VIDEO CODING WITH LARGE MACROBLOCKS

• US 20100086032A1
• Filed: 09/18/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Karczewicz, Marta, Ye, Yan, Chen, Peisong
• Granted Patent: US 8,503,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.120
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/103 Selection of coding mode or of prediction mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/147 according to rate distortion criteria rate-distortion as a criterion for motion estimation H04N19/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/176 the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/44 Decoders specially adapted therefor, e.g. video decoders which are asymmetric with respect to the encoder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/46 Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process H04N19/517, H04N19/68, H04N19/70 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/593 involving spatial prediction techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/70 characterised by syntax aspects related to video coding, e.g. related to compression standards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/96 Tree coding, e.g. quad-tree coding

Abstract

Techniques are described for encoding and decoding digital video data using macroblocks that are larger than the macroblocks prescribed by conventional video encoding and decoding standards. For example, the techniques include encoding and decoding a video stream using macroblocks comprising greater than 16×16 pixels. In one example, an apparatus includes a video encoder configured to encode a coded unit comprising a plurality of video blocks, wherein at least one of the plurality of video blocks comprises a size of more than 16×16 pixels and to generate syntax information for the coded unit that includes a maximum size value, wherein the maximum size value indicates a size of a largest one of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit. The syntax information may also include a minimum size value. In this manner, the encoder may indicate to a decoder the proper syntax decoder to apply to the coded unit.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

encoding, with a video encoder, a coded unit comprising a plurality of video blocks, wherein at least one of the plurality of video blocks comprises a size of more than 16×

16 pixels; and

generating syntax information for the coded unit that includes a maximum size value, wherein the maximum size value indicates a size of a largest one of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the coded unit comprises one of a frame, a slice, and a group of pictures.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the syntax information comprises a fixed-length code corresponding to a size of the largest one of the plurality of video blocks.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the syntax information further comprises including, in the syntax information, a minimum size value, wherein the minimum size value indicates a size of a smallest one of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising generating block-based syntax information for each of the plurality of video blocks according to the maximum size value and the minimum size value.

6. An apparatus comprising a video encoder configured to encode a coded unit comprising a plurality of video blocks, wherein at least one of the plurality of video blocks comprises a size of more than 16×

16 pixels and to generate syntax information for the coded unit that includes a maximum size value, wherein the maximum size value indicates a size of a largest one of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the coded unit comprises one of a frame, a slice, and a group of pictures.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the syntax information comprises a fixed-length code corresponding to a size of the largest one of the plurality of video blocks.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the video encoder is configured to include, in the syntax information, a minimum size value, wherein the minimum size value indicates a size of a smallest one of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the video encoder is configured to generate block-based syntax information for each of the plurality of video blocks according to the maximum size value and the minimum size value.

11. An apparatus comprising:

means for encoding a coded unit comprising a plurality of video blocks, wherein at least one of the plurality of video blocks comprises a size of more than 16×

16 pixels; and

means for generating syntax information for the coded unit that includes a maximum size value, wherein the maximum size value indicates a size of a largest one of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the coded unit comprises one of a frame, a slice, and a group of pictures.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the syntax information comprises a fixed-length code corresponding to a size of the largest one of the plurality of video blocks.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for generating the syntax information further comprises means for including, in the syntax information, a minimum size value, wherein the minimum size value indicates a size of a smallest one of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising means for generating block-based syntax information for each of the plurality of video blocks according to the maximum size value and the minimum size value.

16. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for causing a programmable processor to:

encode a coded unit comprising a plurality of video blocks, wherein at least one of the plurality of video blocks comprises a size of more than 16×

16 pixels; and

generate syntax information for the coded unit that includes a maximum size value, wherein the maximum size value indicates a size of a largest one of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the coded unit comprises one of a frame, a slice, and a group of pictures.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the syntax information comprises a fixed-length code corresponding to a size of the largest one of the plurality of video blocks.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions to generate the syntax information further comprise instructions to include, in the syntax information, a minimum size value, wherein the minimum size value indicates a size of a smallest one of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions to generate block-based syntax information for each of the plurality of video blocks according to the maximum size value and the minimum size value.

21. A method comprising:

receiving, with a video decoder, a coded unit comprising a plurality of video blocks, wherein at least one of the plurality of video blocks comprises a size of more than 16×

16 pixels;

receiving syntax information for the coded unit that includes a maximum size value, wherein the maximum size value indicates a size of a largest one of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit;

selecting a block-type syntax decoder according to the maximum size value; and

decoding each of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit using the selected block-type syntax decoder.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the syntax information includes a minimum size value, wherein the minimum size value indicates a size of a smallest one of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit, and wherein the selected block-type syntax decoder indicates how to decode the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit according to the minimum size value.

23. An apparatus comprising a video decoder configured to receive a coded unit comprising a plurality of video blocks, wherein at least one of the plurality of video blocks comprises a size of more than 16×

16 pixels, receive syntax information for the coded unit that includes a maximum size value, wherein the maximum size value indicates a size of a largest one of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit, select a block-type syntax decoder according to the maximum size value, and decode each of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit using the selected block-type syntax decoder.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the syntax information includes a minimum size value, wherein the minimum size value indicates a size of a smallest one of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit, and wherein the selected block-type syntax decoder indicates how to decode the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit according to the minimum size value.

25. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a coded unit comprising a plurality of video blocks, wherein at least one of the plurality of video blocks comprises a size of more than 16×

16 pixels;

means for receiving syntax information for the coded unit that includes a maximum size value, wherein the maximum size value indicates a size of a largest one of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit;

means for selecting a block-type syntax decoder according to the maximum size value; and

means for decoding each of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit using the selected block-type syntax decoder.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the syntax information includes a minimum size value, wherein the minimum size value indicates a size of a smallest one of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit, and wherein the selected block-type syntax decoder indicates how to decode the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit according to the minimum size value.

27. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for causing a programmable processor to:

receive a coded unit comprising a plurality of video blocks, wherein at least one of the plurality of video blocks comprises a size of more than 16×

16 pixels;

receive syntax information for the coded unit that includes a maximum size value, wherein the maximum size value indicates a size of a largest one of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit;

select a block-type syntax decoder according to the maximum size value; and

decode each of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit using the selected block-type syntax decoder.

28. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the syntax information includes a minimum size value, wherein the minimum size value indicates a size of a smallest one of the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit, and wherein the selected block-type syntax decoder indicates how to decode the plurality of video blocks in the coded unit according to the minimum size value.