Partitioned Entropy Coding for Higher Compression Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current entropy coding schemes face challenges in achieving a balance between coding complexity and compression efficiency, particularly when dealing with time-varying source statistics and higher-order probability modeling, as they often require substantial algorithmic complexity and implementation costs.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves decomposing the value range of syntax elements into a sequence of partitions, where components within each partition are coded separately using Variable-Length Coding (VLC) and Arithmetic Coding, allowing for a more efficient trade-off between coding complexity and compression efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If arithmetic coding is used to achieve better compression efficiency for time-varying source statistics and higher-order probability modeling, then compression efficiency is improved, but coding complexity increases substantially

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidcoding complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the probability distribution into multiple discrete probability levels (e.g., 8 levels from 1/256 to 128/256). Each level has a dedicated VLC table, allowing the system to select the most appropriate coding scheme for each symbol based on its probability level. This segmentation enables the system to achieve compression efficiency close to arithmetic coding while maintaining the simplicity of VLC by avoiding the need to handle all possible probability values continuously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different coding strategies to different parts of the probability space. For high-probability symbols (levels 1-4), simpler VLC tables are used, while for lower-probability symbols (levels 5-8), more detailed VLC tables provide better compression. This local differentiation allows the system to optimize compression efficiency for each probability range without uniformly increasing complexity across all symbols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If Huffman codes with VLC tables are used to reduce coding complexity, then ease of implementation is improved, but compression efficiency deteriorates when dealing with time-varying source statistics and highly skewed probability distributions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of implementationVSAvoidcompression efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic selection among multiple VLC tables based on the probability level of each symbol. Instead of using a single static VLC table, the system maintains 8 different VLC tables corresponding to 8 probability levels. The appropriate table is selected dynamically for each symbol based on its estimated probability level, allowing the coding scheme to adapt to time-varying source statistics while maintaining the simplicity of VLC implementation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of the coding scheme by introducing multiple VLC tables with different code assignments optimized for different probability levels. Each VLC table is specifically designed for its corresponding probability level, allowing the system to change the coding parameters (which VLC table to use) based on the symbol's probability characteristics, thereby improving compression efficiency without changing the fundamental VLC approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If multiple sets of VLC tables are used for higher-order probability modeling, then compression efficiency is improved, but device complexity and implementation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidimplementation costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal VLC coding framework that handles higher-order probability modeling through a single unified structure. Instead of requiring separate coding mechanisms for different probability models, the system uses one universal approach: estimate the probability level, select the corresponding VLC table from the 8 available tables, and encode. This multi-functional VLC table set serves all higher-order probability modeling needs without requiring additional complex infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2768144B1Entropy encoding and decoding scheme
Publication Date: 2016.03.23 GE VIDEO COMPRESSION LLC
  • EP2768144B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2768144B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~1C
  • EP2768144B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

Decomposing a value range of the respective syntax elements into a sequence of n partitions with coding the components of z laying within the respective partitions separately with at least one by VCL coding and with at least one by PIPE or entropy coding is used to greatly increase the compression efficiency at a moderate coding overhead since the coding scheme used may be better adapted to the syntax element statistics. Accordingly, in accordance with embodiments, syntax elements are decomposed into a respective number n of source symbols si with i=1...n, the respective number n of source symbols depending on as to which of a sequence of n partitions (1401-3) into which a value range of the respective syntax elements is sub-divided, a value z of the respective syntax elements falls into, so that a sum of values of the respective number of source symbols si yields z, and, if n>1; for all i=1...n-1, the value of si corresponds to a range of the ith partition.