Reference Picture List Management in the Decoded Picture Buffer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video coding technologies face challenges in efficiently managing reference pictures, leading to inefficiencies in compression and decompression processes, particularly in limited bandwidth scenarios.

Innovation Solution

The method involves constructing and managing reference picture lists by marking the status of reference pictures in a decoded picture buffer as used for short-term or long-term reference, simplifying the signaling process and improving the overall coding efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If reference picture lists are managed with detailed status marking for each picture, then reference picture management accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference picture management accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments reference picture management into two distinct lists: short-term reference picture list and long-term reference picture list. This segmentation allows precise tracking of reference picture status without requiring complex marking mechanisms across a single unified structure, thereby improving management accuracy while controlling complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic list management where reference pictures are automatically added to or removed from short-term and long-term lists based on picture decoding order and reference needs. This dynamic approach replaces static detailed status marking with flexible list operations, maintaining accuracy while reducing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If more reference pictures are maintained in the decoded picture buffer, then image quality is improved, but memory resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidmemory resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements automatic removal of pictures from the short-term reference picture list when they are no longer needed for reference, while maintaining them in the long-term reference picture list when needed. This discarding and recovering mechanism optimizes memory usage by keeping only necessary reference pictures in each list, improving image quality without excessive memory consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses dynamic list management where the composition of short-term and long-term reference picture lists changes based on decoding progress and reference requirements. This allows the system to adapt memory allocation to actual needs, maintaining high image quality while efficiently utilizing limited memory resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If reference picture status is frequently updated during decoding, then coding efficiency is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoding efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary organization of reference pictures into short-term and long-term lists during the decoding process, so that subsequent reference operations can proceed efficiently without requiring frequent status updates. This preliminary action reduces the number of status change operations needed, improving coding efficiency while minimizing processing time overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12581060B2Reference picture management in video coding
Publication Date: 2026.03.17 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • US12581060B2 patent drawing
  • US12581060B2 patent drawing
  • US12581060B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method of decoding a coded video bitstream. The method includes obtaining a first reference picture list of a current slice represented in the coded video bitstream and a second reference picture list of the current slice, and marking a status of a reference picture in a decoded picture buffer (DPB) based on the first reference picture list and the second reference picture list when the current slice is a first slice in a current picture to which the current slice belongs. The status of the reference picture in the decoded picture buffer is used for short-term reference, used for long-term reference, or unused for reference. The method also includes using the reference picture in a reconstructing process of the current picture or a picture following the current picture when the status of the reference picture is used for short-term reference or used for long-term reference.