Method and system for generating a transform size syntax element for video decoding

• US 20050249291A1
• Filed: 05/02/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation (Dolby Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chin, Douglas, Gordon, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,116,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.180
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/122 Selection of transform size, e.g. 8x8 or 2x4x8 DCT; Selection of sub-band transforms of varying structure or type
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/136 Incoming video signal characteristics or properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/159 Prediction type, e.g. intra-frame, inter-frame or bidirectional frame prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/176 the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/184 the unit being bits, e.g. of the compressed video stream
• 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

Abstract

In a video processing system, a method and system for generating a transform size syntax element for video decoding are provided. For high profile mode video decoding operations, the transform sizes may be selected based on the prediction macroblock type and the contents of the macroblock. A set of rules may be utilized to select from a 4×4 or an 8×8 transform size during the encoding operation. Dynamic selection of transform size may be performed on intra-predicted macroblocks, inter-predicted macroblocks, and/or direct mode inter-predicted macroblocks. The encoding operation may generate a transform size syntax element to indicate the transform size that may be used in reconstructing the encoded macroblock. The transform size syntax element may be transmitted to a decoder as part of the encoded video information bit stream

Claims

1. A method for video signal processing, the method comprising:

intra-predicting a macroblock;

selecting a macroblock type based on said intra-predicting, wherein said macroblock type is a 4×

4 macroblock type or an 8×

8 macroblock type;

selecting a transform size based on said selected macroblock type, wherein said transform size and a size of said selected macroblock are the same; and

generating a transform size syntax element based on said selected transform size to indicate to a video decoder an inverse transform size to use with said intra-predicted macroblock.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting said macroblock type so that a difference between a residual macroblock and said macroblock in said intra-predicting is minimized.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said generated transform size syntax element indicates that a 4×

4 inverse transform size is to be used when said selected macroblock type is a 4×

4 macroblock type.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said generated transform size syntax element indicates that an 8×

8 inverse transform size is to be used when said selected macroblock type is an 8×

8 macroblock type.

5. A method for video signal processing, the method comprising:

inter-predicting a macroblock;

selecting a macroblock type based on said inter-predicting;

selecting a transform size based on said selected macroblock type, wherein said transform size is selected from a 4×

4 transform size or an 8×

8 transform size; and

generating a transform size syntax element based on said selected transform size to indicate to a video decoder an inverse transform size to use with said inter-predicted macroblock.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said selected macroblock type is an 8×

16 macroblock type.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein said selected macroblock type is a 16×

8 macroblock type.

8. The method according to claim 5, said selected macroblock type is a 16×

16 macroblock type.

9. A method for video signal processing, the method comprising:

inter-predicting a macroblock;

selecting an 8×

8 macroblock type based on said inter-predicting;

selecting a transform size based on said selected macroblock type, wherein said transform size is selected from a 4×

4 transform size or an 8×

8 transform size; and

generating a transform size syntax element based on said selected transform size to indicate to a video decoder an inverse transform size to use with said inter-predicted macroblock.

10. A method for video signal processing, the method comprising:

inter-predicting a macroblock in direct mode;

selecting a macroblock type based on said inter-predicting;

selecting an 8×

8 transform size for said direct mode inter-predicted macroblock when a collocated macroblock is an 8×

8 macroblock type or a larger size macroblock type; and

generating a transform size syntax element based on said selected 8×

8 transform size to indicate to a video decoder an inverse transform size to use with said inter-predicted macroblock.

11. A system for video signal processing, the system comprising:

at least on circuitry that intra-predicts a macroblock and selects a macroblock type based on said intra-prediction, wherein said macroblock type is a 4×

4 macroblock type or an 8×

8 macroblock type;

said at least one circuitry selects a transform size based on said selected macroblock type, wherein said transform size and a size of said selected macroblock are the same; and

said at least one circuitry generates a transform size syntax element based on said selected transform size to indicate to a video decoder an inverse transform size to use with said intra-predicted macroblock.

12. The system according to claim 11, comprising said at least one circuitry selects said macroblock type so that a difference between a residual macroblock and said macroblock in said intra-prediction operation is minimized.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said generated transform size syntax element indicates that a 4×

4 inverse transform size is to be used when said selected macroblock type is a 4×

4 macroblock type.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said generated transform size syntax element indicates that an 8×

8 inverse transform size is to be used when said selected macroblock type is an 8×

8 macroblock type.

15. A system for video signal processing, the system comprising:

at least one circuitry that inter-predicts a macroblock and selects a macroblock type based on said inter-prediction;

said at least one circuitry selects a transform size based on said selected macroblock type, wherein said transform size is selected from a 4×

4 transform size or

said at least one circuitry generates a transform size syntax element based on said selected transform size to indicate to a video decoder an inverse transform size to use with said inter-predicted macroblock.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said selected macroblock type is an 8×

16 macroblock type.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said selected macroblock type is a 16x8 macroblock type.

18. The system according to claim 15, said selected macroblock type is a 16×

16 macroblock type.

19. A system for video signal processing, the system comprising:

at least one circuitry that inter-predicts a macroblock and selects an 8×

8 macroblock type based on said inter-prediction;

said at least one circuitry selects a transform size based on said selected macroblock type, wherein said transform size is selected from a 4×

4 transform size or an 8×

8 transform size; and

said at least one circuitry generates a transform size syntax element based on said selected transform size to indicate to a video decoder an inverse transform size to use with said inter-predicted macroblock.

20. A system for video signal processing, the system comprising:

at least one circuitry that inter-predicts a macroblock in direct mode and selects a macroblock type based on said inter-prediction operation;

said at least one circuitry selects an 8×

8 transform size for said direct mode inter-predicted macroblock when a collocated macroblock is an 8×

8 macroblock type or a larger size macroblock type; and

said at least one circuitry generates a transform size syntax element based on said selected 8×

8 transform size to indicate to a video decoder an inverse transform size to use with said inter-predicted macroblock.