US 8,428,374 B2 · Skip macroblock coding

Abstract

Various techniques and tools for encoding and decoding (e.g., in a video encoder/decoder) binary information (e.g., skipped macroblock information) are described. In some embodiments, the binary information is arranged in a bit plane, and the bit plane is coded at the picture/frame layer. The encoder and decoder process the binary information and, in some embodiments, switch coding modes. For example, the encoder and decoder use normal, row-skip, column-skip, or differential modes, or other and/or additional modes. In some embodiments, the encoder and decoder define a skipped macroblock as a predicted macroblock whose motion is equal to its causally predicted motion and which has zero residual error. In some embodiments, the encoder and decoder use a raw coding mode to allow for low-latency applications.

Claims25

Dependent claims

In a computing device that implements a video decoder, a method of decoding plural video pictures of a video sequence, the plural video pictures including plural predicted macroblocks, wherein each block of the plural predicted macroblocks is predicted from no more than one reference video picture, the method comprising:

receiving, at the computing device that implements the video decoder, encoded data in a bit stream for the plural video pictures;
and
with the computing device that implements the video decoder, decoding the plural video pictures, including:
selecting a coding mode from among plural available coding modes;
for one or more skipped macroblocks among the plural predicted macroblocks, decoding skipped macroblock information signaled at a layer in bitstream syntax, the skipped macroblock information having been encoded according to the coding mode selected from among the plural available coding modes, wherein the skipped macroblock information indicates skipped/not skipped status;
and
processing the one or more skipped macroblocks, wherein each of the one or more skipped macroblocks uses predicted motion for the skipped macroblock based upon motion of one or more other predicted macroblocks around the skipped macroblock, and wherein each of the one or more skipped macroblocks lacks residual information.

4 more elements

In a computing device that implements a video encoder, a method of processing plural video pictures of a video sequence, the plural video pictures including plural predicted macroblocks, wherein each block of the plural predicted macroblocks is predicted from no more than one reference video picture, the method comprising:

with the computing device that implements the video encoder, encoding the plural video pictures to produce encoded data, including:
selecting a coding mode from among plural available coding modes;
processing one or more skipped macroblocks among the plural predicted macroblocks, wherein each of the one or more skipped macroblocks uses predicted motion for the skipped macroblock based upon motion of one or more other predicted macroblocks around the skipped macroblock, and wherein each of the one or more skipped macroblocks lacks residual information;
encoding skipped macroblock information for the one or more skipped macroblocks for signaling at a layer in bitstream syntax, wherein the skipped macroblock information indicates skipped/not skipped status, and wherein the encoding includes encoding the skipped macroblock information according to the coding mode selected from among the plural available coding modes;
and
with the computing device that implements the video encoder, outputting the encoded data in a bitstream.

3 more elements

A computing device that implements a video decoder, the computing device comprising:

a processing unit;
memory;
a display;
a wireless communication connection;
and
one or more storage media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the computing device to perform a method of decoding plural video pictures of a video sequence, the plural video pictures including plural predicted macroblocks, wherein each block of the plural predicted macroblocks is predicted from no more than one reference video picture, the method comprising:
receiving, via the wireless communication connection, encoded data in a bit stream for the plural video pictures;
decoding the plural video pictures, including:
selecting a coding mode from among plural available coding modes;
for one or more skipped macroblocks among the plural predicted macroblocks, decoding skipped macroblock information signaled at a layer in bitstream syntax, the skipped macroblock information having been encoded according to the coding mode selected from among the plural available coding modes, wherein the skipped macroblock information indicates skipped/not skipped status;
and
processing the one or more skipped macroblocks, wherein each of the one or more skipped macroblocks uses predicted motion for the skipped macroblock based upon motion of one or more other predicted macroblocks around the skipped macroblock, and wherein each of the one or more skipped macroblocks lacks residual information;
and
outputting, via the display, the plural video pictures.

11 more elements

with the computing device that implements the video encoder, encoding the plural video pictures to produce encoded data, including:
selecting a coding mode from among plural available coding modes;
processing one or more skipped macroblocks among the plural predicted macroblocks, including checking, for a current macroblock of the plural predicted macroblocks, whether the current macroblock has no residual information to be coded when predicted motion is used in motion compensation for the current macroblock, wherein each of the one or more skipped macroblocks uses predicted motion for the skipped macroblock based upon motion of one or more other predicted macroblocks around the skipped macroblock, and wherein each of the one or more skipped macroblocks lacks residual information;
encoding skipped macroblock information for the one or more skipped macroblocks for signaling at a layer in bitstream syntax, wherein the skipped macroblock information indicates skipped/not skipped status, and wherein the encoding includes encoding the skipped macroblock information according to the coding mode selected from among the plural available coding modes;
and
from the computing device that implements the video encoder, outputting the encoded data in a bitstream.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Skip macroblock coding

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Skip macroblock coding

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Abstract

Claims25