Controlling a video content system

A device for controlling a video content system based on an input video sequence and a corresponding degraded video sequence, the input video sequence including at least a current input frame and a preceding input frame, and the degraded video sequence including at least a current degraded frame and a preceding degraded frame, the device comprising:

• an interface configured to receive as input each of the current input frame, the preceding input frame, the current degraded frame and the preceding degraded frame;
• a processor configured to compute a first differences value from the current input frame and the preceding input frame, and a second differences value from the current degraded frame and the preceding degraded frame;
• a quality degradation evaluation module adapted to compare the first and the second differences values, giving rise to an inter-frame quality score;
• and
• said compression quality evaluation module is adapted to compute an intra-frame quality score using an intra-frame quality measure that is applied in the pixel-domain of the current input frame and the current degraded frame;
• and
• a video content system configurator, configured to provide a configuration instruction to the video content system based on a quality criterion related to the inter-frame and the intra-frame quality scores.

A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of controlling a compression of a video frame from a video sequence to compress a video frame from an input video sequence, the sequence comprising at least a current input frame and a preceding frame, the method comprising:

• providing a compression parameter value;
• obtaining a candidate compressed frame generated from a current input frame according to the compression parameter value;
• for each current input frame and candidate compressed frame providing a stored compressed frame corresponding to the preceding input frame;
• computing a first differences value from the current input and the preceding input frames and a second differences value from the candidate compressed frame and the stored compressed frame;
• comparing the first and second differences value giving rise to an inter-frame quality score;
• computing an intra-frame quality score using an intra-frame quality measure that is applied in the pixel-domain of the candidate compressed frame and the current input frame;
• and
• in case a quality criterion related to inter-frame and intra-frame quality is not satisfied, instructing the video encoder to repeat a compression process using an updated compression parameter value giving rise to an updated candidate compressed frame and computing the inter-frame quality score and the intra-frame quality score based on the updated candidate compressed frame.

A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for controlling a compression of a video frame from a video sequence to compress a video frame from an input video sequence, the sequence comprising at least a current input frame and a preceding frame, the computer program product comprising:

• computer readable program code for causing the computer to provide a compression parameter value;
• computer readable program code for causing the computer to obtain a candidate compressed frame generated from a current input frame according to the compression parameter value;
• computer readable program code for causing the computer to for each current input frame and candidate compressed frame providing a stored compressed frame corresponding to the preceding input frame;
• computer readable program code for causing the computer to compute a first differences value from the current input and the preceding input frames and a second differences value from the candidate compressed frame and the stored compressed frame;
• computer readable program code for causing the computer to compare the first and second differences value giving rise to an inter-frame quality score;
• computer readable program code for causing the computer to compute an intra-frame quality score using an intra-frame quality measure that is applied in the pixel-domain of the candidate compressed frame and the current input frame;
• and
• computer readable program code for causing the computer to in case a quality criterion related to inter-frame and intra-frame quality is not satisfied, instructing the video encoder to repeat a compression process using an updated compression parameter value giving rise to an updated candidate compressed frame and computing the inter-frame quality score and the intra-frame quality score based on the updated candidate compressed frame.