HEVC SAO Parameter Signaling with Decoupled BO and EO Coding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Sample Adaptive Offset (SAO) signaling in HEVC video coding systems is inefficient due to interleaving of context-coded and by-pass coded bins, limiting the throughput of the CABAC engine and not effectively utilizing context statistics for EO and BO types.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution decouples SAO type coding, using truncated unary binarization and bypass mode for improved context modeling, allowing separate signaling for SAO on/off, BO, and EO, and grouping context-coded and by-pass coded bins to enhance CABAC throughput.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If context-coded and by-pass coded bins are interleaved in SAO signaling, then context statistics can be utilized for coding, but the throughput of the CABAC engine is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontext statistics utilizationVSAvoidCABAC engine throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the SAO signaling process into distinct phases: first transmitting the SAO type (which determines whether edge offset or band offset is used), then separately transmitting the offset values. This segmentation allows the CABAC engine to process context-coded bins (SAO type) and by-pass coded bins (offset values) in sequence rather than interleaved, thereby improving throughput while still utilizing context statistics for the SAO type coding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If multiple contexts are used for SAO type coding, then coding accuracy can be improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoding accuracyVSAvoidnumber of contexts
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different coding strategies to different parts of the SAO signaling: context-adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) is used for the SAO type to utilize context statistics and improve coding accuracy, while by-pass coding is used for the offset values where context modeling is less beneficial. This local differentiation optimizes the balance between coding accuracy and complexity by applying complex context modeling only where it provides the most benefit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3591976B1Decoupling enhancements in sample adaptive offset (SAO) for high efficiency video encoder (HEVC)
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3591976B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3591976B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3591976B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An encoder/decoder is described using enhanced signaling mechanisms SAO parameters. The various parameters are signaled in various ways according to different embodiments of the invention. In a first embodiment (embodiment A), SAO on / off is decoupled form SAO type coding, with SAO on / off flags being jointly encoded for all color components. The second embodiment (embodiment B), is similar to embodiment A, but modified for application to JCTVC-J0268. In a third embodiment separate signaling is provided for SAO on / off, SAO types BO and EO, and for BO and EO side information (classes or band position). Each of these enhanced SAO signaling mechanisms provide enhanced coding efficiency.