Signal Quality Inheritance for Parallel Video Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional MPEG codecs are inefficient on modern parallel CPUs and GPUs due to their block-based, sequential processing nature, which leads to underutilization of processing power and introduces artifacts in high-definition and 3D imaging applications, while existing scalable video coding standards are complex and bandwidth inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A signal processor that reconstructs signals by inheriting attribute settings from parent elements to sub-elements, reducing the need for redundant data transmission and utilizing inheritance symbols to specify attribute settings across levels of quality, allowing for efficient reconstruction of high-quality signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional MPEG block-based sequential processing is used, then compression efficiency is maintained, but CPU/GPU processing power is underutilized and artifacts are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image into multiple independently processable regions or blocks that can be handled in parallel across multiple CPU/GPU cores, moving away from the traditional sequential block-based approach. This enables modern parallel processors to utilize their computing power effectively while maintaining compression efficiency and reducing processing artifacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic processing where the encoding/decoding process adapts to the specific characteristics of each image region, allowing flexible parallel processing strategies. This dynamic approach enables optimization of processing power utilization based on actual image content while maintaining high quality reconstruction.
2Productivity
If MPEG slicing is used to enable parallel processing, then a few threads can process in parallel, but global operations like de-blocking become inefficient on parallel CPUs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent further segments the image into multiple independently processable regions that can be handled by different threads or cores. Each region can be processed independently without requiring complex global operations, thereby simplifying the algorithm while enabling efficient parallel processing on modern CPUs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts or removes the complex global de-blocking operation from the traditional MPEG pipeline and replaces it with region-specific processing that can be performed in parallel. This extraction eliminates the bottleneck caused by sequential global operations while maintaining image quality.
3Productivity
If frequency-domain transforms are used in MPEG, then compression is achieved, but they become unsuitable for high-definition imaging with broader frequency ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing characteristics to different regions of the image based on their local content properties. High-frequency detail regions are handled differently from low-frequency areas, allowing the system to adapt to the broader frequency range in HD imaging while maintaining compression efficiency through region-specific quantization and processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts encoding parameters such as quantization step sizes and transform coefficients based on the local characteristics of each image region. This parameter adaptation enables effective handling of broader frequency ranges in HD imaging while maintaining overall compression efficiency through optimized parameter selection in each region.
4Adaptability or versatility
If SVC (Scalable Video Coding) is used for scalability, then different playback resolutions are supported, but the system becomes too complex and bandwidth inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the video stream into independent regions or frames that can be processed and transmitted separately. This segmentation enables scalability to different playback resolutions without requiring complex inter-dependent structures, thereby reducing encoding complexity while maintaining adaptability across different display devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transmits only the essential information needed for each region or frame, avoiding redundant data transmission. This partial action approach reduces bandwidth usage while maintaining scalability, as the system can reconstruct images at different resolutions based on the transmitted region data without requiring excessive overhead from complex scalability structures.
Data Source
AI summary
A first set of reconstruction data includes a symbol specifying an attribute setting of a parent element in a rendition of the signal at a first level of quality. The attribute setting can be one of multiple attribute settings of the parent element indicating how to configure the parent element for the rendition of the signal at a first level of quality. A signal processor divides the parent element into multiple sub-elements to reconstruct the signal at a second, higher level of quality. The signal processor utilizes the rendition of the signal at the first level of quality and the attribute setting of the parent element as specified by the symbol (at the first level of quality) to produce a default attribute setting for one or more respective sub-elements (into which the parent element is divided) unless reconstruction data to reconstruct the signal at a higher level of quality specifies a different attribute setting for the respective sub-elements.