Subpicture Signaling and Picture Header Layout in Image Bitstreams

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing demand for high-resolution and high-quality images leads to a significant increase in transmission and storage costs due to the rise in the amount of transmitted information or bits, necessitating high-efficient image compression technology.

Innovation Solution

An image encoding/decoding method and apparatus that improves encoding/decoding efficiency by efficiently signaling information on subpictures and picture headers, enabling effective transmission and storage of bitstreams.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If high-resolution and high-quality image data is transmitted, then image quality is improved, but transmission cost and storage cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidamount of transmitted information
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The picture is divided into multiple subpictures, allowing selective encoding and transmission of different regions. This segmentation enables focusing computational and transmission resources on important regions while reducing or omitting less important areas, thereby maintaining image quality where needed while reducing overall data volume

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different encoding parameters and quality levels are applied to different subpicture regions based on their importance. Important regions receive higher quality encoding with more bits, while less important regions use lower quality encoding with fewer bits, optimizing the trade-off between overall image quality and total transmission cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If subpicture information is signaled in slice header, then encoding flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencoding flexibilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Subpicture configuration information is signaled in advance in the slice header before actual encoding/decoding operations. This preliminary signaling allows both encoder and decoder to be prepared with the necessary configuration data, enabling flexible subpicture handling without requiring complex real-time decision-making during the main processing pipeline

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The slice header acts as an intermediary structure that carries subpicture configuration information between the encoding/decoding process and the actual processing units. This intermediary layer provides a standardized interface for transmitting configuration data, simplifying the complexity by centralizing the signaling mechanism in a well-defined location

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4730800A2Image encoding/decoding method and device for signaling information related to sub picture and picture header, and method for transmitting bitstream
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4730800A2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4730800A2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4730800A2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed herein are an image encoding and decoding method and apparatus for signaling information on a subpicture and picture header, and a method of transmitting a bitstream. The image decoding method according to the present disclosure may include acquiring a first flag specifying whether information on a subpicture is present in a bitstream, acquiring a second flag specifying whether picture header information is present in a slice header, and decoding the bitstream based on the first flag and the second flag. When the first flag specifies that the information on the subpicture is present in the bitstream, the second flag may have a value specifying that the picture header information is not present in the slice header.