Optimized template matching approach to intra-coding in video/image compression

A method for decoding video data, the method comprising:

• decoding compressed video bits as at least one residual using an asymmetric discrete sine transform (ADST);
• generating a plurality of candidate templates using a weighted scheme of reconstructed adjacent pixels, the reconstructed adjacent pixels being in one of:
• an above row of pixels next to a boundary of an un-encoded image block of a video frame to be encoded, and
• a left column of pixels next to the boundary of the un-encoded image block of the video frame to be encoded;
• measuring a similarity between image blocks of a video frame and each of the plurality of candidate templates;
• the weighted scheme includes assigning a higher weight to pixels closer to the boundary than the pixels further away from the boundary for measuring the similarity;
• selecting a matched template for the un-encoded pixel of the video frame based on the measuring of the similarity between the image blocks and each of the plurality of candidate templates;
• and
• generating at least one reconstructed pixel of the video frame based on the matched template and the decoded compressed video bits.

A video coding system, comprising:

• an encoder configured to:
• generate a plurality of candidate templates using a weighted scheme of reconstructed adjacent pixels, the reconstructed adjacent pixels being in one of:
• an above row of pixels next to a boundary of an un-encoded image block of a video frame to be encoded, and
• a left column of pixels next to the boundary of the un-encoded image block of the video frame to be encoded;
• measure a similarity between the un-encoded image block and each of the plurality of candidate templates;
• the weighted scheme includes assigning a higher weight to pixels closer to the boundary than the pixels further away from the boundary;
• select a first matched template for the un-encoded block based on the measuring of the similarity between the un-encoded block and each of the plurality of candidate templates;
• generate at least one residual for the un-encoded pixels of the video frame based on the first matched template;
• and
• encode the at least one residual as compressed bits using an asymmetric discrete sine transform (ADST);
• and
• a decoder configured to:
• decode the compressed video bits as at least one residual using the ADST;
• measure a similarity between image blocks of a video frame based on a weighted scheme of reconstructed adjacent pixels;
• select a second matched template for an un-encoded pixel of the video frame based on the measuring of the similarity between the image blocks;
• and
• generate reconstructed pixels of the video frame based on the second matched template and the decoded compressed video bits.