Methods and apparatus for detecting scene conditions likely to cause prediction errors in reduced resolution video decoders and for using the detected information
First Claim
1. A method of processing encoded video data, comprising the steps of:
- receiving encoded video data representing a first image;
performing a decoding operation on the encoded video data to produce a first set of decoded video data representing the first image;
examining the first set of decoded video data to detect the location of constant block regions formed by a plurality of contiguous pixels which have consistent luminance values; and
storing the decoded video data representing the first image.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for identifying blocks of pixels, referred to as constant block regions, having approximately the same intensity in terms of luminance values, are discussed. High contrast vertical and/or horizontal edges will cause significant prediction errors in images generated by reduced resolution decoders under certain conditions. Methods for assessing when such conditions exist and a significant prediction error is likely to occur are described. In addition methods and apparatus for minimizing the effect of such prediction errors in downsampling decoders are also described. One specific embodiment is directed to a new video decoder which decodes portions of a single image, e.g., frame, at different resolutions. Areas of the image along high contrast vertical or horizontal edges are decoded at full resolution while other portions of the same image are decoded at reduced resolution. By decoding and storing portions of reduced resolution images at full resolution for reference purposes, the risk of prediction errors resulting from the use of downsampling on reference frames is reduced.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of processing encoded video data, comprising the steps of:
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receiving encoded video data representing a first image; performing a decoding operation on the encoded video data to produce a first set of decoded video data representing the first image; examining the first set of decoded video data to detect the location of constant block regions formed by a plurality of contiguous pixels which have consistent luminance values; and storing the decoded video data representing the first image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of processing encoded video data representing a series of frames, comprising the steps of:
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receiving encoded video data representing a first frame; decoding the encoded video data representing the first frame; analyzing at least a portion of the decoded video data representing the first frame to detect the location of one or more blocks of pixels in the first frame having a consistent intensity; decoding subsequent video data representing subsequent frames; analyzing at least a portion of some of the subsequent decoded frames to detect the location of one or more blocks of pixels of consistent intensity in the analyzed subsequent frames; and comparing the location of blocks of pixels of consistent intensity detected in multiple frames to detect blocks of pixels of consistent intensity which occur in the same location in multiple frames. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A reduced resolution decoding method, comprising the steps of:
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decoding a first image encoded at a first resolution; analyzing the decoded first image to detect black borders, having horizontal or vertical edges, included in the decoded first image; storing a representation of the first image in a memory device at a resolution lower than the first resolution; and decoding a second image encoded at the first resolution, the step of decoding the second image including the step of; performing a motion compensated prediction operation using the stored representation of the first image as reference data and using information regarding black borders included in the decoded first image.
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21. An apparatus for processing digital video, comprising:
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an inverse discrete cosine transform circuit for receiving and processing transform coded data video data representing video frames; a constant image region detection circuit coupled to the inverse discrete cosine transform circuit for analyzing data representing video frames to detect a region within at least one frame having a consistent intensity; and a motion compensated prediction module coupled to the constant image region detection circuit for performing motion compensated prediction operations as a function of a decoded reference frame and data output by the constant image region detection circuit. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A video decoder, comprising:
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an inverse discrete cosine transform circuit for receiving and processing transform coded video data representing video frames; a horizontal edge detection circuit for detecting edges within said video frames; a controllable data reduction circuit coupled to the inverse discrete cosine transform circuit and to an output of said horizontal edge detection circuit, the controllable data reduction circuit for reducing, as a function of edge information, the amount of data used to represent video frames; a frame memory coupled to the data reduction device for storing decoded video data representing video frames; and a motion compensated prediction module for performing motion compensated prediction operations coupled to the frame memory. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification