Predictive lossless coding of images and video

A computer-implemented media system providing predictive lossless coding of image or video media content, the system comprising a computer comprising one or more computer-readable storage media and a processor, the computer-readable storage media containing instructions, which, when executed by the processor on the computer, cause the computer to perform the actions of:

• a macro-block division process for separating input image data into macro-blocks;
• a multi-mode differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) process operating on an individual macro-block of the input image data to choose one of multiple DPCM prediction modes based upon which one of the multiple DPCM prediction modes produces a residual distribution for the macro-block to more closely match an optimal two-sided, zero-biased, run-length, Golomb-Rice (RLGR) entropy coding distribution than any other of the multiple DPCM prediction modes, and applies the chosen DPCM prediction mode to the macro-block;
• and
• an entropy coding process for performing a run-length, Golomb-Rice coding of the DPCM residuals of the macro-block.

A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program instructions stored thereon, operative upon execution in a computer media processing system to perform a method of encoding image or video data, the method comprising:

• converting image data to a YCoCg color space format;
• splitting the image data into macro-blocks;
• for a macro-block of the image data, determining a DPCM differential pulse code modulation prediction mode based upon which DPCM prediction mode from a group of available DPCM prediction modes produces residuals closest to an optimal two-sided, zero-biased distribution for RLGR (run-length Golomb-Rice) coding than any other of the available DPCM prediction modes;
• if such determined DPCM prediction mode produces residuals whose distribution meets a threshold parameter, applying the DPCM prediction mode to the macro-block;
• and
• RLGR entropy encoding the residuals of the macro-block.

A method of decoding predictive losslessly coded data of an image or video, comprising:

• RLGR (run-length Golomb-rice) entropy decoding a macro-block mode, a DPCM differential pulse code modulation prediction mode and DPCM residuals for each of a plurality of macro-blocks using separate RLGR coding contexts;
• where the macro-block mode of a macro-block is a flat macro-block mode, decoding the macro-block's pixels using a DPCM demodulation that is an inverse of the RLGR-decoded DPCM prediction mode of all zero residuals;
• otherwise, where the DPCM prediction mode of the macro-block is a no DPCM prediction mode because application of possible DPCM prediction modes did not yield a symbol distribution for RLGR entropy encoding meeting a threshold parameter, decoding the macro-block's pixels without DPCM demodulation;
• otherwise, de-modulating the RLGR-decoded DPCM residuals using a DPCM demodulation that is an inverse of the RLGR-decoded DPCM prediction mode wherein the DPCM prediction mode was selected during encoding based upon which DPCM prediction mode from a group of available DPCM prediction modes produced residuals closer to an optimal two-sided, zero-biased distribution for RLGR coding than any other of the available DPCM prediction modes;
• and
• assembling the macro-blocks to form a decoded image data.

A predictive-lossless coded image or video decoder, comprising:

• a run-length Golomb-Rice (RLGR) entropy decoder operating to decode RLGR-encoded DPCM (differential pulse code modulation) residuals and DPCM prediction mode of a macro-block;
• a DPCM demodulator for applying an inverse of the DPCM prediction mode to the DPCM residuals if the macro-block was encoded using a DPCM prediction mode wherein the DPCM prediction mode was selected during encoding based upon which DPCM prediction mode from a group of available DPCM prediction modes produced residuals closer to an optimal two-sided, zero-biased distribution for RLGR entropy encoding than any other of the available DPCM prediction modes;
• otherwise, where the macro-block was not encoded using a DPCM prediction mode because application of possible DPCM prediction modes did not yield a symbol distribution for RLGR entropy encoding that met a threshold parameter, decoding the macro-block without DPCM demodulation;
• and
• a macro-block reassembler for assembling the macro-block with other decoded macro-blocks to form data of a reconstructed image.