VVC Track Coding Layout for Non-VCL Signaling Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing VVC video file format designs for signaling PH, APS, DCI, and OPI NAL units face issues such as incorrect definitions of VVC non-VCL tracks, inability to store multiple sets of ALF parameters, exclusion of DCI NAL units from elementary streams, and complications in decoder configuration information signaling, leading to inefficient storage and transmission of VVC bitstreams.

Innovation Solution

Revised definitions for VVC non-VCL tracks to allow storage of multiple sets of ALF parameters, inclusion of picture header NAL units, and proper handling of DCI and OPI NAL units within the file format, enabling optimal storage and transmission of VVC bitstreams by allowing separate tracks for non-VCL NAL units and synchronizing them with video tracks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If VVC bitstreams are stored with all NAL units in a single track, then storage simplicity is maintained, but redundant transmission occurs and bandwidth efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth efficiencyVSAvoidtrack structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the VVC bitstream by creating separate tracks for different NAL unit types. Video coding layer (VCL) NAL units are placed in one track while non-VCL NAL units (such as parameter sets, picture headers, and decoding capability information) are placed in separate non-VCL tracks. This segmentation eliminates redundant transmission of parameter sets across multiple video tracks and allows independent optimization of each track's compression and delivery, thereby improving bandwidth efficiency despite increased track structure complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If multiple tracks are used to store different NAL units, then transmission efficiency is improved, but decoder configuration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencoding efficiencyVSAvoiddecoder configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary structure (the non-VCL track) that mediates between the encoded bitstream and the decoder. This track serves as a dedicated container for decoding capability information (DCI) and other non-VCL NAL units, allowing the decoder to retrieve configuration information from a standardized location rather than searching through multiple video tracks. The intermediary structure simplifies the decoder's task of locating and parsing configuration data, thereby reducing decoder configuration complexity while maintaining the encoding efficiency benefits of multi-track storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If DCI and OPI NAL units are stored in video tracks, then storage flexibility is maintained, but incorrect decoder configuration occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecoder configuration accuracyVSAvoidstorage flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts decoding capability information (DCI) and operating point information (OPI) NAL units from video tracks and places them in dedicated non-VCL tracks. This extraction ensures that these critical decoder configuration elements are stored in a standardized, easily locatable position that decoders can reliably access. By separating these units from general video content tracks, the patent prevents incorrect decoder configuration while still allowing flexible storage of video data in optimized tracks, as the non-VCL track structure provides a consistent interface for all decoders regardless of the specific video track configurations used.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3972277B1Versatile video coding track coding
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 LEMON INC(GB)
  • EP3972277B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3972277B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3972277B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, methods and apparatus for encoding or decoding a file format that stores one or more images are described. One example method includes performing a conversion between a visual media file and a bitstream of a visual media data according to a format rule, where the format rule specifies a condition that controls whether an information item is included in a non-video coding layer track of the visual media file, and where a presence of the non-video coding layer track in the visual media file is indicated by a specific track reference in a video coding layer track of the visual media file.