Abstract: For each prediction candidate of a set of one or more prediction candidates of the current block, a video coder computes a matching cost between a set of reference pixels of the prediction candidate in a reference picture and a set of neighboring pixels of a current block in a current picture. The video coder identifies a subset of the reference pictures as major reference pictures based on a distribution of the prediction candidates among the reference pictures of the current picture. A bounding block is defined for each major reference picture, the bounding block encompassing at least portions of multiple sets of reference pixels for multiple prediction candidates. The video coder assigns an index to each prediction candidate based on the computed matching cost of the set of prediction candidates. A selection of a prediction candidate is signaled by using the assigned index of the selected prediction candidate.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for affine CPMV or ALF refinement are mentioned. According to this method, statistical data associated with the affine CPMV or ALF refinement are collected over a picture area. Updated parameters for the affine CPMV refinement or the ALF refinement are then derived based on the statistical data, where a process to derive the updated parameters includes performing multiplication using a reduced-precision multiplier for the statistical data. The reduced-precision multiplier truncates at least one bit of the mantissa part. In another embodiment, the process to derive the updated parameters includes performing reciprocal for the statistical data using a lookup table with (m?k)-bit input by truncating k bits from the m-bit mantissa part, and contents of the lookup table includes m-bit outputs. m and k are positive integers.

Abstract: Low-latency video coding methods and apparatuses include receiving input data associated with a current Intra slice composed of Coding Tree Units (CTU), where each CTU includes luma and chroma Coding Tree Blocks (CTBs), partitioning each CTB into non-overlapping pipeline units, and encoding or decoding the CTUs in the current Intra slices by performing processing of chroma pipeline units after beginning processing of luma pipeline units in at least one pipeline stage. Each of the pipeline units is processed by one pipeline stage after another pipeline stage, and different pipeline stages process different pipeline units simultaneously. The pipeline stage in the low-latency video coding methods and apparatuses simultaneously processes one luma pipeline unit and at least one previous chroma pipeline unit within one pipeline unit time interval.

Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure provide coloring methods that sort and pre-color nodes of G0-linked networks in a multiple-patterning technology (MPT)-compliant layout design by coordinate. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying target networks in a circuit layout, each target network having two or more linked nodes representing circuit patterns, and each target network being presented in an imaginary X-Y coordinate plane, assigning a first feature to a first node in each target network, the first node is determined using a coordinate-based method, and assigning the first feature and a second feature to remaining nodes in each target network in an alternating manner so that any two immediately adjacent linked nodes in each target network have different features.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of video coding are disclosed. According to one method, the left reference boundary samples and the top reference boundary samples are checked jointly. According to another method, selected original left reference boundary samples and selected original top reference boundary samples at specific positions are used for predictor up-sampling. According to yet another method, the horizontal interpolation and the vertical interpolation are in a fixed order regardless of a shape of the current block, size of the current block or both.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for Overlapped Boundary Motion Compensation (OBMC) are provided. According to the method, input data associated with a current block is received, wherein the input data includes pixel data for the current block to be encoded at an encoder side or coded data associated with the current block to be decoded at a decoder side. An inter prediction tool from a set of inter-prediction coding tools is determined for the current block. An OBMC subblock size for the current block is determined based on information related to the inter prediction tool selected for the current block or the inter prediction tool of a neighboring block. Subblock OBMC is applied to a subblock boundary between a neighboring subblock and a current subblock of the current block according to the OBMC subblock size.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for video coding system utilizing Rate-Distortion Optimized Quantization (RDOQ) are provided. According to one method, a rate for a level belonging to a level set of a current quantized transform coefficient is estimated for a current coefficient group (CG) based on neighboring quantized coefficients of the current quantized transform coefficient and the current CG. A best level for the current quantized transform coefficient is selected from the level set for a best RD-cost. In another method, a TB is partitioned into M regions and M best regions are derived for the M regions according to RDOQ. At least two alternative region RD-costs are generated for each of the M best regions based on a relative position between each of the M best regions and a last significant region in the TB. TB RD-cost for the TB is selected according a last non-zero best region position.

