Methods and Systems for Image Processing Control Based on Adjacent Block Characteristics

• US 20080031346A1
• Filed: 03/31/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Segall, Christopher A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,840,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.19
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/30 using hierarchical techniques, e.g. scalability H04N19/63 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/40 using video transcoding, i.e. partial or full decoding of a coded input stream followed by re-encoding of the decoded output stream

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for managing and combining layers in a multi-layer bitstream.

Claims

1. A method for controlling entropy coding processes, said method comprising:

a) identifying a first adjacent macroblock that is adjacent to a target macroblock;

b) identifying a second adjacent macroblock that is adjacent to said target macroblock;

c) determining a first macroblock indicator indicating whether said first adjacent macroblock is coded with reference to another layer;

d) determining a second macroblock indicator indicating whether said second adjacent macroblock is coded with reference to another layer; and

e) determining an entropy coding control value based on said first macroblock indicator and said second macroblock indicator.

2. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising using said entropy coding control value to encode an intra-prediction mode.

3. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising using said entropy coding control value to decode an intra-prediction mode.

4. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising using said entropy coding control value to encode said target macroblock.

5. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising using said entropy coding control value to decode said target macroblock.

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said target macroblock is a chroma macroblock.

7. A method as described in claim 1 wherein a macroblock is determined to be coded with reference to another layer when said macroblock is of type IntraBL.

8. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said entropy coding control value comprises a context.

9. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said context is based on cumulative macroblock information.

15. A method as described in claim 9 wherein a macroblock is determined to be coded in the spatial domain when said macroblock is of type I_PCM.

17. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said context is based on cumulative macroblock information.

10. A method for controlling entropy coding processes, said method comprising:

a) identifying a first adjacent macroblock that is adjacent to a target macroblock;

b) identifying a second adjacent macroblock that is adjacent to said target macroblock;

c) determining whether said first adjacent macroblock is available;

d) determining whether said first adjacent macroblock is coded in inter prediction mode;

e) determining whether said first adjacent macroblock is encoded in the spatial domain;

f) determining whether said first adjacent macroblock is intra predicted with a DC prediction mode;

g) determining whether said first adjacent macroblock is coded with reference to another layer;

h) setting a first adjacent block flag to one when any of steps c) through g) are true;

i) determining whether said second adjacent macroblock is available;

j) determining whether said second adjacent macroblock is coded in inter prediction mode;

k) determining whether said second adjacent macroblock is encoded in the spatial domain;

l) determining whether said second adjacent macroblock is intra predicted with a DC prediction mode;

m) determining whether said second adjacent macroblock is coded with reference to another layer;

n) setting a second adjacent block flag value to one when any of steps i) through m) are true; and

o) adding said first adjacent block flag value and said second adjacent block flag value to produce an entropy coding control value.

11. A method as described in claim 10 further comprising using said entropy coding control value to encode said target macroblock.

12. A method as described in claim 10 further comprising using said entropy coding control value to decode said target macroblock.

13. A method as described in claim 10 wherein said target macroblock is a chroma macroblock.

14. A method as described in claim 10 wherein a macroblock is determined to be coded with reference to another layer when said macroblock is of type IntraBL.

16. A method as described in claim 10 wherein said entropy coding control value comprises a context.

18. A method for prediction mode determination, said method comprising:

a) identifying a first adjacent macroblock that is adjacent to a target macroblock;

b) identifying a second adjacent macroblock that is adjacent to said target macroblock; and

c) setting a target block estimated prediction mode to a predetermined mode when any of conditions i) through vi) are true;

i) said first adjacent macroblock is available;

ii) said first adjacent macroblock is coded in inter prediction mode;

iii) said first adjacent macroblock is coded with reference to another layer;

iv) said second adjacent macroblock is available;

v) said second adjacent macroblock is coded in inter prediction mode;

vi) said second adjacent macroblock is coded with reference to another layer.

19. A method as described in claim 18 wherein said predetermined mode is a DC prediction mode.

20. A method as described in claim 18 further comprising determining an actual prediction mode for said target block based on target block content.

21. A method as described in claim 20 further comprising comparing said estimated prediction mode with said actual prediction mode.

22. A method as described in claim 21 further comprising encoding a message, which instructs a decoder to use said estimated prediction mode to predict said target block when said actual prediction mode is the same as said estimated prediction mode.

23. A method as described in claim 21 further comprising decoding a message, which instructs a decoder to use said estimated prediction mode to predict said target block when said actual prediction mode is the same as said estimated prediction mode.

24. A method as described in claim 21 further comprising decoding a message, which instructs a decoder to use said actual prediction mode to predict said target block when said actual prediction mode is not the same as said estimated prediction mode.

25. A method as described in claim 21 further comprising encoding a message, which instructs a decoder to use said actual prediction mode to predict said target block when said actual prediction mode is not the same as said estimated prediction mode.

26. A method as described in claim 18 wherein said target block estimated prediction mode is a luma prediction mode.