Progressive-Golomb Coding for Lower-Complexity Video Decoding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video compression techniques, particularly those using Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) encoding, suffer from edge effects in video streams of moving objects and require significant computational resources for real-time decoding of variable length codes, such as exponential-Golomb codes, which are not efficiently handled by prior communication systems.

Innovation Solution

A communication system employing a progressive-Golomb encoder and decoder that dynamically adjusts group sizes to minimize the average bit length of progressive-Golomb codewords, allowing for efficient compression and decompression of video or audio streams without quality loss, using a block size unit to analyze input data streams and a progressive-Golomb encoder to encode and decode data with customizable group sizes that can match the distribution of the input data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If variable length coding (exponential-Golomb codes) is used for compression, then compression ratio is improved, but decoding complexity and computational resources increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata sizeVSAvoiddecoding complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the Golomb coding process into distinct phases: analysis phase (determining group size parameter k based on data distribution) and encoding phase (applying the determined k value). This segmentation allows the system to perform complex analysis only once per data stream, then use the results for efficient encoding without repeating complex computations for each code word.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary analysis of the input data stream to determine the optimal group size parameter k before actual encoding begins. This preliminary action includes analyzing the distribution of data values and selecting k that minimizes average code length. By performing this complex analysis in advance, the actual encoding process becomes computationally efficient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of substance

If DCT encoding is used for video compression, then compression ratio is improved, but edge effects appear in video streams of moving objects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata sizeVSAvoidedge effects
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different coding strategies to different parts of the video data based on local characteristics. By analyzing the distribution of DCT coefficients in specific regions and adapting the Golomb coding parameters locally, the system maintains compression efficiency while reducing artifacts in motion regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If constant bit rate transfer is used for compressed video, then transmission stability is improved, but compression efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebit rate stabilityVSAvoidcompression efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic adaptation into the coding process by allowing the group size parameter k to be adjusted based on the statistical properties of the input data. This dynamic parameter selection enables the encoder to optimize compression efficiency for different video content characteristics while maintaining a relatively stable overall bit rate through controlled encoding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3140911B1Communication system with coding mechanism and method of operation thereof
Publication Date: 2021.04.14 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3140911B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3140911B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3140911B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A communication system and the method of operation thereof includes: a block size unit for receiving an input digital data stream; a progressive-Golomb encoder, coupled to the block size unit, for encoding a progressive-Golomb codeword from the input digital data stream; and a transmitter unit, coupled to the progressive-Golomb encoder for transferring the progressive-Golomb codeword to an output device.