Single Sample Mode Video Coding Smooth Areas

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current video coding techniques for depth maps and screen content videos, which often contain smooth areas with similar pixel values, do not fully leverage these characteristics to improve coding efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The Single Sample Mode method constructs a sample candidate list from neighboring samples and uses a single representative sample value to code entire blocks, reducing redundancy and improving compression efficiency by signaling or deriving this value at the encoder or decoder side.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional video coding techniques are used for depth maps and screen content videos, then general coding is performed, but coding efficiency is not optimized for smooth areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoding efficiencyVSAvoidcoding complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the coding parameter from block-based representation to single-sample representation for smooth areas. By detecting smooth regions and representing them with a single sample value instead of multiple block values, the coding efficiency is improved while maintaining manageable complexity through systematic detection and coding rules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different coding strategies to different regions of the video data. Smooth areas are coded using single-sample mode while other areas use conventional block-based coding. This local differentiation optimizes coding efficiency for smooth regions without unnecessarily complicating the overall coding process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If single sample mode is used to code entire blocks, then bit-rate is reduced, but coding complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebit-rateVSAvoidcoding complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a new coding parameter (single-sample representation) that reduces the quantity of data needed to represent smooth areas. By changing from block-based parameters to single-sample parameters, bit-rate is reduced while complexity is controlled through systematic detection and coding procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts smooth areas from the overall video data and applies a specialized single-sample coding method only to these extracted regions. This selective approach reduces bit-rate for smooth areas while avoiding unnecessary complexity in regions where conventional coding is more appropriate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If conventional block coding is used, then all areas are coded uniformly, but smooth area characteristics are not utilized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoding efficiency for smooth areasVSAvoidcoding simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by detecting smooth regions and applying single-sample coding specifically to these regions, while maintaining conventional block coding for other areas. This localized approach improves coding efficiency for smooth areas without making the overall coding process overly complex.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the video data into smooth areas and non-smooth areas, applying different coding strategies to each segment. This segmentation allows the exploitation of smooth area characteristics while maintaining coding simplicity through clear segmentation rules and separate processing paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3111642B1Method and apparatus of single sample mode for video coding
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 HFI INNOVATION INC
  • EP3111642B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3111642B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~2A
  • EP3111642B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A method and apparatus of video coding including a Single Sample Mode are disclosed. Embodiments according to the present invention construct a sample candidate list comprising one or more sample candidates from previously reconstructed neighboring samples of the current depth block or the current texture block. A sample candidate is selected from the sample candidate list and the selected sample candidate is used as reconstructed samples for the current depth block or the current texture block. A sample candidate index indicating the selected sample candidate can be signaled at the encoder side or parsed at the decoder side. Alternatively, the sample candidate index can be derived implicitly.