Parallel Macroblock Encoding for H.264 Video Stream Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
The H.264 video encoding process is time-consuming due to successive prediction processes for each frame, particularly when frames have numerous macroblocks, leading to inefficiencies in video encoding.
Innovation Solution
A method for simultaneously encoding groups of macroblocks in a frame by performing multiple encoding procedures in parallel, where each group is compared with a macroblock set from a preceding frame to generate strings of data, reducing the time required for encoding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If successive prediction processes are performed for each macroblock, then encoding accuracy is maintained, but encoding time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into multiple groups of macroblocks (e.g., four groups), allowing parallel processing of different groups while maintaining the necessary prediction accuracy within each group. This segmentation enables simultaneous encoding of multiple groups without compromising overall encoding quality.
Solution Approach 2:
Reference frames are pre-encoded and stored in frame buffers before the current frame encoding begins. This preliminary action allows the parallel encoding processes to access reference data without waiting, reducing the overall encoding time while maintaining prediction accuracy.
2Productivity
If multiple encoding procedures are performed simultaneously, then encoding speed increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The encoding system is segmented into multiple independent encoding procedures, each handling a specific group of macroblocks. This modular segmentation allows parallel execution while keeping each processing unit relatively simple, managing system complexity through structured division.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces parallelism as a new dimension of processing by simultaneously executing multiple encoding procedures for different macroblock groups. This dimensional change from sequential to parallel processing increases encoding speed without proportionally increasing the complexity of individual encoding units.
Data Source
AI summary
A first frame associated with a video stream is in a prior sequence than a second frame of the video stream. Each of the first frame and the second frame has a plurality of groups, and each of the groups contains a plurality of macroblocks. A plurality of encoding procedures of the groups of the second frame are simultaneously performed to encode the second frame into a plurality of strings of data, and encoded data of the second frame is outputted by the encoder according to the strings of data. Since a plurality of groups of the macroblocks in the second frame are simultaneously encoded, the encoder has a high efficiency of encoding the video stream.