allows the system to use the minimum necessary bits for precise representation while maintaining ease of operation through a systematic method for determining bit allocation based on the specific constraint requirements of each application.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer program product provide non-binary profile constraints in image or video bitstreams such that a decoder is able to determine whether the decoder can decode the bitstream without completely decoding the bitstream. The method, apparatus and computer program product encode one or more source pictures into a bitstream. The encoding characterized by one or more coding properties (20). The method, apparatus and computer program product further encode a syntax structure indicating the one or more coding properties of the bitstream into or along the bitstream (22). The syntax structure includes a first portion including one or more fixed syntax elements with one or more pre-defined lengths in bits at one or more pre-defined bit positions and a second portion comprising one or more conditional syntax elements. Presence of the conditional syntax element(s) is conditioned based on one or more values associated with the one or more fixed elements.