Video Compression via Partial Decoding and Selective Macroblock Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for compressing video signals face challenges in achieving efficient data reduction with minimal quality penalty, particularly under constraints of limited communication channel capacity or storage space, and require fast data reduction without excessive delay.
Innovation Solution
The method involves receiving compression information for source and target groups of basic media data units, tracking compression decisions, and determining whether to compress each unit to achieve an optimal compression-to-quality loss ratio, using techniques such as partial decoding, amplitude mapping, and quantization to reduce the size of basic media data units while maintaining an optimal ratio across varying compression requests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If full compression is applied to reduce data size, then data reduction is improved, but quality loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial decoding and selective compression to only certain macroblocks or data units within a video stream. By performing partial action (compressing only some blocks rather than all), the system achieves data reduction while preserving quality in critical areas, thus balancing compression ratio with quality loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements different compression strategies for different regions or types of macroblocks. Important or complex macroblocks are decoded and compressed with higher quality, while simpler or less important ones use more aggressive compression. This local differentiation optimizes the overall quality-compression tradeoff.
2Productivity
If complex compression algorithms are used to achieve optimal compression ratio, then compression efficiency is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs partial decoding of macroblocks, processing only the necessary portions required to achieve the target compression ratio. This avoids the time cost of fully decoding and processing every macroblock, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining compression efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the video stream into discrete macroblocks and processes them independently or in small groups. This segmentation allows for parallel processing and enables the system to stop processing once the target compression ratio is achieved, reducing overall processing time compared to processing the entire stream uniformly.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a method for compressing a group of basic media data units, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving the group of basic media data units; (b) for each basic media data unit of the group performing the steps of: (b1) partially decoding the basic media data unit; (b2) determining whether to reduce the size of the basic media data unit of the received block in view of a predefined relationship between a predefined compression ratio (PCRA) and a residual ratio (RR); (b3) reducing the size of the basic media data unit, in view of the determination, such that an optimal reduction to quality degradation of the basic media data block is achieved; and (b4) partially encoding the basic media data unit.