Long-Term Reference Frame Updates for Stable Video Coding Quality

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video encoding schemes suffer from error propagation and decreasing coding quality over time due to the use of a fixed reference frame, leading to suboptimal encoding performance.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that dynamically adjusts the long-term reference frame based on the coding quality and type of multimedia frames, using motion vectors to determine frame types and update the reference frame accordingly, ensuring accurate and appropriate reference information for encoding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a fixed long-term reference frame is used for encoding multimedia frames, then the encoding process is simple and fast, but the coding quality gradually decreases as encoding proceeds due to error propagation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencoding speedVSAvoidcoding quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from a fixed reference frame to a dynamic reference frame selection mechanism. The system dynamically selects the most appropriate long-term reference frame based on motion characteristics and coding quality metrics, allowing the reference frame to adapt throughout the encoding process. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining encoding efficiency while preventing quality degradation through intelligent, condition-based reference frame updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by continuously evaluating coding quality metrics and motion vector characteristics during the encoding process. The system uses this feedback information to determine whether to update the long-term reference frame, creating a closed-loop control mechanism. This feedback-driven approach ensures that reference frame updates occur only when beneficial, maintaining high coding quality without unnecessary processing overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If the long-term reference frame is updated frequently to maintain coding quality, then the coding quality is improved, but the complexity of the encoding process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoding qualityVSAvoidencoding process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by monitoring specific parameters (motion vector magnitude, coding quality metrics) to trigger reference frame updates. Instead of complex continuous optimization, the system changes the reference frame parameter discretely when threshold conditions are met. This simplifies the encoding process complexity while maintaining coding quality through parameter-threshold-based decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements discarding and recovering by selectively discarding outdated or degraded reference frames and recovering fresh reference frames from the encoded stream when quality thresholds are violated. This principle allows the system to maintain high coding quality by replacing reference frames only when necessary, avoiding unnecessary processing complexity while ensuring quality preservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If temporally distant frames are used as reference frames to reduce error propagation, then error propagation is reduced, but the reference information becomes less accurate and effective

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror propagation controlVSAvoidreference information accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by proactively selecting and updating the long-term reference frame based on predicted motion characteristics and quality metrics before encoding proceeds far enough to cause significant error propagation. The system performs preliminary reference frame selection using motion vector analysis, ensuring that the reference frame remains temporally close enough to maintain accuracy while still providing error propagation benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4708848A1Multimedia data coding method and apparatus, readable medium and electronic device
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO LTD
  • EP4708848A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4708848A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4708848A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed in the present application are a multimedia data coding method and apparatus, a computer readable medium and an electronic device. The method comprises: according to a long-term reference frame corresponding to a current multimedia frame to be coded in multimedia data, coding said current multimedia frame to obtain a current coded multimedia frame; acquiring the coding quality of the long-term reference frame, and calculating the coding quality of the current coded multimedia frame; according to a motion vector corresponding to a coding block in the current coded multimedia frame, determining the type of the current coded multimedia frame; and, according to the coding quality of the current coded multimedia frame, the type of the current coded multimedia frame and the coding quality of the long-term reference frame, updating the long-term reference frame. The technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application ensures that updated long-term reference frames are more reasonable and accurate, thus improving the coding quality of multimedia data.