Video Artifact Evaluator for In-Loop Buffer Quality Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital image and video encoding standards suffer from artifacts such as blockiness and blurriness due to block quantization, which affect the perceived quality of compressed images and videos, and existing methods lack the ability to adaptively update in-loop memory buffers to prevent poor quality propagation.
Innovation Solution
An image/video encoding and decoding system employing an artifact evaluator that processes video blocks, using a texture decoder and an artifact filter to generate artifact metrics and decide whether to use un-filtered or filtered reconstructed blocks for updating the in-loop memory buffer, thereby enhancing image/video quality and preventing quality degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If block quantization is used for compression, then transmission rate is improved, but image/video quality deteriorates due to artifacts such as blockiness and blurriness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an in-loop de-blocking filter that uses feedback from the reconstructed video blocks to dynamically adjust filtering strength. The filter evaluates the degree of blockiness in reconstructed blocks and adaptively applies filtering only when needed, preventing the propagation of block artifacts to subsequent frames while maintaining overall image quality. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by allowing compression while actively compensating for quality degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies de-blocking filtering as a preliminary action during the encoding process, specifically updating the in-loop memory buffer with filtered reconstructed video blocks before they are used for motion compensation in subsequent frames. This preliminary filtering prevents block artifacts from propagating forward, addressing the quality issue before it affects future compression steps.
2Manufacturing precision
If de-blocking filter is applied to reduce blockiness, then perceived quality is improved, but blurriness artifact is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adaptive de-blocking filtering that applies different filtering strengths to different regions and blocks based on their specific characteristics. The filter evaluates each reconstructed video block individually and applies filtering only when blockiness is detected, adjusting the filtering strength locally rather than uniformly across the entire frame. This local approach reduces blockiness where needed while preserving edge sharpness and avoiding unnecessary blurriness in other regions.
3Productivity
If in-loop memory buffer is updated with un-filtered reconstructed blocks, then processing speed is improved, but poor quality propagates to subsequent frames
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a selective filtering approach where the in-loop memory buffer is updated with filtered reconstructed video blocks only when blockiness is detected, rather than always applying filtering. This partial action approach maintains processing speed by avoiding unnecessary filtering operations while still preventing quality degradation when artifacts are present, resolving the contradiction between speed and quality consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
In an image/video encoding and decoding system employing an artifact evaluator a method and/or apparatus to process video blocks comprising a decoder operable to synthesize an un-filtered reconstructed video block or frame and an artifact filter operable to receive the un-filtered reconstructed video block or frame, which generates a filtered reconstructed video block or frame. A memory buffer operable to store either the filtered reconstructed video block or frame or the un-filtered reconstructed video block or frame, and an artifact evaluator operable to update the memory buffer after evaluating and determining which of the filtered video block or frame, or the un-filtered video block or frame yields better image/video quality.