Transform Domain Filtering for Video Encoding Rate-Distortion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current video encoding standards, such as H.264, face challenges in achieving optimal rate-distortion performance due to lossy quantization noise, which requires post-processing filtering in the pixel domain, increasing computational complexity.

Innovation Solution

Implementing transform domain filtering, where quantization distortion is addressed in the transform domain before reconstruction, using techniques like discrete cosine transform (DCT) and adaptive filter coefficients to minimize distortion while reducing computational complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If post-processing filtering is applied in the pixel domain to remove quantization noise, then distortion is reduced, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistortion reductionVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by applying filtering in the transform domain (frequency domain) rather than in the pixel domain (spatial domain). The filter is applied to transform coefficients before inverse transformation, which reduces computational complexity while maintaining distortion reduction effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces transform domain coefficients as an intermediary between quantization and final reconstruction. By applying the filter in this intermediate transform domain rather than directly in the pixel domain, the system achieves efficient noise removal with reduced computational burden.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If transform domain filtering is implemented to reduce quantization distortion, then rate-distortion performance is improved, but encoding complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverate-distortion performanceVSAvoidencoding complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different filter coefficients to different transform coefficients based on their position and characteristics. By adapting the filter locally to specific coefficient regions rather than applying a uniform filter globally, the system improves rate-distortion performance while controlling encoding complexity through selective filtering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If adaptive filter coefficients are used to minimize distortion, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistortion minimizationVSAvoidfilter coefficient complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters of the filter by using adaptive coefficients that vary based on transform coefficient characteristics rather than using fixed coefficients. This allows distortion minimization while managing complexity through parameter adaptation rather than structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2595382B1Methods and devices for encoding and decoding transform domain filters
Publication Date: 2019.01.09 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2595382B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2595382B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2595382B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods and devices for encoding and decoding data using transform domain filtering are described. The encoder determines a set of transform domain filter coefficients to be applied to a transform domain prediction. The filtering may, in some cases, also apply to transform domain reconstructions. Rate-distortion optimization may be used to determine the optimal filter coefficients on a frame-basis, coding-unit-basis, or other basis. Multiple filters may be developed and communicated from the encoder to the decoder for different combinations of transform block size, coding mode, prediction mode, and texture type. In other cases, the filtering is applied in the pixel-domain to a pixel-domain prediction or a pixel-domain reconstruction of a block of samples.