Abstract: Various schemes for realizing JCCR mode decision in frequency domain are described. An apparatus receives first and second pixel data of a current block of a picture and transform the pixel data into first and second transformed data in frequency domain. The apparatus generates joint pixel data comprising a pixelwise linear combination of the first and second transformed data. The apparatus generates reconstructed joint pixel data based on the joint pixel data by quantization and inverse quantization operations. The apparatus derives first and second reconstructed pixel data based on the reconstructed joint pixel data. The apparatus accordingly calculates first and second distortion values in frequency domain, based on which a preferred mode may be determined to code the current block.

Abstract: A method for specifying layout of subpictures is provided. A video decoder receives data from a bitstream to be decoded as a current picture of a video. The video decoder parses the bitstream for positions and sizes of multiple subpictures of the current picture. A position of a first subpicture and a size of a last subpicture are skipped during the parsing. The video decoder reconstructs the current picture and the subpictures of the current picture according to the positions and the sizes of the subpictures.

Abstract: Video processing methods and apparatuses for coding a current block include receiving input data of a current block, splitting the current block into sub-blocks, deriving motion information for the sub-blocks, performing motion compensation for the sub-blocks using the motion information to derive a final predictor, deriving and storing a representative motion vector for each grid in the current block, and encoding or decoding the current block using the final predictor. The representative motion vector for grids in a weighted area is determined by combining the motion vectors of the sub-blocks if the motion vectors of the sub-blocks are in different lists. The representative motion vector for grids in the weighted area is determined as one of the motion vectors of the sub-blocks if the motion vectors of the sub-blocks are in the same list.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of video coding for a video encoding system or video decoding system are disclosed. According to one method, the current block region is partitioned into one or more leaf blocks using quadtree (QT) partition and/or 1D (one-dimensional) partition by firstly signalling or parsing a first syntax element to indicate whether the current block region is split into multiple smaller blocks. According to a second method, a target syntax model from multiple syntax models is determined. The current block region is partitioned into one or more leaf blocks using QT partition and/or 1D partition and signalling block partition information according to the target syntax model at an encoder side, or the block partition information is parsed according to the target syntax model and the current block region is partitioned into one or more leaf blocks at a decoder side.

Abstract: A method for performing transform skip mode (TSM) in a video decoder is provided. A video decoder receives data from a bitstream to be decoded as a plurality of video pictures. The video decoder parses the bitstream for a first syntax element in a sequence parameter set (SPS) of a current sequence of video pictures. When the first syntax element indicates that transform skip mode is allowed for the current sequence of video pictures and when transform skip mode is used for a current block in a current picture of the current sequence, the video decoder reconstructs the current block by using quantized residual signals that are not transformed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of Inter prediction for video coding are disclosed. When a sub-block motion compensation coding tool is selected for the current block, the method generates sub-block MVs (motion vectors) associated with multiple sub-blocks, which are included or contained in the current block, according to the sub-block motion compensation coding tool, constrains the sub-block MVs within a range to form constrained sub-block MVs, and applies motion compensation to the current block using the constrained sub-block MVs or applies motion compensation to the current block using one sub-block MV within the range around the primary MV in a second list if a corresponding sub-block MV in a first list is outside the range. In another method, motion compensation is applied to the current block only using reference pixels of reference sub-blocks within a primary reference block.

