Sub-PU Motion Vector Prediction in HEVC

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current video coding technologies, such as the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard, face limitations in motion prediction refinement and deblocking filtering, particularly in the 3D extension for multiview video plus depth format, where sub-prediction units (PUs) are not adequately refined and deblocking filters do not account for sub-PU boundaries.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of advanced temporal motion vector prediction (TMVP) modes that allow for two-stage motion vector determination and refinement for sub-PUs, along with the storage of separate motion information for each sub-PU, and the conversion of sub-PUs to a deblocking-friendly structure to enable effective filtering across sub-PU boundaries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If sub-PUs are used for motion prediction in HEVC, then motion prediction accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional motion information storage and processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotion prediction accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The prediction unit is divided into multiple sub-PUs, allowing independent motion vector determination for each sub-PU. This segmentation enables more precise motion prediction by capturing local motion variations within the PU, while the systematic two-stage process manages the complexity of handling multiple sub-PUs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Motion information for sub-PUs is determined and stored in advance during the encoding process. This preliminary action allows the decoder to efficiently retrieve and use pre-computed sub-PU motion information without performing complex calculations, thereby improving prediction accuracy while managing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If conventional deblocking filters are applied, then filtering speed is maintained, but filtering effectiveness deteriorates at sub-PU boundaries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering speedVSAvoidfiltering effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The deblocking filter is modified to apply different filtering strategies at sub-PU boundaries compared to regular PU boundaries. This local quality approach recognizes that sub-PU boundaries have unique characteristics requiring specialized filtering, thereby improving filtering effectiveness at these critical locations while maintaining overall processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Virtual sub-PU boundaries are introduced as intermediary structures to guide the deblocking filter. These virtual boundaries serve as mediators that enable the filter to systematically identify and process actual sub-PU boundaries, improving filtering effectiveness without significantly increasing computational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If two-stage TMVP mode is implemented, then motion vector refinement is improved, but encoding complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotion vector refinementVSAvoidencoding complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The motion vector determination process is divided into two stages: first determining motion vectors for the entire PU, then refining them for each sub-PU. This segmentation of the encoding process allows systematic refinement of motion vectors with improved precision while managing encoding complexity through a structured approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Coarse motion vectors are determined in advance for the entire PU before sub-PU level refinement. This preliminary action provides a foundation for the second stage, reducing the search space and computational requirements for fine-tuning motion vectors at the sub-PU level, thereby balancing refinement quality with encoding complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3050295B1Sub-prediction unit (PU) based temporal motion vector prediction in HEVC and sub-PU design in 3d-hevc
Publication Date: 2019.08.07 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3050295B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3050295B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3050295B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques are described for sub-prediction unit (PU) based motion prediction for video coding in HEVC and 3D-HEVC. In one example, the techniques include an advanced temporal motion vector prediction (TMVP) mode to predict sub-PUs of a PU in single layer coding for which motion vector refinement may be allowed. The advanced TMVP mode includes determining motion vectors for the PU in at least two stages to derive motion information for the PU that includes different motion vectors and reference indices for each of the sub-PUs of the PU. In another example, the techniques include storing separate motion information derived for each sub-PU of a current PU predicted using a sub-PU backward view synthesis prediction (BVSP) mode even after motion compensation is performed. The additional motion information stored for the current PU may be used to predict subsequent PUs for which the current PU is a neighboring block.