# US 7,466,774 B2 · Mixed inter/intra video coding of macroblock partitions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,466,774 B2 - Document ID: US7466774B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/541,603 - Filed: 2004-01-06 - Published: 2006-07-13 - Granted: 2008-12-16 - Earliest claimed: 2003-01-07 - Assignees: Thomson Licensing - Inventors: Jill MacDonald Boyce - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7466774B2 ## CPC - H04N 19/57: Motion estimation characterised by a search window with variable size or shape - H04N 19/105: Selection of the reference unit for prediction within a chosen coding or prediction mode, e.g. adaptive choice of position and number of pixels used for prediction - H04N 19/107: between spatial and temporal predictive coding, e.g. picture refresh - H04N 19/109: among a plurality of temporal predictive coding modes - H04N 19/11: among a plurality of spatial predictive coding modes - H04N 19/119: Adaptive subdivision aspects, e.g. subdivision of a picture into rectangular or non-rectangular coding blocks - H04N 19/147: according to rate distortion criteria (rate-distortion as a criterion for motion estimation H04N19/567) - H04N 19/15: by monitoring actual compressed data size at the memory before deciding storage at the transmission buffer - H04N 19/176: the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock - H04N 19/61: in combination with predictive coding - H04N 19/70: characterised by syntax aspects related to video coding, e.g. related to compression standards - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A video encoder and corresponding method are provided for mixed inter/intra encoding of a macroblock having a plurality of partitions, where the encoder includes a reference picture weighting applicator coupled with a reference picture weighting factor unit for assigning weighting factors corresponding to each of the inter and intra coded partitions, respectively; and the corresponding method for encoding a macroblock with several partitions includes inter-coding at least one partition and intra-coding at least a second partition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for encoding a macroblock having a plurality of partitions, the method comprising: inter-coding at least one of said plurality of partitions; and intra-coding at least a second of said plurality of partitions wherein said intra-coding comprises providing a reference picture index that is associated with a weighting factor of zero. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said macroblock comprises video data in compliance with the Joint Video Team (“JVT”) standard. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said macroblock comprises a non-intra macroblock type. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said intra-coding comprises non-predictive intra-coding performed within a weighted prediction encoding mode by using a weighting factor of zero with a weighted prediction tool from at least one of the Main and Extended profiles of the JVT standard. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising coding a zero differential motion vector for a partition that is non-predictively intra-coded. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the inter-coded at least one of said plurality of partitions has a reference picture index associated with a non-zero valued weighting factor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A method as defined in claim 6, further comprising deciding between inter-coding and non-predictive intra-coding of a partition in response to a measure of cost for each coding method. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising: associating a plurality of reference picture indices with a particular reference picture store using reference picture reordering commands; and assigning a zero weight to one of the plurality of reference picture indices and non-zero weights to the other reference picture indices. ### Claim 9 A method for encoding a macroblock having at least one partition, the method comprising non-predictively intra-coding the at least one partition by providing a reference picture index that is associated with a weighting factor of zero, wherein said non-predictive intra-coding is performed within a weighted prediction encoding mode by using a weighting factor of zero with a weighted prediction tool from at least one of the Main and Extended profiles of the JVT standard. ### Claim 10 A video encoder for mixed inter/intra encoding of a macroblock having a plurality of partitions, the encoder comprising: a reference picture weighting applicator; and a reference picture weighting factor unit in signal communication with the reference picture weighting applicator for assigning weighting factors corresponding to each of the mixed inter and intra coded partitions, respectively. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A video encoder as defined in claim 10, further comprising a motion compensation unit in signal communication with the reference picture weighting applicator for providing at least one each of a motion compensated inter and intra coded partition, respectively. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A video encoder as defined in claim 11, further comprising a reference picture store in signal communication with each of the reference picture weighting factor unit and the motion compensation unit for storing at least one each of a motion compensated inter and intra coded partition, respectively. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A video encoder as defined in claim 11 wherein the reference picture weighting applicator applies a weighting factor selected by the reference picture weighting factor unit to at least one of the motion compensated inter and intra coded partitions, respectively. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A video encoder as defined in claim 13 usable with bi-predictive picture predictors, the encoder further comprising prediction means for forming first and second predictors from the at least one weighted and motion compensated inter/intra coded partition. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) A video encoder as defined in claim 10, further comprising: inter-coding means for inter-coding at least one partition of a macroblock; and intra-coding means for intra-coding at least a second partition of the macroblock. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A video encoder as defined in claim 15 wherein said macroblock comprises video data in compliance with the Joint Video Team (“JVT”) standard. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A video encoder as defined in claim 15 wherein said macroblock comprises a non-intra macroblock type. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A video encoder as defined in claim 15 wherein said intra-coding means comprises indexing means for providing a reference picture index that is associated with a weighting factor of zero. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) A video encoder as defined in claim 15, further comprising non-predictive intra-coding means for coding a zero differential motion vector for a partition that is non-predictively intra-coded. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) A video encoder as defined in claim 15 wherein the inter-coded at least one of said plurality of partitions has a reference picture index associated with a non-zero valued weighting factor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A video encoder as defined in claim 20, further comprising decision means for deciding between inter-coding and non-predictive intra-coding of a partition in response to a measure of cost for each coding method. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) A video encoder as defined in claim 15, further comprising: reference picture reordering means for associating a plurality of reference picture indices with a particular reference picture store using reference picture reordering commands; and weighting means for assigning a zero weight to one of the plurality of reference picture indices and non-zero weights to at least one other reference picture index. ### Claim 23 An apparatus for encoding a macroblock having a plurality of partitions comprising: means for inter-coding at least one of said plurality of partitions; and means for intra-coding at least a second of said plurality of partitions, wherein said means for intra-coding utilizes a reference picture index that is associated with a weighting factor of zero.