Abstract: An apparatus performs efficient coding techniques to more efficiently resolve geometric relationships between video data units and thereby determine neighboring video data units for a current video data unit. The apparatus comprises a geometric resolution unit that obtains video data defining a plurality of video data units, and determines, for the current one of the plurality of video data units to be processed, a partition width and a video unit number of the current video data unit. The geometric resolution unit accesses, using the determined partition width and video unit number, a plurality of look-up tables (LUTs) to output one or more indices identifying one or more of the plurality of video data units that neighbor the current video data unit.

Abstract: Decoding systems and methods are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a video decoder system includes a first decoding path and a second decoding path configured to decode at a slower average rate than the first decoding path. The video decoder system includes a dynamic switch configured to provide a first portion of the encoded video signal to the first decoding path or to the second decoding path. The dynamic switch is further configured to provide a subsequent portion of the encoded video signal to the first decoding path or to the second decoding path in response to a value of a decoding metric associated with decode processing of the first portion.

Abstract: A method, program product and apparatus for decoding from a scalable bit stream the binarization results of a video sequence by selectively decoding syntax elements and avoiding redundancy in coding. The result is a decrease in the size of the compressed bit stream of an enhancement layer bit stream. It has been demonstrated that the compression efficiency equals that of a single, non-scalable video stream for some video sequences. These features may be achieved by determining whether a skipping flag in the base layer macro block of the video data is set, and decoding a skipping flag from an enhancement layer macro block of the video data, corresponding to the base layer macro block, only if the base layer macro block skipping flag is set.

Abstract: Techniques for decoding the run_before fields in a CAVLC encoded bitstream for H.264 are disclosed. In one aspect, the codewords corresponding to a plurality of consecutive initial zero-value run_before codewords are stored in a look-up table, allowing the decoding of such a plurality of run_before codewords in a single computation cycle. In another aspect, the look-up table is additionally configured to decode the next non-zero run_before value after the initial zero-value run_before codewords in the same computation cycle.

Abstract: A device employing techniques to optimize Context-based Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding (CABAC) for the H.264 video decoding is provided. The device includes a processing circuit operative to implement a set of instructions to decode multiple bins simultaneously and renormalize an offset register and a range register after the multiple bins are decoded. The range register and offset registers may be 32 or 64 bits. The use of a larger range register allows renormalization to be skipped when enough bits are still in the range register.

Abstract: Techniques for optimizing the Context-based Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding (CABAC) bitstream decoding are disclosed. In one configuration, a device has a first processing circuit operative to decode a Context-based Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding (CABAC) bitstream into an intermediate signal having a CABAC decoded standard format and a decoded order. A second processing circuit decodes the intermediate signal using a non-CABAC decoding standard. A buffer is provided between the first and second processing circuits to improve processing speeds.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for coding information in a scalable video coding (SVC) scheme that supports spatial scalability. In one example, a method for coding video data with spatial scalability comprises upsampling base layer residual video data to a spatial resolution of enhancement layer residual video data, and coding the enhancement layer residual video data based on the upsampled base layer residual video data. In accordance with this disclosure, upsampling base layer residual video data includes interpolating values for one or more pixel locations of the upsampled base layer residual video data that correspond to locations between different base layer residual video data blocks.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to video coding techniques that support normal single layer video coding, or scalable video coding with features such as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) scalability and spatial scalability. A video coding device may implement these techniques in a video decoder that includes a motion compensation module and a filter. The motion compensation module decodes a prediction frame from a digital video signal, wherein the motion compensation module determines each block of the inter-coded frame from motion vectors encoded in the digital video signal. The filter adaptively filters one or more of the inter-coded blocks based on a signal either encoded or inferred from the digital video signal. In some instances, the video decoder may adaptively apply different filter functions, one in the horizontal and another in the vertical direction, based on the signal.

Abstract: Methods, computer code products and devices for encoding and/or decoding video data in multiple passes, the video data having a multiple components each component including multiple coefficients. The method can starting the next pass of the encoding or decoding process immediately after the end of the current encoding or decoding pass for a given component without regard to whether other components have finished the current encoding or decoding pass. In addition, stagger delays and dampers can be used to more closely regulate the encoding or decoding process to ensure that one component is not encoded or decoded too quickly with respect to other components.

Abstract: Adaptive variable length coding techniques may be used for entropy coding of residual block coefficients produced by predictive video coding. The techniques may be applied to schemes that code positions of nonzero transform coefficients using zero runs. Coding parameters such as end of block (EOB) shift and VLC codebook selection tables may be maintained as internal states, instead of sending them with coded video slice data. Table entries may be periodically updated based on statistics collected during a coding pass. A special EOB shift table may adapt the position of a special EOB symbol in a symbol set to probability of significant coefficients with magnitude greater than one for a coding condition, such as a coding cycle. Chroma blocks may be coded independently of luma blocks using separate EOB shift, special EOB shift, and VLC codebook selection tables.

