System and method for measuring blockiness level in compressed digital video

A deblocking system, comprising:

• a block edge map generator configured to generate a block map of an input image, the block map comprising indicators corresponding to each pixel in the input image, the indicators signaling if a block edge exists at the corresponding pixel location in a first direction;
• a block edge locator configured to generate block edge locations for blocks in the input image in a first direction;
• and
• a Q-value estimator configured to receive the block map and the block locations, generate a Q-value indicative of the blockiness of the input image in the first direction based on the block map and the block locations, and provide the Q-value for deblocking the input image.

A computer-program product for locating block edges in an image, the product comprising:

• a computer-readable medium having stored thereon codes executable by at least one processor to:
• receive an input image comprising a plurality of pixels;
• receive a binary block map that corresponds to an input image, the binary block map having an indicator corresponding to each of the plurality of pixels in the input image, each indicator signaling if a block edge is present at the corresponding pixel location in the input image;
• receive block locations indicative of the alignment block edge locations in the input image;
• for each considered pixel, in a selected area of the input image, that is aligned to a block edge location and having an indicator signaling the presence of a block edge, calculate a flatness measurement indicative of the flatness of the pixel values adjacent to said each considered pixel;
• average the calculated flatness measurements to determine a Q-value, the Q-value indicative of the blockiness level of the input image selected area;
• and
• provide the Q-value for deblocking the input image.

A system for locating block edges in an image, comprising:

• means for receiving an input image comprising a plurality of pixels;
• means for receiving a binary block map that corresponds to an input image, the binary block map having an indicator corresponding to each of the plurality of pixels in the input image, each indicator signaling if a block edge is present at the corresponding pixel location in the input image;
• means for receiving block locations indicative of the alignment block edge locations in the input image;
• for each considered pixel, in a selected area of the input image, that is aligned to a block edge location and having an indicator signaling the presence of a block edge, means for calculating a flatness measurement indicative of the flatness of the pixel values adjacent to said each considered pixel;
• means for averaging the calculated flatness measurements to determine a Q-value, the Q-value indicative of the blockiness level of the input image selected area;
• and
• means for providing the Q-value to a deblocking filter for use in deblocking the input image.