Video Coding with Unified Subpicture, Slice, and Tile Partitioning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The Versatile Video Coding (VVC) standard imposes complex constraints on picture partitioning, requiring decoders to check and ensure compliance, leading to unnecessary time and resource consumption due to the independence of slice and subpicture partitioning, which complicates the encoding and decoding processes.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining image portions within subpictures and tiles, allowing for partial tiles and optimizing signaling by referencing subpicture layout to infer slice partitioning, thereby simplifying the encoding and decoding processes while maintaining compliance with VVC constraints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If slice and subpicture partitioning are made independent in VVC, then flexibility and adaptability of partitioning are improved, but decoder complexity and processing time increase due to additional compliance checks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepartitioning flexibilityVSAvoiddecoder complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the slice partitioning and subpicture partitioning into a unified structure where slices are defined at the subpicture level. This integration allows the decoder to process both partitioning types simultaneously without independent compliance checks, reducing complexity while maintaining the flexibility to handle different partitioning configurations through a single coherent framework.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The unified partitioning structure serves multiple functions: it defines both slice boundaries and subpicture regions through a single mechanism, enabling the same syntax and processing logic to handle various partitioning scenarios. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate compliance verification procedures, thereby reducing decoder complexity while preserving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If independent slice and subpicture partitioning is used, then encoding flexibility is improved, but encoding time and computational resources increase due to necessary compliance checks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencoding flexibilityVSAvoidencoding time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By combining slice and subpicture partitioning into a unified structure, the encoder can perform both partitioning operations in a single pass without requiring separate compliance verification steps. This integration streamlines the encoding process, reducing computational time and resource consumption while maintaining the flexibility to handle diverse partitioning requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The unified partitioning structure is established during the initial encoding setup, with all partitioning decisions made in advance through a single coherent process. This preliminary action eliminates the need for subsequent compliance checks and adjustments, thereby reducing encoding time and computational overhead while preserving encoding flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If complex constraints are imposed on picture partitioning, then coding efficiency and compression performance are improved, but processing complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoding efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple partitioning constraints into a unified structure that inherently satisfies the necessary conditions for coding efficiency. By defining slices at the subpicture level within a single coherent framework, the system achieves efficient compression without requiring separate compliance verification steps, thereby reducing processing complexity while maintaining coding efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The unified partitioning structure is designed to self-satisfy the complex constraints required for efficient coding. The structure inherently ensures compliance with VVC requirements through its design, eliminating the need for additional verification procedures. This self-service approach maintains coding efficiency while significantly reducing processing complexity and time consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250220178A1Video coding supporting subpictures, slices and tiles
Publication Date: 2025.07.03 CANON KK
  • US20250220178A1 patent drawing
  • US20250220178A1 patent drawing
  • US20250220178A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A method of processing image data for one or more image(s), each image consisting of one or more tile(s) and being divisible into one or more image portion(s), wherein the image is divisible into one or more subpicture(s), and the method comprises: determining one or more image portion(s) included in a subpicture; and processing the one or more image(s) using information obtained from the determination.