Abstract: The disclosure describes FGS video coding techniques that use cycle-aligned fragments (CAFs). The techniques may perform cycle-based coding of FGS video data block coefficients and syntax elements, and encapsulate cycles in fragments for transmission. The fragments may be cycle-aligned such that a start of a payload of each of the fragments substantially coincides with a start of one of the cycles. In this manner, cycles can be readily accessed via individual fragments. Some cycles may be controlled with a vector mode to scan to a predefined position within a block before moving to another block. In this manner, the number of cycles can be reduced, reducing the number of fragments and associated overhead. The CAFs may be entropy coded independently of one another so that each fragment may be readily accessed and decoded without waiting for decoding of other fragments. Independent entropy coding may permit parallel decoding and simultaneous processing of fragments.

Abstract: A method and system for coding and decoding information associated with video impression is described. The video sequence is processed in a plurality of frames. Each frame of the plurality of frames is processed in a plurality of macroblocks. A prediction of an original video signal, which is a part of a macroblock, in a current frame, is constructed from the video sequence. A residual signal is formed by subtracting the prediction of the original video signal from the original video signal in the current frame. A transform to the residual signal is applied. A plurality of transform coefficients is quantized. A symbol of at least one syntax element that defines a characteristic of the residual signal is identified. Symbols of the at least one syntax element of a same category are coded together.

Abstract: A method for coding refinement coefficients in a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) scalable enhancement layer of a compressed video sequence is disclosed. A video sequence is received. A prediction of an original video signal in a current frame is constructed from the video sequence. A residual signal is formed by subtracting the prediction of the original video signal from the original video signal in the current frame. A transform is applied to the residual signal. A plurality of transform coefficients is quantized. A refinement coefficient is mapped to a ternary refinement symbol. Refinement symbols are grouped in a certain coding order. The refinement symbol groups are coded using variable length codes.

Abstract: A method for decoding significance coefficients in an encoded video sequence is described. An encoded video bitstream is received. Codebook table information is retrieved from the bitstream. Significance symbols are decoded using the retrieved codebook table information. Significance coefficients are decoded using the significance symbols. A plurality of transform coefficients is dequantized. An inverse transform is applied to a residual signal. A video sequence is constructed. A method for coding significance coefficients in a video sequence is also described.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to video coding techniques that support spatial scalability using a generalized fine granularity scalability (FGS) approach. Various degrees of spatial scalability can be achieved by sending spatially scalable enhancement layers in a generalized FGS format. Spatially scalable enhancement bitstreams can be arbitrarily truncated to conform to network conditions, channel conditions and/or decoder capabilities. Coding coefficients and syntax elements for spatial scalability can be embedded in a generalized FGS format. For good network or channel conditions, and/or enhanced decoder capabilities, additional bits received via one or more enhancement layers permit encoded video to be reconstructed with increased spatial resolution and continuously improved video quality across different spatial resolutions. The techniques permit spatial scalability layers to be coded as FGS layers, rather than discrete layers, permitting arbitrary scalability.

Abstract: An improved system and method for dequantizing progressively quantized signals in scalable image and video coding. A decoder performs simple dequantization, such as normal uniform dequantization, on coded content using a quantization index and a nominal quantization step size to obtain a nominal reconstruction level. The result is then adjusted by adding the reconstruction offset to obtain the final reconstruction value.

Abstract: A method for coding spatial and quality enhancement information in scalable video coding using variable length codes. Conventional systems have been capable of using variable length codes only with nonscalable video coding. In the present invention, the coded block pattern for each block of information, significance passes, and refinement passes can all be coded with different types of variable length codes.

Abstract: In the video encoding and decoding of digital video sequence having a prediction operation and an update operation, the update operation includes interpolation to generate energy distributed interpolation. Prediction is carried out on each block based on motion compensated prediction with respect to a reference frame and a motion vector in order to provide a corresponding block of prediction residues. Updating is carried out on a reference video frame based on motion compensated prediction with respect to the block of prediction residues and a reverse direction of the motion vector. The interpolation filter is determined based on the motion vector and the sample values of sub-pixel are interpolated using the block prediction residues by treating the sample values outside the block of prediction residues to be zero. Interpolation is performed along horizontal direction and vertical direction separately using one dimensional interpolation filter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and module for performing the update operation in motion compensated temporal filtering for video coding. The update operation is performed according to coding blocks in the prediction residue frame. Depending on macroblock mode in the prediction step, a coding block can have different sizes. Macroblock modes are used to specify how a macroblock is segmented into blocks. In the prediction step, the reverse direction of the motion vectors is used directly as an update motion vector and therefore no motion vector derivation process is performed. Motion vectors that significantly deviate from their neighboring motion vectors are considered not reliable and excluded from the update step. An adaptive filter is used in interpolating the prediction residue block for the update operation. The adaptive filter is an adaptive combination of a short filter and a long filter.

Abstract: A method for coding spatial and quality enhancement information in scalable video coding using variable length codes. Conventional systems have been capable of using variable length codes only with nonscalable video coding. In the present invention, the coded block pattern for each block of information, significance passes, and refinement passes can all be coded with different types of variable length codes.