Picture Partitioning for Parallel Video Decoding Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing size, resolution, and frame rate of video data necessitate improved encoding and decoding efficiency beyond existing compression techniques like H.264/AVC and HEVC, as they require significant hardware resources and do not adequately address the growing data volume.

Innovation Solution

A method for partitioning a picture into sub-units, including decoding a split flag and partition information from a bitstream to optimize encoding and decoding processes, and a video decoding apparatus with a partitioner to facilitate this partitioning for various purposes such as synthesis of sequences, bitstream packing, and parallel processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If video data is compressed using existing techniques like H.264/AVC or HEVC, then compression is achieved, but hardware resource requirements remain significant and do not scale with increasing video size, resolution, and frame rate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencoding and decoding efficiencyVSAvoidhardware resource requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The picture is divided into multiple sub-units (tiles, slices, or sub-pictures) that can be processed independently and in parallel. This segmentation allows the decoding workload to be distributed across multiple processing elements, improving efficiency while maintaining manageable hardware resource requirements for each processing unit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If video resolution and frame rate are increased to meet quality requirements, then image quality improves, but the amount of data to be encoded increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoiddata volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the high-resolution video data into smaller sub-units, the patent enables more efficient compression of each segment while maintaining overall image quality. The segmented structure allows for better utilization of compression algorithms on manageable data blocks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces flexible partitioning parameters that can be adjusted based on video characteristics, resolution, and frame rate. By changing the partitioning parameters dynamically, the system optimizes the balance between data volume and processing efficiency for different quality requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If video data is processed without partitioning, then processing is simpler, but encoding and decoding efficiency decreases for high-resolution and high-frame-rate video

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the video data into sub-units that can be processed in parallel, improving overall processing efficiency. The segmentation is implemented through standardized structures (tiles, slices, sub-pictures) that add manageable complexity while enabling significant performance gains

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partitioning structure is established in advance during encoding, with partition information embedded in the bitstream. This preliminary organization of data allows the decoder to efficiently process each sub-unit without requiring complex runtime decisions, balancing efficiency and complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12610049B2Method for splitting picture and decoding apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.04.21 SK TELECOM CO LTD
  • US12610049B2 patent drawing
  • US12610049B2 patent drawing
  • US12610049B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for partitioning a picture is disclosed. The method includes: decoding, from a bitstream, a split flag indicating whether the picture is partitioned into one or more sub-units; decoding, from the bitstream, partition information when the split flag indicates partitioning; and partitioning the picture into the sub-units based on the partition information.