Picture Encoding With Adaptive Entropy Skip and Artifact Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing end-to-end picture coding processes introduce artifacts due to the skipping of entropy encoding and decoding, which affects the quality of reconstructed pictures.

Innovation Solution

An encoding and decoding method that determines whether to perform adaptive entropy encoding skip processing on regions based on probability estimation, using flags to indicate processing status, thereby avoiding artifacts in reconstructed pictures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If entropy encoding and decoding are skipped in the picture coding process, then encoding efficiency is improved, but artifacts are introduced into the reconstructed picture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencoding efficiencyVSAvoidartifacts in reconstructed picture
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating processing across different picture blocks. Some blocks undergo entropy encoding while others skip it, based on their specific characteristics. This selective approach allows the system to optimize for speed in suitable regions while maintaining quality in regions where skipping would introduce artifacts, thus resolving the contradiction between encoding efficiency and artifact prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic adaptability by using probability estimation to determine whether to skip entropy encoding for each block. This dynamic decision-making process allows the encoding strategy to adapt to local picture characteristics, enabling the system to switch between quality-preserving and efficiency-optimized modes based on real-time assessment of artifact risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If entropy encoding is performed on all regions, then picture quality is maintained, but encoding time and bit rate overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepicture qualityVSAvoidencoding time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by performing entropy encoding only on blocks where it is necessary to maintain quality, rather than uniformly applying it to all blocks. The probability estimation mechanism identifies blocks where skipping entropy encoding would not significantly degrade quality, allowing the system to omit encoding in those cases and thus reduce overall encoding time while maintaining acceptable picture quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the encoding parameter (whether to perform entropy encoding) based on estimated probability values. By dynamically adjusting this parameter for different blocks according to their characteristics, the system optimizes the balance between encoding time and picture quality, performing encoding only when the parameters indicate it will provide meaningful quality improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If adaptive entropy encoding skip processing is performed, then encoding efficiency is improved, but probability estimation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencoding efficiencyVSAvoidprobability estimation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces probability estimation as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the simple decision of whether to skip encoding and the complex requirement of maintaining quality. This intermediary assessment layer provides a quantitative basis for decision-making, allowing the system to efficiently determine which blocks can skip encoding without requiring complex analysis or heuristics, thus managing complexity while improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4668751A1Encoding method, decoding method and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4668751A1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP4668751A1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP4668751A1 patent drawingFigure 1c

AI summary

This application provides an encoding and decoding method, and an electronic device. The encoding method includes: obtaining a to-be-encoded picture; extracting a feature map of the to-be-encoded picture, and determining a probability estimation result of a to-be-encoded region in the feature map; determining, based on an original feature value of the to-be-encoded region and a reconstructed feature value of the to-be-encoded region that is determined after adaptive entropy encoding skip processing is performed on the to-be-encoded region, whether to perform adaptive entropy encoding skip processing on the to-be-encoded region; if yes, performing entropy encoding processing on at least one sub-block in the to-be-encoded region or skipping entropy encoding processing on the at least one sub-block based on the probability estimation result of the to-be-encoded region, and setting a flag corresponding to the to-be-encoded region to a first value; or if no, performing entropy encoding processing on the to-be-encoded region based on the probability estimation result of the to-be-encoded region, and setting a flag corresponding to the to-be-encoded region to a second value; and encoding the flag. This can avoid introducing an artifact into a reconstructed picture.