Single-Layer Progressive Coding for HDR Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in encoding and decoding video data to support a wide variety of display devices with different dynamic ranges, particularly in efficiently converting standard dynamic range (SDR) images to high dynamic range (HDR) images, and vice versa, while maintaining compatibility and quality.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of single-layer progressive coding (SLPC) that progressively encodes and decodes image metadata to support multiple target displays with varying dynamic ranges, using composer metadata to map SDR images to optimized HDR images and vice versa, enabling backward reshaping for accurate display on different devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate encoding systems are used for different display devices, then compatibility with various dynamic ranges is improved, but device complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal single-layer progressive coding system that can adapt to multiple display device types (SDR, HDR, EDR) using a unified encoding framework. The system uses a single bitstream structure with progressive metadata layers that can be selectively applied, eliminating the need for separate encoding systems for different display capabilities while maintaining broad compatibility across all dynamic range types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the metadata into progressive layers (base layer and enhancement layers) that can be selectively applied. The base layer provides SDR compatibility, while optional enhancement layers progressively add HDR/EDR capabilities. This segmentation allows the system to provide only the necessary processing for each specific display type, reducing overall complexity while maintaining versatility.
2Manufacturing precision
If extensive display management operations are performed, then image quality across different devices is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs display management operations during the encoding phase rather than during playback or rendering. The progressive metadata layers are pre-computed and embedded in the bitstream, so that during decoding, the system simply needs to apply the appropriate metadata layer based on the display capabilities, significantly reducing real-time processing requirements while maintaining high image quality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If progressive metadata encoding is implemented, then adaptability to different display capabilities is improved, but metadata size and bitstream complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent structures the metadata as nested progressive layers where the base layer contains essential SDR-compatible information, and enhancement layers contain additional HDR/EDR-specific metadata. Each enhancement layer builds upon and includes the functionality of previous layers, allowing the system to transmit only the necessary metadata for each display type while maintaining the option to support higher dynamic ranges if needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows receivers to discard enhancement layer metadata if they only need SDR output, or to recover and apply higher-level metadata if HDR/EDR capabilities are present. This selective processing reduces the effective metadata size processed by each device type while maintaining the adaptability to support all display capabilities when needed.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
A standard dynamic range (SDR) image is received. Composer metadata of the first level through the N-th level is generated. Composer metadata of the j-th level is generated based on the composer metadata of the first level through (j-1)-th level. The composer metadata of the first level through the composer metadata of the j-th level is to be used for mapping the SDR image to the j-th target image specifically optimized for the j-th reference target display. The SDR image is encoded with the composer metadata of the first level through the k-th level in an output SDR video signal, where 1 <= k <= N. A display device renders a display image derived from a composed target image composed from the SDR image based on the composer metadata of the first level through the k-th level in the output SDR video signal.