Reference Picture List Signaling for Decoded Buffer Management

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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 and memory-constrained environments.

Innovation Solution

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

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If reference picture lists are extensively signaled in the bitstream to improve decoding accuracy, then reference picture management precision is improved, but bitstream complexity and bandwidth usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference picture management precisionVSAvoidbitstream size
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and separates the reference picture management information into distinct components: short-term reference pictures are managed through compact list structures while long-term reference pictures are handled through separate signaling mechanisms. This extraction allows efficient representation of only the necessary reference information in the bitstream, reducing overall bitstream size while maintaining precision in reference picture management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The reference picture buffer is segmented into multiple independent lists (reference picture list 0 and reference picture list 1), each managing specific reference pictures with different retention periods. This segmentation enables selective signaling and management of reference pictures, allowing the system to transmit only the necessary reference information for each list type, thereby reducing bitstream complexity while preserving decoding accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If more reference pictures are stored in the decoded picture buffer to improve reconstruction quality, then image quality is improved, but memory resource consumption increases

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic reference picture management where the decoded picture buffer adaptively allocates memory resources based on actual decoding needs. Reference pictures are dynamically added to or removed from reference picture lists based on their utility for future predictions, allowing the system to maintain high image quality while optimizing memory utilization according to the specific video content and prediction requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions or types of reference pictures within the buffer are assigned different retention priorities and management strategies. Short-term reference pictures are managed with one set of parameters while long-term reference pictures use different parameters, allowing the system to optimize memory allocation locally for different reference picture types, thereby maintaining overall image quality with reduced total memory consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4723633A2Reference picture management in video coding
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4723633A2 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4723633A2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4723633A2 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method of decoding a coded video bitstream 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 one of 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.