Video Transcoder Frequency Domain Energy Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transcoding methods for digital video require significant computational power due to the need for motion estimation and residue determination, especially when converting between different coding schemes like MPEG-2 and H.264, which can be resource-intensive and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A method that decodes digital video blocks using a first coding scheme, estimates energy levels of sub-blocks in the frequency domain, and converts motion vectors to a second coding scheme for low-energy sub-blocks, eliminating the need for motion estimation and residue determination, thereby reducing computational power requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If motion estimation and residue determination are performed during transcoding, then encoding accuracy is improved, but computational power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the computationally expensive motion estimation and residue determination steps from the transcoding process. By recognizing that motion vectors from the first coding scheme can be directly reused or simplified for the second coding scheme, the invention removes unnecessary computational operations while preserving encoding accuracy for all-zero blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by selectively performing full encoding operations only when necessary (non-all-zero blocks), while using simplified operations for all-zero blocks. This selective approach reduces overall computational power consumption while maintaining encoding accuracy where it matters most.
2Adaptability or versatility
If digital video is completely decompressed and then completely recompressed, then compatibility between different coding schemes is achieved, but computational power requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the video data into all-zero blocks and non-all-zero blocks, applying different processing strategies to each segment. This segmentation allows the system to achieve coding scheme compatibility through selective transcoding rather than complete decompression and recompression, significantly reducing computational power requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by treating different blocks with different processing qualities - simplified processing for all-zero blocks and full processing for non-all-zero blocks. This localized approach maintains compatibility where needed while minimizing computational overhead in regions where it is less critical.
3Device complexity
If motion estimation is performed to detect all-zero blocks, then encoding complexity is reduced, but computational power is consumed by the motion estimation process itself
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by not using motion estimation to detect all-zero blocks, but rather using direct analysis of the transformed coefficients. This inversion eliminates the computational overhead of motion estimation while achieving the same goal of identifying all-zero blocks for simplified encoding.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for transcoding digital video data are disclosed. In an embodiment, a transcoder (300) decodes a digital video block (304) using a first coding scheme, such as 8×8 MPEG-2/4, to produce domain transformed data (306) and a motion vector (308). The transcoder (300) then estimates an energy level of each sub-block in the digital video block (304) in the frequency domain (as opposed to the spatial domain), thereby reducing or eliminating the need for motion compensation. For each sub-block with an estimated energy level below a desired threshold (e.g., likely an all-zero sub-block), the transcoder (300) transcodes the sub-block by converting the motion vector (308) from the first coding scheme (e.g., MPEG-2/4) to the second coding scheme (e.g., H.264) (e.g., convert 8×8 MPEG-2/4 vector to 4×4 H.264 vector or reuse the MPEG-2/4 vector if all four sub-blocks are AZB and coding in H.264 as an 8×8 block). The transcoded sub-block may then be used (e.g., stored or transmitted).