Multi-Display Video Encoding with Beta Scale Maps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies struggle to efficiently render high-quality video content across a wide variety of display devices with different dynamic ranges and color gamuts, leading to suboptimal viewing experiences.

Innovation Solution

The use of beta scaling and base layer image data to generate optimized image rendering for both standard and high dynamic range displays, along with beta scaling maps to adapt images for intermediate or specific display capabilities, allowing for seamless rendering across a wide range of display types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If video content is encoded for a specific display type (SDR or HDR), then the rendering quality for that display type is optimized, but the system cannot efficiently render across multiple display types with different dynamic ranges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverendering qualityVSAvoiddisplay type compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the image data into a base layer containing SDR image data and a separate enhancement layer containing HDR image data. This segmentation allows the system to efficiently encode and transmit data for multiple display types without redundancy, as each layer serves a specific display type while together they enable universal compatibility across SDR and HDR displays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dual-layer encoding structure creates a universal video signal that can be adapted to multiple display types. The base layer provides universal SDR compatibility while the enhancement layer adds HDR capability, making the same encoded signal universally applicable to both SDR and HDR displays without requiring separate encoding for each type.

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

2Manufacturing precision

If separate video streams are encoded for SDR and HDR displays, then each display type receives optimized content, but the system complexity and data transmission requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay optimizationVSAvoidencoding system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the SDR and HDR video streams into a single unified bitstream through hierarchical encoding. The base layer and enhancement layer are combined in one signal, allowing both display types to be served simultaneously without requiring separate transmission infrastructure. This reduces system complexity compared to maintaining completely separate encoding systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The enhancement layer is nested within the base layer structure, with the HDR data embedded alongside the SDR data in a hierarchical arrangement. This nesting allows the smaller SDR base layer to be contained within the larger HDR structure, enabling efficient space utilization and simplified transmission while maintaining both display type optimizations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Measurement precision

If beta scaling maps are generated for multiple display types, then image adaptation precision is improved, but the processing time and computational resources required increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage adaptation precisionVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing beta scaling maps for common display types during system initialization or content preparation. These pre-computed maps can be quickly retrieved and applied during playback without requiring real-time computation, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining high adaptation precision for supported display types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system manages computational resources by dynamically adjusting the complexity of beta scaling parameter calculations based on the target display type and available processing power. For displays with well-defined characteristics, pre-defined parameter sets are used; for intermediate or custom displays, the system adapts the level of computational detail required, balancing precision needs with processing time constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4473731B1Supporting multiple target display types
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORP
  • EP4473731B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4473731B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4473731B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A sequence of base layer images for a base reference image display and a set of one or more sequences of beta scale maps corresponding to one or more non-base reference image displays are generated. A subset of one or more sequences of beta scale maps is determined in the set of one or more sequences of beta scale maps based at least in part on display capabilities of a target image display. The sequence of base layer images, along with the subset of one or more sequences of beta scale maps, is encoded into a video signal to cause a recipient device of the video signal to generate a sequence of display images from the sequence of base layer images and the subset of one or more sequences of beta scale maps for rendering on the image display.