Abstract: An image or video processing method comprises receiving input data of a current block, mapping an MIP mode index to a default mode, and encoding or decoding the current block by referencing the default mode. Another image or video processing method comprises receiving input data of a current block coded or to be coded by an MIP mode, and parsing or signaling a transpose flag for the current block indicating whether transposing is applied in coding the current block. Reference samples of the current block are prepared from neighboring boundary samples according to the transpose flag. A matrix is selected to be multiplied to the reference samples to generate predicted samples. A transposing process is adaptively applied to the current block according to the transpose flag, and the predicted samples are used to encode or decode the current block.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for constrained de-blocking filter are disclosed. One method receives input data related to a current block in a current picture at a video encoder side or a video bitstream determines a block boundary of the current block and sub-block boundaries inside the current block, wherein the current block is partitioned into a plurality of sub-blocks using sub-block mode prediction. The method then applies de-blocking process to a reconstructed current block corresponding to the current block to result in a current filtered-reconstructed block, wherein said applying the de-blocking process to the current block comprises applying the de-blocking process to the sub-block boundaries inside the current filtered-reconstructed block, and generates a filtered decoded picture including the current filtered-reconstructed block.

Abstract: In an integrated circuit (IC) fabrication process, devices or sub-circuits are fabricated in respective first and second electrical isolation regions. A back-to-back (B2B) diodes sub-circuit is fabricated in a third electrical isolation region, which includes a first diode whose cathode is connected with a first terminal and whose anode is connected with a second terminal, and a second diode whose anode is connected with the first terminal and whose cathode is connected with the second terminal. Electrostatic discharge protection is provided to the first and second electrical isolation regions by electrically connecting the first terminal of the B2B diodes sub-circuit with a VSS power supply terminal of the first device or sub-circuit and the second terminal of the B2B diodes sub-circuit with a VSS power supply terminal of the second device or sub-circuit. Thereafter, the first device or sub-circuit and the second device or sub-circuit are electrically connected.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for in-loop processing of reconstructed video are disclosed. According to one method, a virtual boundary is determined for to-be-processed pixels in the current picture, where the virtual boundary is aligned with block boundaries and at least one to-be-processed pixel on a first side of the virtual boundary requires one or more second pixels on a second side of the virtual boundary. According to the method, the in-loop processing is modified if a target to-be-processed pixel requires at least one second pixel from the second side of the virtual boundary and the modified in-loop processing eliminates the need for any second pixel on the second side of the virtual boundary. According to another method, the operations of block classification are changed when part of the required pixels in one 10×10 window used in classification are at the other side of virtual boundaries.

Abstract: A methods and apparatus for adaptive data dependency between corresponding blocks partitioned from separate partition trees according to an embodiment of the present invention are disclosed. The data dependency between different tree structures is allowed when the tree structures are mutually inclusive. When the splitting is not used in one tree or when splitting is used in one tree and the same splitting or no split is used in the other tree, the data dependency between different tree structures is allowed. When the splitting in different tree structures are different, then the data dependency between different tree structures is disallowed. For each leaf CU in chroma tree, it should include one or more complete luma leaf CUs or it is completely included in one luma leaf CU, when the data dependency between different tree structures is allowed. Otherwise, then the data dependency between different tree structures is disallowed.

Abstract: Video encoding methods and apparatuses for Sum of Absolute Transformed Difference (SATD) computation by folded Hadamard transform circuits include splitting a current block into SATD blocks, receiving input data associated with a first block of a first SATD block in a first cycle and receiving input data associated with a second block of the first SATD block in a second cycle, and performing calculations for the first block by shared Hadamard transform circuits in the first cycle and performing calculations for the second block by the shared Hadamard transform circuits in the second cycle. Each shared Hadamard transform circuit is a first part of each folded Hadamard transform circuit. The video encoding methods and apparatuses further perform calculations for the entire SATD block by a final part of each folded Hadamard transform circuit to generate a final SATD result of the first SATD block for encoding.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for video coding. According to the method, a set of candidates associated with coding modes or mode parameters are determined. Boundary matching costs associated with the set of candidates are determined, where each of the boundary matching costs is determined for one target candidate of the set of candidates. The costs are calculated by using reconstructed or predicted samples of the current block and one or more neighboring blocks of the current block. Each of the boundary matching costs is calculated using one target configuration selected from a plurality of configurations. A final candidate is selected from the set of candidates based on the boundary matching costs. The current block is encoded or decoded using the final candidate.