Video shape padding method

A method for facilitating MPEG 4 shape padding of a video object plane disposed within a frame boundary comprising:

• providing video object plane data comprised of:
• a plurality of state pixels wherein each of the plurality of state pixels has a corresponding pixel value;
• a plurality of non-state pixels;
• selecting a macro block comprising a grouping of the state pixels and non-state pixels;
• for each of the non-state pixels, determining, substantially simultaneously, whether to assign a new padding pixel value to the non-state pixel.

A method for facilitating shape padding of a video object plane disposed within a frame boundary comprising:

• providing video object plane data comprised of:
• a plurality of state pixels wherein each of the plurality of state pixels has a corresponding pixel value;
• a plurality of non-state pixels;
• selecting a grouping of the state pixels and non-state pixels;
• for each of the non-state pixels, within a single action cycle and as repeated at least until done:
• assigning a padding pixel value that is equal to the pixel value for a first horizontally adjacent pixel having a pixel value that corresponds to either of a state pixel or a new padding pixel value, unless:
• a second horizontally adjacent pixel located on an opposite side of the non-state pixel from the first horizontally adjacent pixel has a pixel value that corresponds to either a state pixel or a new padding pixel value, in which case the non-state pixel is assigned a padding pixel value representing an average of the pixel value for the first horizontally adjacent pixel and the second horizontally adjacent pixel;
• a second horizontally adjacent pixel located on a first predetermined side of the non-state pixel and on an opposite side of the non-state pixel from the first horizontally adjacent pixel has a pixel value that is neither a pixel value for a state pixel nor a new padding pixel value, and another horizontally aligned pixel is located adjacent to the second horizontally adjacent pixel and on an opposite side of the second horizontally adjacent pixel from the non-state pixel wherein the another horizontally aligned pixel has a pixel value representing either a state pixel or a new padding pixel value, in which case a first predetermined action is taken;
• for each of the non-state pixels not yet assigned a padding pixel value, within a single action cycle and as repeated at least until done:
• assigning a padding pixel value that is equal to the pixel value for a first vertically adjacent pixel having a pixel value that corresponds to either of a state pixel or a new padding pixel value, unless:
• a second vertically adjacent pixel located on an opposite side of the non-state pixel from the first vertically adjacent pixel has a pixel value that corresponds to either a state pixel or a new padding pixel value, in which case the non-state pixel is assigned a padding pixel value representing an average of the pixel value for the first vertically adjacent pixel and the second vertically adjacent pixel;
• a second vertically adjacent pixel located on a first predetermined side of the non-state pixel and on an opposite side of the non-state pixel from the first vertically adjacent pixel has a pixel value that is neither a pixel value for a state pixel nor a new padding pixel value, and another vertically aligned pixel is located adjacent to the second vertically adjacent pixel and on an opposite side of the second vertically adjacent pixel from the non-state pixel wherein the another vertically aligned pixel has a pixel value representing either a state pixel or a new padding pixel value, in which case a second predetermined action is taken;
• the non-state pixel is vertically adjacent to a pixel having a padding pixel value that represents an average pixel value, in which case the non-state pixel is assigned the padding pixel value that represents an average pixel value.