Transform Coefficient Subsets for Progressive Video Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video codec technologies face inefficiencies when encoding and decoding screen content, which often features large areas of similar content or content that remains unchanged between frames, leading to reduced quality and increased compression artifacts.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of transform coefficient level gradual updating, where only subsets of transform coefficients are encoded and decoded for blocks or macroblocks, allowing for incremental quality improvement based on available bandwidth, using scan patterns like zig-zag or horizontal to efficiently encode and decode video content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If normal video coding techniques are used to encode screen content, then encoding process is simple, but encoding efficiency is reduced and quality deteriorates due to compression artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transform coefficients into multiple subsets that can be encoded and decoded progressively. Instead of encoding all coefficients at once, the method divides them into groups that can be transmitted in sequence, allowing the decoder to reconstruct images at increasing quality levels. This segmentation enables efficient encoding of screen content by adapting to the characteristics of such content (large areas of similar content) while maintaining simplicity in the encoding process.
2Manufacturing precision
If all transform coefficients are encoded for each picture, then picture quality is maximized, but bandwidth consumption increases and encoding time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic encoding where the number of transform coefficients encoded per picture varies based on available bandwidth and quality requirements. The system can adaptively adjust which subsets of coefficients are encoded in each picture, allowing flexible optimization between bandwidth consumption and picture quality. This dynamic approach enables the encoder to maximize quality when bandwidth permits while reducing bandwidth usage when necessary.
3Productivity
If transform coefficients are encoded progressively across multiple pictures, then encoding efficiency improves and quality increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent manages complexity through parameter-based control of the progressive encoding process. By defining clear parameters for coefficient subset selection, scan patterns, and quality thresholds, the system achieves efficient progressive encoding without excessive complexity. The parameter changes approach allows systematic control of which coefficients are encoded when, balancing encoding efficiency improvements against manageable system complexity.
4Productivity
If gradual updating of transform coefficients is applied, then encoding and decoding efficiency improves, but measurement and detection of available bandwidth becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the encoder and decoder exchange information about available bandwidth and quality requirements. This feedback enables adaptive adjustment of the progressive encoding parameters, allowing the system to efficiently utilize available bandwidth without requiring complex measurement procedures. The feedback loop simplifies bandwidth management by using direct communication between encoder and decoder rather than complex independent measurement.
Data Source
AI summary
Innovations are provided for encoding and/or decoding video and/or image content using transform coefficient level gradual updating. Transform coefficient level gradual updating can be applied by encoding (or decoding) different subsets of the transform coefficients for the blocks, macroblocks, or other coding unit for each of a sequence of pictures. For example, a first subset of the transform coefficients of the blocks of a first picture can be encoded with the first picture, a second subset of the transform coefficients of the blocks of a second picture can be encoded with the second picture, and so on. A decoder can reconstruct pictures with increasing quality by receiving additional subsets of the transform coefficients.