Video Encoder Mode Selection via Rate-Distortion Filtering

Solution Overview

Problem

High bandwidth applications like voice and video strain network resources due to the significant computational demands of selecting an appropriate encoding mode for video frames, which can lead to delayed processing and compromised video quality.

Innovation Solution

The method reduces processing requirements by approximating distortion using rate-distortion computations to filter out unnecessary inter-modes, leveraging seed reference blocks and motion vectors to simplify the analysis of other modes, and employing iterative search processes to identify appropriate encoding modes for video macroblocks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If comprehensive inter-mode analysis is performed to ensure optimal video quality, then video quality is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevideo qualityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by calculating RD cost for SKIP mode and identifying seed reference blocks and motion vectors before the full inter-mode analysis. This preliminary processing filters out macroblocks that can be encoded with simple modes, reducing the scope of subsequent comprehensive analysis while maintaining video quality for the remaining macroblocks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the inter-mode analysis process into distinct phases: initial RD cost calculation for SKIP mode, seed reference block identification, and selective analysis of remaining inter-modes. This segmentation allows the encoder to apply different levels of analysis to different macroblocks based on their complexity, optimizing the balance between quality and processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If comprehensive inter-mode analysis is performed to ensure optimal video quality, then video quality is improved, but computational resources and processing complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevideo qualityVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by calculating RD cost for SKIP mode and identifying seed reference blocks and motion vectors before the full inter-mode analysis. This preliminary processing filters out macroblocks that can be encoded with simple modes, reducing the scope of subsequent comprehensive analysis while maintaining video quality for the remaining macroblocks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the inter-mode analysis process into distinct phases: initial RD cost calculation for SKIP mode, seed reference block identification, and selective analysis of remaining inter-modes. This segmentation allows the encoder to apply different levels of analysis to different macroblocks based on their complexity, optimizing the balance between quality and processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Speed

If fast motion estimation is performed to reduce processing time, then processing speed is improved, but measurement precision of distortion may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speedVSAvoiddistortion measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by calculating RD cost for SKIP mode and identifying seed reference blocks and motion vectors before the full inter-mode analysis. This preliminary processing filters out macroblocks that can be encoded with simple modes, reducing the scope of subsequent comprehensive analysis while maintaining video quality for the remaining macroblocks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7830961B2Motion estimation and inter-mode prediction

Publication Date: 2010.11.09 GODO KAISHA IP BRIDGE 1

AI summary

An inter-mode for encoding a video macroblock is selected based on a comparison of at least two rate-distortion values associated with inter-modes. The number of potential inter-modes for encoding the video macroblock is initially reduced based on the rate-distortion calculation of the SKIP mode between the current macroblock and the collocated macroblock (corresponding to a 0,0 motion vector). Motion estimation is performed on the remaining inter-modes to identify reference blocks and motion vectors. The number of calculations performed in identifying the reference blocks and motion vectors is potentially reduced because associations between inter-modes are recognized and leveraged.