Video Encoding Motion Search Range Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video encoding technologies, such as H.264/AVC, face challenges in reducing the computation amount for motion search and encoding mode selection, leading to increased encoding efficiency and image quality issues, particularly when narrowing the search range without considering the information amount of motion vectors.

Innovation Solution

A video encoding device and method that determine stationary, minute motion, and normal motion regions using similarity with the reference frame and peripheral motion vectors, limiting encoding modes and search ranges to suppress computation amounts, and decide on intra or inter encoding based on evaluation values.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the search range is uniformly narrowed to reduce computation amount, then the computation amount of motion search is reduced, but when there is a region indicating large motion, it is not possible to detect an appropriate motion vector, resulting in reduced encoding efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputation amount of motion searchVSAvoidencoding efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by dividing the screen into multiple regions and setting different search range widths for each region based on local motion characteristics. Regions with small motion amounts use narrow search ranges to reduce computation, while regions with large motion amounts use wide search ranges to ensure accurate motion vector detection. This localized adaptation resolves the contradiction between reducing computation and maintaining encoding efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by adaptively adjusting the search range width for each region based on the detected motion amount. The search range is not fixed but dynamically determined according to the local motion characteristics. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize computation efficiency while maintaining the capability to detect large motions when they occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If block matching with full search is used to improve motion vector detection accuracy, then encoding efficiency is improved, but the computation amount required in the block matching is significantly large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotion vector detection accuracyVSAvoidcomputation amount of block matching
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by performing full search only in regions where it is necessary (regions with large motion amounts), while using reduced search ranges in regions with small motion amounts. This selective application of full search maintains motion vector detection accuracy where needed while significantly reducing the overall computation amount.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If multiple encoding modes based on block size changes are permitted to achieve optimal encoding mode selection, then encoding efficiency is improved, but the load required for mode selection causes an increase in computation amount

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencoding efficiencyVSAvoidcomputation amount of mode selection
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by determining encoding modes separately for each region based on local motion characteristics. Regions with small motion amounts use simplified mode selection (limiting to certain inter encoding modes), while regions with large motion amounts use comprehensive mode selection. This localized approach improves encoding efficiency where needed while reducing computation in other regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If intra encoding and inter encoding are adaptively switched to improve compression efficiency, then compression efficiency is improved, but it is necessary to perform both intra encoding and inter encoding to calculate code amounts, increasing computation amount

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidcomputation amount of encoding mode determination
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by determining the encoding mode (intra or inter) before performing the actual encoding process. By using motion amount detection to pre-determine the appropriate encoding mode for each region, the system avoids performing both intra and inter encoding calculations, thus reducing computation amount while maintaining compression efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2670143B1Video encoding device, video encoding method and video encoding program
Publication Date: 2016.09.28 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP
  • EP2670143B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2670143B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A video encoding device, which uses intra encoding and inter encoding with motion compensation with respect to an input video signal, includes a determination unit which determines whether the input video signal to be encoded corresponds to a stationary region, a region having minute motion, or a region having normal motion, a first encoding unit which performs inter encoding of a motion vector (0, 0) with respect to a region determined as a stationary region by the determination unit, a second encoding unit which performs motion search and inter encoding in a limited search range with respect to a region determined as a region having minute motion by the determination unit, and a third encoding unit which performs motion search and inter encoding in a normal search range with respect to a region determined as a region having normal motion by the determination unit.