Signaling macroblock mode information for macroblocks of interlaced forward-predicted fields

• US 7,606,308 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2004
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lin, Chih-Lung, Srinivasan, Sridhar, Hsu, Pohsiang, Holcomb, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): DIEP, NHON THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/933,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20050053140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: 375/240.16
• US Class Current: 375/240.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/137 Motion inside a coding unit, e.g. average field, frame or block difference
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/16 for a given display mode, e.g. for interlaced or progressive display mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/196 being specially adapted for the computation of encoding parameters, e.g. by averaging previously computed encoding parameters processing of motion vectors H04N19/513
• 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 19/51 Motion estimation or motion compensation
• 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

Abstract

Techniques and tools for code table selection and joint coding/decoding of macroblock mode information for macroblocks of interlaced forward-predicted frames are described. For example, a video decoder decodes a variable length code that jointly signals macroblock mode information for a motion-compensated macroblock. The jointly signaled information includes a macroblock type, whether a coded block pattern is present or absent, and whether motion vector data is present or absent for the motion-compensated macroblock. A video encoder performs corresponding encoding.

Claims

1. In a computing device that implements a video decoder, the computing device comprising a processor and memory, a method of transforming encoded video information, the method comprising:

receiving, at the computing device that implements the video decoder, encoded video information in a bit stream; and

with the computing device that implements the video decoder, decoding an interlaced forward-predicted field using the encoded video information, including processing a variable length code that jointly signals macroblock mode information for a macroblock of the interlaced forward-predicted field, wherein the macroblock is motion-compensated, and wherein the jointly signaled macroblock mode information is one of plural combinations of options for (1) a macroblock type, (2) whether a coded block pattern is present or absent, and (3) whether motion vector data is present or absent for the motion-compensated macroblock of the interlaced forward-predicted field, the plural combinations including at least one combination in which the coded block pattern is absent for the motion-compensated macroblock of the interlaced forward-predicted field.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the macroblock type is one motion vector.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the decoding further comprises processing a second variable length code that jointly signals second macroblock mode information for a second macroblock of the interlaced forward-predicted field, wherein the second jointly signaled macroblock mode information includes (1) a macroblock type and (2) whether a coded block pattern is present or absent, but not (3) whether motion vector data is present or absent for the second macroblock of the interlaced forward-predicted field.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the macroblock type for the second macroblock is intra or four motion vector.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plural combinations of options include:

intra macroblock type with no coded block pattern,

intra macroblock type with coded block pattern,

one motion vector macroblock type with no coded block pattern and no motion vector data,

one motion vector macroblock type with coded block pattern but no motion vector data,

one motion vector macroblock type with motion vector data but no coded block pattern,

one motion vector macroblock type with coded block pattern and motion vector data,

four motion vectors macroblock type with no coded block pattern, and

four motion vectors macroblock type with coded block pattern.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the decoding further comprises selecting a code table from among plural available code tables, wherein the processing the variable length code uses the code table.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the receiving comprises receiving and processing a fixed length code that indicates the selection of the code table from among the plural available code tables.

8. In a computing device that implements a video encoder, the computing device comprising a processor and memory, a method of transforming video information, the method comprising:

with the computing device that implements the video encoder, encoding a current interlaced forward-predicted field to produce encoded video information, including;

selecting a code table from among plural available code tables for macroblock mode information for interlaced forward-predicted fields; and

using the selected code table to process a variable length code that indicates macroblock mode information for a macroblock, wherein the macroblock mode information includes (1) a macroblock type, (2) whether a coded block pattern is present or absent, and (3) when applicable for the macroblock type, whether motion vector data is present or absent; and

from the computing device that implements the video encoder, outputting the encoded video information in a bit stream.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the plural available code tables include a first set of tables for a first type of the interlaced forward-predicted fields and a second set of tables for a second type of the interlaced forward-predicted fields.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first type is one motion vector, and wherein the second type is mixed motion vector.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the outputting comprises signaling a fixed length code that indicates the selection of the code table from among the plural available code tables.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the selected code table is selected for use with variable length codes for plural macroblocks of the current interlaced forward-predicted field.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the macroblock type is either intra or one motion vector.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the macroblock type is one of intra, one motion vector, or four motion vectors.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein whether motion vector data is present or absent is applicable if the macroblock type is one motion vector but not applicable if the macroblock type is intra or four motion vectors.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein, in terms of event space for the macroblock mode information, the variable length code specifies:

whether the macroblock type is intra, one motion vector or four motion vectors;

if the macroblock type is intra, whether the coded block pattern is present or absent;

if the macroblock type is four motion vectors, whether the coded block pattern is present or absent; and

if the macroblock type is one motion vector;

whether the coded block pattern is present or absent, and

whether the motion vector data is present or absent.

17. The method of claim 8 wherein the macroblock mode information is one of plural combinations of options, the plural combinations including at least one combination in which the macroblock type indicates the macroblock is motion-compensated but the coded block pattern is absent for the macroblock of the current interlaced forward-predicted field.

18. A video decoder comprising:

a processor;

memory;

at least one input device, output device or communication connection; and

storage storing computer-executable instructions for causing the video decoder to decode video using;

means for decoding plural variable length codes, each of the plural variable length codes jointly signaling macroblock mode information for one of plural macroblocks of an interlaced P-field, wherein for each of the plural macroblocks the macroblock mode information includes a macroblock type and, regardless of the macroblock type, a first presence indicator for presence or absence of a coded block pattern, and wherein for at least one motion-compensated macroblock of the plural macroblocks the macroblock mode information further includes a second presence indicator for presence or absence of motion vector data for the motion-compensated macroblock of the interlaced P-field; and

means for performing motion compensation.

19. The decoder of claim 18 wherein the storage further stores computer-executable instructions for causing the video decoder to decode video using:

means for selecting a code table from among plural available code tables for decoding the plural variable length codes.

20. The decoder of claim 18 wherein the macroblock type is intra, one motion vector, or four motion vector.