Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are described included rate-distortion optimized quantization encoders utilizing HEVC sign data hiding techniques. An example of an apparatus may include an encoder. The encoder utilizes an optimization process which can be implemented in real-time hardware. The encoder may be configured to reduce the total bit cost of quantized coefficients while keeping distortion at an acceptable level, such as low as possible. The encoder may further employ sign data hiding which may be utilized at selected times in accordance with rate-distortion optimization.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for optimizing rate-distortion costs of a signal are disclosed. An apparatus may include an encoder. The encoder may be configured to receive a video signal and provide a residual indicative of a difference between the video signal and a reconstructed video signal. The encoder may further be configured to perform a transform on the residual to provide a plurality of transform coefficients and rate-distortion optimize the plurality of transform coefficients in accordance with an HEVC state transition scheme to provide a rate-distortion optimized plurality of quantized coefficients. The encoder may further be configured to encode the plurality of quantized coefficients in accordance with context-adaptive binary arithmetic coding.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for optimizing rate-distortion costs in a signal are disclosed. An apparatus may comprise a quantization block that may be configured to generate a plurality of candidates for each of a plurality of coefficients. The quantization block may further generate a respective plurality of arcs based, at least in part, on the plurality of candidates. The quantization block may be configured to determine which of the plurality of arcs has a lowest cost using a trellis optimization technique. Fractional bit estimations may be used to calculate rate, and inverse lambda may be used to calculate candidate coefficients.

Abstract: Examples described include transport stream multiplexers that may not need to search for an appropriate source to use to generate a transport stream packet. Instead, the source to use may be indicated by a position (e.g. an entry) in a memory table, e.g. a metadata array. Methods for placing transport stream packets on a transport stream and initializing the metadata array are also described.

Abstract: Examples described include transport stream multiplexers that may not need to search for an appropriate source to use to generate a transport stream packet. Instead, the source to use may be indicated by a position (e.g. an entry) in a memory table, e.g. a metadata array. Methods for placing transport stream packets on a transport stream and initializing the metadata array are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for adaptively filtering video content are disclosed herein. An apparatus may include a filter configured to receive a video signal. The filter may further be configured to perform an up-conversion on a plurality of frames of the video signal to provide a plurality of up-converted frames. The filter may further be configured to filter the plurality of up-converted frames to provide a plurality of filtered frames and to perform a down-conversion operation on the plurality of filtered frames to provide a filtered video signal.

Abstract: Examples methods and apparatuses including a statistical multiplexer (statmux) system with multiple channel rate control are described herein. The statmux system includes a rate controller, multiplex control unit and a plurality of encoders. An encoder of the plurality of encoders may be configured to provide a respective encoded bitstream of encoded coding units. The rate controller may buffer respective coding units of at least two of the plurality of channels based on statistical information from the plurality of encoders. The multiplex control unit may adjust multiplexing instructions for multiplexing the plurality of channels based on statistical information from the plurality of encoders, and may provide feedback to the rate controller based on the adjusted multiplexing instructions. The rate controller may provide a quality parameter to the plurality of encoders having a value based on the amount of buffered coding units and the feedback from the multiplex control unit.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for adjusting coefficients for use in video encoding are described. An example apparatus may include an encoder that may be configured to receive transform coefficients and adjust selected ones of the transform coefficients (e.g. reset the selected ones to zero) based on a comparison with a threshold. The adjusted coefficients may then be quantized, which may result in effectively increasing a QP range of the encoder.

Abstract: Examples of methods and apparatuses for performing video quantization rate distortion calculations are described herein. An example apparatus may include an encoder configured to encode a macroblock of a frame. The encoder including a rate-distortion (RD) calculator configured to individually quantize a set of coefficient blocks using each of a subset of a plurality of quantization parameter (QP) values to provide individual sets of quantized coefficient blocks. Each of the individual sets of coefficient blocks is based on data of the macroblock. The RD calculator is further configured to determine individual accumulated rate and accumulated distortion value pairs for each of the plurality of QP values based on the individual sets of quantized coefficient blocks.

Abstract: Examples described include transport stream multiplexers that may not need to search for an appropriate source to use to generate a transport stream packet. Instead, the source to use may be indicated by a position (e.g. an entry) in a memory table, e.g. a metadata array. Methods for placing transport stream packets on a transport stream and initializing the metadata array are also described.

