Reference Picture List Reordering for Inter-View Coding Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Multiview Video Coding (MVC) standard requires signaling a reference index for each block in a view component, leading to increased bit usage due to large index values, particularly for inter-view reference pictures, which reduces coding efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The proposed decoding method modifies the reference picture list to place the inter-view reference picture at the beginning, reducing the value of the reference index and thereby reducing the bit amount needed for coding, by writing a reference list modification syntax into the slice header and modifying the reference picture list so that the inter-view reference picture is indicated by a smaller index value.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the reference index is signaled for each block using the conventional reference picture list ordering, then the inter-view reference picture can be correctly identified, but the index value becomes large requiring more bits for coding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference index accuracyVSAvoidbit amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional ordering approach by placing inter-view reference pictures at the beginning of the reference picture list instead of at the end. This inversion causes frequently used inter-view reference pictures to be assigned smaller index values, reducing the bit amount required for signaling while maintaining correct identification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the ordering parameter of the reference picture list to prioritize inter-view reference pictures. By modifying the list structure and repositioning elements, the index values for important reference pictures are optimized to require fewer bits for encoding, directly addressing the bit amount issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If inter-view prediction is used for compression, then coding efficiency is improved, but the reference index values become large increasing the signaling overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoding efficiencyVSAvoidbit usage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies inversion by reversing the conventional reference picture list ordering to place inter-view reference pictures first. This allows inter-view prediction to continue functioning effectively for compression while simultaneously reducing the index values and associated signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary reordering of the reference picture list during the decoding initialization phase. By pre-positioning inter-view reference pictures at the beginning of the list before actual prediction operations, the system ensures that subsequent inter-view prediction operations use optimized small index values, reducing overall signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2413606B1Decoding method, decoding device
Publication Date: 2018.05.02 SUN PATENT TRUST
  • EP2413606B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2413606B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2413606B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a coding method that allows reduction of a code amount necessary for coding reference indexes and improvement in the coding efficiency. The coding method according to the present invention is a method of coding a random accessible picture using inter-view reference, and includes: writing, into a slice header of the random accessible picture, a reference list modification syntax for modifying a reference picture list so that an inter-view reference picture is placed at the beginning of the reference picture list (S103); placing the inter-view reference picture at the beginning of the reference picture list (S104); and coding a current slice included in the random accessible picture, using the reference picture list (S105).