Subpicture Image Coding for Quality and Data Volume Trade-Offs

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing demand for high-resolution, high-quality image/video data, particularly in immersive media formats like VR and AR, leads to higher transmission and storage costs due to increased data volume, necessitating a more efficient compression technology.

Innovation Solution

Implementing filtering-based image coding methods, including in-loop filtering and subpicture-based prediction and reconstruction, to enhance compression efficiency and improve subjective/objective visual quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If high-resolution, high-quality image/video data is transmitted or stored using existing media, then image quality is improved, but transmission cost and storage cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoiddata volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The image is divided into multiple subpictures, and each subpicture is processed independently with its own prediction and filtering units. This segmentation allows for more efficient compression by adapting to local characteristics of different regions, reducing overall data volume while maintaining high quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different filtering strategies and prediction methods are applied to different subpictures based on their local characteristics. This local optimization enables high-quality reconstruction in critical regions while using more compressed representations in less critical areas, resolving the contradiction between quality and data volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If in-loop filtering is applied to increase visual quality, then image quality is improved, but signaling efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual qualityVSAvoidsignaling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The filtering process is segmented into multiple stages with different filter types applied to different regions. By dividing the filtering into selective stages rather than applying a single comprehensive filter, the signaling overhead is reduced while maintaining visual quality through targeted filtering where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying full in-loop filtering to all regions, the patent applies filtering selectively to specific subpictures or regions where it provides the most benefit. This partial application reduces the signaling overhead required to describe filtering parameters while maintaining adequate visual quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If subpictures are applied to improve prediction and reconstruction performance, then compression efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The image is segmented into subpictures that can be processed independently with simpler prediction and reconstruction units. This segmentation reduces the complexity of each individual processing unit while improving overall compression efficiency through adaptive processing of different regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic selection of prediction and reconstruction methods for different subpictures based on their characteristics. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to achieve high compression efficiency without requiring all processing units to handle the most complex cases, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4380158B1Filtering-based image coding methods
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4380158B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4380158B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4380158B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to embodiments described herein, sub-pictures and/or virtual boundaries can be used for coding an image. For example, sub-pictures in the current picture can be used for predicting, reconstructing, and/or filtering the current picture. Virtual boundaries can be used for filtering reconstructed samples of the current picture. Through image coding based on the subpictures and/or virtual boundaries according to embodiments described herein, the subjective/objective quality of an image can be improved, and the consumption of hardware resources necessary for the coding can be reduced.