Skip Modes for Inter-Layer Residual Video Coding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing scalable video encoders and decoders lack efficient methods to represent and process inter-layer residual video, leading to suboptimal quality and bit rate management, particularly in scenarios where common patterns in inter-layer residual video content are not effectively utilized.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of skip modes for macroblocks and channels in inter-layer residual video processing, allowing for the selection of intra skip modes, predicted-motion skip modes, and channel skip modes to efficiently represent common patterns and adapt to changes in video content, thereby improving rate-distortion performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If skip mode is used for macroblocks in inter-layer residual video, then bit rate is reduced, but processing efficiency and adaptability to content variations deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebit rateVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the skip mode selection adaptive rather than static. The encoder dynamically determines whether to apply skip mode on a macroblock-by-macroblock basis by evaluating criteria such as motion vector differences and residual energy. This allows the system to adapt to local content variations, improving processing efficiency while maintaining bit rate reduction benefits where applicable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes parameters by introducing multiple skip mode types (intra skip, inter skip, channel skip) with different characteristics. The encoder can select among these modes based on content analysis, changing the processing parameter to match the local video characteristics. This resolves the contradiction by allowing bit rate reduction through skip modes while maintaining efficiency through selective application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If skip mode is used for macroblocks in inter-layer residual video, then bit rate overhead is reduced, but representation accuracy of common patterns deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebit rate overheadVSAvoidrepresentation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the representation accuracy local rather than uniform. Different macroblocks can use different skip modes or full encoding based on their local characteristics. Common patterns like uniform motion regions use aggressive skip modes for bit rate reduction, while complex regions use full encoding for high accuracy, resolving the contradiction between overhead reduction and representation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses feedback mechanisms where the encoder evaluates residual energy and motion vector differences to determine skip mode applicability. This feedback loop ensures that skip modes are applied only when they maintain sufficient representation accuracy, preventing excessive bit rate reduction that would compromise quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple skip modes are introduced for different macroblock types, then adaptability to various video content scenarios improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to video contentVSAvoidencoder complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the video content into different macroblock types (intra, inter, skip) and applying appropriate skip modes to each segment. This segmentation strategy improves adaptability to different content scenarios while managing complexity by using simple classification rules and separate processing paths for each macroblock type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2319241B1Skip modes for inter-layer residual video coding and decoding
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP2319241B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2319241B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2319241B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques and tools for skip modes in encoding and decoding of inter-layer residual video are described. For example, an encoder encodes multiple macroblocks of a picture of inter-layer residual video. For a current macroblock that is skipped, the encoder selects a skip mode from among multiple available skip modes and uses the selected skip mode when encoding the current macroblock. The skip modes can include intra skip mode and predicted-motion skip mode. A corresponding decoder, for the current macroblock, selects and uses the skip mode for the current macroblock during decoding. As another example, an encoder encodes multiple channels of a picture of inter-layer residual video. For each channel, the encoder determines whether to skip the channel. The encoder signals channel skip information to indicate which channels are skipped. A corresponding decoder parses the channel skip information and determines on a channel-by-channel basis whether to skip the respective channels.