Water Ring Encoding for Real-Time Image Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scalable coding methods for moving pictures are designed for stable delivery layers and fail to restore images in real-time when bandwidth changes occur, leading to delayed image restoration or transmission error concealment, especially in unstable wired/wireless Internet conditions.
Innovation Solution
The water ring scanning method prioritizes encoding and decoding of visually significant parts of an image frame, using a water ring scan order that encodes and decodes from a central point outward, ensuring improved image quality even with partial bitstreams by transmitting and receiving image information in a manner suitable for the human visual system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional scalable coding methods are used, then base layer transmission is achieved, but image restoration is delayed when bandwidth changes occur in unstable delivery conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by encoding and transmitting the base layer first, followed by enhancement layers in a scalable manner. This allows the receiver to reconstruct images in real-time as bitstreams arrive, without waiting for complete transmission, thereby reducing image restoration time in unstable delivery conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the image data into base layer and enhancement layer bitstreams with different priority levels. The base layer contains essential image information for basic quality reconstruction, while enhancement layers provide additional quality improvements. This segmentation enables progressive image restoration as bandwidth becomes available
2Manufacturing precision
If all bitstreams are transmitted for high quality image, then image quality is improved, but transmission time increases and real-time restoration is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by transmitting only the necessary base layer bitstreams first for immediate image restoration, then progressively adding enhancement layer bitstreams. This allows receivers with limited bandwidth to obtain acceptable quality images quickly, while high-performance receivers can obtain enhanced quality by receiving additional enhancement layers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission parameter structure by organizing bitstreams into hierarchical layers (base layer and enhancement layers) with different quality parameters. This enables dynamic adaptation of transmission quality based on available bandwidth and receiver capabilities, achieving optimal balance between image quality and transmission time
3Manufacturing precision
If enhancement layer information is transmitted, then advanced quality is provided, but decoding complexity increases for low-performance terminals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different quality levels to different receiver types through layered encoding. Low-performance terminals decode only the base layer to achieve basic quality suitable for their capabilities, while high-performance terminals decode both base and enhancement layers to achieve advanced quality. Each terminal receives appropriate quality locally matched to its decoding ability
4Productivity
If conventional scanning order is used, then encoding is systematic, but visually significant parts are not prioritized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality to the scanning process by prioritizing encoding of visually significant regions (such as central areas or regions with human faces) over less important regions. This is achieved through region-based prediction and transformation methods that allocate more bits to visually critical areas, improving perceived image quality without proportionally increasing overall bitrate
Data Source
AI summary
A water ring encoding method of processing an initial data set, such as an image frame, is disclosed having a writing step and an encoding step. The initial data set is organized with at least one initial origin enveloped by a plurality of nested initial environs successively surrounding each other in the initial data set. The writing step includes writing a portion of data from the initial data set into a scanned data string, by starting the writing of the portion of the data from the initial data set into the scanned data string at the RC grouping corresponding to the initial origin (initial water ring (0)) and by sequentially progressing the writing outwardly from the family of RC groupings corresponding to the nearest nested initial environ (initial water ring (1)) towards the family of RC groupings corresponding to a furthest nested initial environ (initial water ring (n)). The encoding step includes encoding the scanned data string into an encoded data string.