Selective Video Re-encoding for Bit Rate Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current video re-encoding methods face challenges in efficiently managing bit rate and quality of decode-independent segments within video bit-streams, often resulting in suboptimal video quality and bit rate fluctuations.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for re-encoding decode-independent segments based on quality and bit-rate criteria, allowing selection between original and re-encoded segments to generate an output video bit-stream that meets target quality and bit-rate requirements, using a system comprising a decoder, encoder, and bit-stream generator with a buffer and encoding controller.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If video re-encoding is performed to improve perceptual quality, then video quality improves, but bit rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo qualityVSAvoidbit rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The video bit-stream is divided into decode-independent segments (DIS), each processed independently through quality assessment and selective re-encoding. This segmentation allows targeted quality improvement in specific segments without unnecessarily increasing bit rate across the entire video stream.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Quality assessment is performed on a per-segment basis using perceptual quality metrics. Only segments that fail to meet quality thresholds undergo re-encoding, while high-quality segments are preserved in their original form. This local quality approach optimizes the balance between overall video quality and bit rate efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If re-encoding is applied to all segments, then quality consistency improves, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality consistencyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Quality assessment is performed on all decode-independent segments before final encoding decisions are made. This preliminary quality evaluation identifies which segments require re-encoding, allowing the system to prepare appropriate encoding parameters in advance and avoid unnecessary processing of already high-quality segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Encoding parameters are dynamically adjusted based on segment-specific quality assessments. Segments requiring improvement receive enhanced encoding parameters, while high-quality segments use minimal or no re-encoding. This parameter adaptation maintains quality consistency where needed while minimizing processing overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If bit rate is constrained to meet transmission requirements, then bandwidth efficiency improves, but video quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebit rateVSAvoidvideo quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts encoding parameters within each decode-independent segment to meet bit rate constraints while maximizing quality. By processing segments independently and adapting parameters locally, the system achieves efficient bit rate utilization without uniformly degrading quality across the entire video stream.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Perceptual quality assessment provides feedback on the quality of each segment after encoding. This feedback loop allows the system to identify segments where quality has degraded due to bit rate constraints and apply targeted re-encoding or parameter adjustments to restore quality while maintaining overall bit rate compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3033872B1Quality driven video re-encoding
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 BEAMR IMAGING LTD
  • EP3033872B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3033872B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3033872B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method, comprising obtaining a first plurality of decode-independent segments corresponding to an original video bit-stream, re-encoding each one of the first plurality of decode-independent segments according to a quality criterion, giving rise to a second plurality of decode-independent segments; and generating an output video bitstream comprising a third plurality of decode- independent segments, wherein each segment in the third plurality of decode- independent segments is selected from either the first plurality of decode- independent segments or from the second plurality of decode-independent segments using a selection criterion that is related at least to a segment's bit- rate.