Abstract: A technique for improving the subject visual quality of encoded video that includes a video quality module configured to determine a video quality metric (VQM) for each data block of a plurality of data blocks and a modulator coupled to the video quality module. The modulator configured to modulate a video encoding parameter to improve the quality for each data block of the plurality of data blocks based on a normalized VQM for each data block of the plurality of data blocks.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for providing optimized quantization matrices are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may include an encoder. The encoder may be configured to provide a plurality of coefficients based, at least in part, on a frame and to provide an optimized quantization weight matrix based, at least in part, on the plurality of coefficients during a first encoding pass. The encoder may further be configured to quantize the plurality of coefficients in accordance with the optimized quantization weight matrix during a second encoding pass different than the first encoding pass.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for optimizing rate-distortion costs of a signal are disclosed. An apparatus may include an encoder. The encoder may be configured to receive a video signal and provide a residual indicative of a difference between the video signal and a reconstructed video signal. The encoder may further be configured to perform a transform on the residual to provide a plurality of transform coefficients and rate-distortion optimize the plurality of transform coefficients in accordance with an HEVC state transition scheme to provide a rate-distortion optimized plurality of quantized coefficients. The encoder may further be configured to encode the plurality of quantized coefficients in accordance with context-adaptive binary arithmetic coding.

Abstract: A video encoding method for encoding a stream of baseband video data. The stream of baseband video data is received as a plurality of coding units. Statistics of each coding unit in the plurality of coding units are gathered. A quantization parameter (QP) for each coding unit is determined from the corresponding statistics. The coding unit is trial encoded using the QP to generate a trial encoded coding unit; and the QP is updated based on the trial encoded coding unit. Trial encoding the coding unit and updating the QP are repeated until the trial encoded coding unit meets a predetermined criterion. Then the coding unit is final encoded using the updated QP to generate a final encoded coding unit.

Abstract: Examples of apparatuses and methods for reducing rate and distortion costs during encoding by modulating a Lagrangian parameter are described herein. An example apparatus may include an encoder configured to provide an encoded bitstream based on a video signal. The encoder is configured to determine first rate and distortion values associated with a first quantization strength and a first Lagrangian parameter value for encoding a coding unit of the video signal. The encoder is further configured to select a second quantization strength and a second Lagrangian parameter value for encoding the coding unit that results in second rate and distortion values that are lower than the first rate and distortion values.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for adjusting coefficients for use in video encoding are described. An example apparatus may include an encoder that may be configured to receive transform coefficients and adjust selected ones of the transform coefficients (e.g. reset the selected ones to zero) based on a comparison with a threshold. The adjusted coefficients may then be quantized, which may result in effectively increasing a QP range of the encoder.

Abstract: Examples methods and apparatuses including an encoding system with temporally adaptive quantization are described herein. An example apparatus may include an encoding system configured to receive a coding unit of a video signal. The coding unit may include a plurality of sub-coding units. The encoding system may be further configured to determine spatial complexity statistics and motion estimation statistics associated with a sub-coding unit of the plurality of sub-coding units. The encoding system may be further configured to modify a quantization parameter associated with the coding unit based on the spatial complexity statistics and the motion estimation statistics, and to encode the sub-coding unit using the modified quantization parameter.

Abstract: A method of encoding is provided. The method includes generating transform coefficients corresponding to macroblocks of video data, at least in part using a transform unit. The method also includes calculating a visual quality importance index for each of the macroblocks, wherein the visual quality importance index reflects a relative importance of the respective macroblock to subjective image quality. The method further includes receiving initial quantization parameters for the macroblocks from a rate control unit; dynamically adjusting the quantization parameters based, at least in part, on the visual quality importance index; and quantizing the transform coefficients using the dynamically adjusted quantization parameters.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for initializing a CABAC state are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may include an encoder configured to receive a macroblock dependent on at least one unencoded macroblock. The encoder may further be configured to receive a plurality of CABAC states and initialize CABAC in accordance with one of the plurality of CABAC states to encode the macroblock prior to the at least one unencoded macroblock being encoded.

Abstract: Examples of systems, apparatuses, and methods for to transcoding a bitstream are described herein. An example content distribution system may include an interconnect configured to provide encoded video data from an encoder to a decoder. The interconnect is configured to receive a bitstream including the encoded video data from the encoder. The bitstream is encoded using a first lossless coding methodology. The interconnect including a transcoder configured to transcode the bitstream using a second lossless coding methodology to provide a transcoded bitstream.