Source Color Volume SEI Messaging for Lower HDR Display Overhead

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video coding standards, such as ITU-T H.265 and SMPTE ST 2094, do not efficiently communicate source color volume information, leading to significant overhead and computational complexity in displaying high-dynamic range (HDR) and wide color gamut (WCG) content on displays with different characteristics.

Innovation Solution

Communicate source color volume information using Supplemental Enhancement Information (SEI) messaging, including minimum, maximum, and average luminance values, along with optional chromaticity coordinates for color primaries, to facilitate efficient display management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If existing video coding standards (ITU-T H.265, SMPTE ST 2094) are used to communicate color volume information, then color volume transforms can be performed, but significant overhead and computational complexity are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of display managementVSAvoidcomputational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential color volume information (min and max luminance values) from the complex metadata structures defined in existing standards. By taking out only the critical parameters needed for display management and transmitting these through SEI messaging, the solution eliminates unnecessary computational overhead while preserving the core functionality of color volume transforms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of following the conventional approach of transmitting comprehensive metadata and performing complex decoding operations, the patent inverts the approach by directly transmitting simplified color volume parameters through SEI messages. This inversion reduces the computational burden on receivers while maintaining the ability to perform necessary color volume transforms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Measurement precision

If comprehensive color volume metadata is transmitted to ensure accurate HDR and WCG display, then display accuracy is improved, but transmission overhead increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay accuracyVSAvoidtransmission overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential color volume information (min and max luminance values) from the complex metadata structures defined in existing standards. By taking out only the critical parameters needed for display management and transmitting these through SEI messaging, the solution eliminates unnecessary overhead while preserving the core functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transmits only the partial set of color volume parameters that are most critical for display management (min and max luminance), rather than transmitting the complete metadata structure. This partial action approach achieves sufficient display accuracy for HDR and WCG content while significantly reducing transmission overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Manufacturing precision

If detailed source color gamut information is provided for each scene or frame, then color mapping accuracy is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor mapping accuracyVSAvoidprocessing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential color volume information (min and max luminance values) from the complex metadata structures defined in existing standards. By taking out only the critical parameters needed for display management and transmitting these through SEI messaging, the solution eliminates unnecessary computational overhead while preserving the core functionality of color volume transforms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary extraction and identification of critical color volume parameters at the encoder side before transmission. By preparing the essential min and max luminance values in advance and embedding them in SEI messages, the solution reduces the processing burden on receivers while maintaining color mapping accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12375732B2Source color volume information messaging

Publication Date: 2025.07.29 DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORP

AI summary

Methods are described to communicate source color volume information in a coded bitstream using SEI messaging. Such data include at least the minimum, maximum, and average luminance values in the source data plus optional data that may include the color volume x and y chromaticity coordinates for the input color primaries (e.g., red, green, and blue) of the source data, and the color x and y chromaticity coordinates for the color primaries corresponding to the minimum, average, and maximum luminance values in the source data. Messaging data signaling an active region in each picture may also be included.