A method, an apparatus and a computer program product for image and video processing

An apparatus for decoding, comprising

• means for receiving an encoded bitstream;
• means for decoding information on elements being encoded in the received bitstream;
• means for decoding lowest-resolution representation of a latent representation using a probability distribution model for elements that are encoded, wherein an estimated value is used for elements that have not been encoded in the bitstream;
• means for continuing decoding elements in higher-resolution representations by the probability distribution using elements of lower-resolution representation that have been decoded or estimated until all elements in the highest-resolution latent representation have been decoded;
• and
• means for generating a reconstructed frame based on the highest-resolution latent representation.

A method for encoding, comprising:

• receiving an input frame;
• transforming the input frame to generate a latent representation to be quantized;
• determining from the latent representation a foreground region of the input frame and a background region of the input frame having corresponding foreground elements and corresponding background elements;
• downsampling the latent representation into low-level resolution representations;
• estimating parameters of a probability distribution of a selected set of elements of the latent representation and estimating values for rest of the elements at each resolution level;
• and
• encoding the latent representation into a bitstream using the estimated parameters of the probability distribution for the selected set of elements and using estimated values for the rest of the elements.

A method for decoding, comprising:

• receiving an encoded bitstream;
• decoding information on elements being encoded in the received bitstream;
• decoding lowest-resolution representation of a latent representation using a probability distribution model for elements that are encoded, wherein an estimated value is used for elements that has not been encoded in the bitstream;
• continuing decoding elements in higher-resolution representations by the probability distribution using elements of lower-resolution representation that have been decoded or estimated until all elements in the highest-resolution latent representation have been decoded;
• and
• generating a reconstructed frame based on the highest-resolution latent representation.