Video Deblocking via Sub-block Pixel Rotation and Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional deblocking methods in MPEG-4 video compression are inefficient and time-consuming, particularly in processing macroblocks, leading to transform blockiness and artifacts in decoded video streams due to lost prediction error information.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that process pixels within a macroblock by filtering adjacent pixels along vertical and horizontal edges, rotating and storing them to efficiently deblock the macroblock on a sub-block-by-sub-block basis, allowing multiple pixels to be processed in a single operational cycle, thereby reducing transform blockiness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional deblocking methods process pixels on a pixel-by-pixel basis, then the deblocking can be performed with simple processing logic, but the processing time increases significantly and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the macroblock into multiple sub-blocks (typically 4x4 pixel blocks) and processes pixels within each sub-block simultaneously. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple pixels rather than sequential pixel-by-pixel processing, significantly reducing the time required for deblocking while maintaining the necessary filtering effectiveness at macroblock boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple pixel processing operations into a single operational cycle by processing multiple pixels simultaneously within sub-blocks. This combining of processing operations allows the deblocking filter to handle multiple boundary pixels at once, improving productivity without increasing the complexity of the processing logic.
2Productivity
If prediction error information is lost during MPEG-4 encoding, then compression efficiency improves, but transform blockiness and artifacts appear in the decoded video
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of lost prediction error information into a beneficial deblocking process. By applying the deblocking filter to smooth transitions at macroblock boundaries, the system addresses the artifacts caused by lost information rather than attempting to recover the original prediction errors, effectively transforming the problem into a solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The deblocking filter acts as an intermediary between the compressed video data and the final decoded output. It processes the macroblock boundaries to reduce transform blockiness and artifacts, serving as a mediating step that improves the visual quality without requiring recovery of the lost prediction error information during encoding.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for processing pixels within a current macroblock are disclosed. Aspects of the method may comprise acquiring a plurality of pixels that are adjacent to the left of a plurality of selected pixels within the current macroblock. A portion of the plurality of selected pixels within the current macroblock may be filtered along a vertical edge utilizing a portion of the acquired plurality of pixels that are adjacent to the left of the plurality of selected pixels. The at least a portion of said filtered plurality of selected pixels within the current macroblock may be rotated. The current macroblock may be filtered along a horizontal edge, utilizing at least a portion of the rotated plurality of selected pixels.